Funeral parlor guy who used to visit girlfriend riding a hearse, now a successful Dubai florist

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Working at a funeral parlor, he used to visit his would-be wife during courtship riding a hearse, to the horror of the neighborhood eager to know if somebody died.

These days, 40-year-old Albert Bengco Tranquilino and his wife, Amy, run a successful high-end flower shop with plans to expand and diversify into weddings and catering services early next year as their business celebrates its seventh year.

He has also been given commendation by his hometown’s local government for his significant achievement.

Hearse

“Nuong nanliligaw pa lang ako sa girlfriend ko na ngayon ay asawa ko na, nanghihiram ako ng sasakyan sa funeraria. ‘Yun ang gamit ko. One time, nagulat ‘yung mga kapitbahay nila at nagtanong kung bakit may karo ng patay.

“Nang malaman nilang ‘yun ang gamit ko, ipinagbawal nila at sabi i-park ko raw sa malayo, ‘yung walang tapat na bahay. Trabahador lang ako sa funenaria noon. Mahirap lang ang buhay ko,” recalled Tranquilino, the eldest of six siblings.

(When I was still courting my girlfriend, who now is my wife, I’d borrow the company’s hearse and use it to get to her place. One time, the neighbors were surprised and asked why there was a hearse parked in front of my girlfriend’s house. When they learned that I used it, they asked me to park the hearse farther away where there were no houses. I was just a worker at a funeral parlor at the time. I was poor.)

Tranquilino said the neighbors were really terrified at the sight of the hearse. “Talagang natakot and wondering bakit may karo ng patay,” he said. (They were genuinely scared and wondering what the hearse was doing there.)      

Tranquilino and Amy were both 20 years old back then.       

Funeral parlor

Tranquilino, who started working as a funeral parlor assistant at the age of 12, learned to do flower arrangements at 15. The parlor was in Capas, Tarlac, where he and Amy hail from.

“Pangarap ko na talaga na makapagtayo ng flower shop since ang una kong trabaho ay sa funeral homes at ako’y nagsimula bilang helper. Matapos ang tatlong taon ay naging flower designer ako sa edad na 15 years old,” Tranquilino said.

(It has always been my dream to open a flower shop. My first job was at the funeral home where I started as a helper. At 15, I was already a flower designer.)

Working student

Working by day and attending classes at night for his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Dominican College of Tarlac, Tranquilino borrowed money shortly after graduation to cover air fare and visit visa expenses then set off for Dubai in 2006.

Tranquilino married Amy two years later on August 23, 2008 in Capas, Tarlac after which she flew to Dubai and joined him in October of the same year. Tranquilino, at the time, was working at a flower shop.

“Nakipagsapalaran akong magtrabaho sa isang kumpanya bilang florist and sales executive for 10 years then naging general manager for two years. Pagkatapos ay tinuloy ko na ang pangarap kong makapagtayo ng sariling flower shop with the help of my wife,” he said.

(I took my chance and worked as a florist and a sales executive for 10 years. I became general manager for two years. Then I pushed through with my plans to establish my own flower shop with help from my wife.)

Flower business

Tranquilino said their flower business has been doing great, owing to the challenges they’ve been through that tested their resolve. “We were able to turn the setbacks into opportunities with the right strategies that we put in place,” he said.

In fact, he said, their flower shop has been doing so good they will be branching out to weddings and catering by February next year.

“With our flower shop having become a trusted name in the region after six years,  we will open another company and go into catering and weddings of influential people. We will be employing our expertise into the weddings and events world,” he said.

The Tranquiinos have three children.

Looking back, Tranquilino said he is grateful about how his life journey has taught him a lot, from arranging wreaths for the dead — and driving around town in a hearse —  to making bouquets celebrating life-changing moments

“I have learned many lessons that yielded victories,” he said.

Commendation

Tranquilino is the finance director of nonprofit and UAE government-recognized Philippine Business Council–Dubai (PBC). On December 5, his hometown’s municipal government honored him as this year’s “Most Outstanding Capaseño” in “appreciation and gratitude for his significant achievement, exceptional contributions and selfless dedication.”

In accepting the commendation, Tranquilino said, “This recognition is not mine alone; it is a tribute to all the individuals, teams, and organizations who have supported and believed in me throughout this journey.” – Rappler.com