*Note this story is in Bicol Naga

Tighiling ni Manay Paul an surat na tigwalat ni Lolo Ambo saiya. Gusto niya mang respetuhon an mga kagustuhan ni Lolo Ambo, masakit. Kaipuhan niyang ipabakal an daga para may kwarta sinda maglipat sa ibang lugar para sa kinabukasan kan saiyang pamilya. Naglakaw si Paula sa kahoy nin Balate sa may boundary kan uma. Mayong ilaw sa mga sanga ngunyan na banggi. Dae niya sigurado kun an ibig sabihun kaini na kung mahali man an mga tao sa kahoy.

“Sorry.” Nagdadakol na an mga luha sa mata ni Paula. “Aram ko na pinangako ni Lolo Ambo na mayong mangyayri sa saindong kahoy asin pinakiulay niya na gibuhon mi an pangakong ito, pero kaipuhan kong pilion an ikakarahay kan sakong pamilya. May makulog si Lila, dae mi kaya mabakal an saiyang bulong. Si Roberto, dae makahanap trabaho. Ako…ako ang ina, kaipuhan kong itao sa sakuyang mga aki an magayon na buhay sainda.” Tigpunasan ni Paula an saiyang mga luha, “Patawadon nindo ako.”

Maliwanag an bulan sa madiklom na langit. Oras na an nakaagi asin mayong nangyari. Mayong senyas, mayong senyas na pwede magsabi na nadangog kan mga tao sa kahoy an saiyang sinabi. Dae niya aram kung ano ang pwede mangyari pero sana may sabihon sinda saiya ning dawa ano. Kung anuman.

Naghalat siya hanggang aga asin pagkatapos, naglaog siya sa saiyang harong, nagpuon nang mag-impake.

Tulong bulan na an nakaagi, tigmamasdan ni Manay Paula an saiyang mga aki, ngunyan nanaman lang siya naugma ni arog kaini sa kahaluyan nin panahon. Nagdadalgan si Lila kaiba an saiyang mga pinsan. Nagirumduman ni Manay Paula kung gano kaluya ang itsura kan aking babae sa ospital asin nagsabi sya nin pangadyi ning pasasalamat na maluhay sana. Nagtukaw siya asin pinunan niyang gibuhon an tradisyon niyang pagkakaaga-an magbasa nin diyaryo.

An headline, “Bagong Kaganapan Sa Rali Kan Mga Nagpoprotesta” na mayo mang pinagbago; naakusahan nin korapsyon an kumpanyang nagpapatugdok kaiba an mga lokal na opisyales para dae na ninda pansinun an kararatan na dulot kaini sa kapaligiran, pero may sarong letrato na halos nagpatindog ki Paula sa saiyang pagkatukaw.

Letrato in ikan sarong magayon na aking babae na nakapula habang nanginginutan sa mga nagpoprotesta laban sa bulldozer.

Nagngirit si Manay Paula. Kaya man pala ninda an saindang mga sadiri.

=——————=

Engilsh Version

Manang Paula looked at the letter that Lolo Ambo left her. As much as she wanted to respect his wishes, times were hard. She had to sell the land to have enough money to move where it would be a better future for her family. Paula walked to the Balete tree in the edge of the field. There weren’t any lights in the branches tonight. She didn’t know if that meant the people in the tree were going toleave as well.

“I’m sorry.” The tears were starting to swell up in Paula’s eyes. “I know that Lolo Ambo promised that nothing would happen to your tree, and he asked all of us to keep that promise alive, but I have to choose what’s best for my family. Lila is sick and we can’t even afford her medicine anymore. Roberto can’t find a job. I… I am a mother and I need to give my children the life they deserve.”

Paula wiped away the tears from her cheek, “Please forgive me.

The moon was still in the night sky. Hours passed and nothing happened. There was no sign, nothing to tell Paula that the people in the tree heard her. She didn’t know what to expect, but she had hoped that they would tell her something. Anything.

