*Note this story is in Cuyonon

“Sa matod lang, indi ko dia makita bilang problima.” Makon si Angela. “Mas maite ateng magiging trabaho.”

Ikalimang bisis den naynabo na mi akaona agbuat sa andang dapat buaten. Ag sala sa angin ang maborong pangalamo ang  asusunog na lawas ang mangalok. Angirit pa si Angela, mintras si Diosdado, nga pirmi ra, midyo ing gorames anang itsura. “Indi ko dia maliagan,” makon si Diosdado. Agpanaw tana paraye sa patay na lawas ang mangalok para magpaangin.

“Ara masyadong biktima na mga tao, Dio.”

“Sino man ang aga buat dia siguradong aga gamit kalayo sa pagpatay i mangalok.”

“Matod, aga abot ang timpo na ang kalayo ay nagiging karoyan ang tanan.”

“Beken dia timpo para magniloko-loko!”

“Ang matinglo, midian kita reng timpo!! Indi mo ma-bel, ara kita i pakipag-kompitinsya sa kung kikino. Ang mayad na mangalok, at patay na mangalok.”

“Indi mo gamiten akeng limeg laban kanaken.” Makikita sa mata ni Angela na beken tana pabor. Pirming kondan si Diodado. Aliag na pirming nanalaeman ang tanan.

“Selenga Dio, anono ateng bubuaten kung maelaman ta kung sino aga buat i dia?  Pakigampangan sanda na magpanari sa andang ingbubuat? Na dapat kita lamang ang manigdakep mangalok digi sa Metro?”

“Pwidi sanda kataw importanting impormasyon kanaten.” Akoriseng para enged si Diosdado.

Ara ibang paagi para kalosot, sa isip ni Angela. Ara ren ibang paagi kundi magpa-oyon den lang. “Sigi. Okay. Sigi. Indi ta ren ampangan dia.”

“Selengen ta ren lang ang mga biktima.”

Midyo ag tas ang lokon ni Angela. “Dia mga mangalok, beken makokon na mga biktima.”

“Indi mo sanda ren lamang selengen na mga mangalok. Buaten ta ren lamang, ateng dapat buaten.”

“Ikaw ang madadason.”

“Ang onang biktima.”

“Ang onang biktima ay isarang kiwig, ag pwisto tana marapit sa iskwilan para magpandakep mga bata. Basi sa impormasyon, marakeng mga bata ang ag kon na kakita sanda tió na adaba-daba ang mga mata. Isara kananda ag bel pa litrato, ig agtawag kanaten ang anang mga gorang-gorang.”

“Sa timpong dia…”

“Indi mo ako istorbon, Dio. Akita amen sa atep ang sunog na lawas ang kiwig. Sa anyong tao den, ig mga kwarinta tegka sinkwinta anang idad. Ara reng ibang importanti na makikita pa sa logar ang kinaynaboan.

“Okay, ang madasong biktima.”

“Isarang wakwak na aga manman sa maternity ward. Marakeng mga aberedes ang nabelan bago kita ingtawagan.” Aka koriseng si Angela.

“Ange—” kon ni Diosdado.

“Indi kita pwidi sa ibang-ibang logar sa saka timpo, Dio.”

“Naelaman ko.”

“Mapadayon kita.”

“Basi sa footage na ateng nabel, ag kunwari ang wakwak na bisita sa maternity ward. Kada gabi na ig katatorog don tana aga-ataki. Makonkon tana sa babai. Karaekan sa mga nanay madali ag sarig sa mga babai da.”

“Makabebereng lamang na ara ta nakita anang lawas sa ospital.”

“Kung sino man ang ag patay sa wakwak, ag buat den paagi na mapadali ang paglimpyo.”

“Akita ang lawas ang wakwak sa pararadan sarakayan sa isarang asusunog na kotsi.

“Abebereng ako lamang na ara mi akakita sa naynabo, midyo lamang bomba na gulpi ag lupok.”

“Ara ra CCTV sa pararadan.”

“Maswirti sanda. Mapakon kita sa pangatlo.”

“Ang mga tiktik?”

Ag pa een si Angela.

“Midyo kaw alingling sa saka bucket ang Chickenjoy. Ang mga sigbin ay akarasunog da. Apat kabilog na tiktik, itabid pa ang andang agalin nga mangalok. Ing akes na ang saka tiktik mintras asusunog sanda.”

“Midian pang ibang impormasyon?”

“Dato ang problima, ingtawagan kita lang pagkatapos dia maynabo. Ara kita kilalang ibang biktima. Ara pasobaling agpatay, kung sino man ang ag buat dia sa mga tiktik. Midyo naelaman nang lagi na mangalok ang isarang tao o ayep.

“Midyo kita ra.”

“Indi kaw ag pabogal, Dio. Mi mga sitwasyon da na kung kaysan indi tang lagi masingot kung mangalok ang saka tao o beken.”

