*Note this story is in Bicol-Sorsoganon

“Tabi tabi po.”

“Sabayi ako.”

“Tabi tabi po.”

“Dapat sabihun mo ina pag magi ka didi.”

“Bawal kita didi magsamhod, mama?”

“Bawal. Mayad kay narumduman mo.”

“Nano kay bawal? Saaton man ini balay.”

“Balay ta ini. Yadi an mga gamit ta. Pero sain ini nakatindog?”

“Sa duta?”

“An duta, an kinab-an, dili ina saaton.”

“Binakal ta ini na duta. Kabas-an ta ina! Didi pa ngani ako nagkakanam.

“Amu binakal ta ini. Igwa kitang mga papeles. Pero an duta dili saaton, may mga tagsadiri sada na dili ta nakikita.”

“Bakalon ta na lang sainda!”

“May mga bagay na dili nababakal. Awat na sinda didi nakaistar nan maistar sinda didi maski wara na kita. Kaipuhan ta makisama sainda.”

“Pano kung habo ko? Habo ko sainda. Pag dili kita nagtaram ‘tabi tabi po’ nan nagsilhig kita nagkakasakit kita. Habo ko sin arug sada.”

“Pano kung habo man ninda na makiistar kita sainda?”

“…”

“Siguro dili mayad pag isipon o pagkitaon pero maging mabuot na lang kita sa kada saro. Pag mabuot kita sainda mabuot man sinda saaton. Nano ulit dapat ta sabihon?”

“Tabi tabi po.”

=—————————————————————————–=

English Version

“Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu.”

“Now say it with me.”

“Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu.”

“Good. Now remember, we always have to say that whenever we pass this place.”

“We also can’t sweep here right mama?”

“Yes, it’s good you remembered. I have such a smart boy!”

“But why do we have to follow these rules mama? I thought this was our house?”

“It is, it’s our place with all our things, but what is the house on?”

“….the ground?”

“Good job! Now the ground and all the earth, doesn’t belong to us.”

“But I thought this was our land? Isn’t this our farm? And isn’t this where I play?”

“Yes, yes, we bought this land, and we have all the papers to prove it, but then it gets complicated. See the land belonged to some other… people, long before we came here, before any humans started a town in this area.”

“But can’t we just buy it from those people?”

“There are just some things you can’t buy with money. This place is their home and always will be, long after you and I are gone. We have to learn to live with them.”

“What if I don’t want to? They seem mean. If we don’t say these things and if we just clean around our house we get sick. How is that fair?”

“How is it fair that they have to share their home with us?”

“…”

“It isn’t an ideal situation for either of us, but we have to learn to be kind to one another. If we are kind to them, they will be kind to us. Now what do we say?”

“Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu.”

“Good boy.”

————————–————————–————————

*Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu is Ilokano for “You there please go away.” (Kayo-kayo, malayo kayo)

*The Bikol languages or Bicolano languages are a group of Central Philippine languages spoken mostly in the Bicol Peninsula in the island of Luzon, the neighboring island province of Catanduanes and the island of Burias in Masbate. There is a dialect continuum between the Visayan languages and the Bikol languages; the two together are called the Bisakol languages.

The Tabaco-Legazpi-Sorsogon (TLS) dialect is spoken in the eastern coast of Albay and the northeastern part of Sorsogon. TLS is the dialect that has been most influenced by the Inland Bikol languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Sara Grace C. Fojas
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Sara Grace C. Fojas

Story inspired by Ansisit description in 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Samar. 2015

Ansisit Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
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Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
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IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildlingchild/

The post Ansisit – Bicol Sorsogon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bicol-Sorsogon

Nanu kay hadlok ka magadan?

Isturyahan ko ikaw.

San sadto, may mayaman na babaye na nakaistr harani sa dagat? Wara saiya nagbibisita. Gusto niya pirmi lang mahilom sa dako niya na balay. Pirmi siya nasa dagat, nagbibilang san mga bituon, san mga baybay.

Saro lang an amiga niya nan dili idto tawo. An anino san kamatayan an pirmi noya kaupod sa saiyang kamunduan. Nakilala niya san namatay an ina niya. Dili siya nahadlok san nakita niya siya.

“Nano kay dili ka hadlok saakon?” hinapot siya san anino. “Pinapagayon mo an buhay.” Simbag niya.

An anino kan kamatayan naugma sa sinabi niya. Dili niya binayaan an babaye hanggang sa matapos niya an ritwal para sa proteksyon san mama niya pagkamatay niya. Namuot saiya  an anino san kamatayan. Niyan lang siya nakakakilala san arug niya.

