GASAN'S IGOD (COCONUT CRAB)

(Photo credit to the owner)

People who grew up in Gasan in the late 70's and early 80's knew of igod hunting, a craze during summer nights when the youth would go out at night in niyugans or coconut groves looking for igod or native coconut crabs. The young people would hunt igod using burned kayakas in the dark (dry coconut palm leaves) and used the burned leaves to singe and catch igod as it would crawl and climb up the coconut trees.

Igod or coconut crabs feed on coconut meat or coconut plant and any other organic material.

Igod is now rare in Gasan with the decrease of coconut trees in the surroundings. Igods are now mostly found in the rocky Tres Reyes Islands. Cooking Igod, whether steamed or in coconut milk (ginataan), is a rare, delectable dish of Gasan culinary tradition.

Photos: CTTO

credit to the owner of photos/ photos not mine

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