She waited by the tree until morning and afterwards, she went to her house and started packing.

Three months later, Manang Paula was looking at her children and she was happy for the first time in a long while. Lila was running around playing with her cousins, Manang Paula remembered how weak her little girl looked in the hospital bed and she said a soft prayer of thanksgiving. She sat down and started her morning tradition of reading the newspaper.

The headline read “Protesters Rally New Development” which wasn’t surprising; the construction company had been accused of bribing the local officials so they could ignore the environmental destruction they were causing, but a certain picture almost made Manang Paula jump out of her seat.

It was of a beautiful girl in red leading the protesters against a bulldozer.

Manang Paula smiled. They could take care of themselves after all.

————————–————————–————————–

*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 Angela Arnante
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Angela Arnante

Inspired by ‘The Fairy of Balete Tree’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Mariang Ilaya Illustration by Laura Katigbak
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The post Mariang Ilaya – Bicol Naga Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bicol Naga

“Unfair ini” an hibi ni Sasha ay nag-echo sa kakahuyan. Tighiling niya an siyang letrato kaiba an saiyang mahal sa buhay. Ex-love, tigkorek niya an sadiri. Dae sya makapaniwala sa nangyari, kung papano nadurog an saiyang puso asin kung papano niya ini ibabalik.

Alas tres nin maagahon, aram niya na an saiyang pamilya ay nahahadit na saiya pero mayo siyang pake. An siyang kulog, iyo sana an totoo sa saiyang buhay asin dae niya aram kung papanohon ini. Puro kasinungalingan sana an gabis niyang sinabi? Pantasiya sana an mga oras na ibahan sinda? O takot lamang siyang tanggapon na dae man talaga sya namomotan saiya?

Dae niya kaya, habo niyang isipon an bagay n aini. Gusto niya na lang magkamang sa sarong labot asin Magadan. Mayo naming tada para saiya. At least sa mundong ini. Iniisip niya na mas maray para sa gabos kung tapuson niya na an buhay niya.

Dae napansin ni Sasha an ambon na namumuo sa kataed niya. Dae niya pati na narisa na mayo na siya sa kakahuyan. Nagbabagong anyo an ambon habang siya naghihibi. Luhay-luhay sanang may nabuong hugis nin babae habang pinapatahan an sadiri sa tahaw nin kakulgan.

“Aram mo, dae siya nararapat saimo.” Nagtingala si Sasha asin may nahiling siyang magayon na babae na garo nabuo hale sa ambon nin kagubatan. Kadaklan siguro mahuhmaling sa kababalaghan na ini pero sabi ni Sasha, na may halong pait sa saiyang boses, “Pabayaan moa ko. Dae moa ram kung ano sinasabi mo.”

“Sa hiling ko mas dakol ang aram ko kaysa saimo.” An aparisyo ay nagluwa ning kapidaso nin tela, “Uni, punasa mo luha mo.”

“Pano mo nasabi?” Kinua man sana ni Sasha an kapidasong tela. Dae niya aram kun siisay o ano ito. Baka multo, baka guni-guni, pero mayo na siyang pakiram. Dawa gadanon pa siya kaini, mapapamray pa an saeyang pagmati. Mayo na siyang boot para aramon.

“Hali na ako diyan,” sabi kan babae habang nakahiling kay Sasha pero mate ni Sasha na garo lagpas an paghiling kaini saiya. “An minamahal ko sa buhay ay namoot sa sakuyang tugang na babae.”

“Sako, winalat ako, pinalit sako an bestfriend ko.” Dae bisto ni Sasha kung siisya ni pero ngunyan garo mate niya na pamilyar an ispiritu.

“Dae.” Sigurado an ispirirtu sa saiyang pagkasabi, namate nanaman ni Sasha an pagkadurog kan sarong parte kan saiyang puso. “Pero padagos ka pa  man giraray.”

“Pinano mo magpadagos kun sobrang kulog?” Mahigpit an pagkakapot ni Sasha sa tela asin napaluha nanaman siya.

