The road to happiness
is bordered with sunflowers. Not in all places. In Tiaong maybe.
The Sunshine Farm is a sprawling and picturesque sunflower garden, a new and budding tourist destination in the South. But beneath the majestic sight of these lovely sunflowers, is an inspiring and beautiful story why and how the farm started.
Former expatriate (from UK and Singapore) and now-retiree, Rhodora Palomar-Fresnedi has twin passions in life – helping persons with disabilities and growing and arranging flowers. With the help of horticulturist and sunflower expert and Mike Caballes, she was happy to venture into setting up a farm with an end goal in mind – the farm to be run and maintained by PWDs. She hired PWDs to help her plant seeds in her vacant lot in Lalig, Tiaong and 45 days later, flowers started to bloom. Little by little, the farm expanded and now employs more than 10 PWDs. It is also now managed by Rhodora’s NGO, the Center for Growing and Giving Foundation.
The farm is in a very strategic location, just along the highway (and near other famous landmarks in Quezon such as Villa Escudero and Ugu Bigyan).
Receptionists, growers, laborers and staff of the farm are PWDs; they have muscular dystrophy, polio, or traumatic below elbow amputation. The farm manager is Vhen Villanueva, President of the Samahan ng mga Isinusulong ang mga Kakayahan ng mga may Kapansanan or SIKAP. I am happy that there are people like Rhodora who gives hope, empowerment and livelihood opportunities to PWDs.
A small cafe within the farm serves snacks and set lunch to day visitors. Most of what they serve are healthy and organic such as beef afritada and ginataang isda.
The main attraction of the farm is of course the sunflowers. The field of bright yellow sunflowers is truly a sight to behold. What’s more amazing, the flowers bloom all-year round. And for trivia, they do not only resemble the sun, they also display a behavior called heliotropism. The flower buds and young blossoms face east in the morning and follow the direction of the sun during the day.
I didn’t see any guests who left the farm without a smile on
their face. Sunflowers are happy flowers. You look at them and you see thousands
smiling back at you.
From Manila, take Lucena-bound bus from Cubao, Buendia or Pasay. Get
off at Sunshine Farm in Lalig, Tiaong (near Hacienda Escudero and CityMall
Tiaong).
Sunshine Farm
Maharlika Highway
Lalig, Tiaong, Quezon
Tel.
No.: 0906-0554262
No comments:
Post a Comment