*Note this story is in Ilocano

Alikamen:

Buneng – maaramat tapno mauluyan ti aswang kalpasan a maparmek daytoy.

Ipus ti Pagi – maaramat tapno saanen a makakuti ti aswang. Mangted kaniada iti nakaro unay a sakit.

Kalamansi – kalasag tapno saannaka a mapidut ti aswang. Dayta ti mangpadagsen kaniada.

Dapo – Iwaras iti bagi ti aswang no agsina ti bagida. Saanen nga maisubli ti Aswang ti naisina a bagina no naikkan ti dapo daytoy.

Gabon/Sambong/Bukadkad/Subsob (Blumea balsamefera) – Daytoy a mula ket mausar tapno mabugaw ti aswang. Masapul a kapurpuros ken ikabil a kanayon iti bulsa.

Bawang – Saan a maanusan ti aswang ti angot ti bawang. Kanayonen ti mangitugot.

Asin- Maaramat kasmet la iti dapo. Mausar met tapno maiyadayo  ti aswang kadagiti dadduma a lugar.

Ramramit –  Nabendisionan a banbanag, bendita, ken anting-anting a masapul iti panangiyadayo kadagiti nakabutbuteng a parsua.  Masapul a kasarita ti maysa a padi sakbay ti amin.

Dagiti ritos:

Mabalin a matiliw ti aswang babaen ti panangurnos ti tallo a dadakkel a bato iti sirkulo a kasla paglutuan. Inton mapasungadan ti ‘kak kak’ nga awag ti naparsua , baliksen ti Kredo dagiti Apostoles. Inton makadanon iti parte ti Kredo maipapan  iti pannakailansa  ni Cristo iti  krus, mangpidot ti maysa a bato ket ipak-ol ti maysa a lansa iti daga. Agpababanto ti naparsua ket agdisso iti tallo a bato, ket ditoy mabalinen a patayen.

Adda ritos  iti panangikkat ti lunod ti panagbalin ti maysa nga aswang; daytoy ket ti panaginum iti lemon ken danum, pannakaibitin a baliktad tapno maisarwada ti maysa a kasla billit a pinarsua ket daytoy maiwa-iwa iti pedaso.

Dagiti Palagip:

Usaren dagiti ramramit tapno mapasardeng dagiti encantasionda.  Padsuen  ida  babaen iti ut-ot manipud iti ipus ti pagi sa ipungsay ti uloda babaen ti panggibus a tagbat ti buneng.

Dagiti lunod  ti aswang ket mabalin a mapasingkedan babaen ti panangaramid ti ‘ritual ti itlog’ no sadinno a no makita dagiti marka ti mata ken dara iti itlog, kayatna a sawen a ti tao ket ‘inaswang’ (naallilaw).

Mabalin a maikkat dagiti ilusion iti taraon babaen ti panangipis-it iti calamansi kadagita. Dagiti masida a kas iti sinigang ket agbalin  a malukong a napno iti ramay ti tao ken dara.

Dagiti lunod  ti aswang ket mabalin nga agturong  iti  agsumbangir a dalan,  isu a no ti biktima ket masapsaplitan wenno masugatan iti aniaman a pisikal a wagas, ti aswang ti makarikna iti dayta.

Saan a nalawa daytoy a listaan ​​dagiti wagas iti panangtiliw iti naparsua. Adu pay dagiti ritual ken ramramit a maus-usar a manglaban kadagitoy a nakabutbuteng a parsua. .

Iwanwan koma ti Apo ti dalanmo.

Bendisyonannaka  ti Dios.

=——————————-=

Engilsh version

Equipment:
Bolo – used to give a final blow after incapacitating the aswang.
Stingray Tail – used to incapacitate the aswang. Causes great pain to them.
Kalamansi – A ward to ensure that the aswang cannot pick you up. It weighs them down.
Ashes – Used to sprinkle on the aswang’s body if they self-segment. Aswang cannot reattach if ashes are scattered on their other half.
Gabon/Sambong/Bukadkad/Subsob (Blumea Balsamefera) – This plant is used to ward off aswang. Pick it fresh and keep it in your pocket.
Garlic – Aswang cannot stand the smell of garlic. Keep some with you at all times.
Salt – Used in the same way as ashes. Can also be used to ward certain places away from aswang.
Wards – Blessed objects, holy water anting-anting are all useful to keep away the monsters. Make sure to see a priest beforehand.

The post Aswang – Ilocano Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

“Akun ni tanan sala.”

Ginbalikan sang lalake kung san-o ini nagsugod. Tama ka klaro ang mga senyales, apang may pagbanta na nga magagiya subong. Adlaw-adlaw niya ginapangamuyo nga luwason siya sang Ginoo sa sini nga kabudlayan.  Pero indi ini matu-od syempre, maski silingun sang makaaku nga mag-untat, nahibalu-an niya sa iya tagipusuon nga indi siya makapadayon asta matapos niya ang iya penitensya.

Isa ka malinong nga hapun, sang ang babaye nagbalik. Mainit ang pagbatun niya sang ini gintabo niya sa airport.

Sang ara ang babaye sa iban nga pungsod, permi ini nagasulat parti sa katugnaw nga iya nabatyagan. Ini iya ginkumpara nga kaangay nga daw gapalanupsup sa iya nga kaugatan.

Ginsilingan niya siya nga indi ini importante. Daku nga kabudlay ang inagyan sang babaye, kag ang gusto lang niya makapahuway ini sa ila balay. Wala pa niya nabati-an ang bug-os nga istorya halin sa asawa, pero makita niya sa mga mata sini, nga gusto na lang sini malipatan.  Sa ulihi nga sulat sang babaye, iya ginsaysay kung paano sini indi na masarangan pa nga mapalayo sa ila pamilya.  Nag-ugyon siya, pabay’i da ang kwarta.  Paga-unungan niya ang iya asawa, kag malampuwasan nila ini kag mas mangin mabakod.

Sa subong, amu ina ang iya ginapatihan.

Daw naga-pangpasu ang singsing pangkasal. Katingalahan nga ginasuksok niya pa ini, maski nagapadumdum ini sang mga nagligad sang naigu sang repleksyon sang bulan.  Naglungo na lang siya kag ginhatag ang atensyon sa iya tuyo.

Dira siya niya nasundan, paagi sa mga nagkalain-lain nga apat ka baryo, kag nagalaum siya nga maabtan niya antes ini makapalagyo.

Sang una, iya ginpaminsar nga mapauntat niya ini antes pa makapang biktima, kay madali ini siya makilal-an.

Sa tunga sang nagabiti nga init sang adlaw, pagkatapos sang isa ka bulan nga paglagas – lagas sa asawa, gin-aku niya sa iya kaugalingon.

Mas makusog. Mas madasig.

Mas baris nga indi niya maintindihan.

Mabug-at ang singsing sa iya tudlo, pero ang inggat sini nagpadumdum sa iya sang pila ka butang. Amu ini ang iya kalbaryo, kag duha lang ka butang ang makapauntat sini.