“Iyo ta bako yan an katapusan.” Kinaputan kan babae an saiyang kamot asin nahiling ni Sasha an pagkamakulog sa saiyang mga mata. “Permeng may ibang katapusan, dawa ika pa magsurat.”

Naglaho na sana an babae asin nawalat nanaman nin solo si Sasha.

=—————————–=

English Version

“It’s not fair,” Sasha’s sobs echoed through the forest. She looked straight into the picture of her and her love. Ex-love, she corrected herself. She couldn’t believe what had happened, how her hear broke into a million little shards and how she didn’t think she could put them back together again.

It was 3am, she knew that her family would be worried about her, but she didn’t care. Her pain wasthe only real thing in her life now and she didn’t know how to deal with it. Was everything he said a lie? Was all the time they spent together a fantasy? Was she just afraid to face the truth that he was never in love with her?

She couldn’t, didn’t want to think about any of this. She just wanted to crawl into a hole and die. There wasn’t anything left for her. Not in this world anyway. She thought it would be best for everyone if she just ended it all.

Sasha didn’t notice the fog build up next to her. She probably didn’t even realize she was in the forest anymore. The dew and the mist were changing next to her, in between her tears. The softly formed into a woman’s form, all while she was seeking comfort in the pain she held close to her.

“He isn’t worth it you know.” Sasha looked up from her hands and she saw a beautiful woman, almost formed out of the mist of the forest. Most people would marvel at this supernatural wonder, but Sasha just held a hint of bitterness in her voice as she said, “Leave me alone. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I think I know more than you know.” The apparition brought out a piece of cloth, “Here, this should dry your tears.”

“How would you know?” Sasha took the cloth anyway. She didn’t know who—or what this was. Maybe a ghost, maybe a hallucination, but she didn’t care. Even if this thing came to kill her, it would be a welcome relief from what she was feeling. She couldn’t find the will to care anymore.

“I’ve been there,” the woman was now looking at her, though it seemed to Sasha that she was looking through her. “The love of my life fell in love with my sister.”

“Mine left me for my best friend.” Sasha didn’t know who this was, but now she sensed a kindred spirit. “Does it get any easier?” She didn’t know what to ask, but she knew that she wanted to keep talking.

“No.” The spirit was firm in her voice, Sasha felt a piece of her heart break again. “But you keep going anyway.”

“How can you when it hurts so much?” Sasha gripped the cloth in her hands and felt the tears start to come again.

“Because it’s never the end.” The woman held her hands this time and Sasha could see the sincerity in her eyes. “There’s always another ending, even if you have to write it yourself.”

With that, the woman vanished and Sasha was left alone again.

————————–————————–————————–—-

*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 Angela Arnante
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Angela Arnante

Story inspired by ‘Mariang Binokong’ in Negros Oriental and Siquijor Island Legends, Beliefs and Folkways. Aldecoa-Rodriguez. 2000.

Mariang Binokong Illustration by Nadine Cabe
Tumblr: http://nadinecabe.tumblr.com/

The post Mariang Binokong – Bicol Naga Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga

Bagong inagihan na daga, raraot na masetas. dugo. Hali ito digdi.

Duwang bulan na an nakaagi puon kang nag-ekpedisyon. Duwang bulan asin mayong nakuang marhay kundi saralang impormasyon, mayong laog na kagubutan asin mayong padudumanan na lakaw, pero ngunyan may pagkakataon na madakop ito. An bagong dakulang mammal species, pinakaenot na arog kadto an nadiskubre sa laog kan sanggatos na taon, magiging sikat kami.

Garo kabaliwan nin tulong tawo an paghahanap kaini pero gabos ini para sa funding asin dae ako nagrereklamo, marhay si Johann sa pag-survey asin aram na maray ni Manuel an lugar kaya marahay an samong kalagayan.

“Baka mas marhay na subukan ta man an ibang lugar sa may gilid kang dagat ta baka yaon ito duman.” Nadangog kong sinabi ni Manuel sa harayo.