Madali magselos an anino san kamatayan. Gusto niya saiya lang an babayi. Pirmi siya nakasunod saiya.

An babayi aram an plano san anino san kamatayan. Naghali siya sa balay ninda nan nagadto sa lola niya na may kapangyarihan. Hinatagan siya san kapangyarihan. Batog sadto dili na mamamatay an babayi.

Pero dili binayaan san babayi an anino san kamatayan. Gusto niya magbalos sa amiga niya. Nawara an respeto niya sa kamatayan.

Dili ka dapat mahadlok sa kamatayan.

Mahadlok ka sa puwede mangyari pagkatapos mo mamatay.

English Version

Why should you fear death?

Let me tell you a story.

A long time ago, there was a rich woman who lived by the sea. She would not have any visitors, for she liked the quiet that her large house gave her. She would spend her days and nights by the beach, counting each star and each grain of sand.

She had but one friend, not like any person in the world, for it was not a person at all. The shadow of death would spend time with her to ease her loneliness. They first met when death’s shadow claimed the woman’s mother. She was not afraid as most people would have been and greeted the shadow politely.
“Why are you not running in fear?” The shadow asked. “You are part of what makes life beautiful.” The woman answered.

Death’s shadow had never been called beautiful before and it stayed until the woman finished the larao, the ritual ceremony to protect her mother’s body from those that would harm it after death. The shadow fell in love with the woman then, for it had never met a human who respected death such as she did.

Death’s shadow was a jealous thing and it wanted the woman all to itself. It had followed her to the seaside and had planned to drown the woman, so that she may be in death’s embrace forever.

The woman was no fool, though and knew what the shadow had planned. She left her house and visited her grandmother. For you see, the old woman had great power that was once rejected by her granddaughter. The woman had no choice, death’s shadow was approaching.

When the shadow caught up to the woman it was surprised. She had become deathless, she would never know the shadow’s embrace.

The woman would not leave death’s shadow though. She had known the betrayal of a trusted friend, and she would not rest until she had her revenge. Every time death was not respected through the larao, she would be there. Desecrating what would have been the shadow’s prize.

You should not fear death.

Fear what comes after.

*The Bikol languages or Bicolano languages are a group of Central Philippine languages spoken mostly in the Bicol Peninsula in the island of Luzon, the neighboring island province of Catanduanes and the island of Burias in Masbate. There is a dialect continuum between the Visayan languages and the Bikol languages; the two together are called the Bisakol languages.

The Tabaco-Legazpi-Sorsogon (TLS) dialect is spoken in the eastern coast of Albay and the northeastern part of Sorsogon. TLS is the dialect that has been most influenced by the Inland Bikol languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Sara Grace C. Fojas
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Sara Grace C. Fojas

Inspired by the Aswang (Capiz) description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Aswang (Capiz) Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

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

The post Aswang (Capiz) – Bicol Sorsogon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bicol Sorsogon

“Duwang minuto lang yada na ako. Haranihon lang ina nan makaskas man ako magdalagan.” Makusog na tibok san puso, mahagkot na kamot, nan an balhas nagtuturo. Hangos san hararom, batog san lakat.

“Basi urhi ko na ini na hangos.” Kada lakat pamate mo ikaw an pinamakaskas na tawo sa kinab-an. Maugma ang saimong pamati. “Amu na ini,” naisip mo, “Nakaya ko.” Diyot na lakat na lang.

“Hala!” Yada na tulos. Huna mo mauunahan mo siya. Inkita ka niya kan saiyang mga mata. “Ayaw!” Naisip mo, “Dili ini puwede!”

Nagbalyo ka san lakat, pabalik sa puno. “Dapat dili na lang ako nagluwas!” Inisip mo ang naging desisyon mo. “Dapat dili na ako nagdalagan! Nanu kay ginibo ko ini? Dapat dili na lang ako nagbati sainda!” Dili ka inuudungan san utak mo.

Harani ka na sa puno. “Dili man ina makalagpas.” Wara pa limang minuto an dinalagan mo. Wara pa limang minuto nagbag-o an buhay mo.

“Harani na. Diyot na lang.” Dili ka mapadakob. Dili ka mapatumba. Dili mo namamatian an pagal “Buhay pa ako.” Dakol an saimong pasasalamat.

Kapot sa dughan. “Dili ini puwede.” Nawawara ka na sa sadiri mo. “Kakaskas man.” Nagtuturo na an dugo sa kamot mo nan sa bado mo. “Nagibo ko. Dapat maayos an kamutangan ko.”

