*Note this story is in Waray
Hadton una pa, may-ada mangangayam nga nakagsayop hin dako.
Nagbiling hiya hin darakpon ha ubos han lambong han Bukid Daeogdog, kun hain naukoy an mga diyos han iya lahi. Hi Gamhanan, an pinakagamhanan ha ngatanan nga diyos, in may-ada pinaura nga hayop. Ini nga pinaura nga binuhat ni Gamhanan inin ngaranan nga Panigotlo, usa ka puro ngan mabusag nga usa nga may talibugsok nga sungay. Usa la ka bangkaw in nagpa-hunong han huni hini nga engkantado nga binuhat.
May-ada liwat hadto usa ka baryo nga waray pagpipilian. Han mga gab-i nga bulanon, an paghuni ni Panigotlo amo in pahibaro ha mga mag-uruma nga maupay an panahon han sumurunod nga adlaw para pagtanom. Dagmit la nga umukoy an pagrisyo ngan pagrugyaw han makit-an nira an pigura nga tikaharapit didto pa tabok han salog. Pas-an han mangangayam nga hi Dagasanan an patay nga lawas han pinalabi nga hayop ni Gamhanan. Maaram an mga taga-baryo nga diri nira mapapasagdan ini nga sakriliheyo han ira dinayaw nga Diyos. Ginkuha nira an ira mga bangkaw ngan ginpatay hi Dagasanan didto salog ngan an iya amay ha ira panimalay.
Mayda usa ka espiritu nga uhaw para makapanimalos. Didto han lugar kun diin ginpatay hi Dagasanan, usa ka puno hin Inyam in tumubo. Waray makatilaw hin pahuway an kalag ni Dagasanan. Ginlambungan han puno an lugar nga nagpahungay han iya kabut-anan nga pagbulos. Usa ka anak han baryo an magbabayad para han ginbuhat han iya mga katigulangan.
May-ada usa ka bata nga lalaki nga waray pagtuod ha mga iru-istorya parte ha mga multo. Ginhagad hiya han iya mga sangkay nga lumangoy didto ha dapit han puno nga Inyam. Tumawa la an ulitawuhay. Tinawag niya an iya kasangkayan nga mga talawan kay natuod ha mga istorya han ira mga apoy. Maaram hiya, iba hiya, ngan pinaka-maisog hiya ha grupo, salit ginkarawat niya an ira amang-amang ngan lumukso ha tubig.
Asta yana, may-ada la gihapon dapit han salog ha Aklan nga ginngaranan para han mangangayam nga hi Dagasanan. Siring nira, an mga aringasa nga tikang ha kabatuan amo an espiritu ni Dagasanan nga nataghoy, nagsasakit, naghuhulat para han iya sunod nga biktima.
English Version
There was once a hunter who made a terrible mistake. He searched for his quarry in the shadow of Mount Daeogdog, where the gods of his people lived. The most powerful of all the gods was Gamhanan, and he had a special pet. This favored creature of the great god was called the Panigotlo, a pristine, white deer with full antlers. One spear was all it took to silence the majestic sound of this enchanted creature.
There was once a village that had no choice. A full moon and the bleating of the Panigotlo signaled an abundant day for planting the next morning. The festivities and merriment suddenly stopped when they saw a figure approaching across the river. The hunter, Dagasanan, had on his shoulders the carcass of Gamhanan’s pet. They all knew that they could not abide by this sacrilege of the great god. The villagers took their spears and swords and slew Dagasanan by the river and his father in their home.
There was once a spirit that thirsted for vengeance. On the spot where Dagasanan was killed, an inyam tree grew. The hunter’s ghost would not know rest. The tree cast a shadow and on that spot his hunger for revenge would be sated. One child of the village would pay for what their ancestors had done. A child every year until the villagers would know the pain that he felt when his friends betrayed him.
There was once a boy who didn’t believe in ghost stories. His friends dared him to swim by the inyam tree and all he did was laugh. The boy called his friends cowards for believing in the stories that their lolos and lolas told them. He knew he was different and the bravest of their group, so he took the challenge and jumped in the water.
There is still a part of a river in Aklan named after the hunter, Dagasanan and an inyam tree that people avoid. They say that the loud noises that come from the rocks are his spirit crying in pain, looking for his next victim.
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*Waray is the fifth-most-spoken native regional language of the Philippines, native to Eastern Visayas. It is the native language of the Waray people and second language of the Abaknon people of Capul, Northern Samar and some Cebuano-speaking peoples of eastern and southern parts of Leyte island. It is the third most spoken language among the Visayan languages, only behind Hiligaynon and Cebuano.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Waray Translation by Abi Cirera
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Transation Copyright © Abi Cirera
Story Adapted from ‘Legend of Aklan’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.
Dagasanan Illustration and Watercolor by Robert Rañosa Del Prado
