Some of the bouquet of flowers sold at the Freedom Park in Cebu City. CDN Digital photo | Immae Lachica
Cebu City, Philippines – Pering Abasa is one of the many flower vendors at the Freedom Park along Magallanes Street in Cebu City.
For the past 25 years, she, along with many other flower vendors in the park, prepare for the surge of customers for Valentine’s Day.
Abasa said sales peak the day before February 14.
“Expected na mam na daghan mamalit karong hapon hangtod gabii,” Abasa said on Wednesday, February 13, 2019.
Flowers of different kinds like the local roses, Holland roses, sunflowers, Malaysian mums, and lilium are what can be easily found at the Freedom Park.
Abasa said local roses are the ones that sell well during the Valentine’s season.
A half dozen of local roses range from P350 to P450 and a dozen of local roses are from P500 to P 1,000.
Local roses are the top selling flowers during the Valentine’s season. CDN Digital photo | Immae Lachica
A stem of Holland rose costs P200 to P300 while a bouquet of three Holland roses would cost P 1,000.
Together with the demand for roses is the demand for the bright yellow sunflowers. A stem of sunflower costs P 200 to P 300 and a bouquet of sunflowers range from P 1,200 to P 1,500.
They also accept made-to-order bouquets with a mix of roses, lilies and Malaysian mums that cost P 1,200 to P 2,000.
The bouquet prices will depend on the kind of flower and how customers would want their bouquets to be arranged. A bouquet can go with chocolates and stuffed toys, too.
Abasa said that her customers are mostly students that’s why she is also offering a single stem of local rose for P20. The young ones can also opt to buy a set composed of a balloon and a rose for P35. /bmjo