*Note this story is in Aklanon

Isaeangka mainubuson nga tawo si Gregorio. Ro anang pagtrabaho nga pagbueog hay owa guid it maskin alin nga pagreklamo. Ginatao nana ro anang makaya para sa anang mga unga ag asawa ag pirme nana kara nga ginaistorya ro anang mga kustomer, masayran ro andang mga kabuhi.  Makabueong sa anang baeatyagon da.

Isaeang ka adlaw, ginpangabay imaw it presidente ku andang banwa nga magpabueog sa ana nga buhok. Ginkasadya nanda ku mga amigo ni Gregorio sa raya nga trabaho, nga maging barbero ku isaeang ka mahaeaga nga tawo makahimo it mga himala para sa ana karang negosyo.

Owa eon ginapanumduma ni Gregorio nga isaea ra nga kadaeag-an. Kun makipaghinambaeanay ka sa maskin kanyo nga tawo sa banwa makabati ka it mahinay nga mga tono sa kun alin nga tawo ro presidente.

Nagasang-buean nga owa kabayad it buwis si Erlinda Cuntapay ag ro presidente hay nag-adto sa ana kara nga baeay it tungang gabie ag ‘ginbawi’ ro pila nga mga butang ‘para sa kaugalingon it banwa’ suno sa anang hinambae.

Samtang ro sambilog sa ana nga mga kabayo hay nagpundo sa tunga it daean tungod sa kagaoy, ginsugo it alkalde ro anang mga tinawo nga barilon da ag ro iba nga kabayo ro mabuoe ku maeumhing.

Ku pag-abot it tiempo it eleksyon, maskin si Gregorio hay bukon euwas sa sambilog sa mga pagduaw it presidente. May una pa kara nga gasgas sa anang butkon ag sambilog nga nabasag nga plorera nga kun isipon hay pahinumdom sa mga pamaagi nga himuon it presidente.

Nagginhawa it madaeom si Gregorio nga may pagpainu-ino nga basi raya lang ro ana kara nga katapusan ag nagsueod sa baeay it presidente.

Ro anang hakita hay nagpakibot kana.

Sa ueo ku presidente may daywa ka maeagko nga sungay, kaangay gid ku sungay it anwang. Nagpungko ro presidente sa anang pueongkuan ag naghueat kay Gregorio nga magpabueog sa ana kara nga buhok.

Nahadlok gid-a si Gregorio nga maghambae. Ginpatigayon na nga utdon ro palibot it mga sungay agud makaangkon it manami nga itsura.

Ro presidente hay nagtindog ag naghatao it pag-ugyon nga pagtango. Natinan-aw na kara ro itsura ni Gregorio sa saeaming ag naghambae lang:

“Itao ko ro mando nga bitayon ka kun may makasayod sa imo nga hakita makarang adlaw.”

Ginatago it kahadlok si Gregorio. Nag-eaong ra imaw nga mapanaw ag nagguwa sa baeay it presidente.

Si Gregorio hay bukon it isaeangka tsismoso, uwa ra imaw naila nga maghinambae it maskin alin parte sa iba nga tawo. Ugaling ro raya nga sikreto hay nagapabug-at sa abaga ku pigado nga eaki kun siin ra hay kinahang-ean nga mag-usoy it kahilwayan.

Nag-adto imaw sa taeamnan ag hakita na ro sangka malip-ot nga mga kabutungan. Nagbuoe it pala si Gregorio ag nagbuho sa idaeom it butong ag nagsueod imaw. Idto, sa sueod it buho hay nagsinggit imaw hasta sa ibabaw ku anang baga “Ro presidente hay may sungay! Ro presidente hay may sungay!”

Masadya nga ginpaguwa na ro anang paeas-anon sa kalibutan, gintabunan ni Gregorio ro buho ag nagpanaw pauli.

Owa ta imaw kara kasayod nga may mga tawo gali nga naga-agi sa kabutungan nga nakabati ku limog halin sa butong. Si Pedro Alejandre ro una nga nakabati kara ag siempre ginsugid nana sa ana karang kaibahan nga si Sonny Biazon, nga nagsugid kay Sofia Antonio, nga nagsugid kay Leona Hilario nga indi man makatago kara kay Carlo Idelfonso nga nagsugid sa anang mga igmanghod nga bayi nga sanday Conchita ag Ces.

Owa nagbuhay hay nasayran ta it bilog nga banwa ro parte sa nagahambae nga butong. Maskin ro mga konsehal nag-aeagto sa kagueangan agud mabatian ro nagasinggit it “May sungay ro presidente!”

Habatian ni Gregorio nga nagtieipon ro mga tawo sa baeay it presidente, tungod owa man imaw ra it eabot kara. Bumalik imaw ra sa ana nga mahipos nga kabuhi it sangka barbero.

Ro mga tawo hay dapat bastante eon sa presidente para sa bag-o nga mga eleksyon nga ginahimo hay owa eon ginatan-awa ro nagtaliwan nga presidente.

Nagakalipay ro banwa nga owa eon ro mapintas nga presidente ag Gregorio hay nakaginhawa man it manami.

