By Karren Jay G. Asgar
Tobias Jr. Mandolado, a 2017 BS Psychology graduate, carries the Centralian spirit forward, proving that every journey, even one that takes an unexpected turn, can lead to remarkable heights.
Centralians continue to make their mark in their chosen paths, carrying with them the values and Central Spirit shaped by their years at Central Philippine University (CPU). One such Centralian is Tobias Jr. Mandolado, a 2017 Bachelor of Science in Psychology graduate who found his calling in a profession he once never imagined pursuing.
Mandolado, a licensed embalmer from Bugasong, Antique, earned the first rank in the September 2025 Licensure Examination for Embalmers with an average score of 97 percent.
His achievement is rooted in a journey that began long before he entered the examination room. His family has been running Mandolado Funeral Homes in Bugasong and San Remigio, Antique, for 26 years. As the eldest child, he was expected to eventually take the embalming licensure examination and become part of the family business.
But growing up around a funeral home did not immediately inspire him to pursue the profession.
“There was a stigma, growing up, and being ‘taga-funerarya’ was something I got teased for,” Mandolado recalled.
It was only when he began preparing for the licensure examination that his perspective started to change. During his review, he learned more about the history of embalming and, more importantly, gained a deeper understanding of the responsibility behind the profession.
“It isn’t simply about preparing a body for viewing. It involves anatomy, sanitation, technical skill, jurisprudence, and also the responsibility of caring for the deceased while helping families through a very difficult time,” he said.
Through that experience, Mandolado developed a new appreciation for the profession.
“I became proud and very passionate about my profession, and I now see that my true calling is to elevate the standard of the practice here in Antique,” he said.
His journey to becoming a licensed embalmer was also shaped by lessons from his years at CPU, including one subject that he once struggled to pass.
Mandolado failed Human Anatomy twice before taking it for the third time as a special summer class. What had once been a difficult subject eventually became an important part of his preparation for the embalming examination.
“It turned out to be almost like a daily tutorial session with Dr. Luisito Conducta and Prof. Debbie Sian during that summer,” he recalled.
Looking back, Mandolado realized that the struggle had prepared him for something he had not yet envisioned.
“What I had struggled with before eventually became my strongest foundation going into the embalming review and licensure examination!” he said.
His Psychology background also became an unexpected advantage in his chosen profession. The discipline’s emphasis on ethics, confidentiality, and understanding people helped him deal with bereaved families who may be experiencing grief, stress, and shock.
“Dealing with bereaved families requires more than technical knowledge,” he noted.
He believes his background in Psychology allows him to approach families “with patience, empathy, and respect for what they are going through.”
“When I enrolled at CPU, I wasn’t even thinking about pursuing embalming. Somehow, my education and experiences there just clicked with the profession I eventually found myself in,” he shared.
That unexpected connection between his education and profession eventually led to a remarkable achievement.
The September 2025 Licensure Examination for Embalmers is administered by the Department of Health through the Committee of Examiners for Undertakers and Embalmers. It consists of written and oral-practical examinations, with the latter involving an actual human cadaver. Only those who pass the written examination are allowed to proceed to the oral-practical phase.
Of more than 200 examinees nationwide from four review centers, 121 passed the September 2025 examination, with Mandolado emerging as the topnotcher with a 97 percent average.
Behind the achievement were people who supported him throughout the journey.
Mandolado expressed gratitude to Don Ongchangco of Ongchangco Review and Training Center, whom he credited for teaching his class not only how embalming is done but also why the profession matters to society.
“My father started everything. He founded our funeral home and gave us the opportunity to serve families, unknowingly setting me on the path that would eventually lead to this achievement,” he said.
His mother, the family’s first licensed embalmer, also encouraged him to aim high. When Mandolado told her that he was aiming for the Top 10, she gave him a simple challenge: “Ah, dapat Top 1 guid.”
His sister Leah helped make sure he had what he needed during his preparation, while his cousins Nong J.R. and Nong Tingting took the examination with him, welcomed him into their home in Manila, and became his study partners.
His review classmates also shared notes, tips, updates, quizzes, and encouragement. He also expressed gratitude to his CPU classmate Michelle Prado, who lent him manuals and notes that became valuable resources during his preparation.
Among those closest to him was his girlfriend, Nissin, a Psychology professor at CPU, whom he described as his inspiration and rock.
Although she was not physically present during the examination, Mandolado said she was “essentially holding my hand throughout the whole ordeal.” She gave him a watch to help him pace himself during the examination and a handwritten prayer that he read the night before and morning of the exams.
“I love her, and I honestly couldn’t have done this without her,” he said.
Through the challenges, Mandolado also held firmly to his faith, thanking God for calming his nerves when he doubted himself, helping him concentrate despite distractions, and keeping him safe.
Now, having reached a milestone in a profession he once never imagined for himself, Mandolado hopes his story will encourage fellow Centralians who may be pursuing paths different from what they originally envisioned.
“You can always strive for excellence in whatever you do, even if it isn’t what you originally set out to do or hoped for, no matter the field or how niche or unglamorous it may seem,” he said. “You get to set the bar for yourself, not anyone else. You really wouldn’t know how far you can go until you push yourself farther than you thought you could.”
For those who may feel lost or uncertain about where their journey is taking them, Mandolado offers a reminder rooted in faith.
“And if you feel lost or directionless, perhaps God is simply moving you toward where you’re meant to be, in a way that may not make sense right now. Eventually, it will, when you finally get there and look back at how everything came together.”
From a Psychology graduate who once struggled with Human Anatomy to a licensed embalmer who earned the highest rank in his national licensure examination, Mandolado’s journey shows that a person’s calling may sometimes be found in places they never expected.
His achievement serves as an inspiration to fellow Centralians, showing how an unexpected path, when pursued with dedication and faith, can lead to excellence and make a meaningful mark in one’s chosen field.