*Note this story is in Tagalog

May isang bata na ngalan ay Edgardo. Siya ay maliit at tahimik, at mas nainin niyang magbasa ng atlat kaysa makipaglaro sa ibang mga bata. Ang mga libro ay xahirap makarating sa munting mabundok na komunidad at nanyang pinapahalagahan and mga panahong pupunta siya sa siyudad, pinapanood din niya ang kanyang ama sa pagpapalit ng ginto galing sa minahan para sa salapi at pambili sa gustong niyang mga libro.

Isang draw siya ay nilapitan ni Faustino, batting lalaki na madalas siyang iniiwasan. Ibang bagay ang pagiging iba, ngunit kung making iba sa komunidad na may higit kumulang sa isang daan na tao. Nakaramdam si Egardo na para bang nasa mata siya ng pagkilatis sa kanya.

“Maaari bang umupo rito?” Ang tanong ni Faustino sa kanya.

“Oo, wala naman pipigil sa iyo,” Ang sagot ni Edgardo.

“Narinig mo ba kung ano ang nangyari?” Sinubukan ni Faustino tumingin sa kanyang mata pero mas  nangibabaw ang pagyuko niya at tinignan ang kanyang pahila  na paglakad ng paa.

“Hindi ba lahat?” Sinabi ni Edgardo habang hindi niya inaalis ang kayang mata mula sa pahina na kanyang binabasa.

“Kasama si Veronica ay tattle na sila simula noong Pebrero.” Umupo sa tabi niya si Faustino.

Hindi na bago kung may kabataang nawawala sa bundok. Kahit saan ay may panganib. Isang saglit ng pagkawala ng pagiging mapagmasid sa paligid ay lubos na mapanganib. Ang mga minahan ay nakakabahala rin. Madalas ang kanilang ama o kapatıd ay hindi na bumabalik. Ang kumpanya ng minahan ay magpapadala ng pakikiramay sa pagpanaw- kung ano man ang halaga nito.

“Sabi naman naman na kinukuha na lamang ang anak.” Saad ni Faustino, muli, sinubukan ngunit bigo niyang tignan ang kanyang mata.

Binaba ni Edgardo ang kanyang aklat at sumagot naman, “Sino ang may nais na cumula ng mga bata? Kung para ito sa pera maaaring naman sila magpadala ng sulat? Maulan na panahon, ang mga tao ay naglalakbay sa bundok at hindi na bumabalik. Ganun yun.”

“Hindi.”Nilagay ni Faustino ang kanyang kamay sa balikat ni Edgardo. “Ito ay iba sa ganyang pangyayari, kutob ko ito. Dapat tayong magkasama. Tinanong sila Melinda, Pepito at Belen. Maaari namin subaybayan kung ano man ang mangyari sa amin.

“Ligtas ka sa amin,” Nakangiting sabi ni Faustino. Sumimagot si Edgardo. “Kung sabi mo.”

Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na may nagpangako ng ganito. Naisip niya ang kanyang nakatatandang kapatid. Mga gabing pumunta sila sa kweba ng magkasama para maghanap ng mga ginto. Noong isang pagkakataon na hindi siya maingat. Mga bagay na nangyari at hayaan na maganap. Isang gabi si Edgardo ay nakarinig ng bulong ng ibang bata.

“Edgardo—— psssst——— gising, ito ay importante,” sabi ng boses. Lumipas ang ilang minuto kay Edgardo bago bumalik sa realidad. Makatotohanan ang kanyang panaginip: isang bahay na puno ng mga aklat para sa kanya. Malinaw ang kanyang panaginip at nangako na isang araw ito ay magkakatotoo.

“Belen?!”

“Sshhhhhh- huwag mo hayaan na may makarinig sa iyo.” Tinakpan ni Belen ang bibig ni Edgardo. “Anong ginagawa mo rito?” Sabi niya sa pamamagitan ng paguusap gamit ang mga daliri  sa senyales.

“Ito ay si Faustino.” Nag-aalala na mukha ni Belen. “Siya ay nawawala.”

“Sigurado ka ba?” Mas tahimik si Edgardo sa pagkakataon na ito, “baka lumabas lamang para maglakad?”

“Kalagitnaan na ng gabi! Wala pa siya sa kanyang bahay. Sumama ka sa akin. Nasa likod ng isang malaking puno na malapit sa bahay ni Faustino si Pepito at Melinda. Kailangan natin siyang hanapin.”

Kinuskos ni Edgardo ang kanyang mga mata at humikab ulit. “Sige, baka nga naman.” Nandoon si Melinda at Pepito sa lugar na sinabi ni Belen kung saan dapat sila matagpuan, ang mga alitaptap sa puno ay nakakatakot sa pakiramdam.

“Sa tingin ko ay nakakita ako ng bakas.” Saad ni Pepito. “May mga bakas papunta sa kweba malapit sa burol.

Napangiwi lahat ng bata. Ang mga kweba na malapit sa minahan ay mapanganib sa mga matanda, lalo naman sa apat na batang nakagrupo. “Kailangan na natin umalis,” sabi ni Belen, “Gagawin ko rin ang parehas para sa amin.”

“Ano ang dapat nating gawin kapag nahanap na natin siya? Meron dapat na maging responsable sa mga pagkawala nila. Paano natin lalaban ito?” Sambit ni Melinda na malapit nang umiyak.

“Hindi natin kailangan kalabanin ito, kailangan mahanap si Faustino at maibalik natin dito, kung saan ligtas,” sabi ni Pepito.

Tumingin sila sa isa’t isa at naghawak kamay. Ang bawat isa ay may solusyon na mahanap ang kanilang kaibigan si Edgardo hanggang maaari. Siya ay nagagalak sa kanyan panaginip.

Sinundan nila ang bakas sa abot ng kanilang makakaya, matuklap man ang kanilang mga balat mula sa mga bato at ugat ng halaman. Noong malapit na silang maabot ang pagkapagod, narating naman nila ang kanilang destinasyon, isang kakaibang kweba na pasukan sa mga maraming lagusan at maaaring hindi na sila makabalik.

Pinamunuan ni Belen ang grupo. Siya ay kumuha ng lampara mula sa kanyang magulang at isang beses ay naisama na rin siya ng kanyang mga kapatid sa kweba. Hindi sa pamumuno ang kanyang lakas, ngunit dapat niyang siguraduhin na meron gagabay sa iba. Kailangan niya itong gawin para kay Faustino.

Si Melinda ang nauna.

Hindi niya kailangan sumigaw. Isang beses na si Belen ang nagsinag ng lampara sa entrada ng ibang lagusan at sa sumunod, noonf tumawag siya ng mga pangalan ng kanyang kasama. Hindi siya natakot sa katahimikan ngunit na pagkakataon na ito, hindi malilimutan sa buong buhay niya.

Sinikap ni Pedro na manatili sa paglalakbay. Naghawak kamay silang lahat at naramdaman ni Belen nanginginig ang kanyang kamay. Sinubukan nitong pakalmahin siya.

“Magiging maayos din ang lahat. Mahahanap natin silang pareho, pangako ko ito.” Sinubukang hindi umiyak ni Pepito habang tumango, ngunit nangibabaw ang kanyang takot.

“Hindi!” Sigaw niya. “Kailangan nating umuwi!”

Sinubukan ni Edgardo sa abot ng kanyang makakaya na pakalmahin siya.” Pepito, kailangan nating manatiling magkasama, ito lamang ang tanging paraan para maka-alis dito!”

Hindi siya nakinig, tinulak niya si Edgardo palayo sa kanya at tumakbo sa kadiliman.

Ang katahimikan ay nagpabigat ng pakiramdam sa dalawang naiiwan.

“Ang tanga ko para isipin na gagana nitong plano.” Nagsimulang bumigat ang paghinga ni Belen at kanyang binaba ang hawak na lampara. “Dapat tayong manatiling magkakasama. Ngayon hindi lamang si Faustino. Lubusang humihingi ako ng patawad. Patawad Melinda, at Pepito! Kailangan nating bumalik, siguro kung sinabi natin sa ating pamilya na pupunta tayo dito at pwede nating hanapin silang lahat. Mahahanap natin sila.” Kinuha ni Edgardo ang lampara at sinabi, “sumama kayo sa akin”.

Walang pagpipilian si Belen kung hindi sumunod sa kanyang bagong kaibigan. Ang ilaw sa lampara ay unti unting naglalaho at ang landas na tinatahak ay mas dumudulas sa daanan. Sinubukan niyang humawak sa pader para maging balanse, ngunit nalaman niyang mamasa-masa din pala. Nakita na rin niya kung ano man iyon noong binigay ni Edgardo ang lampara.

Kulay pula sa kahit saang lugar. Namantsahan ang kanyang mga kamay at damit pati na rin ang mga tumutulo mula sa kisame.

“Hindi ko maitindihan—-” Sinubukang sabihin ni Belen.

Ngunit may panibagong ilaw na tanglaw ni Edgardo, nagbigay liwanag sa isang nilalang na may dalang mabigat na supot ng ginto.

“Dapat kang nakinig sa kanila. Kung nakinig ka maaaring si Faustino lamang.”

“Ako—-Ako—-” Naparalisa si Belen, sinibukan niyang sumigaw habang dinala siya nitong nilalang sa malalim na bahagi ng lagusan.

Noong sumikat na ang araw kay Edgardo habang naglilinis ng kanyang sarili sa ilog, napag-isipan niya:

“Nais kong malaman kung ilang libro ang aking maaaring makuha  sa pamamagitan nito.”

=————————-=

English Version

There was once a child named Edgardo. He was small and quiet and preferred to read books instead of playing with the other children. Books were hard to get in his small mountain community and he treasured the moments when he would go to the city, watch his father exchange the gold they mined for money and buy the books he wanted.

One day he was approached by Faustino, a boy who would usually avoid him. It was one thing to be different, but to be different in a community of a few hundred people made Edgardo feel like he was under a microscope.

“Can I sit here?” Faustino asked him.

“Sure, no one’s stopping you,” Edgardo replied.

“Did you hear about what happened?” Faustino tried to look him in the eye but only succeeded at putting his head down and staring at his shuffling feet.

“Didn’t everyone?” Edgardo said without moving his eyes away from the page he was reading.

“With Veronica that makes 3 since February.” Faustino sat beside him.

It wasn’t uncommon for children to go missing up in the mountains. Danger was everywhere. One moment of absentmindedness could cost you dearly.

The mines were also an issue. Too often their fathers or brothers would just not come home and the mining companies would send their condolences – for whatever that was worth.

“They say someone is taking the children away.” Faustino, again, tried and failed to look him in the eye.

Edgardo put down his book and replied, “Who would possibly want to take the children? If it was for money then wouldn’t they have sent a note? It’s rainy season, people walk around the mountain and don’t come back. Just leave it be.”

