*Note this story is in Chabacano-Zamboangueño
TOK, TOK, TOK
Ya re si Lana. Sabe le kay ay recibi ya tamen le regalo. Un semana pa lang el ya pasa cuando ya recibi le un regalo y ta pensa le cosa ya tamen gaha le recibi ahora. Maga rubi y perlas ya tamen gaha. Palta orihinalidad el quien secreto ta adora conele pero quiere-quiere gat este dale maga caro cosas. Tiene tambien poema adentro del regalo na ta manda con Lana sinti especial, mas especial pa con el maga joya.
Nuay pa mira si Lana con el ta imbia conele bale-bale regalo, pero ta sinti ele na ta semeha el di ila costumbre.
Ya abri le con el puerta y ya recibi con el pakete. Mas pesao ese na maga ya recibi le antes. No puede mas le espera poreso ya abri le dayon con este. Adentro, tiene mucho alajas de oro: pulceras, kwintas, y na medio, un diamante anillo. Ya saka le con el carta na ta abla: MAN MIRAHAN KITA APUERA.
Serka perde disuyo resuello. Man mirahan ya gat sila del hombre del disuyo sueño. No puede le move disuyo maga pies. Hende le preparao; ni nuay le bestida para camina pero dejalo ya. Ya dura ya le esperanza con este, hende ya le manda pa con ese pasa.
Na libro lang le ta puede le ancina clase cuento, aquel man mirahan ya el dos man amores y man lumos sila na pasion y maravilla.
Ya pensa le con el futuro, el cosa ay pasa. Na disuyo imahenasion el maga mar y monte donde sila ay anda, el maga problema ay tiene sila. Ya pensa tamen le con el grande casa donde sila queda, el alegre pamilia ay tiene sila, y el maga año hasta queda sila biejo.
Ya saka le con el anillo y ya usa con ese. Bien bonito gat este si ta tupa na sol del tarde.
Ya core si Lana pa apuera y yan tisud. Ya oi le bos na disuyo detras y ya mira con el un diutay biejo na tiene largo balbas y tungkod na mano. Yan mirahan sila dos cabar ya abla el biejo,
“Buenas, mi amor.”
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English Version
–TOK –TOK– TOK–
Lana smiled. She knew that the sound meant that she would be getting another present. It had only been a week since the last box and she wondered what was inside it this time. More rubies and pearls, she thought. Her secret admirer was never original, but it seemed he had expensive tastes. The boxes would also be filled with a poem just for her which made her feel more special than the glittering stones. Lana had never met the man responsible for her wonderful gifts, but she sensed that they were kindred spirits.
She opened the door and took the package from her doorstep. It was heavier than the other ones, and Lana couldn’t wait and tore it open. Inside there were piles of gold jewelry: bracelets, necklaces and in the middle, there was a gleaming ring embedded with a diamond. She grabbed the letter underneath the ring and it read “MEET ME OUTSIDE.”
Her heart almost stopped. She was finally going to meet the man of her dreams. Lana felt like her legs were stuck to the floor, she wasn’t prepared for any of this, she didn’t even have a good dress ready but that didn’t matter. She had waited so long for this
moment, she couldn’t forgive herself if she would just let it pass.
This was just like one of her books, the great moment when she would meet the love of her life and they would be swept away in the thrills of passion and wonder.
She dreamed of her future, what it would be. In her mind she could see the oceans and peaks they would travel to, the trials she knew they would face. She thought of a big house, a wonderful family and growing old together. She took the ring from the box and put it on; it was beautiful in the afternoon sunlight.
Lana ran outside and tripped on something. She heard a loud yelp from behind her and saw a very small old man with a long beard and a staff looking up at her. They looked into each other’s eyes and he said “Hello my love.”
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*Chavacano or Chabacano refers to a number of Spanish-based creole language varieties spoken in the Philippines. The variety spoken in Zamboanga City, located in the southern Philippine island group of Mindanao, has the highest concentration of speakers. Chavacano is the only Spanish-based creole in Asia.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Chavacano-Zamboangueño Translation by May Temple Maravilles
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © May Temple Maravilles
Story inspired by the Nuno sa Punso legends
Watercolor by Tara Singson
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