BY MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO City – Offering flowers and candles to the departed is part of the Filipino observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ days.
In this city, several vendors said the prices of flowers are expected to increase come Nov. 1.
Panay News patrolled the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, Jaro Plaza, and Iloilo Central Market on Sunday, Oct. 29, for a price check.
According to Charita Lasanas, a flower vendor in Jaro Plaza, flowers have become more expensive, costing a minimum of P150.
“Sang una pwede kami ka tag-P100 or P90. Subong kay mahal na gid ya ang mga anahaw, tag-P12 lang sang una, subong tag-P40 na ang bugkos,” Lasanas said.
The flower vendor added they get their flower supply from Cebu, Benguet, and Manila.
“At P150 per arrangement ang amon minimum. So kung mag-wholesale, gahatag man kami kis-a P130,” the flower vendor, who has been in the business for five years, also said.
Another flower vendor, Mary Caro, said she sells flowers at P150 per arrangement and P250 per basket. Her flower supply came from Manila.
The vendor, who has been at the Jaro Cathedral for three years, expects an increase in the price of flowers.
Lucille Catequista, a vendor at the Jaro Cathedral for five years, sells flowers at P150 for an arrangement and P600 in bundles.
She said her flower supply came from Cebu, Cagayan, and Benguet.
Meanwhile, Liezel Pantua, a flower vendor for five years in Iloilo Central Market, said the prices of her flower arrangements depend on the size and the flowers used.
“Ang prices sang arrangements namon [compared to] sa ordinary days, nagsaka gid man sang gamay, mga P350. The lowest price namon is P100 tapos may P350 to P1,000, depende sa flowers nga gamiton kag sa kadakuon,” Pantua said.
She gets her supply of flowers from Baguio, Cebu, and Bacolod City.
“Ang prices gaamat-amat na saka, ang tanan nga flowers nagsaka gid man,” Pantua added.
Here is a price list of flowers as of Oct. 29:
Jaro Plaza
* Puto-puto – P150 per arrangement
* Malaysian mums – P650 per bundle
* Baby’s breath – two stems for P50
* Gladiola – P50 per retail price; P450 per bundle
Jaro Cathedral
* Pink rose – P50 per retail; P400 per bundle
* Red rose – P50 per retail; P400 per bundle
* Mums – P50 per retail, P150 per arrangement, P400 per bundle
* White mums – P40 per retail; P450 per bundle
* Anthurium – P100 for three pieces
Iloilo Central Market
* Gladiola – P500 per arrangement
* Mums – P300 per half-dozen; P600 per dozen; P50 per stem
* Pongs (Chrysanthemum) – P100 per retail; P500 per bundle
* Roses – P350 per bouquet
* Stargazer – P450 per stem or retail
* Carnation – P50 per retail
* Anthurium – P350 per retail; P300 if wholesale
* Baby’s breath – P100 per retail; P500 per bundle
* Misty blue – P250 per stem
* Assorted – P150 per arrangement; P100 lowest price
On the other hand, there is no price increase for candles, according to Manang Ging-Ging, a vendor for three years at the Jaro Cathedral. Candles at the Jaro Cathedral as of Oct. 29, were sold at:
* small candle – P7 per piece; P70 per pack (10 pieces)
* big candle – P30 per piece; P150 per pack (five pieces)/PN