Pagkatapos sang isa ka semana nga pagpahuway halin sa pagka-jetlag, gilayon na ini nagbulig sa sulod balay.

Ang mga bata nila nga lalaki, nalipay gid nga nagpauli ang ila iloy. Wala siya nahadlok nga aku-on nga, daw mahibi siya, sang makita niya gahampang ini kaupod sa ila mga kabataan.

Sang ginbatun sang babaye ang oportunidad nga mag-ubra sa iban nga pungsod, tam-an pa ka gagmay ang ila kabataan para maintiendihan ang pagsakripisyo sini. Sadto nga adlaw, ginhakus niya sila sang hugot kag nag-promisa nga magabalik ini gilayun. Nagsiling ini nga palangga niya gid sila asta sa katubtuban.

Ang ulihi nga ginhingyo sang iya asawa, amu ang promisa nga iya pagatatapun ang ila mga kabataan.

Wala sang pag-alang-alang nga nagpromisa siya.

Naglakat na sila, kag nagbalik sa ila bag-o nga pangabuhi, nagahulat sang adlaw nga mangin kumpleto liwat sila.

Basi amu na sadtu ang ulihi nga adlaw nga ang iya asawa isa ka tawo.

Sang una nga nagpalagyo ang iya asawa halin sa ila balay, ginhimu niya ang tanan para mahibalu-an kung ano gid ang natabu sa iban nga pungsod. Indi siya makalakat didto nga siya mismo, apang may komunidad sang mga Pilipino nga nakahibalu kung sa diin gatinir ang iya asawa.

Nagsulat siya sa ila kag ang ila mga sabat daw makatilingala.

Suno sa ila, wala gid gaistorya ang iya asawa parte sa iya amo. Sa ila mga pagtipon, nagahimu man lang ang iya asawa sang lumpia, kag maga-istorya sang iban nga bagay pareho sang iya nabilin nga pamilya kag kung ano nga kahidlaw sang iya asawa sa ila. Isa sa mga Pilipino didtu amu ang tigulang nga nars, kag nagmuno sa iya nga daw may lain sa mga mata sang babaye.  Bisan ano katagu sang iya asawa, makita nga nahadlok ini.

Nagbalos sa sulat niya ang nars kag ginsugid lang ang nabal-an sini parte sa amo sang babaye. Ini isa ka man ka Pinoy nga nangin madinalag-on sa iban nga pungsod, sa kung paano nga paagi, wala sini mahibaluan. Suno sa istorya sini, ang amo gid sini ang naghingyo nga isa ka Pinay ang magatatap sa iya kag magabayad ini sang daku nga balor para diri.

Liwan sa amu ni nga detalye, ang iban mga kuno-kuno na lang nga istorya nga indi man makabulig. Suno sa iban, kilanlan sang iya amo nga lalake, nga maghalin sa Pilipinas tungod sa mga ilegal nga ulubrahon. Siling naman sang iban, ang iya mga asawa wala gadugay sang duha ka tuig pagkatapos niya pakaslan, kag siya naghalin para indi pagsuspetsahan. May mga maayo man nga istorya, pareho sang,  siya naglakat para mahatagan sang maayo nga pangabuhi.

Ini tanan nga mga wala gakaangot nga istorya, wala sang pulos.

Wala sang pulos ang natabo.

Paano ini nahimo sang iya asawa sa ila pamilya nga pinalangga?

Ulihi na siya.

Ulihi na lang siya permi.

Subong, isa naman ka bata-on nga mag-asawa kaupod ang ila anak, may masanag nga bwasdamlag kung tani. Ang mga kinan-an kag natunga nila nga bangkay nagalinapta sa ila nga sala. Nagapakita nga siya tuyo batu-an sang isa ka amay, apang ang iya mga kuko dasig nga nagisi ang kaundan sini.

Pagkatapos sang tinuig sa hampang nga ini, tig-a na ang iya balatyagon sa tanan luwas diri.

Gin-isip niya liwat kag gindugang sa nagadaku nga numero.

Siento kuwarenta y siete.

Siento kuwarenta y siete ka inosente nga mga kabuhi.

Siento kuwarenta y siete ka tawo nga ang dugo yara sa mga kamot niya.

Nahibalu-an niya nga ang ini nga numero magadaku pa, kung indi niya ini mapunggan.

Makahalam-ot nga madali niya maobserbahan ang asawa. Wala sini ginatago ang pilas.

Ang ruta sini sa mga banwa sang Panay kag lampas pa. Nakita ini sa Tuguegarao, Cagayan de Oro, Mindoro kag Puerto Princesa. Ang istorya sang babaye permi mabati-an sang mga bata gikan sa ila ginikanan, sa kung diin sila ginapahog nga kuhaon sila sang babaye sa gab-i kung indi sila mangin mapinatihon.

Balan sang lalake nga maski siya magdaug, ang istorya sini magapabilin.

Apang indi nila mahibalu-an ang istorya sa likod sang karakter nga ini.

Ang amay nga tuyu lang masalbar paagi sa paghimalos, ang bana nga wala ginsapak ang mga pag-andam, ang lalaki nga ang gusto lang mangin kumpleto ang ila pamilya.

Samtang nagatindug ang lalaki sa dugo sang pinaka bag-o nga biktima sang babaye, siya natingala kung sin-o ang magapangibabaw?

Ang kadalag-an niya?

Ukon ang kadalag-an sini?

=—————————=

Engilsh Version

It’s all my fault.

He thinks back to when it all started. The signs were obvious, but he had the benefit of hindsight to guide him now. He prayed every day that God would deliver him from this labor. That was just for show of course, even if the lord told him to stop, in his heart he couldn’t go on until he fulfilled his penance.

It was a quiet afternoon when she came back. He met her at the airport with all the warmth he could muster. During her stay abroad, she would always write about how the cold made her feel. She described it as the chill becoming a ghost, doing everything possible to find a way into your veins.

He told her it didn’t matter. She had gone through a great ordeal and he wanted to get her settled in their home. He still hadn’t heard the whole story from her, but he could see in her eyes that she just wanted to forget. In the last letter she sent she wrote about how she couldn’t be away from her family anymore. He agreed, money be damned. He would see his wife through this and their family would come out stronger.

At least that’s what he believed.

The wedding ring on his finger burned. He wondered why he still wore it, considering the memories that played through his mind when it reflected the moonlight. He shook his head and tried to focus. He tracked her here through four different barrios and hoped that he could get to her before she ran away.

In the beginning, he foolishly thought that he would be able to stop her before she claimed another victim, after all she was easy to spot. In the harsh light of day that followed his first month of pursuing her, he had to admit to himself.

She was stronger. She was faster.

She possessed more cruelty than he could ever understand.

The ring felt heavy in his hand, but its glint reminded him of something else. This was his cross to bear, and there were only two ways it could ever end.

After a week of readjustment, she had fixed her jet lag and began to help around the house. The boys were thrilled to have their mother back. He wasn’t afraid to admit that the sight of her, playing with the children she had left, brought tears to his eyes.

