*Note this story is in Bicol-Sorsogon
“Sa totoo lang lain ko ini nakikita na problema.” Maugma si Angela. “Mas diyot na trabaho para saaton.”
Amo ini ang ika limang beses na naunahan sinda. Ang sungaw na hali sa nagkakalayo na matay na lawas sang asuwang ay nagbilin ning grabeng baho sa hangin.
Nakangirit man gihapon si Angela habang si Diosdado amo man gihapon na pirmi murusot.
“Lain ko ini gusto,” Sabi ni Diosdado. Huminarayo siya sa matay para makakuwa ning preskong hangin.
“Lain man damo ang biktima, Dio.”
“Kung sin-o man ang may gibo sadi, ginagamit ang kalayo laban sa asuwang.”
“Para paratas, sa sarong banda, kaluyahan ning intiro ang kalayo.”
“Lain ini ang oras para sa mga tiaw.”
“Pero niyan may oras kita!! Lain mo ba makuwa, lain kita nakipadaugan sa kung sin-o man ang may himo sadi. Ang mayad lang na asuwang ay ang matay na asuwang.”
“Ayaw pag gamita ang sadiri kong surumaton saakon.”
Luminiday si Angela. Irog sadi pirmi si Diosdado. Kaipuhan pirmi niya aram.
“Kitaa Dio, nano ang hihimuon naton pag naaraman naton kung sin-o ini? Paki isturyahan sinda na mag pundo? Na igwa lang sarong bakanteng posisyon para sa sarong pades na tagamatay ning asuwang didi sa Metro?”
“Pwede sinda makuwaan ning mga impormasyon.” Murusot pa man gihapon si Diosdado.
Wara ning paagi na makahali didi, isip ni Angela. Wara siya ibang pagpipilian kungdi sumurender. ”Sige na, sige na. Tapuson ta na ini.”
“Okay kitaon ta na ang mga biktima.”
Tuminaas ang kiray ni Angela. “Mga asuwang ini, lain ta tinatawag na biktima.”
“Lain mo isipon na asuwang sinda. Himuon ta ini sa paagi naton, parehas sang pirmi naton ginigibo.”
“Sige, sabi mo eh.”
“Ang unang biktima.”
“Ang una ay kiwig, nag testing na mag matay ning mga batit harani sa publikong eskwelahan. Base sa nakuwa natong impormasyon, kadamuan sang mga batit nagsabi na ang nakita daw ninda ayam na nag iilyab ang mata. Saro sainda kinuwaan ini litrato nang tinawagan kita ning magurang.”
“Nang amo na idto—”
“Ayaw ako pag sawong sawungi Dio. Nakita ta ang gadan na lawas sang kiwig sa bubong, halos maabo na ang lawas. Nasa pormang tawo ini, babayi na nasa singkwenta anyos na. Wara na ning ibang importanteng detalye sa pinangyarihan na kaipuhan ilista.”
“Okay, ang sunod.”
“Normal na wakwak na naghihikap sa paanakan. Kadamo na ning nakuwaan bago pa kita tinawag.” Burulukon ang bayhon ni Angela.
“Ange—” Batog ni Diosdado.
“Lain ta man kaya maging presente maski sain Dio.”
“Aram ko.”
“Padaguson ta na.”
“Base sa bidyo, nakuhaan ta ang wakwak na nagpanggap na bisita sa paanakan. Inubos ang mga gab-i kakakaon ning matanga. Sa pagkita baga ining babayi.”
“Kadamuan sang mga ina mas matiwala sa kapwa ninda babayi.”
“Makakangangalas na lain ta nakita ang lawas sadi sa ospital.”
“Kung sin-o man ang nagmatay sadi mabuot para mas mapadali ang pag limpya ning mga bagay.”
“Nakita ang wakwak sa garahian sa isad na silab na awto.”
“Nangalas ako wara nakakita sang nangyari. Bagang bomba na suminabog.”
“Wara din ning CCTV sa garahian.”
“Maswerte sinda. Niyan mapadagos kita sa pangtulo.”