Inulit ulit mo na dapat nasa mayad an kamutangan mo hanggang sa paubos na an saimong dugo. “Dapat nasa maayos an kamutangan ko.” An urhi mo na sinabi.

English Version

“I can make it in two minutes. It’s only a few feet to the next building and I can run fast.” You can feel your heartbeat reverberate to your feet, your hands are cold and sweaty and the chill down your spine has been there for the better part of an hour. The muscles in your legs start to tighten and you take one deep breath before starting your sprint.

“This might be the last breath I’ll ever take.” The adrenaline surges through your body. Each step makes you feel like you’re the fastest person in the world. Your face betrays a smile, “This is it!” you think, “I made it!” Your objective is just a few steps away.

“Oh no.” You don’t know how it got there so fast. You were so sure that you were going to outrun it. The woman stares at you with her bulging red eyes and her hideous face twists in a scream. “No!” The voice in your head shouts “It wasn’t supposed to be this way!”

Your legs take you in the opposite direction, back to the relative safety of the tree. “Why didn’t I stay indoors?” The decisions all start coming back to haunt you “Why didn’t I take up running?”, “Why am I in this place?”, “Why didn’t I listen when I had the chance.” The voices in your head won’t stop screaming.

The tree is in sight now. “It won’t be able to get past the branches.” You realize it’s been less than five minutes since you started running. Less than five minutes would make the difference between now and the rest of your life.

“One more step and I’m there.” Just one last dash and it won’t be able to grab you. There is a moment of doubt before you lunge under the tree and crash into the roots. You don’t feel much of the pain because of your adrenaline. “I’m still alive.” You’ve never been more grateful.

Until you put your hand to your chest. “No, no, no…” Your mind trails off. “It couldn’t have been that fast.” The blood starts to trickle down your fingers onto the rest of your clothes. “I made it, I’m supposed to be safe.”

You repeat those words in your head until there’s too much blood loss.

“I should be safe.” Was what you thought before you closed your eyes, maybe for the last time.

*The Bikol languages or Bicolano languages are a group of Central Philippine languages spoken mostly in the Bicol Peninsula in the island of Luzon, the neighboring island province of Catanduanes and the island of Burias in Masbate. There is a dialect continuum between the Visayan languages and the Bikol languages; the two together are called the Bisakol languages.

The Tabaco-Legazpi-Sorsogon (TLS) dialect is spoken in the eastern coast of Albay and the northeastern part of Sorsogon. TLS is the dialect that has been most influenced by the Inland Bikol languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Sara Grace C. Fojas
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Sara Grace C. Fojas

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

Abat illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

The post Abat – Bicol Sorsogon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bicol

Gabos iniisip na istorya lang an mga birradali. Dai lang kami nagpapahalata, pwera sa sarong okasyon, sarong oras, saro sa mga kaibahan mi an nagtuga. Aram nindo, kaming pitong magturugang, inbababa namun an bahaghari sa kinaban para tangkason an samuyang plata na pakpak, magpahuway nan magkakarigos sa burabod.

Sarong aldaw, may isad na tawo an nakahiling kan pakpak namun sa doot. Pighadlok niya kami na aagomon niya. Kami na anom na pinakamagurang sa magturugang may dunong na kaya pigtago namun an pakpak namun sa harani. San nagpapaduman na sa amun an tawo, insul-ot uli namun an pakpak nan nagluyap na kami pabalik sa kalangitan. Alagad an pinakabatit namun na tugang, indudulag an pakpak niya kaya naagaw lugod nan nakalit kan lalaki.

An biraddalli dai basta nagpapadaog. Sa una, naging halas an tugang mi, nagkakamang padulag alagad an lalaki sarong paradakop kaya nadakop niya an halas nan nilaom sa kulungan. Sunod, naging saro siyang uyang asin nagtago sa irarom kan ingod kan kadlagan. Alagad malinawon an mata kan lalaki kaya nahilingan siya na nagigibo agihan pairarom.

Sunod, naging saro naman siyang aluhipan, nagpapahitaas sa mga sanga kan puno para makatakas. Pero makaskas an lalaki, pinondo siya sa saro na sanga. Sunod, wara na kan iba na magigibo an tugang namun kay habang wara sa iya an pakpak, padiit diit man na manluluya an kapangyarihan niya.

