Burulakaw – Kapampangan Translation

*Note this story is in Kapampangan

Dening mensaheru daratang la bala deng batwin.

Makalukluk ku kening lele balun kaybat panayan kulang datang. Balu ko reng alamat, ing malating babai, deng mensaheru, lumwal la at miye lang sulu ning landas papunta king karelang panimanman. Atin lang bwak a bala mung api kaybat susulapo anti mo ning batwin.

Ing apung kung babai ing sasabyan nana kanaku unyang anak ku pa, nung makananu la mamyeng mensahi kareng aliwaliwang diwata. Ngana, ajang nokarin do idala deng karelang mensahi, karin la mu munta, uling ita mu ing balu dang katungkulan da.

King kabila ning eganagana, ya mu kabud ing atsu king isip ku, nung makananu ing kesantingan ning biye na a mesira uling kareng malelyari. Nung makanu naku gewang pakiramdam na alang mikigawang aliwa, o magyapang kanita pa. Peburen ke mu ing pamagsisi a balutan naku anti mo ning ulas, magpakapali kanaku king marimlang bengi ngening kaleldo.

Tutulu lamu deng luwa ku, king bawat patak ay aliwaliwa la reng alaala ku kaya. Nung makananu yang lumawe, nung makananu yang kumayli, deng pamanyisip na tungkul king hinaharap. Mangayna naku mu rugu, bala kagigisanan nakumu.

Bala da reng kaluguran ku mamumurit ku kareng pamangawan ku. Pero ala nakung balung gawan, eku man dugu asabi kaya inyang mabiye yapa, oras na inyang eke buring paniwalan. Pero alipa oras para sabyan tamu na kaluguran tala deng lulugaran tamu.

Ayni ngeni, makalukluk ku kasiping ning balun, panayan ko reng mensaheru na bala mu deng bulalacao, mamagasa ku rugung sana dingin de ing kanakung iling.

Menakit kung sala king lub na ning balun tinuknang ya kabut ing pusu ku, tambing yang atsu keni ing malating babai. Pamiklawen keng mayap metung yamu palang alitaptap.

Mebalbal ya ing sarili ku, pero manindigan kupa mu rin. Manenaya ku magyapang kapilan man, datang la sa deng mensaheru.

Pamikaisipan kung mayap king sarili ku na ining bageng gagawan ku ay malati yamung bage na agawa ku para king metung taung luluguran ku.

=——————-=

English Version

The messengers come like the stars.

I sit by the well and I wait for them to come. I know the legends, how the small women, messengers all would come forth and light the path to their destination. They had hair like a flame and would fly like a shooting star.

Lola told me about them when I was young, how they would deliver messages from and to the different diwatas. She said that no matter where their message would take them, they would go, for that was the only duty that they knew.

Through it all I can only think of her, how her beautiful life was cut short by circumstance. How she made me feel like no one else ever could, or ever has since. I let regret envelop me like a blanket, warming me through this chill summer night.

My tears flow, each drop a different memory I have of her. The way she looked, the way she smiled, the ideas she would have about the future, all draining out of me, leaving me feeling weak and empty.

My friends think I’m crazy for doing this, but there’s no other way. I could never tell her when she was alive, and I refuse to believe that it’s too late. It will never be too late to tell someone you love them.

So here I sit, next to the well, waiting for the messengers to come like shooting stars, hoping they will grant my one request.

I see a light from inside the well and my heart stops, the small women are finally here. Until I look closer and see that it’s only a firefly.

I feel crushed, but I keep my resolve. I will wait as long as I have to until one of the messengers shows herself.

I breathe and think to myself it’s the least I could do for someone I love.

=———————-

Inspired by the Burulakaw myths from Central Panay. Described in Sta. Cruz Serag, Sebastian. (1997). The remnants of the great Ilonggo nation. Quezon City: Rex Book Store, Inc., p. 61. and Tagbanuwa Religion and Society. Fox. 1982

Burulakaw Illustration by Maku Felix
FB: Art of Maku Felix

Watercolor by Yanna Gemora
FB: Yannami