“No.” Faustino put his hands on Edgardo’s shoulders. “This is different from that, I can feel it. We have to stick together. I asked Melinda, Pepito and Belen. The five of us can watch what happens with each other.”

“You’ll be safe with us,” Faustino says with a smile.

Edgardo frowns. “If you say so.”

This wasn’t the first time someone made that promise. He thought back to his elder brother. Those nights when they went to the caves together to find gold for themselves. That one time he wasn’t careful. Things would happen and you just had to let them be.

One night Edgardo was awakened by the whispers of another child.

“Edgardo —- psssst —— wake up, it’s important,” the voice said.

It took a few minutes for Edgardo to snap back into reality. The dream that he had was so vivid: a house filled with books all to himself. He was lucid in his dream and he swore that one day it would come true.

“Belen?!”

“Sshhhhhh—don’t let anyone hear you.” She put her hand over his mouth.

“What are you doing here?” he managed to say through her fingers.

“It’s Faustino.” Her face was grim. “He’s missing.”

“Are you sure?” Edgardo was quieter this time, “maybe he just went out for a walk?”

“It’s the middle of the night! He’s not in his house. Come with me. Pepito and Melinda are by the big tree near Faustino’s house. We need to find him.”

Edgardo rubbed his eyes and yawned again. “Fine, might as well.”

Melinda and Pepito were where Belen said they would be, the fireflies giving the tree an eerie aura.

“I think I found a trail,” Pepito said. “There are footprints leading to the caves over by the hills.”

The children all grimaced. Those caves were near the mines and they were dangerous enough for adults, much less a group of four children.

“We have to go,” Belen said, “he’d do the same for us.”

“What are we going to do when we find him? There must be something responsible for the disappearances. How do we fight it?” Melinda was close to tears.

“We don’t need to fight it, we just have to find Faustino and bring him back here, where it’s safe,” Pepito said.

They all looked at each other and put their hands together.

Each had a resolve to find their friend, Edgardo less so. He was still enraptured by his dream.

They followed the trail as best as they could, scraping their skins against the rocks and the roots. And as soon as they were about to fall from exhaustion, they reached their destination, a nondescript cave that they knew was an entrance to a network of tunnels they might not return from.

Belen lead the group. She had taken a lamp from her parents and her siblings had taken her to the caves once. Leadership was not her strength, but she had to make sure the others had a guide. She had to do it, for Faustino.

Melinda was the first.

She didn’t even scream. One moment Belen was shining the lamp on the entrance to another tunnel and the next, when she called out for the names of her companions. She had never feared silence until that moment, it was one she would remember for the rest of her life.

Pepito tried to stay the course. They all held hands and Belen could feel his shaking. She tried to console him.

“It will be alright. We’ll find both of them, I promise.”

Pepito tried to hold back tears as he nodded, yet fear had overtaken him.

“No!” He shouted. “We have to go back home!”

Edgardo tried his best to hold him down.

“Pepito, we have to stay together, it’s the only way we can make it out of here!”

He didn’t listen, he pushed Edgardo off him and ran into the darkness.

The silence weighed heavy on the remaining two.

“I was so stupid to think this would work.” Belen’s breath started to become rapid and she put the lantern down. “We should have stayed together. Now it’s not just Faustino. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry Melinda, Pepito! We have to go back, maybe if we tell our families they can go here and we can all search for them. We’ll find them. We have to find them.”

Edgardo took the lantern and said, “come with me”.

Belen had no other choice but to follow her new friend.

The light from the lantern was slowly fading and the path was getting more slippery as they went along. She tried to grab the wall to balance, but she found that it was damp as well.

She finally saw what it was when Edgardo handed her the lantern.

It was red everywhere. It stained her hands and clothes and drops fell from the ceiling.

“I don’t understand—-” Belen tried to say.

But another light glowed by Edgardo, illuminating a creature carrying a hefty bag of gold.

“You should have listened to them. If you did maybe it would have just been Faustino.”

“I—-I—-” Belen was paralyzed, she tried to scream as the creature carried her deeper into the tunnel.

And as the daylight shined on Edgardo as he cleaned himself in the river, he thought:

“I wonder how many books I can get with this.”

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

Sagay Illustration by Christian Bitao

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anegs.gg/

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

*Note this story is in Cebuano

Dunay usa ka bata nga ginganlan og Edgardo. Gamay siya ug hilomon ug mas gusto niya nga magbasa og mga libro imbes nga makigdula sa ubang mga bata. Lisod makakuha og mga libro sa iyang gamay nga komunidad sa kabukiran ug iyang gipalabi ang mga higayon nga moadto siya sa siyudad, motan-aw sa iyang amahan nga ibaylo ang bulawan nga ilang gimina ug paliton ang mga libro nga iyang gusto.

Usa ka adlaw niana giduol siya ni Faustino, usa ka batang lalaki nga kasagarang molikay niya. Usa ka butang ang pagkalahi og kinaiya, apan ang pagkalahi og kinaiya sa usa ka komunidad sa pipila ka gatos ka mga tawo lamang nagpabati kang Edgardo nga mora siyag naa sa ilawom sa mikroskopyo.

“Mahimo ba ko nga molingkod dinhi?” Gipangutana siya ni Faustino.

“Sure, way mopugong nimo,” tubag ni Edgardo.

“Nakadungog ka ba sa nahitabo?” Gisuwayan ni Faustino nga motutok apan nahimo lang niya ang pagduko sa iyang ulo ug pagtutok sa iyang dili mahimutang nga mga tiil.

“Dili ba ang tanan?” Matod pa ni Edgardo nga wala man gani gipahilayo ang iyang mga mata sa panid nga iyang gibasa.

“Apil si Veronica, nahimo nang 3 sukad sa Pebrero.” Milingkod tupad niya si Faustino.

Kasagaran na nga panghitabo nga mawala ang mga bata sa kabukiran. Bisan asa naa ang kapeligrohan. Mahimong makabayad ka og mahal sa usa ka gutlo nga pagkadanghag.

Usa sab ka isyu ang mga minahan. Kasagaran ang ilang mga amahan o mga igsoon dili na makapauli ug ang mga kompanya sa pagmina magpadala nalang sa ilang mga pahasubo – kon aduna man niy bili.

“Nag-ingon sila nga dunay nagdagit sa mga bata.” Si Faustino, pag-usab, misulay ug napakyas sa pagtutok niya.

Gibutang ni Edgardo ang iyang libro ug mitubag, “Kinsa man kaha ang gustong modagit sa mga bata? Kon tungod ni sa kuwarta dili ba sila magpadala og sulat? Ting-ulan karon, ang mga tawo maglibot-libot sa bukid ug dili na mobalik. Ayaw na pagtagad kaayo niini.”

“Dili.” Gitungtong ni Faustino ang iyang mga kamot sa mga abaga ni Edgardo. “Mabati nako nga lahi ni. Kinahanglan nga mag-uban ta. Gihangyo nako sila si Melinda, Pepito ug Belen. Kitang lima makabantay kon unsay mahitabo sa usag usa.”

“Luwas ka uban kanamo,” ingon ni Faustino nga nagpahiyom.

Mikunot ang agtang ni Edgardo. “Kon ingon nimo.”

Dili ni ang unang higayon nga dunay mihimo niana nga saad. Nahinumdoman niya pagbalik ang iyang magulang nga lalaki. Niadtong mga gabii nga miadto sila sa mga langob aron mangitag bulawan alang sa ilang kaugalingon. Niadtong usa ka higayon wa siya mag-amping. Mahitabo lang ang mga butang ug kinahanglan nimong pasagdaan ni.

Usa ka gabii nahigmata si Edgardo sa hunghong sa laing bata.

“Edgardo —- psssst —— pagmata, importante ni,” matod sa tingog.

Nilanat og pipila ka minuto sa wala pa nahibalik si Edgardo sa reyalidad. Tin-aw kaayo ang damgo nga iyang nabatonan bag-o lang: usa ka balay nga puno sa mga libro para sa iyang kaugalingon. Tin-aw kaayo ang iyang damgo ug nanumpa siya nga usa ka adlaw matuman ni.

“Belen?!”

“Sshhhhhh—paghinay aron walay makadungog nimo.” gitabonan niya ang iyang baba sa iyang kamot.

“Unsay imong gibuhat dinhi?” nakahimo siya sa pagsulti bisan og nagtabon ang iyang mga tudlo.

“Si Faustino.” Seryoso ang iyang nawong. “Nawala siya.”

“Sigurado ka?” Mas hilom si Edgardo ning higayona, “basin ningla-ag lang siya?”

“Tunga-tunga na sa gabii! Wala siya sa iyang balay. Kuyog nako. Si Pepito ug Melinda naa sa daplin sa dakong kahoy duol sa balay ni Faustino. Kinahanglan natong siyang pangitaon.”

Gilugod ni Edgardo ang iyang mga mata ug mihuy-ab pag-usab. “Na hala, mokuyog na lang.”

Sila si Melinda ug Pepito didto sa giingon ni Belen nga ilang adtoan, ang mga aninipot naghatag sa kahoy og makalilisang nga kahayag.

“Maorag nakakita kog agianan,” ingon ni Pepito. “Dunay mga tunob paingon sa mga langob sa mga bungtod.”

Ang tanang mga bata nangislo. Kadto nga mga langob duol sa mga minahan ug peligro man gani alang sa mga hamtong, ug labi na gayod alang sa usa ka grupo ka mga bata.

“Kinahanglan moadto ta,” mi-ingon si Belen, “buhaton usab ni niya alang kanato.”

“Unsa may atong buhaton kon makit-an nato siya? Duna gayoy butang nga responsable sa mga pagkawala. Unsaon man nato ang pagpakig-away niini?” Kahilakon si Melinda.

“Dili kinahanglan nga awayon ni, kinahanglan lang naton pangitaon si Faustino ug ibalik siya dinhi, diin luwas siya,” ingon ni Pepito.

Nagtinan-away silang tanan ug gikuptan nila ang kamot sa usag-usa.

Ang matag usa dunay determinasyon sa pagpangita sa ilang higala, si Edgardo hinuon wala kaayo. Nalingaw pa gihapon siya sa iyang damgo.

Ilang gisundan ang agianan kutob sa ilang mahimo, bisan og nagkapangos-pangos ilang mga panit sa mga bato ug sa mga gamot. Ug sa dihang hapit na silang mangatumba tungod sa kakapoy, nakaabot sila sa ilang destinasyon, usa ka dili mahulagway nga langob nga nahibal-an nila nga agianan sa gasumpay-sumpay nga mga tanel nga mahimong dili na nila matultolan unsaon pagbalik.

Si Belen maoy nangulo sa grupo. Nagdala siya og lampara nga gikan sa iyang mga ginikanan ug nga mao usab nga lampara nga gidala sa iyang mga igsoon niadtong nangadto sila sa mga langob. Dili kaayo siya angayan nga mangulo, apan kinahanglan niyang siguroon nga dunay giya ang uban. Kinahanglan niyang buhaton ni, para kang Faustino.

