Don’t fall for his tricks
Or accept his gifts
He is full of lies
There are no ifs
The kutbeng* it plays
Is a song of lies
Do not be fooled
He has a disguise
Think with your head
Not with your heart
It is a thief
That you must outsmart
It will try to steal your heart
And turn into your greatest desire
Its teeth will flash with light
And its eyes will conspire
To make all your dreams come true
But that will never be enough
It will give you gifts of magic
And you should always call its bluff
For like all things made of gold
What glistens is not always true
It will leave you as it does
Showing things you always knew
That love with this creature
Will always expire
Like the cool rain
Upon a raging fire
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*A kutbeng is a small, indigenous Ilocano guitar.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Inspired by the Kaibaan description in El Folk-lore Filipino. Isabelo de los Reyes, trans. Dizon and Peralta-Imson. 1994. (Original Spanish Manuscript Printed 1889)
Kaibaan Illustration by Erin Locsin