*Note this story is in Bicol Naga

Kaidtong panahon may sarong aking lalaki na dai tataong magtultol. Saro siyang pasaway na aki. Ginigibo niya pirmi an kabaliktadan kan mga sinasabi kan saiyang mga magurang asin sa aroaldaw pirming nakakakua nin mga paagi an aking lalaki para tawanan kulog payo an saiyang pamilya.

Alagad an saiyang mga nguhod na tugang, pig-iidolo siya. Sa paghuna ninda, an saindang kuya iyo an pinakamaurag asin matibay sa kinaban.

Sarong aldaw, dinara kan aking lalaki an saiyang mga tugang sa kadlagan tangarig maglakaw-lakaw, kun sain nanuparan ninda an sarong lungib (kuweba). “Tabi apo, Tabi apo” sabi kan saiyang mga nguhod na tugang. Tigtukduan sinda kan saindang mga magurang na pirming magtaong galang kun kinakaipuhan.

An matuang lalaki o saindang kuya nangtutuya-tuya. “Anong ginigibo nindo?” Hapot niya sa saiyang mga nguhod na tugang. ‘’Nagtatao kaming galang sa mga saradit na tawo sa lungib,” an sabi ninda.

‘’Mayo man arog kaiyan.” Nakakasuyang simbag kan matuang lalaki sa nadangog na mga pang-aki sana man na paliyon. ‘’Nahiling na nindo? Mayo lamang ibang tawo sa laog kan lungib. Pumurundo kamo, garo kamo mga aki na dai nakakaaram sa totoong kinaban.”

‘’Alagad kuya, baka aksidente ta sindang matumakan.” Simbag na dai pag-uyon kan mga nguhod na tugang.

An saindang kuya, nagparagpadag kan saiyang bitis sa laog kan lungib. Takuton na pighiling kan mga nguhod na tugang an saindang matuang tugang sa saiyang ginigibo.

Makalihis an pirang minuto, mayo man nangyari. “Hilinga? Sinabi ko na saindo. Tistingan man nindong gibuhon ini.”

An matuang lalaking tugang pinirit na gibuhon man kan mga tugang niya an saiyang ginibo, hasta saro, asin gabos na sinda napiritan na maggibo kaini. ‘’Kuya, mga tugang, dai ko aram kun marhay ining ginigibo ta.” Sabi niya.

An mga magtururugang dai nadangog an saiyang sinasabi mantang sinda mariribukon na nagpaparadag-padag.

Oras na an nakaagi, an mga aki nagkakarawat sa laog kan kuweba. Nagdesisyon sindang magpuli na sa harong ta oras na nin pamanggihan.

Sarong tingog an nagsabi sa huri, “Tabi apo” bago sinda nagharali.

Kan an mga aki pasiring na sa saindang harong, sarong sanga an biglang nahulog asin tinamaan an sarong tugang sa payo. An tugang na matuang lalaki dai na aram an gigibuhon ta aram niyang siya an mababasol huli sa nangyari sa saindang mga tugang.

“Dali na, an saro saindo maghagad nin tabang!” tigmanduhan an saiyang mga tugang.

Kan an mga aki naghihiridali, nagkadarapla sinda sa kada saro asin nagkarulugadan asin nagkarurungasan. Nagpuon sindang maghiribi.

“Dai kamo magparahibi!” An matuang lalaki nagkurahaw. An saiyang tingog nakalakop sa kadlagan asin nakapurisaw sa sarong layas na upon (baboy-ramo). Tighiling kan upon an mga aki asin nag-atungal ini.

An matuang lalaki, aram na kaipuhan niyang protehiran an saiyang mga tugang na mawot lapagon kan upon, alagad sa mayong ano-ano, an upon nakahiling lang sa mga aki.

Marhay na sana, an sarong tugang na lalaki nagrani sa upon. ‘’Patawara kami ta tigparatumakan mi ika” sabi kaini. ‘’Hagad mi na mapatawad mo kami.”

An upon nagsimbag nin atungal. Sa puntong ito, nahiling kan mga magtururugang na nabolong na an saindang mga lugad asin rungas.

