*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Indi mapinsaran sang iban ang mga trahedya nga dala sang mga tinuga nga ini. Nagakadumduman ko sa gihapon ang mga sugilanon nga ginasugid sadto ni lola, mga sugilanon sang pagtimalos kag kapirdihan. Ginasundan nila ako sa akon mga hupa.

Nag-umpisa ang tanan sa akon nga lolo. Nagdesisyon sia nga magkaingin sa gamay nga bahin sang duta sa kabukiran agud ihanda ini para sa tigtalanum. Wala ko nahibaluan kon ngaa ginpili nia magkado sa malayo nga bahin sang bukid, mas malayo sa masami nia nga ginaplastaran. Malapit ato sa busay nga ginatawag nila nga “lamesa,” tungod sa tapan nga bato sa idalum.

Ginsunog nia ang kahoy nga ara didto kag amo ato ang umpisa sang mga ginamo.

Pagkatapos, ginkadtuan sia sang akon lola kag nanay sa payag agud dal-an sia sang panyapon kag updan sia sa gab-i. Nagakadumduman kuno nila gihapon ang mabaskog nga mga tunog sang mga tiil sang kabayo. Nagalanog sa ila nga memorya ang pamatyag sang kakulba sang ginpalibutan sila sang amo to nga mga tunog bag-o sila magtulog kon gab-i.

“Benito, gwa! Kinahanglan ka namon estoryahon!” Ginatinguhaan ni lola kag nanay nga ilugon ang tingug kada isugid nila ang sugilanon, apang indi nila ini mahimo sang husto. “Grabe ang kaakig nga ara sa tingug,” siling nila, “sobra pa sa amon sarang mailog.”

“Masanag ang bulan sadto nga gab-i.” Sa bahin nga ini ginalaragway ni lola ang mga tinuga. “Tawo sila halin ulo tubtob sa hawak, apang kabayo halin sa hawak tubtob sa ila mga tiil.” Ginpanumdom ko ang mga mito nga naggikan sa lain-lain nga bahin sang kalibutan, kon sa diin may mga tinuga nga tunga-tunga nga kabayo kag tawo nga nagabulig sa katawhan. Siling sa akon ni lola indi gid mabinuligon ang mga espiritu nga ini. Nagkari sila agud magtimalos.

“Gabaan ka gid sang imo pagkamatinaastaason kag indi pagtahod.” Gintudlo sang manugmando sang mga kabalan si lolo. Ginhambalan sia sini nga napatay ang iya utod sang ginsunog ni lolo ang kahoy nia. Nagpakitluoy ang lolo ko para sa iya nga kabuhi. Indi man nia kon tani pagsunugon ang kahoy kon nahibaluan nia nga may taglugar ini.

Wala sang labot ang mga tinuga.

Sa amo nag-umpisa ang trahedya.  Naghalin ang mga tinuga sadto nga gab-i, apang nagpabilin ang ila nga sumpa. Indi mahambal sang mga doctor kon ano gid man ang masakit sang akon nga lolo. Nag-untat sia kaon tungod kada magkaon sia nagaubo sia kag nagasuks sang dugo. Nagakasunog kuno ang tutunlan nia kon nagasuka sia.

Wala sang mahimo ang akon nga lola, nagpakonsulta sila sa manog bulong, sa amon lokal nga faith healer. Gintinguhaan sang manog bulong nga dal-on sa estoryahanay ang mga tinuga. Hambal ni lola kada gab-i nagagamit ang manog bulong sang lain-lain nga ritwal, apang wala sang pulos ang mga ini.

Indi gid mauloulohan ang mga tinuga.

Matapos napatay si lolo, naigo sang kilat ang magulang nga lalaki ni mama samtang ara sia sa ibabaw sang puno sang lubi sa gwa sang ila balay. Matapos ang tatlo ka tuig na patay sia sa iya katulugon.

Nadula ang kalabanan sa mga pagkabutang sang pamilya ni nanay kag nagpabilin sila nga pigado tubtob napatay si lola tungod sa cancer.

Wala nakabalo ang mga tinuga nga ini kon ano ang buot silingon sang kaluoy, mangita sila sang balos tubtob nabayaran sila paagi sa dugo.

