Not one but 3 sunflower mazes open in Tayug
TAYUG—There was only one sunflower maze that started a sunflower craze in the region, today there are three sunflower mazes in this town that will rock the visitors in Luzon.
The mazes that were opened to the public on March 12 and will last until May 31, were developed by the APP Builders with the support of the Tayug government were launched in time for the town fiesta and promotion of the Sunflower Festival this April.
Vergel Sto. Domingo, marketing director and consultant of sunflower maze this year
said the three mazes in a two-hectare lot in Barangay C. Lichauco will bring about sunflowers in abundance, reaching full bloom in April.
“As early as 6 a.m. of the opening day, some 700 visitors from as far as Metro Manila, Batangas, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Cagayan Valley already lined up to experience the three mazes,” Sto. Domingo said.
The week-long soft opening started, 40 percent discount was granted to visitors. The grand opening is on the 17th up to May 31 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The maze is also open for photo shoots like pre-nuptial and for debut and other special events.
He said even prior to its opening on March 11, visitors already eagerly came to the site for photo opportunity.
The sunflower maze last year had about 30,000 guests. “I guess this time we’re targeting about 100,000 (visitors),” he added.
An entrance fee of P100 for adult and P80 for children, students and persons with disability and senior citizens is charged.
APP also has sunflowers for sale for interested buyers.
Aaron Paul Peralta, proprietor of APP Builders and a lover of sunflowers, said he got interested in developing the three mazes after learning that Allied Botanical Corp. (ABC) will not build sunflower maze this year.
Peralta said he became curious why sunflowers that grow in Baguio also grow in Tayug so he tried it and he was so overwhelmed to see them in bloom.
He sought the approval of Mayor Tyrone Agabas for his venture and asked some ideas from the people who were previously engaged in the development and promotion of the maze last year.
He rented and developed a cornfield for the sunflower mazes and started the big job of preparing the site only in January.
Peralta said sunflowers grow up to six feet and its flowers are as big as the size of the face of an adult person. “So we thought of the maze to add more excitement to the people when they get lost,” he said.
The seedlings were sourced abroad, he said.
The site is about two hectares and about 2,000 sunflower plants are expected to be in full bloom this summer.
Flowers in one area will be used by the local government for their float parade within the week, he said.
“The mayor wants them because he wants sunflowers to be the trademark of the town,” he added.
Peralta said the social media played a big role in the promotion of the sunflower maze project, with the posting of pictures by enthusiastic visitors.
Meanwhile, Vivian Navarro, municipal tourism officer, who was at the mazes’ site on the opening day, said in a separate interview that the sunflower maze greatly benefited their town as it became popular.
Tayug is a third class municipality but it gains prominence because of the sunflower maze. (Eva Visperas)
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