*Note this story is in Ilocano

Iddiay Amianan, iti lugar nga maaw-awagan Lagui, nagnaed ti maysa a billit a managan ti Apan. Ni Apan ken dagiti kapadana ket naggapu iti adayo nga amianan-a-daya, ngem gapu iti nakaro a winter iti dayta a lugar, nagturongda iti umabagatan, iti lugar dagiti “windmills.”

Maysa nga aldaw, kabayatan a waywayaan ti init ti idadateng ti bulan, nakasirpat ni Apan iti maysa a tumatayab nga saannapay a nakitkita iti napalabas.. Addan uppat a winter manipud nai-pessa, ket impapanna nga ammona aminen a klase ti billit a sumangbay iti Lagui. Daytoy a billit ket saan met a “kingfisher,”  “starling,” wenno billit-tuleng. Mangipalagip  daytoy kadagitii kuago ti ruot nga agan-anup iti asidegna, ti kinaatiddog  dagiti payak ken ti rupana, ngem ditan nga aggibus ti pagpadaanda.

Awan kadagiti billit ti naranniag kas kadagiti bituen.

Nabannogen ni Apan gapu ti nagmalmalem nga panagbirokna iti taraon. Ngem saan daytoy a nanglapped ti panagtayabna nga agturong iti ayan ti billit, tapno mapennek ti panagusiusona.

Saan unay met a  dakkel daydiay a billit, mangipalagip kadagiti pato ken ul-ullaw nga kanayonna nga ad-adayoan. Uray iti adayo, mabalinna nga suroten ti billit, banag nga nanam-ay para ken ni Apan. Inwardas ti billit dagiti payakna sa nagdisso iti maysa a sanga.

Bayat iti panangipangatona kadagiti payakna, nakita ni Apan ti paggapuan ti lawagna. Iti sirok dagiti payak ket adda saggaysa a bola nga umap-apoy, Nagsiddaaw ni Apan no kasano nga saan a mauram ti apoy ti billit. Nagtayab iti ababa ta ipagarupna nga saan a makita ti billit, ket nagdiso iti maysa a sanga iti ngatuen ti billit.

Kasla maysa nga estatwa ti billit. Ti saan nga agkutkuti nga langa daytoy ken kasla nangpaseggar kenni Apan. “ Ania ngata ti maaramid daytoy a billit,” nasaludsodna.

“ Ammok nga addaka dita,” nagsao met laeng.

Saan a naggaraw ni Apan. Ammona nga adda isuna iti disso a di makita ti billit.

“Umayka ditoy ta agsaritata, “ imbilin ti billit.

Insigida a nagtayab iti ngato ni Apan ket nagdisso iti abay ti billit. Saan a narruam a sirriing iti rabii ket kasla dumagsen ti payakna iti panagtulid ti oras, ngem saanna nga maiyebkas ti ragsakna. Naidumduma ti pannakabirokna iti maysa a baro a banag a mabalinna a sukimaten.

Sinangona ti billit ket nagsaludsod, “ Aniaka kadi?”

Nagkatawa ti billit, “ Diretso ka, ania?”

Imbabana dagiti payakna ket nalingdan dagiti bola nga umap-apoy.

“Maysaak met a billit a kasla kenka.’

“Saanka a kas kadagiti gagangay a billit a nakitkitakon, ken uppaten a winter nga um-umayak ditoy.

“Maysaak a naipangpangruna a billit, “ insungbatna.

“Apay nga adda apoy iti sirok dagiti payakmo? Kasano a dika mapuoran?”

“Maysaka a nausisa a billit,” nakunana. “ Apay a kayatmo a maammuan?”

“Saanak pay a pulos a nakaimatang ti nakadadaeg a tumatayab iti law-ang. Kayatko nga ibaga kadagiti dadduma a billit iti katiponak ti maipapan kenka. “

“ Ala ngarud, “ ti sungbat ti billit. “ Ibagak kenka ti maipapan kaniak. Ngem sakbayna, masapol nga sungbatam daytoy a saludsod.”

“ Sige, “ ti sungbat ni Apan, “ uray ania tapno mangngegko ti pakaestoriaam.”

“ Ania ti pammatim iti gasat?”

Saan a napakadaan ni Apan daytoy. Saanna a ninamnama daytoy a saludsod ti billit, Dagiti kasla kaniana ket saan a mangdakdakamat kadagiti nangato a kapanunotan kas iti gasat. Kontentodan nga agturong kadagiti nabara a lugar ken mangbirok ti sumaruno a taraonda.

Isu nga idi sumungbat..

“Diak ammo no adda kasta.Ti gasat ket para laeng kadagiti bannuar ken ari, saan a nanumo a billit kas kaniak.”

Nagkatawa ti billit.” Pudno kadi a dayta ti patpatiem?”

“Wen, mamatiak.”

Makaassian ti billit a nangkita ken Apan.” Amin a parsua ket adda gasatda a sursurotenda.Ti panangtalikod kadayta ket panangtalikod iti bukod a bagi.”

“Ket sika? Ania ti kapanunotam maipanggep iti gasat?”

“Ti gasat ket kasla angin. Mabalinna ti agpayogpog a kasla bagyo wenno pumoyot a kas iti arasaas kadagiti dutdotmo. Saan a mapagkedkedan, mangisangpet iti masakbayan a maagka no  dimo ikaskaso.”

Nagulimek ni Apan. Awan ti mabirokna a sao nga isungbat iti billit.

Intuloy ti billit.

“Amin a biag ket parte iti maysa a nangatngato a banag.Ti apagdarikmat a panagbalbaliw ti angin a gapuen ti panagpayakpak dagiti payakmi ket mangitunda iti maysa a ngilaw iti lugar nga dina pay naad-addakan. Nalawag nga amin a biag ket  apektaran nga inaldaw dagiti puwersa nga saan tayo pulos a matukod. Inton maawatan tayon dayta, masapul nga agrukma  tayon..

“ Ket ania ngarud ti gasatmo?” sinaludsod ni Apan.

“Makitamto.” Kasla umis-isem ti billit.” Ket gaputa addaka ditoy, sungbatak ti saludsodmo.”

“Daytoyak,” kinunana.

“Maysaka nga apoy?” Ginandat nga awaten ni Apan ti kayat nga ibaga ti billit.

“Siak ti apoy ken mangallilaw.”

“Ngem maysaka a billit. Kasano koma a dua ti kinataom?

“Kumitaka iti ngato,” imbilin ti billit.”Dandanin ti orasna.”

“Oras para iti anya?”

“Para iti tudo.”

Iti dayta a kanito, narikna ni Apan ti tedted ti tudo iti ulona. Ken dagiti nagsasaruno.

Kasla nalipatan ti billit ti saritaanda ken nagtayab a nagpangato iti ayan dagiti ulep a paggapuan ti tudo.

Ginandat ni Apan a pukkawan ti billit, tapno damagenna ti kayatna a sawen.

Naawatna ti sungbat babaen iti ranniag a dandani nangbulsek kaniana.

Nagbalin nga apoy ti billit, maysa a bola ti nakarangrangrang a gil-ayab a nakabitin iti law-ang. Saanen nga ammo ni Apan no mano nga oras a mangbuybuya iti bola ti apoy. Apagapaman nga binittak ti init ti sipnget, nagpukawen ti apoy ken nagsubli metten ni Apan iti pangenna.

Saannan a mauray nga ibaga  kaniada ti maipapan iti billit.

Ngem nadagsen dagiti sao ti billit kaniana.

“ Ti kinatao tayo kadi ket maibasar laeng iti gasat tayo?

=——————————=

English Version

In the North, in a place called Lagui, there lived a bird called Apan. Apan and her kind were from the far northeast, but the harsh winters in that land made them migrate southwards to the land of windmills.