Nagkaurugma an mga aki asin hinapot an saindang tugang kun ano an nangyari.

“An dapat ta lang gibuhon, pirming magtataong galang” an saiyang simbag.

Nagin marahay na an gabos asin naghapot sa inosentihon na tingog an sarong nguhod na tugang.

“Nahiling nindo si kuya?”

=————————-=

English Version

Once upon a time there was a little boy that didn’t know how to behave. He was a most troublesome child. He would always do the opposite of what his parents would tell him and every day the boy would find a new way to give headaches to his family.

His younger brothers idolized him though. They thought that their kuya was the bravest and most clever boy in the world.

One day, the boy took his little brothers out for a stroll in the woods, where they came upon a cave. “Tabi tabi po” said the younger brothers. They had been taught well by their parents and always sought to give respect where it was due.

The older brother laughed. “What are you doing?” he asked his little brothers. “We are giving respect to the small man in the cave,” they replied.

“There is no such thing,” the older brother scoffed at what he thought was a childish superstition. “See? No one is in the cave. You should stop being such babies and learn the truth about the real world.”

“But kuya, we might accidentally step on them!” The younger brothers protested.

The older brother stamped his feet around the cave without care. The younger brothers stared in horror as their kuya willfully defied the spirits.

After a few minutes, nothing happened. “See? I told you so. You all should try this.”

The older brother tried to make his younger siblings repeat what he did, until all but one relented. “Kuya, brothers, I really don’t think that this is a good idea,” he said.

His brothers couldn’t hear him over all the stomping they were doing.

Hours passed and the children were all playing in the cave, save one. They decided to go home for it was almost dinnertime.

One voice said a final “Tabi tabi po” before leaving.

As the children were making their way back home, a tree branch fell and hit one of the children in the head. The older brother was panicking for he knew he was going to be held responsible for his sibling.

“Hurry, one of you go and get help!” he ordered his brothers.

As the children rushed to follow the command, they tripped over one another causing bruises and scrapes. They started crying.

“Stop crying!” The older brother shouted. His voice echoed through the woods and attracted a wild boar.

The boar stared at the children and gave out a large grunt.

The older brother, knowing that he had to protect his siblings tried to get the boar to chase him, but to no avail. The beast just stood looming in front of the children.

Finally, one of the brothers approached the beast.

“I’m sorry that we stepped on you,” he said. “I hope you will forgive us.”

The boar grunted in reply. At that moment the other brothers realized that their wounds were suddenly healed.

The children rejoice and asked their brother what happened.

“All I did was give respect where respect was due,” he answered.

And all was well until one of the brothers asked an innocent question.

“Have any of you seen kuya?”

=—————————=

Story inspired by Dwende entry in Myth Museum. Medina. 2015.

Dwende Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga

“Hilingon mo daw an irarom kan higdaan ko?” an maluyang tingog ni Jess epekto kan saiyang pagpapabolong. Iyo ini an gibo niya barubanggi puon kan pagdigdi ninda ospital, kumbinsido siya na igwang kun ano sa irarom kan saiyang higdaan na dahilan kan saiyang paghilang.

Tulong bulan an mga tests asin burulongan asin sya dai marahay-rahay. Aram ko na dapat magin masurípot an buhay alagad anom na taon sana man si Jess. Mayong aki na dapat mag-agi sa mga dagum asin tubo sa aroaldaw na mayo man sanang nakukuang kasimbagan. Dai ini masurípot(fair).

Nagngirit lang ako asin hinadokan an saiyang noo. “Mayo man nin mampák(monster) sa irarum kan saimong higdaan, kaya magpahingalo ka na. Kaipuhan dapat may kusog ka para sa mga tests saaga, sige na?” Nagngirit man si Jess sakuya asin nagturog na. An katatagan talaga kan mga hubenes dai man nanggad palyadong nagpaugma sako, alagad naglalaom ako na lugod magin husto ini para sa saro pa niyang aldaw.

Dai nanigo. Nagadan si Jess kan bangging idto. Nakaturog ako sa kataid niya asin katakod kaini an mga doktor asin mga nars naghihiridali asin nagkukururahaw. Saro sa mga nars pinugulan ako ta pinipirit kong mahiling kun ano an nangyayari.