Owa imaw kasayod nga tagnasayran ku mga pumueoyo it banwa ro may sungay nga presidente nga ginpatay ra taghakita nanda imaw, hay eaom abi nanda ro ana kara nga kaeainan hay nag-eapnaag sa anang bilog nga eawas.

Ro manugbueog hay nagakabuhi sa ana kara nga mga inadlaw nga may paghidait, nga owa gid kasayod sa anang naging papel sa pagkaduea ku sangka maeain nga tawo sa andang banwa.

=————————————–=

English Version

Gregorio was a humble man. He did his work as a barber without any complaints. He made enough to provide for his wife and children and he liked talking to his customers, getting to know their lives. It was therapeutic for him.

One day, the presidente of the town asked him to cut his hair. Gregorio’s friends congratulated him on this job, being the barber of such an important man would do wonders for his business.

Gregorio didn’t think that it was any sort of accomplishment. If you talked to any person in the town you would hear hushed tones of the kind of man the presidente was.

Erlinda Cuntapay failed to pay her taxes one month and the presidente showed up to her house in the middle of the night and ‘repossessed’ some of her belongings ‘for the benefit of the town’ as he said.

When one of his horses stopped in the middle of the street due to exhaustion, the mayor ordered his men to shoot it and to have the other horse pick up the slack.

When it came to election time, even Gregorio wasn’t safe from one of the presidente’s visits. There was still a bruise on his arm and a broken vase that served as reminders to the methods that the presidente would stoop to.

Gregorio took a breath he thought might be his last and entered the presidente’s house.

What he saw shocked him.

On the presidente’s head were two very large horns, very much like that of a carabao’s. The presidente sat down on his chair and waited for Gregorio to cut his hair.

Gregorio was too afraid to say anything. He managed to cut around the horns to have a presentable appearance.

The presidente stood up and gave an approving nod. He noticed Gregorio’s face in the mirror and simply stated:

“I will give the order for you to be hanged if anyone finds out about what you saw today.”

Fear enveloped Gregorio. He said his goodbyes and walked out from the presidente’s house.

Gregorio wasn’t a gossip, he didn’t like to talk about other people. But this secret weighed on the poor man’s shoulders so much that he had to find some sort of release.

He went to the field and saw a bamboo thicket. Gregorio took a shovel and made a hole under the bamboo and he went inside. There, in that hole he shouted at the top of his lungs “The presidente has horns! The presidente has horns!”

Satisfied that he unloaded his burden to the world, Gregorio filled up the hole and made his way home.

What he didn’t know was that there were people that passed by the bamboo and heard a voice through the thicket. Pedro Alejandre was the first to hear it and of course told his friend Sonny Biazon, who told Sofia Antonio, who told Leona Hilario who couldn’t keep it from Carlo Idelfonso who told his sisters Conchita and Ces.

Soon enough the whole town  knew about the talking bamboo. Even the councilmen went to the thicket to hear the shouts of “The presidente has horns!”

Gregorio heard that people were gathering at the house of the presidente, but he wanted nothing to do with that. He retreated to his quiet barber’s life.

The people must have had enough of the presidente for new elections were being done without sight of the previous presidente.

The town rejoiced that the cruel presidente was no more and Gregorio breathed a sigh of relief.

He did not know that when the townspeople discovered the horned presidente they killed him on sight, as they thought his wickedness had finally spread to his appearance.

The barber lived out his days in peace, never knowing his role in ridding the town of an evil man.

=————————-=

*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 Cezar Ryan Navida Doromal
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Cezar Ryan Navida Doromal

Adapted from ‘The Presidente Who Had Horns’ in Philippine Folklore Stories. Cole. 1916. full text can be seen at http://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/pft/pft52.htm

The Horned Presidente Illustration by Armie Loraine Corpuz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armieraine/

*Note this story is in Aklanon

Sa ibabaw it kaeangitan ag sa kaeawakan, ro mga bituon nagapamati it imo nga mga pangamuyo.

Nagapahibilin sanda bilang mga mahipos nga saksi sa pagsaysay it mga dating istorya, ugaling maskin sanda dapat hay magtindog sa kilid kun ro Makagagahom hay magpakita sa anang gamhanan.

Ro mga bituon hay owa it pakialam. Nagdaog sanda halin ku bata pa ro kalibutan ag ro sangkatawohan hay isaea eamang nga pagpamisok sa mata it Makagagahom.

Ro mga bituon hay nagapahibilin ag nagatiis lang sanda.

Nagaumpisa ro atong istorya sa isaeangka ginsabat nga pangamuyo.

Ro Naga hay ginagutuman. Owa ra nagpakita it kaeuoy sa mga tawo nga nagakabuhi sa teritoryo ngara. Halin sa anang mga kalimutaw ginapaeukpan na kara ro mga haligi it kaeayo, nga nagasunog it tanan nga ginaturing kara nga biktima. Ro hilo nga nagailig halin sa ana kara nga nuybing nagaeayo nga dila nagaeapnaag sa anang mga biktima nga owa it kaeuoy.

