DILIMAN, Quezon City – The latest free seminar from the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), this time focusing on Cutflower Production and Flower Arrangement, left participants with high hopes on starting afresh and exploring new ventures.

“It (flower arrangement) is truly a form of stress reliever. We can do it both as leisure and business," 64-year-old Zenaida Bugaring of Quezon City said. Sharing her plan of venturing into cutflower production, Bugaring added, “I think I will start my life as a retiree with this. It was said earlier that flowers symbolize the beginning of a new life. As a senior citizen, I think may just be the start of a new life for me.”

Fifty-seven-year-old Ma. Teresita Landrum from San Antonio, Zambales also plans to integrate flower farming in her rice and corn fields after realizing the potential in cutflower production.

Expounding this potential during her lecture, Alma Amado, an instructor from Benguet State University, shared that countries like Brunei, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, and Italy are the export markets for Philippine cutflowers. She also talked about the principles in cutflower production and its industry. At the end of her talk, Amado demonstrated dish gardening and terrarium-making which can serve as additional livelihood for cutflower growers.

Meanwhile, Jim Raborar, Training Specialist from the ATI Regional Training Center XII, talked about the principles in flower arrangement and the opportunities it offers to flower enthusiasts. The participants were delighted to take part in a flower arrangement activity with Raborar critiquing their outputs, highlighting the strength of each arrangement.

Spearheaded by the Partnership and Accreditation Division, this free seminar is part of the Institute’s commitment on enhancing capabilities of its stakeholders. Around 170 individuals from Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON joined the activity held on August 25, 2017 at the Serrano Hall in this city.