When she accepted the offer to go abroad their children were too young to understand the sacrifice she was about to endure. That day, she hugged them tight and promised them that she would be back as soon as she can. She told them she would love them forever.

The last thing that she asked of him was to give his word that he would take care of their children.

There was no hesitation when he made that oath.

They waved goodbye and settled into their new lives, waiting for the day they would be complete again.

Maybe that was the last time she was truly human.

When she fled the first time, after the incident, he did all he could to find out what really happened abroad. He couldn’t travel there himself, but he knew that there was a community of Filipinos where she had stayed.

He wrote to them and their answers were troubling.

They said she never talked about her employer. During their gatherings she would make lumpia and talk about other things like her family back home and how much she missed them. One of the Filipinos there was an old nurse and she mentioned that there was something in her eyes. No matter how hard she tried to mask it, she was afraid.

The nurse wrote back about what she knew about the employer. First that he was a fellow Filipino that gained success abroad, though through which channels she wasn’t sure. He had specifically requested a Filipina be his caregiver and he was willing to pay a good amount of money for it.

Apart from that the nurse only had rumors that weren’t much help. Some said that he had to leave the Philippines because his family was involved in illegal ventures. Others say his wives never lived past two years of marriage and he left to avoid suspicion. There were kinder stories where he left to give his family a better life.

All these conflicting stories made no sense.

What happened made no sense.

How could she do that to the family she loved?

He was too late.

He was always too late.

This time it was a family of three, a young couple that had a bright future ahead of them. Their half-eaten corpses scattered around what remained of their sala*. It looked like the father tried to fight her off but her claws ripped through him easily.

After years of this game he was already numb to all emotions but one.

He counted again and added it to the growing number.

147.

147 innocent lives.

147 people whose blood was on his hands.

He knew that number would not stop growing, not until he finished what she started.

It was almost funny that she was so easy to track. She didn’t even try to hide the scar. Her path cut through the towns of Panay and even beyond. She was seen in Tuguegarao, Cagayan de Oro, Mindoro and Puerto Princesa. Her story was heard by children whose parents warned them that she would take them in the night if they were disobedient.

He knew that even if he succeeded, her legend would live on.

But they would never know of the forgotten character of the story.

The father seeking redemption in revenge, the husband that ignored the warnings, the man that only wanted his family to be complete.

As he stood over the blood of her latest victims, he wondered which ending would prevail?

His triumph?

Or hers?

*Living room

*The Hiligaynon language, also colloquially referred often by most of its speakers simply as Ilonggo, is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 9.1 million people, mainly in Western Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN, most of whom belong to the Visayan ethnic group, mainly the Hiligaynons. It is the second-most widely spoken language and a member of the so-named Visayan language family and is more distantly related to other Philippine languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Pauline Brooks Dalisay
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Pauline Brooks Dalisay

Inspired by the Maria Labo Urban Legends

Maria Labo Illustration by Sandra Sison

The post Maria Labo – Hiligaynon Translaiton appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*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.

————————–————————–————————–

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/

The post Uac-uac – Kapampangan Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*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/

The post Wakwak (Cagayan de Oro) – Kapampangan Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

“Indi pag-buy-i! Dali-a!”

Nagakurog ang akun mga tudlo, samtang ginatulod ako nga mag-una sang bag-ong yanggaw.

Wala sang tyempo para magpangduha – duha. Ginalauman niya kami.

Nabatyagan ko ang bug-at sang sako sa likod ko, samtang ang unod  sini ang akon ginakay-o.

Ginpamangkot ko ang akun upod kung pwede nga sulungon na lang namon ang patyo para sa inughalad,

apang siling niya preska nga karne lang ang ginakaon. Wala na ako nagbais, kay maski hubin pa siya, magulang siya gihapon sa akon, kag ang amon nga sahi, ginarespeto ang edad, wala sang liwan.

Akon ginbalikan ang tyempo nga ini nagsugod. Isa lang atu ka gab-e nga pareho sini. Pagpanglakaton sa tungang gab-I ang sabat sa akun madalum nga ginabatyag. Kung tani nahibaluan ko nga sala ako.

Gulpi lang nagkudog-kudog ang akon dughan. Nagapalagyo ako palayo gikan sa isa ka daku, kag maitom nga sapat, nga indi ko makita. Nanglaktod ako sa kakahuyan, samtang ginapanumdum nga ang mga kahoy magaserbi nga akun panagu-an, apang madasig ang ini nga sapat, kag dayun niya ako nalab-ot.

Napangatubang ko ang mala-higante nga pareho sang baboy-ramo , ang dalag nga ngipon nya nagabadlak sa kasanag sang bulan. Nag-singgit ako sadto, pero wala man sang pulos.  Wala sang maski isa nga makabulig sa akon, kag bisan may mga tawo, ano bala ang mahimo nila batuk sa sini nga sapat.

Ginpiyong ko ang akon mga mata kag nangamuyo na matapos na ini dayun, kag naghulat nga daw kaangay sang walay katubtuban. Ginmuklat ko ang akon mga mata, kag gilayon ang nawong sang pinakamatahum nga babaye, nga akon nakita. Nagasuksok ini sang malaba nga bestida nga itom. Ang iya mga mata, naga baga nga makahaladlok tulukon.

Naglakat siya pakadto sa akon, samtang ako indi kahulag sang kahadlok. Wala ko mahibaluan kung sa diin na nagkadto ang sapat, kag gilayon ko siya nga ginpangandaman, nga delikado kag dapat kami makapalagyo sa peligro. Ginkadlawan nya lamang ako kag ginsilingan nga wala ako sang dapat kabalak-an.

Ako iya ginhalukan.

Ang sabor masami nga daw iya sang pinakamalapuyot nga dugo. Nagkudog ang akon lawas sang nagtandug ang iya bibig, nga daw ako ginkilatan. Daw madula-an ako sang pagginhawa kag ginhapo nga daw kaangay sang isa ka sakayanon.

Kag siya nadula.

Amu ato ang pagsugod sang akon pagpanglakaton. Sadalayon, nakilala ko ang akon isigkapareho, mga sahi nga nagapangabuhi nga daw kaangay sang ordinaryo samtang ginapunggan ang ila paglaway sa dugo sa masarangan nila.

Ginakahuya ko gihapon ang akon una nga pagkasa. Ang akun pagkagusto tama ka kusog kag wala ko mahibaluan paano punggan. Dugo kag karne lang ang akon nga gusto, kag madamo ini sa syudad.

Reana, ang iya ngalan. Sala nga nagsalig siya sa akon, kag sala man ako para dumdumon ang iya ngalan.

Kis-a, samtang gakatulog ako, makita ko gihapon ang iya guya nga nagapakitluoy. Nagbugtaw ako nga nagapalamugnaw, naga-singgit samtang nagapangayo ako sang pasensya, nagtulok ako sa palibot pero wala man sang tawo.