“Piro ang manigpatay na dia, ara palya.”

“Tama kaw, magagamit ta ang impormasyon na dan.”

“Pakon kita sa ikaapat na biktima.”

“Ang sinasa’ban, akeng paborito.” Paburit ni Angela. “Atatandan ko pa ang pangalamo.”

“Iba ang sakabilog na dia.”

“Matod. Agumpisa ang sunog sa seled anang lawas, paloa. Ang mag-abot kami, ag lopok anang lawas, ig aglagpak kanamen tanang anang mga kinaen.”

“Akakasigmi.”

“Korang pa dan imong diskripsyon sa talagang naynabo.”

“Ang pang-ori?”

“Okay, dia ang talagang makakagolpi. Maski kita naelaman ta na indi ta kaya ang asbo kung kita-kita lang.”

“Indi ta maelaman dan.”

“Ing libot ko ang logar, saka padis na marka ang lapak lamang akeng nakita.”

“Mayad para kananda.”

“Ange—?”

Okay, okay – ameng naabotan ang asbo na sa anang anyong ayep. Ig pariho sa iba, doro rang kasunog.”

“Anono andang pagkapari-pariho?”

“Poro sanda ing pangsunog.”

“Siryoso ako, selengan ta ang mga ditalyi.”

“Hmmmm..”

“Sigi, kunwari kita sanda. Pagkakita ta sa mga mangalok, anono ateng boboaten? Boboan ta gasolina, ig sindian ta gamit ang posporo?”

“Araboay. Konan dan olit.”

“Ang posporo?”

“Beken, ang gasolina. Sa mga logar kung sadin ta akita andang mga lawas, mi apangalamoan kang gasolina o lana?”

“Midian?”

“Sa akeng seleng, beken tao ang mi binoatan dia.”

“Saka mangalok pa?”

“Beken, beken toladato. Ara ako pa ababati na mangalok na kakakontrol kalayo. Mi iba pa.”

“Dapat tang padalemen ateng imbistigasyon. Anong klasing tao o ayep ang mi madalem na silag laban sa mga mangalok?”

“Liban kanaten?”

“Liban kanaten.”

“Sa akeng seleng…”

“Anono?”

“Indi mo dia maliagan.”

“Konan kanaken.”

“Dapat kitang magkonsulta sa ispiritu i ang mga puno.”

“Mi otang na leba tana kanaten.”

“Agugulpian ako sa pagpabor kanimo. Akeng kaysip asisilag kaw kanana.”

“Ang silag ay isarang emosyon na dapat i-risirba para sa giyira. Akeng isip aga kon na mi beken matringlo digi, dapat kong sarigan akeng paena-ena.”

“Apaayon ako kanimo.”

Asaraot ang alitaptap sa atobangan ang puno ang Balete, asinyas sa darwa na magseled. Midyo abububuay den da bago sanda oman kaseled sa logar ang mga ispiritu, beken sanda sanay, piro agdiritso sanda para enged i dason sa sanag, sa isip andang toyó. Sa midyo pira ka adlaw na andang pagpanaw, apapateng-pateng ni Angela ang pigura ang saka batang babai na agakapet payong.

“Agbalik akeng mga paboritong kakarawat!” Makon ang batang babai na akalogbo sa kalipay.

“Beken dadi Aura. Mi ipapakitaw akong pabor.”

“ Makarawat kita anay, pariho ang dati Mr. Diosdado.”

“Ara kami ren timpo para dyan,” makon si Angela.

Ag pa-een da si Diosdado. “Aura, mi otang na leba kaw kanamen.”

Golpi koriseng ang bata.

“Anono indong aliagan?”

Ag sabat si Angela, “Mi saka tao o ayep na agapamatay mangalok sa Metro. Agagamit sanda kalayo sa pagpatay sa mga… biktima.”

Ag dogang si Diosdado na ag kon, “Ara ra mga tao na biktima sa dadi, sa ameng pagkaelam.”

“Makabebereng, sigoro aga lemek den anang leba mintras amamalam.”

Aka-ignek si Angela mi Diosdado, “Kilala mo?”

“Pira kamo ron ka dagon pandakep mga mangalok? Abebereng ako na ara indo tana pa nababagat.”

“Baritan kanamen.” Siryoso na ag pakiman si Diosdado.

Ingtangkeb ni Aura anang payong, ag panaw papakon sa darwa.

“Pamatian indo ang kwinto.”

Mi saka lalaki (kung makokon mo tanang tao) na tedek sa tagiposon na ag mal a isarang mangalok.

Ag imbeng sanda mintras nabubui, ig kong iba lamang ang mga bagay-bagay, ara maliag ikon kananda ang “ara kataposan”.

Ang mangalok pati anang asawa, ag imbeng pira kagatos nga dagon para sa isara mi isara.