Maghalong sa mga kabalan, kay indi sila mamati sa inyo pagpangayo sang kapatawaran. Kag maghalong sa palibot sang mga kahoy sa babaw sang kabukiran, indi mo lang mabal-an kon may taglugar dira, indi tubtob ulihi na.

=———————=

English Version

The tragedies that these creatures bring are unimaginable to some. I still remember the stories that my lola used to tell, stories of vengeance and loss. They follow me in my nightmares.

It all started with my lolo. He decided to kaingin a small piece of land in the mountains, to prepare it for the planting season. I don’t know why he decided to go further up the mountain, away from his usual spot. It was near the waterfall they called “lamesa”, relating to the flat rock on the bottom.

He burned the tree that was there and that was the start of the troubles.

My lola and mother joined him in the payag (nipa hut) afterwards to bring him dinner and to spend the night with him. They still remember the loud hoofbeats. The feeling of dread when the sound circled their small hut still echoes in their memories before they sleep at night.

“Benito, come out. We need to talk to you.” My mother and lola tried to replicate the voice every time they told the story, but they said they could never get it right. “There was too much anger in the voice,“ they said, “more than we can mimic.”

“The moonlight was bright that night.” This was the part of the story where lola describes the creatures. “They were human from head to trunk, but were horses from their trunk to their feet.” I thought back to myths from a different part of the world, where half-human half-horse beings would help humankind. Lola told me that these spirits weren’t helpful at all. They came seeking vengeance.

“You will pay for such arrogance and disrespect.” The leader of the kabalans pointed to my lolo. It told him that my lolo killed its brother when he burned his tree. My lolo begged for his life. He would not have burned the tree had he known there was something living there.

The creatures didn’t care.

Thus began the tragedy. The creatures left that night but their curse lingered. Doctors were never able to tell what exactly was wrong with my lolo. He stopped eating because every time he ate he would vomit and cough up blood. He said it would burn his throat every time he vomited.

My lola had no other choice, she consulted the manggagamot, our local faith healer. The faith healer tried to reason with the creatures. My lola said that night after night the faith healer would try another ritual, but it was all for naught.

The creatures would not be appeased.

After my lolo died, my mom’s elder brother was struck by lightning while he was at the top of the coconut tree outside their house. After three years he died in his sleep.
My mother’s family lost most of their properties and were trapped in poverty until lola died of cancer.

These creatures don’t know the meaning of mercy, they will seek their vengeance until they are repaid in blood

Beware the kabalans, for they will not listen to your pleas of forgiveness. And be careful around the trees high up in the mountains, you will never know if one makes its home there, not until it’s too late.

————————–————————–———————

*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
Hiligaynon translation by Paul Aries Valera
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Paul Aries Valera

Adapted from a Story told by Grace Collantes

Kabalan Illustration by Ysa Peñas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonechitect/

The post Kabalan – Hiligaynon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

APOYKAMATAYANHILAKBOTAPOYAPOYAPOY

Nagsisigaw ang kabayo sa hangin. Alam na niya kung ano ang paparating pero wala pang kamalay-malay ang kanyang sakay. Sinubukan ng sakay na pakalmahin ang hayop pero hindi ito gumana. Kumaripas ng takbo ang kabayo papaloob ng kagubatan at ang kanyang sakay ay kumapit ng mahigpit.

KAMATAYANDUGOSAKITAPOY

Mas malakas na ngayon ang mga sigaw. Ang kabayo ay nakaramdam na ITO ay malapit na. ITO ang pinaka kinatatakutan ng kanilang uri sa lahat. Sinubukan ng kabayo na hanapin ang daan palabas ng kagubatan, na hindi alintana ang bigat sa kanyang likod. Naramdaman ng kabayo na papalapit na ang  mga yabag at naamoy na ang usok, kaya bumilis ang tibok ng kanyang puso.

APOYKAMATAYANDUGOAPOYDUGO

Hindi ito ordinaryong Tikbalang. ITO ay hindi ang sakim na Anggitay, ang patagong Tuwung, ang  matulin na Bawa, o ang tusong Tayho. Alam ng kabayo kung ano ito batay sa nananalaytay niyang dugo – ang likas na pakiramdam na ipinasa ng kanilang uri sa bawat henerasyon.

