The Dalaguete Flower Farm was developed in May last year and has since caught the fancy of tourists with blooming sunflowers as its main attraction among other varieties of flowers being grown there. CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO
Aside from its reputation as the Vegetable Basket of Cebu and gateway to the renowned Osmeña Peak, the municipality of Dalaguete has a new attraction to offer local and foreign visitors: Mt. Talongon Sunflower Farm.
Located some 84 kilometers south of Cebu City, the almost one hectare land on a slope in Barangay Mantalongon is now home to native sunflower species and about 20 imported variations of other flowers.
The cold breeze on the mountainside greets every visitor that arrives in the farm; while the arrays of flowers on the footpath upon entering the farm mimics the beauty of a church aisle going to the altar in a wedding.
Different colors and variations of petunias, snapdragons and crimsons which were imported from Taiwan fill the stretch of earth in the farm.
According to the farm’s manager Gregorio Amamag-id, visitors are mostly fond of the bigger varieties of sunflowers.
Amamag-id, 54, spent most of his life tilling the land where the flower farm stands.
This land was where he previously planted rice and root crops way back in his boyhood.
An aerial photo of the Dalaguete Flower Farm in Barangay
Mantalongon.
CDN DRONE PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO
Amamag-id and his parents were tenants of the previous land owner before it was bought by the municipal government.
The development of the land into a flower farm did not only provide a stable occupation for Amamag-id and his family, it also led to the influx of tourists in Dalaguete.
“Nakatrabaho man sad ko sa buwakan og 14 ka tuig mao to nga duna koy experience sa pag-galam og mga buwak (I’ve worked in the flower farm for 14 years and so I have experience in caring for the flowers),” said Amamag-id.
Aside from Amamag-id and his two sons, there are ten other locals of Mantalongon employed by the municipal government to help in developing the flower farm.
“Dili na man lang mi magkwenta sa oras. Kung kinahanglon namo tiwason ang trabaho bisan alas singko na, amo gyong humanon kay malipay man pod mi magtan-aw sa mga bulak nga managko na (We don’t count the hours. If we need to finish work even if it’s already five o’clock , we complete it because we are happy just looking at the flowers when they are in full bloom), “ Amamag-id said.
“Gipatawag mi sa munisipyo unya giingnan mi nga pagkaswerte namo nga kami ang nagtikad sa maong yuta. Karon, ako ang gihimong farm manager unya priority pod kami sa panarbaho (We were called to the town hall and told that we were so lucky to be cultivating this land. Then I was made the farm manager and we were given priority to work here),” recounted Amamag-id.
Local tourists check out the Dalaguete Flower Farm, a new destination being developed in Barangay Mantalongon in Dalaguete town in southern Cebu, which is known as the Vegetable Basket of Cebu. CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO
Aside from the livelihood opportunity, Amamag-id’s home which sits at the peak of the slopy farm and a portion of the land planted with root crops were also granted by the local government to him and his family.
Once a wetland planted with rice, the property was bought by the municipal government in 2017 to create a new attraction that would bring pride to the municipality.
The development of the flower farm started in May last year, but the first sight of blooming sunflowers came six months after in November.
Since then, hundreds of visitors have flocked to the flower farm everyday, especially during the holidays, to spend hours taking photographs of the scenic view.
Last March 25, the Municipal Council of Dalaguete promulgated an ordinance for the regulation of the flower farm after months of receiving hundreds of visitors there.
The ordinance imposes a P50 entrance fee for each person visiting the farm; except locals who will be charged a discounted rate of P30.
The ordinance also grants a 20 percent discount for senior citizens and students.
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