Asta saka adlaw ng odas tana ang mangalok. Adora ang mangalok, ing salan tana na dorong kasakit sa anang tagiposon.

Ig ag kalayo anang mata.

Tenged sigoradong mapamales tana ag lagted-lagted tana sa iba-ibang logar apamatay mga mangalok.

Tegka sa makita na anang “mangalok”.

“Arabuay, maliag ikonon mi saka imortal nga aga sagiap anang asawang mangalok para patayen?” pakiman ni Angela.

Ag sabat si Aura,”Mayad, mi apamati ra gali kanaken! Akeng kaysip alilimegen ako lamang sa akeng sadili digi.”

“Ig kakapaloa tana kalayo sa anang mata?”

“Matod kamong apamati kanaken? Sa matod, midyo mas agapolpol kamong mga tao kada timpo na ing kakampang ta kamo.”

“Dio, iba reng arampangen dia.” Ing kawidan ni Angela ang braso ni Dio.

“Ara ako ron alilipay, naelaman indo ang dalan paloa.” Ing abrian olit ni Aura anang payong ig aglepad paobong. Mintras adodora tana sa anadang paneleng, ag golpi linog ang logta.

Priparado ang darwa sa kondiang sitwasyon, beken dia ang onang bisis na ag palagiaw sanda sa logar ang mga ispirito.

Pag loa anda, asingot anda ren da ang maborong pangalamo i ang logar ang mga tao.

Agselengan si Diosdado pati si Angela. Si Diosdado ang ag ona limeg.

“Ano sa imong pabetang?”

“Midyo ministir kitang mag-priparar.”

“Para sadin?”

“Sa ona na ateng kalaem na tao lamang ang mi binoatan ang tanan, ayos lamang kanaken, piro ang mangalok na dia mi anang sadiling toyó. Indi ag boay na mi mga tao o bagay na madadamay.

Ag tonga-tonga si Disodado.

“Marake pa ateng dadakepen.”

=——————–=

English Versio

“I honestly don’t see how this is a problem.” Angela was beaming. “Less work for us.”

This was the fifth time they were beaten to the punch. The stench from the flaming carcass of the aswang left an acrid aftertaste in the air. Angela was still smiling while Diosdao, as usual, had his face crumpled into a grimace.

“I don’t like this,” Diosdado said. He walked away from the corpse to get some fresh air.

“There weren’t that many human victims, Dio.

“Whoever’s doing this is using fire to deal with aswang.”

“To be fair, at a certain point fire becomes everything’s weakness.”

“This isn’t the time for jokes!”

“But now we have time!! Don’t you get it, we’re not competing with whoever this is. The only good aswang is a dead aswang.”

“Don’t use my own words against me.”

Angela rolled her eyes. Diosdado was always like this. He always had to know.

“Look Dio, what do we do when we find out who this is? Tell them politely to stop? That there’s only room for one set of aswang hunters in this Metro?”

“They could be a valuable source of information.” Diosdado was still grimacing.

There was no way to escape this, Angela thought. She had no choice but to surrender. “Fine. Okay. Fine. Let’s get through this.”

“Ok let’s look at the victims.”

Angela’s eyebrow shot up. “These were aswang, not exactly what we’d call victims.”

“Ignore the fact that they were aswang. Let’s do this our way, like we always do.”

“If you say so.”

“So, the first victim.”

“The first one was a kiwig, it was attempting to hunt children near a public school. Based on what information we gathered, multiple children said that they saw a dog with fiery eyes. One of them even took a picture of it and her parents called us.”

“It was then—”
“Don’t interrupt me Dio. We found the remains of the kiwig on the roof, most of the corpse was burned to ash. It was in its human form, that of a middle-aged woman. There was nothing else in the scene that was worth noting.”

“Okay the next one.”

“A typical wakwak stalking a maternity ward. There were multiple miscarriages before we were called in.” Angela’s face contorted.

“Ange—-” Diosdado started.
“We can’t be everywhere Dio.”

“I know.”

“Let’s continue.”

“Based on the footage we were able to get, the wakwak disguised itself as a visitor in the maternity ward. It spent its nights feeding during graveyard hours. It looked like it was a woman. Most mothers would trust another woman more.”

“It was surprising that we didn’t find its body in the hospital.”
“Whoever killed it was kind enough to make things easier to clean up.”

“The wakwak was found in the parking lot in a burned-out car.”

“I’m surprised no one saw what happened. It was like a bomb that detonated suddenly.”

“There was also no CCTV in the parking lot.”
“Lucky for them. And now we go to number three.”

“The tiktiks?”

Angela nodded.

“It was like looking in a bucket of Chickenjoy. The familiars were burned as well. I counted 4 tiktik in addition to the aswang master. She was hugging one of the birds when she was burned.”