Si Melinda ang nag-una.

Wala man gani siya ningsiyagit. Sa usa ka gutlo si Belen nagdan-ag sa lampara sa entrada sa laing tanel ug unya sa sunod, nagpanawag na siya sa mga ngalan sa iyang mga kauban. Wala gayod niya nabati ang kahadlok sa kahilom hangtod niadtong higayona, mao ni ang usa sa iyang mahinumdoman sa tibuok niyang kinabuhi.

Gisulayan ni Pepito nga magpabilin sa agi-anan. Nagkuptanay silang tanan ug nabati ni Belen ang iyang pagkurog. Naningkamot siya sa paghupay niya.

“Mamaayo ra ang tanan. Makit-an ra nato silang duha, pramis.”

Misulay Si Pepito sa pagpugong sa iyang mga luha samtang siya miyango, apan gidaog na siya sa iyang kahadlok.

“Dili!” Misinggit siya. “Kinahanglan nga mamauli na ta!”

Gipaningkamotan ni Edgardo nga mapugngan siya.

“Pepito, kinahanglang magkuyog ta, mao lang ni ang paagi nga makalingkawas ta dinhi!”

Wala siya naminaw, iyang gitukmod si Edgardo palayo ug midagan siya ngadto sa kangitngit.

Bug-at ang kahilom sa duha nga nahibilin.

“Tonto kaayo ko sa paghunahuna nga magsilbi ni.” Misugod pagkusog ang hangos ni Belen ug iyang gibutang ang lampara. “Unta to nagkuyog ra ta. Karon dili lang si Faustino ang nawala. Pasayloa ko. Pasayloa ko, Melinda, Pepito! Kinahanglang mamalik ta, basin kon sultihan nato ang atong mga pamilya, unya sila pod ang manganhi dinhi ug kitang tanan mangita nila. Pangitaon nato sila. Kinahanglan natong pangitaon sila.”

Gikuha ni Edgardo ang lampara ug miingon, “Uban nako”.

Wala nay laing mahimo si Belen gawas sa pagsunod sa iyang bag-ong higala.

Ang kahayag gikan sa lampara hinay-hinay nga nahanaw ug ang agi-anan nagkadanlog samtang sila naglakaw. Gisulayan niya paggunit ang bungbong aron makabalanse, apan iyang nabati nga basa usab ni.

Sa kataposan iyang nakita kon unsa ni dihang gitunol ni Edgardo kaniya ang lampara.

Makit-an ang pula bisan asa. Namantsa niini ang iyang mga kamot ug sinina ug dunay nagtulo gikan sa ibabaw.

“Wa ko kasabot—-” misulay sa pagsulti si Belen.

Apan laing kahayag ang misidlak tapad ni Edgardo, nga nagdan-ag sa usa ka binuhat nga nagbitbit og dakong sako nga bulawan.

“Namati ka unta ka nila. Kon namati pa ka tingali si Faustino lang ang nawala.”

“I—-I—-” Naparalisar si Belen, misulay siya sa pagsinggit samtang gidala siya sa binuhat sa lawom nga bahin sa tanel.

Ug sa pagsidlak sa adlaw ngadto kang Edgardo samtang nanglimpyo siya sa iyang kaugalingon sa suba, naghunahuna siya: “Pila kaha ka libro ang akong makuha niini.”

=——————–=

English Version

There was once a child named Edgardo. He was small and quiet and preferred to read books instead of playing with the other children. Books were hard to get in his small mountain community and he treasured the moments when he would go to the city, watch his father exchange the gold they mined for money and buy the books he wanted.

One day he was approached by Faustino, a boy who would usually avoid him. It was one thing to be different, but to be different in a community of a few hundred people made Edgardo feel like he was under a microscope.

“Can I sit here?” Faustino asked him.

“Sure, no one’s stopping you,” Edgardo replied.

“Did you hear about what happened?” Faustino tried to look him in the eye but only succeeded at putting his head down and staring at his shuffling feet.

“Didn’t everyone?” Edgardo said without moving his eyes away from the page he was reading.

“With Veronica that makes 3 since February.” Faustino sat beside him.

It wasn’t uncommon for children to go missing up in the mountains. Danger was everywhere. One moment of absentmindedness could cost you dearly.

The mines were also an issue. Too often their fathers or brothers would just not come home and the mining companies would send their condolences – for whatever that was worth.

“They say someone is taking the children away.” Faustino, again, tried and failed to look him in the eye.

Edgardo put down his book and replied, “Who would possibly want to take the children? If it was for money then wouldn’t they have sent a note? It’s rainy season, people walk around the mountain and don’t come back. Just leave it be.”

“No.” Faustino put his hands on Edgardo’s shoulders. “This is different from that, I can feel it. We have to stick together. I asked Melinda, Pepito and Belen. The five of us can watch what happens with each other.”

“You’ll be safe with us,” Faustino says with a smile.

Edgardo frowns. “If you say so.”

This wasn’t the first time someone made that promise. He thought back to his elder brother. Those nights when they went to the caves together to find gold for themselves. That one time he wasn’t careful. Things would happen and you just had to let them be.

One night Edgardo was awakened by the whispers of another child.

“Edgardo —- psssst —— wake up, it’s important,” the voice said.

It took a few minutes for Edgardo to snap back into reality. The dream that he had was so vivid: a house filled with books all to himself. He was lucid in his dream and he swore that one day it would come true.

“Belen?!”

“Sshhhhhh—don’t let anyone hear you.” She put her hand over his mouth.

“What are you doing here?” he managed to say through her fingers.

“It’s Faustino.” Her face was grim. “He’s missing.”

“Are you sure?” Edgardo was quieter this time, “maybe he just went out for a walk?”

“It’s the middle of the night! He’s not in his house. Come with me. Pepito and Melinda are by the big tree near Faustino’s house. We need to find him.”

Edgardo rubbed his eyes and yawned again. “Fine, might as well.”

Melinda and Pepito were where Belen said they would be, the fireflies giving the tree an eerie aura.

“I think I found a trail,” Pepito said. “There are footprints leading to the caves over by the hills.”

The children all grimaced. Those caves were near the mines and they were dangerous enough for adults, much less a group of four children.

“We have to go,” Belen said, “he’d do the same for us.”

“What are we going to do when we find him? There must be something responsible for the disappearances. How do we fight it?” Melinda was close to tears.

“We don’t need to fight it, we just have to find Faustino and bring him back here, where it’s safe,” Pepito said.

They all looked at each other and put their hands together.

Each had a resolve to find their friend, Edgardo less so. He was still enraptured by his dream.

They followed the trail as best as they could, scraping their skins against the rocks and the roots. And as soon as they were about to fall from exhaustion, they reached their destination, a nondescript cave that they knew was an entrance to a network of tunnels they might not return from.

Belen lead the group. She had taken a lamp from her parents and her siblings had taken her to the caves once. Leadership was not her strength, but she had to make sure the others had a guide. She had to do it, for Faustino.

Melinda was the first.

She didn’t even scream. One moment Belen was shining the lamp on the entrance to another tunnel and the next, when she called out for the names of her companions. She had never feared silence until that moment, it was one she would remember for the rest of her life.

Pepito tried to stay the course. They all held hands and Belen could feel his shaking. She tried to console him.

“It will be alright. We’ll find both of them, I promise.”

Pepito tried to hold back tears as he nodded, yet fear had overtaken him.

“No!” He shouted. “We have to go back home!”

Edgardo tried his best to hold him down.

“Pepito, we have to stay together, it’s the only way we can make it out of here!”

He didn’t listen, he pushed Edgardo off him and ran into the darkness.

The silence weighed heavy on the remaining two.

“I was so stupid to think this would work.” Belen’s breath started to become rapid and she put the lantern down. “We should have stayed together. Now it’s not just Faustino. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry Melinda, Pepito! We have to go back, maybe if we tell our families they can go here and we can all search for them. We’ll find them. We have to find them.”

Edgardo took the lantern and said, “come with me”.

Belen had no other choice but to follow her new friend.

The light from the lantern was slowly fading and the path was getting more slippery as they went along. She tried to grab the wall to balance, but she found that it was damp as well.

She finally saw what it was when Edgardo handed her the lantern.

It was red everywhere. It stained her hands and clothes and drops fell from the ceiling.

“I don’t understand—-” Belen tried to say.

But another light glowed by Edgardo, illuminating a creature carrying a hefty bag of gold.

“You should have listened to them. If you did maybe it would have just been Faustino.”

“I—-I—-” Belen was paralyzed, she tried to scream as the creature carried her deeper into the tunnel.

And as the daylight shined on Edgardo as he cleaned himself in the river, he thought:

“I wonder how many books I can get with this.”

*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 Joanalyn P Gabales
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Joanalyn P Gabales

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

Sagay Illustration by Christian Bitao

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anegs.gg/

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

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Habang ang handog ay inilagay sa ibaba ng puno, isang tahimik na espiritu ang nagbigay ng basbas nito.

Isang pakiramdam ng lakas ang bumalot sa binata at kinuha niya ang kanyang sibat sa pangangaso para umalis sa ilang.

Ang espiritung nagbigay ng basbas nito ay tumango bilang pagsang-ayon hanggang sa mawala sa paningin ng binata.

Doon din ang isang kongregasyon ng mga espiritu ay lumutang patungo sa puno.

“Kapwa bakayuwan, maaari ka ba naming makausap?” Umalingawngaw ang koro ng mga espiritu.

Tumango ang tahimik na espiritu at lumutang sa tabi ng puno.

“Binigyan mo ang binatang ito ng mga pagpapala para sa maraming araw na ngayon. Wala pa rin siyang nahuhuli,” sabi ng isa sa mga kasamang espiritu.

“Halos hindi niya masubaybayan ang huhulihing hayop, nakita ko siyang umikot sa parehong bato nang pitong beses bago niya napagtanto na naiwan na siya ng kanyang hinuhuli,” pahayag ng isang espiritu.

Ang isa pang espiritu ay sumingit, “Sa lahat ng nanghuhuli dito, siya ang pinakamahina. Nakita kong sinubukan niyang sumibat ng baboy-ramo kahapon at natamaan niya ang isang puno…nang dalawang beses”

At nagtawanan ang mga espiritu (o kasing lapit ng tawa ng isang espiritu).

‘Walang bukod-tangi sa binatang ito’ ang pinagkasunduan ng mga espiritu at ipinaalam nila sa kanilang mga kasamahan ang kanilang hindi pagsang-ayon.

