*Note this story is in Hiligaynon
“Ma, ara na naman siya liwat”, hambal ni Justo samtang gina butong ang bayo sang iya nanay.
“Pabay-i lang siya anak, buligi na lang ako preparar kay makadto pa kita sa tinda para sa aton pamahaw” sabat sang iya nanay
Ka temprano pa sini gani, natuyo pa ako, gusto ko pa ya matulog,
“Ako natuyo man ako kag gusto ko man matulog pero kinahanglan na naton magkadto sa tinda kay wala kita palamahawon. Sige na kay maluto ko sang imo paborito”
Longannisa?! Sige ma, dali na!
Samtang nagapanghimos si Justo para magpamercado, indi madula sa iya isip ang katingalahan nga masami lang nagatanga sa bintana ang iya magulang.
Indi man siya amo sina sang una. Madumduman pa ni Justo ang manami nga tingog sini nga nagapatulog sa iya. Gusto niya gid pirme nga ginahakwat siya nga daw lab-ot sa langit para makita ang bilog nga kalibutan.
Wala na natabo ang ini nga mga inadlaw, kag indi niya bal-an ang rason kung ngaa. Isa ka gab-i, nabatian niya ang nguynguy sang iya nga iloy sa piyak kwarto kag nakita niya na naga tindog sa kilid sang bintana ang iya magulang nga babayi samtang gakaurungan ini.
Indi lang amo sina ang natabo. Nadumduman niya man nga gindilian siya sang nanay niya nga mag guwa sa iya nga kwarto bisan ano pa ang matabo. Siniraduhan sang iya nanay ang tanan nga puertahan kag bintana para wala sing may makasulod o makaguwa sa balay.
May mahinay nga huni nga nabatian si Justo pero indi ya ma eksplikar kung ano ini. Tungod sa iya pagka-usyoso, ginlapit niya ang iya dalunggan sa likod sang puertahan sang iya kwarto, namati kag naghulat.
Nabatian niya ang siagit sang iya nga utod kag amo man ang singgit sang iya nga nanay.
Kag gulpi lang naghipos ang tanan.
Asta subong, daw wala lang sang natabo. Kada adlaw, ginailisan sang iya nanay ang iya magulang kag bayaan ini isa tupad sang bintana.
Kag indi gid ni Justo maintindihan ang rason.
Ano ang natabo kay manang? Ngaa amo siya sina?
“Ma, handa na ko.” Nakasuksok si Justo sang iya bayo pang ulan. Nagdala siya sang iya maswerte nga payong para indi sila Mabasa sang iya nga nanay
“Abaw ka gwapo gid ah! Dali na, dasigon na naton para kabalik kita dayon para makapreparar ka pa eskwelahan”
“Okay mama”
Indi malikawan nga magtulok ni Justo sa iya magulang samtang palakat na sila sang iya nanay. Daw angay nga may ginatulok in inga indi makita ni Justo.
Gusto gid ni Justo ang lab-asan. Nanarisari ang imo makita kag masimhutan. Ginakalingawan niya ang magkadto sa mga manuglab-as kag tusok-tusukon ang mga mata sang mga isda. Nakita niya nga gina ubra ni sang mga katigulangan kag naisip niya basi amo na ang pamaagi para mabal-an kung preska pa ang isda.
Samtang nagahinya pa mag-ayo ang iya nanay sang itlog para sa ila pamahaw, naglibot-libot naman sa mercado si Justo.
Wala na nalingaw ang gabaligya sang utan sa ginaubra ni Justo sa iya baligya. Natingala lang si Justo kung ngaa gintabog siya sang tawo. Pila pa ka minutos ang maglipas bag-o ma talupangdan sang mga gabaligya na indi man gali magbakal si Justo amo pa ginahambalan na lang nila ini nga magsaylo sa iban.
Samtang nagalibot-libot si Justo, natingala siya kung ngaa lain ang tulok sang mga tawo sa iya kag sa iya iloy. Matulok sila kadali kag mag hutik sa ila mga upod kag magpalayo.
“Justo, dali ka na diri” tawag sang iya nanay
“Pakadto na ma!” Nagdalagan padulong sa tupad sang iya nanay si Justo, gusto niya na magpauli tungod gakabatyagan niya sa palibot nga ginatulok sila sang kadam-an.
Pagkatapos magbayad sang iya nanay sang itlog, naghutik si Justo sa iya “Mama, ngaa lain ila tulok sa aton haw?
“Indi lang sila pagsapaka. Amo gid naya ang iban nga mga tawo” hambal sang iya nanay nga daw natingala man
Pero namati maayo si Justo sa mga gina huring-huring sang mga tawo. Isa lang ka tinaga and iya sulit-sulit nga mabatian.
