When we see sunflowers, a sense of happiness imbues us, but more than the sunny disposition this perennially favorite bloom offers, sunflowers also symbolize friendship and loyalty. So, ladies, if a guy gives you sunflower, either he wants you to be his friend or he loves you so much he wants you to know he's loyal to you. Ok, so enough with that. But you would agree with me: no one can resist the mood-enhancing feel sunflowers bring to anyone.
The OISCA Sunflower Farm is one of the two sunflower destinations in Negros Occidental. The other one is in La Carlota City. This expansive field of 3,000 sunflowers is a change of scenery. Negros Occidental, after all, is synonymous with sugarcane plantation - thousands and thousands of them! But here at OISCA, aside from their mulberry plantation (check the picture above) which they feed to the silkworms they they raise here, you get these sunflowers, too!
The Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement set up the OISCA training Center in Tabunan here in Bago in 1981. The sprawling two-hectare property surrounding the center was planted with mulberry and that’s when the city’s silk making industry started. Today, OISCA Bago is independently run by Mr. Watanabe Shigeme and his wife Thelma. You can read the more detailed story of OISCA here.
The Watanabes originally planted the sunflower for commercial purposes. They intended to extract the oils but because sunflower is a novelty in the area, the 2,500 square-meters sunflower garden was an instant hit to the locals. Visitors flocked the area to see the flowers and words and pictures of the sunflower farm soon spread like wildfire on social media.
I came one quite Monday morning—when everyone is busy at work and no tourist was in site. So the whole sunflower farm was mine to enjoy. The sweltering heat, though, affects the bloom and the flowers looks quite distressed. Nevertheless, they still managed show off their beauty. The place was peaceful and calm and the whisper of the strong wind was refreshing amidst the late-morning warmth. I just fell in love with the place; I was bursting with life while standing in the midst of this field! No wonder sunflowers were the objects of inspiration of Gaugin and Monet. And because of that I took lots of picture for you to enjoy...
The OISCA Sunflower Farm is open to the public from Mondays to Saturdays from 6am to 5pm. Entrance fee is P20.00. How to reach OISCA Sunflower Farm? Take the Ceres Bus at the Bacolod Southbound Terminal, one that passes by Sum-Ag. Drop off at the 7-11 and take a short walk to the tricycle terminal that passes by OISCA. Tricycle fare is only P10.00 if you wait until the tricycle has already 10 passengers. You can also contract the driver if you want an exclusive ride.
P.S: A sunflower withers easily, so if you're going to OISCA just for the sunflower, better check their FB page to find out if the sunflowers are in full bloom and guests.
Wherever you go, leave
nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures, kill nothing but time.
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