ILOG: A SEAFOOD RESTAURANT IN THE SOUTH

ILOG: JOHNA TALABAHAN SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Location: Barangay Bocana, Ilog Township

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Introduction

The southern part of Negros Occidental, specifically the town of Ilog, had been known as the source of the best Talaba and Alimango. Hmm, let me describe what Talaba is. It is a kind of Oyster that the locals believed to have aphrodisiac qualities. Ok. Alimango on the other hand is a kind of big crab with hunky claws. Alimango is also known as "mangrove" crab because that is where it is mostly found, and "mud crab" because it loves to hide deep in the mud. But the locals of Bocana in Ilog Township do not have a problem finding them wherever they hide in the mangroves or mud. "Mga experts na ina sila sa pag dakup ka alimango, o' di ba?"

Since Barangay Bocana is near the coast and the Estuary, the place has abundant resources of fish as well. All over this village there are Oyster culture farms, and the Ilog-Hilabangan River and its estuary is also rich in large crabs, mud crab, mangroves crab or "Alimango". The fisherfolks depend so much on the Ilog-Hilabangan River and the Estuary (or Bocana) for their livelihood.

The rise of "talabahan" and restaurants many decades ago, have attracted Negrosanon to this part of the province to have a "taste" of their oysters, crabs, and fishes.

Established in 1995, Johna Talabahan and Seafood Restaurants have been serving its customers the best seafood in town.

Seafood or Seafoods?

Well, the singular and plural form of seafood is still seafood, according to Google, haha. But we use the term seafoods to emphasize the various types or collection of seafoods, such as: Squid, Shrimps, Prawns, Crabs like mud crabs that you can find in the mangroves and fishponds (Alimango), or crabs that you can find in the ocean deep (daw kanta lang ei, lol.), and Oysters like "talaba" and "Sisi", o' di ba, seafoods ang mga ito? Idagdag mo pa sa listahan ang various kinds of fish - Bangus, Tilapia, Gingaw, Lapu-Lapu, Tuna, and many more.

Trivia: Which do you prefer, Navy or Army?

(If your answer is Navy, mahilig ka pa rin sa Seafood, o' di ba? haha....joke lang.)

How to get to Barangay Bocana and the Talabahan?

Ilog - Google Maps

You can use your GPS to reach the place. If you have difficulty, this is what we did to reach the Talabahan at Barangay Bocana.

*From Kabankalan, follow the national highway until you reach Bangga Purok Facoma, Barangay Dancalan. Stop by JGM Finance Corporation Building and Fiesta Gas. Across these business establishments is the building where Dungganon holds office.

From JGM Finance, drive to the right and follow that concrete road (going to the coast) until you reach the end of this concrete road. Turn left until you reach Bocana National High School. Please continue driving by following that concrete road until you reach the end of the road. This is where you can find the Johna Talabahan and Seafood Restaurant.

My tip: The stores nearby sell freshly cooked "Bucayo", just make your choice, wet or dry, lol.

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What to eat here?
From their Menu Board you can choose from the list, such as:
1. Buttered Shrimp or Steam
2. Sweet Chili Crab
3. Sinigang Tinola
4. Calamares
5. Pork Liempo
6.Talaba, and more.

(2) Facebook

Entrance to Johna Talabahan Seafood Restaurant
Barangay Bocana, Ilog, Negros Occidental.
Source: YouTube

Photos below show the customer space here in Johna Talabahan Seafood Restaurant.

TP visited this talabahan and seafood restaurant located in the Bakhawan.

Johna Talabahan & Seafood Restaurant is in Barangay Bocana, Ilog Township.

Source: YouTube by Henry Estado Squad.

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A few other things you can do while in Bocana.

1. Food tripping - from the barangay main road going south to the beach there are several restaurants that offer various seafoods from talaba, crabs and alimango, to squid and fishes as well as shrimps and lukon.

2. Barangay Bocana is also known as the best source of freshly cooked Bucayo.

3. Walk to the beach.

4. Have a glimpse of the Ilog River estuary.

5. Grab your camera and capture a few photos of the migratory birds that frequent the coastal area, river, and rice fields in the village.

6. Buy fresh fish and newly cleaned Talaba. You can bring this back home. Be sure you brought your "chiller" or styrofoam box. I brought mine yesterday, but I forgot to buy fish or Talaba. Ka seniors na gid sa akon ya, haha.

7. Others.

**Shoutout to Mr. Joe Faustorilla and the staff of Johna Talabahan & Seafood Restaurant.

**Shoutout to Neneng of JTSR.

Xie xie, Spasiba, Gracias, Salamat, Arigato, Grazie, Thank you.

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Life is a little better if we learn to live it to the fullest by focusing on what is the good, and the beautiful. This is the reason why I travel and explore new spots where I can enjoy nature, try new delicacy, meet people, and experience local culture and way of life.

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Please follow my next adventure here on Touristang Pobre. In my Someday List are: Cuyo Island, Semirara Island, Caluya Island and the ZamBaSulTa area which means - Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

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