*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

“Makuwa ko ni sa duha ka minuto. Gamay man lang nga lakat ara nako sa piyak nga building kag kaya ko man makadalagan todo.” Gakabatyagan mo ang kuba-kuba sang dughan mo asta sa tiil, kamot mo gapalanugnaw kag gapalamalhas pati ang karubkub mo nagligad isa ka oras. Gapalanghugot imo batiis tapos nag ginhawa ka dalom para kabuwelo ka dalagan.

“Basi amo na ni ang ulihi ko nga paginhawa.” Sige na buya adrenaline nga gadalgan sa lawas mo. Kada tikang mo feeling mo ikaw na ang pinakadasig nga tawo sa bilog nga kalibutan. Chura mo ga ngisi, “amo na ni” pinsar mo,  “naka abot na ko!” Pila na lang ka tikang imo tuyo.

“Abaw ah” Tingala ka ngaa kadasig to sa iya. Na piyuan mo guid nga maka palagyo ka. Ginatulok ka sang bayi nga gamudlo pula ya nga mata nga daw ga-lubid ang kaladlukan ya nga nawong pag siyagit ya. “Indi!!!” Ang tingok ka utok mo nag siyagit “indi ni dapat matabo!”

Gin bitbit ka sang mga pa.a mo sa piyak nga direksyon, pabalik sa safety ka puno. “Ngaa wala ko nagtinir sa sulod man?” Gina kaon ka kapaminsaron mo nga ga hinulsol ka sa mga disisyon mo. “Ngaa wala ko nagdalagan dalagan man? ” “Ngaa ari ko di sa amo ni nga lugar man?” “Ngaa wala ko namati sang may chansa ko sa una man? ” “Wala untat panabad mga tingog sa ulo mo”

Makita mo na ang puno. “Indi ni sa kalapaw sa mga sanga ya.” Naantiparahan mo nga wala pa lima ka minuto sang nagdalagan ka. Kung wala pa kaabot lima ka minuto ang diperensya subong kag sa kabuhi ko.

“Isa na lang ka tikang kag ara na ko.” Isa na lang ka dalagan kag indi ya na ko madakop. May tiyempo kadali nga duda antis nagdive ka sa dalom sang puno kag nagabalentong sa roots ya. Wala ka gakabatyag sakit tungod sa adrenaline. “Buhi pa ko.” Wala ka untat nga pasalamatan.

Asta gin butang mo na ang kamot mo sa dughan mo. “Wala, wala, waay guid…” Naglupad na paminsaron mo. “Di puwedi nga amo to sa ka dasig.” Gatulo na dugo mo sa mga tudlo mo nga naglambot asta sa bayo mo. “Naka abot ko, dapat nakaluwas ko.”

Sulit sulit mo gina hambal sa kaugalingon mo asta sa nawad.an ka na dugo.

“Dapat nakaluwas ko”. Amo na paminsaron mo antis magsarado mga mata mo, basi ulihi na ni.

=——————————–=

English Version

“I can make it in two minutes. It’s only a few feet to the next building and I can run fast.” You can feel your heartbeat reverberate to your feet, your hands are cold and sweaty and the chill down your spine has been there for the better part of an hour. The muscles in your legs start to tighten and you take one deep breath before starting your sprint.

“This might be the last breath I’ll ever take.” The adrenaline surges through your body. Each step makes you feel like you’re the fastest person in the world. Your face betrays a smile, “This is it!” you think, “I made it!” Your objective is just a few steps away.

“Oh no.” You don’t know how it got there so fast. You were so sure that you were going to outrun it. The woman stares at you with her bulging red eyes and her hideous face twists in a scream. “No!” The voice in your head shouts “It wasn’t supposed to be this way!”

Your legs take you in the opposite direction, back to the relative safety of the tree. “Why didn’t I stay indoors?” The decisions all start coming back to haunt you “Why didn’t I take up running?”, “Why am I in this place?”, “Why didn’t I listen when I had the chance.” The voices in your head won’t stop talking.

The tree is in sight now. “It won’t be able to get past the branches.” You realize it’s been less than five minutes since you started running. Less than five minutes would make the difference between now and the rest of your life.

“One more step and I’m there.” Just one last dash and it won’t be able to grab you. There is a moment of doubt before you lunge under the tree and crash into the roots. You don’t feel much of the pain because of your adrenaline. “I’m still alive.” You’ve never been more grateful.