Ang mga malain nga damgo ang pinakamabudlay nga parte sini. Ginadaman ako sang mga tingug sang pagsinggit sang mga nabiktima ko. Ginpamangkot ko ang akon kaupod kung siya ginadaman man, apang ang siling lang niya, “maanad ka na lang na sadalayon. Isa ka adlaw magustuhan mo na ina.”

Nahadlok ako kay basi insakto siya.

Ang iban nga bag-ong yanggaw, ginpauntat kami sa madaku nga kahoy kag kami ginpahipos. May mga tawo didto, mga mangangaso nga pareho sa amun. Apang lain nga sahi sang sapat ang ila ginapangita.

Ginapangita nila ang pinakatigulang. Ang pinakatigulang, nga amu man ang amun tuyu bisitahun sang akon kaupod.

Ginsilingan ako sang akon kaupod, nga hulatun kag magpanago samtang ginabantayan ang halad, kag siya na ang bahala sa mga tawo. Nagpungko ako sa kahoy, kag naglaum nga wala sang mga pagsinggit.

Sa akon pagkakibot, gilayon nga natapos sang bag-ong yanggaw ang kilanlan himuon. Duwa lang sila kabilog, kag mahapos lang ang pag-gulot sang ila mga li-og.

“Lapit na lang kita. Mga diyes minutos nga pagpanglakaton kag malab-ot na naton ang iya nga kuweba,” siling sang akon kaupod.

Ginpamangkot ko siya, kung pwede namun ilisan ang halad sang lawas, sang mga lalaki nga bag-o niya lang ginpatay, pero gintampa nya ako.

“Untati na ang paglaum sa pagkamortal nga wala ka na! Ini nga halad maga-paayo sang pabor para sa atun halin sa tigulang. Ginpili ta ina para sa ini nga tuyu, indi bala?!,” siling niya.

“Pero tama pa siya ka bata. Sigurado, magustuhan man sang tigulang ang iban,” sabat ko.

Antes ako makasugpon, gin-agaw sang bag-ong yanggaw ang sako, halin sa akon likod, kag gin-ula ang unod sini.

Mga banta katorse anyos ang pang edaron sini nga babaye kag wala gihapon sang animo. Ginkuha sang akon kaupod ang butkon sini, kag gilayon nga ginpaggwa ang iya mga matalum nga kuko kag ginkuha ang dugo sang makaluluoy nga tinuga.

Nag -ngurob ang akon nga tiyan.

“Nabatyagan mo man ang gutom, indi bala?,” siling niya.

“Untati ina. Inosente siya,” ginabatu-an ko pero daw kanamit gid sang sabor sang dugo.

“Wala sang inosente. Isa lang siya ka pagkaon. Tandaan mo ina.”

Gin kuha niya ang corazon sang  babayi kag gintulod sa akon dughan. Nag-ilig ang dugo niya kag naglapta sa mga dahon kag ugat sa palibot namon. Gindilapan ko ang akon bibig kag nasaboran ang matam-is nga unod sa akon dila.

“Amu ini ang atun ihalad.”

Ang akon utok nagpalumba sa mga imahe nga pula kag itom, mga singgit kag pagpakitluoy nga wala ginhatag.  Ginpamati-an ko ang pagkudog sang akon corazon, kag sa sina nga ti-on, kinapoy na ako sang pagpakigbatu.

Indi na ako tawo, kag indi ako dapat magpakuno-kuno nga isa ako. Subong nga gab-I, makita ko na ang tigulang kag amon paga-ambitan ang unod. Ginsulit-sulit ko ini sa akon paminsaron asta nga amu na lang ini ang akon madumduman.

Antes magpadayun, ginpauntat ko ang akon upod kag namangkot.

Nagkurisong siya, apang nagsabat man. Ginsugiran nya ako, nga ang tigulang, tama na gid kadugay, mas tigulang pa sahi namon, kag pinakakusog gid katama. Sa gamay niya nga kuweba, may mga magagmay kag itom nga pisu, nga iya ginagamit para ipa-on halin sa katawhan pakadto sa kasi-ot sang kadulman.

Wala ako kabalo kung mapati ako sa iya pero kami nagpadayon.

Nalab-ot gid man namon ang kuweba sang tigulang kag nabudlayan ako mag ginhawa. May makatilingala nga klase sang gahum. Gahum nga nagasugo nga dapat pamati-an.

Gintulod ako sang akon kaupod kag ako nagluhod. Ginhalad ang corazon sa ba-ba sang kuweba kag didto ko siya nakita.

Kalabanan sa mga aswang daw tawo ang itsura, pero ang ini nga tigulang daw tinak-an na sang sini nga paagi. Mas tigulang pa sa pinakatigulang nga aswang nga akon nakita.

Nagkagat siya sa corazon kag kami iya ginpasulod.

“Dali kamo sa akun puloy-an.”

Ang madalum niya nga tingug ang nagpakurog sang akun tul-an. Nagasabat ang akon utok sa akon mga tinaga.

Indi na ako tawo, kag indi ako dapat magpakuno-kuno nga isa ako. Subong nga gab-I, makita ko na ang tigulang kag amon paga-ambitan ang unod.

Akon ini ginsulit-sulit.

Indi na ako tawo.

Indi ako dapat magpakuno-kuno nga isa ako.

Makita ko na ang tigulang kag amon paga-ambitan ang unod.

Daw sa nahibalu-an niya ang akon ginapaminsar, kag gin-agda ako sang tigulang nga magkagat sa corazon sang babaye.

Handa ko nga ginbatun.

Kay indi na ako tawo.

Kag indi ako dapat magpakuno-kuno nga isa ako.

=———————–=

English Version

“Don’t drop it! Hurry up!”

My fingers were shaking as the other newborn nudged me forward. There wasn’t time for hesitation. He was expecting us.

The sack on my back feels heavy as I adjust the contents inside. I asked my companion if we could just raid the cemetery for the tribute but he said that only ate fresh meat would be suitable. I didn’t argue, young as he was, he was still older than me and our kind respects age, if nothing else.

I think back to when this all started. It was a night just like this. A late evening stroll was the perfect remedy to the pressure I was feeling. I wish I knew back then how wrong I was.

In an instant my chest was pounding. I was running away from a large, black creature that I couldn’t see. I cut through the forest thinking the trees would serve as my sanctuary but the thing was nimble, it easily moved through the undergrowth and caught up with me.

I came face to face with a gigantic, boar-like creature, its yellow teeth glimmering in the moonlight. I screamed then, but it didn’t matter. There was no one there to help me, and even if there were people what could they do against such a terrible creature.

I closed my eyes and prayed for it to be over quickly, and I waited for what seemed to be an eternity. I opened them and cast my eyes on the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She was wearing a long, black dress and her eyes held back a fire that was terrifying to behold.

She walked up to me and I was still paralyzed from fear. I didn’t know where the creature had gone and I tried to warn her that it was dangerous and that we should get to safety. She laughed right to my face and told me there was nothing to worry about.

Then she kissed me.

