Business is blooming at flower market on eve of All Saints’ Day

Busy as a bee would be an apt way to describe vendors at the Dangwa Flower Market in Manila on the eve of All Saints’ Day.

And indeed, the market has been humming with activity like a beehive since Saturday morning.

But with the growing demand for flowers, a price markup was unavoidable, Noel Ibardaloza, vice president of the Dos Castillas Street Dangwa Flower Market Association Inc., told the Inquirer.

Right now, two dozen Malaysian mums, which normally cost P140, go for P160 to P250. Available in different colors, sizes and varieties, they are the most commonly available flower in the market.

The bestsellers, however, are orchids, which sell from P450 to P550 a bundle. According to Ibardaloza, prices have gone up because most of their stocks come from Thailand, which was recently hit by floods.

The standards are still there: A bouquet of baby’s breath for P100, roses for around P120 a dozen, lilies priced at P150 apiece, daisies for P250 a dozen and carnations for P250 a bouquet.

And for an additional fee of P50 to P150, stall owners will arrange the blooms into a bouquet or a wreath.

For those who prefer to buy the ready-made floral arrangements, a wreath or bouquet composed of anthuriums or birds of paradise go for around P700 to P850.

The budget-conscious, however, need not worry because there are other lower-priced items ranging from P250 to P500.

On Sunday, a bundle of calla lilies was being sold for P50 compared to P850 for large white anthuriums. “But we’ll see by the 31st. That’s usually when people come and the prices change depending on the demand,” Ibardolaza, who has been selling flowers for the past 14 years, said.

Most of the blooms for sale at the market are from Baguio while some come from Davao, Pampanga, Mindoro and Pangasinan, according to Janet Gibar, 32, another vendor.

For those in search of more exotic beauties, there are flowers from Holland, Thailand, China and Taiwan, which cost more.

“The flower market is always open but it’s not always this crowded here, just during All Saints’ Day or Valentine’s,” said a security guard hired by the Dangwa Association.

Security guards have been stationed at the flower market since Saturday to ensure the safety of people as well as to direct traffic in the area.

Not every vendor, however, was busy attending to customers. Zhean Cordero, 18, who was selling various bouquets and arrangements of anthuriums, said that although they had slashed their prices, the customers were not biting.

She did, however, readily share some tips for buyers. “Instead of orchids or mums, which only last a few days, go for stable flowers like anthuriums, which can last for as long as a month. It will be worth your money,” she said in Filipino.

Gibar, meanwhile, advised buyers to come at night or early in the morning when flowers are freshly delivered and the weather is not too warm.

And for those just looking for bargains?  “Buy on November 1. Prices tend to drop because we want to sell our remaining stocks,” Cordero said.