“Dae ko aram kung okay yan, hababa man grade ko perme sa Marine Science.” Nagsabi nanaman si Johann kan saro sa mga baduy niyang jokes. Pero okay lang para dae boring ang paghahanap kaya pinabayaan ko na sana.

Naghiling ako sa palibot asin pigmasidan ko an destruksyon na winalat kaidtong hayop na ito asin dae ko masabutan. Garo ini herbivore, garo man sana normal nab aka, pero an saiyang hiru-hiro garo halos nangangakan. An sadit na usa ay garo halos marunot kan darakulan ngipon na garo tingo. Siguro napasala an mga local ti baad ini ay sarong klase ning mabangis na elepante na pwedeng magkaag sako sa cover nin magazine. Tigtago ko muna an sakuyang excitement asin pinagirumduman ko ang sakuynag sadiri na dae muna magselebrar. Kaipuhan kong maghalat.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGH” Nadangong ko ang kurahaw ni Johann hali sa likod kasunong kang lagatob nin bitis ning garo kabayo.

Bako ining tama. Papanong dae mi ini nadangog. Ibinangga kan hayop na ito si Johann sa kahoy asin nabanga an saiyang hawak habang tigngunguya kaini an saiyang braso. Nahihiling ko na ngunyan an saiyang buong hawak. Mabalahibong balat, mga dakulang pangil, dae ko aram kung garo ini baka o ano. Pero siguradong nagkakan ini nin karne. Asin mapanganib.

Luhay-luhay akong nagrayo, para dae mapansin kan hayop na marikas an hiro, pero bigla na sana akong nagpundo sa paglakaw. Pigbutasan kan hayop an braso kang sakuyang amigo asin luhay-luhay na naglakaw paduman sako. Nakahiling in isa sakuyang mata asin mayo pa akong nahiling nin mata na arog kaini sa mga hayop. Garo ini tao. Pighiling ako kaining hayop asin garo ini nakangirit sako.

Binadil ni Manuel an hayop gamit an shotgun asin nagrayo man ini pero takot pa girarary ako. Dae ka maihahanda kan eskwelahan sa arog kadtong kabangisan. Nagdalagan siya sakuya para aramon kung okay lang ako pero sa hiling ko dae ko kaya.

“Kaipuhan tang maghali bago ini magbalik.” Kinakabahan na ako asin iyo na sana ito an sakuyang nakayang sabihon.

“Dae na ito mabalik, na-shock ka lang.” Pinapakalma ako ni Manuel.

“Dae mo naiintindihan.” An sakuyang boses ay nanginginig na, masakitun mabuo an mga tataramon pero kaipuhan syang ma-warningan.

“Sa hiling ko tighahanting kita.”

==————————————-==

English Version

Fresh tracks, broken shrubs, blood. It’s been through here.

Two months since we started the expedition. Two months and nothing but false leads, empty forests and aimless treks, but now we have the chance to catch it. A new large mammal species, the first of its kind discovered this century, we’ll all be famous.

A team of 3 trying to find this thing seems crazy, but it’s all our funding could get us and I’m not complaining, Johann’s good at surveys and Manuel knows the area pretty well so we’ve been in good shape.

“Maybe we should try the areas around the coast, it might be by the seaside.” I hear Manuel say from a distance.

“I don’t know about that, my grade in Marine Science was always below C-Level.” Johann says another one of his terrible puns, but it helps clear the boredom of another day of tracking so I let it pass.

I look around and survey the destruction the thing left in its path and it just doesn’t make sense. It looks like an herbivore, just like a normal cow, but its behavior is almost predatory. Small deer were crushed by large teeth and what almost looks like tusks. Maybe the locals were mistaken and this may be a kind of aggressive elephant… that may get me a lot of magazine covers. I shrug off my excitement and remind myself not to count my chickens before they hatch. I need to be patient.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGH” I hear Johann’s scream from behind me followed by the thumping of hooves.