Tatlo lat’a nga kaeag ro nahabilin pagkatapos nga eamunon ku mangtas nga mga maeain, sambilog nga ina, sambilog nga ama, ag sambilog nga unga nga eaki.

Ag hara ro anda nga pangamuyo nga habatian ku mga bituon.

“Makagagahom nga euwasa kami halin sa rayang maeagko nga Naga, ikaw eamang ro may gahum sa pagpugong kara,” ro pakiteuoy it ama.

Ro anda nga pangamuyo hay ginsabat ugaling bukon ito ro Makagagahom.

Ro mga bituon nagapamantaw samtang ro maeagko nga Naga naga-uyog it ana nga ikog ag nagpadaea it makahaeadlok nga hangin paadto sa mag-asawa. Hakita nanda ro mga bukid nga nagakurog sa kahadlok sa kun ano nga gahum may una ro sapat. Indi na kara pagpabay-an nga ro mga tawo hay mabuhi, ro kapintas it Naga hay indi pagpabay-an da.

Ginalibutan ku kaakig ag dabdab ro pamilya, maskin do kalibutan hay matsa nagasinggit sa kasakit. Ro daean it Naga hay ginasunod ku kalisod ag pag-antos, ro mga nabali nga eawas it anang mga biktima nag-einapta sa aeagyan it mangtas hasta nga ro kaeagko nga mangtas hay nag-atubang sa ana kara nga ulihing biktima.

“Kun daya ro kabubut-on it Makaako hay pabay-an lang da,” ro ina hay nagahibi. Ginkupkupan na it hugot ro anang pamilya, ro habilin eamang nga kahilway sa anda nga pagkabutang.

Ro Naga hay nag-eumpat sa eangit ag ginbuksan ro anang maeagko nga puwak.

Ginpiyong it pamilya ro andang mga kalimutaw ag nagahueat sa indi malikawan, ugaling hay nabatian it Makaako ro andang mga pangamuyo ag ginpakita ro anang kabuot.

Nag-eumpat ro dragon, kaso owa na haabtan ro anang target. Nagsaka ra eabaw sa kaeangitan, nag-eampas sa mga gae-um ag sa ginaharian it mga bituon, ro daeagko nga mga kaeayo ag aso hay nagasunod sa ana nga likod.

Tag matsa indi eon makasaka ro Naga it mas mataas hay nagpundo imaw ra, nagabitay sa tunga it mga bituon ag ginapalibutan it anang kaeayo.

Ro pamilya hay nagpasaeamat sa Makagagahom sa ana nga kaeuoy, nga hasta sa ulihi hay dumdumon ro dayang adlaw nga sanda hay naeuwas halin sa mapintas nga sapat.

Ag paalin ro mga bituon?

Ginapabay-an lang nanda sa kabubut-on Makagagahom, nga ginbaton do bag-o nga lugar it Naga sa tunga it andang ginharian.

Ugaling maskin sanda nakasayod nga indi man ra magbuhay.

Tungod ro mga bituon makabati ku mga hutik it Naga. Ginahueat nanda ro katapusan it mga inadlaw kun ro dragon hay huypon paagto sa kalibutan ag eamunon ro tanan nga maeaot nga mga kaeag nga owa nagatuman sa Makagagahom.

Ag samtang ro mga bituon nagapahibilin nga matiyaga hasta nga ro kaeangitan hay maging anda it uman.

• Sa mito it Samal ro milky way hay nakikita bilang isaeangka maeagko nga nakakulong nga dragon.

=————————-=

English Version

Over the sky and in the firmament, the stars hear your prayers.

They stay as silent witnesses to the unfolding of history, but even they must stand aside when the Almighty displays His power.

The stars do not mind. They have prevailed since the world was young and humanity was but a glimmer in the Almighty’s eye.

The stars remain and they endure.

Our story begins with an answered prayer.

The naga was ravenous. It did not show mercy to the humans living in its territory. From its eyes shot pillars of flame, incinerating all those that it considered prey. The poison flowing from its nine forked tongue spread through its victims without pity.

There were only three souls left after the monster had devoured the wicked, a mother, a father and a son.

And it was their prayer that the stars overheard.

“Almighty deliver us from this great naga, only you have the power to stop it,” the father implored.

Their prayer was answered but not by the Almighty.

The stars watched as the great naga swung its tail and sent a terrible gale towards the couple. They saw the mountains shiver in fear at the beast’s power. It would not allow the humans to survive, the naga’s cruelty would not allow it.

Fury and flames surrounded the family, even the earth seemed to cry out in pain. In the naga’s path trailed misery and suffering, the broken bodies of its victims littered the monster’s passage until the great beast came face to face with its final prey.

“If this is the Almighty’s will then let it be so,” the mother sobbed. She held tight her family, the only comfort left in their plight.

The naga leapt into the sky and opened its titanic maw.

The family closed their eyes and waited for the inevitable, but the Almighty heard their pleas and showed his benevolence.

The dragon leapt, but it did not meet its target. It rose high into the heavens, past the clouds and into the realm of the stars, gigantic gouts of flame and smoke trailing in its wake.

When it seemed the naga could not go higher it stopped, suspended between the stars and surrounded by its blaze.