“Ang mga tiktik?”
Tuminango si Angela.
“Bagang nagkikita ka sa sarong balde ning Chickenjoy. Nasilab man ang mga kaurupod. Binilang ko apat na tiktik kaupod ang amo na asuwang. Kupo kupo sadi ang saro sa mga bayong ning nasilab ini.”
“Igwa pa ning ineteresante didto?”
“Amo na ngani idto, tinawag kita kung san-o tapos na. Wara kita naaramang mga biktima. Kung sin-o man ang nagmatay ning mga tiktik tuminira ning lain naghuhulat. Na bagang aram tulos niya na asuwang ang mga ini.”
“Parehas sang ginibo ta.”
“Ayaw pakahambog Dio. Nakadto na kita sa sitwasyon na lain ta masigurado kung asuwang ang sarong tawo.”
“Pero ini kaya niya.”
“Tama ka, pwede ta ina magamit.”
“Pabay-i lang, ang pang upat na biktima.”
“Ang sinasa’ban, paborito kong klase.” Puro pag uyam si Angela.
“Narurumduman ko pa ang baho.”
“Iba ini ugang.”
“Amo ang nasilab ini hali sa laog paluwas. Ning naabutan ta ini, puminutok ini nang kinarigos kita sang kinaon sadi.”
“Makadidiri.”
“Lain lang arug sada.”
“Nang ang urhi?”
“Okay amo ini ang saro sa makangangalas. Maski kita lain natun kinaya ang asbo.”
“Nang kung sin-o man ininakayanan niya ining himuon ning magsaro.”
“Lain ta yan aram.”
“Kinadto ko ang pinangyarihan, igwa lang sang sarong padis ning mga nilakatan.”
“Mayad para sainda.”
“Ange—”
“Okay okay— nasa hayop niyang korte ang asbo makuha natun. Parehas sang iba, nasilab hanggang sa matutong.”
“Okay nano ang pagkapararehas ninda?”
“Intiro sinda na prito.”
“Seryoso ako, kaipuhan ta magkita sa mga detalye.”
“Hmmmm..”
“Okay magpanggap kita na sinda. Nakita ta ang mga asuwang tapos? Binuhusan ta sinda ning gasolina nang nagsuga ning palito?”
“Hulat, sabihon mo ulit ina.”
“Ang palito?”
“Lain, ang gasolina. Sa pinangyarihan nakabaho ka lamang sang lana o gasolina?”
“Ikaw ba?”
“Lain ako matubod na tawo ang may himo sadi.”
“Na saro pang asuwang?”
“Lain, lain arug sada. Lain pa ako nakabati sang asuwang na kaya magkontrol ning kalayo. Iba ini.”
“Eh di palawigun natun ang paghahanap ta. Nanung klaseng tawo ang matanum ning urit laban sa asuwang.”
“Pwera sa atun?”
“Pwera sa atun.”
“Sa isip ko.”
“Nano?”
“Lain mo ini magugustuhan.”
“Sabihon mo saakon.”
“Kaipuhan ta maghagad tabang sa mga kalag ning mga puno.”
“May utang siya saatun na pabor.”
“Makangagalas na nag uuyon ka didi. Huna ko habo mo saiya.”
“Ang pagka ongis ay sarong pagmati na mayad ireserba sa laban. Pamati ko igwa didi sarong bagay, nagtutubod ako sa pamati ko.”
“Kung amo ang sabi mo.”
______________________________________________________________
Nagsarayaw ang mga aninipot sa hampang ning puno ning Balete inaagda ang duwang paramatay sang asuwang. Awat na ning urhi sindang luminaog sa kahadean ning mga kalag nang lain sinda naanad sa pag bag-o sang realidad. Pero nagpadagos sinda sa paglakat pakadto sa liwanag, naghahanap sang tuyo ninda.
Nagpakita siya na bagang pirang adlaw nang naglalakat, sarong batit na babayi na may kapot na payong.
“Nagbalik ang mga magayunon ko na kakanam!!” Luminumpat pa ang batit na babayi.
