Classic poet Jonathan Swift once said that, “He was a bold man that first ate an oyster.” Throughout prehistory, oysters (talaba in Cebuano) have been considered an important food source in coastal areas. This should not come out as a surprise since oysters are rich sources of important nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron, and selenium, which are often insufficient in modern diets. They provide you the maximum amount of these nutrients when eaten raw. But the greatest aspect that made this seafood very popular is its aphrodisiac qualities. You see, each oyster is chock full of amino acids that increase levels of sex hormones. Additionally, its high zinc content helps in the production of testosterone, a sex hormone. If you want to charge up your sex drive, eat some talaba instead of taking Viagra. And one of the best places in Cebu where you can eat a huge quantity of talaba at a very affordable price is Mang Temyong’s Talaba Farm in Tayud, Consolacion. The place isn’t that popular yet, so taxi drivers may have no idea how to get there—a rare thing indeed in Cebu. A better option is take a Liloan-bound jeepney that passes through the municipality of Consolacion. Of course, you can opt to drive your own vehicle. To get there, you need to cross the new Cebu North Coastal Road’s Cansaga Bay Bridge, which was built to ease the traffic. After passing through the bridge, you will be traveling on a 2-lane road. Look out for the first intersection where you can see a Tinong’s Bakery and a sign that says “Co Jordan Talaba Bangus Eastery” on the left side of the road. Take a left and drive straight until you reach a village. Continue on until you reach an under-construction subdivision called Redwood Subdivision. At the guardhouse, you should see a sign that reads “Temyong’s Talaba Farm.” Park your vehicle here, then walk inside the subdivision. Follow the main road, and make a left. At the last house on this road, make a right. You should see a big, wide pond. Proceed until you see a small opening on a brick-wall fence. Cross that gap, and you will see a ladder that leads to a dirt pathway. Just follow the pathway to Temyong’s Talaba Farm at the end. Do not expect a lavish setting at the farm or you will just be disappointed. The dining area comprises of a few rickety tables and benches and iron grilles. The floor is nothing more than the earth itself. However, it offers a great, relaxing view of the talaba pond and the hills beyond it. It is a place where you can unwind, breathe fresh air, and reconnect with Cebuano culture and nature. You can now order your talaba, and the locals will get it for you fresh from the pond! No need to spend a fortune; a kilo of oysters cost only P30. If you can’t bear to eat them raw, you can have them grilled for an additional P10. That’s right, P40 for a kilo of grilled talaba. You can also order fresh fish (yes, straight from the pond) which the staff can grill. As far as I know, the choices are limited—just tilapia and bangus (milkfish). However, they taste real good and go well with your talaba. They also have a small sari-sari store where you can buy puso (hanging rice) and softdrinks; after all, a Cebuano meal is never complete without them. What if you bought your own food? No worries because Mang Temyong does not offer charge corkage fees for meals that are brought in from the outside. Visit Mang Temyong’s Talaba Farm now!