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FLOWERS, flowers, flowers.
The Hollywood movie “Lilies of the Field” in 1963 would have won a Famas award for picturesque scenery if it was filmed in the cool mountainsides and valleys of Benguet province.
Its leading actor, Sidney Poitier, would have done the best of his best in the field of Benguet lilies. Although, his performance in the company of religious nuns (lilies) captivated him to the circle of stardom.
Flowers, such as lilies, brighten atmospheres in garden farms and in every household. They bring forth delight in the lives of everyone.
Enter a house and the beautiful sight and aroma of flowers would welcome one and all to a home. Give it to the feminine hands of the lady of the house who by nature can arrange beauty in a bouquet of flowers with a Benguet Lily at the center towering among them.
The Benguet Lily is a standout as it is getting rare and is on its way to extinction.
Almost a century ago when the “Mountain Trail” was short of improvements as to what Halsema Highway is today, those mountains were decorated with thousand dots of Benguet Lilies shooting up in various colors.
As development comes into play, the beauty of the omnipotent’s creations see destruction slowly but surely in the hands of humanity.
In 1969 two years after Benguet was separated as a province in the Cordillera, her officials in the Provincial Board debated over which flower to adopt that would symbolize her people. Two ornaments top various suggestions from inhabitants in the 13 towns. These are: the Benguet Lily and Everlasting.
Those elder officials were not horticulturists but were wisened and educated, in their own rights, with keen observation of human nature. They overwhelmingly voted “Everlasting” as the official flower of the province to amplify the Benguet Lily.
Perhaps in their minds, the Benguet Lily will be gone someday with development for convenience being inevitable to satisfy human needs and pleasure.
“Everlasting” flower it is then.
This ornamental of golden yellow petals typifies the symbol of the Benguet Lily being the everlasting character of the Ibaloi and Kankanai tribes of the province. Fair in complexion, humble, shy, meek, curious, peaceful, sturdy farmers of rice and veggies, and in recent decades flowers. Add their untiring industry as miners of precious metals foremost gold for its everlasting yellow.
The Benguet Lily is not propagated like Calla Lilies that thrives well in the vegetable water canals of La Trinidad valley. They grow well in undisturbed and lusty forests in the cool temperature of Benguet mountains.
In the native tongue, it can be named as “us-usdong”, “pasoysoy”, luplupak” or “kanyon” of the spanish-based cannon-tube in the Ilocano dialect.
They come in various colors: white as symbol of purity, innocence, tranquility and humility; red for love, ardor and affection; pink representing wealth, youth, vigor and joy; and orange stranding for happiness and warmth.
With the diminishing covers of Benguet virgin forests, the Benguet Lily as a flower will surely become extinct in the future. Unless, efforts are initiated to protect its existence.
Same is true with Benguet indigenous tribes whose indigenous culture and traditions are slowly being adulterated by the influence of migration into their lands.Unlike the Benguet Lily, her community leaders and the young generations are awakened to save their own and survive.