The New Weekend Therapy Is In: Behind DIY Floral Bars with
Florio Manila

For those into self-care—Pilates, journaling, and whisking your own matcha are all having their moment. But another activity blooming with popularity? Arranging your own bouquet of flowers. If you’ve visited a weekend market recently, then you might have seen a floral bar crowded with customers, all carefully picking out petals. It’s like a rom-com montage of sorts: Some customers may be making it as a gift for others and some may be even making it for themselves. But at the heart of it, is the actual hands-on nature of choosing and arranging flowers. 

Photo by Kieran Punay.

One brand at the center of this floral fever is Florio Manila, run by wife-and-husband duo Pat and Myles Santos. As head florist, Pat’s main goal is to turn flower arranging into something both beautiful and meaningful. Pat believes DIY floral bars have become a popular way to unwind because, while most self-care activities are therapeutic, flower arranging leaves you with something tangible to take home. “You get to hold the result of your me-time and it serves as a happy and physical reminder of that moment,” she says. “You can also give it to someone else. I think that’s what makes it really different.”

Growing up in Dangwa

Pat grew up surrounded by flowers in Manila’s central flower market, Dangwa. At first, she never really saw them in a special way—or even liked receiving flowers—until she met her husband. When he started giving her bouquets, carefully choosing each bloom, she began to see flowers in a whole new light. “It’s really sweet when he’s intentional about picking the flowers, attaching meaning to them,” Pat shares. 

She started looking into floristry as a hobby and took several local workshops. She also studied abroad in Hong Kong at Lacy Bird Academy to refine her craft. “It felt less like learning something new and more like remembering something I already knew. Florio Manila is that hobby realized,” she reflects.

Pat came to understand that flowers carry deep emotions, which is why they are part of so many celebrations, whether happy or sad. Through Florio Manila, she teaches customers that each stem holds its own meaning and when combined, they can create entirely new messages through floriography.

Floriography: The language of flowers

The concept of Florio Manila is rooted from floriography, the Victorian way of using flowers to send messages. “Floriography is such an interesting concept. I found out about it through a book. There’s surprisingly a lot of references to floral meaning,” Pat says. Historically, floriography has already been used to express different emotions—it can be a letter of love or even sorrow. 

Photo by Kim Angela Santos.

Florio Manila follows the same approach, with their floral offerings each containing meaning. “Rose symbolizes passionate love, lily embodies solace or purity. When you put them together, it could mean love enduring through grief or a tender offering of comfort amidst heartbreak,” Pat explains. She also talks about other flowers and their meanings: lavender for calmness, ranunculus for charm, gerbera daisies for joy, and carnation for maternal love. 

Their floral bars bring this idea to life. Guests can choose from 12 different flora and make their own personalized bouquet based on the message they want to convey. “We intentionally designed the experience on the idea of floriography and creating with purpose,” Pat says. Whether you want to express romance, strength, peace, or new beginnings, you leave with a bouquet that says exactly what you feel—even if you didn’t know how to say it out loud.

A moment for yourself

What makes the floral bar experience unique is that it’s not just creative, it’s also calming. “The process brings people back to themselves,” Pat says. “You’re making something beautiful, but you’re also giving yourself time to slow down and just be present.”

Photo by Kieran Punay.

For those who want flowers but don’t want to overthink the process, Florio Manila also offers bespoke bouquets for delivery. Whether you design one yourself one weekend or order with a meaning in mind, the result is always the same. “You still leave with something personal and beautiful,” Pat adds.

So the next time you want something therapeutically beautiful, stroll by a floral bar and ask yourself, ‘What do I want to feel or say?’ Pat’s advice? “Think of one person or one feeling, and hold that intention as you build your bouquet.”

Create it with your own hands, carry it home, and place it in a vase as a quiet reminder of the moment you made just for yourself.

Follow Florio Manila on Facebook and Instagram @florio.manila.