One day, as the sun was giving way to the moon, Apan caught a glimpse of a bird she had never seen before. It had been four winters since she had been hatched and she thought she knew all the birds that came to flock in Lagui. The bird was not a kingfisher, a starling, nor a sparrow. It did remind her of the grass owls that hunted near her perch, with its wingspan and face, but the similarities ended there.

None of those birds ever glowed like starlight.

Apan was tired, having spent the whole day foraging for food. That didn’t stop her from flying towards the bird to sate her curiosity.

The bird was not that large, it reminded Apan of the ducks and kites that her kind avoided. Even from far away the bird could be followed which was convenient for Apan. The bird spread its wings and perched on a nearby branch.
As it lifted its wings up Apan saw the source of its glow. Under each of its wings there was a ball of intense fire. Apan wondered how the fire didn’t consume it. She flew low thinking that the bird would not see her and roosted on a branch under the bird.

It seemed like the bird was a statue. The unmoving countenance of it gave Apan chills. “What would this bird do?” she wondered.

“I know you’re there,” it finally spoke.

Apan did not move. She was sure she was in a place where the bird could not see her.

“Come here and we shall talk,” the bird said.

With that, Apan flew above and rested beside the bird. She was not nocturnal and the hours of night felt heavy upon her wings, but she had never felt such exhilaration. It was rare to find something completely new that she could explore.

She faced the bird and asked, “What are you?”
The bird laughed, “Straight to the point, aren’t you?”
It put its wings down, covering the balls of fire.
“I am, like you, a bird.”

“You are not like any kind of bird I have ever seen, and I have been going here for four winters,” said Apan.
“I am a special kind of bird,” it replied.

“Why do you have fire under your wings? How does it not consume you?”

“You are a very curious bird,” it answered, “why do you want to know?”

“Never have I seen such majesty flying through the skies, I would like to tell the other birds of my flock about you.”
“Very well,” said the bird, “I will tell you my story. But first you must answer a question.”

“Of course!” Apan said, “anything to hear your story.”

“What do you believe about destiny?”

Apan was caught off guard. She had not expected this kind of question from the bird. Her kind did not think of grand things such as destiny, they were content to fly to warm places and find their next meals.

And thus she answered:

“I do not know if it exists. Destiny is a word that describes heroes and kings, not a lowly bird such as I.”

The bird laughed. “Do you truly believe that?”

“Yes, I do.”

The bird looked at Apan with pity, “Every living being has a destiny that they follow. To deny that is to deny yourself.”

“What about you? What do you think about destiny?”

“Destiny is like the wind. It can blow with the wild abandon of a hurricane or the smallest of whispers on your feathers. It cannot be denied, it brings a future that would be foolish to ignore.”

Apan fell silent. She could not find the words to reply to the bird.

The bird continued, “All life is part of something much larger. A brief change in the air caused by the flap of our wings could make it so that a fly would end up where it might never have gone. It is clear that all life is affected every day by forces beyond our comprehension. And once we realize that, we must surrender.”

“And what is your destiny?” Apan asked.

“You will see it later.” The bird almost looked like it was smiling. “And since you are here I will answer your question.”

The bird once again raised its wings so that the balls of fireballs were visible. Apan was worried that her feathers would burn being so close to fire, but she was surprised at the warm glow that washed over her form.

“This is what I am,” said the bird.

“You are the fire?” Apan tried to understand what the bird was trying to tell her.

“I am the fire and a deceiver.”

“But you are a bird. How can you be both?”

“Look up,” the bird said, “it is almost time.”

“Time for what?”

“For the rain.”

At that moment Apan could feel a raindrop hit her head. And another. And another.

The bird seemed to forget their conversation and flew high towards the rainclouds.

Apan tried to shout at the bird, to ask what it meant.

She received her answer in a luminescence that nearly blinded her.

The bird became fire, a ball of bright flame hanging in the sky. Apan didn’t know how many hours she had spent staring at the ball of fire. Once the morning sun broke through the twilight the light disappeared and Apan made her way back to her flock.

She couldn’t wait to tell them about the bird.

But the bird’s words weighed heavy on her.

Are we only what our destiny is?

————————————————————————–

*Ilocano is the third most-spoken local language of the Philippines.An Austronesian language, it is related to such languages as Malay (Indonesian and Malaysian), Tetum, Chamorro, Fijian, Maori, Hawaiian, Samoan, Tahitian, Paiwan and Malagasy. It is closely related to some of the other Austronesian languages of Northern Luzon, and has slight mutual intelligibility with the Balangao language and the eastern dialects of the Bontoc language.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Ilocano translation by Maria Jesusa Villaruz
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Maria Jesusa Villaruz

Inspired by the Sansilmo bird legends from Ilocos and “Sansilmo, the Light Deciever.” in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002. and an Interview with Migo Luis (2015)

The Sansilmo Bird Illustration by Alvin Gasga
FB: Art of Alvin

The post The Sansilmo Bird – Ilocano Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Sa Norte, sa lugar na tinatawag na Lagui, may nakatirang ibon na nagngangalang Apan. Nagmula sa malayong hilagang-silangan si Apan at ang kaniyang uri, ngunit bunsod ng marahas na taglamig sa lupaing iyon, lumipad sila patimog sa lugar na maraming molino.

Isang araw, habang nagpaparaya ang araw sa pagsikat ng buwan, may nasulyapan si Apan na ibong noon niya lamang nakita. Apat na taglamig na ang lumipas mula nang siya ay isilang, at akala niya ay alam na niya ang lahat ng ibong dumarayo sa Lagui. Ang ibong iyon ay hindi susulbot, galansiyang, o maya. Naalala niya roon ang mga ngiwngiw na nangangaso malapit sa sangang pahingahan niya dahil sa mukha at dipa ng mga pakpak niyon, ngunit hanggang doon lamang ang pagkakawangis.

Wala sa mga ibong naisip niya ang may liwanag na parang bituin.

Pagod na si Apan dahil buong araw siyang naghanap ng makakain, subalit hindi iyon naging hadlang upang lumipad siya papalapit sa ibon sa pagnanais niyang makita iyon nang mas mabuti.

Hindi kalakihan ang ibon. Naalala rito ni Apan ang mga pato at saranggola na iniiwasan ng kaniyang uri. Madaling sundan ang ibon kahit sa malayo, na magandang bagay para kay Apan. Ibinuka ng ibon ang mga pakpak nito at dumapo ito sa isang sanga sa malapit.

Nang iangat ng ibon ang mga pakpak nito, nakita ni Apan ang pinagmumulan ng liwanag nito. May bolang nagbabaga sa ilalim ng bawat pakpak ng ibon. Nagtaka si Apan kung paano nangyaring hindi nilalamon ng apoy ang ibon. Binabaan niya ang kaniyang lipad sa pag-aakalang hindi siya makikita ng ibon at dumapo siya sa isang sanga sa ilalim nito.

Tila rebulto ang ibon. Kinilabutan si Apan sa bikas nitong walang-tinag. Naisip niya, “Ano ang gagawin ng ibong ito?”

“Alam kong nariyan ka,” ang sambit ng ibon, sa wakas.

Hindi gumalaw si Apan. Sigurado siyang nakapuwesto siya sa lugar kung saan hindi siya makikita ng ibon.

“Halika’t mag-usap tayo,” ang sabi ng ibon.

Kaya naman, lumipad si Apan upang tumabi sa ibon. Hindi siya sanay nang gising sa gabi at nakakaramdam na siya ng bigat sa kaniyang mga pakpak, ngunit noon lamang siya nakadama ng ganoong kagalakan. Bihirang magkaroon ng pagkakataong makahanap ng bagay na bago at maaari niyang usisain.

Humarap siya sa ibon at nagtanong. “Ano ka?”

Tumawa ang ibon. “Hindi ka nagpapaligoy-ligoy, ano?”

Ibinaba ng ibon ang mga pakpak nito at natakpan ang mga bola ng apoy.