“Anything interesting there?”

“That’s the thing, we were called after the fact. There were no victims that we know of. Whoever killed the tiktiks struck without waiting. Like he was able to see that it was an aswang right away.”

“Like we do.”

“Don’t feed your ego, Dio. We’ve been in situations where we couldn’t be sure if someone was an aswang.”

“But this whoever can.”

“You’re right, that could be useful.”

“Anyway, the fourth victim.”

“The sinasa’ban, my favorite kind.” Angela was dripping with sarcasm. “I can still remember the smell.”

“This one was different though.”
“Yeah it burned from the inside out. When we got to it, it burst and showered us with all the filth it had eaten.”

“It was disgusting.”

“That’s an understatement.”

“The last one?”

“Okay this is the one that was most surprising. Even we couldn’t handle an asbo by ourselves.”

“And whoever this is they were able to do it alone.”

“We don’t know that.”
“I went through the whole site, there was only one set of footprints.”

“Well good for them.”

“Ange—”

“Okay okay – the asbo was in its beast form when we got to it. Same as the others, burned to an absolute crisp.”

“So what do they have in common?”
“They all got fried.”

“I’m serious, we have to look at the details.”

“Hmmmm..”

“Okay let’s pretend we’re them. We somehow find the aswang and then what? We pour gasoline on it and light a match?”

“Wait. Say that again.”

“The match?”

“No, the gasoline. In the sites did you ever smell gasoline or oil?”

“Did you?”

“I don’t think whoever did this is human.”

“Like another aswang?”

“No, nothing like that. I’ve never heard of an aswang that can control fire. It’s something else.”

“So, let’s expand our search. What kind of entity would hold a grudge against aswang?”

“Apart from us?”

“Apart from us.”

“I think…..”

“What?”

“You’re not going to like this.”

“Tell me.”

“We should consult with the spirits of the trees.”

“She owes us one favor.”

“I’m surprised you’re agreeing with this. I thought you hated her.”

“Hate is an emotion better saved for battle. My gut says there’s something here, I have to trust my instincts.”

“If you say so.”

=—————————————————————————————=

The fireflies danced in front of the Balete tree beckoning the two hunters in. It had been long since they have entered the realm of the spirits and they were not used to the shift in reality, but they trudged on into the light, seeking their goal.

She finally came into view in what seemed like days of walking, a small girl holding an umbrella.

“My wonderful playmates have returned!!” The little girl leaped into the air.

“Not today, Aura. I request a boon.”

“Oh no, but we had so much to play with last time Mr. Diosdado.”

“We don’t have the time for this,” Angela said.

Diosdado nodded. “Aura, you owe us.”

Suddenly the girl’s face contorted into a scowl. “What do you want party poopers?”

Angela answered, “There is an entity hunting aswang in the Metro. They prefer the use of fire when they dispatch their… victims.”

Diosdado added, “There have been no human victims for now, not directly at least.”

“That’s strange, he must have gotten soft in his old age.”

Angela and Diosdado both exclaimed, “He?!”

“You two have hunted the aswang for how long now? I’m surprised you haven’t met him sooner.”

“Tell us,” Diosdado’s eyes were stern.

Aura closed her umbrella and walked towards the two hunters.

“Let the story flow.”

=————————————————————————————————–=

There was once a man

(If you can call him that)

Completely in love

With a monster

They spent their lives together

And if things were different

Eternity would have meant nothing to them

The monster

And her husband

Had centuries

In each other’s arms

Until one night

The monster betrayed him

She vanished

Leaving him with a broken heart

And his eyes burned

For vengeance would be his

So, he travels the land

Hunting monsters

Until he finds his

=————————————————————-=

“Wait, so there’s an immortal creature looking for his aswang wife to kill her?” Angela

Aura replied with a sarcastic smile, “Wow you actually listened! And here I thought I was talking to myself.”

“And he can spew fire from his eyes?”

“Did you even listen to me? I swear you humans get dumber every time I talk to your kind.”

“Dio, this changes everything.” Angela grabbed Diosdado’s arm.

“I’m bored now, you know the way out.” Aura opened her umbrella and flew upwards. As soon as she was out of sight, tremors violently raged through the earth.

The two were prepared for this, after all it wouldn’t be their first time escaping from the engkanto’s realm.

The portal closed behind them and they savored the acrid air of the human world.

=———————————————————-=

Diosdado and Angela stared at each other. It was Dio who broke the silence.

“What do you think?”
“I think we need to prepare.”

“For what?”

“When we thought it was another human, I was fine, but this thing sounds like he has his own agenda. It won’t be too long that something or someone is going to be collateral damage.”

Diosdado nodded.

“More for us to hunt.”

