In the Spotlight: Dana Campomanes of Mori Hana

Dana Campomanes is the founder of Mori Hana, a floral studio based in Metro Manila. Her work is deeply personal, and that passion shows in the beauty of her arrangements—fun, whimsical, and inspired. Dana shares the real reason she began working with flowers, why her work is important to her, and how sometimes, finding your passion is the very thing that can save you.

On your journey

What moment or experience made you realize you wanted to pursue this path?

I was a Marketing Communications professional in corporate for 14 years, and I honestly thought I would retire there. It was stable and familiar.

In 2020, my mom passed away. She loved flowers. I started learning how to arrange because I wanted to feel close to her and be reminded of her in a beautiful way. What began as something deeply personal slowly became something I looked forward to every weekend.

When I sold my first few dried flower arrangements, that gave me the confidence to keep going. Knowing that people were willing to pay for something I created with my hands meant so much.

By late 2023, my mental, physical, and emotional health were declining. Even with a stable job, I knew I had to choose myself. So I left, even though I didn't have everything figured out.

At first, I was clueless. But when more people started noticing my designs and trusting me, I claimed it. I told myself I am a florist. That's when I realized I could really make this work full-time.

What attracted you to your craft?

What really drew me in was the freedom to create spontaneous, organic compositions—not the usual round bouquet everyone expects. I was inspired by florists who were exploring modern styles and using fruits, vegetables, negative space, and strong sculptural lines.

But honestly, more than the flowers themselves, I fell in love with the act of creating something out of them. I love taking a vision in my head and turning it into something I can actually see and touch. There's something so satisfying about that process.

And I really love being surprised by my own work. Sometimes I start with one idea and the flowers take me somewhere else. It feels less like arranging flowers and more like expressing something I didn't even know I was holding in.

When did you realize you had a business and wanted to do this for a living?

I think I realized it was becoming a real business when people kept coming back. At first it was friends ordering, then referrals, then strangers trusting me with their birthdays, proposals, and weddings.

When I started holding workshops and saw people genuinely wanting to learn my process, it felt different. It wasn't just about making arrangements anymore. I was building a community. I was supporting aspiring florists, sharing what I knew, promoting local flowers and suppliers I believed in, and contributing to the industry in my own small way.

It became something I was nurturing and showing up for consistently. That's when I knew I didn't just love floristry. I wanted to build a life around it.

Tell us more about Mori Hana and what you guys do.

Mori Hana Design Studio specializes in modern floral design. Our style is bold, organic, and intuitive. We create retail arrangements, style intimate events and weddings, and design floral art installations.

We don't do cookie-cutter bouquets. Every piece has movement and personality. We're always exploring ways to make our arrangements feel fresh and unexpected—mixing dried flowers with fresh ones, adding twigs, fruits, or other unusual elements. We see floristry as contemporary art, not just decoration.

We also teach both basic and advanced floral design classes, supporting hobbyists and aspiring florists who want to grow their skills or start their own journey. More than anything, we want to help people build confidence in their own design voice.

We also built Modern Floristry PH, a community dedicated to supporting florists and flower enthusiasts. Its mission is to share knowledge, celebrate creativity, and help aspiring florists grow, while promoting collaboration and elevating the local floristry industry.

How do you define success in your life?

"Success for me is alignment."

It's being able to build a creative business while still being present for my family. It's having the freedom to choose projects that resonate and to create without feeling restrained. It's being fully trusted by my clients and seeing my work displayed in homes and other spaces, knowing it reflects who I am as an artist.

Success is sustainability—creatively and financially.

And honestly, it's waking up excited to create.

On the workshop

What excites you most about this workshop series and Women's Month?

What excites me most about this workshop series and Women's Month is the opportunity to share our approach to creating unique floral arrangements, including fun, unexpected elements like fruits and vegetables. Beyond that, it's about connecting and collaborating with other women-led brands like Sunday Street Co.—celebrating creativity, entrepreneurship, and the power of women supporting women.

I'm also excited about the opportunity to inspire other women, whether they're hobbyists or aspiring florists, to explore their creativity, trust their instincts, and feel confident turning their passion into something real. For me, Women's Month is a reminder that when women lift each other up, we create stronger communities and more meaningful work.

What do you hope participants will take away from your session?

I hope participants leave the session feeling inspired and confident in their own creativity. I want them to see that there's no single "right" way to design, that they can trust their instincts, experiment with different elements, and create arrangements that feel uniquely theirs.

Beyond the techniques, I hope they take away a sense of empowerment—that they can turn their passion into something tangible, whether it's for fun, for their home, or even as a step toward building their own creative path.

On the theme of female empowerment

What does female empowerment mean to you personally?

"To me, female empowerment is about owning your voice, your creativity, and your choices. It's about having the confidence to take risks, trust your instincts, and carve your own path—something I learned firsthand when I left a stable corporate career to pursue floristry full-time."

Through Mori Hana Design Studio, I've seen how empowering it can be to share knowledge, support other women in the industry, and celebrate each other's successes. Female empowerment, for me, isn't just about individual growth. It's about lifting each other up, creating opportunities, and building communities where women can thrive, express themselves, and turn their passion into something real.

Who are the women who have inspired or supported you along the way?

The first woman who inspired me was my mom. She loved flowers, and learning to arrange them in her memory is what started my journey.

I've also been inspired by fellow florists on the same path—the ones who generously share their knowledge and are always willing to help when needed. They've shown me that the industry is stronger when we lift each other up.