*Note this story is in Kapampangan

“Kailangan tamung magpatuluy,” Pamilitan nakung Manuel a ilabas miya ini oneng kapagal ku na rugung mayap. Pilang oras na kaming magbiyahi ot bala mu ala nang kasigarudwan ing kaligtasan mi bala mu inyang mete ya I Johann.

Mamiliksi ya ing pusu ku, eku balu nung nokarin, pero magmasid ya ini kekatamu. Bala mamyalungan la deng Mantahungal king pamangan da, adadaramdam ming adwang Manuel ing tunug da reng bitis panga susubukan ming magpaynawa.

Matalik neng tatalnan Manuel ing keyang baril, maski makananu yang katni ining bageng ayni, ala yang katumbas king masaleseng pangapwestung bala, pero mas mayap ne ing ligtas kesa king pamagsisi. Likwan nana katang Johann unya ing pamagkamali ay ali na pwedi uli mung king bageng a yan.

Kalibutad nana ning bengi at mitmu ya ing bulan. Mamye yang saup ing sala na at akit miya ing dalan kening kagubatan. Patnubayan na kaming Manuel papunta king baybayin, dakal kuweba king lugar at king metung karin na kami mu magpalipas mangang sumala. Mamagasa ku rugung pagal la deng Mantahungal at munta na la sa jang nokarin.

Akakit ng Manuel nung makananu ku asnang kapagal saka na kami dininang limang minutu para magpaynawa bayu magpatuluy. King puntung ayni, akakit kung makananu ya bababa ing sala ning bulan king gabun siping ning baybayin at migbuntung pangisnawa ku king kaginhawan. Makalwal kaming mabiye keni pangayari ning e gana-gana.

Ene man masakit pantunan ining kuweba. Kayari ning kapitnang oras, king lugud ning sitwasyun mekagawa kaming bala kampu saka kami magpasalamat uling dakal kami pang kagamitan. Mikasundu kaming adwang Manuel na palitan kami king pamagbante, para alertu kami nung sakaling datang lareng Mantahungal at masaguli yamu ing proteksyun.

Yaku ing minunang magbante, asna nang kabayat ining baril karening gamat ku, pero patuluy yamung papatnube I Manuel kekami king kagubatan. Dapat mu kaya ing magpaynawa, magbante ku king palub na ning kuweba, pilan namu namang oras aslag ne din ing aldo, karin mi pa abalu nung makananu na ing gawan.

“Bala mapagal na ka,” pangaramdam ku king metung a babaing menibat king nokarin. Pota a-iisip ke mu ing pakaniti, alang masyadung tau keni, at mapagal nakung mayap para king kalinohan kung misip.

“Ssssh.. oras nana ning pamanudtud,” dimdam kung pasibayu, kakaiba ya ngeni mas maginhawa ya at mulit-mulit ya king kueba.

“Magpaynawa na ka, masalese yamu ing e ganagana,” kanyan, babayat no reng mata ku. Ajang makaramdam kung bage-bage alang pamigkaliwa. Gumising naku mu kaybat.

Sera kuno deng mata ku.

Niting sala ning abak daretsu ya king lupa ku saka ku megising, bala mu masalese naman, ene man meistorbu ing palub saka bala likwan dana kami deng Mantahungal.

Atin metung a problema.

Alayu ne.

=——————-=

English Version

“We need to keep moving,” Manuel tries to encourage me to keep going but I’m too tired. We’ve been running for hours and it doesn’t seem like we’re any safer than when Johann died.

My heart is racing. I don’t know where it is, but I know it’s watching us. The Mantahungal seems to like playing with its food, Manuel and I can hear the sound of its hooves whenever we try to rest.

Manuel holds his shotgun close and no matter how smart this thing is, it won’t be a match for a well-placed bullet, but it’s better to be safe and sorry. We already lost Johann and there’s no way we’re going to make any mistakes with that thing around.

It’s already midnight and the moon is full.  The added light helps us move through the jungle. Manuel’s leading us toward the coast, there are caves in the area and we can stay in one of them for shelter until the morning comes. I hope by then the Mantahungal gets tired and moves on to something else.

Manuel can see how tired I am and he gives us five minutes to rest before we continue. At this point I can see the moonlight settling on the sand at the beach and I breathe a sigh of relief. We’re going to make it out of here alive after all.

The cave wasn’t hard to find. Within half an hour we were able to set up something resembling a camp and thankfully we still had all our supplies. Manuel and I decided on taking turns keeping watch. We would be able to hear the Mantahungal if it entered the cave, making it easier to defend ourselves.