=———————=

*Cuyonon is a regional Visayan language spoken on the coast of Palawan, and the Cuyo Islands in the Philippines.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Cuyonon Translation provided by Arlan Belen
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Arlan Belen

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

Illustration by Art of EDOY

“I honestly don’t see how this is a problem.” Angela was beaming. “Less work for us.”

This was the fifth time they were beaten to the punch. The stench from the flaming carcass of the aswang left an acrid aftertaste in the air. Angela was still smiling while Diosdao, as usual, had his face crumpled into a grimace.

“I don’t like this,” Diosdado said. He walked away from the corpse to get some fresh air.

“There weren’t that many human victims, Dio.

“Whoever’s doing this is using fire to deal with aswang.”

“To be fair, at a certain point fire becomes everything’s weakness.”

“This isn’t the time for jokes!”

“But now we have time!! Don’t you get it, we’re not competing with whoever this is. The only good aswang is a dead aswang.”

“Don’t use my own words against me.”

Angela rolled her eyes. Diosdado was always like this. He always had to know.

“Look Dio, what do we do when we find out who this is? Tell them politely to stop? That there’s only room for one set of aswang hunters in this Metro?”

“They could be a valuable source of information.” Diosdado was still grimacing.

There was no way to escape this, Angela thought. She had no choice but to surrender. “Fine. Okay. Fine. Let’s get through this.”

“Ok let’s look at the victims.”

Angela’s eyebrow shot up. “These were aswang, not exactly what we’d call victims.”

“Ignore the fact that they were aswang. Let’s do this our way, like we always do.”

“If you say so.”

“So, the first victim.”

“The first one was a kiwig, it was attempting to hunt children near a public school. Based on what information we gathered, multiple children said that they saw a dog with fiery eyes. One of them even took a picture of it and her parents called us.”

“It was then—”
“Don’t interrupt me Dio. We found the remains of the kiwig on the roof, most of the corpse was burned to ash. It was in its human form, that of a middle-aged woman. There was nothing else in the scene that was worth noting.”

“Okay the next one.”

“A typical wakwak stalking a maternity ward. There were multiple miscarriages before we were called in.” Angela’s face contorted.

“Ange—-” Diosdado started.
“We can’t be everywhere Dio.”

“I know.”

“Let’s continue.”

“Based on the footage we were able to get, the wakwak disguised itself as a visitor in the maternity ward. It spent its nights feeding during graveyard hours. It looked like it was a woman. Most mothers would trust another woman more.”

“It was surprising that we didn’t find its body in the hospital.”
“Whoever killed it was kind enough to make things easier to clean up.”

“The wakwak was found in the parking lot in a burned-out car.”

“I’m surprised no one saw what happened. It was like a bomb that detonated suddenly.”

“There was also no CCTV in the parking lot.”
“Lucky for them. And now we go to number three.”

“The tiktiks?”

Angela nodded.

“It was like looking in a bucket of Chickenjoy. The familiars were burned as well. I counted 4 tiktik in addition to the aswang master. She was hugging one of the birds when she was burned.”

“Anything interesting there?”

“That’s the thing, we were called after the fact. There were no victims that we know of. Whoever killed the tiktiks struck without waiting. Like he was able to see that it was an aswang right away.”

“Like we do.”

“Don’t feed your ego, Dio. We’ve been in situations where we couldn’t be sure if someone was an aswang.”

“But this whoever can.”

“You’re right, that could be useful.”

“Anyway, the fourth victim.”

“The sinasa’ban, my favorite kind.” Angela was dripping with sarcasm. “I can still remember the smell.”

“This one was different though.”
“Yeah it burned from the inside out. When we got to it, it burst and showered us with all the filth it had eaten.”

“It was disgusting.”

“That’s an understatement.”

“The last one?”

“Okay this is the one that was most surprising. Even we couldn’t handle an asbo by ourselves.”

“And whoever this is they were able to do it alone.”

“We don’t know that.”
“I went through the whole site, there was only one set of footprints.”

“Well good for them.”

“Ange—”

“Okay okay – the asbo was in its beast form when we got to it. Same as the others, burned to an absolute crisp.”

“So what do they have in common?”
“They all got fried.”

“I’m serious, we have to look at the details.”

“Hmmmm..”

“Okay let’s pretend we’re them. We somehow find the aswang and then what? We pour gasoline on it and light a match?”

“Wait. Say that again.”

“The match?”

“No, the gasoline. In the sites did you ever smell gasoline or oil?”

“Did you?”

“I don’t think whoever did this is human.”

“Like another aswang?”

“No, nothing like that. I’ve never heard of an aswang that can control fire. It’s something else.”

“So, let’s expand our search. What kind of entity would hold a grudge against aswang?”

“Apart from us?”

“Apart from us.”

“I think…..”

“What?”

“You’re not going to like this.”

“Tell me.”

“We should consult with the spirits of the trees.”

“She owes us one favor.”

“I’m surprised you’re agreeing with this. I thought you hated her.”