Dito ay sumagot ang nag-iisang espiritu “Lalong dahilan para tulungan siya. Ang mga malakas na ay hindi na kailangan ng ating mga pagpapala. Ang mangangaso na ito ay bumisita sa aking puno sa tuwing pupunta siya sa kagubatan. Hindi lamang niya ako tinatrato nang may paggalang kundi ang buong lupain. Ang huli niya—-”

“—kung may mahanap siya.” Isang espiritu ang sumabat.

“—Ang kanyang huli ay palaging nakatuon sa mga espiritu, dahil alam niya na ang lupain ay hindi nag-iisa, ito ay atin upang ibahagi.”

“Dapat alam na iyon ng mga tao, at kung hindi nila alam, malalaman nila sa pamamagitan ng ating galit.”

“Ngunit hindi mo ba gugustuhin na makipagtulungan sa mga tao upang hayaan silang madama ang kaligayahan ng kalikasan? Ito ay hindi lamang tungkol sa mangangaso na ito kundi pati na rin sa kanyang mga tauhan. Ituturo niya ang awit ng hangin sa pamamagitan ng mga sanga, ang maselang mga landas na patungo sa kristal na mga ilog at ang ang marangal na kapayapaan ng tahimik na mga panalangin sa mga diyos at espiritu.”

Nabalot ng katahimikan ang hukbo ng mga espiritu habang nag-iisip sila sa mga salita ng kanilang kapwa.

Ngunit may isang espiritung hindi kumbinsido.

“Kami ang mga tanod ng pangangaso! Sa pamamagitan lamang ng lakas makikita nila ang ating kapangyarihan! Tayong mga malalakas ay dapat magbahagi ng ating kapangyarihan sa mga malalakas pagkatapos ay matututunan ng mga tao na bumangon! Hayaang bumagsak ang mahihina at ang kanilang dugo ay magdidilig sa ating mga puno.”

“Ang isang puno na dinidilig ng dugo ay hindi mamumulaklak bilang isang punong inaalagaan. Ang mga taong higit na nangangailangan ng ating tulong ay makikita ang ating mga pagpapala bilang patunay na tayo ay namumuhay bilang isa.”

Umiling ang nagdududa na espiritu. “Gawin mo ang dapat mong gawin at makikita natin kung ano ang mangyayari.” Pagkatapos ay lumutang itong paalis.

Isa-isang lumutang ang mga espiritu upang magbigay ng mga pagpapala sa mga mangangaso sa kanilang sariling mga nasasakupan.

At umalingawngaw ang mga salita ng espiritu.

“Ang lupain ay hindi sa kanya lamang, ito ay atin upang ibahagi.”

=———————————————————–=

As the offering was set below the tree a silent spirit gave its blessing.

A sense of strength surged through the young man and he took his hunting spear to set out into the wilds.

The spirit that gave its blessing nodded in approval until the young man was out of sight.

It was then that a congregation of spirits floated towards the tree.

“Fellow bakayauwan, can we speak with you?” The chorus of spirits echoed.

The silent spirit nodded and floated beside the tree.

“You have given this young man blessings for many daybreaks now. He still hasn’t caught anything,” said one of the fellow spirits.

“He can barely track prey, I saw him go around the same rock seven times before he realized his quarry had left him behind,” A spirit intoned.

Another spirit chimed “Out of all those that hunt here he is the weakest. I saw him try to spear a boar yesterday and he hit a tree… twice”

And the spirits laughed (or as close to laughing as a spirit can get).

‘There is nothing special about this young man’ was the consensus of the spirits and they let their peer know of their disapproval.

To this the lone spirit answered “All the more reason to help him. Those that are already strong have no need for our blessings. This hunter has visited my tree every time he would set out to the forest. He treats not only me with respect but the entire land. His catch—-”

“—if he can find any.” A spirit interrupted.

“—His catch is always dedicated to the spirits, for he knows the land is not his alone, it is ours to share.”

“The humans should already know that, and if they don’t, they will know through our wrath.”

“But would you not rather work with the humans to let them feel nature’s bliss? It is not just about this hunter but also his entire people. He will teach the song of the winds through the branches, the delicate pathways that lead to crystal rivers and the quiet dignity of the hushed prayers to the gods and spirits.”

Silence fell among the host of spirits as they ruminated on their fellow’s words.

One spirit still stood unconvinced.

“We are the sentinels of the hunt! It is only through strength that they will see our power! We who are strong shall share our power with those that are strong then the humans will know to rise up! Let the weak fall and their blood water our trees.”

“A tree watered with blood will not blossom as one that is tended. Those that need our help the most will see our blessings as proof that we live as one.”

The doubtful spirit shook his head. “Do what you must and we shall see what will happen.” And thus it floated away.

One by one the spirits floated away to give blessings to hunters in their own domains.

And the words of the spirit resonated.

“The land is not his alone, it is ours to share.”

=————————————————————=

Illustration by Shiela Rae Co
IG: @naitinta

Inspired by the Bakayauwan description in Jocano, F. Landa. (1969). Outline of Philippine Mythology. Manila: Centro Escolar University Research and Development Center, p. 16.

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

Alikas nën Anselmo ya manggiwgiw so lima to nën intanëm to so pilimiron bukël. Amta to ya ag labay na hari na palandëy so gagawaën to, natataktakot mët diad nagawad sikato. Balët, balëg so nagamoran ëd saman. No makpël labat iray managtanëm, sarag dan nisabi ëd tagëy na palandëy so tabakon itatanëm da.

Binukay so dalin insan inkotkot so bukël.

Aman a labi, akogip nën Anselmo so hari. Wala rad katakëlan, mankaarapan. Amitlon tinapik na hari so dalin, insan taloran mëlanting a too so pinmaway diman. Inmësaës so hari balët ag to narëngël nën Anselmo, kasumpal to, binmatik iray mëlanting papaway na katakëlan.

Atilak si Anselmo tan imay hari, balët singa ag nanënëngnëng na hari so lakin natatakot. Tinapik lalamët na hari so dalin na amitlo tan mas amayamay so pinmaway iran mëlanting. Mankëlaw si Anselmo katon tinumbok to iramay mëlanting pian nëngnëngën no antoy gagawaën da.

Nën asabi to so sampot na katakëlan, inmangës sikato ëd samay apatnagan to, adasig so tanëm a tabako anggad nasabi na pakanëngnëng to. Natan labat akanëngnëng sikato na unman a karakël a tabako. Okupadon mantatanëm na mas amayamay nin tabako iramay mëlanting. Binilang nën Anselmo so nilasos a mëlanting a mankikimëy ëd saman a dalin.

Inëmbënan to may sakëy ya mëlanting insan to tinëpët no antoy gagawaën da. “Siyempre, para ya ëd hari,” balikas to may mëlanting, “kaukulaan na hari so tabako pian makasigarilyo.” Binmëneg may mëlanting ëd si Alselmo tan man-ëlëk ëd kaambagëlan na tëpët to.

Diman tinmunda so pankokogip to, ëd samay mëlanting tan samay tanëm a tabako. Manparok so puso nën Anselmo, karuman to labat intanëm imay pilimiron bukël, balët nononotën to la no antoy nagawan dusa ëd sikato.

Pigan agëw ya nan-gonigon sikato, nodnonotën ton ëkalën la may bukël a intanëm to. Ag makarëën so kanonotan to diad dusan onsabid sikato.

Siansia ni, anggapoy nagagawa. Onsasabi ni agëw tan nababalang ni so bulan kaibad labi. Mankukukaok ni so lalong ëd parehon oras inagëw-agëw, tan unbubuna nin siansia iray tabako diad Kanlaon.

Ag binmayag, naimano na arom ya linmampas lad golis so pantatanëman nën Anselmo. Binmalëg so maagom dan mata ëd naalan yaman, katon inawit da mët iray gawa dan bukël na tabako insan nantanëm diad pantatanëman nën Anselmo.

Balët, anggapo nin siansia so agawa. Apanoy tabako so entiron Kanlaon.

Wala ray arom a nampasakbay ëd saray managtanëm. “Nonot yo no antoy imbaga na hari! No dia tayo nantanëm, alaën to so entiron tabako insan to sigarilyoën ya amin!”

Balët anggapoy undëdëngël ëd panangasi da. Anggad maong a too ët napëpërëng ëd yaman.

Diad labi, wala ray nandaragop palibër ëd sakëy ya pool tan man-iistorya nipaakar ëd hari na palandëy. Ta no akin ët walay pakapanyari to ëd mundo balët pinili to so man-ayam kaiba ray totoo nën say man-olëy ëd sikara.

Ninonot da may nën binilin ira na hari ya ag ira mantatanëm diad lampas na linyan impagolis to ëd saray mëlanting palibër tan asinggër ëd tapëw na palandëy. Pantotongtongan da may agëw ya tinmaynan so hari. No panonto may akis na saray totoo nën impaamta man na hari.

“Say bilin ko labat ët ag kayo mantatanëm diad lampas to may golis ëd tagëy, no ag yo ya inonor, alaën kon amin so tabako insan anggapo mët la so balon unboyag diad gilig a palandëy anggad ag ko nasusumpal ya sigarilyoën man ya amin.” Tinapik tan inlukas na hari so dalin, insan abalang sikatod palandëy.

Intoor na totoo imay sipan da balët, siyempre, tinmunda ëd si Anselmo.

Anggano nid amin lan agawa, nantanëm nin siansia sikato na amayamay ya tabako. Anonotan to may kogip to, imay panlabay to na say pasol to ët singa may unman mët ëd hari, onsasabi anggad sampot a pakanengneng.

Kayari na pigan taon ët alingwanan lay totoo so hari na palandëy anggad samay sipan da ëd sikato.

Atanëman lay tabako so entiron palandëy na Kanlaon insan yinmaman la ray totoo lapod saray naaani da.

Anggad saray simplin too ët mikakasakëy ëd saray magarbon pistan gagawaën da. Singa anggapo so makapampatunda ëd panagselebra na totoo diad nala dan balon yaman.

Balët, tinmunda nën linmukas so dalin insan amawil imay hari na palandëy.

Unaan ya tinmaynan si Anselmo. Nalilikna toy giwgiw anggad pukë-pukël to, amta to ya sinmabi la so agëw na pambayaran ton amin so ginawa to. Ag mët la linmingaw sikato nën maplës a binmatik palëksab na palandëy.

Makapaërmen ya nëngnëngen so sinmublay. Nën saman a napnoy tabako, natan ët anggapo la so tanëm a nanëngnëng ëd Kanlaon. Ag makapanisia iray managtanëm ya unman labat kapëlës a nabalang iray tanëm da, alingwanan da lay tuan pakapanyari na hari.

Marëndëën so totoo, singa amta da lay nagawa. Kabëbëkta, sinmabog ëd dagëm so tapëw na palandëy ya nan-gaway abot a napnoy pool tan asëwëk.

