Weeds to Flowers
During the mid 80’s to early 90’s, walking was the only option left for us. Living in a provincial life then, transportation was not a necessity. Everybody was walking to school and so were my siblings and I. We walked like four kilometers a day.
I didn’t really complain about walking. I loved it because of the flower-bearing weeds along our trail day after day. Those mums-like tiny flowers were my greeters on my way to school. They always made me smile. At times, I could not help myself but pick them up and arrange them like a bouquet of fresh flowers. There were moments that if I was alone walking, I would do a monologue that I am giving away as a gift the… what I think is a beautiful floral masterpiece.
Then, of course, like most kids, I grew up pretty fast. I graduated from grade school so the… my-talking-to-myself moments stopped. I attended high school and college in the city which eliminated my weed monologues. The more it was totally erased when I started working and got transferred in a highly urbanized city where mostly towering buildings are on my wayside – no more flower-bearing weeds, no more greeters, no more monologues, no more beautiful floral masterpiece.
In 2005, Jarold, a close friend of mine asked me if I could buy a bouquet of flowers for his bride on their wedding. Of course, I bought it at, Dangwa, the flower terminal here in Manila where flowers are sold a lot cheaper than other stores and shops.
Well, I never thought that that moment, going to Dangwa, would lead me back to the beautiful floral masterpiece, my greeters, and eventually, my flower-bearing weeds. But please…. not with my funny weed monologues!
At first, I just asked the vendor to choose and arrange the flowers for me. After Jarold, another friend got married then another friend and another friend and the friend’s list goes on…
One time while I was waiting for the bouquet of flowers to be done, the florist told me that I could arrange next time. That I could just buy flowers from them and I have it do it myself. He did not know that I was thinking of giving it a try one day. Until one day, Jonah, another friend who is about 4 years younger than me called by surprise and told me that she’s getting married. She asked me if I could make her bridal bouquet. Without hesitation, I agreed and told her that it’ll be my wedding gift for her. Since Jonah was my mentor on camping matters, I said to myself that I would arrange Jonah’s bouquet.
Apprehensive though, I did it still. Here is my first bridal bouquet:
Photos taken and edited by Jonah's cousin - great job, kid!!!
After Jonah’s, more weddings follow until I specialized bridal bouquet. I admit, I only had little knowledge and still learning. I may appear to have been practicing a lot through my friends’ weddings but they all allowed me too. Haha!!! I loved their encouragements!
Photos below are some of my amateur projects:
Malona's bouquet... carnation, roses, and... blah! blah! blah!
Another look...
Claire's yellows...
Claire's bouquet! She loves yellow! I so love it too.
Can't get over it...
Here's Eileen's dozens of roses...
Eileen's... I tried using abaka here... But I guess, the shade of pink here is not a good pick. It's so light. I should have chosen a stronger shade.
Mary, the blushing bride and the colorful roses...
More of Mary's...
Photos taken by Kuya Wilmor... Professionally done!
Aside from bridal bouquets, I tried this basket of flowers for birthdays. In here, I used roses and gladiolus...
I know I need to learn more.
Last April 6, 2010, I traveled to Kuala Lumpur for two reasons: first, meet my cousin, Grace, and second, find a better-paying job.
I was really thinking about working at a very prestigious company where my 10-year experience as a Support Specialist would be of great use. I thought, the years I had working is an advantage and so I am fully equipped. When I got there, all the opposite things happened with regards to work. It’s very difficult to find an office job and even harder to get a working visa.
Since my flight going back to Manila is fixed, I looked for other options to kill boredom. My cousin accompanied me to Poetry of Flowers and introduced me to one of the owners, Ungku Mel. She is very sweet and accommodating. Later, I was introduced by the other partners, Ungku Wai and Zafia. Six days a week, I stayed at the shop and tutored by Kaka Zaila and Aziemah. They are a mother and daughter team-up. Both are very good florists.
Aziemah mentored me first since, her Mom, Kaka Zaila was off on my first day of tutorial. Though we are cultures and language apart, we were able to get along well with each other. Aziemah is very nice and she even taught me a lot of Bahasa Malaysia. The first thing she taught me was familiarizing the names of the flowers and leaves.
I also met Kaka Rose, of Indonesian nationality, who worked for POF for years and is in-charged with the café/resto area.
The next day, Kaka Zaila came and slowly filled my hungry artistic mind. Hehehe! She is very expert. I always get amazed every time she arranges flowers. She would always say, “I want you to do something like this”. She showed me how then I do as she instructed. She thought I was a great student. Hehe! Of course, she is a very good teacher. Kaka Zaila told me a Japanese florist taught her. She started with artificial flowers and expanded to fresh flowers. Here are some of her amazing masterpieces:
Safari combination, orchids, and gerbera daisies... Table and restroom arrangements...
This one is the beauty of Madonna lily.
Stargazer lilies, and button mums...
Roses, stargazer, and button mums... I love button mums! This arrangement is for a store opening.
Another table arrangement using roses, gerbera daisies, and orchids.
Isn’t she a huge of an artist? I’m hats off to you, Kaka Zaila. I am forever grateful to you for widening my knowledge on Ikebana and I know I still have a lot to learn.
As we know, life is what we make it. Sometimes, the path that we are treading is blurry and we can hardly see what’s ahead. Just like weeds to flowers. I had no idea that my childish weed monologues would one day take me to Ikebana or the art of arranging flowers.
Every inch of what we do when we were young, or say, a little younger, contributes a lot to the future that lies ahead even to that future behind the blurry pathway we are taking. We may play with the weeds Now… but will eventually become a master florist Later.
