*Note this story is in Ilocano
Idi un-una na adda maysa a naimatangan a diyos nga agnagan iti Gamhanan, makuna nga isu ‘ti kapigsaan a parsua, mangted ti biag, seguridad ken pagbiagan. Agnanaed kadwa daguiti naduma pay nga diyos sadi maaw-awagan nga Bantay Deogdog, mangmangted iti biag kasta met iti parikot a kas pannusa kadaguiti managbasol.
Ni Gamhanan ngarod ket maiturong na ti napipigsa nga duto ken kasta met iti kagaw ken panagringat ti daga ‘diay sidong ti siasinuman a mortal nga haan sumurot kenkuana.
Daguita haan nga mangted iti datun sadi kweba nga pagnaedan na, napait a pannusa maipaay kadakuada.
Kasta met sadi un-una na, adda agnagan iti Panigotlo, napateg a taraken ni Gamhanan. Bumallasiw ti karayan a kas lawag ti kinapartak na. Napintas nga animal nga awan mangayat mangdangran, ha’n nga gapo ti unget ken panangibales ni Gamhanan nu di ket kaya na mangipadtoka ti parmata babaen ti panagngaretnget na.
Nadanun iti naudi nga panagngaretnget ngarud ni Panigotlo, bago dumteng iti kabus, kas mangiwaragawag ti naimbag nga apit ken gasat. Daguiti tattao ket naragsak a nagsagana iti datun a kas panagyaman ken naimatangan a diyos ken tarakenna.
Idi rug-rugi naragsak ken nasiglat. Ni Panigotlo haan nga mabuteg kadaguiti parsua a agnanaed sadiay aglawlaw ti Bantay Deogdog, ta isu ket kaykayat da, ta isu mangipadto gasat ken daksanggasat.
Ket idi maysa nga aldaw napateg a dinguen ket napatay ti maysa a mangnganup nga agnagan iti Dagasanan. Tay puraw nga dutdot na, dara ket agnanayunen nga naimantsa. Ket agnanayon metten nga haanen agngaretnget nga mangiparmata iti rang-ay ken gandat, haanen nga mamakdaar wenno agsenial iti layos ken leddaang.
Idi un-una ket adda naimatangan nga diyos ken taraken na.
Kamaudianan na tattao inya nagbanagan na.
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English Version
In the beginning, there was the great god Gamhanan, the most powerful of all the gods, the giver of life, security and livelihood. He dwelt with the other gods of his land in Mount Daeogdog, giving life and punishing errant mortals.
In the end, the god Gamhanan would send the rain and drought to those mortals who would defy his will. Those that would not give the proper offerings to his cave dwelling would know the bitter taste of the god’s punishment.
In the beginning, there was the panigotlo, Gamhanan’s favored pet. It dashed across the river like a ray of pure light. So beautiful was this animal that none would dare harm it, not only for fear of Gamhanan’s retribution but also because it could foretell omens with its bleating.
In the end, the panigotlo would have its last bleating before the full moon, being the harbinger of good harvest and fortune. The people of the village would rejoice and prepare for their thanksgiving to the great god and his pet.
In the beginning, there was joy and light. The panigotlo did not have anything to fear from the mortals surrounding Mount Daegdog, for it was favored, and it would foretell favor or misfortune.
In the end, the majestic beast was killed by a lowly hunter named Dagasanan. Its white fur forever stained by blood. Never again would its bleats tell of abundance and purpose, never again would it warn of flood and despair.
In the beginning, there was the great god and his pet.
In the end, the mortals paid their price.
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*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 Jerraine Ruth
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jerraine Ruth
Inspired by the Panigotlo description in ‘A Legend of Aklan’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.
Panigotlo Illustration by Julius Advincula
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