“Tulad mo, isa akong ibon.”

“Wala kang katulad sa mga ibong nakita ko na dati, at apat na taglamig na akong pumupunta rito,” ani Apan.

“Isa akong espesyal na uri ng ibon,” ang tugon nito.

“Bakit ka may apoy sa ilalim ng iyong mga pakpak? Paano nangyaring hindi ka nilalamon nito?”

“Napakamausisa mong ibon,” ang sagot nito. “Bakit mo gustong malaman?”

“Ngayon lamang ako nakakita ng nilalang na lumilipad sa kalangitan nang may taglay na angking karingalan. Nais kitang ikuwento sa iba pang ibon sa aking langkay.”

“O, siya,” ang sabi ng ibon. “Sasabihin ko sa iyo ang aking kuwento. Bago iyon, may tanong ako na dapat mong sagutin.”

“Sige!” ani Apan. “Gagawin ko ang lahat, marinig ko lamang ang iyong kuwento.”

“Ano ang paniniwala mo sa usapin ng kapalaran?”

Nabigla si Apan. Hindi niya inaasahang magbabato ng ganoong klase ng tanong ang ibon. Hindi nag-aabala ang kaniyang uri sa mga dakilang bagay na tulad ng kapalaran. Nalulugod na silang lumipad patungo sa maiinit na lugar at maghanap ng makakain.

Kaya naman, ganito ang isinagot niya:

“Hindi ko alam kung talagang may ganoon. Isang salita ang kapalaran na naglalarawan sa mga bayani at hari, hindi sa abang ibon na gaya ko.”

Tumawa ang ibon. “Pinaniniwalaan mo ba talaga iyan?”

“Oo.”

Tumingin ang ibon kay Apan nang may awa na bakas sa mukha nito. “May kapalarang sinusundan ang bawat nabubuhay na nilalang. Kapag hindi mo iyon tinahak, malaki ang ipinagkakait mo sa iyong sarili.”

“Ikaw naman, ano ang palagay mo sa kapalaran?”

“Maihahalintulad sa hangin ang kapalaran. Maaari itong umihip nang kasinglakas ng unos o kasinghina ng dampi sa iyong balahibo. Hindi ito maaaring tanggihan; may dala itong kinabukasan na kung babalewalain ay maituturing na isang kahangalan.”

Napatahimik si Apan. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang kaniyang isasagot sa ibon.

Nagpatuloy ang ibon: “May mas malaking kinababahagian ang lahat ng buhay. Sa munting pagbabago sa hangin na bunsod ng pagpagaspas natin sa ating mga pakpak, maaaring makarating ang isang langaw sa lugar na kung hindi dahil doon ay hindi nito pupuntahan. Malinaw na naaapektuhan ang lahat ng buhay bawat araw ng mga puwersang hindi natin lubusang maiintindihan. At kapag napagtanto na natin iyon, dapat tayong sumuko.”

“At ano ang iyong kapalaran?” ang tanong ni Apan.

“Makikita mo mamaya.” Halos tila nakangiti ang ibon. “At dahil narito ka, sasagutin ko ang iyong tanong.”

Muling inangat ng ibon ang mga pakpak nito upang ipakita ang mga bola ng apoy. Nag-alala si Apan na masusunog ang kaniyang balahibo sa lapit niya sa apoy, ngunit nagulat siya sa init na bumalot sa kaniyang katawan at kaibuturan.

“Ito ako,” ang sambit ng ibon.

“Ikaw ang apoy?” Sinubukang unawain ni Apan ang sinasabi sa kaniya ng ibon.

“Ako ay apoy at manlilinlang.”

“Ngunit isa kang ibon. Paano ka naging mga bagay na iyon?”

“Tumingala ka,” ang sabi ng ibon. “Malapit na ang oras.”

“Oras ng ano?”

“Ng ulan.”

Sa sandaling iyon, may naramdaman si Apan na patak ng ulan sa kaniyang ulo. At isa pang patak. At isa pa.

Tila nakalimutan na ng ibon ang pag-uusap nila at pumailalang ito patungo sa mga ulap na may dalang ulan.

Sinubukang sumigaw ni Apan upang itanong sa ibon kung ano ang ibig nitong sabihin.

Natanggap niya ang sagot na hinahanap niya sa anyo ng liwanag na halos makabulag.

Naging apoy ang ibon—isang nag-aalab na bola sa kalangitan. Hindi alam ni Apan kung gaano katagal siyang nakatitig sa bola ng apoy. Pagsapit ng bukang-liwayway, naglaho ang liwanag ng apoy at bumalik na si Apan sa kaniyang langkay.

Nasasabik na siyang ikuwento sa kanila ang ibon.

Gayunpaman, dala niya ang bigat ng mga salitang binitiwan ng ibon.

Nakakulong ba tayo sa ating kapalaran?

=————————————-=

In the North, in a place called Lagui, there lived a bird called Apan. Apan and her kind were from the far northeast, but the harsh winters in that land made them migrate southwards to the land of windmills.

One day, as the sun was giving way to the moon, Apan caught a glimpse of a bird she had never seen before. It had been four winters since she had been hatched and she thought she knew all the birds that came to flock in Lagui. The bird was not a kingfisher, a starling, nor a sparrow. It did remind her of the grass owls that hunted near her perch, with its wingspan and face, but the similarities ended there.

None of those birds ever glowed like starlight.

Apan was tired, having spent the whole day foraging for food. That didn’t stop her from flying towards the bird to sate her curiosity.

The bird was not that large, it reminded Apan of the ducks and kites that her kind avoided. Even from far away the bird could be followed which was convenient for Apan. The bird spread its wings and perched on a nearby branch.
As it lifted its wings up Apan saw the source of its glow. Under each of its wings there was a ball of intense fire. Apan wondered how the fire didn’t consume it. She flew low thinking that the bird would not see her and roosted on a branch under the bird.

It seemed like the bird was a statue. The unmoving countenance of it gave Apan chills. “What would this bird do?” she wondered.

“I know you’re there,” it finally spoke.

Apan did not move. She was sure she was in a place where the bird could not see her.

“Come here and we shall talk,” the bird said.

With that, Apan flew above and rested beside the bird. She was not nocturnal and the hours of night felt heavy upon her wings, but she had never felt such exhilaration. It was rare to find something completely new that she could explore.

She faced the bird and asked, “What are you?”
The bird laughed, “Straight to the point, aren’t you?”
It put its wings down, covering the balls of fire.
“I am, like you, a bird.”

“You are not like any kind of bird I have ever seen, and I have been going here for four winters,” said Apan.
“I am a special kind of bird,” it replied.

“Why do you have fire under your wings? How does it not consume you?”

“You are a very curious bird,” it answered, “why do you want to know?”

“Never have I seen such majesty flying through the skies, I would like to tell the other birds of my flock about you.”
“Very well,” said the bird, “I will tell you my story. But first you must answer a question.”

“Of course!” Apan said, “anything to hear your story.”

“What do you believe about destiny?”

Apan was caught off guard. She had not expected this kind of question from the bird. Her kind did not think of grand things such as destiny, they were content to fly to warm places and find their next meals.

And thus she answered:

“I do not know if it exists. Destiny is a word that describes heroes and kings, not a lowly bird such as I.”

The bird laughed. “Do you truly believe that?”

“Yes, I do.”

The bird looked at Apan with pity, “Every living being has a destiny that they follow. To deny that is to deny yourself.”

“What about you? What do you think about destiny?”

“Destiny is like the wind. It can blow with the wild abandon of a hurricane or the smallest of whispers on your feathers. It cannot be denied, it brings a future that would be foolish to ignore.”

Apan fell silent. She could not find the words to reply to the bird.

The bird continued, “All life is part of something much larger. A brief change in the air caused by the flap of our wings could make it so that a fly would end up where it might never have gone. It is clear that all life is affected every day by forces beyond our comprehension. And once we realize that, we must surrender.”