The family thanked the Almighty for His mercy, forever remembering the day they were saved from the savagery of the beast.

And what of the stars?

They surrendered to the will of the Almighty, accepting the naga’s new place betwixt their realm.

But even they know it will not last.

For the stars hear the naga’s whispers. They await the end of days when the dragon will sweep towards the earth and devour all those wicked souls that do not obey the Almighty.

And so the stars remain patiently until the heavens are theirs once again.

• In Samal myth the milky way is

=——————–=

*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 Cezar Ryan Navida Doromal
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Cezar Ryan Navida Doromal

Adapted from ‘The Dragon’ in Sulu Studies 2. Rixhon ed. 1973.

The Imprisoned Naga Illustration by Julius Arboleda

*Note this story is in Aklanon

“Selamat pagi!” duyon du hambae ni Aish kang sa ana nga lengwahe, eagi man ako nga nagsabat kana it “Nasadyahan gid ako nga makilaea ka”.  Bag-o ra imaw iya sa amon, exchange-student imaw ra nga naghalin sa Malaysia, naila kuno imaw nga makakita it manami nga mga lugar iya sa Pilipinas. Daya ru rason ham-an iya kami makaron sa katunga-an it katunggan it Negros.

Owa man sa owa ako naila mag-iba ka na, ugaling hay bukon ko man abi it hilig ra. Natawo ag nagbahoe abi ako syudad. Kaya owa gid-ang naila sang sitwasyon kung siin ako makaron. Kabu-abo nga puno, puro gid lang kalinghutan ang nakikita ag mga limang oras eon du nagtaliwan hay owa gihapon ako kapangape. Indi tang siguro mabuhi iya.

Pagkatapos namon mag-binaktas it kaeawig-eawig nga abi mo owa eon it katapusan, naka-abot man kami sa kampo. Ginglibot eagi ni Aish du lugar agud magbuoe it mga kodak para kuno sa ana nga souvenir book. Ako mat-a hay naaywan sa kampo ag gina-inisip kung paalin naging uso du mga makara nga klase nga aktibidades. Para kakon abi hay du mag-saka sa bukid ag magbinakatas it kaeayo-eayo hay bukon man it masadya, kagaoy pa ngani. Ag sigurado gid ako nga pagkatapos kara hay indi eot-ang gid mag-uman pa.

Nag-sab-it ako it duyan ag naga-paduyog, gusto ko abi maka-tueogan biskin sangkiri bago kami mag-pahaom it ihapon. Tiprano man abi nagdueom ag kahayag pa du buean imaw ngani manami gid magkatueog anay. Kunta eang hay mag-damgo ako it manami.

“Penanggalan! Penanggalan!” nabugtawan ako sa pag-singgit ni Aish owa ako kasayod kung sambilog eoman to sa ana nga Malaysian nga haeambaeon, ag makaron abi hay bukon tang-it interesado masayran eon. Ging-uylog ako ni Aish sa akon nga duyan. ”Siin eon du atong pagkaon?” ana pa nga hambae.

“Nano kat-ing Aish hay—” owa ko hapadayon ang inughambae kat hakit-an ko kat gasunod ka na. Sayod ko gid to, isaea ka ungga-ungga o kung duyon gid man anda nga tawag kato iya sa lugar nanda. Igto ta abi sa amon sa Bikol anananggal among tawag karun. Du mga ibang grupo it mga taga-iya hay ginapang-hadlok nanda sa mga turista du aswang kuno nga ga-eupad nga gaguwa du tina-e. Owa eota-ang gid nag-isip pa ag dumaeagan eot-ang it kadasig-dasig. Dapat owa lang ako nag-panaw iya man, nagpabilin lang kunta ako sa baeay.

“Siin du pagkaon?” singgit eoman ni Aish, “Owa eot-a kita it oras nga isipon pa ing kagutumon ngarun!” singgit ko man ka na samtang sige kami ga-dinaeagan nga daywa. Indi ko eota-a gid maeub-tan du mga Malaysians ngara. “Owa tang gahinangae!” sabat na pa kang. Hay alin pa gid, kung gusto na ta kumaon bago imaw du kan-on hay indi ko eun imaw pag-pug-ngan. “Igto sa likod it atong tent.” Akong sabat ka na.

Dumaeagan paagto sa tent si Aish ag sumunod du ungga-ungga ka na. Sa minatuod eang, bukon ako it maisog pero amego ko man si Aish. Kinahang-ean ko gid nga balikan ag buligan imaw. Nakita ko imaw nga gabuyot it pinya ag ging-eapog na dayun sa ungga-ungga. Sa anang pag-eapog ngato hay sakto gid nga umigo sa ungga-ungga. Owa ako kasayod sa nagka-eatabo pero pagka-igo na it pinya hay sumiyagit du ungga-ungga ag eumupad paeayo.

Indi gid ako kapati sang hakita, tumindog ako ag tinueok si Aish.

