Model Georgina Wilson and football player Phil Younghusband are the country's first brand ambassadors of "premium" ice cream maker Haagen Dazs.

MANILA, Philippines - From the usual chocolate, strawberry and vanilla, ice cream has evolved through the years.

Now, one can find almost every ice cream flavor imaginable. In Japan, for instance, top flavors include matcha or powdered green tea, and azuki or red bean. Dulce de leche, made of simmered milk and sugar, is a hit in Argentina and several parts of the world.

Here in the Philippines, there is "dirty ice cream," made from coconut milk and peddled from street carts, in cheese, ube, mango and avocado.

Several people have also experimented with the frozen dessert, resulting in flavors that range from the unusual to the downright disgusting. There's salted egg, candied bacon, beer, malunggay, spaghetti, even foie gras and caviar. The list goes on and on.

Simply put, ice cream is a universal treat.

'Premium' ice cream

But just like many good things, ice cream has also made it to the high-end market.

Placed in elegant-looking tubs and sold at a premium, products marketed as luxury ice cream are designed for the occasional indulgence.

Among the companies that sell high-end frozen desserts is Haagen Dazs, which first made its way to the Philippines in 1998.

The company launched on Wednesday its first Philippine brand ambassadors -- Georgina Wilson and Phil Younghusband -- as it encourages more Filipinos to "heighten the pleasure" of quality time with "premium" ice cream.

"Ice cream is my favorite thing. I've been eating it since I was a child," said Wilson, a permanent fixture in the modeling scene.

She added that unlike designer bags and shoes, "premium" ice cream is more affordable yet just as rewarding.

"It costs less than a luxury bag," she quipped. "It's the ultimate happiness, more than a diamond for me."

Asked about her favorite flavors, she said, "I love strawberry cheesecake, cappuccino truffle, and green tea. That's the Asian in me."

Azkals player Younghusband, for his part, said, "I like vanilla. I'm a vanilla person."