In the mid-1970s, a number of flower sellers set up shop in a residential area beside a bus terminal called Dangwa Tranco in Sampaloc, Manila. Almost 40 years after the opening of the Dangwa Flower Market, business is, literally, always in bloom.

Buses coming from Benguet province in Cordillera would deliver loads of flowers including roses, chrysanthemums and statice or sea-lavender on a regular basis; these would then be purchased wholesale by various florists in the city.

The stalls that once kept to the immediate vicinity of the bus station have spread out to three streets: Lacson Avenue, Dimasalang and Laon Laan.

Aside from highland blooms, cut flowers from Laguna, Tagaytay and Davao are also readily available.

There are now more flower varieties being sold in Dangwa, with imported blooms coming from Thailand and Holland.

Theater production designer and scenographer Gino Gonzales said that Dangwa is the place to go for flowers not found in the country, such as long-stemmed Ecuador roses, stargazers and peonies.

“Aside from flowers and foliage, Dangwa is the only place I know that sells floral spray paint. It’s not sold at stationery stores or any of the hardware chains,” Gonzales added.

The paint that comes in aerosol cans is used by florists to tint usually plain white flowers in ombré hues.

Gonzales, however, has a totally different use for it: “We spray it on costumes; the clothes retain their texture and don’t turn stiff or crusty. [The spray paint] comes in the oddest colors, though, like brown, black and forest green. I can’t imagine anyone who would want a bunch of brown or green flowers.”

Regular customers know that the flowers are delivered at night, so they make it a point to go to Dangwa at the exact time. The “worst” time to go, said Gonzales, is the eve before the “bagsakan” when the old stocks are still there. “The flowers still look okay but they won’t last as long,” he noted.

Tips

He then gave a few tips for those who want to decorate their homes with flowers or give bouquets as gifts for friends.

Don’t buy at the first stall you see. Always survey the merchandise, but try to remember which stall caught your eye.

You can have flowers arranged by a different stall owner. We usually buy from two or three stalls depending on their selection, and then we have one of them put together bouquets using the different flowers.

You can buy many things aside from flowers at Dangwa. We buy floral wire that we use for the theater; and then there is floral foam that can be cut to your desired size. If you know where to look, there are also stores that sell different sized vases to choose from.

Different stalls have different specializations. There are those that sell mainly tropical leaves, others carry mostly chrysanthemums or orchids. Ask around or, if you have the time, go around yourself.

There is a covered arcade that sells bromeliads and birds of paradise. (During a recent flower run, bunches of showy alstroemeria in vivid pinks and oranges were going for P10 each).