“Sa akong ginhalinan, du pinya hay ginapatubo bangud du anda nga tunok hay gina-obrang pangontra sa Penanggalan. Du mga tunok kuno hay gaadto sa anda nga baga ag tina-e dahilan nga indi eon dayun sanda kaeupad it mayad. Sayod ko magana man dun iya” naghibayag dayun si Aish kakon nga madya owa eang ka na du natabo kaina eang. Ging-dawatan na dayun ako it pagkaon ag naghambae nga

“Gutom ka eon?”.

–=================================-

English Version

“Selamat pagi!” Aish greets me in his native language and I reply “Nice to see you.” He’s a new guy, an exchange student from Malaysia who wanted to see what the Philippines had to offer so here we are. In the middle of Negros backpacking through the “great” outdoors. Yay.

It’s not that I don’t like being a tour guide, but that would be a lie. I am a city boy, born and raised and I do not like it here. There are too many trees, there’s too much green and I haven’t had coffee in 5 hours. I don’t think I’ll survive this.

After a trek that seemed to last forever we finally hit camp. Aish goes around the area to take some nice pictures for his souvenir book and I’m left at the campsite wondering how this sort of thing is popular these days. Trekking through the mountains is just not my idea of fun and after this trip I don’t think it will ever be.

I lay out a hammock and try to take a small nap before preparing dinner. The sun set early tonight but the moon is full so it isn’t that inconvenient. I close my eyes and hope that I get to dream about something good.

“Penanggalan! Penanggalan!”Aish’s shouts wake me up and I don’t know if it’s another one of his Malaysian customs, but right now I am not interested in a cultural exchange. Aish shakes me from my hammock and says, “Where is the food!?”

“Look Aish—“ I stop mid-sentence when I see her. It. I know what that is.  An ungga-ungga or at least that’s what they call it in these parts, back in Bikol we just call them anananggal. The tour groups would always try to scare tourists with stories of the witch that flies with its guts hanging out. I don’t take another moment before I run like hell. I should have stayed in my house.

“Where is the food?!” Aish shouts again. “This is no time to think about your stomach!” I scream as I run alongside him. I don’t think I’ll ever get Malaysians. “I’m serious!” he shouts again, so why not, if the guy wants his last meal then I won’t stop him. “It’s behind the tent.”

Aish dashes to the tent and the ungga-ungga follows him. I was never the brave one but Aish is still my friend. Kind of. I have to run back and get him. I see him with a pineapple and he throws it at the thing and hits it. I don’t know what’s happening but the ungga-ungga screams and flies away.

I just stand there, confused.

“Where I come from, pineapples are grown because their thorns keep the Penanggalan away. The thorns go into their lungs and intestines which makes it harder for them to fly. I knew that would work just as well here.” Aish smiles and hands me some snacks.

“You hungry?”

=———————————–=

*The Anananggal is called the Ungga-ungga in Negros, and Wuwug in Eastern Visayas. It is very similar to the myths of the Penanggalan found in the Malaysian archipelago.

*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 Glenilyn Ilejay – Dagui
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Glenilyn Ilejay – Dagui

Inspired by the Ananaggal entry in Bikol Beliefs and Folkways: A Showcase of Tradition. Nasayao 2010.

Anananggal Illustration by Leandro Geniston fromAklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
FB: Wildling Child
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildlingchild/

*Note this story is in Aklanon

Kaso #JKGM 9888

Ro Kapitan it Barangay San Pascual hay nagpaeangumang sa pagtawag it pulis. May tawag nga nag-abot bago mag-Pangaeagkaeag ag may mga reklamo parti sa bandalismo sa pinakamaeapit nga sementeryo. Daywang ka pulis ro ginpadaea agud mangusisa.

Suno sa andang mga report hay bukon gid man it malala ro bandalismo. Ro eugta sa palibot it mga eubnganan hay hinueag ag ro ibang mga kabaong hay binuksan. Ro mga pulis hay nakasayod nga owa gid man it masyadong may haega sa mga eubnganan, ro mga singsing sa kasae ag iba pang mga maeahaeon nga igdaeapat hay una mat-a. Owa man it ibang pinasahi, purya eang sa mga nagkaduea nga mga kamaeagko sa siki it mga eawas nga hinaw-as.

Naghingyo it presensiya ku kapulisan ro Kapitan it Barangay asta sa paeaabuton nga Tigkaeaeag. Ro mga pulis man gihapon ngato ro ginpadaea agud magbantay it nga eubnganan kada gabii sa pag-eaum nga hidakpan ag hi-aktuhan ro mga gapangmalit.

Nagsueumbaki ro report it daywang ka pulis. Hambae it sambilog kanda hay may mabahoe kuno nga ayam nga umatake kana ag haeos masamad ro anang sapatos. Ro sambato mat-a hay naghambae nga isaeang ka unga nga eaki ro gapangmalit ag nagpaeagas pa raya kana, hasayran na eang do pang-atake nga hatabo sa anang kaibahan pagkaagahon.

Bangud nga sangkiri ro mga pulis, owa gid kami it ibang paagi agud makabantay it mayad sa bilog nga Tigkaeaeag, mayad eang hay matawhay man daya nga natapos. Owa man it mga report parti sa pangmalit, parti sa tawo o sa bisan alin pa man.

