By JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ
In the time of Covid-19, there is perhaps, no nobler task than being part of the frontline. It is for this very reason that doctors, nurses, workers in the food and service industry, as well as those in public service, among others, have been aptly called “modern-day heroes.”
Dave Sandoval, a celebrated events stylist known for his exquisite floral arrangements may not be a front liner, but that doesn’t mean he’ll just wait the battle out. In fact, he joins the fight with his weapons of choice – and his language of love – flowers.
Dave, along with his reliable driver, has spent the past few weeks going around hospitals in the metro to deliver a message of hope to front liners, through numerous assortments of roses and other blooms that he personally arranges for them. And while they may not have the power to protect these professionals from the dreaded novel coronavirus like PPEs, or nourish their bodies the way food does, these flowers can most certainly uplift their spirits and morale.
In an interview with PeopleAsia, Dave shares that the idea stemmed from his desire to help. “Through floral styling, I can articulate many things. I am able to convey love in many colors and shapes. I believe that God has given me this talent to touch lives,” says Dave, who has visited at least 10 hospitals in April.
“Normally donations come in forms of food and PPEs. That’s why when we walk into a hospital with the flowers, they truly get surprised,” he shares. Dave, who makes his rounds weekly, also says that it makes his heart melt whenever he sees, say, a weary doctor or nurse’s face light up at the sight of such a simple gesture.
Flowers are also often used to bid farewell to those who have passed away. Unfortunately, these universal expressions of love and longing are harder to come by these days, due to the current limitations imposed by the community quarantine. The scarcity led one such relative to approach Dave via social media to find flowers for a loved one’s urn. Feeling empathy for the bereaved, he chose instead to give and have the flowers delivered for free.
In a time when death and sickness are always lurking in the horizon, flowers become a potent source of positive emotions. In an article for Psychology Today, Dr. Loretta G. Breuning Ph.D., wrote that flowers make one happy by triggering “happy brain chemicals” called dopamine. “Dopamine is triggered by the expectation of a reward. Flowers were a huge reward signal in the world our brain evolved in because they marked the coming of abundance after a hungry winter. Today, we have enough to eat all year round so we don’t consciously link flowers with food. But the blossoming of a flower triggers the sense that something special is coming,” she said.
For Dave though, giving flowers is about inspiring others; a simple way of telling them that their actions are well appreciated even from beyond the frontline. “When I see their reactions, talagang nai-inspire ako (it really inspires me). It is a blessing to witness their joy,” he concludes.