I take the first shift, the shotgun feels heavy in my hands, but Manuel’s been leading us through the jungle for hours. He deserves a break. I take position by the cave entrance and wait. Sunrise should be in a few hours anyway and we can figure out what we’re going to do then.

“You seem tired.” I hear a woman’s voice from somewhere. I’m probably hearing things. This whole are is supposed to be uninhabited. I’m too tired to think clearly anyway.

“Sssshh. It’s time to go to sleep.” I hear the voice again. This time it sounds a lot calmer. I can hear it echoing through the cave.

“Go rest, everything’s all right.” I can feel my eyelids getting heavier. Even if I am hearing things a few minutes won’t make a difference. I’ll just wake up right after.

I close my eyes.

The morning sun hits my face and wakes me up. Everything seems to be okay, the entrance is undisturbed and looks like the Mantahungal left us alone. I decide to wake Manuel up and plan our next move.

There’s only one problem.

He’s gone.

=———————————=

*Note this story is in Kapampangan

Keng balen na ning Igbahay, makatuknang ya ing metung mausisang nilalang. Anyang banwa na ning Guino, 1539, linusub de reng tau ing bale na nitang marok a tau na awsang dang Talagman. Keng baleng ayta ikit do reng makapangilabut na bage. Metung kareng peka-aliwang dili itang uwak na ating tukang kasing taram na ning kutsilyu, ating yang apat a makakabang bitis, kuku, ampong tusuk.

Ngeni, sabi da reng memalen, ining nilalang ayni atin yapang kayabeng metung mas marok a nilalang. Keng sobrang karok ng Talagman, kinalat ing sabi-sabi na metung ya kanung Sigbin. Anyang panaun ayta, paniwalan da na ing Sigbin metung yang tau na magdalang sobrang karokan at kasakitan manibatan keng kayang pisalikutang lugar.

Atin lapang istorya reng memalen na metung kanung aldo atin masikan a lalaking menakit kang Talagman na kasalungsungang gagawang marok a bage anya itang lalaking ayta pinutut ne balugbug i Talagman. Ngeni, kanitang aldong ayta megi neng tradisyun kareng memalen na ning Igbahay, detang taung awsang dang Ibajaos, deng lalaki sadya dong paputut reng karelang kailing balugbug. Ing panyaptang dang ayni paniwalang dang makalakong bisa ketang kasunduwan na nitang Sigbin ampo nitang Espiritu na awsang dang Oag. Ining Oag ayni metung yang nilalang na mamyeng laru na makapamyeng sikanan keng metung a tau para magi yang Sigbin.

Makanita ya karok i Talagman, na mangaman ngeni, reng tau pane dang istorya da nung makananung ing kayang lawe malyari yang makapamyeng kasakitan kareng menakit. Pane de muring istorya nung makananung deng akakit I Talagmang deng karelang kanunuhan na kukwang basyu at didinan neng laru ing kayang katawan. Sinulapo ya keng angin at melakwan ya ing kapitna na ning kayang katawan keng bale.

Ing karokan at katsurang ugali ng Talagman pante ya ketang awsan ng Uac-Uac, ing kayang kaluguran. Ining uwak ah mamyeng disgrasya ayni panwalan de muring mamateng biktima pauli na ning pamanyaksak keng karelang gulut gamit ing mataram ng tuka kabang kukutkut ne ing kayang kuku keng laman na ning tau. Pauli na ning sobrang tula keng pamamanyeng kasakitan kareng tau, sadya lang susulapo kayabe na ning kayang among Sigbin para manintung laman na ning taung karelang pikutkutang kuku.

Ining istoryang ayni dinalan a banwa ne ing milabas, oneng magpanggang ngeni mapali ya parin keng panimanman da reng tau. Patye ikit me ing uac-uac a apat a bitis, mingat ka uling paniguradung kayabe ne at atyu yamu nung lokarin ing kayang amu.

=——————————–=

English Version

In the town of Igbahay, there exists a curious creature. In the year of the Lord, 1539, the people of the town raided the house of an evil man called Talagman. In his house they found many horrors. One most strange was a black crow with a beak as sharp as a knife, four long feet and claws and spines.

Now, it was said by the townsfolk that this creature was the companion of something more malicious. The evil of Talagman was so great that the people of the town whispered that he was a sigbin. In those days, a sigbin was a man who caused great evil and harm from his hiding place.