Sa mga masunod nga dinumingo, ro mga manugtatap it sementeryo hay nagreneklamo nga naglala pa gid ro pinangmalit. Bisan ro mga musoliyo hay ginpangbringka. Owa man it binuoe sa mga eawas apang suno sa imbestigador hay may mga parti nga pinamaeos sa mga tudlo it siki.

Ro hambae it mga gapangusisa hay isaeang ka sahi it sapat nga gausoy it pagkaon ro nag-ubra kara sa mga eawas.

Ro ibang mga pulis, kapin pa kat naghambae nga ro gapangmalit hay isaeang ka unga nga eaki, hay indi magpati kara. Indi man abi makasarang ro isaeang ka sapat nga bringkahon ro mga kandado it musoliyo. Ag may ginasugid nga abong mga warang ro gaistar sa sementeryo ag sa palibot na kara.

Bangud nga owa man it ebidensiya agud suportahan ro andang mga sugid hay gintapos lang ro kaso. Kada buean, nakakabaton it mga report ro istasyon it kapulisan halin sa mga manugtatap parti sa mga kinutkot nga eubnganan, apang do mga may haega nga mga igdaeapat hay una pa mat-a, apang sa kada report hay pirmi eang may gakaduea kuno nga mga tudlo ag kamaeagko.

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English Version

Case #JKGM 9888

The captain of barangay San Pascual called the police in a state of distress. The call came a week before Undas and there were complaints of vandalism in the nearby cemetery. Two officers were dispatched to investigate.

Based on their reports the vandalism seemed minor. The ground around the graves was disturbed and some coffins were left exposed to the elements. The officers noted that there was nothing valuable in the graves themselves, wedding rings and other expensive objects were still with the remains. Nothing else out of the ordinary was noticed, except for a peculiar lack of thumbs on the bodies that were fully exposed.

The barangay captain insisted on a police presence in the graveyard on the days leading up to Undas. The same officers were sent to guard the graveyard during the night in the hope of catching the vandal in the act.

Conflicting reports from the two officers were submitted. One claimed that a large dog attacked the officers and nearly tore his shoe off. The other officer insisted that he saw the vandal was a young boy and gave chase, he was not aware of the attack on his comrade until the next morning.

Due to the lack of officers we are not able to spare resources to guard the whole Undas, but thankfully the holiday finished peacefully. No reports of vandals, human or otherwise were reported.

The next few weeks caretakers from the cemetery complained of the vandal becoming more bold. Even the mausoleums had been broken into. Nothing was taken from the bodies but a senior investigator noted that parts of the toes appeared to have been torn off.

The conclusion that the inspectors reached is that some sort of animal had been foraging for food and chanced upon the bodies.

Other officers, especially the one that said the vandal was a young boy, disagreed with the conclusion. An animal could not have broken through the mausoleum locks, and there were reports of vagabonds living in and around the cemetery.

With no evidence to support either theory the case was closed. Every few months the station gets calls from the caretakers about graves being dug up, but valuables still remained intact, though with each report the curious description of missing toes and thumbs is highlighted.

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*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 WJ Manares
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © WJ Manares

Umangob Illustration by Erik John Paredes

Inspired by the Ifugao Umangob legends

*Note this story is in Aklanon

Naila gid ako magtinueok sa buean. May ana gid nga misteryo kon ano gid man imaw. Ana baea nga kahayag nga iwag hay para eamang sa mga dapat makakita? Imaw baea hay paadto iya sa kalibutan? Imaw baea hay owa’t katapusan?

Owa gid ako it tyansa nga makahampang sa ibang mga inonga, ginamasakit gid permi o kon amat hay may rason gid nga sa sueod eang ako. Indi ko man madayaw ro kanami it pagbutlak iit adlaw, pero kon sa gabii, sa mga bituon ag sa maeamig nga tiempo, ro buean man lang ro akon amiga. (she)

May istorya ro mga magueang nga kon ro buean kuno hay maduea sa kaeangitan, katapusan eon kuno it kalibutan. Natagbueo ngani ako sa mga istroya ngara kato, nga haman ro buean hay magpundo sa anang owat pundong paghueag? Imaw hay isaeang panamgo nga naging kamatuoran, nga perpektong manugdaea it kahayag.

Ruyon kato, asta sa kahit-an ko ro liyon.

Ginatawag ra nga Arimaonga it mga magueang. Owa ako kasayud kon ano ro akong mangin reaksiyon sa kahadlok nga iya gid sa akong eawas. Mas mabahoe gid ra sa ginapinu-ino ko nga alinman nga sapat. Ag ginabuoe nana ro akon nga nailing buean.

Nagpundo rayon do oras, ginatueok ko nga owa gid it tsansang makabulig sa akong amigang ginakaon it kaeagkong sapat. Pero sa sapat ngara, ro liyon ngara hay nakahampang-hampang eang, owa kasayud nga raya hay maeain ag katapusan eon namon tanan. Sobra god ro kahadlok it buean ngara kaysa sa akon. Batyag ko ro anang kahimtangan nga kaeoeooy samtang sa baba it liyon. Nag-umpisa rayun ako it tangis.