Nagtugot na lang an tugang namu na maging agom kan lalaki. Nag-upod siya sa lalake alagad pig-aabangan pa man niya an pagkakataon na makuha liwat an plata na pakpak nan magluyap pabalik sa bahaghari, paduman sa kalangitan. Kaming mga ate niya dai matugot na duman lang siya sa kinaban kaupod an lalaki.

Inlilikayan namu na madakop man kan lalaki. Kaya naghuring kami sa hangin, nagsasarig na an saro sa samuyang mga hinuring makaabot sa tugang namun.

Huminuring kami manungod sa kadlagan nan mga puno. Pigtaram mi sa iya na nilubong kan lalake an saiyang plata na pakpak sa irarom kan puno na kaabay san salog. Huminuring kami manungod sa katalingkasan asin paglaom. Huminuring kami na nalalangkag na kami sa iya.

Sarong aldaw, nabati niya kami. San wara an lalaki sa harong, tuminakas sya asin nagdalagan paduman sa kadlagan. Dai pa nagkaigwa san mas makaskas na briddali, asin dai pa naaraman san maski sino na anghel kun nano an nguya kan katalingkasan.

Gabos mahona na leyenda asin inimbento lang an mga briddali, niyan na aram na namun kung nano na karaotan an kaya san mga tawo. Dai nanggad na may maski sino na makaagaw samuya kan sa among pakpak. Dai na nanggad magkakaigwa san saro samuya na makaaram kan kahadlokan kan pagkabihag sa kinaban. Dai na nanggad na maski saro samuya magkaaram kan padusa na lain kami kompleto.
Magigin buhay kami sa mga leyenda kan mga tawo nan sa gayon kan bahaghari. Niyan, magpasano pa man.

English Version

Everyone thinks the biraddali are myths on earth, we’re just too careful to let ourselves be seen. Except for one occasion, one time when one of us let our guard down. You see, us seven sisters take the rainbow down to earth to remove our silver wings and relax and bathe in the fresh mountain springs.

One day, a human saw our wings on the ground and threatened to make us his wives. We eldest sixsisters were wise enough to keep our wings close and when he got near, we put on our wings and flew back to the heavens. But the youngest sister kept her wings further away and the man stole them from her.

A biraddali will not back down. The youngest sister changed into a snake at first, slithering away, but the man was a hunter and trapped the snake in a cage. The youngest then changed into a scorpion and hid amongst the forest floor, but the man’s vision was great, so he saw her scuttling away. The youngest then changed into a centipede, going up the tree branches to escape his advances, but the man was quick, he stopped the centipede at a branch. Finally, the youngest had no choice, without her wings the biraddali’s power was fading.

The youngest acquiesced to being the man’s wife, and she stayed with him, waiting for the day she could get her silver wings and fly back on the rainbow towards the heavens. We elder sisters would not let the youngest remain on earth with the man.

We did not want to risk getting captured by the man ourselves, and each one of us was scared of getting our wings clipped, so we carried our whispers on the winds, hoping that one would reach our trapped sister.

We whispered of the forest and of the trees, telling her that the man buried her silver wings under a tree beside the river. We whispered of freedom and hope. We whispered that we missed her.

And one day, we were heard. The youngest sister escaped the man’s house while he was away and dashed towards the forest. Never had there been a swifter biraddali, and never had any angel knew what freedom had meant.

Everyone will think the biraddali are myths, for we know the cruelty that man can possess. Our wings will never be taken from us. Never again will one of us know the fear of being shackled to the earth. Never again will the rest know the misery of knowing that we are not complete.

We will remain alive in the myths of men and in the beauty of the rainbow. For now, and forever.

————————–————————–———————–

*The Bikol languages or Bicolano languages are a group of Central Philippine languages spoken mostly in the Bicol Peninsula in the island of Luzon, the neighboring island province of Catanduanes and the island of Burias in Masbate. There is a dialect continuum between the Visayan languages and the Bikol languages; the two together are called the Bisakol languages.

The Tabaco-Legazpi-Sorsogon (TLS) dialect is spoken in the eastern coast of Albay and the northeastern part of Sorsogon. TLS is the dialect that has been most influenced by the Inland Bikol languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Krishna Shai Azurin
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Krishna Shai Azurin

Inspired by “The Seven Angels.” in Sulu Studies 2. Rixhon ed. 1973.

The Seven Biraddali Sisters Illustration and Colors by Elise Mendoza.

