The lively streets of Dangwa are known to many for the bright colors and amazing smell coming from the different flower stalls located around the area. It has become the official flower haven for people looking to get any and all kinds of flowers for wholesale and retail — from the fragrant wild orchids to the beautiful red roses. You can bet that the flowers that bloom in Dangwa are fresh and affordable compared to flower shops in the main city.
The main driving force of the Flower Market of Manila is the livelihood it gives to stall owners and street vendors. But due to the current pandemic, the demand for flowers has increasingly dropped, and physically going to Dangwa has become something that cannot easily be done due to travel restrictions.
However, this setback did not overshadow the “Filipino resilience” of these vendors and stall owners, after rediscovering a way to preserve the flowers by converting them into pressed flowers.
From Fresh to Pressed. 🍂 Dangwa’s response to the new norm.
Posted by Vin Orias on Monday, August 10, 2020
Pressed flowers undergo a process wherein they are dried and flattened; making them appear a bit more discolored than normal flowers, but lasting for a longer period of time.
Posted by Diary Two on Thursday, August 13, 2020
What makes this process more appealing is refreshing aesthetics — it makes the flowers appear nuder and faded in color rather than its usual bright look.
Posted by Diary Two on Thursday, August 13, 2020
According to Diary Two, the flowers range from 250-500 pesos, depending on which stall or vendor you buy them from.
This innovative way to upcycle old flowers is the perfect opportunity for Dangwa vendors to earn a living during this pandemic, and they look pretty amazing too!
POP! Creator Community / Jose Rafael Santamaria
