Locusts!

In the early and middle years of the 20th century, swarms of locusts invaded the archipelago, from Luzon to Visayas, then to Mindanao. The problem of locust infestation was so serious that the chief executive had to call representatives from the three islands to solve the problem. At a luncheon in Malacañang Palace in 1932, there was a discussion about locusts. One representative voiced out that among the people of Luzon, locusts were considered a delicacy, but that the Mindanao and Visayan people never considered them as food at all. Maybe, he presumed, these people did not know how to cook the locusts.

Another representative suggested that planes could be used to spray chemicals to finish off the pests.

When swarms of locusts attacked the cornfields and plants of barrio Guibuangan, the farmers decided on a “lethal” solution: EAT THEM!

They drove the locusts into the gahong (big holes dug out from the ground) or captured them in sacks. Then, they were taken out from the holes to fill other sacks. The farmers and their families then invented a recipe as yet untried, with just locusts as the main ingredient.

The step-by-step recipe went like this:

1. Boil water in a deep container.

2. Scoop out locusts from the sacks and throw them into the boiling water.

3. Boil for about 10-15 minutes.

4. Take out the locusts from the boiling water, place them on banana leaves to cool.

5. When cool enough to be handled without burning your fingers, pick out one at a time, remove the head, wings and legs, leaving only the belly. Discard the other parts.

6. Spread out on a mat and dry under the sun until they are hard and stiff.

7. Fry in very hot coconut oil.

8. Take out and place inside a net or mesh, or pot with holes so that the oil will drip from the fried bellies of the locusts.

9. You may store the leftovers.

While I was watching the whole process from day to day until frying time and the farmers and their families and neighbors were feasting on locust-bellies, I felt like running away. Then, a farmer’s wife offered me a belly. I squirmed but I was also curious. I accepted the offer, nibbled at it a little, then another “little” until the “delicacy” was all gone from my fingers.

I can not describe how the locust-belly tasted, but never will I repeat that eating experiment.

The barrio farmers should have been congratulated for solving that pest problem.