Alabas lan maong so nagagawa ya ag mët la nanyarian na anggad say sangkamakpëlan ëd sikara. Nanlumbaan iray totoo ëd amin na direksiyon, natatakot ëd sanok na hari.

Aman a labi, nankogip si Anselmo.

Makapal ya asëwëk so pinmatnag ëd arap nën Anselmo. Inmukok sikato anggad anëngnëng to may hari ya masisisgarilyo na tabako. Tinmalimukor sikato san kinmërëw na perdona.

Balët ag lalamët naimano na hari si Anselmo. Amitlon tinapik na hari so dalin insan pinmaway iray mëlanting. Nan-awit iramay mëlanting na tabakon iyarom dimad samay sigarilyoën na hari.

Apaliberay asëwëk so palandëy na unsësëlëk anggad saray lëtak. Singa puwersan manpapairap. Alikas nën Anselmo ya singa natëtërak so pagëw to lapod samay amayamay ya nasusungap ton asëwëk.

Insan abangon sikato.

Linmipas iray taon tan wala la ray totoon pinmawil ëd palandëy. Nanlëtnëg iray purok dia rad diking to, balët anggapo lay masibëg odino siopan ambagël a mantanëm na tabako diad palandëy.

Anggapoy makaamta no anto lay nanmaliwa ëd Anselmo, ibabaga na arom ya inawit na hari sikato pian naitdan na niduduman dusa. Ibabaga da ray arom balët ya linmad arawi sikato ta babatikan toy sanok na hari.

Balët ag la bali, amta da ray totoo ya kapila mët iran nan-gaway aliwa. Anggapo so naitanëm ëd Kanlaon diad saray onsublay na henerasyon.

Anggapo anggad ag naupot na hari imay tabako to.

=————————————=

English Version

Anselmo felt his hands quiver as he planted the first seed. He knew what he was doing was against the wishes of the king of the mountain, and he was fearful of the price. Yet, there was so much to gain. Tobacco plants could stretch until the mountaintop if only the farmers had enough backbone to take the leap.

The earth was parted and the seed buried.

That night he dreamt of the king. They were in a forest facing each other. The king tapped the ground three times and small men sprang from the earth. The king said something Anselmo couldn’t hear and the small men ran towards the edges of the forest.

Anselmo and the king were left alone, but it seemed that the king couldn’t see the scared man. The king tapped the ground three more times and even more small men appeared. Alfonso was curious so this time he followed the small men to see what they were doing.

As he reached the end of the forest he gasped at the sight, rows of tobacco plants that extended towards the horizon. He had never seen so many tobacco plants. The small men were busy planting even more tobacco. Anselmo counted hundreds, no thousands of small men toiling in the fields.

He grabbed one of the small men and asked what they were doing. “Why this is for the king, of course,” said the small man, “the king needs his tobacco to smoke.” The small man then turned his back on Anselmo snickering at such a stupid question.

The dream ended there, with the small man and the tobacco plant. Anselmo’s heart was pounding, it was yesterday when he planted the first seed and he wondered what his punishment would be.

He agonized for days, wondering if he should take back the seed he planted. His mind raced for months about what his punishment would be.

Still, nothing happened. The sun still rose and the moon faded into the night. The roosters crowed at the same time every day and the tobacco plants grew around Kanlaon as they always have.

Soon, others noticed that Anselmo was planting above the line. Their eyes grew greedy with the promise of gold and they too took tobacco seeds and planted where Anselmo did.
And again, nothing happened. Kanlaon was filled to the brim with tobacco.

There were those that tried to warn the farmers. “Remember what the king said! If we plant here then he would carry all the tobacco away and smoke it all!”

Their cries fell on deaf ears. Money blinds even the most humble of men.

In the night there would be those that huddled around campfires and told the story of the king of the mountain. How he had absolute power over the earth, but sought to live alongside humans rather than rule over them.

They recounted how he had asked the people not to plant above a certain line that he had ordered his small men to draw around the mountain near the top. They told of the day when the king left. How the people shed tears at the kings pronouncement.

“I only ask that you will not plant above the line, if you do I will take all the tobacco away and no more shall grow along the mountainside until I have smoked it all.” The king tapped the ground and opened the earth, disappearing into the mountain.
The people kept their promise until Anselmo, of course.

Throughout all this he planted more tobacco. He remembered the dream, how he wished that his fields would look like the king’s, stretching until the horizon.

Years passed and the people forgot about the king of the mountain and their promise to him.

The mountain of Kanlaon was covered entirely by tobacco plants and the people grew rich and fat from their harvests.
Even the most humble of the people joined in the lavish fiestas that were held. It seemed like nothing could stop their celebrations of the people’s newfound wealth.

That is, until the earth opened and the king of the mountain returned.

Anselmo was the first to flee. He could feel the rumble in his bones and he knew the day of reckoning had come. He didn’t even look back as made a dash for the foot of the mountain.
It was a terrible sight to behold. Once filled with tobacco, Kanlaon was now bare. The farmers could not believe that their crops had disappeared so easily, but they had forgotten the true power of the king.

There was silence among the people, as if they knew what was about to happen. Suddenly the mountaintop exploded into the air, creating a crater filled with smoke and fire.

This was too much for even the bravest of them. The people fled in all directions, fearful of the king’s wrath.

That night Anselmo dreamed.

A thick cloud of smoke appeared before Anselmo. He coughed until he saw the king smoking tobacco. He went down on his knees and asked for forgiveness.

Again, the king did not notice his presence. He tapped the ground three times and small men appeared. The small men then brought more tobacco for the king to smoke.

Smoke filled the mountain, filling each crevice. It was an oppressive force. Anselmo felt his chest about to explode from inhaling so much smoke.

Then he awoke.

Years passed by and there were those that returned to the mountain. They set up their villages along the sides, but no one was brave or foolish enough to grow tobacco on the mountain.

No one knows what became of Anselmo, some say the king stole him away for special punishment. Others say that he moved far away, trying to escape the king’s wrath.

It does not matter, for the people know they are complicit in his crime. Nothing will be planted on Kanlaon for generations.

Not until the king is done smoking his tobacco.

*Pangasinan (Salitan Pangasinan) – sometimes called Pangasinense is one of the major languages of the Philippines. It is the language spoken in the province of Pangasinan, on the west-central seaboard of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf, the northern portion of Tarlac and southwestern La Union, most of whom belong to the Pangasinan ethnic group. Pangasinan is also understood in some municipalities in Benguet, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, and by the Aeta or Aeta of Zambales.

Written by Karl Gaverza

Translation by Dean Alfred Narra
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright ©Dean Alfred Narra

Story adapted from THE TOBACCO OF HARISABOQUED http://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/pfs/pfs03.htm

Hari sa Bukid Illustration by Camille Chua
Instagram: @frillion
Facebook: Frillion‘

The post Hari sa Bukid – Pangasinan Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Nanginginig ang kamay ni Anselmo habang siya ay nagtatanim. Alam niya na tuligsa sa kahilingan ng hari ng kagubatan ang kaniyang ginagawa at mayroon itong kabayaran. Ganoon pa man, marami siyang aanihin kapag ipagpapatuloy niya pa ito. Kung malakas lang ang loob ng mga magsasaka, lalawak ang tanim ng tabako hanggang sa maabot ang tuktok ng kabundukan.

Hinukay niya ang lupa at itinanim ang buto.

Sa gabing iyon napaginipan niyang magkaharap sila ng hari.Tinapik nito ang lupa nang tatlong beses at may mga maliliit na taong umusbong mula sa lupa. May sinabi ang hari pero hindi ito marinig ni Anselmo at nagsitakbuhan ang mga maliliit na tao sa kaduluduluhan ng kagubatan.

Mag-isa na lamang ang hari at si Anselmo. Mukhang hindi nito napansin na takot si Anselmo kaya ipinapagtuloy pa nito ang kaniyang ginagawa. Tinapik ulit ng hari ang lupa nang tatlong beses at lumabas ulit ang mga maliliit na tao. Dahil palaisipan kay Anselmo kung saan sila pumupunta at ano ang kanilang ginagawa, sinundan niya ang mga ito.

Pagdating niya sa dulo ng kagubatan, nabigla siya sa kaniyang nakita, hile-hilerang tabako ang nakatanim sa kaniyang harapan. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa dami tanim na umaabot hanggang sa kalayuan. Patuloy lang na nagtatanim ang mga nilalang sa bukid at nakita niya na libo-libo silang nagtatrabaho rito.

Kinuha niya ang isa roon at tinanong kung para saan ang ginagawa nito. “Lahat ng ito ay para sa mahal na hari,” sabi ng nilalang. “Kailangan ng hari ang hari ang tabako para sa kaniyang paninigarilyo” ipinagpatuloy pa nito. Tumalikod at tumawa ito dahil para sa kaniya hindi pinag-isipan ang itinanong sa kaniya.

Nagtapos ang kaniyang panaginip sa pangyayaring iyon. Kinakabahan si Anselmo dahil kahapon lang siya nagsimulang magtanim ng tabako at ngayon nagmumuni-muni siya sa kaniyang kaparusahan.

Ilang araw siyang nagdurusa at nagtataka kung tama ba ang ginawa niya o tama lang na bawiin na lang ang itinanim na buto. Buwan-buwan siyang natataranta kung anong nakalaan na kabayaran para sa kaniyang kamalian.

Sumikat at lumubog ang araw wala pa ring nangyayari. Nagpapatuloy lang ang paglawak ng tabako sa kalupaan ng Kanlaon.

Hanggang sa napansin ng ibang magsasaka na lumampas sa linya ang tinataniman ni Anselmo. Dahil sa pangamba na nilalamangan sila sa kíta, ginaya nila siya.

At ulit wala pa ring nangyayaring parusa. Mas lalo lang yumayabong ang tabako sa Kanlaon.

May mga iba na nagbabala sa mga magsasaka. “Naaalala niyo ba ang sinabi ng hari? Kapag nagtanim tayo na lampas sa lupa natin, uubusin niya lahat ang mga ito at gagamitin sa kaniyang paninigarilyo!”

Walang nakinig sa kanilang mga hinaing. Nakakasilaw ang pera sa mga pangkaraniwang tao.

Gumawa sila ng kampo at doon muna sila nanatili. Nang sumapit ang gabi, pumalibot sila sa apoy at nagkuwento tungkol sa hari ng kabundukan. Nagtataglay siya ng kapangyarihan sa buong kalupaan, pero mas pinili niyang mamuhay kasama ang mga tao sa halip na pamunuan ang mga ito.

Binilang nila kung ilang beses silang sinabihan ng hari na huwag magtatanim lagpas sa linya, na nakapaikot malapit sa tuktok ng kabundukan. Kinuwento nila ang araw kung kailan umalis ang hari at kung paano sila nagsiiyakan sa ipinahayag nito.