No. This isn’t right. How could we not have heard it. The thing smashes Johann into a tree and breaks him in half before chewing on his arm. I can see it now, in full flesh. Hairy, rough skin, giant fangs that are like tusks, I can’t tell if it’s bovine or something else. But it’s definitely a meat eater. And hostile.

I slowly move away, trying not to alarm the animal with fast movement, but I stop dead in my tracks. The thing calmly dropped my friend’s arm and walked towards me, calmly. It looked me in the eye and I swear its eyes weren’t like anything I’ve ever seen an animal possess. It was almost human. The thing looked me over and it was almost like it was smiling at me.

Manuel fired a few rounds from his shotgun and it scared the beast away, but I was still shaken. A lecture hall can never prepare you for that kind of savagery. He rushes to my side and tries to see if I’m okay, but I don’t think I can be.

“We need to leave before it comes back.” My voice is shaking and it’s the only thing I can manage to say.

“It’s not going to come back, you’re just in shock.” Manuel tries to reassure me.

“You don’t understand.” My voice is trembling now, it’s hard to me to form the words, but he needs to be warned.

“I think it’s hunting us.”

————————–————————–———————–

*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 Angela Arnante
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Angela Arnante

Story inspired by the Mantahungal entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Mantahungal illustration by Leandro Geniston fromAklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

The post Mantahungal – Bicol Naga Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Tahan na aki ko, ipirong mo na an saimong mga mata, dae na maghadit, magiging okay kita.” Inaalalayan kan babae an saiyang tulak para siguraduhon na ligtas an saiyang aki.”

“Sana dae ka maging arog ni ama mo, dae ka maging maraoton asin makanuson arog kadtong ibang lalaki, perme sanang hanap an bagay na ito tapos mahali kapag nakua na ninda.” An sabi ngani ninda, ‘Boys will be boys’, pero dae ninda nasasabutan na an mga babae an permeng nawawalat.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Aram ko na medyo banggi na pero kaipuhan ni mama magluwas para gibuhon an saiyang dapat gibuhon. Kaipuhan niyang ipahiling sa mga mararaot na lalaki na dae ninda basta-basta winawalat an mga babae. Maraot an mundo sa luwas at may reserba akong kabayolentehan para sa inda. “

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Iyo ta nararapat yan sainda. An saindang ati an naglaog sako. Inosente man sana akong daraga na may kinabukasan pero nguyan uni ako. Uni kita. Pareho kitang nakalubong asin magkaibahan hanggang sa wakas kan panahon, pero kung magiging arog ako kaini, dae ko kaipuhan magsakit nin solo.

Kukuanon ko an pinakaimportanteng bagay na igwa sinda. An saindang pinakahahalagahang pagkalalake asin magiging kaugmahan ko an pagdalan kan saindang pagkaubos nin dugo.

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Shhh, shhh. Dae na matakot. Yaon na si mama. Sisiguraduhun niya na ligtas an mundo sa mga mararaot na lalaki. Aram mo mabubuhay kuta kita kung bako lang dahil sainda. Kuta pwede kita mag-ibahan, ika asin ako, laban sa mundo na naghulma sato.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Tahan na! May nahiling akong lalaki padigdi. Dae na maghadit, dae man ini mahaloy. Pagktapos pwede ka nang makikawat ki mama ah? Dae na magribok ta sasalubungon ko na siya.”

=—————————-=

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Hush little child, close your eyes, don’t worry we will be alright.” The woman holds her belly tight, making sure that her child is safe.

“Please don’t be like your father, don’t be like any of those hideous men, always looking for one thing then leaving when they get it. ‘Boys will be boys’ they always say, but they never realize that girls are always going to be the ones left behind.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“I know it may seem late, but mommy’s going out to do what she has to do. She has to let all those evil men know that you can’t just leave women behind. It’s a cruel world out there and I reserve a special kind of cruelty for them.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Because they deserve it. It was their filth that entered me. I was just an innocent young woman, with her whole life ahead of her, and now here I am. Here we are. We were buried together and we will be together until the end of time, but if I have to be this way, then I will not suffer alone.

