*Note this story is in Bicol Naga
An mga mensahero minaabot siring kan mga bitoon.
Nakatukaw ako sa may bubón mantang pighahalat sinda mag-abot. Aram ko an mga alamat, kun pàno an saradit na babayi, mga mensahero, gabos minaruluwas asin pinalálaadan an dalan sa saindang padúdumanan. An saindang mga buhók garo mga kaláyo asin minaralayog na garo mga bulalakaw.
Inistorya sakuya ni Lola an manungod sainda kan ako sadit pa, kun pàno sinda naghahatod nin mga mensahe hali asin pasiring sa manlain-lain na diwata. Taramon nya na dawà sain pa sinda darhon kan saindang mensahe, dudumanon ninda ito, huli ta iyo saná man an katungdan na aram ninda.
Sa gabos na ini, sya saná an minalaog sa sakuyang isip, kun pàno an saiyang magayon na buhay pinutol kan sarong sirkumstansya. Kun pàno niya ako pinamatian na mayo nang iba an makakagibo, o nakagibo kaidto. Pinabayaan ko an pagbásol na patuson ako siring kan tamóng, na iyong nagpapaimbong sakuya sa malipot na bangging ini nin tig-initan.
Nagbúlos an sakuyang luha. An lambang tagdô, igwang marurumduman na manlain-lain manungod saiya. Kun pàno sya maghilíng, kun pàno sya magngirit, an mga ideya nya manungod sa nuanoy, gabos padikit-dikit napaparà sa sakuyang rigmat, pinaluluya asin pig-uubos an sakuyang kasadirihan.
Paghunà kan sakuyang mga amigo, nabubuwang na ako sa paggibo ko kaini, alagad mayò nang ibang paagi. Dai ko masabi saiya kan buhay pa sya, asin sinasayumahan kong tubudan na huri na an gabos. Daing gayò magigin huri an gabos na sabihon sa sarong tawo na padangat mo sya.
Kaya uya ako nakatukaw, kataid kan bubón, naghahalat sa mga mensahero na mag-abot siring kan mga bulalakaw, naglalaom na itatao ninda an sarong kahagadan ko.
Nahiling ko an sarong laad hali sa laog kan bubón asin an sakuyang puso uminuntok, ta an saradit na babae yaon na giraray. Sagkod na hiniling ko nin marhay asin nabutlâ na saro saná palan ining alibangbang.
Garo marúnot an sakuyang boot, alagad pigrimpos ko an sakuyang determinasyon. Mahalat ako kun kinakaipuhan, sagkod na pahilingan ako kan dawa saro sa mga mensahero.
Huminangos ako asin pighorop-horopan na dawà iyo saná an pinakakadikit na magiginibo ko para sa sarong tawong padangat ko.
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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.
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*Central Bicol, commonly called Bicol Naga, is the most-spoken language in the Bicol Region of southern Luzon, Philippines. It is spoken in the northern and western part of Camarines Sur, second congressional district of Camarines Norte, eastern part of Albay, northeastern part of Sorsogon, San Pascual town in Masbate, and southwestern part of Catanduanes. Central Bicol speakers can be found in all provinces of Bicol and it is a majority language in Camarines Sur.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Jeremiah Cordial
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jeremiah Cordial
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