“And what is your destiny?” Apan asked.

“You will see it later.” The bird almost looked like it was smiling. “And since you are here I will answer your question.”

The bird once again raised its wings so that the balls of fireballs were visible. Apan was worried that her feathers would burn being so close to fire, but she was surprised at the warm glow that washed over her form.

“This is what I am,” said the bird.

“You are the fire?” Apan tried to understand what the bird was trying to tell her.

“I am the fire and a deceiver.”

“But you are a bird. How can you be both?”

“Look up,” the bird said, “it is almost time.”

“Time for what?”

“For the rain.”

At that moment Apan could feel a raindrop hit her head. And another. And another.

The bird seemed to forget their conversation and flew high towards the rainclouds.

Apan tried to shout at the bird, to ask what it meant.

She received her answer in a luminescence that nearly blinded her.

The bird became fire, a ball of bright flame hanging in the sky. Apan didn’t know how many hours she had spent staring at the ball of fire. Once the morning sun broke through the twilight the light disappeared and Apan made her way back to her flock.

She couldn’t wait to tell them about the bird.

But the bird’s words weighed heavy on her.

Are we only what our destiny is?

————————————————————————–

**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 Maui Felix
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Maui Felix

Inspired by the Sansilmo bird legends from Ilocos and “Sansilmo, the Light Deciever.” in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002. and an Interview with Migo Luis (2015)

The Sansilmo Bird Illustration by Alvin Gasga
FB: Art of Alvin

The post The Sansilmo Bird – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

Ming ginlaw na ang adlawa sa iyang way pasaylo nga kasuwaw apan wa kini makapugong sa
duha ka maghigala sa pag pahulay sa ilang mga pako samtang nag patong sa puno-an ug
nag-abiabi sa usat usa.

Ang usa bag-o lang naka escapo gikan sa pagkabinhag sa layong nasud samtang ang usa
nangitag kapasayluan sa ilang hari. Grabeng kalisud ang mingbungad ka nila himatungod sa
panahon og higayon apan mapasalamaton sila kay nagka-abot sila aning punuan.

“Ibutyag ka nako imung sugilanon, higala” Mi ingon ang bantogan’g langgam.

“Nag sugod ang tanan katong naa ko sa Piedras Platas, susama sa akong kanonay buhaton.”
“Katong punuan nimo nga diyamente?”

“o, kato. Samtang ming talisawop ang adlaw, gisugdan nako ang una sa pito nako ka awit.
Pagkahuman nako sa ika-pito, wa ko kabantay nga aduna diay tawo sa ubos unya na itihan
nako siya.

“Nahimu dayon siyang bato.”

“Mao gyud. Kining mga tawhana wa ni sila kaibaw unsa ilang gi pangbuhat. Pagkasunod adlaw
naa nasay laing tao nga nakatulog ilawm sa akong punuan. Wa ko nasayud nga igsoon diay to
niya ang nakatug pagni-agi.”

“Unsa may nahitabo ato?”

“Ang laing igsoon sa katong nangahimong bato ming abot og gi dakop ko samtang natulog ko.
Nalikayan niya akong mga iti kay wa man siya nakatulog. Giluwas niya iyang mga igsuon sa
pagka bato apan wa sila malipay sa ilang kaluwasan. Ila nahinoong gikulata ilang igsuon nga
nag luwas nila unya gidala ko nila sa ilang hari.

“Wa gyud ni utlanan ang kapintas sa katawhan?”

“Wa na ko padungga sa akong mga awit ang hari aron ma-ulian siya hangtod nabalik ang tinuod
nga nakadakop nako, ming abot tuod siya. Mingkanta ko sa akong awit ngan sa pagkasayod sa
tanan sa gibuhat sa duha ka mag-igsoon. Gi takwil na unta sila kung wa sila pasaylua sa ilang
igsoon nga ilang gikulata.

“Murag inosente ra kaayu to siya.”

“Pagkahuman gi atiman ko og tarong apan akong tinguha mao ang makabalik og lupad.
Nahatagan ko ani nga higayon katong gibuhi-an ko sa usa sa mag-isoon. Murag iya tong gi
buhat aron mapasanginlan ang ilang buutan nga igsoon pero ako lang ning tagna.”

“Murag kuyaw to imung na agi-an, higala.”

“Makaingon ko nga akong ka-agi talagsaon gayud. Kanang igo na para sa usa ka kinabuhi.
Usahay mu-abot ragyud ang higayon apan wa gyud tay mabuhat kung mao man. Akong
pagkadakop nakahatag lag labing pagdayeg sa akong nabating kaluwasan nga karong nasinati.
“Mga pulong nga angay panaminan, mao kini akong gidahum gikan kanimo.”

Ang adlaw ming talisawop samtang ang duha ka langgam nagpadayun sa ilang pagkukalubildo.

Ang kahayag sa mga bituon ming hatag og pagsidlak sa ilang mga pako samtang nag storya
silang duha.

=—————————————–=

English Version

The sun shone with an unforgiving glare, but this did not stop the two friends from resting their wings upon a tree and greeting each other warmly.

One had just fled from captivity in a faraway kingdom while the other had sought forgiveness from their king. It had been an exceptionally challenging time in the lives of both these great birds, but they were thankful for each other’s company.

“Tell me your story, old friend,” the great bird, Sumayang Galura, requested.

“It started when I was spending the night on the Piedras Platas, as I always do.”

“Your tree of diamond?”

“The very same. As the sun was setting, I began to sing the first of my seven songs, when I had finished with the seventh, I did not realize that there was a human below me and my droppings had fallen on him.”

“He then turned to stone”

“That he did. Some humans just don’t realize what they get themselves into. The next day the same thing happened with another human that fell asleep at the foot of my tree, I didn’t know they were brothers then.”

“What happened then?”

“The human’s other brother came forth and captured me while I slept. He stayed awake during my songs and avoided my droppings until I fell asleep. He turned his brothers back from stone, but they did not appreciate their freedom. They beat the brother that freed them and took me to their king.”

“Will the cruelty of humans never cease?”

“I would not sing my song to heal the king until my true captor returned, and he did. I sang and my song revealed the duplicity of the two brothers, they would have been banished if not for the forgiveness of the brother that freed them.”

“He sounds like a naïve human.”

“After that, I was not treated badly, but I yearned to stretch my wings and fly through the sky once again. I had this opportunity when one of the brothers just released me. I think it was to frame the good brother as a fool, but that is just my guess.”

“It seems you have had a great ordeal, old friend.”

“I have had an adventure, as what fills most of our lifetimes. Sometimes they come to us and we do not have any choice in the matter. My captivity has only made me more grateful for the freedom I now possess.”

“Wise words, I would expect no less from you.”

The sun set as the two great birds continued their conversation. The star’s light gave their feathers a brilliant glow as they talked late into the night.

————————–————————–————————–—

*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.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Cebuano Translation by Julius Cesar Cudera
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Julius Cesar Cudera

Inspired by Ibong Adarna

Adarna Illustration and Watercolor by Franz Lim

The post Adarna – Cebuano Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Matindi ang sikat ng haring araw sa kalangitan, ngunit hindi papapigil ang dalawang magkaibigan na ipahinga ang kanilang mga pakpak sa isang puno at malugod na batiin ang isa’t-isa.

Ang isa ay nakatakas sa pagkakakulong mula sa isang malayong kaharian at isa naman ay nakalaya bungad sa kapatawaran ng kanyang hari. Naging mahirap at masalimuot ang kanilang mga paglalakbay subalit nagpapasalamat sila  dahil kasama nila ang isa’t-isa.

“Kaibigan, sabihin mo sa akin ang iyong kuwento,” pakiusap ng dakilang ibon.

“Nagsimula lahat noong nagpalipas ako ng gabi sa puno ng Piedras Platas, tulad ng madalas kong ginagawa.”

