FTER more than a decade, the Cebu City Government launched yesterday the official flower for the Sinulog.
Unknown to many, Franklin Seno, consultant of the Hillyland Management Board, said the Sinulog Foundation Inc. (SFI) has declared the “celosia” as the official Sinulog flower in 2000 yet.
However, Seno said the flower has not been officially launched to the public until yesterday because the Hillyland Management Board became stagnant for years.
In yesterday’s activity in Barangay Sirao, the celosia flower was also named by the City as the “Halad sa Sto. Niño” flower as it features the prominent colors of the garment of the Sto Niño: yellow and red.
SFI executive director Ricky Ballesteros, who attended yesterday’s launching, said they will be using the celosia flower to adorn the stage for next year’s Sinulog grand parade.
Arnel Opte, one of the growers, said the celosia can last up to two weeks after cutting.
If placed in pots, Opte said the flowers could last up to three months.
While the celosia flowers are grown in the mountain barangay of the city, Opte said they are not usually seen in the markets here.
“Wa man guy halin diri (They don’t sell here),” he said, adding that it is expensive compared to other flowers. A bundle of celosia flower, he said, costs P20.
Opte said the celosia flowers that they grow are delivered to Central Luzon.
In an interview yesterday, Seno said the generic name of the flower “celosia” is a Greek word that means “flaming love.” It also refers to the flame-like head of the flower.
The flower’s shape is similar to that of a rooster’s comb and has silky blooms that make it all attractive.
“Nindot gyud kaayo siya tan-awon (It’s very nice to look at),” Ballesteros said.