I will take what they think is the most important thing that they have. Their precious ‘manhood’ and I will enjoy watching them bleed out.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Shhh, shhh. I didn’t mean to scare you. But it’s okay, mama’s here. She’ll make sure the world is safe from those cruel men. We could have lived you know? If not for them. We could have been together just you and me, against the world that made us what we are.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Now hush! I see a man on his way. Now don’t worry this won’t take long. And afterwards you can play with mama alright? Now stay quiet while I go say hello.”

————————–————————–————————–—

*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 Angela Arnante
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Angela Arnante

Inspired by the Mantiyanak legends from Mindanao

Mantiyanak illustration by Julia Kristen Delos Santos
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The post Mantiyanak – Bicol Naga Transaltion appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bicol

Magabat sa pagmati kan preso an kadena sa saiyang mga kamot. Dinara siya sa bagong kwarto. Sa paglaog niya siya sa palasyo, aram niya na magagdan siya. Kapatalan an pagkonsiderar sa pagduman sa ciudad nin Buso pero nakataya an saiyang kamuwarayan. Kung nahabon niya lang kuta.

Maliwanag an mga sulo sa kwarto pero mayo an mga ini kumpara sa liyab kan liwanag na hali sa trono. Nadangog na kan preso an mga istorya tungkol sa nilalang pero mayong tataramon an makakataong hustisya sa katataktan na nakatukaw sa atubangan niya.

Nagtuturo an dugo hali sa ngabil kan Datu. Nakadangog an preso nin nakakasukang tanog. Tigtitigan siya kan Datu kan saiyang sarong pulang mata. Garo may tigsabi ini sa saiyang lenggwahe. Tigtanggal an mga kadena kan preso. Dae niya aram kung anong nangyari pero bako ining maray.

Nagtaong agihan an mga gwardya asin winalat na bukas an pintuan. Nagdalagan an preso. Dae niya papalampason an pagkakataon na ini. Kung pinapadulag man siya, ini an gusto ninda mangyari. Kung ini ay iba man, maray na na may pagkakataon siya.

Harani na siya sa luwas bago siya nilamon kan dakulang kalayo.

May pulso nin sulo an garing na tambuli kan Datu. Kinua niya an payo kan preso asin kinakan niya ini. Tano daw ta perme tigkakawatan kan Datu an saiyang pagkakan, sa paghorop-horop kan mga gwardya. Pero dae na lang sinda nagtaram. Nagigibo kan hadi an anuman na gusto niyang gibuhon.

————————–————————–————————–

English Version

The chains felt heavy on the prisoner’s wrists. He was led into a new room. The prisoner knew that he was already dead the moment he stepped in the palace. It was foolish of him to even consider going to the city of the Buso, but he knew glory was on the line. If only he had managed to steal it.

The torches in the room were burning brightly, but they were dwarfed by the blaze radiating from the throne. The prisoner had only heard stories about this creature, but those words could not do justice to the horror that sat before him.

Blood dripped from the Datu’s mouth. The prisoner heard a sickening crunch and the Datu stared at him with its one red eye. It mumbled something in its language and the prisoner’s chains were set loose. He wasn’t sure what was happening, but, with his luck, it wasn’t something good.

The buso guards gave way and left the doorway open. The prisoner ran. He wasn’t going to let his chance go to waste. If they were letting him go then this was what they wanted, if this was something else then he would at least have a chance.

He almost got to the courtyard before a large flame overtook him.

The Datu’s ivory horn pulsed with flame. It grabbed the prisoner’s head and started eating. The guards wondered why the Datu always played with his food, but they kept silent. Royalty does what it will.

————————–————————–———————–

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Tagalog Translation by Angela Arnante
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Angela Arnante

Inspired by the Datu of the Buso description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Datu of the Buso Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

The post Datu of the Buso – Bicol Naga Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.