“Ang iyong puno ng brilyante?”

“Siyang tunay. Tulad ng dati, sinimulan kong awitin ang isa sa aking pitong kanta ng dumating ang dapit-hapon. Subalit sa pagkakataong natapos ko ang ika-pitong awitin, hindi ko napansin na may tao sa ilalim at hindi sinasadyang nahulugan ko siya ng aking dumi.

“At naging bato siya.”

“Oo, naging bato siya. May ibang tao na hindi alam kung ano ang sinusuong nila. Nung sumunod na araw, isa na namang tao ang nakatulog sa ilalim ng puno. Hindi ko pa alam ng pagkakataong iyon na magkapatid sila.”

“Anong nangyari pagkatapos?”

“Hinuli ako habang mahimbing ang tulog ko. Nanatili gising ang taong dumakip sa akin habang kumakanta ako at iniiwasan niya ang mga dumi ko. Naibalik niya ang mga kapatid niya mula sa pagiging bato subalit hindi nila ito kinatuwa. Bagkus ay ginapos nila ito kahit siya ang nagpalaya sa kanila at dinala ako sa kanilang hari.”

“Hindi mawari talaga ang kasakiman ng mga tao.”

“Nang mga sandaling iyon, hindi ko mapagaling ang hari sapagkat kakanta lang ako kapag bumalik ang tunay na dumakip sa akin. At kinalaunan ay nagbalik ‘nga siya. Nagsimula akong umawit at lumabas ang katotohanan tungkol sa kataksilang ginawa ng kanyang mga kapatid. Napalayas sana sa kaharian ang mga taksil niyang kapatid kung hindi lang sa kapatawarang ginawad niya sa kanila.”

“Hango sa sinabi mo, para siyang wala muwang sa mga bagay-bagay.”

“Pagkatapos nun, maayos ang naging pakikitungo nila sa akin. Subalit inasam ko iwagayway ang aking mga pakpak at makalipad muli sa kalangitan. Nakita ko ang pagkakataong ito nang pinalaya ako ng isa sa mga magkakapatid. Pasubali ko ay pakana ito para palabasing hangal ang mabuting niyang kapatid, pero ito ay aking haka-haka lang.”

“Isang kakaibang pagsubok ang iyong naranasan kaibigan.”

“Sang-ayon ako, isang natatanging pakikipagsapalaran, gaya ng marami na siyang pupunan sa ating mga sandali ng habambuhay. Minsan darating sila sa atin at wala tayong magagawa sa bagay na ito. Ang aking pagkakabihag ang nagturo sa akin na pahalagahan ang kalayaang tinatamasa ko ngayon.”

“Tulad ng inaasahan sa iyo kaibigan, may taglay na karunungan ang iyong mga salita.”

Lumubog na ang haring araw habang pinagpatuloy ng dalawang dakilang ibon ang kanilang usapan. Habang patuloy na kumakagat ang dilim ng gabi, kapansin-pansin ang kakaibang kislap sa kanilang mga balahibo dulot ng mga liwanag ng mga bituin.

=——————————————

English Version

The sun shone with an unforgiving glare, but this did not stop the two friends from resting their wings upon a tree and greeting each other warmly.

One had just fled from captivity in a faraway kingdom while the other had sought forgiveness from their king. It had been an exceptionally challenging time in the lives of both these great birds, but they were thankful for each other’s company.

“Tell me your story, old friend,” the great bird, Sumayang Galura, requested.

“It started when I was spending the night on the Piedras Platas, as I always do.”

“Your tree of diamond?”

“The very same. As the sun was setting, I began to sing the first of my seven songs, when I had finished with the seventh, I did not realize that there was a human below me and my droppings had fallen on him.”

“He then turned to stone”

“That he did. Some humans just don’t realize what they get themselves into. The next day the same thing happened with another human that fell asleep at the foot of my tree, I didn’t know they were brothers then.”

“What happened then?”

“The human’s other brother came forth and captured me while I slept. He stayed awake during my songs and avoided my droppings until I fell asleep. He turned his brothers back from stone, but they did not appreciate their freedom. They beat the brother that freed them and took me to their king.”

“Will the cruelty of humans never cease?”

“I would not sing my song to heal the king until my true captor returned, and he did. I sang and my song revealed the duplicity of the two brothers, they would have been banished if not for the forgiveness of the brother that freed them.”

“He sounds like a naïve human.”

“After that, I was not treated badly, but I yearned to stretch my wings and fly through the sky once again. I had this opportunity when one of the brothers just released me. I think it was to frame the good brother as a fool, but that is just my guess.”

“It seems you have had a great ordeal, old friend.”

“I have had an adventure, as what fills most of our lifetimes. Sometimes they come to us and we do not have any choice in the matter. My captivity has only made me more grateful for the freedom I now possess.”

“Wise words, I would expect no less from you.”

The sun set as the two great birds continued their conversation. The star’s light gave their feathers a brilliant glow as they talked late into the night.

=——————————————————————0

Inspired by Ibong Adarna

Adarna Illustration and Watercolor by Franz Lim

The post Adarna – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Sa banwa sng Igbahay, may nagakabuhi na makatilingahan nga tinuga. Sa tuig sang makaako, 1539, ginsulong sng mga pumuluyo sang ina nga banwa ang malaut nga tawo nga nagahingalan kay Talagman. Sa iya nga puluy-an may nanarisari nga makahulugmat na mga butang nga nadiskobrehan ang mga pumuluyo. Ang isa sa pinaka makatilingalahan amo ang uwak nga may tuk-tok o tuka nga syado katalum kaparehos sang sundang ang katalun sini, apat ka mga mga maligwis nga tiil kag mga kuko kg mga karubkub.

Ginapatihan sang mga pumuluyo na ini klase na tinuga kahuptanan sng malain klase mn nga tinuga o ang ginatawag nga malain ginhawa. Ang pagkapanulay ni Talagman syado gd kalain nga sya ginahambal nga isa ka sigbin. Sa yadto nga panahon, ginapatuhan nga ang isa ka sigbin nagahatag katalagman sa lugar nga iya ginapanaguan.

May istorya nga naghalin sa mga pumuluyo nga may isa ka tawo nga makusog nga naaktuhan si Talagman nga nagahimu sng malain nya nga hilimuon, gin utod sang makusog nga tawo ang dulunggan ni Talagman. Sadto nga panahon ginapatihan sng mga pumuluyo sng Igbahay, nga ila ginatawag Igbajaos nga kng utdun mo ang nawala nga parti sng dulunggan sang ini nga mga tawo mautod mo mn ang koneksyon sng sigbin sa ispirito sng oag nga ginapatihan nagahatag sang langis agud maging isa ka sigbin ang isa ka tawo.

Ginapatihan nga grabe gid ang kamala-ut ni Talagman na sa pagtulok niya pa lng sa isa ka tawo grabe na ang halit nga mahatag niya sini. May mga istorya pa asta subung nga ang ila pa mga kalololohan ang nakasaksi nga nakita nila si Talagman nga ginkuha nga gamay nga botelya, ginhisuan ang lawas niya sang langis kag maglupad nga katunga lang ang lawas samtang ang katunga nabilin sa iya nga puluy-an.

Ang kapintas kg pagkamala-ut ni Talagman maiangay mo sa iya hinuptanan nga uac-uac. Ang ini nga makahaladlok nga uwak, nagakalipay gid magdusak kag maglaslas sang lawas sang iya biktima. Syado gid ang kalipay sini nga uwak samtang nagahatag sang kasakit sa iya biktima nga maga upod pa gid ini sa iya amu nga sigbin sa pagpangita nmn sang bag o na biktima nga kng sa diin ila naman pagapatyun.