I wish this is my masterpiece. Hahaha!!! I'm getting there.
I didn’t really complain about walking. I loved it because of the flower-bearing weeds along our trail day after day. Those mums-like tiny flowers were my greeters on my way to school. They always made me smile. At times, I could not help myself but pick them up and arrange them like a bouquet of fresh flowers. There were moments that if I was alone walking, I would do a monologue that I am giving away as a gift the… what I think is a beautiful floral masterpiece.
Then, of course, like most kids, I grew up pretty fast. I graduated from grade school so the… my-talking-to-myself moments stopped. I attended high school and college in the city which eliminated my weed monologues. The more it was totally erased when I started working and got transferred in a highly urbanized city where mostly towering buildings are on my wayside – no more flower-bearing weeds, no more greeters, no more monologues, no more beautiful floral masterpiece.
In 2005, Jarold, a close friend of mine asked me if I could buy a bouquet of flowers for his bride on their wedding. Of course, I bought it at, Dangwa, the flower terminal here in Manila where flowers are sold a lot cheaper than other stores and shops.
Well, I never thought that that moment, going to Dangwa, would lead me back to the beautiful floral masterpiece, my greeters, and eventually, my flower-bearing weeds. But please…. not with my funny weed monologues!
At first, I just asked the vendor to choose and arrange the flowers for me. After Jarold, another friend got married then another friend and another friend and the friend’s list goes on…
One time while I was waiting for the bouquet of flowers to be done, the florist told me that I could arrange next time. That I could just buy flowers from them and I have it do it myself. He did not know that I was thinking of giving it a try one day. Until one day, Jonah, another friend who is about 4 years younger than me called by surprise and told me that she’s getting married. She asked me if I could make her bridal bouquet. Without hesitation, I agreed and told her that it’ll be my wedding gift for her. Since Jonah was my mentor on camping matters, I said to myself that I would arrange Jonah’s bouquet.
Apprehensive though, I did it still. Here is my first bridal bouquet:
Photos taken and edited by Jonah's cousin - great job, kid!!!
After Jonah’s, more weddings follow until I specialized bridal bouquet. I admit, I only had little knowledge and still learning. I may appear to have been practicing a lot through my friends’ weddings but they all allowed me too. Haha!!! I loved their encouragements!
Photos below are some of my amateur projects:
Malona's bouquet... carnation, roses, and... blah! blah! blah!
Another look...
Claire's yellows...
Claire's bouquet! She loves yellow! I so love it too.
Can't get over it...
Here's Eileen's dozens of roses...
Eileen's... I tried using abaka here... But I guess, the shade of pink here is not a good pick. It's so light. I should have chosen a stronger shade.
Mary, the blushing bride and the colorful roses...
More of Mary's...
Photos taken by Kuya Wilmor... Professionally done!
Aside from bridal bouquets, I tried this basket of flowers for birthdays. In here, I used roses and gladiolus...
I know I need to learn more.
Last April 6, 2010, I traveled to Kuala Lumpur for two reasons: first, meet my cousin, Grace, and second, find a better-paying job.
I was really thinking about working at a very prestigious company where my 10-year experience as a Support Specialist would be of great use. I thought, the years I had working is an advantage and so I am fully equipped. When I got there, all the opposite things happened with regards to work. It’s very difficult to find an office job and even harder to get a working visa.
Since my flight going back to Manila is fixed, I looked for other options to kill boredom. My cousin accompanied me to Poetry of Flowers and introduced me to one of the owners, Ungku Mel. She is very sweet and accommodating. Later, I was introduced by the other partners, Ungku Wai and Zafia. Six days a week, I stayed at the shop and tutored by Kaka Zaila and Aziemah. They are a mother and daughter team-up. Both are very good florists.
Aziemah mentored me first since, her Mom, Kaka Zaila was off on my first day of tutorial. Though we are cultures and language apart, we were able to get along well with each other. Aziemah is very nice and she even taught me a lot of Bahasa Malaysia. The first thing she taught me was familiarizing the names of the flowers and leaves.
I also met Kaka Rose, of Indonesian nationality, who worked for POF for years and is in-charged with the café/resto area.
The next day, Kaka Zaila came and slowly filled my hungry artistic mind. Hehehe! She is very expert. I always get amazed every time she arranges flowers. She would always say, “I want you to do something like this”. She showed me how then I do as she instructed. She thought I was a great student. Hehe! Of course, she is a very good teacher. Kaka Zaila told me a Japanese florist taught her. She started with artificial flowers and expanded to fresh flowers. Here are some of her amazing masterpieces:
Safari combination, orchids, and gerbera daisies... Table and restroom arrangements...
This one is the beauty of Madonna lily.
Stargazer lilies, and button mums...
Roses, stargazer, and button mums... I love button mums! This arrangement is for a store opening.
Another table arrangement using roses, gerbera daisies, and orchids.
Isn’t she a huge of an artist? I’m hats off to you, Kaka Zaila. I am forever grateful to you for widening my knowledge on Ikebana and I know I still have a lot to learn.
As we know, life is what we make it. Sometimes, the path that we are treading is blurry and we can hardly see what’s ahead. Just like weeds to flowers. I had no idea that my childish weed monologues would one day take me to Ikebana or the art of arranging flowers.
Every inch of what we do when we were young, or say, a little younger, contributes a lot to the future that lies ahead even to that future behind the blurry pathway we are taking. We may play with the weeds Now… but will eventually become a master florist Later.
I wish this is my masterpiece. Hahaha!!! I'm getting there.
posted by Khrissy at
9:55 PM
1 Comments
