This article is written by Romina Tobias for 88DB Lifestyle and was first published last February, 2008.

No other flower can seduce its admirer as passionately as the rose. Its vibrant color whispers deep thoughts of love while it breathes the sweetest, most romantic scent there is. And who can resist feeling that sensational flutter when surprised with a bouquet of roses at the doorstep? It leaves a giddy feeling that’ll last long after the rose’s last petal has fallen. The rose undoubtedly, will endure as the traditional flower of love and correspondingly, a Valentine classic.

Playing cupid not just this season of love, is IslandRose.net, an e-commerce site that allows its customers to order farm fresh roses and have them delivered anywhere in the Philippines. It is the official site of the Philippine Cut Flower Corporation (PCFC), the pioneer and largest supplier of roses in the country since 1983. Choose among 20 French and Dutch variety roses, grown in their state-of-the art flower farm located in Tagaytay City. Dustin Andaya, Marketing Director of IslandRose shares, “We take pride in producing high quality flowers. Ours is the only fully-automated glass green house in the country which makes it possible for us to provide our clients with the freshest and widest selection of roses at the fairest prices.” So rain or shine, Valentine’s Day or not, IslandRose can deliver consistently gorgeous cut flowers to anyone across the Philippines.

Their long stem roses are breathtaking. The flower bouquets are packaged while in their bud stage –an absolute coy beauty. Their simple yet elegant wrapping lets the roses speak for themselves, with some help from a personalized greeting card especially composed by its sender. But technically, the love note begins with the choosing of the right bouquet –with each rose color conveying a special meaning, and each stem representing a number significant to the recipient. Red says “I love you” while pink says “you’re gentle and graceful.” Peach expresses friendship and appreciation, while white speaks of innocence and purity. Yellow means joy and orange symbolizes enthusiasm and desire. Bouquets can be bunched in classic or in a combination of colors.

To spoil your loved ones even more, IslandRose offers other gift ideas just as passionate as roses are. For the devotees of the sweet burnished flavor of chocolate, IslandRose recommends their Pure Belgian Chocolates –truffles and pralines to melt anyone’s heart. For those wanting to extend their rose-inspired experience, the Home Fragrance set is the way to go. Rose-scented oils and crystal candles will definitely set the mood for romance. And to commemorate those precious moments, a Personal Journal Set exclusively designed for IslandRose, creates the perfect keepsake.

So despite its short-lived existence, the pleasure of receiving roses will be as memorable as love itself. Along with IslandRose’s premium services, the means to creatively send messages of love is within reach –literally, it’s as if you thoughtfully hand-picked the flowers yourself from some picturesque landscape halfway across the world. It is a classic gift that definitely has a little more to something to say.