*Note this poem is in Ilocano

Malagip ko tay kimat

Ti ayamuom ti nakset a kudil

Ti naraniag a panaggilap

Ket naimatangak

 

Tay buwaya

Nga nangtakaw tay bagik

Innala ti para iti bagbaggi na

Nga namagsisina ti lasag ko

 

Tay imuco

Nga innala da kanyak

Sada ingkabil iti likudak

A pinangputed da toy kararuak

 

Tay tanem ko nga agserbi a baro a balay ko

Dagiti ramot nga nangsarabo Kanyak

Ti taraon da ket toy kararruak

Ket nagbalinnak met a mesa

A kas sanga ken bulbullong

 

Haan nak a matagikua

Kadagiti natadem a paslep mo

Toy balay ko ket permanente

 

Haan met a pisyen ida

Saan nga ta kaykayyat u laeng

Ibaga yu ti kararag u

Kantaen ‘yu dagita kanya u

 

Nalasatak ti kimat

Nalasatak ti buwaya

Nalasatak ti imuco

 

Isalakan ka.

 

=-============

I remember the lightning
The smell of burning skin
The bright flash
Made me see

The caiman
It stole my body away
And took it for its own
Separated me from my flesh

The knife
They took it from me
And put it in my back
Cutting my soul apart

My grave marked my new home
The roots welcomed me
They nourished my spirit
And I became one
With the branches and the leaves

You will never own me
With your blades and steel
My home will remain

We will not be cut down
Not by the likes of you
Say your prayers
Sing your songs

I survived the Lightning
I survived the Caiman
I survived the knife

I will survive you

————————–————————–————————–

*Ilocano is the third most-spoken local language of the Philippines.An Austronesian language, it is related to such languages as Malay (Indonesian and Malaysian), Tetum, Chamorro, Fijian, Maori, Hawaiian, Samoan, Tahitian, Paiwan and Malagasy. It is closely related to some of the other Austronesian languages of Northern Luzon, and has slight mutual intelligibility with the Balangao language and the eastern dialects of the Bontoc language.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Ilocano translation by JC Flores
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © JC Flores

Inspired by Mangmangkik description in El Folk-lore Filipino. Isabelo de los Reyes, trans. Dizon and Peralta-Imson. 1994. (Original Spanish Manuscript Printed 1889)

Mangmangkik Illustration by by emirajuju
IG: https://www.instagram.com/emirajuju/

Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
FB: Wildling Child
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildlingchild/

 

 

By admin