*Note this story is in Tagalog
Hinabol ni Limbas ang kanyang huli sa karaniwang niyang bilis. Mayroon siyang pinanghahawakan na reputasyon na walang nakakatakas sa kanyang mga pana, at hindi siya papayag na ito ang maging una. Akala ng baboy damo ay makakatakas siya sa pamamagitan ng pagtakbo pababa sa matarik na burol, pero masyadong alam ni Limbas ang kagubatan, at mayroon siyang madadaanan para mahabol ang baboy damo sa maikling oras.
Tumakbo siya sa pamilyar na daanan hanggang sa siya ay nagulimihanan. Ang madalas niyang puntahan na daanan ay nagbago ang itsura, kaya siya ay nalito sa sarili niyang kagubatan.
“Naliligaw ka ba, estranghero?,” tanong ng isang lalaki na may mahabang balbas. Halos madaling naisip ni Limbas na hindi tao ang kanyang kausap. Mayroong hindi mapagkakailang awra ang lalaki na nakapalibot sa kanya. Ito ay engkanto, pero palakaibigan siya, naisip in Limbas.
“Kamusta po kayo, engkanto?,” tanong ni Limbas. “Mukhang ako po ay naligaw sa inyong kaharian.”
“Ah, kilala mo ang mga tulad ko. Hindi ako aasa ng mas mababa mula sa dakilang Limbas– ang batikang mangangaso. Gusto kong imbitahan ka sa aking tirahan.”
“Salamat po sa iyong kabutihan, pero bakit po ninyo ako iniimbita? Sigurado po ako na wala kayong interes sa isang abang tao na tulad ko.”
“Diyan ka nagkakamali, kaibigan. Napapanood kita habang ikaw ay nangangaso at ito ay nagbibigay ng matinding kaaliwan dito sa amin. Ang iyong bilis at lakas habang hinahabol ang iyong huli ay parang isang sayaw, at nais kitang pasalamatan sa pagpapamalas ng iyong galing.”
Nabigla si Limbas. Ang alam lang niya ay kailangan niyang tanggapin ang imbitasyon ng enkanto. Ang mga kuwento na kanyang naalala ay nagpapayo na kailangan niyang palubagin ang mga ispirito, at huwag gawing kaaway ang kahit sino sa kanila.
Ang bahay ng engkanto ay nababalot ng karingalan. Hindi pa siya nakakita ng mga hayop na puro kulay puti, o isang plantasyon ng kakaw na napakalawak.
Ang pinakamangha-mangha ay ang karwahe ng engkanto. Ito ay hinihila ng dalawang puting kabayo na kayang dalhin ka sa kahit saan sa Luzon. Sa tuwing sumasama siya sa pinupuntahan ng engkanto, lagi siyang binibigyan nito ng pabuya.
“Kailangan mong tandaan na halikan ang kamay ng iyong mga magulang sa tuwing bibigyan mo sila ng mga regalo,” sabi ng enkanto. “Kung hindi mo ito gagawin, ang mga dala mong mga regalo ay magbabago ang anyo.”
Sinunod ni Limbas ang bawat bilin sa kanya at bumalik sa kanyang mga magulang kada ikapitong araw. Sa bawat uwi niya sa kanilang tahanan, lagi siyang may ibang regalo na ibinibigay.
“Kaibigan, ibigay mo itong mga gintong bola bilang kasunod mong regalo sa iyong mga magulang,” sabi ng engkanto at binigay kay Limbas ang makikinang na bagay.
“Salamat po, kaibigang engkanto. Sigurado po ako na mamamangha sila sa kagandahan ng mga ito.”
Sa kasabikan ni Limbas, nakalimutan niya ang ibinilin ng engkanto. Hindi niya hinalikan ang kamay ng kanyang mga magulang bago ibigay ang mga regalo.
Nagbago ang anyo ng mga gintong bola at naging mga bunga ng puno ng anahaw.
Pinanood ng engkanto ang mga nangyari at siya ay napailing. “Kailan kaya matututo ang mga tao na makinig?,” malungkot niyang sabi.
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English Version
Limbas was chasing his quarry with his usual swiftness, he had a reputation to uphold that no prey of his could escape his arrows, and he wasn’t about to let this one be the first. The boar thought it could evade him by running down the steep hill, but Limbas knew this forest well, there was a path that would let him catch up to the boar in little time.
He ran through familiar ground until he was confused. The path that he had taken so many times before had changed, he could not get his bearings in his own forest.
“Are you lost there stranger?” A bearded man asked. Almost immediately, Limbas knew that he was not human. There was an unmistakable aura around him, this was an engkanto, though a friendly one, Limbas thought.
“Hello, engkanto,” Limbas replied, “I am lost in what seems to be your realm.”
“Ahh, you know of my kind. I would expect no less from the great Limbas, the famed hunter. I would like to invite you to my house.”
“I thank you for your kindness, but why are you inviting me? Surely you have no interest in a lowly human such as myself?”
“That is where you are wrong, my friend. I have watched you hunt and it is great entertainment for my kind, your swiftness and strength when chasing your prey is like a dance, and I would like to thank you for showing me your prowess.”
Limbas was taken aback, all that he knew was he should accept the engkanto’s invitation. All the stories he could remember reminded him to appease the spirits, not make enemies out of them.
The house of the engkanto was bathed in magnificence. He had never seen animals that were all white in color, nor a cacao plantation that was so vast.
The most wondrous thing there was the engkanto’s carriage. It was pulled by two white horses and could take one anywhere in Luzon. Each time he would accompany the engkanto on one of his trips, he was given a reward.
“You must remember to kiss the hands of your parents before giving them gifts,” the engkanto said, “If you do not do this, the gifts you possess will not be the same.”
Limbas followed the instructions to the letter, returning to his parents after seven-day periods. Each time he came home, he had a different gift to give.
“My friend, have these golden balls, as your next gifts to your parents,” the engkanto gave Limbas the shiny objects.
“Thank you, friend engkanto, I am sure they would marvel at these beauties.”
Yet, excited as he was, Limbas forgot the instruction of the engkanto. He did not kiss their hands before giving them the gifts.
The golden balls changed into the fruits of the anahaw tree.
The engkanto, watching all of this transpire, shook his head. “When will these humans ever learn to listen?” he said sadly.
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Adapted from ‘Banahaw’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.
Engkanto (Tagalog) Illustration by Ysa Peñas
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