Jack's Biking Chronicles: From Dangwa with Love, a Bike Ride Through Petals and Passion

'My ride to Dangwa 2 days before the feast, St. Valentine's Day'

February 12, 2023, 2 days before Valentines day habang malamig pa ang hangin at hindi pa gaanong matindi ang sikat ng araw, sinimulan komuli ang kakaibang journey with my bike ride mula sa Imus, Cavite patungong Dangwa Flower Market sa Sta. Cruz, Manila. Mula sa Imus, dumaan ako sa Aguinaldo Highway, lumusot sa Bacoor, Las Piñas, at Pasay, tapos umikot sa Taft Avenue papasok ng Quiapo hanggang sa marating ko ang makulay na mundo ng Dangwa. Medyo matagal, mahaba-habang padyakan at nakakapagod ang biyahe, pero sulit na sulit dahil pagdating ko sa Dangwa, sinalubong ako ng sari-saring bulaklak na parang paleta ng pintor—rosas, gerberas, tulips, stargazers, orchids, sunflowers at kung anu-ano pa. Ang bango ng paligid, may halong halimuyak ng pag-ibig ang dala ng hangin na tumatama sa mukha mo. Langhap mo ang bango na naaamoy mo lang sa mga nilalabhan mong damit na kahalingtulad sa Downy. I have tracked this ride to Google maps because this is the first that I went to Dangwa ang hindi ko pa masyado alam ang mga dadaanan at kalye. Success and thank God for his guidance na natagpuan ko ang lugar ng walang aberya at nadagdagan ang aking kaalaman sa pagsikot-sikot sa Maynila. Kung manggagaling ka naman ng LRT ang bababaan mong istasyon na pinakamalapit ang Dangwa ay sa Tayuman Station. I believe na pinapayagan ang mga folding bikes sa loob ng tren kaya kung gusto mong hindi ka gaanong pagod sa padyakan kung nasa malayo ka ay take the LRT 1. But since I'm a mountain bike user and would like to pedal more for adventure, pinapadyak ko lang ang ruta na to galing pa sa Cavite.

Dangwa, also known as the Dangwa Flower Market, is located near the Dangwa Tranco bus terminal along Dos Castillas Street and surrounding roads in Sampaloc and Sta. Cruz, Manila. The market started becoming popular as a flower hub around the 1970s, when flower deliveries from Baguio via Dangwa buses became common. Originally, it was just a place where flower vendors waited for shipments from the north, but it evolved into a full-blown flower district as demand grew steadily, especially during special occasions. Now, Dangwa is synonymous with affordable and fresh flowers in Manila.

Rivermaya - Panahon Na Naman

Flower farmers and farm owners are among the luckiest people in the world! How do I say that? Imagine waking up to beauty and colors. Most of the flowers at Dangwa are from Baguio (these pretty flower colors like the cold weather) and usually last for a week. Flowers in Dangwa are extremely affordable. A dozen roses for 80.00 pesos - that's one dozen for less than a hundred pesos! So what are you waiting for mga ka-tsong? Maybe flowers from Dangwa can save your naghihingalong pag-ibig.

There lies a sea of colors and an explosion in your eyes of all imaginable hues - red, green, lime green, dark green, pink, soft pink, fuchsia, light yellow, orange, white, purple, lavender, lilac, and all of these are so overwhelmingly beautiful. This is a place where your boyfriends will rejoice because flowers sold here are stunningly alluring for cheap prices, where brides will swoon and rush over the romantic colors of red and pink and white and lavender, where sons and daughters gushed out and buy special flowers for their parents for May and June where we celebrate our Mom and Dad's day of saying "Thank you" for all the guidance, love and care and those golden lessons they teach us to become a better man/woman like what we are today.

Bakit nga ba sikat ang Dangwa tuwing Valentine's Day? Isa lang ang sagot—bulaklak. Valentine’s Day is the busiest time of the year in Dangwa. Lovers, husbands, boyfriends, even secret admirers flock to the market to buy flowers for their special someone. Dito mo makikita ang mga lalaki’t babae na may bitbit na bouquet busy sa pamimili ng bulaklak kahit gaano kasikip ang kalye. Marami pa ring naniniwala na walang tatalo sa bulaklak bilang simbolo ng pagmamahal. Mura, presko, at galing pa sa Benguet ang karamihan sa mga bulaklak dito—kaya kahit madaling araw pa lang, buhay na ang Dangwa. Maaga naman ako nakarating ng Dangwa during my ride kaya feel na feel ko yung cold breeze plus the fragrance of the wind. It was like a fresh fruity smell in the morning and I really like that vibe and kakaunti pa ang tao.

Is giving flowers still a thing? Absolutely. Sa panahon ngayon, kahit digital na ang lahat, may magic pa ring hatid ang pagbibigay ng totoong bulaklak. Flowers don’t just decorate a room—they speak. They say “I love you,” “I’m sorry,” "I miss you", “Congratulations,” or “I’m thinking of you.” Sa mga birthday, wedding anniversary, graduation, o kahit simpleng date lang, bulaklak pa rin ang isa sa pinakamabisang regalo. Hindi lang ito para sa partner—pwede rin sa nanay, lola, kaibigan, o kahit sa sarili mo. Flowers bring joy, sincerity, and a sense of occasion that no digital gift can match. Pag binigyan ka ng bulaklak, parang sinasabi ng nagbibigay na, “Importante ka.”

Pawis man at pagod, ang saya ng pakiramdam. Sa biyahe kong ito, hindi lang ako nag-bike papuntang Sta. Cruz. Naglakbay din ako sa kahulugan ng pagbibigay, sa kahalagahan ng pag-alala, at sa simpleng kaligayahan ng isang manlalakbay ng bisikleta upang marating ang mga lugar na hindi niya pa napupuntahan.

Kaya sa susunod na espesyal na araw, whether Valentine's Day, monthsary, or ordinary Tuesday lang—subukan mong dumaan sa Dangwa. Malay mo, hindi lang bulaklak ang madala mo pauwi, kundi alaala ng pag-ibig na hindi nalalaos. 🌸🚲