Until you put your hand to your chest. “No, no, no…” Your mind trails off. “It couldn’t have been that fast.” The blood starts to trickle down your fingers onto the rest of your clothes. “I made it, I’m supposed to be safe.”

You repeat those words in your head until there’s too much blood loss. “I should be safe.” Was what you thought before you closed your eyes. Maybe for the last time.

————————–————————–————————

*The Hiligaynon language, also colloquially referred often by most of its speakers simply as Ilonggo, is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 9.1 million people, mainly in Western Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN, most of whom belong to the Visayan ethnic group, mainly the Hiligaynons. It is the second-most widely spoken language and a member of the so-named Visayan language family and is more distantly related to other Philippine languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Urnn Propakarpyo
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Urnn Propakarpyo

Inspired by the Abat entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Abat illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

The post Abat – Hiligaynon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Aklanon

Maubra ko ra sa sueud it daywang minuto.pilang metro malang sa sunud nga building ag maka daeagan akut madasig batyag mu ing tagipusuun Ursa padtu sing siki.ing Altima gapang eamig ag Gina hueasan it maeamig padtu sing likod una eun it pilang uras.

ru Unud sing paa gaumpisa eun magpanghugut..ginhawat madaeum ag bagu dumaeagan it uman…raya eun lang siguru Ang ulihi nga paginhawa.ru kadasig hay gapaeanutsut sa ing eawas..kada eak Ang hay batyag gid nimu.ikaw ru pinakamadasig sa bilog nga kalibutan.ru imung hibayag hay ga traidor raya eun ra imaw eun gid ra..ag ru akun nga planu hay pilang eak Ang eun lang gid …ay nanu hangawa ka kun hamat mas madasig ka ag makaabut sa bukut tamang uras sa mas tempranu..may Baye nga gatueok kimu mapuea ra mata.

ag ru anang uyahun nga may ginatagu ag suminggit it gulpi…Indi!!!may limog sing piniino nga nag hambae nga Indi ta dapat sa makaraya…ring paa hay nagliso ag gindaea ka sa ibang aeagyan..binalik ka sa siguridad nga Lugarhaman uwa lang ikaw magduhung sa baeay.ru disisyun nga inubra mu hay nagbalik ag ikaw hay naeagas..haman uwa gid mabuoe pagdaeagan ko.haman iya gihapun aku sa Lugar ngara..haman uwa aku namati tag may uras pa.

ru limug sing utuk nga galinibut libut..ru kahuy hay tan aw ko eon…Indi eon puydi nga balikun ru mga sanga it nakataliwan.nabatygan ko nga bukun eun gali it limang minuto ru nagtaliwan nga aku hay gadinaeagan.ru kueang sa limang minuto hay bukun man it mabahoe nga depirinsya ru mkarun ag sa bilog nga kabuhi..isang eak Ang lang gid ag una eon aku.isang agi lang gid ag Indi mu eun aku mabooe..

may unang Lugar nga gaisip kapa bagu makasandad sa mga ugat it kahuy. Indi kaeon kabatyag dahil sa gaoy ka eon ag buhi pa ag grabing kalipay ru nabatyagan..hasta binuytan mu ing dughan Indi… Indi…Indi…ru ing piniino hay gasala eon nga may pagkangawa bukun ag haman it makara..hamat bukun tat makara kadasig…ru dugo gaumpisa sa pag ilig padtu sing mga tudlo ag sa ibang parte king eawas ag eambong..haubra ko man ra ag ag dapat maeayu aku sa kataeagman…

ginpiniino Mut Mayad ag sigi eang pabalik balik sing piniino kun Anu natabo.ag abu eon nga dugo ru naduea.dapat eowas aku ruyun ru naisip hasta ipiyung lang gid ru mga mata nga gauy eun.ag raya eun lang ra..basi ulihi eon lag gid ra….

=———————————–=

English Version

“I can make it in two minutes. It’s only a few feet to the next building and I can run fast.” You can feel your heartbeat reverberate to your feet, your hands are cold and sweaty and the chill down your spine has been there for the better part of an hour. The muscles in your legs start to tighten and you take one deep breath before starting your sprint.

“This might be the last breath I’ll ever take.” The adrenaline surges through your body. Each step makes you feel like you’re the fastest person in the world. Your face betrays a smile, “This is it!” you think, “I made it!” Your objective is just a few steps away.

