Bucalan Sunflower Garden

             Not as spellbinding as the Hokkaido Spring Gardens but this latest local tourist magnet may as well be on its way in that direction.

             There is without any doubt that the Bucalan Sunflower Farm is the hottest go-to place in La Carlota to date.  Established only a little over a year ago, the small patch of land (used to be the sugar central mud press dump site) now teems with golden blooms that lent the rather drab landscape with something beautiful to behold.

            In Greek mythology, the nymph Clytia died of a broken heart, transformed into a sunflower and relentlessly follows the love of her life, the sun god Apollo.

            Unrequited love or not, behind the farm is an inspiring story that needs to be told. Here Bucalan Sunflower Farm bares all.

Who is Bucalan Sunflower Farm (BSF)?

             I’m a police officer assigned in Mindoro. I own the place but my father manages it.  Our family name is Flores. In Spanish, Flores means flower, right? Both my parents are not only plant enthusiasts but have green thumbs as well.

           

What is so special about sunflowers?

            I have been assigned to various places around the Philippines and I’ve seen a lot of theme parks and gardens. It was the sunflower that really caught my eye.

            My fascination for sunflowers inspired my best practice at work involving the Tokhang inmates. Institutional work program for inmates is part and parcel in the reformation process but the question lies on what program to implement. So instead of the usual agricultural produce like rice or corn, we agreed to take a more novel step and engage in producing cut flowers instead.

            To cut the story short, the program was a success. Our produce were sold to local flower shops and we even supply some to Dangwa in Manila. As a result, our inmates found purpose with this unique and profitable venture.

What motivated you to start a farm in Bucalan?

            As our initiative here in Mindoro met is purpose and with more seed to spare, I suggested to my father to make use of the barren space and start a garden for recreation. We started with only a hundred seeds. Then the flowers bloomed and people started to notice.

             

            When I started a page on Facebook about our farm, the public’s response was overwhelming. It was shared many times over which resulted to an influx of visitors. It was unexpected.

            Entrance is free as the garden was not intended for commercial purpose. It just feels good to see people leaving the place happy.

           

What shall we all expect from BSF in the future?

            The garden will be reopened to the public in September. For the convenience of everyone, we will develop the area inside Central Azucarera de La Carlota near the Admin building. We will start with a thousand seeds featuring varieties coming from Japan.

Cafe Lupe

Summer season in a very small TVI (Technical-Vocational Institution) can be very quiet and boring that the presence of Summer in the office (among other things) provided the much need diversion.

Following Ann's (one of the student trainees this term ) recent visit to the newest cafe in town, not to be left out, us girls went out to check it out. The store was located just across the fire station, between the Cortezes and Fernadezes home along La Paz St.

We took a seat on table facing the street. I ordered a white choco mocha, Jen a Choco Almond Frost and pesto pasta (which we helped finishing) and a mango shake for Kz.

Our verdict? My coffee did not disappoint but we were all in agreement that the almond frost tasted like a bad medicine.

I might be blunt at times especially if nobody checks me out. At one point during our stay I wasn't able to help myself from articulating what I had in mind. I questioned them about their menu. The poor young entrepreneurs looked quizzically at each other looking for the answer that I sought.

Well, they're new in the business and must still be in the painful process of perfecting the craft. We'll give them time to improve and revisit. Maybe in a few month's time.

Pasalamat Fun Run 2015

I was there.
I was Number 24.

It was a spur of the moment decision. Between house and the office, I barely had the time to look at the billboard outside for the schedule of activities. Going home last night, Jen mentioned in passing that a friend of hers is in town for the run set for today at 5 am. He wasn't sure if registration has been closed already but suggested that I go and see for myself.

Having set the alarm to go off by 4:00 AM, I was ready and out of the house by 4:30 AM. Unfortunately, no motorized vehicle was on sight, I decided to walk my way to the city plaza.

From the modest number that littered the space between the Mayor's office and the men's loo, I spied only three familiar faces: that of Richard's (Ginete who joined the 5k), Raymond (Tiyoy Edmon's son who is part of the committee and gamely took my picture) and Louie (Jen's runner friend who joined 10k).

3K Open was last to go. I was probably the most senior participant and ran alongside a four-year-old against 22 other under 13 boys and girls who seemed to fly by me.

Though I had sufficient exercise these past few days, this cold is my undoing. My breathing required more effort than usual. I found myself huffing and puffing only halfway through my first kilometer. That is besides the fact that I tried really hard to at least keep apace with the four-year-old which was futile. Apparently, his mother trained him well. She was telling me they were after the youngest runner award.