—————————————–===

English Version

In the town of Igbahay, there exists a curious creature. In the year of the Lord, 1539, the people of the town raided the house of an evil man called Talagman. In his house they found many horrors. One most strange was a black crow with a beak as sharp as a knife, four long feet and claws and spines.

Now, it was said by the townsfolk that this creature was the companion of something more malicious. The evil of Talagman was so great that the people of the town whispered that he was a sigbin. In those days, a sigbin was a man who caused great evil and harm from his hiding place.

The townsfolk even tell a story of one day when a strong man caught Talagman in the middle of an evil act and the strong man cut off Talagman’s ear. Now, in those days there was a tradition in the town of Igbahay, whose people are called the Ibajaos, where certain men would have their left ear cut off. This practice was to break the pact that sigben would have with the spirit called oag, the creature that gives the oil which would make a man become a sigben.

Such was the evil of Talagman that, to this day, people would tell stories of how his glance alone would cause harm. They still say of stories where their great-great-great grandparents would see Talagman take a small flask, anoint his body with oil and fly through the air leaving half of his body in his house.

The cruelty and malice of Talagman had his match in the uac-uac, his companion. The misshapen crow would stab victims with its sharp beak and take great pleasure in raking its claws against the flesh of humans. So great was its love of torture that it would fly with its sigben master to find fresh meat that it could dig its claws in.

This story is of hundreds of years past, but always be warned. If you see the uac-uac and its four legs, know that its master will not be far behind.

-=-=———————————————

*The Hiligaynon language, also colloquially referred often by most of its speakers simply as Ilonggo, is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 9.1 million people, mainly in Western Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN, most of whom belong to the Visayan ethnic group, mainly the Hiligaynons. It is the second-most widely spoken language and a member of the so-named Visayan language family and is more distantly related to other Philippine languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Lindsay Gonzales
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Lindsay Gonzales

Inspired by “The Legend of the Sigbin.” Pavon (1838-1839) in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Uac-uac Illustration by NightmareSyrup
IG: @NightmareSyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/ 

The post Uac-uac – Hiligaynon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

The post Garuda – Maguindanaon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

In the North, in a place called Lagui, there lived a bird called Apan. Apan and her kind were from the far northeast, but the harsh winters in that land made them migrate southwards to the land of windmills.

One day, as the sun was giving way to the moon, Apan caught a glimpse of a bird she had never seen before. It had been four winters since she had been hatched and she thought she knew all the birds that came to flock in Lagui. The bird was not a kingfisher, a starling, nor a sparrow. It did remind her of the grass owls that hunted near her perch, with its wingspan and face, but the similarities ended there.

None of those birds ever glowed like starlight.

Apan was tired, having spent the whole day foraging for food. That didn’t stop her from flying towards the bird to sate her curiosity.

The bird was not that large, it reminded Apan of the ducks and kites that her kind avoided. Even from far away the bird could be followed which was convenient for Apan. The bird spread its wings and perched on a nearby branch.
As it lifted its wings up Apan saw the source of its glow. Under each of its wings there was a ball of intense fire. Apan wondered how the fire didn’t consume it. She flew low thinking that the bird would not see her and roosted on a branch under the bird.

It seemed like the bird was a statue. The unmoving countenance of it gave Apan chills. “What would this bird do?” she wondered.

“I know you’re there,” it finally spoke.

Apan did not move. She was sure she was in a place where the bird could not see her.

“Come here and we shall talk,” the bird said.

With that, Apan flew above and rested beside the bird. She was not nocturnal and the hours of night felt heavy upon her wings, but she had never felt such exhilaration. It was rare to find something completely new that she could explore.

She faced the bird and asked, “What are you?”
The bird laughed, “Straight to the point, aren’t you?”
It put its wings down, covering the balls of fire. 
“I am, like you, a bird.”

“You are not like any kind of bird I have ever seen, and I have been going here for four winters,” said Apan. 
“I am a special kind of bird,” it replied.

“Why do you have fire under your wings? How does it not consume you?”

“You are a very curious bird,” it answered, “why do you want to know?”

“Never have I seen such majesty flying through the skies, I would like to tell the other birds of my flock about you.”
“Very well,” said the bird, “I will tell you my story. But first you must answer a question.”

“Of course!” Apan said, “anything to hear your story.”

“What do you believe about destiny?”

Apan was caught off guard. She had not expected this kind of question from the bird. Her kind did not think of grand things such as destiny, they were content to fly to warm places and find their next meals.

And thus she answered:

“I do not know if it exists. Destiny is a word that describes heroes and kings, not a lowly bird such as I.”

The bird laughed. “Do you truly believe that?”

“Yes, I do.”

The bird looked at Apan with pity, “Every living being has a destiny that they follow. To deny that is to deny yourself.”

“What about you? What do you think about destiny?”

“Destiny is like the wind. It can blow with the wild abandon of a hurricane or the smallest of whispers on your feathers. It cannot be denied, it brings a future that would be foolish to ignore.”

Apan fell silent. She could not find the words to reply to the bird.

The bird continued, “All life is part of something much larger. A brief change in the air caused by the flap of our wings could make it so that a fly would end up where it might never have gone. It is clear that all life is affected every day by forces beyond our comprehension. And once we realize that, we must surrender.”

“And what is your destiny?” Apan asked.

“You will see it later.” The bird almost looked like it was smiling. “And since you are here I will answer your question.”

The bird once again raised its wings so that the balls of fireballs were visible. Apan was worried that her feathers would burn being so close to fire, but she was surprised at the warm glow that washed over her form.

“This is what I am,” said the bird.

“You are the fire?” Apan tried to understand what the bird was trying to tell her.

“I am the fire and a deceiver.”

“But you are a bird. How can you be both?”

“Look up,” the bird said, “it is almost time.”

“Time for what?”

“For the rain.”

At that moment Apan could feel a raindrop hit her head. And another. And another.

The bird seemed to forget their conversation and flew high towards the rainclouds.

Apan tried to shout at the bird, to ask what it meant.

She received her answer in a luminescence that nearly blinded her.

The bird became fire, a ball of bright flame hanging in the sky. Apan didn’t know how many hours she had spent staring at the ball of fire. Once the morning sun broke through the twilight the light disappeared and Apan made her way back to her flock.

She couldn’t wait to tell them about the bird.

But the bird’s words weighed heavy on her.

Are we only what our destiny is?

————————————————————————–

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Sansilmo bird legends from Ilocos and “Sansilmo, the Light Deciever.” in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002. and an Interview with Migo Luis (2015)

The Sansilmo Bird Illustration by Alvin Gasga
FB: Art of Alvin

The post The Sansilmo Bird appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

“It’s my turn! Gimme the crown!”

“No way! It looks better on me!”

The girls were being a handful again and it was getting on Lola Nena’s nerves. There was no reason for Aina and Alisa to be fighting this much over something as silly as being a princess.

“Give it back,” Alisa screamed, “the crown belongs to me!”
“No, fair is fair, now it’s my turn to be the princess, and I’m going to be the best princess ever!” Aina stuck her tongue out at Alisa and that just made her angrier.

“You can’t be the best princess, you don’t even know how to rule! You’re just gonna make your kingdom suck.” Alisa tried to tackle her sister, but she was too fast and Alisa stumbled through empty air.

“Now girls watch your language! We don’t say ‘sucks’ to each other,” said Lola Nena, trying to inject a measure of civility into the fight.

“It’s mine!” Aina deftly dodged her sister sending Alisa right into the path of a very expensive vase.

The crash could be heard throughout the house. The sisters didn’t even notice the chaos that they caused, continuing to play their game of catch the crown.
Lola Nena had enough.

“That’s it! Both of you to your room!” Lola Nena may have been old but she was fast. She snatched the crown from Aina’s head and grasped it tight. “If you two won’t behave then no one gets to be the princess.” And with that Lola Nena broke the crown in two.