It tasted like the darkest shade of blood. I felt my body quivering at the touch of her lips, flowing throughout my body like a torrent of lightning. Breath was sucked out of my lungs and I gasped for air as if I were a drowned sailor.

Then she was gone.

That was the start of my journey. Eventually I met others of my kind, those living in the edges of society, trying to contain their bloodlust as best as they can.

I still feel shame from the first time I went out to hunt. The drive was strong with me then and I didn’t know how to control it. All I wanted was blood and meat, and there was an ample supply in the city.

Reana, that was her name. She was a fool to have trusted me and I was a fool to remember her name. Sometimes, when I sleep I can see her face begging for mercy. I wake up in a cold sweat, screaming and I try to tell her I’m sorry, but I look around and there’s no one there.

The nightmares are the worst part of this. All my past victims haunt me with their screams. I asked my companion if he had dreams too and he said, “It will sort itself out in time. One day you’ll learn to enjoy it.”

I’m afraid he may be right.

The other newborn makes us stop by a large tree and motions me to be quiet. There are humans here, hunters just like us, though our prey is vastly different. The humans are looking for the old one, the one my companion and I seek to visit.

My companion tells me to lie in wait and to protect the tribute while he deals with the humans. I sit by the tree and hope there are no screams.

To my surprise the other newborn finishes the job quickly. There were only two of them apparently and it was nothing that couldn’t be handled by a swift strike to their necks.

“We’re very close, only a ten minute walk and we should arrive at the entrance to his cave,” he said.

I ask him if we could exchange the tribute with the bodies of the men he just killed and he slaps me across the face.

“Stop clinging to humanity that you do not have! This tribute will put us in good favor with the old one. We specifically picked it out for that purpose, remember?!” he said.

“But she’s so young. Surely the old one would be satisfied with the others,” I replied.

Before I could react the other newborn grabs the sack from my back and forces its contents to the ground.

The girl could not have been older than fourteen and she was still unconscious. My companion takes her arm and takes out his claws, drawing blood from the unfortunate soul.

In that moment my stomach grumbles.

“You feel it too don’t you? The hunger,” he says.

“Stop, she is innocent,” I try to keep my focus but the blood smells so tasty.

“No one is innocent. They’re only a next meal. Remember that.”

He rips out the girl’s heart and pushes it to my chest. Blood flows from her and spreads across the leaves and roots around us. I lick my lips and taste the sweet flavor of flesh upon my tongue.

“This will be our tribute.”

My mind races with images of red and black, of screams and mercy ungiven. I listen to the sound of my beating heart and in that moment I am tired of fighting.

I am no longer human, and I shouldn’t be pretending I am. Tonight we will see the old one and share this flesh. I repeat the mantra in my head until it’s all I can remember.

Before moving forward I stop my companion and ask a question.

He frowns, but gives an answer. He tells me that the old one is ancient, far older than others of our kind, and more powerful than we could ever imagine. In his cave are small, black chicks that he uses to turn others away from humanity into the embrace of darkness.

I don’t know if I believe him but we push through ahead.
We finally reach the cave where the old one resides and I find it hard to breathe. There is a strange power here, one that demands to be heard.

My companion nudges me forward and I kneel. I present the heart to the mouth of the cave and that’s when I see him.
Most aswang have human forms, but it seems like the old one had tired of that affectation. He looked more primal than any aswang I had seen before.

He takes a bite out of the heart and bids us to enter.
“Welcome to my home.”

His voice is deep and sends a jolt down my spine. My mind echoes with my own words.

I am no longer human, and I shouldn’t be pretending I am. Tonight we will see the old one and share this flesh.
And I repeat.

I am no longer human.

I will not pretend that I am.

I will see the old one and share this flesh.

As if he knows what is going on in my head the old one offers me a bite of the girl’s heart.

I readily accept.

For I am no longer human.

And I will not pretend that I am.

*The Hiligaynon language, also colloquially referred often by most of its speakers simply as Ilonggo, is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 9.1 million people, mainly in Western Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN, most of whom belong to the Visayan ethnic group, mainly the Hiligaynons. It is the second-most widely spoken language and a member of the so-named Visayan language family and is more distantly related to other Philippine languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Pauline Brooks Dalisay
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Pauline Brooks Dalisay

Inspired by the Aswang na Kalibonan legends

Ebwa illustration by Andrew Rebuldela
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewrebuldela/

The post Aswang sa Kalibonan – Hiligaynon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Nariyan.

Ang aking pagkapanganay.

Noong sinabi ni Lolo sa akin ang tungkol dito ay tinawanan ko lang.

Ang buong akala ko kase ay kwentong kababalaghan lang ang lahat.

At pagkatapos ay lumabas nga ang anting-anting.

Hindi ko sana ito kinuha.

Hindi ko ito ginusto.

Ngunit malubha na si Lolo.

Sobra.

Wala akong pagpipilian.

Maniwala kayo.

Hindi ko gustong gawin ‘to.

Pakiusap, huwag niyo akong kalabanin.

Hindi ko mapipigilan.

Hindi na, mula nang tanggapin ko ito.

Matatapos rin ito.

Pangako

Hindi ko ito pinag-aralan o natutunan.

Kusa itong naghari sa akin mula nang ito’y aking tanggapin.

Nagmistulang kuko ng hayop ang aking mga kuko.

Naging pula ang mga mata ko.

At nangitim ang aking mga balat.

Nakita ko sa salamin ang sarili ko.

Pati na ang kababalghang nasa harap ko.

Natatakot ako.

Pero higit pa rito,

Nagugutom ako.

Kapag tinitingnan ko ang ibang tao.

Ang tanging nakikita ko lamang ay aking makakain.

Patawad.

Pakiusap.

Ang mga Aswang ay kumukuha ng kanilang lakas o kapangyarihan sa kanilang anting-anting (isang piraso ng laman na hugis sisiw na nasa kaniyang lalamunan). Bago mamatay ang isang aswang, kinakailangan niyang maipasa ang anting-anting sa sinumang miyembro ng kaniyang pamilya upang mapanatili ang bisa nito. Mamamatay lamang siya nang mapayapa kung mapagpapasyahan na ng isang miyembro ng pamilya na tanggapin ang kapangyarihang ito sapagkat kung hindi ay magdurusa naman ito sa labis na pagkakasakit.

=—————————-=

English Version

It’s there.
My birthright.
When my lolo told me about it, I just laughed it off.
I always thought they were fairy tales.
Then came the siwo siwo.
I wouldn’t have taken it.
I didn’t want to.
But lolo was in so much pain.
So much pain.
I had no choice.
You have to believe me.
I don’t want to do this.
Please stop resisting.
I can’t help it.
Not since I accepted the gift.
It will be over soon.
I promise.
It wasn’t something I learned.
Once I got the gift, instinct took over.
Then my nails turned into claws.
My eyes changed to red.
And my skin became black.
I saw myself in the mirror.
And the fairy tale before me.
I was scared.
But more than that.
I was hungry.
When I look at another person.
All I can see is my next meal.
I’m sorry.
I’m so sorry.