“Hate is an emotion better saved for battle. My gut says there’s something here, I have to trust my instincts.”

“If you say so.”

=—————————————————————————————=

The fireflies danced in front of the Balete tree beckoning the two hunters in. It had been long since they have entered the realm of the spirits and they were not used to the shift in reality, but they trudged on into the light, seeking their goal.

She finally came into view in what seemed like days of walking, a small girl holding an umbrella.

“My wonderful playmates have returned!!” The little girl leaped into the air.

“Not today, Aura. I request a boon.”

“Oh no, but we had so much to play with last time Mr. Diosdado.”

“We don’t have the time for this,” Angela said.

Diosdado nodded. “Aura, you owe us.”

Suddenly the girl’s face contorted into a scowl. “What do you want party poopers?”

Angela answered, “There is an entity hunting aswang in the Metro. They prefer the use of fire when they dispatch their… victims.”

Diosdado added, “There have been no human victims for now, not directly at least.”

“That’s strange, he must have gotten soft in his old age.”

Angela and Diosdado both exclaimed, “He?!”

“You two have hunted the aswang for how long now? I’m surprised you haven’t met him sooner.”

“Tell us,” Diosdado’s eyes were stern.

Aura closed her umbrella and walked towards the two hunters.

“Let the story flow.”

=————————————————————————————————–=

There was once a man

(If you can call him that)

Completely in love

With a monster

They spent their lives together

And if things were different

Eternity would have meant nothing to them

The monster

And her husband

Had centuries

In each other’s arms

Until one night

The monster betrayed him

She vanished

Leaving him with a broken heart

And his eyes burned

For vengeance would be his

So, he travels the land

Hunting monsters

Until he finds his

=————————————————————-=

“Wait, so there’s an immortal creature looking for his aswang wife to kill her?” Angela

Aura replied with a sarcastic smile, “Wow you actually listened! And here I thought I was talking to myself.”

“And he can spew fire from his eyes?”

“Did you even listen to me? I swear you humans get dumber every time I talk to your kind.”

“Dio, this changes everything.” Angela grabbed Diosdado’s arm.

“I’m bored now, you know the way out.” Aura opened her umbrella and flew upwards. As soon as she was out of sight, tremors violently raged through the earth.

The two were prepared for this, after all it wouldn’t be their first time escaping from the engkanto’s realm.

The portal closed behind them and they savored the acrid air of the human world.

=———————————————————-=

Diosdado and Angela stared at each other. It was Dio who broke the silence.

“What do you think?”
“I think we need to prepare.”

“For what?”

“When we thought it was another human, I was fine, but this thing sounds like he has his own agenda. It won’t be too long that something or someone is going to be collateral damage.”

Diosdado nodded.

“More for us to hunt.”

=———————————–=

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

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

Illustration by Art of EDOY

The behemoth roared.

It had been eons since the incident, but her bones felt weak until now.
There had been rumblings on her back, there was something happening with the humans.

She summoned her soul with another roar.

It coalesced into a being of bird and serpent, ready to follow her will.

In normal times she would have sent him to the heavens, to battle with the celestial orbs and usher in famine if it won.

But these were not normal times.

In fact, this was not the time at all. The soul-self knew there was a certain… cadence to his summoning. It would be around two decades, give or take, in the space between his being called.

Her soul-self heeded the orders and went to the realm of humans.

———————————————————————–=
It was a tsunami that swept everything in its path.

Today Janika had to be the one to turn people away, some of them already showing advanced symptoms, all of them scared.

But there was nothing she and the hospital could do for them. The facilities were so stretched that there were those who should have been in intensive care had breathing tubes attached to them just to keep them alive.

In med school one of her professors told her class that they shouldn’t be afraid of seeing death, that it was a part of the profession and that they should treat it as a companion. She nodded and calmly accepted that it had to be.

Then her friends started getting sick. Nurses, technicians and fellow doctors who she had exchanged smiles with were now fighting for their lives attached to the same tubes that had held their patients. Even other, exceptional doctors in the top of their fields, succumbed to the disease, people Janika had idolized since she took her first steps into the medical profession.

She looked at the clock and it was the end of her shift. She took off her protective equipment, said goodbye to her friends and boarded the shuttle that would take her near to the dorm she was staying in.

As she sat down, Janika closed her eyes and tried to focus her mind on other things.

But all she kept seeing was

The beds.

The scared faces.

The tears.

The tubes.

She walked from the shuttle and staggered towards her room.

She crumpled on her bed and looked outside her window.

The moon was out and bright that night.

And Janika was thankful at that small hint that the universe might care.

And she slept.

And let the tiredness take her.

=—————————————-=

The soul-self soared through the skies, peeking through the minds of humans and watching the scenario that unfolded below him.

He had always assumed that should a situation like this arise, the humans would tear themselves apart.