There isn’t a word to describe the sound of two girl’s hearts breaking, but ‘crestfallen’ comes pretty close. The girls were disconsolate and Lola Nena would not budge. They cried all the way to their room, burying themselves in their sheets, trying to forget what had happened.

“This is all your fault stupid!” Alisa muffled scream forced its way through her blankets. “If it wasn’t for you one of us would still be the princess.”

“Ha shows what you know! You don’t need a crown to be a princess,” Aina said, haughtily.

“Stupid! How else will people know you’re royalty? The crown is a symbol of your power!” Alisa replied.

“A crown is just a crown; real royalty doesn’t need fancy jewelry. You just know what you are.”

Silence followed. Aina took this as a sign that she had won the argument and readied herself for sleep. It was so childish the way Alisa kept trying to get the crown. Even though they were twins Aina always thought that she was the more mature one, it paid to have been born five minutes earlier.

Aina switched off the lamp and put her blanket over her head, trying to get some sleep.

And outside the window a golden figure hovered.

He was half a man, with wings of gold, peering through the windows the human homes.

The hour was late and he was getting hungry. He had decided on a particularly mousey girl to be his dinner, but a noise in the distance interrupted his plans.

Curious, he flew towards the sound.

And he listened.

It had been decades since he had last taken a princess to be his prisoner. Not since…

Not since her.

He closed his eyes and thought to the past.

The storm gods were angry that day and rain battered an unnamed village by the coast. The people of the village tried to hide from the rain in their huts, but it was of no use. Waves, tripling in size, threatened to drown the villagers.
It seemed like there was nothing they could do, nothing until she walked out towards the rain.

She shouted to the heavens in a voice that not even gods could ignore.

“Spare this village and take me instead! I will be your servant!”

The winds carried her prayer and what else could he do but answer?

“Are you a god?” she asked.

“To some,” he answered.

“Will you spare my people from this storm?”

“In exchange for you? I will.”

He took her hand and with his power the storm ceased to be. They did not fly towards the heavens as she expected, instead diving to the bottom of the ocean. His home.

Their days were spent in story and song. She had a voice that would make angels flush with envy and her beauty was matched by her quick wit.

She told tales of far off lands, magical beasts and those that sought to tame them.

In time he felt comfortable enough that he took his true form, his human shape.

But all things come to an end. No matter how hard he tried to keep her alive, humans were fragile beings. The sands of time fell not in her favor and she was lost to dust.

He shook off the past and remembered that his prey was waiting.

He would have his princess.

“Wha—?” Aina rubbed her eyes and saw a large, golden bird knocking at her window.

She thought she was still dreaming and opened the window.

“Are you the princess?” the bird asked.

“I—-”

“No she’s not!” Alisa screamed. “I’m the only princess here!”

“Well, it is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, your majesty,” said the bird.

“Alisa, stay back.” Something wasn’t right, this didn’t feel like a dream. A spark traveled through Aina’s spine and lingered.

“See? Here’s someone that knows how to treat royalty!” Alisa sprang up from her bed and stood in front of the golden bird.

“Will you come with me to my palace, your majesty?”
“No Alisa! Don’t—-this isn’t——”

“Quiet! All my life all you do is stop me from doing things, I don’t care if you’re five minutes older, we’re still the same age and you can’t tell me how to live my life!”

“Alisa listen to me, this is dangerous—-”

“I don’t care, for once in my life I’m finally going to be treated the way I deserve.”

“And what is a princess without her crown?” From his wings the bird produced a tiara of glistening gold, enveloping the room in a soft glow.

“Yes, now we’re talking! Give it to me!”

“Alisa! Stop!”

But it was too late. The young girl greedily snatched the crown from the claws of the bird and before she knew it she was being carried away.

Aina tried to call for help. She told Lola Nena what had happened, but would you believe that a golden bird came out of nowhere and offered your granddaughter a crown?
Alisa’s picture was spread through social media and the newspapers. A sizable reward was put forward for information on her whereabouts, but they would never find her. They were looking in the wrong places.

And Aina?

She knew what monster took her sister and she prepared herself. Nothing was going to stop her from rescuing her twin. The years were hard for her, putting herself through the most physically demanding training and diving through books until she found what she was looking for.

Garuda.

She swore that she would find her sister.

But that’s a story for another time.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Garuda description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Garuda Illustration by Paul Medalla
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*Note this story is in Ibanag

Turi ta ili na Igbahay, ay maggian i tadday a neruma nga ayam. Ta ragun na Yafu tam, 1539, ay gavva tu sinallung na totolay na ili yuri balay na tadday nga marakay a tolay nga mangngagan tu Talagman. Turi ta lagum na balay na ay nadangnganad-da i aru nga kananassing anna napalla-palla a gannu-gannug. Talugaring danaw a gannug ay yuri ngisi nga gayang nga egga tu appa nga annariddu a takki-takki na, kuku-kuku na, anna sita-sitan na, tuange ta atuttukkaw na nga kagitta tu ila i kataram na.

Ikagi na totolay na ili, nga yuri nga ayam ay kavulun na tadday paga nga pinaratu nga mas mataganna anna mas marakay. Yuri nga rakay ni Talagman ay kuruga nepallo yatun ta iana-anabik na totolay na ili ay tu sigben kanu yayya. Gari nga aggaw, i sigben kanu, ay tolay nga mameppagafu ta gannu-gannug nga rakay anna taganna, maggafu turi ta pattuttukan na nga lugar.

Meammung taw, istoryan na kailian nga gari kanu ta tadday a aggaw, ay nagafu’ kanu na tadday a lalaki nga makapangwa si Talagman nga maddagun nga mattattaganna. Megafu taw, ginappo kanu nuri lalaki yuri talinga ni Talagman. Megafu turi, gari nga aggaw ay egga i negagangay onu tradisyon turi ta ili na Igbahay, nga danuri kailian turi ay maagal tu Ibajao, nga danuri kakaruan nga lallaki ay magappo yuri talinga ra. Yaw nga negagangay ay makwa tapenu meimmang yuri pakkasinabban nuri sigben turi ta ari-masingan nga maagal tu oag, nga yayya gapa tu mangiyawa ta denu nga mawak tapenu mabbalin nga sigben i tadday a tolay.

Kuruga nepallo i rakay ni Talagman, yatun ta adde ta sangaw a aggaw, istoryan na totolay nu kunnasi yayya makataganna nga usan na laman ay yuri aginingan na. Adde sangaw, edda pakolian i istorya na kaka-kakay ra ta ‘tuk, tu nasingad-da kanu gari nga lugguran ni Talagman i baggi na ta denu nga naggafu ta baddi a bote. Kunnud, kabalin na ay makkagak yayya, ngem, ibattang na i gadduwa na baggi na ta balay na.

Kagitta gabba laman gapa ni Talagman yuri kavulun na nga uac-uac nga naraka-rakay anna minattaganna. Yuri nga palla nga gayang, ay usan na yuri nataram nga attuttukkaw na tapenu duddugan na i totolay. Meammung taw, magaya yayya nga ikarammu danuri kuku-kuku na ta patta-pattak na totolay. Kurug a nafulotan i aya na nga mappaziga yatun ta mefulun yayya turi ta afu na nga sigben nga makkaga-gakak tapenu magalek ira ta totolay nga tagannad-da.

Yaw nga istorya ay magatu a ragun ngana i kadana na. Ngem, mepangngo nga ipakammu, nga nu masingam-mu yuri uac-uac anna danuri appa na nga takki-takki, ay aranni nga tumuttuttul laman sa maffugab yuri afu na.

English Version

In the town of Igbahay, there exists a curious creature. In the year of the Lord, 1539, the people of the town raided the house of an evil man called Talagman. In his house they found many horrors. One most strange was a black crow with a beak as sharp as a knife, four long feet and claws and spines.

Now, it was said by the townsfolk that this creature was the companion of something more malicious. The evil of Talagman was so great that the people of the town whispered that he was a sigbin. In those days, a sigbin was a man who caused great evil and harm from his hiding place.