“Oh no.” You don’t know how it got there so fast. You were so sure that you were going to outrun it. The woman stares at you with her bulging red eyes and her hideous face twists in a scream. “No!” The voice in your head shouts “It wasn’t supposed to be this way!”

Your legs take you in the opposite direction, back to the relative safety of the tree. “Why didn’t I stay indoors?” The decisions all start coming back to haunt you “Why didn’t I take up running?”, “Why am I in this place?”, “Why didn’t I listen when I had the chance.” The voices in your head won’t stop screaming.

The tree is in sight now. “It won’t be able to get past the branches.” You realize it’s been less than five minutes since you started running. Less than five minutes would make the difference between now and the rest of your life.

“One more step and I’m there.” Just one last dash and it won’t be able to grab you. There is a moment of doubt before you lunge under the tree and crash into the roots. You don’t feel much of the pain because of your adrenaline. “I’m still alive.” You’ve never been more grateful.

Until you put your hand to your chest. “No, no, no…” Your mind trails off. “It couldn’t have been that fast.” The blood starts to trickle down your fingers onto the rest of your clothes. “I made it, I’m supposed to be safe.”

You repeat those words in your head until there’s too much blood loss.

“I should be safe.” Was what you thought before you closed your eyes, maybe for the last time.

*Aklanon (Akeanon), also known as Bisaya/Binisaya nga Aklanon/Inaklanon or simply Aklan, is an Austronesian language of the Bisayan subgroup spoken by the Aklanon people in the province of Aklan on the island of Panay in the Philippines. Its unique feature among other Bisayan languages is the close-mid back unrounded vowel [ɤ] occurring as part of diphthongs and traditionally written with the letter ⟨Ee⟩ such as in the autonyms Akean and Akeanon. However, this phoneme is also present in other but geographically scattered and distant Philippine languages, namely Itbayat, Isneg, Manobo, Samal and Sagada.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Aklanon Translation by Zaldy M Domingo
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Zaldy M Domingo

Inspired by the Abat entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Abat illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

The post Abat – Aklanon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

“Kaya ko ito sa loob ng dalawang minuto. Ilang talampakan lang naman ang layo patungo sa susunod na gusali at kaya kong tumakbo ng mabilis.” Ramdam mo ang tibok ng iyong puso na umaabot hanggang sa iyong talampakan, pinagpapawisan ng malamig ang iyong mga kamay, at mula pa lang sa simula, hindi maalis ang kilabot na iyong nararamdaman. Nagsimulang maghigpit ang kalamnan sa iyong mga binti at huminga ka ng malalim bago mo simulan ang iyong pagtakas.

“Ito na marahil ang huling beses na gagawin ko ito.” Tumindi ang pagsidhi ng lakas sa buo mong katawan. Ang bawat yapak ay tila nagbibigay sayo ng pakiramdam na ikaw ang pinakamabilis na tao sa buong mundo. “Eto na ‘yon,” sabi mo sa sarili mo,”nagawa ko!” Ang iyong inaasam ay ay halos abot kamay na lang.

“Hindi.” Wala kang ideya kung paano ito nakarating agad, kumpyansa ka na mauunahan mo ito. Subalit, ang bumungad sayo ay isang babeng may kahindik-hindik na mukha at ang kanyang panlilisik mula sa mga mapupulang niyang mga mata. HINDI!” Sigaw mo sa isipan mo. “… Hindi dapat nagkaganito!”

Di umano ay dinala ka ng mga binti mo sa kabilang direksyon, pabalik sa kaligtasan ng puno. “Bakit hindi ba ako nanatili sa loob?” Nagbalik sa iyo ang lahat. “Bakit hindi pa ba ako tumakbo?”, “bakit ba ako nasa lugar na ito?”, “bakit ba hindi ako nakinig nung may pagkakataon pa ako.” Hindi tumigil ang mga tinig sa isipan mo.

Tanaw mo na ang puno. “Hindi ito makakalampas sa mga sanga.” Napagtanto mo na wala pang limang minuto mula nung tumakbo ka, ang tila limang minuto na may malaking pagkakaiba sa ngayon at sa natitira mong mga sandali.

“Isang hakbang na lang at nandiyan na ako.” Isang mabilis na sugod na lang at hindi ka na nito maaabot. May konti kang pag-aagam-agam nang sumuong ka sa puno at sa kailaliman ng mga malalaking ugat nito, subalit, hindi mo na ininda ang sakit at laking pasalamat ka na lang. “Buhay pa ako”.