“Isa lang ang hinihiling ko sa inyo, at iyon ay huwag kayong magtatanim lagpas sa linyang ginawa ko. Kung susuwayin niyo ang aking hiling, kukuhanin ko lahat ng tabakong nakatanim dito, at wala nang tutubo sa buong kabundukan dahil magiging sigarilyo ko na ang mga ito.” Tinapik ng hari ang lupa at bumukas ang buong lupain hanggang naglaho siya sa kabundukan.

Tinupad ng mga tao ang kanilang pangako, at dumating si Anselmo.

Kahit na alam niya ang naganap na kasunduan, patuloy lang siyang nagtanim ng mas maraming tabako. Naalala niya ang panaginip, kung paano niya ninanais na ang kanyang mga bukirin ay magmukha ng sa hari, malawak hanggang sa abot-tanaw.

Lumipas ang mga taon nakalimutan na ng mga tao ang ipinangako nila sa hari.

Nababalot na ng tabako ang kabundukan ng Kanlaon at yumayaman ang mga tao dahil kanilang mga ani.

Dumarami ang mga taong nakikisaya sa mga marangyang kapistahan. Nagmumukhang hindi na magtatapos ang kanilang pagyaman bunga ng kanilang pagsasaka.

Iyon, hanggang sa bumukas ang kalupaan at nagbalik ang hari ng kabundukan.

Si Anselmo ang unang kumaripas ng takbo. Nararamdaman niya ang pagyanig at takot dahil alam niya na dumating na ang paghuhukom para sa kanilang mga kasalanan. Hindi na niya naisipang lumingon habang tumatakbo pababa sa paanan ng bundok.

Kagila-gilalas ang mga kaganapan sa Kanlaon. Ang dating malalagong mga tanim ay naglaho na parang bula. Hindi makapaniwala ang mga magsasaka na biglang mawawala ang kanilang mga pananim, nakalimutan nila kung gaano kalakas ang hari.

Nababalot ng katahimikan ang mga tao, na parang alam na nila kung ano ang mangyayari. Biglang sumabog ng tuktok ng bundok at naglalaman ito ng usok at apoy.

Sa lahat ng naganap, wala sino man ang hindi matatakot pati ang mga matatapang. Natataranta ang mga tao sa iba’t ibang direksyon bunga ng ipinamalas na galit hari.

Nang gabing iyon, nanaginip si Anselmo.

May makapal na usok sa kaniyang harapan. Naubo siya at nakita niya ang haring naninigarilyo. Lumuhod siya tapat nito at humingi ng kapatawaran.

Hindi napansin ng hari ang kaniyang prsensya. Tinapik nito ang lupa nang tatlong beses at may lumabas na maliliit na tao. Nagdala pa sila ng mga tabako para gamitin ng hari.

Nababalot ng usok ang buong kabundukan, at napupuno na rin ang mga butas nito. Napakalakas na yanig ang naramdaman sa paligid ng Kanlaon. Bumigat ang dibdib ni Anslemo dulot ng paghinga niya sa makapal ng usok.

At bigla siyang nagising.

Lumipas ang ilang taon at may namuhay ulit sa lugar. Nagtayo sila ng mga barrio sa gilid ng kabundukan, pero wala ng naglalakas loob na magtanim ulit ng tabako.

Walang nakakaalam sa kinahinatnan ni Anselmo, may nagsasabi na kinuha siya ng hari para sa kakaibang parusa. Ang sabi naman ng iba nagpakalayu-layo na siya para takasan ang hagupit nito.

Hindi na mahalaga kung nakipagsabwatan ang mga tao sa kasalanan ni Anselmo. Wala ng puwedeng maitanim sa kabundukan ng Kanlaon.

Habang hindi pa tapos ang kaniyang paninigarilyo.

=———————————————–=

English Version

Anselmo felt his hands quiver as he planted the first seed. He knew what he was doing was against the wishes of the king of the mountain, and he was fearful of the price. Yet, there was so much to gain. Tobacco plants could stretch until the mountaintop if only the farmers had enough backbone to take the leap.

The earth was parted and the seed buried.

That night he dreamt of the king. They were in a forest facing each other. The king tapped the ground three times and small men sprang from the earth. The king said something Anselmo couldn’t hear and the small men ran towards the edges of the forest.

Anselmo and the king were left alone, but it seemed that the king couldn’t see the scared man. The king tapped the ground three more times and even more small men appeared. Alfonso was curious so this time he followed the small men to see what they were doing.

As he reached the end of the forest he gasped at the sight, rows of tobacco plants that extended towards the horizon. He had never seen so many tobacco plants. The small men were busy planting even more tobacco. Anselmo counted hundreds, no thousands of small men toiling in the fields.

He grabbed one of the small men and asked what they were doing. “Why this is for the king, of course,” said the small man, “the king needs his tobacco to smoke.” The small man then turned his back on Anselmo snickering at such a stupid question.

The dream ended there, with the small man and the tobacco plant. Anselmo’s heart was pounding, it was yesterday when he planted the first seed and he wondered what his punishment would be.

He agonized for days, wondering if he should take back the seed he planted. His mind raced for months about what his punishment would be.

Still, nothing happened. The sun still rose and the moon faded into the night. The roosters crowed at the same time every day and the tobacco plants grew around Kanlaon as they always have.

Soon, others noticed that Anselmo was planting above the line. Their eyes grew greedy with the promise of gold and they too took tobacco seeds and planted where Anselmo did.
And again, nothing happened. Kanlaon was filled to the brim with tobacco.

There were those that tried to warn the farmers. “Remember what the king said! If we plant here then he would carry all the tobacco away and smoke it all!”

Their cries fell on deaf ears. Money blinds even the most humble of men.

In the night there would be those that huddled around campfires and told the story of the king of the mountain. How he had absolute power over the earth, but sought to live alongside humans rather than rule over them.

They recounted how he had asked the people not to plant above a certain line that he had ordered his small men to draw around the mountain near the top. They told of the day when the king left. How the people shed tears at the kings pronouncement.

“I only ask that you will not plant above the line, if you do I will take all the tobacco away and no more shall grow along the mountainside until I have smoked it all.” The king tapped the ground and opened the earth, disappearing into the mountain.
The people kept their promise until Anselmo, of course.

Throughout all this he planted more tobacco. He remembered the dream, how he wished that his fields would look like the king’s, stretching until the horizon.

Years passed and the people forgot about the king of the mountain and their promise to him.

The mountain of Kanlaon was covered entirely by tobacco plants and the people grew rich and fat from their harvests.
Even the most humble of the people joined in the lavish fiestas that were held. It seemed like nothing could stop their celebrations of the people’s newfound wealth.

That is, until the earth opened and the king of the mountain returned.

Anselmo was the first to flee. He could feel the rumble in his bones and he knew the day of reckoning had come. He didn’t even look back as made a dash for the foot of the mountain.
It was a terrible sight to behold. Once filled with tobacco, Kanlaon was now bare. The farmers could not believe that their crops had disappeared so easily, but they had forgotten the true power of the king.

There was silence among the people, as if they knew what was about to happen. Suddenly the mountaintop exploded into the air, creating a crater filled with smoke and fire.

This was too much for even the bravest of them. The people fled in all directions, fearful of the king’s wrath.

That night Anselmo dreamed.

A thick cloud of smoke appeared before Anselmo. He coughed until he saw the king smoking tobacco. He went down on his knees and asked for forgiveness.

Again, the king did not notice his presence. He tapped the ground three times and small men appeared. The small men then brought more tobacco for the king to smoke.

Smoke filled the mountain, filling each crevice. It was an oppressive force. Anselmo felt his chest about to explode from inhaling so much smoke.

Then he awoke.

Years passed by and there were those that returned to the mountain. They set up their villages along the sides, but no one was brave or foolish enough to grow tobacco on the mountain.

No one knows what became of Anselmo, some say the king stole him away for special punishment. Others say that he moved far away, trying to escape the king’s wrath.

It does not matter, for the people know they are complicit in his crime. Nothing will be planted on Kanlaon for generations.

Not until the king is done smoking his tobacco.

*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 Emman Bernardino
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Emman Bernardino

Story adapted from THE TOBACCO OF HARISABOQUED http://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/pfs/pfs03.htm

Hari sa Bukid Illustration by Camille Chua
Instagram: @frillion
Facebook: Frillion‘

The post Hari sa Bukid – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

TOK TOK TOK

Ngumiti si Lana. Alam niya na may nag-iwan ulit ng regalo sa kaniya. Lumipas lang ang isang linggo matapos siyang bigyan ng kahong regalo at ngayon nagtataka siya kung ano naman ang laman ngayon. Napaisip siya kung mga mahahaling alahas ulit ang nasa loob nito. Ang kaniyang manliligaw ay hindi pangkaraniwan pero sa tingin ni Lana mayaman ang katauhan nito. Ang mga naunang regalong natanggap niya ay punong-puno ng mga tula, para iparamdam kung gaano siya kahalaga mas mahalaga pa sa mga alahas na ibinigay nito. Hindi pa nakikilala ni Lana ang taong nagbibigay sa kaniya ng regalo, pero nararamdaman niya na mayroon siyang busilak na kalooban.

Binuksan niya ang pintuan at kinuha ang kahon sa baba nito. Mas mabigat ang bagong regalo kung maihahalintulad sa mga naunang natanggap niya. Naglalaman ito ng mga patong-patong na gintong alahas: pulseras, kuwintas, at nakapaloob sa gitna ang kumikinang na singsing na may dyamante. Kinuha niya ang sulat sa ilalim ng singsing at binasa ang nakasulat dito, “Salubingin mo ako sa labas.”

Muntikan nang tumigil ang kaniyang puso sa kaba. Makikita niya na ang lalaking pinapangarap niya. Pakiramdam ni Lana na bato ang kaniyang mga paa, dahil hindi siya handa sa mga pangyayari at hindi maayos ang kaniyang pananamit, pero hindi niya na ito pinansin. Matagal siyang naghintay sa pagkakataon na makilala siya, at hindi niya mapapatawad ang kaniyang sarili kung palalagpasin lamang niya ito.

Nangarap si Lana kung ano ang magiging kinabukasan niya. Sa kaniyang isip, nakikita niya na malalagpasan nila ang mga pagsubok na maaari nilang harapin. Dagdag pa rito, naisip din ni Lana na tumatanda silang magkasama at mayroon silang malaking bahay at magandang pamilya. Nilabas niya ang singsing at sinuot niya ito, kasing ganda ng kinang nito sa liwanag ng dapit-hapon.

Tumakbo si Lana palabas at dahil doon siya ay natalisod. Narinig niyang may biglang sumigaw sa likuran niya. Pagkatalikod niya may nakatingin sa kaniyang maliit na matandang lalaking may balbas at tungkod. Nagkatinginan sila at sinabi ng matanda, “Heto ako aking mahal.”

