*Note this story is in Cebuano
“Nahadlok ko.”
“Dili kinahanglan. Ang mga espiritu na ang mahibalo.”
“Unsa’y mahitabo kanako?”
“Mangadto ta sa Balete na kahoy ug ibilin tika ngadto. Maglingkod ka sa ilalom ug dal-on ka sa taas ug ubos na kalibutan.”
“Kay ngano man?”
“Para pakataw-on kag usab.”
“Sakit ba na?”
“Di… dili ko kahinum. Dugay na kaayo ang panahon na niagi ko sa akong unang seremonya. Ayaw kahadlok, ila kang tugutan na makakita ug bag-o na kalibutan.”
“Mao bang kamao kang mulupad?”
“Oo ug daghan pa. Niadto na ako sa ikalaluman sa dagat ug sulod sa lawas sa tawo. Nakighinabi sa mga espiritu sa lain na kalibutan ug sa lain pa. Nakaadto ko sa mga lugar na wala pa nakit-an sa tawo. Ug gikapoy nako.”
“Niabot nata.”
“Paminawa ang mga espiritu. Sila ang magagiya kanimo sama sa ilang pagiya kanako sa akong tibuok kinabuhi.”
“Magkita pa ba ta ug balik?”
“Wala ta nakabalo ug unsay itugot sa mga espiritu. Adto nako, akong ibilin kanimo ang ako mga tawo.”
“Sige, Lola.”
Ang hangin ihapak sa batang babaye samtang naglingkod sa Balete na kahoy. Ang mga adlaw nilanat ug mga semana ug siya wala nilihok bisan gamay. Ang mga nilabay nahibalo kaayo sa iyang panaw ug wala siya hilabti. Ug niabot ang katapusang gabie nga naghatag ug laing kadlawon, nitindog siya ug gipasalamatan sa hilom ang mga espiritu. Ug sa iyang bag-ong panan-aw nakita na niya ang dili makita na kalibutan na gapalibot sa iyang daan na kinabuhi. Wala siya nakahuna-huna na mupahiyom.
Daghan siya’ng mga buluhaton na kinahanglan humanun.
English Version
“I’m scared.”
“You don’t need to be, child. The spirits will do as they will.”
“What will happen to me?”
“We will both go to the Balete tree and I will leave you there. You will sit underneath the tree and be taken to the Skyworld and the Lower World.”
“Why?”
“To be reborn.”
“Will it hurt?”
“I…. don’t remember. It has been so long since I went through my initiation. Don’t be scared child, they will let you see a new world.”
“Is that why you can fly?”
“Yes, child. That and much more. I have been to the depths of the sea and inside the bodies of humans. I have spoken to the spirits in this world and the next. I have traveled to places that no human will ever see again. And I am tired.”
“We are here.”
“Listen to the spirits. They will guide you as they have guided me all my life.”
“Will I see you again?”
“Who knows what the spirits will allow? Goodbye child, I leave my people to you.”
“Goodbye, Lola.”
The winds buffeted the girl as she sat beneath the Balete tree. The days stretched into weeks and she did not move a single inch. Those that passed by knew better than to interrupt her journey. When the last night finally gave way to a new dawn she stood up and quietly thanked the spirits.
Her new eyes finally saw the invisible world that surrounded her old life. She did not think to smile.
She had work that needed to be done.
*The Cebuano language, alternatively called Cebuan and also often colloquially albeit informally referred to by most of its speakers simply as Bisaya (“Visayan”, not to be confused with other Visayan languages nor Brunei Bisaya language), is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 21 million people, mostly in Central Visayas, western parts of Eastern Visayas and most parts of Mindanao, most of whom belong to various Visayan ethnolingusitic groups, mainly the Cebuanos. It is the by far the most widely spoken of the Visayan languages, which are in turn part of wider the Philippine languages. The reference to the language as Bisaya is not encouraged anymore by linguists due to the many languages within the Visayan language group that may be confused with the term. The Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino, the official regulating body of Philippine languages, spells the name of the language as Sebwano.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Cebuano Translation by Dr. Riza Reyna A. Gil
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Dr. Riza Reyna A. Gil
Inspired by the Baylan initiation ritual as described in The Soul Book. Demetrio & Cordero-Fernando 1991.
Babaylan Illustration by emirajuju
IG: https://www.instagram.com/emirajuju/
Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
FB: Wildling Child
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildlingchild/