"...they will transform into beautiful, fully-bloomed flowers and that will be the end of their life because they will be cut and head straight to the flower shop."

[LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET, PHILIPPINES]▬ The province of Benguet hosts iconic farms. It is known for its vegetables stereotyped as 'Baguio vegetables' sold to as far as Manila. The strawberry farm is also popular. The latter farm's town host is now regarded as the strawberry capital of the Philippines. The same town is the host of Bahong flower farm, considered as the rose capital of the Philippines. By the way, the Philippines' summer capital is also located in Benguet. P.S. - Probably, ukay-ukay capital of the Philippines is also found in Benguet. Dog-eating is also popular here. But no, not a dog-eating capital please.

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ FELLOW BLOGGER, JUSTIN, PHOTOSHOOTING IN BETWEEN STALKS

▬ Going to the Flower Farm Like a King ▬

GOING HERE DIDN'T REQUIRE ME to exert much effort. Remember that I'm a guest blogger of Azalea Residences Hotel this time and this is a complimentary tour. All I had to do is to seat back inside an air-conditioned service tour vehicle, relax and wait for my destination. Convenient isn't it?

You know, today, I'm not the pa-hardcore travel blogger. I'm pa-VIP. So I am ditching all the pains of commuting and walking. With us are 4 tour guides. I'm the pabebe tourist type this time! Pabebeeeee! Anyway, if you've met hyperbole once in your life, you'll know I'm not really a king.

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ ROADSIDE VIEW: A TEASING VIEW

On our way to the flower farm, the beauty of Benguet is teasing me—teasing me to ditch the touristy itinerary, leave my comfortable seat, escape via the window of the van (which I think a stupid act done in romantic flicks but not in thriller films) and go on my own way. Pabebe no more!

Well, this is the downside of being with an organized tour group. You miss a lot of things not included in the itinerary. You miss the chance to talk with random locals, to buy local food in the carinderia and the beauty of discovering new things while you randomly ask people for the direction of your destination.

Anyway, I'm not complaining. I don't have to argue because I'm a tourist no matter what so I hope the tourist vs traveler labels will end soon because they're just the same!

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ THAT HELPFUL MARKER!

The beautiful mountain ranges made me feel I just escaped my sentimental hometown—yeah, I'm no longer in that hot coastal city with hundreds of ancestral houses.

It is while on board a vehicle where I introspect. Seeing the mountains while inside the tourist van transformed me into a thought bin. Deymn. It's so fvcking nice to have full of thoughts.

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ THE BAHONG MOUNTAIN VIEW

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ MOUNTAINSIDE VILLAGE

From the main road, we turned to a narrower road, a little wider than a standard lane, that continually descended. I know we're now in Brgy Bahong and I'm seeing mountainside villages with enviable surroundings. Around their village are beautiful mountains. The air is fresher too. Just wow! What a lucky community!

The road led us to a valley—a valley of flowers.

▬ Rose Garden ▬

WE REACHED THE FLOWER PLANTATION with comfort. We didn't have to walk like there's no tomorrow because the service vehicles brought us right in the heart of the plantation. The sad part is, I wasn't able to enjoy the view of the flower farm from a higher vantage point, let alone capture a photo. We went to the farm directly and up close.

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ UP CLOSE WITH ROSES

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ ROSES ARE GOLDEN, VIOLETS ARE BLUE

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ FELLOW BLOGGERS, SNAPPING A ROSE PHOTO FOR THEIR FB POST

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ RED ROSES, WHY YOU'RE SO BEAUTIFUL?

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ YELLOW ROSES: THEY LOOK HAPPY AND GAY!

▬ Other Flowers You See in the Flower Shop ▬

AFTER VISITING THE ROSE SECTION of this flower farm, I have to take a muddy portion of the trail that is leading me to another section of flowers. I do not know the name of these flowers but they look so familiar.

I saw how these flowers that are mainstays in bouquets are grown. Like most of the life cycle of flowers, they start as little buds then bloom into mature flowers!

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ FLOWER BUDS! THEY ALL START THIS WAY.

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ FEW WEEKS MORE AND THIS WILL BLOOM.

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ WAITING FOR THEIR TIME TO BLOOM

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ FELLOW WRITER, MARINETTE, TAKING PHOTOS IN THE FARM

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ A SECTION OF SEMI-BLOOMING FLOWERS

One step away from the bud section is an area of semi-blooming flowers. Few days more and they will transform into beautiful, fully-bloomed flowers and that will be the end of their life because they will be cut and head straight to the flower shop.

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ ALMOST THERE

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ CUTTING SOON

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ FULLY GROWN!

[LA TRINIDAD] ▬ HELLO FROM BAHONG! I'M IN THE ROSE CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES!

I've actually been wanting to visit this flower farm when I saw it on TV. It feels fulfilling to see the place where the flower I bought for the birthday of the special girl came from. Without this flower farm, I should've not brought her flowers. You see? This flower farm is part of everyone's love life and I'm one guilty victim. ▬ to be continued...

INDEX: INSIDE THIS BLOG SERIES

[UP NEXT] ▬ FOR LUNCH, WE ATE IN A RESTAURANT + IGOROT MUSEUM IN ONE.

► BLOG SERIES: AZALEA SUMMER GETAWAY

Up Next: For lunch, we went to this unique restaurant where Igorot culture and heritage are manifesting. It also has museum that lets you learn while dining.

► FOOTNOTES, DISCLAIMERS, ACKNOWLEDGMENT, ETC

[1] This experience was made possible through Azalea Residences Hotel in Baguio City. I was invited to experience the Azalea hospitality. My big gratitude to Azalea management.

[2] The maps I used below as well as those that appeared on tooltips are the works of Eugene Alvin Villar and Mike Gonzalez published on Wikipedia. Source: 1 | 2