An nars tig-ibanan ako pasiring sa pinto asin duman ko man nanggad nahiling. Kan inot nagmamawot ako na huli ini sa tubong nakaturuhok kay Jess, alagad garo may sala digdi. Dakula ini bakong arog kan mga wire o ano man hasta ini hanggan sa irarum asin puro kan higdaan.

Iyo sana iyan an narurumduman ko kan bangging idto asin dakol pang mga dai makatubod na mga bagay an nangyari. Nawara an hawak ni Jess kan pasiring na ini sa punerarya, saysay kan morge na mayo man nangyaring maraot kan pagpasiring ninda duman, alagad nawawara an láwas (body).

Ginigibo ko ngunyan an gabos maaraman lang kung anong nangyari ki Jess. Sabi kan mga nars na nagkaigwa nin pagrangka(break-in) kan nakaaging bulan sa ikatulong palapag kan ospital, baad ini katakod sa pagkawara ni Jess.

Babawion ko siya.

Dawa mailubong sana siya.

=————————————=

English Version

“Can you check under my bed?”  Jess’ voice was weak from the treatments. It had been her routine every night since we moved to the hospital, she was convinced there was something under her bed that kept making her sick.

Three months of tests and medicine and she still hasn’t gotten any better. I know life’s not supposed to be fair but Jess is only six years old. No child should have to go through days of needles and tubes and still not getting any answers. It wasn’t fair.

I smile and I kiss her forehead. “There aren’t any monsters under your bed, now go get some rest. You need your strength for the tests tomorrow, alright?” Jess smiles at me and drifts off to sleep. The resilience of youth never failed to impress me, but I hoped that it would be enough to get her through one more day.

It wasn’t. Jess died that night. I had fallen asleep next to her and the next thing I knew doctors and nurses were rushing in and shouting. One of the nurses had to restrain me because I kept trying to see what was happening.

The nurse lead me to the door and I that was when I saw it. At first I thought it was one of the tubes that was attached to Jess, but there was something off about it. It was too big to be a wire or anything like that and it ended at the bottom of the bed.

That’s all I remember from that night and there were too many strange things that happened after. Jess’ body was “lost” en route to the funeral home, the morgue says there was nothing wrong with the transport, but the body never got there.

I’m doing all I can now to find out what happened to Jess. The nurses said that there was a break-in a month ago on the third floor of the hospital, maybe that’s connected to Jess’ disappearance.

I will get her back.

If only to bury her.

“Can you check under my bed?”  Jess’ voice was weak from the treatments. It had been her routine every night since we moved to the hospital, she was convinced there was something under her bed that kept making her sick.

Three months of tests and medicine and she still hasn’t gotten any better. I know life’s not supposed to be fair but Jess is only six years old. No child should have to go through days of needles and tubes and still not getting any answers. It wasn’t fair.

I smile and I kiss her forehead. “There aren’t any monsters under your bed, now go get some rest. You need your strength for the tests tomorrow, alright?” Jess smiles at me and drifts off to sleep. The resilience of youth never failed to impress me, but I hoped that it would be enough to get her through one more day.

It wasn’t. Jess died that night. I had fallen asleep next to her and the next thing I knew doctors and nurses were rushing in and shouting. One of the nurses had to restrain me because I kept trying to see what was happening.

The nurse lead me to the door and I that was when I saw it. At first I thought it was one of the tubes that was attached to Jess, but there was something off about it. It was too big to be a wire or anything like that and it ended at the bottom of the bed.

That’s all I remember from that night and there were too many strange things that happened after. Jess’ body was “lost” en route to the funeral home, the morgue says there was nothing wrong with the transport, but the body never got there.

I’m doing all I can now to find out what happened to Jess. The nurses said that there was a break-in a month ago on the third floor of the hospital, maybe that’s connected to Jess’ disappearance.

I will get her back.

If only to bury her.