=————————————–=

*Aswang draw their power from its siwo siwo (a chick shaped piece of flesh kept in its throat) Before the aswang dies, it must relinquish its siwo siwo to a member of its family so that its power will live on. It will suffer in pain until a family member decides to accept this power, then it dies in peace.

*Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a quarter of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by the majority. Its standardized form, officially named Filipino, is the national language of the Philippines, and is one of two official languages alongside English.

Written by Karl Gaverza

Translation by Danica Jean A. Ortiz
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Danica Jean A. Ortiz

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

Aswang (Albay) Illustration by Sandra Sison

IG: @cre8tv_
FB: Art by Sch3rb

The post Aswang (Albay) – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Noong 1539, sa bayan ng Igbahay, mayroong namataang isang kakaibang nilalang kaya’t nilusob ng mga tao ang pinanggalingang bahay nito. Mula sa pinagtataguang bahay na ito ay may nakita silang maraming kakilakilabot. Napag-alaman nilang tirahan ito ng isang masamang tao na kilala sa tawag  na Talagman. Ang kakaibang nilalang na kasama nito sa bahay ay isang uwak na may tuka na kasingtulis ng kutsilyo, may apat na mahahabang mga paa at mga matutulis na kuko na puno ng mga tinik.

Bulung bulungan ng mga taong-bayan na si Talagman ay isang di pangkaraniwang nilalang at may taglay na kasamaan.  Diumano siya ay isang  sigbin o isang aswang na noong mga panahong iyon ay sanhi ng malaking kasamaan at pinsala  sa kanilang bayan.

Ilang kwento pa ng mga taga-bayan noon ay  nahuli ng isang malakas na lalaki si Talagman sa gitna ng isang masamang gawain at pinutol ng malakas na lalaki ang tenga nito. Isang nakaugalian ng mga Ibajao sa  bayan ng Igbahay ang pagpuputol ng kaliwang tainga ng ilang piling tao. Ang tradisyon na ito ay upang sirain ang kasunduan na magkakaroon  sa espiritung tinatawag na oag. Ang Oag ang nilalang na nagbibigay ng langis para maging sigbin o aswang ang isang tao.

Ayon din sa maga taong bayan, Ang  mga mata ni Talagman ay may kakaibang kapangyarihan na nakapagdudulot ng kapahamakan sa taong tititigan nito. Nagpasalin salin din ang kwento mula pa sa mga  ninuno na  itong si Talagman raw ay nakitang kumuha ng maliit na prasko, pinahiran ng langis ang kanyang katawan at lumipad habang ang kalahati ng kanyang katawan ay naiwan sa kanyang bahay

At hindi nga nag-iisa sa kalupitan at kasamaan si Talagman. Palagi nitong kasama sa kanyang paglipad at paghahanap ng sariwang karne ang walang kasing itim na Uac-uac.  Sinasaksak ng Uac-uac ang kanyang mabibiktima gamit ng kanyang matalas na tuka at ganun din ang  matataliim na kuko sa pagdagit ng laman ng mga ito.  Labis ang pagkalugod nito sa ginagawang kasamaan kasama ang amo nitong sigbin.

Ang kwentong ito ay daan-daang taon na ang nakalilipas na laging nagpapaalala o nagbibigay babala. Kung makikita mo ang Uac-uac at ang apat na paa nito, hindi malayong nasa paligid din lamang ang amo nitong si Talagman.

=————————=

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.

————————–————————–————————–

*Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a quarter of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by the majority. Its standardized form, officially named Filipino, is the national language of the Philippines, and is one of two official languages alongside English.

Written by Karl Gaverza

Translation by Rhodora Garcia-Medina
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Rhodora Garcia-Medina

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/

The post Uac-uac – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

“Makuwa ko ni sa duha ka minuto. Gamay man lang nga lakat ara nako sa piyak nga building kag kaya ko man makadalagan todo.” Gakabatyagan mo ang kuba-kuba sang dughan mo asta sa tiil, kamot mo gapalanugnaw kag gapalamalhas pati ang karubkub mo nagligad isa ka oras. Gapalanghugot imo batiis tapos nag ginhawa ka dalom para kabuwelo ka dalagan.

“Basi amo na ni ang ulihi ko nga paginhawa.” Sige na buya adrenaline nga gadalgan sa lawas mo. Kada tikang mo feeling mo ikaw na ang pinakadasig nga tawo sa bilog nga kalibutan. Chura mo ga ngisi, “amo na ni” pinsar mo,  “naka abot na ko!” Pila na lang ka tikang imo tuyo.

“Abaw ah” Tingala ka ngaa kadasig to sa iya. Na piyuan mo guid nga maka palagyo ka. Ginatulok ka sang bayi nga gamudlo pula ya nga mata nga daw ga-lubid ang kaladlukan ya nga nawong pag siyagit ya. “Indi!!!” Ang tingok ka utok mo nag siyagit “indi ni dapat matabo!”

Gin bitbit ka sang mga pa.a mo sa piyak nga direksyon, pabalik sa safety ka puno. “Ngaa wala ko nagtinir sa sulod man?” Gina kaon ka kapaminsaron mo nga ga hinulsol ka sa mga disisyon mo. “Ngaa wala ko nagdalagan dalagan man? ” “Ngaa ari ko di sa amo ni nga lugar man?” “Ngaa wala ko namati sang may chansa ko sa una man? ” “Wala untat panabad mga tingog sa ulo mo”

Makita mo na ang puno. “Indi ni sa kalapaw sa mga sanga ya.” Naantiparahan mo nga wala pa lima ka minuto sang nagdalagan ka. Kung wala pa kaabot lima ka minuto ang diperensya subong kag sa kabuhi ko.

“Isa na lang ka tikang kag ara na ko.” Isa na lang ka dalagan kag indi ya na ko madakop. May tiyempo kadali nga duda antis nagdive ka sa dalom sang puno kag nagabalentong sa roots ya. Wala ka gakabatyag sakit tungod sa adrenaline. “Buhi pa ko.” Wala ka untat nga pasalamatan.

Asta gin butang mo na ang kamot mo sa dughan mo. “Wala, wala, waay guid…” Naglupad na paminsaron mo. “Di puwedi nga amo to sa ka dasig.” Gatulo na dugo mo sa mga tudlo mo nga naglambot asta sa bayo mo. “Naka abot ko, dapat nakaluwas ko.”

Sulit sulit mo gina hambal sa kaugalingon mo asta sa nawad.an ka na dugo.

“Dapat nakaluwas ko”. Amo na paminsaron mo antis magsarado mga mata mo, basi ulihi na ni.

=——————————–=

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 talking.

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.

————————–————————–————————

*The Hiligaynon language, also colloquially referred often by most of its speakers simply as Ilonggo, is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 9.1 million people, mainly in Western Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN, most of whom belong to the Visayan ethnic group, mainly the Hiligaynons. It is the second-most widely spoken language and a member of the so-named Visayan language family and is more distantly related to other Philippine languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Urnn Propakarpyo
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Urnn Propakarpyo

Inspired by the Abat entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Abat illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
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Batyagan ko mangud ya pagdúot kang maramig nga sundang sa pánit ko.

