Flower attendants assist shoppers as they pick flowers as gifts for valentines day at a flowershop in Araneta City in Quezon City on February 12, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — On a balmy February afternoon, Rina’s Flower Shop in Quezon City is a petal shower of pink uniforms and sweet fragrances. A bevy of assistants moves gracefully between paper-wrapped blooms on display, helping frantic shoppers navigate a sea of colors.
For some, it is a quick stop to pick up a pre-arranged bouquet; for others, it is a delicate mission to find the perfect flower for a special someone.
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While February has always been the peak season for florists, the modern landscape of gift-giving has grown surprisingly complex.
What was once a simple choice has become a tedious exercise in precision. With endless shades of peach, yellow, and red, finding the "right" bloom for the "right" loved one has become a challenge for the uninitiated.
This is where Rina Mores steps in — not just as a vendor, but as an arranger of "bouquets of the heart."
BLOOMING AFTER A FLOOD
Rina’s journey in the floral industry was not always as sunny as the sunflowers that she sells, not a bed of roses indeed.
She has been in the business since 2009, a year marked by the devastating Ondoy floods. The early years were grueling.
"It was a hard time," she recalls, noting how storms and tragedies often dictated the market.
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Back then, flowers were frequently bought for solace and mourning rather than celebration. Yet, Rina held on.
Today, that grit has been replaced by a "youthful glow," her conversation punctuated by giggles and what one might describe as falling petals of laughter.
Having started as a vendor for her sister, a professional florist and her primary inspiration, Rina learned the different effects of flowers both for the giver and the receiver.
MEANING OF FLOWERS
For Rina, a bouquet is more than an aesthetic arrangement; it is a vessel for emotions that words often fail to capture. She views her craft through a unique trinity.
“Mahalaga ang flowers kasi ang flowers is a sign of love, respect, and forgiveness,” she says with her signature smile.
While love is the obvious association, Rina emphasizes that flowers represent the delicate manner in which we care for those we admire, the motions of watering, sheltering, and then sharing them at the perfect moment.
Flower seller and arranger Rina Mores says flowers can help communicate what one might not be able to say. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
More so, she champions flowers as the ultimate tool for reconciliation.
To her, the fragility of a flower symbolizes softness in sincerity a requirement when asking for a second chance.
“Ang flowers kasi, 'pag hindi mo ma-express 'yung damdamin mo, bili ka na lang ng bulaklak,” she advises.
For her, when it is hard to express deepest thoughts using words, a gift of flowers bridges the gap. She adds with a bubbly tone, “Ang flowers kasi nakakagaan ng damdamin ng isang babae."
SHY ONE'S GIFT
To help the modern, often-overwhelmed buyer, Rina offers a simple point of reference to navigate the "language of flowers."
For those too shy to speak, she suggests letting the quantity and color do the talking:
- One Red Rose: Means “Special ka sa akin” (You are special to me).
- Three Red Roses: She quips in a sing-song voice, “I like you.”
- Six Roses: This signals “may lambing pero magiging seryoso pa lang” — a combination of extreme tenderness and the beginning of a serious intention.
- A Dozen Roses: Usually the peak of this romantic expression.
The colors unfold with their own secrets too.
“Kapag peach or pink, ibig sabihin, na-'love at first sight' ka!” Rina explains.
Pink flowers can communicate 'love at first sight,' says flower seller and arranger Rina Mores. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
Peach-colored blooms are a sign that you have been smitten by the sight of that special someone and are a way to express sincerity and gentleness.
For those looking to express adoration and loyalty, Rina suggests mixing varieties to create a more layered message.
But despite the evolving trends, the red rose remains the undisputed queen of Valentine’s Day.
“Sa ngayon kasi, Valentine's nga, ang mas picked is red kasi nagsi-symbolize ng love. Romantic, strong,” Rina explains.
During this time, the shy person cannot go wrong with a silent but meaningful sharing of symbols of romance and steadfastness of intention.
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