‘Talangka’ mode at the Senate

We refer to it as ‘utak-talangka,’ roughly translated as ‘crab mentality.’

On the eve of 128th anniversary of our country’s independence, the US import ban on Philippine crab meat took effect. About 90 percent of Philippine crab meat production is exported to the US, according to former E.B. Magalona mayor and crab meat exporter Alfonso Gamboa.

The Philippines exports approximately 500,000 pounds of crab meat monthly to the US, with products sourced from processing facilities in coastal communities, according to Gamboa.

The Philippines is the world’s fourth largest producer of blue swimming crab as of the 2022 report of the Food and Agriculture Organization released in 2024. Most of the crabs are harvested in the Visayan Sea. The retail price here for blue swimming crab ranges from P1,210.79 to P2,311.75 per kilogram, depending on the size.

Thus, Gamboa fears our country’s blue swimming crab industry is bracing for at least P6- to P7-billion economic losses annually, aside from the resulting job displacement. Gamboa estimated that around 10,000 fishermen and an additional 4,000 to 5,000 crab meat pickers in Negros, Panay, Bicol, Samar, Leyte and parts of Mindanao could be affected by the loss of the US market.

Blue crab in Tagalog is alimasag. It has slender legs, mottled blue-and-white shells and sweet, delicate meat. Alimasag refers specifically to saltwater blue/swimming crabs. It differs from alimango, which refers to dark, heavy mud crabs (or mangrove crabs) that have large, thick claws and live in freshwater or brackish swamp areas. A smaller local crustacean called “talangka” is a much more popular Filipino food and prepared as a salted and fermented delicacy called “burong talangka,” or the rich and tangy roe paste called “taba ng talangka.”

The US National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced on May 12 that imports of Philippine blue swimming crab products would be restricted due to inadequate documentation on mandatory marine mammal protection and bycatch monitoring programs. Gamboa rued our country failed to comply also with the US Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). He disclosed that the Philippines is the only ASEAN country that failed the US comparability assessment while Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam and even China were able to comply.

Gamboa cited their industry had already been experiencing difficulties since September 2025 when Philippine exporters were initially denied access to the US market. An appeal filed in January 2026 was likewise unsuccessful. “The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) did not do its job,” he deplored.

Our Business assistant editor Conrado “Jeng” Diaz had a witty retort when I expressed my surprise that we are exporting our crabs. “Yes, we do have a ‘crab mentality’ industry here,” Jeng quipped.

Like a light bulb that lit up over my head, it gave me a good laugh, thinking indeed we have a robust “crab mentality” industry in our country. It reminded me how such “crab mentality” is all over the place. Unfortunately, the worst of its kind are among our politicians.

We refer to it as “utak-talangka,” roughly translated as “crab mentality.”

“Crab mentality” is described as a toxic behavioral trait where individuals in a group attempt to undermine, sabotage or pull down anyone who achieves success or tries to improve their standing. It gets its name from a metaphor: if you place one crab in a bucket, it will easily climb out, but when you put several together, they will drag down any crab that manages to reach the rim.

Often summarized by the phrase “if I can’t have it, neither can you,” it operates on jealousy, spite or a fear of competition.

Such toxic mindset of attempting to tear down or sabotage others is exactly what is flagrantly taking place between the feuding senators identified with the majority and minority blocs. The successive quick leadership changes have resulted in senators switching sides, who compose at present the Senate majority bloc as against the Senate minority bloc.

And given the 24-man Senate has been divided equally in half, just one senator who opts out from one bloc changes who rules the Senate.

Way before the continuing ala tele-novela drama series at the Senate, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed public satisfaction rating of the Upper Chamber has been less than the majority. In the first quarter SWS survey done from March 24 to 31, approval rating of the Senate reached only 42 percent. It was at the same level in September 2025 but down three points from the most recent opinion polls done in November 2025.

Notably, the SWS survey was conducted before the surprise attendance at session of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on May 11. After his six months in hiding, Dela Rosa delivered the swing vote that installed erstwhile Senate minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano as new Senate president. With 13 senators, including Sen. Bato, Cayetano ousted Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who became the new Senate minority leader.

Dela Rosa, who is subject of an Interpol arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court, is back again in hiding. But not before the acoustic exchange of gunfire at the Senate on May 13. Consequently, Cayetano lost his majority following the latest Dela Rosa disappearing act, the subsequent arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and the dramatic transfer of Sen. Francis Escudero to the Sotto-led minority bloc.

The comebacking majority bloc, now with 12 members against Cayetano’s 10 senators, moved to vacate all elected posts. Before they adjourned sine die on June 3, the 12 senators elected Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro-Tempore. Gatchalian also currently serves as acting Senate president.

Gatchalian is already officially acknowledged as the Senate chief by Malacañang Palace, the House of Representatives, the Civil Service Commission and even by the Land Bank of the Philippines, where the Senate staff draws their salaries.

But Cayetano still insists that he remains the Senate president.

So we could not say which crabs, er…I mean senators, who will remain or stay in “talangka” mode.