Datapwat bigla ka na lang napaisip ng ilagay mo ang iyong mga kamay sa iyong dibdib. “Hindi maaari… Hindi dapat ito ganun kabilis.” Nagsimula tumulo ang dugo pababa sa iyong mga daliri at dagling nagsikalat sa iyong damit. “Nakarating ako, dapat ay ligtas ako.”

Paulit-ulit mong binibigkas ang mga salitang ito sa iyong isipan hanggang sa iyong mga huling sandali.”Dapat ay ligtas na ako.” Ito na lang ang namutawi sa iyong kaisipan, bago magsara ang iyong mga mata. Marahil, sa huling pagkakataon.

=————————————————=

English Version

“I can make it in two minutes. It’s only a few feet to the next building and I can run fast.” You can feel your heartbeat reverberate to your feet, your hands are cold and sweaty and the chill down your spine has been there for the better part of an hour. The muscles in your legs start to tighten and you take one deep breath before starting your sprint.

“This might be the last breath I’ll ever take.” The adrenaline surges through your body. Each step makes you feel like you’re the fastest person in the world. Your face betrays a smile, “This is it!” you think, “I made it!” Your objective is just a few steps away.

“Oh no.” You don’t know how it got there so fast. You were so sure that you were going to outrun it. The woman stares at you with her bulging red eyes and her hideous face twists in a scream. “No!” The voice in your head shouts “It wasn’t supposed to be this way!”

Your legs take you in the opposite direction, back to the relative safety of the tree. “Why didn’t I stay indoors?” The decisions all start coming back to haunt you “Why didn’t I take up running?”, “Why am I in this place?”, “Why didn’t I listen when I had the chance.” The voices in your head won’t stop talking.

The tree is in sight now. “It won’t be able to get past the branches.” You realize it’s been less than five minutes since you started running. Less than five minutes would make the difference between now and the rest of your life.

“One more step and I’m there.” Just one last dash and it won’t be able to grab you. There is a moment of doubt before you lunge under the tree and crash into the roots. You don’t feel much of the pain because of your adrenaline. “I’m still alive.” You’ve never been more grateful.

Until you put your hand to your chest. “No, no, no…” Your mind trails off. “It couldn’t have been that fast.” The blood starts to trickle down your fingers onto the rest of your clothes. “I made it, I’m supposed to be safe.”

You repeat those words in your head until there’s too much blood loss. “I should be safe.” Was what you thought before you closed your eyes. Maybe for the last time.

=——————————————–=

Inspired by the Abat entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Abat illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

The post Abat – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bicol Sorsogon

“Duwang minuto lang yada na ako. Haranihon lang ina nan makaskas man ako magdalagan.” Makusog na tibok san puso, mahagkot na kamot, nan an balhas nagtuturo. Hangos san hararom, batog san lakat.

“Basi urhi ko na ini na hangos.” Kada lakat pamate mo ikaw an pinamakaskas na tawo sa kinab-an. Maugma ang saimong pamati. “Amu na ini,” naisip mo, “Nakaya ko.” Diyot na lakat na lang.

“Hala!” Yada na tulos. Huna mo mauunahan mo siya. Inkita ka niya kan saiyang mga mata. “Ayaw!” Naisip mo, “Dili ini puwede!”

Nagbalyo ka san lakat, pabalik sa puno. “Dapat dili na lang ako nagluwas!” Inisip mo ang naging desisyon mo. “Dapat dili na ako nagdalagan! Nanu kay ginibo ko ini? Dapat dili na lang ako nagbati sainda!” Dili ka inuudungan san utak mo.

Harani ka na sa puno. “Dili man ina makalagpas.” Wara pa limang minuto an dinalagan mo. Wara pa limang minuto nagbag-o an buhay mo.

“Harani na. Diyot na lang.” Dili ka mapadakob. Dili ka mapatumba. Dili mo namamatian an pagal “Buhay pa ako.” Dakol an saimong pasasalamat.

Kapot sa dughan. “Dili ini puwede.” Nawawara ka na sa sadiri mo. “Kakaskas man.” Nagtuturo na an dugo sa kamot mo nan sa bado mo. “Nagibo ko. Dapat maayos an kamutangan ko.”

Inulit ulit mo na dapat nasa mayad an kamutangan mo hanggang sa paubos na an saimong dugo. “Dapat nasa maayos an kamutangan ko.” An urhi mo na sinabi.