The world was full of surprises.

As he prepared to return back to the mother-crocodile, he spied the moon, shining brighter than usual.

Instinct took over the soul-self, how dare its enemy shine its light on him!?

He expanded to titanic proportions and let loose his gaping maw, swallowing the brilliant orb, and preparing for battle.

In normal times it would be a brawl to see where the sphere would exit. If the wretched moon proved victorious and escaped through his mouth then a bountiful harvest would take place. If it lost, the soul-self would rejoice in the total eclipse, waiting for famine to take her place.

The thrill of the fight electrified the soul-self.

But it would be sorely disappointed.

He had never felt such resistance in ages past. In an instant the moon burst from its jaws and took its place back in the night sky.

He stared in disbelief at his would-be quarry.

This would not stand.

Again and again he tried to consume the moon.

And again and again, he would fail.

The celestial sphere stayed, unmoving, as if letting the soul-self know that at least tonight of all nights, he would never win.

His pride ruined, he retreated back to the primordial waters.

=——————————————————————=

She faced her soul as soon as he returned, in an instant they melded together and she was complete.

Through his eyes she experienced the journey to the human realm and all the suffering he had witnessed.

And she thought about the humans.

And the moon.

These were strange times indeed.

=—————————————————————————-=

The alarm jolted Janika awake. It was time for her next shift.

She prepared her things and walked to the shuttle.

She knew there were more deaths to come.

But it would eventually end.

And she would go home.

To the people she loved.

That were waiting.

She would not forget.

That no matter how terrible things were.

She would remember to love.

=——————————————————————-=

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Láwû myths told by Mike Pangilinan of the Sínúpan Singsing: Center for Kapampángan Cultural Heritage

Illustration by Art of EDOY

There was once a fisherman and his daughter in the province of Hinigaran. The fisherman was known as one of the best throughout the province.

The fisherman doted on his daughter and didn’t want to her to live the life that he did.

He would always say, “Leticia, once we get enough money saved, you can go to school and be free from this life.”

But Leticia would reply, “’Tay, I want to help you. I love going out to the sea. Sometimes when I listen to the waves, I can hear mama’s voice.”

That only made the fisherman feel grief. Leticia’s heart was with the waters and he knew all too well how that could end in disaster.

How it did end in disaster.

He pledged every single day to protect his daughter and on those long journeys on their boat he wished most of all that she would finally see the sea for what it was.

One day the father woke up with a terrible cough.

“’Tay you have a fever. You can’t go out to the waters today,” Leticia said. “Get some rest and I can go get the catch today.”

“No! I forbid that!” The fisherman tried to stand tall but his legs were weak.

“You’re in no condition to forbid anything.” Leticia laid her father on his bed. “I’m going to get us a big catch and you just stay here.”

“You’re too young! You can’t handle the boat by yourself!”

Leticia just smiled. “Of course I can, I learned from the best.”

She shut the door and stepped out to prepare her boat.

Leticia’s skin was tingling. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t nervous. After all, her father was right. This would be the first time she was going to go fish by herself.

She took a deep breath and took in the salty air.

The sea could be cruel.

The sea could kind.

She just had to know how to navigate its disposition.

And she would. She couldn’t face her father if she couldn’t.

If there was anything left of her, that is.

It was sundown and the fisherman stared out into the water.

He rubbed his temples, but that provided no relief.

He had been by the seaside since noon, praying that he could hold her in his arms.

And he hoped that God would grant his plea this time.

As the first stars started to light the night sky, he couldn’t help but notice.

The tide was rising.

Leticia closed her eyes.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Why did I think I could do this alone?

It was so simple. Go out to sea, get a catch, go back. Somewhere in the middle her boat wandered and here she was, lost out at sea.

Her last chance was to try to navigate by the stars, but she knew very little about it. Her father would always take them home right before the sun set and her only practice were games they used to play to get her to sleep.

No — the thought rang in her head.

I will not let the sea win. It won’t claim me like it did—-

It wasn’t time to think about that. She shrugged off that memory and went back to the task at hand.

Leticia made her plan and set out, taking a direction that was fueled by hope and desperation.

It may have been near the Hinigaran river, maybe near Confesion, but she wasn’t sure.

She kept on her course.

And the water burst with wonder.

A giant *Lapu-lapu shot out of the sea completely filling Leticia’s view.

It crashed beside her boat and dragged it below the depths.

Leticia tried to scream for help as water filled her lungs.

I’m sorry ‘Tay, she thought, as the darkness enveloped her.

The fisherman dreamt of his grandmother.

It was a Sunday morning. He was maybe 6 years old and walking to the church in his best shirt and pants.

“Why do we have to go to church?” he would always ask with his hands in his pockets.

“We go because it protects us,” she replied

“I hit my elbow on a rock and it hurt! It didn’t protect me then!” he said with the certainty that only a child would know.

