*Note this poem is in Ilocano
Malagip ko tay kimat
Ti ayamuom ti nakset a kudil
Ti naraniag a panaggilap
Ket naimatangak
Tay buwaya
Nga nangtakaw tay bagik
Innala ti para iti bagbaggi na
Nga namagsisina ti lasag ko
Tay imuco
Nga innala da kanyak
Sada ingkabil iti likudak
A pinangputed da toy kararuak
Tay tanem ko nga agserbi a baro a balay ko
Dagiti ramot nga nangsarabo Kanyak
Ti taraon da ket toy kararruak
Ket nagbalinnak met a mesa
A kas sanga ken bulbullong
Haan nak a matagikua
Kadagiti natadem a paslep mo
Toy balay ko ket permanente
Haan met a pisyen ida
Saan nga ta kaykayyat u laeng
Ibaga yu ti kararag u
Kantaen ‘yu dagita kanya u
Nalasatak ti kimat
Nalasatak ti buwaya
Nalasatak ti imuco
Isalakan ka.
=-============
I remember the lightning
The smell of burning skin
The bright flash
Made me see
The caiman
It stole my body away
And took it for its own
Separated me from my flesh
The knife
They took it from me
And put it in my back
Cutting my soul apart
My grave marked my new home
The roots welcomed me
They nourished my spirit
And I became one
With the branches and the leaves
You will never own me
With your blades and steel
My home will remain
We will not be cut down
Not by the likes of you
Say your prayers
Sing your songs
I survived the Lightning
I survived the Caiman
I survived the knife
I will survive you
————————–
*Ilocano is the third most-spoken local language of the Philippines.An Austronesian language, it is related to such languages as Malay (Indonesian and Malaysian), Tetum, Chamorro, Fijian, Maori, Hawaiian, Samoan, Tahitian, Paiwan and Malagasy. It is closely related to some of the other Austronesian languages of Northern Luzon, and has slight mutual intelligibility with the Balangao language and the eastern dialects of the Bontoc language.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Ilocano translation by JC Flores
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © JC Flores
Inspired by Mangmangkik description in El Folk-lore Filipino. Isabelo de los Reyes, trans. Dizon and Peralta-Imson. 1994. (Original Spanish Manuscript Printed 1889)
Mangmangkik Illustration by by emirajuju
IG: https://www.instagram.com/
Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
FB: Wildling Child
IG: https://www.instagram.com/