Nagsugod ja kayang hapon kang alas singko y medya. Natapos bai timprano ya sipal namon mu karan nga si Nanay gina pa-uli’ du ko tulad. Apang samtang ga panaw ko pa-uli’, may nabati-an ko nga daw urangol pai hinay. Gin lisó ko ya ulo ko sa tu’ú kag kang nakita ko ya púno ka Santol, man’an ko run kung ano agtong nabatían ko.

“Wak.. wak.. wak….”

Gatagring nga huní sa taringa ko. Pai naaligmatan takón kang madumduman ko ya gin kuon kanakon kang mga katigulangan kauna. “Kung ya huní kang Wakwak matúnog, marayo day’á kanimo. Pai halong timo kung maghinay ana huní kai marapit du ran tana..”

Sa huná-huná ko samtang ga parang lápsi’on takón pasulod sa balay.

Ya sanga kang Santol nmon ga latay sa atup kang kwarto dai Nanay, muran makita ko gilayún kung may wakwak mangud o wara. Kang nakita ko ya gamabdos ko nga iloy garantaw ti TV, man’an ko run ano ana kinutuyó. Daw ma supúkay gid kami kara.

Dayon ko daragan pa kamalig kag bul’on ya sundang. Man’an ko run ya buhaton ko mu ja guro du kamag’an tana ti bit-biton. Tinago ko ya sundang sa bulsa ko kag nagpungko íngud kay Nanay samtang gahurat ka mga tini-ón nga magpakita ana marabog nga díla’.

Naghurat ko…

Kag naghurat…

Tungá’ dun sa oras nagdayon, tinak’an du ko kahurat mura nag panaw ko paagto sa puno kang Santol kag namati kung bati’on pa ti limog na.

Nadura dun ya huní na..

Asta tulad, gina binag-binag ko nga basi man’an ka wakwak nga batu-an ko gid tana kung biktímahun ya si Nanay. Pai di ko japon maributay kag gaparindog balahibu ko kada turok ko sa puno ka Santol. Inang bisán san’o, basí makabatí du man ko mahinay nga huní ka…

“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….”

=——————————————=

*The Karay-a language, or Kinaray-a is an Austronesian regional language spoken by the Karay-a people, mainly in Antique in the Philippines, Iloilo and other provinces on the island of Panay, as well as portions of the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. It is one of the Visayan languages, mainly along with Aklanon/Malaynon, Capiznon and Hiligaynon. As of 2015, there is an estimated 1,200,000 speakers of Kinaray-a with almost half of them are from Antique and Iloilo provinces.

Written by Karl Gaverza

Translation by Arj Horlador

Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Arj Horlador

Inspired by a story told by Ian Quirante

Wak-wak Illustration by Ian Quirante
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*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Kalipayan niya ang ti-on sang kapistahan kada Disyembre tungod sa mga pamatan-on. Ka mga inosente sa ila, kadasig mag salig, ka mga dasig intu-on.

Parehos abi kay Jonah, gin bayaan lang siya ka dali sang iya ginikanan, nang laguyaw na siya dayon. Sa pag lagaw-lagaw niya, naka kita siya sang tigulang nga lalaki, may gina sukbit nga sako sa abaga.

“Ikaw si Santa Klaws ay?”, hambal ni Jonah. Nagsabat ang tigulang, “Abaw huo e! Gusto mo sang regalo haw?”

Ang gamay nga si Jonah, nag lingling sa sako, ano bala nga kalipay sang bata nga makabaton bag-o nga hampanganan. Wala gid siya naka pangaman, may nag lampos sang ulo niya kag wala na siya animo.

Hay, ang mga kabataan subong, puros na mga gaka wili sa mga gamit, ka lain man nga gamiton mo na para intuon sila.

Lain naman ni ya ang istorya ni Lualhati. Siya gid ni ang pinaka buotan nga bata nga gina pangamuyo ukon gina gusto nga bata sang isa ka mag-awasa. Ang iya pirme nga ubra, mag bantay sa iya mga kamanghuran.

Isog man ni siya nga bata, sang ging tambangan sila sang tigulang nga lalaki, gina sabad niya ini para lang nga maka dalagan palayo ang manghod niya nga lalaki, kag tungod da, siya ang ging sulod sa sako sang tigulang.

Ari naman ya ang bata nga si Flordeliza, gamay pa lang pero pirte na ka suplada. Indi mo ni ma istorya kung indi mo pag hatagan sang mga dulsi ukon panyam-is.

Ging into-into ini sya sang tigulang nga lalaki pakadto sa isa ka gamay nga alagyan. Bag-o pa siya maka syagit, ging sulod siya dayon sa sako upod sang iban pa nga mga bata.

Si Rizalino naman, pirme lang ga duko-duko ang ulo. Gapati gid abi ang iya ginikanan nga makabulig gid dako ang teknolohiya sa pag padako sa mga pamatan-on.

Kalipay gid niya sang makabaton siya sang tablet. Pila ka mga inoras ang ging kunsumo niya sa paglantaw sang maanyag nga mga kinarton kag mga hampang-hampang. Ging tratar na niya nga iya na kabuhi ang tablet.

Sa subrahan nga kalingaw niya sa tablet, wala gid siya nag abi-abi sa palibot niya, ging palapitan siya gali sang tigulang nga lalaki kag ging sulod sa sako.

Ang pinaka ulihi, si Amor, ang retobada nga bata.  Nag layas ni siya halin sa ila balay kag nag layaw sa banwa kay indi niya gusto mamati sa ginikanan niya pirme lang ga sinilinggitan sa sulod-balay.

Kapila gid mag paandam ang iya ginikanan nga ‘Indi mag-istorya sa mga indi mo kilala’, pero anhon ta ina kay natural nga tig-a ulo man bi ang mga bata. Abi nila daw kabalo na gid sila sang tanan-tanan. Amo na ila panumdumon, pero kung patilawon mo na, dira gid na sila guro mag balalag-o.

Ging sigurado sang tigulang nga lalaki nga kumpleto na ang tanan nga panakot sa iya espesyal nga lulutu-on. ‘Dapat may bilin ni ang lulutu-on para mabaligya niya sa tindahan’, panaahumdom niya sa kaugalingon.

Gakabatyagan niya nga naga giho iya sako. Ang mga bata, amat-amat na nga ga bulugtaw, ka aga pa ni para dira. Halin sa banwa, ging pas-an niya ang prutas sang iya pinangabudlayan kag ging dala pakadto sa gamay niya nga kubo didto sa ka-umahan.

Indi amo ni ang pirme nga gakatabo. Sang una nga tyempo, indi niya kaya nga maka kuha sang madamo nga bata sa gamay lang mga mga inoras.

Ging dumdum niya nga sang una, ang mga maralagson nga kagulangan sa ila lugar, daw isa ka diyamante nga gina amagan ka mga negosyante.