=———————————————————–=

–TOK –TOK– TOK–

Lana smiled. She knew that the sound meant that she would be getting another present. It had only been a week since the last box and she wondered what was inside it this time. More rubies and pearls, she thought. Her secret admirer was never original, but it seemed he had expensive tastes. The boxes would also be filled with a poem just for her which made her feel more special than the glittering stones. Lana had never met the man responsible for her wonderful gifts, but she sensed that they were kindred spirits.

She opened the door and took the package from her doorstep. It was heavier than the other ones, and Lana couldn’t wait and tore it open. Inside there were piles of gold jewelry: bracelets, necklaces and in the middle, there was a gleaming ring embedded with a diamond. She grabbed the letter underneath the ring and it read “MEET ME OUTSIDE.”

Her heart almost stopped. She was finally going to meet the man of her dreams. Lana felt like her legs were stuck to the floor, she wasn’t prepared for any of this, she didn’t even have a good dress ready but that didn’t matter. She had waited so long for this
moment, she couldn’t forgive herself if she would just let it pass.

This was just like one of her books, the great moment when she would meet the love of her life and they would be swept away in the thrills of passion and wonder.

She dreamed of her future, what it would be. In her mind she could see the oceans and peaks they would travel to, the trials she knew they would face. She thought of a big house, a wonderful family and growing old together. She took the ring from the box and put it on; it was beautiful in the afternoon sunlight.

Lana ran outside and tripped on something. She heard a loud yelp from behind her and saw a very small old man with a long beard and a staff looking up at her. They looked into each other’s eyes and he said “Hello my love.”

=——————————————–=

*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 Emman Bernardino
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Emman Bernardino

Watercolor by Tara Singson
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tarabell93/

The post Nuno sa Punso – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bicol-Sorsoganon

“Tabi tabi po.”

“Sabayi ako.”

“Tabi tabi po.”

“Dapat sabihun mo ina pag magi ka didi.”

“Bawal kita didi magsamhod, mama?”

“Bawal. Mayad kay narumduman mo.”

“Nano kay bawal? Saaton man ini balay.”

“Balay ta ini. Yadi an mga gamit ta. Pero sain ini nakatindog?”

“Sa duta?”

“An duta, an kinab-an, dili ina saaton.”

“Binakal ta ini na duta. Kabas-an ta ina! Didi pa ngani ako nagkakanam.

“Amu binakal ta ini. Igwa kitang mga papeles. Pero an duta dili saaton, may mga tagsadiri sada na dili ta nakikita.”

“Bakalon ta na lang sainda!”

“May mga bagay na dili nababakal. Awat na sinda didi nakaistar nan maistar sinda didi maski wara na kita. Kaipuhan ta makisama sainda.”

“Pano kung habo ko? Habo ko sainda. Pag dili kita nagtaram ‘tabi tabi po’ nan nagsilhig kita nagkakasakit kita. Habo ko sin arug sada.”

“Pano kung habo man ninda na makiistar kita sainda?”

“…”

“Siguro dili mayad pag isipon o pagkitaon pero maging mabuot na lang kita sa kada saro. Pag mabuot kita sainda mabuot man sinda saaton. Nano ulit dapat ta sabihon?”

“Tabi tabi po.”

=—————————————————————————–=

English Version

“Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu.”

“Now say it with me.”

“Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu.”

“Good. Now remember, we always have to say that whenever we pass this place.”

“We also can’t sweep here right mama?”

“Yes, it’s good you remembered. I have such a smart boy!”

“But why do we have to follow these rules mama? I thought this was our house?”

“It is, it’s our place with all our things, but what is the house on?”

“….the ground?”

“Good job! Now the ground and all the earth, doesn’t belong to us.”

“But I thought this was our land? Isn’t this our farm? And isn’t this where I play?”

“Yes, yes, we bought this land, and we have all the papers to prove it, but then it gets complicated. See the land belonged to some other… people, long before we came here, before any humans started a town in this area.”

“But can’t we just buy it from those people?”

“There are just some things you can’t buy with money. This place is their home and always will be, long after you and I are gone. We have to learn to live with them.”

“What if I don’t want to? They seem mean. If we don’t say these things and if we just clean around our house we get sick. How is that fair?”

“How is it fair that they have to share their home with us?”

“…”

“It isn’t an ideal situation for either of us, but we have to learn to be kind to one another. If we are kind to them, they will be kind to us. Now what do we say?”

“Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu.”

“Good boy.”

————————–————————–————————

*Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu is Ilokano for “You there please go away.” (Kayo-kayo, malayo kayo)

*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 Sara Grace C. Fojas
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Sara Grace C. Fojas

Story inspired by Ansisit description in 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Samar. 2015

Ansisit Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
FB: Wildling Child
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildlingchild/

The post Ansisit – Bicol Sorsogon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

There was once a child named Edgardo. He was small and quiet and preferred to read books instead of playing with the other children. Books were hard to get in his small mountain community and he treasured the moments when he would go to the city, watch his father exchange the gold they mined for money and buy the books he wanted.

One day he was approached by Faustino, a boy who would usually avoid him. It was one thing to be different, but to be different in a community of a few hundred people made Edgardo feel like he was under a microscope.

“Can I sit here?” Faustino asked him.

“Sure, no one’s stopping you,” Edgardo replied.

“Did you hear about what happened?” Faustino tried to look him in the eye but only succeeded at putting his head down and staring at his shuffling feet.

“Didn’t everyone?” Edgardo said without moving his eyes away from the page he was reading.

“With Veronica that makes 3 since February.” Faustino sat beside him.

It wasn’t uncommon for children to go missing up in the mountains. Danger was everywhere. One moment of absentmindedness could cost you dearly.

The mines were also an issue. Too often their fathers or brothers would just not come home and the mining companies would send their condolences – for whatever that was worth.

“They say someone is taking the children away.” Faustino, again, tried and failed to look him in the eye.

Edgardo put down his book and replied, “Who would possibly want to take the children? If it was for money then wouldn’t they have sent a note? It’s rainy season, people walk around the mountain and don’t come back. Just leave it be.”

“No.” Faustino put his hands on Edgardo’s shoulders. “This is different from that, I can feel it. We have to stick together. I asked Melinda, Pepito and Belen. The five of us can watch what happens with each other.”

“You’ll be safe with us,” Faustino says with a smile.

Edgardo frowns. “If you say so.”

This wasn’t the first time someone made that promise. He thought back to his elder brother. Those nights when they went to the caves together to find gold for themselves. That one time he wasn’t careful. Things would happen and you just had to let them be.

One night Edgardo was awakened by the whispers of another child.

“Edgardo —- psssst —— wake up, it’s important,” the voice said.

It took a few minutes for Edgardo to snap back into reality. The dream that he had was so vivid: a house filled with books all to himself. He was lucid in his dream and he swore that one day it would come true.

“Belen?!”

“Sshhhhhh—don’t let anyone hear you.” She put her hand over his mouth.

“What are you doing here?” he managed to say through her fingers.

“It’s Faustino.” Her face was grim. “He’s missing.”

“Are you sure?” Edgardo was quieter this time, “maybe he just went out for a walk?”

“It’s the middle of the night! He’s not in his house. Come with me. Pepito and Melinda are by the big tree near Faustino’s house. We need to find him.”

Edgardo rubbed his eyes and yawned again. “Fine, might as well.”

Melinda and Pepito were where Belen said they would be, the fireflies giving the tree an eerie aura.

“I think I found a trail,” Pepito said. “There are footprints leading to the caves over by the hills.”

The children all grimaced. Those caves were near the mines and they were dangerous enough for adults, much less a group of four children.

“We have to go,” Belen said, “he’d do the same for us.”

“What are we going to do when we find him? There must be something responsible for the disappearances. How do we fight it?” Melinda was close to tears.

“We don’t need to fight it, we just have to find Faustino and bring him back here, where it’s safe,” Pepito said.

They all looked at each other and put their hands together.

Each had a resolve to find their friend, Edgardo less so. He was still enraptured by his dream.

They followed the trail as best as they could, scraping their skins against the rocks and the roots. And as soon as they were about to fall from exhaustion, they reached their destination, a nondescript cave that they knew was an entrance to a network of tunnels they might not return from.

Belen lead the group. She had taken a lamp from her parents and her siblings had taken her to the caves once. Leadership was not her strength, but she had to make sure the others had a guide. She had to do it, for Faustino.

Melinda was the first.

She didn’t even scream. One moment Belen was shining the lamp on the entrance to another tunnel and the next, when she called out for the names of her companions. She had never feared silence until that moment, it was one she would remember for the rest of her life.

Pepito tried to stay the course. They all held hands and Belen could feel his shaking. She tried to console him.

“It will be alright. We’ll find both of them, I promise.”

Pepito tried to hold back tears as he nodded, yet fear had overtaken him.

“No!” He shouted. “We have to go back home!”

Edgardo tried his best to hold him down.

“Pepito, we have to stay together, it’s the only way we can make it out of here!”

He didn’t listen, he pushed Edgardo off him and ran into the darkness.

The silence weighed heavy on the remaining two.

“I was so stupid to think this would work.” Belen’s breath started to become rapid and she put the lantern down. “We should have stayed together. Now it’s not just Faustino. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry Melinda, Pepito! We have to go back, maybe if we tell our families they can go here and we can all search for them. We’ll find them. We have to find them.”

Edgardo took the lantern and said, “come with me”.

Belen had no other choice but to follow her new friend.

The light from the lantern was slowly fading and the path was getting more slippery as they went along. She tried to grab the wall to balance, but she found that it was damp as well.

She finally saw what it was when Edgardo handed her the lantern.

It was red everywhere. It stained her hands and clothes and drops fell from the ceiling.

“I don’t understand—-” Belen tried to say.

But another light glowed by Edgardo, illuminating a creature carrying a hefty bag of gold.

“You should have listened to them. If you did maybe it would have just been Faustino.”

“I—-I—-” Belen was paralyzed, she tried to scream as the creature carried her deeper into the tunnel.

And as the daylight shined on Edgardo as he cleaned himself in the river, he thought:

“I wonder how many books I can get with this.”

Written by Karl Gaverza

Copyright © Karl Gaverza

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

Sagay Illustration by Christian Bitao

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anegs.gg/

The post Sagay appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

TOK – TOK – TOK

Nagyuhom si Lana

Nahibalu-an nya nga ang tunog magadala sa iya sang isa naman ka dulot.

Isa pa lamang ka semana ang nagligad sang sya makabaton kag karon iya napanumdum kun ano naman ayhan ang sa sulod sini nga kaha.

Basi dugang pa gid ayhan nga mga rubi kag perlas ang sa iya huna-huna. Ang iya likum nga manugdayaw pareho lang sa iban apang may ara sang manami nga moda.

Ang mga kaha napuno man sang mga binalaybay nga ginsulat lang gid para sa iya nga nagahatag gid sang tuman pasahi nga balatyagon nga ma-igpat pa sa mga malahalon nga bato.