HILAKBOTSAKITAPOYAPOYAPOY

Bumagal ang pagtakbo ng kabayo. Nahulog ang kanyang sakay – maaaring patay o wala siyang malay. Masyadong takot ang kabayo sa paparating na titingin. Iniwan ng tapat na kabayo ang kanyang amo. Mas malakas ang kanyang pangamba kaysa sa kanilang pinagsamahan.

APOYSAKITKAMATAYAN

Hindi man lang lumingon ang kabayo habang taranta ito sa muling pagtakbo.
=———————————————-=

English Version

FIREDEATHTERRORFIREFIREFIRE

The horse screams in the air. It knows what’s coming but his rider is oblivious. The rider tries to calm his beast down but it doesn’t work. The horse darts through the forest thrashing wildly and his rider hangs on for dear life.

DEATHBLOODSICKNESSFIRE

The screams are louder this time. The horse can sense that IT is near. IT that their kind fear above all. The horse tries to find some path out of the forest, not even thinking about the weight on its back. The horse can feel the hoofbeats come nearer, it can smell the smoke, and its heart beats faster.

FIREDEATHBLOODFIREBLOOD

This is no ordinary Tikbalang. IT is not the greedy Anggitay, the stealthy Tuwung, the fleet Bawa or the cunning Tayho. The horse knows this in its blood, the animal instinct passed down from generations of its kind.

TERRORSICKNESSFIREFIREFIRE

The horse slows down to a gallop. His rider falls off him, maybe dead, maybe unconscious. The horse is too afraid of what will come to check. The loyal steed leaves its master. Primal fear is stronger than their bond.

FIRESICKNESSDEATHFIRE

The horse doesn’t even look back as it resumes its frenetic run.

The fire is near.

=——————————=

Inspired by the Binangenang entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Binangenang Illustration by Leandro Geniston fromAklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

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

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Hindi lubos maisip ng marami ang mga trahedyang dulot ng mga nilalang na ito. Naaalala ko pa ang mga kwento ng aking lola, mga storya ng paghihiganti at pagkawala. Sinusundan nila ako maging sa aking mga bangungot.

Nag umpisa ang lahat sa aking lolo. Nag pasya syang mag kaingin sa isang maliit na bahagi ng lupa sa bundok upang mataniman ito. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nya naisipang lumayo pa pataas ng bundok, mas malayo sa lugar na nakasanayan nya. Malapit ito sa talon na tinatawag nilang “lamesa”, na nanggaling ang pangalan sa patag na bato sa ilalim nito.

Sinunog nya ang punong nandoon at doon nag umpisa ang mga delubyo.

Sinamahan sya ng aking lola at nanay sa payag para dalhan sya ng hapunan at magpalipas ng gabi kasama sya. Naaalala pa nila ang malalakas na yapak ng mga kabayo. Hindi parin mawala sa isip nila bago sila matulog sa gabi ang kilabot na kanilang naramdaman nang ang mga tunog na iyon ay pumalibot sa kanilang maliit na kubo.

“Benito, halika dito. Kailangan ka naming makausap.” Sinusubukan ng nanay at lola ko na gayahin ang boses na iyon tuwing kine-kwento nila ito, pero ang sabi nila ay kahit anong pilit nila, hindi nila ito makuha. “Ramdam na ramdam mo ang galit sa boses na iyon,” ang sabi nila, “Hindi talga namin kayang gayahin”.

“Maliwanag ang buwan nung gabing iyon.” Ito ang parte ng istorya kung saan nilalarawan ng aking lola ang mga nilalang. “Itsurang tao sila mula ulo hanggang tiyan, pero katawang kabayo ang ibaba nila hanggang paa.” Naisip ko ang mga alamat ng ibang mundo, kung saan merong mga nilalang na kalahating-tao at kalahating-kabayo na tumutulong sa sambayanan. Pero ang sabi ng lola ko, ang mga nilalang na ito ay nandito para sa paghihiganti at hindi para tumulong.