=——————————–=

*Central Bicol, commonly called Bicol  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 Bicol speakers can be found in all provinces of Bicol and it is a majority language in Camarines Sur.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Adrian Bulalacao
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Adrian Bulalacao

Story inspired by the Balbal description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Balbal Illustration and Watercolor by Nightmaresyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga

“Dati man akong magayon.”

May kinua an tawo saiya urog pa sa gabos na bulawan sa kinaban. Asin uya siya nahuhulid, hinahalat an aldaw kun nuarin siya makakabalos.

An sakuyang tugang na babayi.”

An saiyang tugang na babayi sarong baoó (sea turtle), an saiyang nilalakadan sinususog man kan mga balúd (waves). Nangatakot an mga tawo na baka an saindang mga harong mawara sa ibabaw kan kadagatan. An mga tawo dai man kaipuhan maghadit. Duman nagsusugok an sakuyang tugang kun sain an saiyang mga aki nakakanuod magkamang sa daga. Dai niya nanggad tinugutan na may mangyari sa isla.

Alagad an mga tawo sarong nilalang na tarakuton asin maluya an buot, binunó ninda an baoó tangarig “isalbar” an saindang sadiring lahi siring man kan saindang pagkahayop.

“An mga bulan.”

Kaya kinua niya kun ano an urog na pinakamahalaga sainda. An saindang mga kaingat-ingating Liwanag sa pagkabanggi. An saindang mga bulan namit abo(ashes) sa saiyang nguso. An pagbalos dai na nanggad maibabalik pa an buhay kan saiyang tugang alagad matao ining adal sa katawohan na nanggad dai matatawadan an pakikilaban sa drágon.

“An daguldol.”

Hinalon niya ini saro-saro. Kan hahalunon niya na an ikapito, luminutaw an sarong nakamaskarang diwáta an nakiaram tangarig isalbar an saiyang mahalagang liwanag. An mga tawo man may giniribo. Nagpadaguldol asin nagriribok, ini an habo kan Bakunawa asin ini an dai niya kinamumuyahang madangog puon pa kaidto. Iniluwa niya an ikapitong bulan asin nagbalik pasiring sa kairaruman.

‘Asin uya ako mahalat kun sain ako magigin magayon giraray.”

Saysay ninda na makakabalik  giraray an saiyang totoong anyo kun punduhan niya na an pagtuyo sa ikapitong bulan, alagad sa puso kan mga tawo midbid ninda na dai ini mangyayari. Kinua kan tawo an sarong urog na mahalagang bagay saiya, na dai na mariribayan.

“Dai ako mauntok hanggang dai ninda naaaraman an totoong kahulugan kan kawaran.”

=—————-=

English Version

“I was beautiful once. “

The humans took something from her more precious than all the gold in the world. And here she lies, waiting for the day she can fulfill her revenge.

“My sister.”

Her sister was the sea turtle, whose path was followed by the waves. The humans feared that their home would be lost beneath the sea. The humans needn’t have worried. That was where her sister laid her eggs, where her children would learn to walk on the land. She would never have let anything happen to the island.

But humanity is a scared and frail creature, they butchered her to ‘save’ their own skins like the animals that they were.

“The moons.”

She took from them what they cherished the most. Each of their precious lights in the night. Their moons tasted like ashes in her mouth. Revenge would not bring her sister back but it would teach the humans the price was high when dealing with the dragon.

“The thunder.”

She swallowed them one by one. When she reached the seventh the masked goddess intervened to save her precious light.  Then the humans did something. They let loose thunder and noise, the likes of which the Bakunawa had never heard before. She spat up the seventh moon and retreated beneath the depths.

“And here I wait, until I am beautiful again. “

They say that she will once again regain her true form when she stops hunting the seventh moon, but in the hearts of man they know that will never come to pass. The humans took something precious from her, something irreplaceable.

“I will not stop until they know the true meaning of loss. “

=——————-=

*Central Bicol, commonly called Bicol  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 Bicol speakers can be found in all provinces of Bicol and it is a majority language in Camarines Sur.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Adrian Bulalacao
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Adrian Bulalacao

Inspired by the Bakunawa myths

Bakunawa Illustration by Ku Rei