Sang una, ga hulat lang na siya sang mga nag tinalang nga mga bata sa kagulangan kag iya sila kuhaon.

Ang mga ginikanan sang mga nagkala dula nga mga bata, halos aldaw-adlaw maka pamasyar sa iya kag pirme gapamangkot:

“Kita mo amon bata nga babaye?”, “Naka labay ni sila sa imo kubo?”, ” Pwede mo kami mabuligan pangita sa ila?”

Yuhom kaupod sang mga makapalati kag daw sa inosente nga mga tinaga pirme iya sabat. Indi man gid abi mag sulod sa paminsaron nimo nga ang isa ka mal-am, kag ugod-ugod nga lolo, makahimo malain nga butang parehos sang pag kuha sang mga gagmay nga mga bata. Daw ka kaladlawan na ya.

Ga arok-ok sang kakadlaw ang tigulang samtang papuli.

Kagamo sang kwarto sa sulod sang kubo. Ang lugar daw ging tugmawan sang pula nga dagta nga ga bukalwa sa palibot. May ara pa mga ginagmay nga butkon nga makit-an.

Ging butang sang tigulang nga lalaki sako kag nag gululuwa ang lawas sang mga bata. Iban sa ila ga giliho pa, pero kabalo man siya nga indi na sila makabugtaw gid.

Gingkuha na niya ang iya kutsilyo nga panglasā, kag ging handa ang kaugalingon para sa una nga pag ihaw. Ang bata nga baye, is Lualhati, ang pinaka lapit sa iya. Ging panumdom sang tigulang nga maayo ni nga klase ang iya dugo para himuon namit nga dinuguan.

Sang ging alsa sang tigulang ang dako nga kutsilyo, dira nag giho ang bata. Ging gamit niya ang tikod sang iya tiil para igu-on ang tiyan sang tigulang, natumba ang tigulang kag nakasyagit pa sang kasakit nga naaguman.

“Dalagan kamo tanan!”

Nag binangon dayon ang mga kabataan halin sa salog kag naka lab-ot sa pwertahan. Nalab-utan pa sang tigulang ang tiil sang isa ka bata nga lalaki, pero ging kagat sang bata ang iya kamot amo nga nakabuya siya.

Ging lantaw sang tigulang nga maka dalagan ang mga bata halin sa iya kubo. Wala na siya nagtilaw nga la-uton sila, kung maabtan man niya, ma law-ay kaledad sang karne nila. Tig-a na  ina kag ga bahul-bahol ang kusúg nila tungod sa dalagan.

Ging kuha niya ang bangkito kag nag pungko. Dapat na gid nga maghalong na siya sa dason.

Nagtulok siya sa mga madako ang matag.as nga mga establisyemento sang banwa halin sa iya bintana.

Damo pa man mga kabataan a, kinahanglan lang, mangin maagwantahon kag may laba nga pasensya.

Isa pa, amo naman ni ang pirme nga gina ubra niya halin pa sang una nga tyempo.

=——————————–=

English Version

He loved the holiday season, there were so many children, so naïve and trusting.

Take Jonah for example, his parents let him out of their sight for only a few minutes. He wandered off in the mall and happened upon a nice old man carrying a sack.

He asked, “Are you Santa Claus?” and the man replied “Of course I am! Would you like a present?”

Jonah immediately peered into the sack, such was the boy’s excitement in getting a new toy. He didn’t even feel the blow to the back of his head. Kids these days were so materialistic, it would be such a shame if someone took advantage of that.

Lualhati was a different story. She was the most well behaved girl any parent could ask for. She spent her days looking after her little siblings.

She was such a brave girl too, distracting the old man long enough for her little brother to run away. She was no match for him of course, and into the sack she went.

Then there was the girl, Flordeliza, such a snobby little brat. She wouldn’t talk to anyone unless she thought they could give her sweets.

The old man used that to lure her into a nice little alleyway. Before she could even think to scream she was in the sack, along with the other children.

Rizalino always had his head down. His parents believed in letting technology do the brunt of the work when it came to raising children.

He was so proud when he got his tablet, he would spend hours and hours watching his brightly colored cartoons or playing another mind numbing video game. It was as if that screen was his entire world.

He never realized that there were things happening beyond his screen, like a very old man and a sack creeping up behind him.

And finally came Amor, a very troubled child. She would wander around the city because she didn’t feel like listening to her parents getting into a shouting match for the hundredth time.

If she listened to them she might have heard them say ‘Never talk to strangers’, but children can be so stubborn. They always think they know everything. That is, until everything proves them wrong.

The old man checked his list and made sure he had enough for his special recipe, he needed to have some left over to sell to the market, ‘It’s the holidays’ he reminded himself. There would be other chances, he just had to wait.

He could feel the movement coming from the sack. The children were starting to wake up, it was much too soon for that. The old man took the fruits of his labor, far away from the city to his little kubo in the mountains.

It wasn’t always like this, of course. In the old days he would never be able to get this many children in such a short amount of time.

He thought back to when the concrete jungles were a glimmer of inspiration in the eyes of the tycoons, and a sea of green dominated the landscape.

In those times he would have to wait for the odd child to wander into the woods, never to be heard from again. Their parents would come by and ask all the questions a concerned parent needed to ask:

“Have you seen our little girl?” “Did they walk by your kubo?” “Will you help us look for them?”

He would smile and say a few remorseful words. No one would ever think that an old, venerable lolo could have anything to do with the disappearances of a few children. The very thought was laughable.

And he laughed all the way home.

The room inside the kubo was pure chaos. Scarlet stains and misplaced limbs were fighting a battle for supremacy.

The old man put the sack down and five small figures came tumbling out. There was some slight movement, but he knew they wouldn’t regain consciousness for a few more minutes.

He grabbed his lucky cleaver and readied himself for the first chop. The girl, Lualhati, was closest. The old man thought that her blood would make for good dinuguan.

As he raised his knife, she decided to strike. The heel of her foot hit the old man’s stomach, he collapsed to the ground, letting out a scream of pain.

“Everyone run!”

In that instant the four other children woke from their stupor and made for the door. The old man managed to grab the leg of one of the boys, but he bit his hand and the old man lost his grip.

The old man watched as the children fled his kubo. He didn’t bother chasing them, all that running would make their meat tough and stringy.

He pulled up a chair and sat down. He would have to be more careful next time.

The old man glanced outside his window and stared at the tall buildings in the distance.

There would always be more children, and he was nothing if not patient.

After all, he had been doing this for a very, very long time.

————————–————————–————————–—-

*The Hiligaynon language, also colloquially referred often by most of its speakers simply as Ilonggo, is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 9.1 million people, mainly in Western Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN, most of whom belong to the Visayan ethnic group, mainly the Hiligaynons. It is the second-most widely spoken language and a member of the so-named Visayan language family and is more distantly related to other Philippine languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Eloiza Gaduyon
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Eloiza Gaduyon

Inspired by the Tagalog Tigabulak legends

Tigabulak Illustration by Glendford Lumbao

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