The townsfolk even tell a story of one day when a strong man caught Talagman in the middle of an evil act and the strong man cut off Talagman’s ear. Now, in those days there was a tradition in the town of Igbahay, whose people are called the Ibajaos, where certain men would have their left ear cut off. This practice was to break the pact that sigben would have with the spirit called oag, the creature that gives the oil which would make a man become a sigben.

Such was the evil of Talagman that, to this day, people would tell stories of how his glance alone would cause harm. They still say of stories where their great-great-great grandparents would see Talagman take a small flask, anoint his body with oil and fly through the air leaving half of his body in his house.

The cruelty and malice of Talagman had his match in the uac-uac, his companion. The misshapen crow would stab victims with its sharp beak and take great pleasure in raking its claws against the flesh of humans. So great was its love of torture that it would fly with its sigben master to find fresh meat that it could dig its claws in.

This story is of hundreds of years past, but always be warned. If you see the uac-uac and its four legs, know that its master will not be far behind.

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Inspired by “The Legend of the Sigbin.” Pavon (1838-1839) in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Uac-uac Illustration by NightmareSyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Kapampangan

Aramdaman ke ing marimlang kutsilyu na papakat da keng kakung balat.

Meg-umpisang alas singku ning kaugtuwan. Mabilis yamung meyari ing pyalung a basketball, anya pebalikan na nakeng making maranun, anya mamirapal kung minuli keng peka agyu kung bilis.

Eya masyadong malino itang tunug, mayna yamu, pero eku antindyan.. balamu aliwa.. linawe ku keng kakung Kayli at anyang ikit ke ing tanaman a santol, balu kune nung nanu ne ita.

“Wak…wak…wak…”
Paulit ulit ya itang tunug na dadagungdung keng kakung balugbug na balamu daramdaman kula suwala reng kakung ingkung at apu. “Patye ing tunug masikan ya, ing buri ng sabyan nita ing wakwak malawut ya, pero dapat nakang mingat panga ing tunug bagya bagya yang mimina, kasi ing buri ng sabyan kanita malapit nemu kanta keka.” Mengarimla ku buong katawan kanitang mekalub naku bale.

Ing santol na atyu keng tapat dang kwartu dina maku, balu kung posibling atyu ya Karin itang wakwak. Anyang ikit ke ing kakung mabuktut a inda na manalbeng TV, kanita ku abalu. Megsimula ne ing laban.

Sigidu kung memulayi papunta keng kusina para kumang kutsilyu, ayneng kayan keng kakung gamat, siguru uling sigurado ku keng kakung gawan. Selikut ke ing kutsilyu keng kakung syort, at linukluk ku keng siping ng maku, manenaya kung ustung oras na panga pepakit ne ning halimaw itang kayang malutung dila.
Manenaya ku..
Manenaya ku.

Kapitnang oras ku ring megbante. Kapitnang oras bayu ku linwal papunta ketang santol para pakiramdaman itang tunug.

Menenaya kupa kayi mewala ne itang tunug.

Manggaman ngeni, buri kunang isipan na aramdaman na ning alimaw na apag-adyan ku pamaglaban at ene agyung abiktima ing kakung inda. Pero keng aliwang banda, mangatakutan ku parin pag lalawe ku ketang santol, balamu atin ku paring daramdaman a mayna pero matinis na tunog.
“Wak….wak….wak…..”

=——————–=

English Version

I could feel the cold steel of the knife pressing against my skin.

It started at 5:30 pm. The basketball game didn’t take too long and my mom wanted me home early so I rushed home as soon as I could. The sound was faint, but very distinct. I looked towards my right and when I saw the santol tree I knew exactly what it was.

“Wak….wak…..wak….”

The sound rang in my ears and suddenly I was hit with my grandparents voices, “If the wakwak sound is loud then that means the creature is far, but be careful if the voice is soft, for that means it is very near.” My blood ran cold the moment I entered the house.

The santol tree was right above the bedroom of my parents, so I knew I had to see if there was anything there that the wakwak might want. When I saw my pregnant mother watching TV, that’s when I knew. The fight had begun.

I raced to the kitchen to get a knife, it felt light in my hand,
probably because I was sure of what I had to do. I hid the knife in my shorts, and sat next to my mother, waiting for the moment the monster would let loose its red tongue.

I waited.

I waited.

It was 30 minutes that I stayed on guard. 30 minutes until I ventured outside to the santol tree to hear if the voice persisted.

I waited and it was gone.

To this day, I’d like to think the creature sensed that I was ready for a fight and that my mother wouldn’t be easy prey. But there are still shivers down my spine every time I look at that santol tree, half expecting to hear a soft falsetto of

“Wak…..wak…..wak….”

