Tamilok is a mangrove worm that is not exactly a worm. Although it looks like one, it is actually a mangrove-boring mollusk.

The word ‘tamilok’ was surprisingly coined by two Americans. They started calling one of their friends - "Tommy, look!", after seeing the locals eating the tree worm. The locals adopted this term to refer to this wood worm delicacy.

Palawan's natural resources boosts of large mangrove areas, especially on the northern part covering municipalities of Taytay, El Nido, Busuanga, Culion, Coron and Linapacan. These are the towns that are also frequently visited by tourists of different nationalities, according to statistics.

The locals who live nearby these mangrove areas have found a livelihood in collecting tamilok and selling them in wet markets and even in the streets to tourist passersby. Even in Sitio Sabang where the Underground River is located, a child carrying a pale of live tamilok is a common sight.

The popularity of these food from snakes, locusts, bats and frogs in all of Asia have already disqualified them from being distinctly Pinoy. Tamilok, on the other hand, is becoming one of the tourism identities of places like Agusan del Norte, Bohol and most especially Palawan.

Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MR6vGgdBmc; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT8c6pNSTnA Sources: http://journeyingjames.com; romblonexplorer.multiply.com, http://blog.legendpalawan.com.ph; youtube.com