“Ayaw niya, Aura. Mahagad ako pabor.”
“Ay, pero kadamo natun kakanam sang nakaagi Mr. Diosdado.”
“Wara kami oras para didi,” Sabi ni Angela.
Tuminango si Diosdado. “Aura, may utang ka saamon.”
Nagmurusot bigla ang bayhon sang batit na babayi. “Nano ang gusto nindo mga panira sa diyot na kaugmahan?”
Suminimbag si Angela, “May sarong nilalang na nagmamatay ning asuwang sa Metro. Mas gusto niyang gumamit ning kalayo pag mamatay ning… mga biktima.”
Duminagdag si Diosdado, “Wara pa sang biktimang tawo sa niyan, lain direkta maski papan-o.”
“Makangangalas bagang luminuya na siya dara sang paggurang.”
Napasiyak si Angela nang Diosdado, “Lalaki siya?!”
“Gaano na kaawat kamong duwa nagmamatay ning asuwang? Makangangalas na lain nindo siya nakilala ning mas atab.”
“Sabihon mo saamon,” Estrikto ang mga mata ni Diosdado.
Sinara ni Aura ang payong niya nang naglakat pakadto sa duwang paramatay ning asuwang.
“Pabayaan nindong magpadagos ang istorya.”
______________________________________________________________
May sarong lalaki
(Kung matatawag mo siya sada)
Sobrang muot
Sa sarong asuwang
Nabuhay sinda ning magkaupod
Nang kung iba man ang kamutangan
Warang kahulugan sa inda ang warang katapusan
Ang asuwang
Nang ang saiyang asawa
Nagkaigwa ning mga siglo
Na nasa braso sang kada saro
Hanggang sa sarong gab-i
Ingtraydor ning asuwang ang lalaki.
Nawara ang asuwang
Ang lalaking
Binayaan na raot ang puso
Nag irilyab ang mga mata niya
Kay saiya ang pagbalos
Kaya nilibot niya ang lugar
Para matayon ang mga asuwang
Hanggang sa mahanap niya ang saiya
______________________________________________________________
“Hulat, igwa sang sarong tawo na warang kamatayon na naghahanap sa asawa niyang asuwang para matayon ini?” Sabi ni Angela.
Suminimbag si Aura sa nakahala halang ngirit. “Wow nagbati ka talaga! Nang yadi huna ko kinakaisturya ko ang sadiri ko.”
“Nang kaya niyang magbiga ning kalayo hali sa mga mata niya?”
“Nag mati ka man lang ba saakon? Totoo man kamong mga tawo papatal ning papatal kada kaisturya ko sa mga kauri nindo.”
“Dio, ing bag-o sadi intiro,” Ginuyod ni Angela ang kamot ni Diosdado.
“Nabudlayan na ako, aram na nindo ang agihan paluwas.” Binukasan ni Aura ang payong nang luminayog paitaas. Ning lain na siya makita, grabe ang kusog sang linog sang duta.
Nakapreparar na ang duwa para didi, maski pa ngani lain ini ang unang pagdulag ninda hali sa kahadean ning mga engkanto.
Nagsara ang agihan sa likod ninda nang sinamsam ang grabeng baho na hangin sa kinab-an ning mga tawo.
______________________________________________________________
Nag sud-ungan sinda ni Diosdado nang Angela. Si Dio ang unang ruminibok.
“Nano sa pagkita mo?”
“Pamati ko kaipuhan ta mag preparar.”
“Para sain?”
“Ning naisip natun ma isad lang na tawo idto, okay lang, pero bagang may sadiri ining tuyo. Lain maawat igwa ning bagay o tawo na madadamay.”
Tuminango si Diosdado.
“Mas damo ang mamatayon ta.”
=—————————–=
English Version
“I honestly don’t see how this is a problem.” Angela was beaming. “Less work for us.”
This was the fifth time they were beaten to the punch. The stench from the flaming carcass of the aswang left an acrid aftertaste in the air. Angela was still smiling while Diosdao, as usual, had his face crumpled into a grimace.