=——————————————=

Inspired by a story told by Ian Quirante

Wak-wak Illustration by Ian Quirante
FB: Ian Quirante Illustrations

IG: https://www.instagram.com/iq_artworks/

*Note this story is in Kapamapangan

“Aren no nanaman.” Dimput ng Tanya ing malan na ning kaputul ng babai. “Dapat talang patuknangan.”

“Eka migaganaka, ela man mangayi ren. Metung pa, sabi da ng apu ela kanu kukwang labis keng karelang kailangan.” Kinawe yang gamat i Layla anyang ating dinalang malating nilalang keng kayang harapan. “Oh, lawen muna, sabi kuna keka puwede mulang akaluguran nung dinan mong pagkakataon.”

“keng kakung palage, e parin masanting na paburen talang kukunan dala reng kekatamung abias.” ing amanu ng Tanya. Dinamput yang metung at tepat ne ini keng kayang lupa. “nanan de wari inga bias? Mamangan la wari mu nmn?”

“Tanya! Baba mo ren!” Simsam ng Layla itang balamu manikang nilalang ketang gamat na ning kayang kaputul. “ Pagpasensyan yune, anak yapa kasi” Linawe ya I Layla keng kayang kaputul. “Manyad kang Upaya.”

“Ot manyad kung Upaya? Bara-bara deng kukunan ing kekatamung abias,” mimwang sabi ng Tanya.”

“Buri muba talagang akit nung nokarin do talaga dadala denga bias?” Seryoso ya lawe I Layla keng kayang kapatad. Makeramdam yang ditak a karug I Tanya. Yapin ing mumunang beses na ikit ne ing kayang Atyi na seryoso. Manggaman, menaig parin kaya ing kaburyan ng abalu ing katututwan. “Sige” ing amanu na. Tikyan de deng mikapatad reng ugaw ketang masukal gubat at paakyat a bunduk. Kailangan dang lumakad a mabilis uling hanggang mangalati la reng ugaw, mabilis noman.

Eya talaga kinurap i Tanya uling tatakut ya na milako la keng karelang panimanman ing karelang tutukyan. Bagya-bagya lang nilakad I Layla kabang atyu ya keng kayang kagulutan ing kayang kapatad.  Keng e malawut a semeteryo, Karin la tinuknang meglakad deng ugaw. Pekalawen nalang Tanya nung makananu dong pekasamasan deng ugaw retang abias keng tapat na ning pilibingan hangang mayari la.  Metung metung lang meko reng ugaw tyaka la minta keng direksyon na ning gubat. Linawe ya I Tanya keng kayang atyi.

Anyang mumuna ala yang kabalubalu tapos apagtantu nung nokaring lugar ya atyu. “Saguli, libingan neng apu ini ah” Bagya yang metahimik. “Kaluguran tala” Minayli ya I Layla.

=————————————-=

English Version

“They’re at it again.” Tanya grabbed her sister’s dress. “We should stop them.”

“Don’t worry about it, they’re not hurting anyone. Besides, lola always said these ones never take more than they need.” Layla waved as the small creatures walked by. “See? They can be friendly if you give them a chance.”

“I still don’t think it’s a good idea to just let them take the rice,” Tanya said. She grabbed one of the things and held it to her face. “What do they even need the rice for? Do they eat it?”

“Tanya! Put it down.” Layla grabbed the doll-like being from her sister’s hands. “I’m sorry, she’s young.” Layla turned to her sister. “Apologize to them.”

“Why should I? They’re stealing our rice right in front of us,” Tanya said adamantly.

“Do you really want to see where these things take the rice?” Layla looked at her sister sternly.

Tanya was scared. She had never seen her sister look that way, but her curiosity got the better of her. “Yes” was Tanya’s reply.

The sisters followed the group of ugaw through the forest and up the hills. They had to walk fast, the ugaw were small, but they were also swift. Tanya forced herself to not blink because she was afraid that they might disappear. Layla did not rush, she stayed a few steps behind her sister.

The ugaw ended their journey at the cemetery, which wasn’t far from the town. Tanya watched them set each grain of rice in front of a grave until they were all finished. Then, each ugaw walked away, heading towards the forest.

Tanya looked at her sister, it took her a moment before she realized where she was. “That’s lola’s grave,” she managed to say after a few minutes of silence.

“They were her friends.” Layla smiled.

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Story inspired by Ugaw description in Myth Museum. Medina. 2015.

Watercolor by Tara Singson
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tarabell93/