NEGROS ORIENTAL: Foodtrip and Pasalubong

The eastern half of Negros Island has some specialties to offer, some of which owes to sugar industry where lands used to be tilled. Here are some treat you can take home from this province:

1. Sans Rival

The pride of Dumaguete, this pastry is made basically of meringue sandwiched with cream and butter and showered with cashew nuts. Sliced akin to loaves of bread, this light dessert is perfect with coffee to satisfy your buttery cravings. I took a slice and at first bite, the cream seeps in to your taste buds as it was served chilled. I finished the slice in a minute and felt like I want to ask for more. However, I need to try the second item.

2. Silvana

This sister of sans rival is a cookie made also of meringue but filled with butter and cream. It is chewier and best eaten chilled, closer to ice cream sandwich. Once you took a bite, you won’t stop to take or eat a box of these. I’ve tasted ones from Nueva Ecija and guaranteed their milky goodness. Can’t help to take more but I have to buy other delicacies as well.

3. Budbod Kabog

This rolled millet rice cake from Tanjay City is their specialty. Millet, a kind of round grain is made into these sticky cakes and a common staple for breakfast in public markets in Negros. There rice cakes are more expensive than common glutinous rice varieties but the texture is different. The taste varies as it is not too sweet, perfect with a slice of ripe mangoesf and chocolate drink for a fulfilling breakfast.

4. Inato Pecho

Visayans have several ways of grilling chicken like inasal and inato. Lately I found out that Dumaguete is the birthplace of famous Jo’s Chicken Inato. This barbecue, grilled to a tender-juicy crisp, is marinated in a special sauce for its aromatic flavor, and served with atchara or picked papaya. Their single serving is big enough to make you full. Couple with unlimited rice, I enjoyed every bite and left nothing but little inedible chicken bones.

5. Barquiron

Barquiron is a fusion of two delicacies: barquillos (wafer rolls) and polvoron (powdered milk candy). Polvoron is put in every wafer roll and packed. The taste is light as sweetness of polvoron overpowers the plain flavor if barquillo. It is a perfert pasalubong for people who enjoy these two-treats-in-one package. 

NEGROS ORIENTAL: Walking Tour at Dumaguete City

 

It was a fine Sunday morning when I arrived at the port from Siquijor. I walked by the bay passing the good old Silliman University, city’s largest university that occupies the northern part.

Silliman University seen from Dumaguete Bay

Silliman Gate Markers at Hibbard Avenue

Silliman Chapel

You can see the oldest building within it near the port: Silliman Hall or officially known as Silliman Anthropology Museum. It has an exhibit of artifacts and archaeological findings, some dating 2,000 years and an ethnographic collection from minority tribes in the Philippines. Silliman Hall is in itself a cultural relic of old America.

Next stop is the Rizal Boulevard named after our national hero, who came from exile in Dapitan, had a stopover here to operate the eye of former head of Negros Occidental.

A landmark at one part of the boulevard is the marker where Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres landed at the bay to establish the first educational and medical institutions in the city.

Walking towards the cathedral is the Quezon Park celebrating its centennial, graced by Rizal monument.

Nearby is the city hall flanked by central schools, which has a colonial stone house motif.


Across the Quezon Park are the two famous landmarks of the city:

The Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish known as Dumaguete Cathedral is the flagship Catholic church within the city. Regarded as the oldest stone church in Negros, it was originally built in 1754 with coral stones like in Siquijor churches. The reconstruction started in 1585 up to 1936. Nowadays, many modern renovations have been incorporated in the interior and exterior of the church.

The most famous landmark is the Campanario de Dumaguete or simply the bell tower located a few meters away from the cathedral. It was initially built in 1811 as a lookout to forewarn locals of any incoming danger brought about by Muslim pirates. This is the oldest bell tower in the Visayas. Hence, its name was derived from Cebuano word dumagit meaning "to snatch".

Famished after the day’s walk, I took at hot cup of milk at a painitan (breakfast stall) within the public market and bought some budbod kabog (rolled millet rice cakes), a famous delicacy from Tanjay City.

Before leaving Dumaguete, my trip won’t be complete without tasting their famous desserts: sans rival and silvana served at Sans Rival Bistro. The café is already packed with patrons lining up to take home these sweet treats.

