Padada Blooms and its Mouth Watering Gastronomy

During our trip to the dusty, humid and sun-kissed municipality of Padada in Davao del Sur, we've come across several unique variety of flowers and, though we have no idea of their nomenclature (except the frangipanis aka calachuchi), we’re proud to share them here.

NOMENCLATURE HELP

We’d be grateful if anyone can help with some of these flowers' nomenclature.

GASTRONOMIC DELIGHT

As to the gastronomic riches, they are mostly fruits of the season: Durian (which is worth P45/kilo at its peak), mangoes (P45/kilo), bananas (saging), sineguelas, pineapple, watermelon (pakwan) and the occasional mangosteen and pomelo. Also featured here is the delectable Ginataan – and Davao’s version is a rich mix filled with the sweetest bananas (saba variety - aka plantain) and landang (a Visayan type of very small sago - the tapioca pearls). Ginataan is locally called Binignit – without doubt the best tasting ginataan we’ve ever tasted in the country! The road from Padada to Sulop is littered with make shift stalls by the road side. These tindahans (store) sell sumptuous and impossibly cheap bibingkas with coconut strips. How much are they? Hold your breath – P5 a piece! When people say things in Davao are cheap – they sure weren’t kidding!

This is the Eye in the Sky!

Frangipani (calachuchi)

Ginataan aka Binignit - a dessert cooked with gata - the Tagalog word for coconut milk. This "thin" coconut milk extract is added to cubed kamote (sweet potato), gabi (taro) and ube (purple yam), sliced ripe sabá (plantain) and langka (jack fruit), and tapioca pearls.

Bibingka is a type of pudding baked in a clay oven. Ingredients include plain flour, butter, coconut milk and sugar. Though popular in the Philippines, it is even more so as a traditional dessert in Goa (India) where it is called Bebinca or bibik. Before being served, butter or margarine is spread and sugar is sprinkled over the bibingka. It is typically served with grated coconut. It may also be topped with sliced salted eggs and cheese.In Davao del Sur, the pudding has strip of coconut milk embedded within. They are also bite-sized and is worth P5 a piece. Yummy!

Durian

Sineguelas (right side corner) is otherwise known as the Spanish Plum or Red Mombin and has several medicinal use: emetic (among the Cubans), laxative (among the Dominicans) and its fruit syrup is given to those suffering from angina among Haitians. We do wonder how these could be extracted as the variety we know is more pulpy/fleshy than juicy unless they are over riped. I kinda prefer my sineguelas crunchy!

Duhat is known as Lumboy in Visayas and Mindanao. It's better known as Black Plum or Java Plum, containing tannin, gallic acid, volatile oil and fat. In India, seeds are used for Diabetes. A 1% decoction is used as a mouthwash. Fleshy portion is used against diarrhea.

Lanzones