“Magbabayad ka sa iyong kawalan ng respeto,” Tinuro ng pinuno ng mga kabalan ang aking lolo. Sinabi nya na pinatay ng lolo ko ang mga kapatid nya nung sinunog nya ang kanilang puno. Nag makaawa para sakanyang buhay ang lolo ko at sinabing hindi nya magagawang sunugin ang puno kung alam lang nyang merong nakatira doon.

Hindi natinag sa pakiusap ang mga nilalang.

At nag umpisa ang trahedya. Umalis ang mga nilalang ngunit nag iwan sila ng sumpa. Hindi masabi ng mga duktor kung anong sakit ng aking lolo. Tumigil sya sa pagkain dahil tuwing kumakain sya ay sumusuka at umuubo sya ng dugo. Ang sabi nya ay parang sinusunog ang kanyang lalamunan tuwing sya ay sumusuka.

Dahil sa wala nang ibang mahingian ng tulong ang aking lola, pumunta sya sa isang albularyo. Sinubukang makipagusap ng albularyo sa mga nilalang at ang sabi ng lola ko, gabi gabi ay may sinusubukang ritual ang albularyo pero wala itong epekto.

Hindi mapagpatawad ang mga nilalang na ito.

Pagkamatay ng lolo ko, ang uncle ko naman ay tinamaan ng kidlat habang sya ay nasa taas ng puno ng niyog sa labas ng aming bahay. Namatay sya habang natutulog makalipas ang tatlong taon.

Nawalan ng mga ari-arian ang pamilya ng aking ina at naghirap hanggang mamatay sa sakit na cancer ang aking lola.

Wala sa bukabularyo ng mga nilalang na ito ang salitang awa, maghihiganti sila hanggag hindi nababayaran ng dugo ang kinuha sakanila.

Mag-ingat sa mga kabalan, dahil hindi sila makikinig sa kahit anong pagmamakaawa at paghingi ng tawad. At mas lalong mag ingat sa mga puno sa itaas ng bundok, dahil walang nakakaalam kung may nakatira sa mga punong iyon, hanggang huli na ang lahat.

English Version

The tragedies that these creatures bring are unimaginable to some. I still remember the stories that my lola used to tell, stories of vengeance and loss. They follow me in my nightmares.

It all started with my lolo. He decided to kaingin a small piece of land in the mountains, to prepare it for the planting season. I don’t know why he decided to go further up the mountain, away from his usual spot. It was near the waterfall they called “lamesa”, relating to the flat rock on the bottom.

He burned the tree that was there and that was the start of the troubles.

My lola and mother joined him in the payag (nipa hut) afterwards to bring him dinner and to spend the night with him. They still remember the loud hoofbeats. The feeling of dread when the sound circled their small hut still echoes in their memories before they sleep at night.

“Benito, come out. We need to talk to you.” My mother and lola tried to replicate the voice every time they told the story, but they said they could never get it right. “There was too much anger in the voice,“ they said, “more than we can mimic.”

“The moonlight was bright that night.” This was the part of the story where lola describes the creatures. “They were human from head to trunk, but were horses from their trunk to their feet.” I thought back to myths from a different part of the world, where half-human half-horse beings would help humankind. Lola told me that these spirits weren’t helpful at all. They came seeking vengeance.

“You will pay for such arrogance and disrespect.” The leader of the kabalans pointed to my lolo. It told him that my lolo killed its brother when he burned his tree. My lolo begged for his life. He would not have burned the tree had he known there was something living there.

The creatures didn’t care.

Thus began the tragedy. The creatures left that night but their curse lingered. Doctors were never able to tell what exactly was wrong with my lolo. He stopped eating because every time he ate he would vomit and cough up blood. He said it would burn his throat every time he vomited.

My lola had no other choice, she consulted the manggagamot, our local faith healer. The faith healer tried to reason with the creatures. My lola said that night after night the faith healer would try another ritual, but it was all for naught.

The creatures would not be appeased.

After my lolo died, my mom’s elder brother was struck by lightning while he was at the top of the coconut tree outside their house. After three years he died in his sleep.
My mother’s family lost most of their properties and were trapped in poverty until lola died of cancer.

These creatures don’t know the meaning of mercy, they will seek their vengeance until they are repaid in blood.