The townsfolk even tell a story of one day when a strong man caught Talagman in the middle of an evil act and the strong man cut off Talagman’s ear. Now, in those days there was a tradition in the town of Igbahay, whose people are called the Ibajaos, where certain men would have their left ear cut off. This practice was to break the pact that sigben would have with the spirit called oag, the creature that gives the oil which would make a man become a sigben.

Such was the evil of Talagman that, to this day, people would tell stories of how his glance alone would cause harm. They still say of stories where their great-great-great grandparents would see Talagman take a small flask, anoint his body with oil and fly through the air leaving half of his body in his house.

The cruelty and malice of Talagman had his match in the uac-uac, his companion. The misshapen crow would stab victims with its sharp beak and take great pleasure in raking its claws against the flesh of humans. So great was its love of torture that it would fly with its sigben master to find fresh meat that it could dig its claws in.

This story is of hundreds of years past, but always be warned. If you see the uac-uac and its four legs, know that its master will not be far behind.

————————–————————–————————–

*The Ibanag language (also Ybanag or Ibanak) is spoken by up to 500,000 speakers, most particularly by the Ibanag people, in the Philippines, in the northeastern provinces of Isabela and Cagayan, especially in Tuguegarao, Solana, Abulug, Cabagan, and Ilagan and with overseas immigrants in countries located in the Middle East, United Kingdom and the United States. Most of the speakers can also speak Ilocano, the lingua franca of northern Luzon island. The name Ibanag comes from the prefix “I” which means “people of”, and “bannag”, meaning river. It is closely related to Gaddang, Itawis, Agta, Atta, Yogad, Isneg, and Malaweg.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Jake Calubāquib Coballes
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jake Calubāquib Coballes

Inspired by “The Legend of the Sigbin.” Pavon (1838-1839) in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Uac-uac Illustration by NightmareSyrup
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“Alberto it’s time for bed!” Neni shouted from the hallway. She checked Alberto’s bedroom and was surprised to find him already under the covers.

She had noticed that he was less energetic than usual and she was worried that he wasn’t sleeping well.

“Neni I’m going to sleep!” Alberto said from under his blanket.
There wasn’t much she could do. Neni switched the lights off and told Alberto to have good dreams.

“I’ll see you in the morning. We’ll go to the park tomorrow okay?” She said as she walked out of his room.

“Neni! Time to sleep!” was Alberto’s reply.

Alberto yawned as he rode his winged steed through the clouds. It felt like only yesterday when one of the princesses of Kahangian*asked Alberto and his horse to stave off an invasion.

Alberto knew he couldn’t say no. When adventure calls he only had one answer.

But Alberto wished this adventure would end soon. Victory seemed out of reach as the endless onslaught of birds came wave after wave.

These were no ordinary birds. They flew like umbrellas along the clouds of Kahangian. The princess told Alberto that the birds would usually keep to themselves, but something must have happened to rile them up. She was afraid that this was only the beginning of a larger assault on her realm.

Alberto and his horse spent the last few weeks rerouting the birds away from the kingdom. As much as the princess wanted him to use force, Alberto could not bring himself to harm the birds.

After redirecting the latest wave of birds Alberto was summoned to the princess’ chambers.

She told him that it was time to end this. Redirecting the birds was a waste of time if they just kept coming back. She gave Alberto a box and told him to go to the king of the birds and slay him.

Alberto opened the box and was surprised to find a sword with his name engraved on it. It felt heavy in his hands and he looked at the princess and shook his head.

He would not do as she asked. Violence wasn’t the answer, at least not to him. He left the box in the princess’ chambers and went to his horse.

This would end, but on his terms.

Alberto’s horse smiled. As a horse he was used to keeping his opinions to himself but today he couldn’t help it.
He was proud that he made the right choice in Alberto. The birds weren’t violent, at most they were a nuisance to the princess’ kingdom.

They flew through the clouds with as much grace as the horse could muster. As adept as he was with galloping, the horse was clumsy with his wings. They barreled through the surge of birds ahead of them, Alberto had to spit out a few feathers, but eventually they came upon the roost of the king of birds.

Alberto’s horse bowed his head. As much as he was a horse, he was also part bird, and there were certain rules that you had to follow to make sure the other birds wouldn’t get mad at you.
The king of birds was enormous, his large frame almost blacking out the sun. He took one look at Alberto and his horse and said, “Who are you and why are you here?!”

Alberto’s horse was still looking at the ground when he heard Alberto answer.

“Why you attack the kingdom?”

“Strange human, I attack nothing. I am just trying to get back what belongs to me.”

Alberto’s brow creased in confusion.

“But princess said you attack!”

“The princess was the one that started this. She and her kingdom stole my crown! I’ve been sending my birds to her kingdom to get it back.”

“But princess said—-“

The king of birds whirled around and put his beak up to Alberto’s face.

“I’ve heard of you, human. You and your bentohangin have made quite a name for yourselves in this realm. And I am asking you, please, get my crown back and I will tell my birds to stop.”

Alberto looked at his horse and they nodded in unison.

The princess stared at her mirror as her servants brushed her hair. She had not calculated that the human would reject her gift, but no matter. A few bats of her eyelashes and some tears would certainly do the job the next time.

She bade her servants to leave her alone and walked to a hidden door in her chambers. In it was a chest and in that chest was her prize.

It was the most beautiful headpiece in all of Kahangian, inlaid with fallen stars and made from gold straight from Ginton’s forges. Such beauty should only belong to her, the fairest princess in the clouds.

“L—-I—-A—-R!” Alberto’s voice rang through the princess’ chambers.

The princess managed to catch the crown as it fell through her fingers. She had not expected the human to be back so soon.
“You’re a liar!” Alberto shouted again.

“I’m so glad you’re here! The birds have been trying to steal from me!” It was time for the tears. The princess was familiar with this tactic, many heroes had fallen for her charms and this one would be no different.

“That’s not your crown!” Alberto and his horse moved towards the princess.

“This is my father’s! The birds are jealous of its beauty and keep trying to take it from me, but you won’t let them will you? Please help me!” Tears were flowing down her cheeks as she looked into Alberto’s eyes.

“L—–I—–A—–R!” Alberto grabbed the crown from the princess and ran towards his horse.

“Guards! Get them!”

Alberto and his horse were experts and running away. The guards tried to catch up to the pair but once you’ve escaped from the flying serpents guarding Ulilankalulua’s grave everything seems like a turtle in comparison.

“You are not welcome here!” The princess shouted through the clouds, “We will hunt you down!”

The birds flocked Alberto and his horse. They were overjoyed at the sight of the crown and accompanied them to their king’s throne.

“You have made yourself an enemy of the princess’ kingdom.” The king of birds said to Alberto.

“Yes.”

“Thank you, know that the kingdom of birds will help you, whenever you will need it.”

“Yes.”

Alberto looked at his horse and smiled. Alberto’s horse hugged his companion and neighed. They knew they made the right choice, even if it meant making a powerful enemy.

“Neni! I’m tired!”

“Okay Alberto, you can take a nap soon. Let’s clean up your crayons okay?”

“Okay.”

Today Alberto woke up early and even got ready for breakfast in time. Neni was still worried that he wasn’t getting enough sleep but that was nothing a good nap couldn’t fix.

She helped him clear his crayons and wondered why he kept drawing umbrellas.

“Neni! Bird!” He showed a drawing that was like the other umbrellas but bigger than the rest.

“It looks great Alberto! Let’s clean up and you can take a nap, okay?”

“Okay!”

Continued from the Bentohangin’s tale

*Kahangian is the fifth layer of the universe

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Hubot description in The Soul Book. Demetrio & Cordero-Fernando 1991.

Hubot Illustration by Edrian Paolo T. Baydo

Color by Alexa Garde
Website: Lexa.us

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