Abal-abal is the Ilocano term for salagubang (Philippine beetle). Abal abal lives in burrowed ground that goes out in the evening and stays on trees. The usual way to catch more than just one is through shaking a tree (most common of which is a mango) vigorously until it falls to the ground. However, this is applicable only if it rained beforehand. Another way of getting this is through going near places where they thrive, making a knot in a tree nearby or a bamboo stick with a knotted hay on the end and thereafter rubbing chili on that knot. The scent of the chili attracts the salagubangs so they will swarm in that spot. This method is a lot easier than the first one since they are already concentrated in a particular spot.
This is lolo and lola reaching for the salagubangs in a sampaloc tree.
Last weekend, I had the chance to go in our farm with my mom, uncle, and grandparents (mom's aunt and uncle) to catch these salagubangs. I had so much fun catching these salagubangs with them. It was my first time. I didn't mind that I was in the farm and anytime I'll encounter frogs. Just so you know, I am scared of frogs especially the sticky ones that leaps and sticks on the wall. Toads are tolerable but the former ones are not. I'll scream the life out of me if I'll have close encounters with those.
This is mom in her farm.
Moving on. Why do we get a lot of salagubangs? Because salagubangs are food! We cooked it adobo-style. But Lola removed the legs, wings, and some innards (I think) before cooking it. It was delicious and I actually enjoyed eating it. I am not sure if it is really rich in protein (as others say) but definitely it is not poisonous, it is edible and in fact an Ilocano delicacy! There are a lot of locals who'll go to mango farms of other barrios just to catch these. It is a fun, festive mode. Friends, relatives, meet there and race to get as much as they could. Aside from it being a food, children play with it. Well honestly, not just children, even grown ups play with it too!
A salagubang landed on my hand. That's how abundant it is!