I took a quick lunch from the main branch of Jo’s Chicken Inato, a famous chicken barbecue chain that originated here in Dumaguete.

'Til next time Dumaguete! (n_n)

NEXT: NEGROS ORIENTAL: Foodtrip and Pasalubong

SIQUIJOR: Foodtrip and Pasalubong

Actually, I didn’t know what delicacy this province can offer has to offer until I checked the pasalubong map and a little research. My goal is to taste at least one food delicacy they’re known for. So I ended up eating these treats below:

1. Torta

This pastry has its local name derived from Spanish term for cake. This small but filling little cake is good enough to make you full and energized for a quick breakfast. Made of egg mixed with flour, milk and other ingredients, I survived breakfast and lunch with these take home treats and as locals say, its taste improves over time. I ate the last piece 3 days after and it was still great.

2. Pan Bisaya

The famous bakery in the province is not located within the town center where there are glass displays of baked breads but in a hut of charcoal ovens and long table with few bakers. Their produce are simple but cheese-filled, meat-filled and rolled breads. Best paired with hot chocolate (sikwate) or coffee. Don’t be fooled by its simplicity.

3. Peanut Balls

This small province is also known for locally-farmed products such as peanuts. This pack of sweet nutty balls is a great snack while waiting at the boarding area.

4. Peanut Brittle

This brick version of caramelized peanuts comes handy and perfect for sharing.

5. Sutukil

This viand medley is a common staple in Visayan households, where they prepare their fresh catch in sugba(grilled), tula (soup), and kilawin (ceviche) ways of cooking. This was our lunch when I had my coastal tour with Kuya Ricky. Lami kaayo! (So delicious!)

NEXT: NEGROS ORIENTAL: Walking Tour at Dumaguete City

Visita Iglesia in Negros Occidental

Cities of Sugarlandia share some heritage and contemporary churches. When you get to this province, visiting them is a must.

1. Cathedral of Saint Sebastian the Martyr


The original church of Bacolod City was erected in 1825 made of wood. Then it was reconstructed made of coral stones from Guimaras and hardwood from Palawan. Once the biggest church in the province in 1882, two towers were added housing the church bells but were never returned after reconstruction of towers. Altar was changed from the opulent Spanish-style retablo to a simple one, with huge image of the patron at the center. It is the main cathedral of Diocese of Bacolod, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Jaro in Iloilo City.

2. San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish

The old church of Talisay City lies within the poblacion where it is surrounded by surviving ancestral houses. You can still see the original checkered stone floor and main altar made of wood.

3. Saint Didacus of Alcala Pro-Cathedral

Present pro-cathedral of Silay City was built in 1925 through the generosity of Silaynons and designed by Italian architect Lucio Bernasconi. Hence, the dome and façade is reminiscent of an Italian church. The two towers house a bell and a mechanical clock.

4. Our Lady of Victory Parish

The main church of Victorias City located across city hall, the patron lends its name to city as victorious.

5. St. Joseph the Worker Chapel

Commonly known as the Angry Christ Church, in Victorias City, Philippines, is a Roman Catholic chapel located inside the Victorias Milling Company residential complex, in Victorias, Negros Occidental, Philippines. It considered the first example of modern sacral architecture in the Philippines dedicated to St. Joseph the Worker.

The church was designed by the Czech architect Antonín Raymond, himself already recognized as the founder of modern architecture in Japan. The church was declared Important Cultural Property of the Philippines in December 2015.

It was built between 1948-50 by the Ossorio family thus it is sometimes called the Ossorio Chapel. Modern altar painting of so-called "Angry Christ" was painted in vivid colors by Alfonso Ossorio, Filipino-American abstract expressionist artist.. Mosaics are by the Belgian Adelaide de Bethune. The materials and talents were provided by the local artists Arcadio Anore and Benjamin Valenciano. 

Arcadio Anore executed Bethune's designs for the brass plates in the pulpit and baptistery while Benjamin Valenciano did the wooden image sculptures inside the church including the images for the Stations of the Cross. Their works were recognized by the Philippine religious arts for introducing a "Filipinized" version of religious themes depicting Mary, Joseph and the characters in the Fourteen Stations of the Cross to have brown skin in traditional Filipino attire.

Negros Occidental Cities Route: 

Bacolod City-Talisay City-Silay City-Victorias City

Have a blessed Visita Iglesia everyone!