“I don’t like this,” Diosdado said. He walked away from the corpse to get some fresh air.
“There weren’t that many human victims, Dio.
“Whoever’s doing this is using fire to deal with aswang.”
“To be fair, at a certain point fire becomes everything’s weakness.”
“This isn’t the time for jokes!”
“But now we have time!! Don’t you get it, we’re not competing with whoever this is. The only good aswang is a dead aswang.”
“Don’t use my own words against me.”
Angela rolled her eyes. Diosdado was always like this. He always had to know.
“Look Dio, what do we do when we find out who this is? Tell them politely to stop? That there’s only room for one set of aswang hunters in this Metro?”
“They could be a valuable source of information.” Diosdado was still grimacing.
There was no way to escape this, Angela thought. She had no choice but to surrender. “Fine. Okay. Fine. Let’s get through this.”
“Ok let’s look at the victims.”
Angela’s eyebrow shot up. “These were aswang, not exactly what we’d call victims.”
“Ignore the fact that they were aswang. Let’s do this our way, like we always do.”
“If you say so.”
“So, the first victim.”
“The first one was a kiwig, it was attempting to hunt children near a public school. Based on what information we gathered, multiple children said that they saw a dog with fiery eyes. One of them even took a picture of it and her parents called us.”
“It was then—”
“Don’t interrupt me Dio. We found the remains of the kiwig on the roof, most of the corpse was burned to ash. It was in its human form, that of a middle-aged woman. There was nothing else in the scene that was worth noting.”
“Okay the next one.”
“A typical wakwak stalking a maternity ward. There were multiple miscarriages before we were called in.” Angela’s face contorted.
“Ange—-” Diosdado started.
“We can’t be everywhere Dio.”
“I know.”
“Let’s continue.”
“Based on the footage we were able to get, the wakwak disguised itself as a visitor in the maternity ward. It spent its nights feeding during graveyard hours. It looked like it was a woman. Most mothers would trust another woman more.”
“It was surprising that we didn’t find its body in the hospital.”
“Whoever killed it was kind enough to make things easier to clean up.”
“The wakwak was found in the parking lot in a burned-out car.”
“I’m surprised no one saw what happened. It was like a bomb that detonated suddenly.”
“There was also no CCTV in the parking lot.”
“Lucky for them. And now we go to number three.”
“The tiktiks?”
Angela nodded.
“It was like looking in a bucket of Chickenjoy. The familiars were burned as well. I counted 4 tiktik in addition to the aswang master. She was hugging one of the birds when she was burned.”
“Anything interesting there?”
“That’s the thing, we were called after the fact. There were no victims that we know of. Whoever killed the tiktiks struck without waiting. Like he was able to see that it was an aswang right away.”
“Like we do.”
“Don’t feed your ego, Dio. We’ve been in situations where we couldn’t be sure if someone was an aswang.”
“But this whoever can.”
“You’re right, that could be useful.”
“Anyway, the fourth victim.”
“The sinasa’ban, my favorite kind.” Angela was dripping with sarcasm. “I can still remember the smell.”
“This one was different though.”
“Yeah it burned from the inside out. When we got to it, it burst and showered us with all the filth it had eaten.”
“It was disgusting.”
“That’s an understatement.”
“The last one?”
“Okay this is the one that was most surprising. Even we couldn’t handle an asbo by ourselves.”
“And whoever this is they were able to do it alone.”
“We don’t know that.”
“I went through the whole site, there was only one set of footprints.”
“Well good for them.”
“Ange—”
“Okay okay – the asbo was in its beast form when we got to it. Same as the others, burned to an absolute crisp.”
“So what do they have in common?”
“They all got fried.”
“I’m serious, we have to look at the details.”
“Hmmmm..”
“Okay let’s pretend we’re them. We somehow find the aswang and then what? We pour gasoline on it and light a match?”
“Wait. Say that again.”
“The match?”
“No, the gasoline. In the sites did you ever smell gasoline or oil?”
