*Note this story is in Tagalog
“Gusto ko talagang akyatin ang bundok na ‘yon!”
“Hindi. Hindi dapat.”
“Hindi mo ‘ko kailangang tratuhin na para bang lagi akong bata!”
“Kailangan, lalo na kapag parang bata ka naman talaga umasta.”
“Walang matinding dahilan para hindi ako umakyat.”
“Nando’n siya. Sapat nang dahilan ‘yon para manatili ka dito.”
“Hindi ‘yan dahilan. Ni hindi nga totoo ang alinman sa mga kuwento tungkol sa kanya.”
“Hindi mahalaga kung ga’no katotoo ang mga usap-usapan. Nando’n siya at hindi natin siya gagambalain.”
“Pakinggan mo nga ang sarili mo! Natatakot ka sa isang tsismis!”
“Hindi lang siya isang tsismis at marami ka pang ‘di nalalaman.”
“Katulad ng?”
“Bakit siya tumigil?”
“Alam mo naman ang kuwento.”
“Bakit niya itinigil ang pamamahagi ng ginto sa mga mahihirap?”
“Talaga bang tinatanong mo sa’kin ‘yan?”
“Bakit?”
“Dahil naging sakim ang mga tao. Pinaghuhukay nila ang kanyang hardin upang nakawin ang mga tanim niyang luya na nagbabago-anyo at nagiging ginto.”
“Bakit siya tumigil?”
“Gaya nga nang sabi ko, lumabis ang pagnanais ng mga tao. Teka, ano bang kinalaman nito sa—“
“Bakit siya tumigil!”
“….”
“Dahil binigo natin siya. Binigo natin ang bundok. Higit pa sa simpleng kuwento ng kasakiman ang kuwento niya, dahil kailanman’y ‘di naging simple ang kasakiman. Sasairin nito ang pinakamahuhusay na bagay, hanggang sa wala nang matira ni isa. Ang kuwento niya ay paalala sa ating lahat na walang hinihinging kapalit ang bundok. Magbibigay ito nang magbibigay hanggang sa maghangad tayo ng higit pa sa dapat nating hangarin.”
“Gusto ko lang naman tumanaw mula sa tukok—“
“Tapos, ano? Kumuha ng mga litrato? I-post online para makita ng lahat?
“Oo, pero—“
“Pero, ano? Sandali lang na panahon at susunod ang mga tao sa’yo. Ga’no pa katagal hanggang sa sila na mismo ang umakyat sa tuktok, umapak sa lupa, wumasak sa mga damo, at kumuha ng mga mag bagay na hindi naman sa kanila?”
“….”
“Tinatrato kitang bata dahil ni minsa’y di mo naintindihan ang aral ng kanyang kuwento.”
“Na binigo natin siya?”
“Na binigo natin ang bundok.”
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English Version
“I want to go up the mountain!”
“No, you really don’t.”
“You can’t keep treating me like a child!”
“I can if that’s how you’re acting.”
“You still haven’t given me a good reason why I shouldn’t go up.”
“She is up there. That is all the reason there needs to be.”
“That’s not a reason. Those stories aren’t even real.”
“It doesn’t matter how real the stories are. She is there and we will not disturb her.”
“Listen to yourself! You’re scared of a story.”
“There is more to the story than just Her.”
“And what is that?”
“Why did she stop?”
“You know the story.”
“Why did she stop giving gold to the poor?”
“I can’t believe you’re asking—“
“Why?”
“Because the people got greedy. They dug up her garden because a ginger root from her turned into gold.”
“Why did she stop?”
“Like I said, they got greedy, what does this have to do with—“
“Why did she stop!?”
“….”
“Because we failed her. Because we failed the mountain. There is more to Her story than simple human greed, because greed isn’t simple. It finds the most brilliant solutions to take until there’s nothing left. Her story reminds us that the mountain wants for nothing. It will give until we decide to take more than we can hold.”
“I just want to see the summit—“
“And what then? Take a few pictures? Post it online so that people can see?”
“Yes, but—“
“How long will it take until people decide to follow your lead and go up the mountain themselves? How long until their feet trample on the earth and the grass? Until they take what was never theirs?”
“…..”
“I treat you like a child because you haven’t learned her lesson.”
“That we failed her?”
“That we failed the mountain.”
————————–
Written by Karl Gaverza
Tagalog Translation by Alpine Moldez
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Alpine Moldez
Inspired by Mariang Makiling in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.
Mariang Makiling Illustration by Laura Katigbak
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