*Note this story is in Bicol
Magabat sa pagmati kan preso an kadena sa saiyang mga kamot. Dinara siya sa bagong kwarto. Sa paglaog niya siya sa palasyo, aram niya na magagdan siya. Kapatalan an pagkonsiderar sa pagduman sa ciudad nin Buso pero nakataya an saiyang kamuwarayan. Kung nahabon niya lang kuta.
Maliwanag an mga sulo sa kwarto pero mayo an mga ini kumpara sa liyab kan liwanag na hali sa trono. Nadangog na kan preso an mga istorya tungkol sa nilalang pero mayong tataramon an makakataong hustisya sa katataktan na nakatukaw sa atubangan niya.
Nagtuturo an dugo hali sa ngabil kan Datu. Nakadangog an preso nin nakakasukang tanog. Tigtitigan siya kan Datu kan saiyang sarong pulang mata. Garo may tigsabi ini sa saiyang lenggwahe. Tigtanggal an mga kadena kan preso. Dae niya aram kung anong nangyari pero bako ining maray.
Nagtaong agihan an mga gwardya asin winalat na bukas an pintuan. Nagdalagan an preso. Dae niya papalampason an pagkakataon na ini. Kung pinapadulag man siya, ini an gusto ninda mangyari. Kung ini ay iba man, maray na na may pagkakataon siya.
Harani na siya sa luwas bago siya nilamon kan dakulang kalayo.
May pulso nin sulo an garing na tambuli kan Datu. Kinua niya an payo kan preso asin kinakan niya ini. Tano daw ta perme tigkakawatan kan Datu an saiyang pagkakan, sa paghorop-horop kan mga gwardya. Pero dae na lang sinda nagtaram. Nagigibo kan hadi an anuman na gusto niyang gibuhon.
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English Version
The chains felt heavy on the prisoner’s wrists. He was led into a new room. The prisoner knew that he was already dead the moment he stepped in the palace. It was foolish of him to even consider going to the city of the Buso, but he knew glory was on the line. If only he had managed to steal it.
The torches in the room were burning brightly, but they were dwarfed by the blaze radiating from the throne. The prisoner had only heard stories about this creature, but those words could not do justice to the horror that sat before him.
Blood dripped from the Datu’s mouth. The prisoner heard a sickening crunch and the Datu stared at him with its one red eye. It mumbled something in its language and the prisoner’s chains were set loose. He wasn’t sure what was happening, but, with his luck, it wasn’t something good.
The buso guards gave way and left the doorway open. The prisoner ran. He wasn’t going to let his chance go to waste. If they were letting him go then this was what they wanted, if this was something else then he would at least have a chance.
He almost got to the courtyard before a large flame overtook him.
The Datu’s ivory horn pulsed with flame. It grabbed the prisoner’s head and started eating. The guards wondered why the Datu always played with his food, but they kept silent. Royalty does what it will.
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*Central Bikol, commonly called Bikol Naga, is the most-spoken language in the Bicol Region of southern Luzon, Philippines. It is spoken in the northern and western part of Camarines Sur, second congressional district of Camarines Norte, eastern part of Albay, northeastern part of Sorsogon, San Pascual town in Masbate, and southwestern part of Catanduanes. Central Bikol speakers can be found in all provinces of Bicol and it is a majority language in Camarines Sur.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Tagalog Translation by Angela Arnante
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Angela Arnante
Inspired by the Datu of the Buso description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.
Datu of the Buso Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
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