“Atros”
Adlaw-adlaw, amo man sa guihapon. Ilisan sang ila nanay ang iya magulang kag mabalik na naman siya pungko sa ingod sang bintana, indi maistorya. Isa ka beses, ginhaboy ni Justo ang bola sa ulo sang iya magulang apang wala gid ini naglikaw.
Adlaw-adlaw gina pamangkot niya ang iya nanay kung ano ang natabo kag adlaw-adlaw niya man sini gina likaw ang istorya.
Isa ka adlaw, naglab-ot na sa punto ang tanan.
Samtang nagapanghugas sang pinggan ang nanay ni Justo, gulpi siya naghambal sang mga tinaga
“Mama, ano ang Atros”
Naghagunghong ang kusina sa tunog sang nabuka nga pinggan
“Diin mo na nabatian, anak?”
“Wala lang..nabatian ko abi na gina istoryahan sang tawo sa mercado samtang gatulok sa aton”
“Indi sila pagpamatii, anak, wala sila kabalo sang ila ginapanghambal”
“Pero ano na siya mama? May paghilabot ba na sa gakatabo kay manang?”
“Indi bala kinanglan mo pa magpreparar pa eskwelahan? Sige na, ilis ka na”
“Naka-ilis na ako mama. Palihog, isugid na sa akon. Basi mabuligan pa naton si manang”
Indi bal-an ni Justo kung ano sa kadugayon naglipas ang oras, pero daw lima ka dayon. Nagatulukay sila sang iya nga nanay sang dugay, kag wala sang may magpapirde sang Dungan.
Kag nag abot na gid man sa punto nga naghambal na ang iya nanay.
“Oras na para magkadto ka sa eskwelahan”
“Pero mama—”
“Indi ka na magbais, lakat ka na.”
“Mama—”
“Indi. Kag husto na nga pamangkot”
Isa ka tungang gab-i, nabatian ni Justo nga may nagahuni sa gawa sang ila balay. Daw mga galagubong na tambor.
Ginabinag-binag ni Justo kung may parada, pero ano man klase sang parada ang matabo sa tunga sang gab-i.
Sa iya pagkatingala, ginbuksan niya ang puertahan kag naglingling sa guwa.
Nakita niya ang isa ka grupo sang tawo, pero pirte ini ka gagmay. May maputi nga panit, ga mudlo ang nga mga mata, kag may dako nga tiyan. Nagasakay sila sa daw angay sang kabayo kag nagasunod sa ila ang tunog sang nagalagubong na tambor.
Nagahana na nga buksan ni Justo ang puertahan sang may nagbutong sa iya kag gintakpan ang iya baba”
Wala na siya sang oras para magsumbalik, ginbutong na lang siya para manago sa hilamnanan sang misteryoso nga dagway asta madula ang huni sang tambor.
“Mama!” nagsinggit si Justo sang nakita niya kung sin-o ang nagbutong sa iya. “Ano sila”
“Nagahibi ang iya iloy. Indi ko na gusto na maghatag sang isa pa sa ila. Indi na. “Amo lang ni ang maintindihan ni Justo samtang naganguyngoy ang iya iloy.
“Mama, hambal ni Justo “Palihog. Ihambal na sa akon kung ano ang gakatabo. Ano adto sila? May kinahilabtanan ba sila kay manang?”
“Gusto ko lang maging maayo nga iloy. Nabatian ko ang huni sang tambor kag bal-an ko na ang mga istoryahanon. Bal-an ko ang ila ginapanguha”
“Ano ang ginkuha nila mama?”
“Ginkuha nila ang iya nga kalag”
Tubtob sadto nga gab-i, wala na ga salig si Justo sa lati. Para sa iya, simbolo ini sang pagkadula kag kasakit.
Tungod adlaw-adlaw, makita niya ang iya nga utod nagakaurungan lang sa gwa sang bintana kag bal-an niya na.
Indi na niya mabawi ang ginkuha sa iya.
Kag ini isa ka sumpa, tungod sa nahitabo, tungod wala siya sang ano man nga mabuhat kundi ang magbantay kag maghulat. Sa pag-abot liwat sang lati.
Para makita liwat ang mga malain ginhawa nga nagkuha sang iya utod.
=———————————=
English Version
“Mama, she’s doing it again,” Justo says as he pulls his mother’s dress.
“It’s okay anak*just leave her alone. Now help me with breakfast, we have to go to the market,” his mother replies.
“But it’s so early in the morning! I want to sleep more,” protests Justo.
“We both want to sleep more, but if we don’t go to the market there will be no breakfast. Now come along, I’ll make your favorite.”
“Longganisa?!** Ok mama! Let’s go!”
Justo prepares himself for the trip to the market and in the back of his mind he asks, “Why is ate*** like that? All she does is stare outside the window.”
It wasn’t always like that. Justo could remember to the times he wasn’t able to talk and the beautiful serenade of his sister’s voice. He liked the way she would hold him up, as if she was lifting him to the heavens so he could see the entire world.