Mimi says it's not about winning but finishing what you have started. True. Hahaha. Just look at those running forms around me. Clearly, I still have a lot catching up to do in the determination and discipline departments. For now, it's more on participation and having fun.

Café Norma - and Tales of Voluntarism

Hanging out with Rose has leveled up my knowledge about local people of interest. Today was no different. We were casually having after dinner hot chocolate at Café Norma's when in came this person whom nobody would look twice at; low profile to say the least. Their greetings indicated that they haven't seen each other in ages. 

Briefly, Rose introduced him to our small group. A product of the local diocesan school, Rose and Ms. Teray have been a part of his education and so it has become quite necessary to introduce Jen as the niece of his once mentor in computer studies. 

A proud product of Pax, he owed his training in voluntarism to his alma mater and lived by the values perpetuated by Mother Rita Barcelo: PDOE (I forgot what these letters stand for).  

A third party to their catching up, I managed to pick up facts about this person who is currently based in Africa and leads a UN group on their World Feeding Program. The job entails responding to the needs of countries in times of emergencies whether natural or manmade and he was reportedly  stationed here in the Philippines following Haiyan's visit of the country.  

So, he was responsible for making the Kenyan Coffee available in La Carlota. He brings home bags of the stuff whenever he gets home. 

House of Hobbies

Most things need collaboration to get done. And for sis' latest venture, I have two major contributions: having to deal with the garbage cleared from our old room and painting the signage.

The signage took a long time to finish with my enlisted painter asking too many specific materials to work with. There's the choice of paint and brush; and his availability which seemed to be so elusive. To get the ball rolling, I made sketches of the figures he intended to put in it based on the drawing he made on photoshop. The next day, he spent all his spare time in the office finding his muse that was apparently missing. Then came another lull for which I had no longer patience for. I tried my hand on it and was pleased that the skill that laid dormant for what seems ages is still very much alive.

Apparently, the client was not satisfied and started from scratch, leaving no trace of what has been, that only these photos bear witness of.

Breaking Tradition

Oh, how long has it been?  I mean, since I last been to the city plaza for any occasion?

Well, I broke tradition this year and went to see what's new. The sight that greeted me was a surprise. Apparently, there are only a handful of us who doesn't care about the festivity.

As it was in the past, the roads around the plaza were closed to motorized traffic and were occupied by eateries owned by local and national names. The place was abuzz with various activities: people eating, kids running around, store owners never idle, it was indeed something to behold.

Last Tuesday, I had this hankering for sausages that I decided to take a walk with Jen to the wet market. It was inevitable that we pass by the plaza and I was surprised how busy it was. We stopped for a bit at the plaza where I bought a plate of four seasons pizza. I had one the night before it and liked what I tasted.

It was the night of Pawasak (really, I don't know what that meant...but that it involved street dancing).

Yesterday, I don't know what prompted me to ask sis to go out and have that coffee we were planning to have all week. Surprisingly, she agreed and we went out well into the rerun of last night's American Idol 13. Roads were closed to motorized vehicles we made the rest of the way to the plaza on foot. On last night was the Rhythm Competition. It attracted so many merrymakers, no wonder movement on the streets was impossible.

At Cafe Norma, I had their cappuccino while I ordered the mint-mocha frost variety for sis.

We finished our drinks in time for the Brgy. III entry to perform. Though the sound at the cafe was muted a little, still I can tell that that group was way better than the previous ones. with everything going on, the heat (that rendered me glistening) and the smoke, we left for the Agro-trade exhibit for some cow's milk and Durian Chips before heading home.

Cafe Norma

          There's a new place in the city which was worth a try. This week alone, we visited the place three times already.

           On Monday after work, I was already home when Kz's message went through that is for me to meet them at Cafe Norma. The place was easy to find. It is on the same block as Nelim's and according to JM, it is an old place really that has undergone a major facelift. I had tea. It was nothing special but it's a cool place to hang out: small, cozy and private (enough to share confidences, right Kz and Charmaine?).

           Breakfast is served anytime of the day so we had our lunch there yesterday and again, tea at the end of the day.

           And the star on their menu (in my opinion) is their french-pressed coffee. The Kenyan variety was as strong as I make it myself. It's taste is at par with the bevy that my other favorite (oh, did I just indirectly said Cafe Norma is my favorite?) coffee hangout became famous for.

          The thought of  not needing to spend more for something this pleasurable is really a comfort.

Pasalamat Festival 2008

let the pictures tell the story...

oblivious to it all