THE barangay Sirao flower gardens of Cebu’s undisputed flower queen Elena Sy-Chua didn’t exactly bloom a hectare-fold. But on her birthday, her loyal gardeners, with instructions from loving hubby Fred, provided the party venue with all manner floral arrangements!
The garden, dedicated to the Sto. Niño and named Little Amsterdam Flower Farm, officially opened last January in time for His feast, but was blessed on Elena’s birthday recently. Guests descended the stone steps to a tent area where the flower queen, pretty in pink with a floral headband, welcomed us.
Among her many visitors were high school and college classmates, colleagues from Cathay Pacific (CX Airways) where she is a senior crew supervisor. Elena must be special, for her CX friends who braved jetlag, (from Sweden and USA), just to be with her!
Another surprise was the prize-winning Mandaue Children’s Choir, with their famous conductor/pianist professor Dennis Sugarol, who played the birthday song and other beloved tunes to fill her with joy!
The thanksgiving/blessing and birthday bash ended way past the lunch hour, with even a tasty merienda thrown in! Many more years, flower queen!
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This very-much blessed flower queen would like to share some information about Little Amsterdam. Elena grows a wide variety of products like Celosia, the official flower of the Sto. Niño, Cockscomb, Dahlias, Gerbera, Sunflowers, Orchids, and very soon, Holland Tulips!
Elena recently brought home Tulip bulbs from Amsterdam and tried them in Sirao… Guess what? They are growing!
In this humid El Niño weather, anything is possible with the Sto. Niño, claims her gardener! However, shall we wait for October, Sirao’s biggest harvest?