Mesmerized by Baguio..

     City of blooms! The summer capital of the Philippines! whatever you may call it..it's the place I've always wanted to come back to.. the mountains, its landscape, her flowers, the wind, its people. It's been a long time since my last visit to Baguio, 12 years ago..but still the memories, all that is in Baguio lingers. A happy family back then, it seems. I have 2 kids then and we went boating in the man-made lagoon in Burnham Park, took our walk up the 100 stairs, and took pictures with the Mines View Park behind us and The Mansion. Sweet memories..we even experienced a tremor at 2am.  Earthquake!   at first, I thought there was a monster opening the door since our room is connected to the other moving through a common bathroom.
Traveling 6 hours from Manila.. always excited to get there.. remember my first visit when I was in college for a leadership seminar sponsored by one of our student societies I was a member of. Six months after the July 16, 1990 earthquake when Baguio, one that was badly hit at that time.. though we could still see the ruins, its natural beauty can still be seen despite the tragedy. The warmth of the native people living there, and the rich culture, would also make you back and even wanted to live there. I think this is the place where I can really be one with nature, be what I am, be with other God's creation, It's a beautiful place..being tired of the suburbs' polluted air, the noise. it's one place that will bring you to your senses. Though I know there is a far better place than Baguio, still, her flowers leave their color in my eyes.
     One day, two days, or even three days are not enough to see the marvelous splendor of Baguio..and maybe after all these tedious days, I would go back and experience once again the different colors and blooms of Baguio.

Meanings on Flower Colors and Numbers

February is the "love month". As a symbol of love or adoration, people send flowers to their loved ones. But did you know that the type of flowers, their colors, and the quantity have different meanings? 

Flowers are a symbol of many things. Throughout history, people have given flowers as a sign of their love, devotion, admiration, appreciation, or sympathy to other people. Through the years, the language and meaning of flowers evolved into different meanings.

Rose, among all other flowers, is the best choice or the most popular among lovers during special holidays and occasions. The color of a rose has different meanings as well as the number a person would give to a certain person.

 Red: Love and Romance

Red is the symbol of love. To give red roses says "I love you still". One of the most universal of all symbols, the red rose represents true love. It has also appeared throughout history and across cultures as both a political and religious symbol.

Yellow: Friendship, Joy, Get Well

Throughout history, yellow has been closely associated with the sun, making these roses excellent for cheering people up. Yellow roses send a message of appreciation and platonic love. The color represents feelings of joy, delight, and friendship - yellow roses don't specifically show love. They can also represent starting over, or a new beginning. Yellow tipped with red shows friendship falling in love.

Pink: Love, Gratitude, Appreciation

Pink carries with it the connotation of grace and elegance, as well as sweetness and poetic romance. To give pink roses shows grace, joy, and gratitude.

Dark pink roses are symbolic of gratitude and appreciation and are a traditional way to say thanks.

Light pink roses are associated with gentleness and admiration, and can also be used as an expression of sympathy. Pale pink also has the meaning of fun attached to it.

White: Purity, Innocence, Sympathy, Spirituality

They also represent humility, youthfulness, and charm.

Early tradition used white roses as a symbol of true love, an association that would later become the hallmark of the red rose. Also known as the bridal rose, the white rose is a traditional wedding flower. In this sense, white represents unity, virtue, and the pureness of new love. White roses are also associated with honor and reverence, which makes them a fitting memorial for a departed loved one.

Orange: Desire, Enthusiasm, and Passion

A literal mixture of yellow and red, orange roses were seen as a bridge between friendship symbolized by yellow roses and love represented by red roses. They can be an expression of fascination or a gift to say 'I'm proud of you.  These would be a great choice to give to someone if you want the relationship to develop further. Lilac and Lavender roses also show these feelings.

Lavender: Enchantment, Majesty, Love at First Sight

The color purple has a traditional association with royalty. In this regard, shades of lavender roses suggest an air of regal majesty and splendor.

The following are the significant numbers associated with giving roses...

 1     - Love at first sight - you are "the one"

 2     - Mutual love and feelings

 3     - Also says "I Love You".

 7     - Together forever

 10   - Represents perfection. To give someone 10 roses shows you feel that way about them.

 12   - The standard for "be mine". Often given on Valentine's day, when for a married couple, actually 7 or 10  might be a better choice. (slightly cheaper as well! ;-)

 13   - A sign of enduring friendship

 15   - I'm sorry