Maskin maka-isa wala pa gid makita ni Lana ang lalaki nga nagahatag sa iya sang mga butang nga ini nga tuman kakatingalahan, apang iya nabatyagan nga sila ka-angid sa luyag.

Ginbuksan niya ang ganhaan kag gnkuha ang pinutos nga yara tiilin niya.

Mas mabug-at ini sang sa mga naha-una nga iya nabaton, kag ang kalangkag sa pagbukad nagpuno kay Lana.

Sang iya mabukaran, sa sulod may ara sang mga tumpok sang bulawan nga mga alahas: mga pulseras kag mga kolintas kag sa tunga may nagabana-ag nga singsing nga napunihan sang diamante.

Iya ginkuha ang isa ka sulat sa idalom sang singsing kag may nakasulat, “Pakigkita-i ako sa guwa”
Ang iya kasing kasing daw sa nag-untat.

Iya na makita ang lalaki sang iya mga damgo. 
Ang mga tiil ni Lana daw sa nag-ungot sa salog, wala sya kaaman sang iya kaugalingon sa mga matabo, wala man lang sya gani sang bayo nga maayo, apang indi yadto mga upang.

Naghulat sya sang madugay sa pag-abot sang tion nga ini, di nya mapasaylo ang iya kaugalingon kun iya ini paligarun.

Ini kapareho sang isa sa iya mga libro, ang mga hitabo kun sa diin iya na makilala ang iya nga hinigugma sa kabuhi kun sa diin sila madala sa kakunlunyag sang paghigugma kag katingalahan
Kag karon, iya ginahanduraw ang ang ila buas damiag, nga kun ano ini.

Sa iya panghunahuna, iya makita ang mga kadagatan kag ang mga putukputukan sang kabukiran nga ila nakadtuan, mangin ang mga palaligban nga iya nahibalu-an nga ila masalapu-an.

Iya na hunahuna ang madako nga balay nga ila pagapuy-an, ang iya masinadyahon nga pamilya kun sa diin sila magatigulang sang magka-upod. Iya gin kuha ang singsing sa kaha kag iya nga ginsuksuk sa iya singsingan; tuman kaanyag ini sa kahapunanon nga sanag sang adlaw.

Nagdalagan si Lana pagwa kag sya may nasandadan. May nabati-an sya nga matunog nga matinis nga tiyabaw sa iya likod kag iya nakita ang isa ka masyado kagamay nga tigulang nga lalaki nga may ara sang malaba nga bigote kag tukod nga nagatangla sa iya. 

Nagtulukay sila sa mga mata sang isa kag isa, kag ang lalaki nagsiling “Panamyaw akon palangga”

———————————————–

–TOK –TOK– TOK–

Lana smiled. She knew that the sound meant that she would be getting another present. It had only been a week since the last box and she wondered what was inside it this time. More rubies and pearls, she thought. Her secret admirer was never original, but it seemed he had expensive tastes. The boxes would also be filled with a poem just for her which made her feel more special than the glittering stones. Lana had never met the man responsible for her wonderful gifts, but she sensed that they were kindred spirits.

She opened the door and took the package from her doorstep. It was heavier than the other ones, and Lana couldn’t wait and tore it open. Inside there were piles of gold jewelry: bracelets, necklaces and in the middle, there was a gleaming ring embedded with a diamond. She grabbed the letter underneath the ring and it read “MEET ME OUTSIDE.”

Her heart almost stopped. She was finally going to meet the man of her dreams. Lana felt like her legs were stuck to the floor, she wasn’t prepared for any of this, she didn’t even have a good dress ready but that didn’t matter. She had waited so long for this
moment, she couldn’t forgive herself if she would just let it pass.

This was just like one of her books, the great moment when she would meet the love of her life and they would be swept away in the thrills of passion and wonder.

She dreamed of her future, what it would be. In her mind she could see the oceans and peaks they would travel to, the trials she knew they would face. She thought of a big house, a wonderful family and growing old together. She took the ring from the box and put it on; it was beautiful in the afternoon sunlight.

Lana ran outside and tripped on something. She heard a loud yelp from behind her and saw a very small old man with a long beard and a staff looking up at her. They looked into each other’s eyes and he said “Hello my love.”

————————–————————–————————––

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon Translation by Sani Duremdes
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Sani Duremdes

Story inspired by the Nuno sa Punso legends

Watercolor by Tara Singson

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tarabell93/

The post Nuno sa Punso – Hiligaynon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Sang una nga panahon, may isa ka bata nga lalaki nga indi kabalo mag pahimunong. Kadungol sa iya nga bata. Permi ya ginaubra nga suli sang ginahambal sang iya ginlikanan kag adlaw adlaw ang bata nga lalaki permi makahimu sang bag o nga pamaagi nga makahatag sang sakit ang ulo sa ila pamilya.

Pero ang iya mga manghod gatulok sa iya sang mataas. Abi nila ang ila magulang ang pinaka-maisug kag pinaka-maalam nga bata sa bilog nga kalibutan.

Isa ka adlaw, ang bata gindala ang iya mga manghud para maglagaw sa kagubatan, kung diin nagsulod sila sa kweba. “Tabi tabi po” hambal sang mga manghod. Gintudlu an sila sang ila nga ginlikanan nga permi guid maghatag sang respeto.

Nagkadlaw ang magulang. “Anu ginahimu nyu?” pamangkut ya sa iya mga manghud. “Gahatag kami sang respeto sa gamay nga tawo sa sini nga kweba,” ila pag hambal.

“Wai sang amu sina,” hambal sang magulang nga pag sudlong kay abi ya ina isa ka bata-bata nga pati-pati. “Kita nyo? Wala awo sa sini nga kweba. Tama na na ang pagka bata bata nyu kag magpati sang kamatu oran sa tuod tuod nga kalibutan.” “Pero manong, basi matapakan ta sila!” hambal sang iya mga manghud.

Nagtapak tapak ang magulang sang iya mga tiil sa sulod sang kweba nga daw wala lang. Ginatulok lang sya sang iya mga manghud nga may kahadlok samtang ang ila magulang indi magpati sa mga ispirito.
Pakatapos sang pila ka minuto, wala may natabo. “Kita nyu? Hambal ko guid sa inyu. Tistingi nyu bala.”
Ginakumbinsi sang magulang nga unbrahun sang iya mga manghud ang iya gin ubra, ginsunod siya pero isa lang ang wala nag pati. “Manong, mga utod, pinsar ko indi guid ni manami nga ideya,” hambal sang isa.

Indi sya mabati an sang iya mga utod tungod sang mga paglampos nga ila ginaubra.
Pagligad sang oras ang mga bata gahampang gyapun sa sulod sang kweba, maliban sang isa. Nag desisyun na sila nga magpuli kay manug panyapon na.

Isa ka tingog ang naghambal sang “Tabi tabi po” bag o mag puli.

Samtang papuli na ang mga bata, may nadagdag nga sanga sang kahoy kag naigo ang isa sa mga bata sa ulo. Nagsala ang magulang kay kabalo sya nga sya ang responsable sa iya mga manghod.

“Dali, isa sa inyu maglakat kag mangayu bulig!” Sugo ya sa iya mga utod.
Nagdalagan ang iya mga utod sa pag pati sa iya, natumba sila, nalaguban kag napilasan. Naghililibi sila.

“Tama na nga hibi!” Pagsingit sang magulang. Ang iya tingog naglapta sa gubat kag nabati an ini sang baboy ramo. Gintulok sang baboy ramo ang mga bata kag gin-nguruban ya ini.

Kay nabal an sang magulang nga kilanlan ya protektahan iya mga manghud, gin testingan ya ang baboy ramo nga lagson sa pero wala may natabo. Nagtindog lang ang baboy sa atubang sang mga bata.
Kag sa isa ka ti on, ginpalapitan sang isa ka bata ang baboy ramo.

“Pansensya nga gintapakan ta ka”, iya pag hambal. “Tane mapatawad mo kami.”
Nag pusnga lang ang baboy. Sang ina nga iton, nakita sang mag-ulutod nga wala ang ila pilas nag ayu lang gulpi.

Nag sinadya ang mga bata kag ginpamangkot nila ila utod kung anu ang natabo.

“Ang ginhimu ko lang ihatang ang gaka-angay nga respeto”, iya paghambal.
Ma-ayo na sila sang may napamangkot ang isa nila ka utod sang isa ka innocente nga palamangkotun.

“Nakita nyu si manong?”

English Version

Once upon a time there was a little boy that didn’t know how to behave. He was a most troublesome child. He would always do the opposite of what his parents would tell him and every day the boy would find a new way to give headaches to his family.

His younger brothers idolized him though. They thought that their kuya was the bravest and most clever boy in the world.

One day, the boy took his little brothers out for a stroll in the woods, where they came upon a cave. “Tabi tabi po” said the younger brothers. They had been taught well by their parents and always sought to give respect where it was due.

The older brother laughed. “What are you doing?” he asked his little brothers. “We are giving respect to the small man in the cave,” they replied.

“There is no such thing,” the older brother scoffed at what he thought was a childish superstition. “See? No one is in the cave. You should stop being such babies and learn the truth about the real world.”

“But kuya, we might accidentally step on them!” The younger brothers protested.

The older brother stamped his feet around the cave without care. The younger brothers stared in horror as their kuya willfully defied the spirits.

After a few minutes, nothing happened. “See? I told you so. You all should try this.”

The older brother tried to make his younger siblings repeat what he did, until all but one relented. “Kuya, brothers, I really don’t think that this is a good idea,” he said.

His brothers couldn’t hear him over all the stomping they were doing.

Hours passed and the children were all playing in the cave, save one. They decided to go home for it was
almost dinnertime.

One voice said a final “Tabi tabi po” before leaving.

As the children were making their way back home, a tree branch fell and hit one of the children in the head. The older brother was panicking for he knew he was going to be held responsible for his sibling.

“Hurry, one of you go and get help!” he ordered his brothers.

As the children rushed to follow the command, they tripped over one another causing bruises and scrapes. They started crying.

“Stop crying!” The older brother shouted. His voice echoed through the woods and attracted a wild boar.
The boar stared at the children and gave out a large grunt.

The older brother, knowing that he had to protect his siblings tried to get the boar to chase him, but to no avail. The beast just stood looming in front of the children.

Finally, one of the brothers approached the beast.
“I’m sorry that we stepped on you,” he said. “I hope you will forgive us.”

The boar grunted in reply. At that moment the other brothers realized that their wounds were suddenly healed.

The children rejoice and asked their brother what happened.

“All I did was give respect where respect was due,” he answered.

And all was well until one of the brothers asked an innocent question.

“Have any of you seen kuya?”

*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 Allen Suating
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Allen Suating

Dwende Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
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