Those days were gone and he didn’t know why. One night, he heard the soft weeping of his mother from his room and he saw his sister standing by the window side, her eyes glazed.
That wasn’t all that happened. He remembered that his mother told him to stay in his room, no matter what may happen. She locked all the doors and closed the windows and made sure that everyone in the house was where they were supposed to be.
There was a faint sound of something he couldn’t make out. Justo couldn’t keep his curiosity hidden so he pressed his ear against the door to his room and waited.
There was a scream from his sister and a shout from his mother.
And then, silence.
His mother wouldn’t admit that anything was wrong. She would dress up his sister every morning and leave her by the window.
And still, Justo didn’t know why.
What happened to his sister? Why was she like that?
“Mama I’m ready!” Justo was dressed for the rain. He brought his lucky umbrella along to make sure they both would stay dry.
“Oh what a handsome boy! Now come with me, let’s be fast so we can get back early so you can get ready for school.”
“Okay mama.”
Justo couldn’t help but glance at his sister as they left the house. Her eyes locked on something Justo couldn’t see.
Justo always loved the wet market. There were so many things to see and smell. He liked going by the fish vendors and poking the fish in their eyeballs. He had seen older people do this and he thought it was their way of testing if the fish was really fish.
While his mother was haggling over some eggs for their breakfast, Justo had a look around the market. The vegetables were especially bright today and he spent his time poking some sayote to see if they were fresh.
The vegetable vendor didn’t look particularly amused at the young boy’s playing with his produce and Justo was wondering why he hadn’t been shooed away yet. Usually it would take a few minutes before the vendors realized he wasn’t going to buy anything and they would tell him to go somewhere else.
It was then that Justo realized that the people in the market were looking at him and his mother strangely. They would give a glance and mumble something to their companions before walking away.
“Justo, come here!” his mother called from across the market.
“Coming mama!” Justo ran to his mother’s side, he wanted to go home. Now, he could feel the stares pulling him in different directions.
After his mother paid for the eggs, Justo whispered, “Mama why are people looking at us funny?”
“Don’t pay them any mind. That’s just how some people are,” his mother said with a hint of uncertainty.
But Justo perked his ears and tried to make out what some of them were saying. He could only hear one word, repeated.
“Atros.”
It was the same day in and day out. Justo’s ate would be dressed by their mother and she would sit by the window, unresponsive to anything. One time, Justo threw a ball at her head and she didn’t even flinch.
Every day he would ask his mother what happened and every day she would change the subject.
One day enough was enough.
Justo’s mother was busy washing the dishes when he blurted out,
“Mama, what’s an Atros?”
The kitchen echoes with the sound of the breaking plate.
“Where did you hear that, anak?”
“It was just…. Some people in the market were talking about it when they were looking at us.”
“Don’t listen to them anak, they don’t know what they’re talking about.”
“But what is it mama? Does it have something to do with ate?”
“You have to get ready for school don’t you? Come on, get dressed.”
“I’m already dressed mama. Please, tell me. Maybe we can help ate.”
Justo couldn’t tell you how long the moment lasted, but it seemed like five forevers. His mother and he had their gazes locked, both not backing down to the other’s will.
Finally, his mother broke the stalemate.
“It’s time for you to go to school.”
“But mama—-”
“No other words, you have to go to school now.”
“Mama—-”
“No. And don’t ask about this ever again.”
It was the middle of the night when Justo heard something strange from outside his window. It was like the beating of drums.
Justo wondered if it was a parade, but what kind of parade would happen in the middle of the night.
Fueled by curiosity he unlocked the front door and peered outside.
He saw a group of people, though they were very short. They had fair skin, eyes that bulged and big pot bellies. They were riding what looked like horses and the sound of beating drums followed them where they went.
Justo was just about to open the door when someone grabbed him and put their hand over his mouth.
He didn’t have time to react and the mystery figure pushed them both to the ground holding Justo down until the sound of the drums faded.
“Mama!” Justo exclaimed after he saw who it was that pushed down. “What are they?”
His mother was in tears. “I won’t lose another one to those things. I won’t.” Justo managed to pick up through her sobs.
“Mama,” Justo said, “Please. Tell me what happened. What are those things? Do they have anything to do with ate?”
“I was just trying to be a good mother. I heard the drums and I knew the legends. I know what they take.”
“What did they take mama?”
“They took her soul.”
Ever since that night, Justo never trusted the new moon. He saw it as a symbol of loss and pain.
Because every day he would see his sister stare blankly out the window and he knew.
She could never get back what was taken from her.
And it was a curse, knowing what happened, for he couldn’t do anything about it, except watch and wait. For the coming of a new moon.
To see the monsters that took his sister from him.
*Child
**Filipino sausage
***Older sister
=——————————————=
Story inspired by the Atros legends from La Union
Artros Illustration by Michael Sean B. Talavera
IG: @maykelshan
Deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/isaneleach13
