clear blue

As today's clear blue sky makes the promise of Spring more definite, wonder | wander | women sift through images of azure happiness.

The Dumaguete Promenade

It's still too chilly for our tropical bones. Much as we love Game of Thrones and John Snow, their iconic warning - "Winter is coming!" - elicits shivers that are far from delightful. 

Rizal Boulevard, Dumaguete 

We draw comfort and warmth instead from our recent return back to our home province of Negros Island in the Philippines.

Although it has been decades since our last visit to Dumaguete City on the Oriental side of Negros, skimming its periphery was a sweet welcome.

The newly restored facade of Silliman University

Silliman University, founded in 1901, is the first Protestant school in the Philippines and the first American university in Asia. 

Named Dananguet [meaning to snatch or to swoop] by Diego Lopez Povedano in 1572 - it was mistakenly referred to as Dumaguete by the Jesuit cartographer, Murillo Velarde in 1934. So it has remained all these years hence. 

We only had two short days filled with many TO DOs on our list.

Lucky us, we were fortified with their famous and fabulous local desserts of silvana and sans rival. Literally and figuratively, unrivaled - no contenders come close!

Sans Rival Bakeshop and Bistro on Dumaguete's pretty promenade [Rizal Boulevard] is the undisputed home of these twin frozen and iconic desserts.

These chilled pastries are the perfect choice for steamy hot days by the coast! 

Flat or layered, their buttery creamyness just melts in your mouth. 

It is ideal with merienda coffee and native chokolate tablea.

If you've never had it, be adventurous and go for the local budbud kabog - a native delicacy similar to suman (steamed sticky sweet rice, wrapped in banana or coconut leaves).

Ferry port along the promenade.

Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres memorial along the promenade. 

Made with millet seeds - a whole grain used to make bread like chapatti and roti - it has a sweet roasted nutty flavor. Rich in fiber, vitamins and phytochemicals it’s both tasty and healthy.

It is our wish that the shared memories of these sights and delights bring you comfort and warmth - as they have done for us. Happy Spring Equinox!