*Note this story is in Tagalog
Nariyan.
Ang aking pagkapanganay.
Noong sinabi ni Lolo sa akin ang tungkol dito ay tinawanan ko lang.
Ang buong akala ko kase ay kwentong kababalaghan lang ang lahat.
At pagkatapos ay lumabas nga ang anting-anting.
Hindi ko sana ito kinuha.
Hindi ko ito ginusto.
Ngunit malubha na si Lolo.
Sobra.
Wala akong pagpipilian.
Maniwala kayo.
Hindi ko gustong gawin ‘to.
Pakiusap, huwag niyo akong kalabanin.
Hindi ko mapipigilan.
Hindi na, mula nang tanggapin ko ito.
Matatapos rin ito.
Pangako
Hindi ko ito pinag-aralan o natutunan.
Kusa itong naghari sa akin mula nang ito’y aking tanggapin.
Nagmistulang kuko ng hayop ang aking mga kuko.
Naging pula ang mga mata ko.
At nangitim ang aking mga balat.
Nakita ko sa salamin ang sarili ko.
Pati na ang kababalghang nasa harap ko.
Natatakot ako.
Pero higit pa rito,
Nagugutom ako.
Kapag tinitingnan ko ang ibang tao.
Ang tanging nakikita ko lamang ay aking makakain.
Patawad.
Pakiusap.
Ang mga Aswang ay kumukuha ng kanilang lakas o kapangyarihan sa kanilang anting-anting (isang piraso ng laman na hugis sisiw na nasa kaniyang lalamunan). Bago mamatay ang isang aswang, kinakailangan niyang maipasa ang anting-anting sa sinumang miyembro ng kaniyang pamilya upang mapanatili ang bisa nito. Mamamatay lamang siya nang mapayapa kung mapagpapasyahan na ng isang miyembro ng pamilya na tanggapin ang kapangyarihang ito sapagkat kung hindi ay magdurusa naman ito sa labis na pagkakasakit.
=—————————-=
English Version
It’s there.
My birthright.
When my lolo told me about it, I just laughed it off.
I always thought they were fairy tales.
Then came the siwo siwo.
I wouldn’t have taken it.
I didn’t want to.
But lolo was in so much pain.
So much pain.
I had no choice.
You have to believe me.
I don’t want to do this.
Please stop resisting.
I can’t help it.
Not since I accepted the gift.
It will be over soon.
I promise.
It wasn’t something I learned.
Once I got the gift, instinct took over.
Then my nails turned into claws.
My eyes changed to red.
And my skin became black.
I saw myself in the mirror.
And the fairy tale before me.
I was scared.
But more than that.
I was hungry.
When I look at another person.
All I can see is my next meal.
I’m sorry.
I’m so sorry.
=————————————–=
*Aswang draw their power from its siwo siwo (a chick shaped piece of flesh kept in its throat) Before the aswang dies, it must relinquish its siwo siwo to a member of its family so that its power will live on. It will suffer in pain until a family member decides to accept this power, then it dies in peace.
*Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a quarter of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by the majority. Its standardized form, officially named Filipino, is the national language of the Philippines, and is one of two official languages alongside English.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Danica Jean A. Ortiz
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Danica Jean A. Ortiz
Inspired by the Aswang description in Bikol Beliefs and Folkways: A Showcase of Tradition. Nasayao 2010.
Aswang (Albay) Illustration by Sandra Sison
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