Everybody loves roses

MANILA, Philippines - Say it with the language of roses. Red roses are an expression of love or passion, yellow roses signify friendship, orange roses are for passion or energy, and white roses are a symbol of purity. Enthusiasm for the flower continues to grow, so that new hybrids or variants are constantly being developed for introduction to an appreciative market.

At Island Rose, the Philippines’ premier grower of quality roses, we were introduced to a variety called Cool Water. Licensed by Zino Davidoff and named after his company’s popular perfume, the lavender rose is a Dutch creation. Lavender-hued roses are widely believed to convey enchantment, and are the flowers of choice to send to express love at first sight. Thus, Cool Water roses should be the choice of romantics who are not quite sure that they want to commit too early in a relationship by giving wildly passionate red roses to the objects of their amorous interests.

Perfect for weddings: Island Rose blooms are the top choice of discerning flower artists.

“Roses have all the beauty and meaning to express a range of human emotions, ideas or thoughts,” agrees Dustin Andaya, chief executive officer of Island Rose. The company produces almost 2.5 million European roses every year in state-of-the-art greenhouses, and delivers nearly 5,000 roses to Filipinos around the country every day. “What is the most popular message that is sent with the roses?” we asked. “‘I love you,’” says Dustin and then laughingly adds, “‘I’m sorry’ comes a close second.”

However, the country’s humid tropical climate is a major challenge for rose growers. The flower, after all, is native to, and therefore grows better in more temperate climes. Still, Island Rose manages to cope with an increasing demand.

“Efficiency is important,” company president Arnold Andaya said at a recent tour of the five-hectare Island Rose facility in Tagaytay. To be able to successfully grow the plants and to offset local weather conditions, Island Rose has invested in the latest Dutch know-how for its greenhouses. The system integrates the multi-million-peso Priva (Integro) technology to control climate within the greenhouses, where sensors are used to monitor such factors as temperature, wind speed, humidity, and other variables. The entire system is linked to a computer that activates water sprinklers, or opens vents to allow cool air inside the greenhouses as the need arises, while fertilizers are carefully applied so that nothing is wasted. As a step towards sustainability, the flower farm has water storage facilities to be able to make use of rainwater.

“‘I love you’ is the most popular message sent with the flowers,” says Island Rose CEO Dustin Andaya. “‘I’m sorry’ comes a close second.”

Arnold Andaya tells us that the ideal temperature for growing roses is 26 degrees Centigrade, with daytime temperatures not exceeding 30 degrees. Flowers are harvested every 45 days and technology is integral to keeping conditions stable so that the rosebushes thrive well and produce superior blooms. 

New rose varieties from the Netherlands, France and Germany are tested for a year to see how they will thrive locally, and local enthusiasts will be glad to know that between five and seven new varieties are brought into the country every year. The plants are licensed and Island Rose is careful about respecting the intellectual rights of the breeders. “We are not allowed to propagate the plants,” says Arnold.

One can opt to send pure Belgian chocolates with a floral bouquet.

Because of consistent quality, Island Rose blooms are the top choice of the most discerning flower artists. But what makes the company most attractive to regular consumers is its reliability as a flower delivery provider. “We take steps so that we can deliver fresher flowers at the fairest prices,” says Arnold. He shares that more than the efficient farming system and cold storage of blooms, excellent customer service and a well-organized nationwide next-day delivery system are important. The company has a convenient and reliable ordering system where customers are able to order roses online, while payments can be made using major credit cards or through over-the-counter transactions at popular chains like LBC and Ministop.

“Our company tagline is ‘Keeping relationships alive,” concludes Arnold Andaya, and the continuous growth of the Island Rose can be taken as an indication that Filipinos are romantics at heart. Those who are tongue-tied or fumble for words can always rely on Island Rose bouquets to relay their messages. Because like as the line in a sonnet says, “Flowers are love’s truest language.”  

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To order roses online, log on to www.islandrose.net