*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga
Siya ito.
Sa inot, dae ko sya nabisto. Kaidtong banggi, nakahiling ako ning biribid na lalawgon asin mga pangil. Nahiling ko ang mapulang garo dugo na pisi asin pigsusog ini pasiring sa atop.
Asin nahiling ko ang halimaw.
Ang mga pangil naribayan ning maogmang ngisi asin ang buhok nakahugay palikod ning sobrang pomada, pero iyo an parehong lalawgon.
Naghapot ako sa palibot asin naaraman na ang ngaran niya ay Fortunato Leviste. Yaon siya sa lugar para magpurbar makakua ning mga boto bilang pagkagobernador.
Kung aram lang ninda.
Sa pagdakula mi, pigsabihan kami na maglikay sa banggi, lalo na kung kami may helang. May mga nilalang na naglalayog sa langit na may liwanag kan bulan, handa na magtugdon sa mga atop asin magpakabasog sa saindong mga bituka.
Ang lola ko nagistorya sako minsan tungkol igdi sa mga halimaw na ini. Sinabi nya na ini magagayon, may singputi ning ivory na balat asin mapang-akit na mga mata. Alagad ang mga lalaki pigbabalaan kaning gayon na ini, ta sinasabi na pinapakasalan ninda ang saindang biktima asin minarayo, dae na mahihiling giraray.
Siguro ginigibo nya ang kapareho igdi. Gwapo sya asin mestizo, sinusuyo ang kada babae sa kwarto. Sinda halos magdarasmag para lang magkaigwa ning pakikiulay sa saiya.
Pero sarong bagay ang daeng ontok na nagbabagabag sako.
Ang manananggal ay mga babae sana, tama?
Nag isip ako pabalik sa gabos na istorya.
Mga babaeng natatanggal ang taas na kabanga kan saindang hawak.
Mga babaeng may pakpak na garong sa paniki.
Mga babae na dae maitakod ang kabangang babang lawas kun bugtakan nin abo, suka o asin.
Mga babae na may gapising laba ning dila na minasupsop kan bituka kan saindang biktima asin nagpapakasawa igdi.
Dae.
Aram ko an sakong nahiling.
Siya nakatindog apat na dupa ang rayo hali sako asin nagngingirit.
Nagngangalas ako kung ano an saiyang iniisip. Siguro an sunod nyang biktima?
Dae ko tutugutan na mangyari ito.
Dae pakatapos kan sakong nahiling.
Pigsusog ko siya paluwas kan pinto pasiring sa dalan. An parong kang tabako minadukot pa sa sakuyang dungo.
Nahiling nya ako asin nagdakula an saiyang pagngisi.
Tapos sinabi ko saiya na aram ko kung ano siya asin kung ano ang pigpurbaran nyang gibuhon sako. Sinabihan ko siya na dae ko babayaan na mangyari ito, na mayo nang magiging biktima pa.
Asin nagparangakngak siya.
Sinabi nya sako na saro lang akong nakakapay na babae.
Siisay ang matubod sako?
Ang mga pulis?
Mga amigo asin amiga ko?
Mga kapamilya ko?
Anong magiginibo ninda?
Naglakaw siya pasiring sako asin naghiling sa sakong mga mata. Takot ang nagkamang sa sakuyang tulang.
“Mainot na akong maghali,” sabi niya “Dae pa ako namanggi.”
Namamati kong naglalaba ang saiyang dila, tamang laba para maabot ang likod kang sakong liog.
Napatukaw ako sa daga, nagtuturo ang luha pababa sa sakong lalawgon.
Dae.
Dae ko itatao saiya an saiyang kamuyahan.
Aaramon ko sain siya nag-iistar.
Asin maiskusar.
Asin, bawang, tsaka kutsilyo.
Sana lang Dios ko, bayaang maging sapat na ini.
=————————-=
English Version
It’s him.
At first, I didn’t recognize him. That night, I saw a twisted face and fangs. I saw the blood-red thread and followed it to the roof.
And I saw the monster.
The fangs are replaced by a gleeful smile and the hair is slicked back with too much pomade, but it’s the same face.
I ask around and find out that his name is Fortunato Leviste. He’s in the area trying to get some votes to be the governor.
If only they knew.
Growing up we’d be told to be careful in the night, especially if we were sick. There were creatures that flew through the moonlit sky, ready to land on your roof and feast on your bowels.
My lola told me a story once about these monsters. She said they were beautiful, with ivory-white skin and alluring eyes. Men were warned against this beauty though, for it was said that they marry their victims and flee, never to be seen again.
Maybe he’s doing the same here. He’s handsome and mestizo, charming every woman in the room. They’re practically falling over themselves to have a conversation with him.
But one thing keeps nagging me.
Mananaggal are only female, right?
I think back to all the stories.
Women that remove the upper half of their bodies.
Women with batlike wings.
Women that can’t reconnect their lower parts if it’s covered with ash, vinegar or salt.
Women with a threadlike tongue that sucks the bowels of their victims and feast on them.
No.
I know what I saw.
He’s standing four feet away from me and laughing.
I wonder what he’s thinking about. His next victim perhaps?
I won’t let that happen.
Not after what I’ve seen.
I follow him out the door into the street. The smell of tobacco cloyingly lingers on my nose.
He sees me and his smile widens.
Then I tell him I know what he is and I know what he tried to do to me. I tell him I won’t let that happen, that there would be no more victims.
And then he laughs.
He tells me I’m just a hysterical girl.
Who would believe me?
The police?
My friends?
My family?
What could they do?
He walks by me and looks me in the eye. Fear rolls down my spine.
“I’m going to go ahead,” he says “I haven’t had dinner.”
I could feel his tongue get longer, long enough to reach the back of my neck.
I fall to the ground, tears streaming down my face.
No.
I won’t give him the satisfaction.
I find out where he’s staying.
And prepare.
Salt, garlic and a knife.
I hope this is enough.
Please God, let this be enough.
=——————————-=
*The Iqui is also known as Ikki / Ike
*Central Bicol, commonly called Bicol Naga, is the most-spoken language in the Bicol Region of southern Luzon, Philippines. It is spoken in the northern and western part of Camarines Sur, second congressional district of Camarines Norte, eastern part of Albay, northeastern part of Sorsogon, San Pascual town in Masbate, and southwestern part of Catanduanes. Central Bicol speakers can be found in all provinces of Bicol and it is a majority language in Camarines Sur.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Monmon Nietes
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Monmon Nietes
Story inspired by the Iqui description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.
Iqui Illustration by Michael Sean B. Talavera
IG: @maykelshan
Deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/isaneleach13