“Did you?”
“I don’t think whoever did this is human.”
“Like another aswang?”
“No, nothing like that. I’ve never heard of an aswang that can control fire. It’s something else.”
“So, let’s expand our search. What kind of entity would hold a grudge against aswang?”
“Apart from us?”
“Apart from us.”
“I think…..”
“What?”
“You’re not going to like this.”
“Tell me.”
“We should consult with the spirits of the trees.”
“She owes us one favor.”
“I’m surprised you’re agreeing with this. I thought you hated her.”
“Hate is an emotion better saved for battle. My gut says there’s something here, I have to trust my instincts.”
“If you say so.”
=—————————————————————————————=
The fireflies danced in front of the Balete tree beckoning the two hunters in. It had been long since they have entered the realm of the spirits and they were not used to the shift in reality, but they trudged on into the light, seeking their goal.
She finally came into view in what seemed like days of walking, a small girl holding an umbrella.
“My wonderful playmates have returned!!” The little girl leaped into the air.
“Not today, Aura. I request a boon.”
“Oh no, but we had so much to play with last time Mr. Diosdado.”
“We don’t have the time for this,” Angela said.
Diosdado nodded. “Aura, you owe us.”
Suddenly the girl’s face contorted into a scowl. “What do you want party poopers?”
Angela answered, “There is an entity hunting aswang in the Metro. They prefer the use of fire when they dispatch their… victims.”
Diosdado added, “There have been no human victims for now, not directly at least.”
“That’s strange, he must have gotten soft in his old age.”
Angela and Diosdado both exclaimed, “He?!”
“You two have hunted the aswang for how long now? I’m surprised you haven’t met him sooner.”
“Tell us,” Diosdado’s eyes were stern.
Aura closed her umbrella and walked towards the two hunters.
“Let the story flow.”
=————————————————————————————————–=
There was once a man
(If you can call him that)
Completely in love
With a monster
They spent their lives together
And if things were different
Eternity would have meant nothing to them
The monster
And her husband
Had centuries
In each other’s arms
Until one night
The monster betrayed him
She vanished
Leaving him with a broken heart
And his eyes burned
For vengeance would be his
So, he travels the land
Hunting monsters
Until he finds his
=————————————————————-=
“Wait, so there’s an immortal creature looking for his aswang wife to kill her?” Angela
Aura replied with a sarcastic smile, “Wow you actually listened! And here I thought I was talking to myself.”
“And he can spew fire from his eyes?”
“Did you even listen to me? I swear you humans get dumber every time I talk to your kind.”
“Dio, this changes everything.” Angela grabbed Diosdado’s arm.
“I’m bored now, you know the way out.” Aura opened her umbrella and flew upwards. As soon as she was out of sight, tremors violently raged through the earth.
The two were prepared for this, after all it wouldn’t be their first time escaping from the engkanto’s realm.
The portal closed behind them and they savored the acrid air of the human world.
=———————————————————-=
Diosdado and Angela stared at each other. It was Dio who broke the silence.
“What do you think?”
“I think we need to prepare.”
“For what?”
“When we thought it was another human, I was fine, but this thing sounds like he has his own agenda. It won’t be too long that something or someone is going to be collateral damage.”
Diosdado nodded.
“More for us to hunt.”
=———————————–=
*The Bikol languages or Bicolano languages are a group of Central Philippine languages spoken mostly in the Bicol Peninsula in the island of Luzon, the neighboring island province of Catanduanes and the island of Burias in Masbate. There is a dialect continuum between the Visayan languages and the Bikol languages; the two together are called the Bisakol languages.
The Tabaco-Legazpi-Sorsogon (TLS) dialect is spoken in the eastern coast of Albay and the northeastern part of Sorsogon. TLS is the dialect that has been most influenced by the Inland Bikol languages.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Rochelle Jarque
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Rochelle Jarque
Inspired by the Bonggo description in Bikol Beliefs and Folkways: A Showcase of Tradition. Nasayao 2010.
Illustration by Art of EDOY