“Buhian it liyon ro buean o kon mangin katapusan eon it kalibutan!”

“Liyon, buhii ro buean o mangin katapusan eon it kalibutan!”

Owa ako kasayud haman nag umpisa ako it hambae ko mga haeambaeon ngato pero nabatyagan kong sakto man, nga kinahang ean gid nga hamabeon.

“Buhian it liyon ro buean o kon mangin katapusan eon it kalibutan!”

Ro iba nga mga kasimanwa ko hay nagsunod man kakon it singgit. Ro mga magueang hay nagpaguwa eon it mga tamboe ag gangsa agud makaabot sa eangit ro sangag.

“Buhian it liyon ro buean o kon mangin katapusan eon it kalibutan!”

Among tutunlan hay sagaesae eon, among ginhawa hay haeos maduea eon pero owa gid kami nagpundo. Indi ko imaw pag-aywanan sa liyon, ro mga tawo iya indi imaw pag-aywanan.

Sa katapusan, binuhian man ko liyon ro buean bangud madya owa gid it katapusan ro gakinatabo. Binuhian imaw ag nagbalik eon sa kaeangitan. Ag ako, isaeang ka but-anon nga onga hay nagpasaeamat sa ginuo bangud ro akon nga amiga hay maeayo eon sa kaeainan.

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English Version

I have always liked staring at the moon. There’s just the mystery of what she is. Does she shine her light only on the worthy? Is she dressed by the stars? Is she eternal?

There was never a chance for me to play with the other children, there was always some sickness or another that kept me indoors. I could never appreciate the sun’s harsh rays, but in the night, among the starlight and the gentle breeze, my only friend was the moon.

The elders tell stories that if the moon were to cease being in the sky, the world would end. I laughed at those stories once upon a time, for how could the moon ever stop her perpetual cycle? She was the dream made into reality, the perfect harbinger of light.

That is, until I saw the lion.

It was called the Arimaonga by the elders. I didn’t know how to react as terror filled my entire body. It was larger than I thought any animal could ever be. And it was clutching my beloved moon.

Time froze then, I stared helplessly as my only friend was being devoured by the beast. In some perverse way, the lion was playing a game, not knowing that it may just be the doom of us all.

She was more scared than I was. I could feel her hopelessness as she was clutched between the jaws of the lion. I started crying then.

“Lion release the moon or the world will come to an end!”

I don’t know why I started saying those words but it felt natural, like they needed to be said.

“Lion release the moon or the world will come to an end!”

The other villagers stared joining me in the chant. The elders brought out their drums and gongs to make the noises reach the heavens.

“LION RELEASE THE MOON OR THE WORLD WILL COME TO AN END!”

Our throats were hoarse, our breath almost gone but we did not stop. I will not abandon her to the lion, this village will not abandon her.

The lion finally released the moon after what seemed like an eternity. She clutched her sides and resumed her track along the heavens.

And I, a humble child thanked the gods that my only friend was safe.

————————–————————–————————-

*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 Lari Sabangan
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Lari Sabangan

Inspired by the Arimaonga description in  Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths. Eugenio. 2001.

Arimaonga illustration by Lou Pineda
IG: https://www.instagram.com/blacknivalis/

*Note this story is in Aklanon

Kato anay hay may isaea ka mangangayam nga nakasaea. Gin eagas nana ro sapat nga anang inugdakop sa tagudtud it Daeogdog, isaeang ka bukid kun siin ga-istar ro mga dyos. Ro pinaka makakagahom sa tanan nga dyos ngara hay si Gamhanan. Imaw hay may pinasahi nga alaga nga si Panigotlo, isaeang ka usa nga kaputi-puti ag may mahanggod nga mga sungay. Sa isang haboy it saeapang, gin bawian ro sapat it kabuhi.

Kato anay hay may isaeang ka baryo nga wa’t mahimo. Ro paghuma ni Panigotlo miyentras bilog ro buean hay gakahueogan it bugana nga adlaw para sa pagtanum sa pagka-aga. Tanan hay naghinugyaw. Pero ro kasadyahan hay gulping nagpundo sa pagkakita nanda it tawong gapaeapit halin sa tabok it suba. Si Dagasanan nga mangangayam, ginapas-an ro baghok ko alaga ni Gamhanan. Indi nanda hibaton ro grabeng saea ngara. Ililimaw sanda nga bumuoe ko andang mga bangkaw ag mga sanduko ag ginpatay nanda si Dagasanan sa may suba. Dato man ro ginubra nanda sa anang ama sa andang baeay.

Kato anay hay may isaeang ka kaeag nga nagahamdom it pagbaeos. Ro kaeag ni Dagasanan nga mangangayam hay indi gid himayang. May puno it inyam nga nagtubo sa pungsod kun siin imaw namatay. Sa handong ko mga sanga, dikato imaw nagapanukot. Isaeang ka unga nga taga baryo ro gabayad sa gin-ubra ko anang mga ninuno. Isaeang ka unga kada dag-on, hasta’t hibatyagan man it banwa ro kasakit it andang kahisa.