Beware the kabalans, for they will not listen to your pleas of forgiveness. And be careful around the trees high up in the mountains, you will never know if one makes its home there, not until it’s too late.

————————–————————–———————

*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 Kristoffer Allen Ardanas
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Kristoffer Allen Ardanas

Adapted from a Story told by Grace Collantes

Kabalan Illustration by Ysa Peñas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonechitect/

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

The tragedies that these creatures bring are unimaginable to some. I still remember the stories that my lola used to tell, stories of vengeance and loss. They follow me in my nightmares.

It all started with my lolo. He decided to kaingin a small piece of land in the mountains, to prepare it for the planting season. I don’t know why he decided to go further up the mountain, away from his usual spot. It was near the waterfall they called “lamesa”, relating to the flat rock on the bottom.

He burned the tree that was there and that was the start of the troubles.

My lola and mother joined him in the payag (nipa hut) afterwards to bring him dinner and to spend the night with him. They still remember the loud hoofbeats. The feeling of dread when the sound circled their small hut still echoes in their memories before they sleep at night.

“Benito, come out. We need to talk to you.” My mother and lola tried to replicate the voice every time they told the story, but they said they could never get it right. “There was too much anger in the voice,“ they said, “more than we can mimic.”

“The moonlight was bright that night.” This was the part of the story where lola describes the creatures. “They were human from head to trunk, but were horses from their trunk to their feet.” I thought back to myths from a different part of the world, where half-human half-horse beings would help humankind. Lola told me that these spirits weren’t helpful at all. They came seeking vengeance.

“You will pay for such arrogance and disrespect.” The leader of the kabalans pointed to my lolo. It told him that my lolo killed its brother when he burned his tree. My lolo begged for his life. He would not have burned the tree had he known there was something living there.

The creatures didn’t care.

Thus began the tragedy. The creatures left that night but their curse lingered. Doctors were never able to tell what exactly was wrong with my lolo. He stopped eating because every time he ate he would vomit and cough up blood. He said it would burn his throat every time he vomited.

My lola had no other choice, she consulted the manggagamot, our local faith healer. The faith healer tried to reason with the creatures. My lola said that night after night the faith healer would try another ritual, but it was all for naught.

The creatures would not be appeased.

After my lolo died, my mom’s elder brother was struck by lightning while he was at the top of the coconut tree outside their house. After three years he died in his sleep.
My mother’s family lost most of their properties and were trapped in poverty until lola died of cancer.

These creatures don’t know the meaning of mercy, they will seek their vengeance until they are repaid in blood.

Beware the kabalans, for they will not listen to your pleas of forgiveness. And be careful around the trees high up in the mountains, you will never know if one makes its home there, not until it’s too late.

————————–————————–———————

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Adapted from a Story told by Grace Collantes

Kabalan Illustration by Ysa Peñas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonechitect/

The post Kabalan appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

FIREDEATHTERRORFIREFIREFIRE

The horse screams in the air. It knows what’s coming but his rider is oblivious. The rider tries to calm his beast down but it doesn’t work. The horse darts through the forest thrashing wildly and his rider hangs on for dear life.

DEATHBLOODSICKNESSFIRE

The screams are louder this time. The horse can sense that IT is near. IT that their kind fear above all. The horse tries to find some path out of the forest, not even thinking about the weight on its back. The horse can feel the hoofbeats come nearer, it can smell the smoke, and its heart beats faster.

FIREDEATHBLOODFIREBLOOD

This is no ordinary Tikbalang. IT is not the greedy Anggitay, the stealthy Tuwung, the fleet Bawa or the cunning Tayho. The horse knows this in its blood, the animal instinct passed down from generations of its kind.

TERRORSICKNESSFIREFIREFIRE

The horse slows down to a gallop. His rider falls off him, maybe dead, maybe unconscious. The horse is too afraid of what will come to check. The loyal steed leaves its master. Primal fear is stronger than their bond.

FIRESICKNESSDEATHFIRE

The horse doesn’t even look back as it resumes its frenetic run.

The fire is near.

————————–————————–——————

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Binangenang entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Binangenang Illustration by Leandro Geniston fromAklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

The post Binangenang appeared first on Philippine Spirits.