Dangwa flower vendors hope for last-minute sales rush before ‘Undas’

The white radus flowers on display in a stall at Dangwa Flower Market in Manila owned by Julma Wascnesen, 41, a farmer and a wholesaler.

MANILA, Philippines — Julma Wascnesen left her hometown in Benguet’s La Trinidad town a few days ago to try her luck once more in the Dangwa Flower Market in Manila to sell the cut flowers her family grew.

Wacnesen is among the several vendors of small individually-owned stalls along the crossroads of perennially congested Dos Castillas Street and Dimasalang Street.

Wacnesen brought her goods in her rented stall only on Oct. 26, hoping to sell all of her white radus flowers before November 1 to make a decent profit and to cover the rent and transport costs.

“I hope it all gets sold…but I don’t think it will,” Wacnesen, a wholesaler, told INQUIRER.net in Filipino on Tuesday, Oct. 29, as she noted that in previous years, many of their flowers remain unsold.

The 41-year old also said there is much to be thankful for as her fields were spared from the effects of Kristine, which killed hundreds of people as it pummeled most of Luzon.

Flower arrangements and baskets on display at one of the shops in Dangwa Flower Market.

“The rains were non-stop, but the winds were not that strong,” Wacnesen said. “By God’s grace, we were not really affected.”

Wacnesen and other vendors told INQUIRER.net that the recent tropical cyclone did not affect flower prices.

But they said slow sales as of Tuesday, Oct. 29, is more of an issue.

The prices of flower baskets in the area range from P150 up to P750.

“Our sales are still matumal (slow), we only sold two baskets since this morning,” Joan Amparo, 28, a flower shop assistant, told INQUIRER.net in Filipino. “There were only a few shoppers because they are still at work.”

Sheila Mary Buizing, 30, a flower shop keeper, said normal bouquets were more in-demand for the past few days unlike the baskets and arrangements for undas.

“As of today (Tuesday afternoon) we have not sold anything yet,” Buizing told INQUIRER.net in Filipino, whose flower shop is open for 24 hours.

Vendors said their sales will start to increase on Wednesday, Oct 30 until the eve of the holidays, when the demand will be on its peak.