English Version

“I can make it in two minutes. It’s only a few feet to the next building and I can run fast.” You can feel your heartbeat reverberate to your feet, your hands are cold and sweaty and the chill down your spine has been there for the better part of an hour. The muscles in your legs start to tighten and you take one deep breath before starting your sprint.

“This might be the last breath I’ll ever take.” The adrenaline surges through your body. Each step makes you feel like you’re the fastest person in the world. Your face betrays a smile, “This is it!” you think, “I made it!” Your objective is just a few steps away.

“Oh no.” You don’t know how it got there so fast. You were so sure that you were going to outrun it. The woman stares at you with her bulging red eyes and her hideous face twists in a scream. “No!” The voice in your head shouts “It wasn’t supposed to be this way!”

Your legs take you in the opposite direction, back to the relative safety of the tree. “Why didn’t I stay indoors?” The decisions all start coming back to haunt you “Why didn’t I take up running?”, “Why am I in this place?”, “Why didn’t I listen when I had the chance.” The voices in your head won’t stop screaming.

The tree is in sight now. “It won’t be able to get past the branches.” You realize it’s been less than five minutes since you started running. Less than five minutes would make the difference between now and the rest of your life.

“One more step and I’m there.” Just one last dash and it won’t be able to grab you. There is a moment of doubt before you lunge under the tree and crash into the roots. You don’t feel much of the pain because of your adrenaline. “I’m still alive.” You’ve never been more grateful.

Until you put your hand to your chest. “No, no, no…” Your mind trails off. “It couldn’t have been that fast.” The blood starts to trickle down your fingers onto the rest of your clothes. “I made it, I’m supposed to be safe.”

You repeat those words in your head until there’s too much blood loss.

“I should be safe.” Was what you thought before you closed your eyes, maybe for the last time.

*The Bikol languages or Bicolano languages are a group of Central Philippine languages spoken mostly in the Bicol Peninsula in the island of Luzon, the neighboring island province of Catanduanes and the island of Burias in Masbate. There is a dialect continuum between the Visayan languages and the Bikol languages; the two together are called the Bisakol languages.

The Tabaco-Legazpi-Sorsogon (TLS) dialect is spoken in the eastern coast of Albay and the northeastern part of Sorsogon. TLS is the dialect that has been most influenced by the Inland Bikol languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Sara Grace C. Fojas
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Sara Grace C. Fojas

Inspired by the Abat entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Abat illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

The post Abat – Bicol Sorsogon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

“I can make it in two minutes. It’s only a few feet to the next building and I can run fast.” You can feel your heartbeat reverberate to your feet, your hands are cold and sweaty and the chill down your spine has been there for the better part of an hour. The muscles in your legs start to tighten and you take one deep breath before starting your sprint.

“This might be the last breath I’ll ever take.” The adrenaline surges through your body. Each step makes you feel like you’re the fastest person in the world. Your face betrays a smile, “This is it!” you think, “I made it!” Your objective is just a few steps away.

“Oh no.” You don’t know how it got there so fast. You were so sure that you were going to outrun it. The woman stares at you with her bulging red eyes and her hideous face twists in a scream. “No!” The voice in your head shouts “It wasn’t supposed to be this way!”

Your legs take you in the opposite direction, back to the relative safety of the tree. “Why didn’t I stay indoors?” The decisions all start coming back to haunt you “Why didn’t I take up running?”, “Why am I in this place?”, “Why didn’t I listen when I had the chance.” The voices in your head won’t stop talking.

The tree is in sight now. “It won’t be able to get past the branches.” You realize it’s been less than five minutes since you started running. Less than five minutes would make the difference between now and the rest of your life.

“One more step and I’m there.” Just one last dash and it won’t be able to grab you. There is a moment of doubt before you lunge under the tree and crash into the roots. You don’t feel much of the pain because of your adrenaline. “I’m still alive.” You’ve never been more grateful.

Until you put your hand to your chest. “No, no, no…” Your mind trails off. “It couldn’t have been that fast.” The blood starts to trickle down your fingers onto the rest of your clothes. “I made it, I’m supposed to be safe.”

You repeat those words in your head until there’s too much blood loss. “I should be safe.” Was what you thought before you closed your eyes. Maybe for the last time.

————————–————————–————————

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Abat entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Abat illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

The post Abat appeared first on Philippine Spirits.