“Not in that way, mijo.”

“Then what?”

“A long time ago there were very bad people that would come to our town. They took away friends, brothers, mothers and daughters. It was something that we all were afraid of, every day of our lives. One day they went to this same church and found a bell, right there in that tower.”

“But the tower’s empty!”

“Mijo, let me finish my story. They took the bell and put it on their boat. By some great power the bell became heavier and heavier until the boat could not carry its weight. They tossed the bell in to the sea and the once calm sea became outraged. Its waters whipped into a violent frenzy, dragging them to the depths of the sea, never to be seen.”

“Did that really happen, or do you just want me to go to church?”

“Hay mijo, one day you’ll learn that prayer can split the sea.”

Leticia couldn’t believe what was happening.

She could somehow breathe underwater. The sea looked so much more different from the bottom. The starlight pierced through the waves and glistened on the sand. Surrounding her were broken ships, some rotting from age, others relatively new, hers among them.

It would have been beautiful if it wasn’t so terrifying.

The Lapu-lapu’s eye twitched (or was that a trick of the light?). She could feel its gaze on every pore of her skin, digging to her core.

WELCOME TO MY KINGDOM

It spoke. Of course it did.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

“I’m sorry… great…fish…I only wanted to go home.”

WHERE IS YOUR HOME?

“It’s by the bay, near the church.”

The Lapu-lapu stared, unmoving. Leticia became uncomfortable and became the first to break the silence.
“Can you help me get home?”

IMPUDENCE! SUCH AUDACITY TO ASK A FAVOR FROM THE KING

“I’m sorry, I just want to see my father.. I just…. Please.”

Her tears mixed with the saltwater, covering her face with a bitter warmth.

TELL ME YOUR STORY

“My…what?”

HOW IS IT THAT YOU CAME TO BE HERE

“I…My name is Leticia Gallaga. I live with my father by the bay. We make our living catching fish. Today my father got sick and I thought I could go to the sea and get the catch by myself. I sailed too far out to sea and lost my bearings. I didn’t know where to go. I waited until it was dark and I thought I could use the stars to guide me home, but I didn’t know enough and you burst out of the water and I got pulled underwater and the next thing I know I’m here, in front of you and… I couldn’t..”

COULDN’T?

“I couldn’t handle the sea.”

NO HUMAN CAN

“Yes we could! We only need to learn how to grasp its complexities. To mold it into our own. To make sure it never hurts anyone again.”

THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH LIFETIMES THAT COULD MAKE THAT A REALITY

“No! No… It’s not true!”

LOOK AROUND YOU, THIS IS THE FATE OF ALL THOSE THAT THINK THEY COULD MAKE THE SEA THEIRS

“…..”

DO NOT DESPAIR, GREATER HUMANS THAN YOU HAVE TRIED AND FAILED

“Why are you talking to me? Just drown me like all the rest.”

I WILL NOT, AS IS MY ROYAL PREROGATIVE. BUT KNOW THIS:

THE SEA IS CRUEL, THE SEA IS KIND

YOU ARE IN A CURRENT STRONGER THAN YOU WILL EVER BE

YOUR FIGHT WILL ONLY PULL OTHERS DOWN WITH YOU

SWIM WITH IT AND YOU WILL FIND YOUR WAY

As the king ended, numerous fishes sped around Leticia creating a whirlpool.

The last thing Leticia could remember as she was swept away was a giant, white bell, solid on the sea floor.

And the king watched his subjects carry the girl to her home, content in answering an old prayer.

The fisherman awoke to find his daughter next to him with a full net of fish.

He cried out and held her tight.

“Leticia! I thought I lost you forever!”

“I know ‘Tay. It’s okay, I’m back now.”

They held each other for many eternities, both refusing to end their embrace. But Leticia knew that she had to do the first act.

“’Tay. I need to talk to you.”

“I forbid it! If anything, this should have taught you how dangerous this life could be. I won’t lose you again! You are not going back to the sea! Not with me or anyone else!”

“Okay.”

“I—-what?”
“I won’t go back on the boat. I can go in town and find work there, maybe save enough money so I can go back to school.”

“How…why..?”

“It’s nothing ‘Tay. I guess what you’ve said sunk in.”

“But you love the sea.”

“And it will always be in my heart. But things change. I have to swim in other waters.”

“Is that really what you want?”

She gave a slight smile. If it would mean that she wouldn’t lose her father to the sea then she would do anything.

“Yes ‘Tay, now let’s get these fish inside and clean them.”

The fisherman stood flabbergasted at their conversation. His prayer was answered, but not in the way that he expected.

Leticia never told her father what happened that fateful day and he learned to stop asking.

It was between her and the sea.

*Grouper

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the tale ‘The White Bell’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

The King of the Bell Kingdom Illustration by Art of EDOY