Kato anay hay may isaeang ka easkit nga wa gapati sa mga kahaeadlok nga sugilanon. Gin huyo-huyo imaw ko anang mga amigo nga mageangoy sa may puno it inyam pero ginhibaygan eang nana sanda. Hambae nana nga tal-it sanda dahil gapinati sanda sa mga istorya it andang mga lolo ag lola. Sayod nana nga iba imaw. Nga imaw ro pinaka maisog kandang tanan. Wa’t paduha-duha nga nageumpat imaw sa tubi.

Hasta makaron hay may parte gihapon sa isaeang ka suba sa Akean nga ro pangaean hay Dagasanan. Suno kanda, ro daguno halin sa mga bato hay ro anang kaeag nga gaueahab sa kasakit, hamtang gausoy ko anang masunod nga biktima.

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English Version

There was once a hunter who made a terrible mistake. He searched for his quarry in the shadow of Mount Daeogdog, where the gods of his people lived. The most powerful of all the gods was Gamhanan, and he had a special pet. This favored creature of the great god was called the Panigotlo, a pristine, white deer with full antlers. One spear was all it took to silence the majestic sound of this enchanted creature.

There was once a village that had no choice. A full moon and the bleating of the Panigotlo signaled an abundant day for planting the next morning. The festivities and merriment suddenly stopped when they saw a figure approaching across the river. The hunter, Dagasanan, had on his shoulders the carcass of Gamhanan’s pet. They all knew that they could not abide by this sacrilege of the great god. The villagers took their spears and swords and slew Dagasanan by the river and his father in their home.

There was once a spirit that thirsted for vengeance. On the spot where Dagasanan was killed, an inyam tree grew. The hunter’s ghost would not know rest. The tree cast a shadow and on that spot his hunger for revenge would be sated. One child of the village would pay for what their ancestors had done. A child every year until the villagers would know the pain that he felt when his friends betrayed him.

There was once a boy who didn’t believe in ghost stories. His friends dared him to swim by the inyam tree and all he did was laugh. The boy called his friends cowards for believing in the stories that their lolos and lolas told them. He knew he was different and the bravest of their group, so he took the challenge and jumped in the water.

There is still a part of a river in Aklan named after the hunter, Dagasanan and an inyam tree that people avoid. They say that the loud noises that come from the rocks are his spirit crying in pain, looking for his next victim.

————————–————————–————————

*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 Chi Payba-Suarez
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Chi Payba-Suarez

Story Adapted from ‘Legend of Aklan’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Dagasanan Illustration and Watercolor by Robert Rañosa Del Prado

*Note this story is in Aklanon

Sang una hay may isaeang ka dyos nga Gamhanan ro pangaean. Imaw ro makakagahum sa tanan — taga-tao it kabuhi, kahamungayaan, ag pangabuhi-an. Gaistar imaw sa bukid it Daeogdog, kaibahan ro ibang mga dyos. Idto imaw gadumaea ko sang kalibotan — gatao it kabuhi ag gakastigo sa mga gakasaea nga tawo.

Sa ulihi, si Gamhanan hay magapadaea it bunok ag grabi ka init sa mga tawo nga indi magtuman sa anang sugo. Sanda nga indi magtao it maayos nga haead sa anang eungib hay gaba-an gid.

Sang una hay may una nga panigotlo, ay Gamhanan nga pinaeabing alaga. Nag-alagwa imaw patabok it suba nga mat kahayag it dasig. Grabi katahum ro rayang sapat nga uwa it sin-o man nga mangisip nga sakitun da. Isaeang ka rason hay nahadlok sanda sa kaakig ni Gamhanan. Euwas karon, ro huma it panigotlo hay nagatao it kataeagman.

Sa ulihi, ro panigotlo, bilang taga daea it timgas nga ani ag dibwenas, hay magahuma sa pinaka-ulihing bisis bag-o ro pag ugsad it buean. Ro mga tao sa banwa hay gapangalipay mentras gapreparar ko andang haead sa magagahom nga dyos ag sa anang alaga.

Sang una, may kalipay ag kahayag. Ro panigotlo hay wa it inugkabaeaka sa mga tawo na nagapalibot sa bukid it Daeogdog dahil imaw hay pinaeabi ag nagatao it kataeagman.

Sa ulihi, ro matahum nga sapat hay hapatay it isaeang ka pobreng mangangayam nga si Dagasanan. Ro anang puting baeahibo hay may mantsa eon it dugo, tubtub sa katubtuban. Indi eon hibatian ro anang huma nga gakahueogan it bugana ag katuyo-an. Indi eon it uman imaw mag pabat-oe it baha o kahuga-an.

Sang una, may isaeang ka magagamhanang dyos ag anang alaga.

Sa ulihi, ro mga tao hay nagbayad sa andang utang.

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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.

————————–————————–————————–

*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 Chi Payba-Suarez
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Chi Payba-Suarez

Inspired by the Panigotlo description in ‘A Legend of Aklan’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Panigotlo Illustration by Julius Advincula
IG: https://www.instagram.com/subhelic

*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….

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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