*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga
Sa banwaan kun sain nagdakula an sakuyang lolo, dai pwedeng magtaram an dawa siisay kun banggi.
“Nadadangog ko pa giraray an tanog kan saiyang batbat na kariton,” an perming sinasabi ni lolo kaidto.
Kakaiba an magdakula ki lolo. Kan kami mga aki pa dangan maribok kun banggi, madalagan tulos si lolo papunta samo para siguradohon na magtrangkilo kami, sinisigurado man niya na dawa siya mayong tanog na magibo.
Nagsisisi akong permi na hinapot ko siya kun tano.
Nag-iikot idto sa banwaan kun banggi, butong-butong an saiyang batbat na kariton. Panu an kariton nin mga bungo kan saiyang mga dating biktima.
“Sinda an mga dai tatao magtuninong.”
Aram ko sa kun pano iistorya idto ni lolo na nawaran siya nin kadugo dahil duman. Dai siya nagpaparataram na maray tungkol diyan, pero minsan, kun banggi nadadangog ko habang turog siya.
“Ernesto, hermanong Ernesto, pabayaan mo siya!”
Sinabi niya sako na nag-agi daa idto sa harong ninda. An saiyang tugang maisog asin palpal, akala niya mayo saiyang makakadaog. An kusog kan kahubinan yaon saiya.
“Inangat niya an tandayag dangan binayaran niya ini.”
Permi ni lolo pinapagirumdom an bayad. Na kun pano kadakula an bayad pagnagsingil ini sa pagbagat sa ginigibo niya. Dai ko masyadong maintindihan an sinabi niya hanggan sa pinaliwanag niya sako.
“Mayo kuta kitang labot kun an tandayag nangkukua lang nin buhay, pero may kinua ining bagay na si kamatayan lang an dapat magkua.”
Tigkua niya an kaluluwa kan tugang ni lolo.
Dai talaga ako nagtutubod sa mga kaluluwa asin mga tandayag na nagdadangog kun banggi, pero pagkatapos magadan ni lolo, nagpoon ng magpadangog an mga tanog.
Madadangog ko an mga bungo na nagtatarangkuan sa laog kan kariton. Madadangog ko an kurahaw kan saiyang mga biktima, nag-aagrangay na sinda tawan nin daing kasagkuran na katalingkasan. Madadangog ko pa an huring hinangos ni lolo, nagmamakaherak para sa buhay kan saiyang tugang.
“Ako na lang, tabi.”
Sana lang an mga tanog magpurundo na. Dai ko aram kun tano sinunod kaini si lolo saka kun tano pigsusunod man ako kaini. Gusto kong dai intindihon, pero dai talaga kaya.
Sa pag-abot kan mga banggi, pakusog sanang pakusog ini.
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English Version
In the town where my lolo was raised, no one was allowed to talk at night.
“I can still hear the sound of its iron cart,” my lolo used to say.
Growing up with him was strange. When we were kids and we would make a sound at night he would run towards us and make sure we were quiet, trying not to make noise himself.
I always regretted asking him why.
In that town it traveled at night, pulling its iron cart. The cart was filled with the skulls of its previous victims.
“The ones that didn’t know how to keep their mouths shut.”
The way my lolo told the story, I knew that he had lost
someone to the monster. He never spoke of it much, but sometimes, at night while he was asleep I could hear him.
“Ernesto, my brother Ernesto, leave him alone.”
He told me it passed by their house. His brother was brave and foolish, he thought he was invincible. The truth of youth was strong within him.
“He challenged the monster and paid the price.”
Lolo would always go on about the price. How it was something that was paid when it got its way. I never understood what it really was until he explained.
“It would not matter to us had the monster only taken lives, but it took something that only death should claim.”
My lolo’s brother had lost his soul to it.
Now, I don’t really believe in things like souls and monsters that listen in the night, but after lolo died the sounds began.
I could hear the skulls knocking against each other in its cart. I could hear the screams of its victims, begging for their eternal release. I could hear the last gasp of my lolo, pleading for his brother’s life.
“Please, take me instead.”
I wish the sounds would go away. I don’t know why they followed lolo and why they’re following me. I try to ignore them, but I can’t.
Every night they get louder.
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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 Esmeralda Cado Albis
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Esmeralda Cado Albis
Inspired by the Kuraret legends from La Union
Kuraret Illustration by Leandro Geniston
FB: That Guy With A Pen
Color by Alexa Garde:
Website: Lexa.us