The post The 7 Biraddali Sisters – Bicol Sorsogon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bikol

“Tolong aldaw bag-o an pagkabuhay liwat, an diablo magibo kan agihan paduman sa puso kan mga tawo. Mag-ingat kamo sa mga inkakadto nindo na lugar asin sa mga nasasabat nindo na tawo.”

Napipilaw ako habang nagbabati kan sermon. Dai man karuruyag na adi ako ngunyan sa misa. Pinirit lang ako ni lola. Kun adto kuta ako sa balay, maruruyag pa ako sa hampang kan kompyuter. Pwede pa ako magkanam diit bag-o magpaduman sa masunod na misa.

“An mga aki kan diablo naglalakaw ngunyan sa kinaban. Dai kamo kasala kay maski nano na kamugtakan kukuwaon ninda tanganing mapatobod kamo na naghahagad lang sinda kan tabang. Garo dai sinda magibo kan maraot alagad babaligtaron ninda an totoo na marahay. An pakikisaro sa diablo madara lang kan kasakitan nan kamondoan.”

Bagan gustuhunon talaga san padi magtaram. Nawawara-wara pa ako. Pig-iisip ko kun pan-o ako makahale digdi. Makudat an mga ingkudan asin raot an aircon. Pararehas an mahihilingan mo sa mga tawo: kalmado pero nagdadangog pa man giraray.

“Giromdoma nindo ini na patanid. Sa tolong aldaw na ini mapasiring dini an mga sorogoon kan diablo. Napangirondoman ako san sarong istorya kun sain an diablo nakisaro sa saro pa na diablo. An aki nin kadikloman gutom sa laman kan mga tawo. An kada pagsuriyaw niya makaibo san dakol pa na kapareho niya.”

Garo may iba. Natutukalan an boses san padi, ngana na mas hararom na ngunyan. Dai ko aram ano an pigtataram niya pero garo talaga naapektohan siya sadto.

“Saro an sakuyang ina sa mga biktima. Mapagalon pagtioson minsan an kabayadan san kasalan. Alagad an Kagurangnan dai mapadara kan mga sorogoon kan diablo para sa mga gibo niya. An Kagurangnan mapatawad, dai mangraraot. Giromdoma nindo na

mapapasaindo gabos an liwanag kan pagkamoot.”

Ngunyan medyo napapahibi na an padi. Nagbasol ako na dae ako nagdangog poon sa mga unang parte kan sermon. Garo darahonon siya sa pigtataram niya.

“An diablo mahanap paraan para magkawarara kamo, asin iyo man an saiyang aki. Itao niyo an saiyong pagsarig sa Kagurangnan ta sa Iya lang kamo makakahanap kan tunay na kaligtasan.”

Duman na natapos an sermon kan padi. Medyo kinulbaan ako ta nag-iba an padi habang pigtataram an sermon niya. Naglakat-lakat muna ako sa park kan bigla may napansin ako na malin iba.

Igwa kan sadit na aki. Malin binilin magsaro. Kaluluoy man. Nagrani ako para makita kun pwede ko matabangan para mahanap an mga magurang. Nababati ko pa hanggang niyan an mga tinaram kan padi manungod sa aki. Alagad lain ko na lang inpansin.

An aki na sadit..dai man ako mapapakulugan. yah

English Version

“In the three days before the resurrection, the devil will make his way into the hearts of man. Be careful of the places you go and the things that you meet.”

I’m half asleep as I listen to the sermon. Mass hasn’t been the most exciting thing I’ve done today, but lola dragged me here. I wish I was back home in front of my computer doing something interesting. I could squeeze in a few games before the next mass I have to go to.

“The children of the devil walk the earth at this time, make no mistake, they will take forms that will entice you to help them. They hide under the shroud of innocence and they pervert what will be good. The product of a union with the devil will only bring pain and misery.”

The priest seems to really like talking. I’m still drifting in and out, thinking about anything else that will get me out of this place. The pews are hard, the aircon’s broken and everyone has the same look on their face: placid, but still listening.

“Remember this warning. In these three days the agents of the devil will come. I am reminded of a story where the devil had a union with another monster. This child of darkness seeks to devour the flesh of man and it screams will create more like it.”

This is strange. The priest is changing his voice. It seems a lot deeper now. I don’t know what he’s been talking about but it really seems to be affecting him.

“My mother was one of its victims. The price of one’s sin is sometimes too much to bear. But the Lord would never send agents of the Devil to do his work. The Lord will forgive, not destroy. Remember the light of love will be with you all.”

The priest is softly crying now. I wish I had paid more attention to the earlier part of the sermon. He seemed to be caught in a trance.

“The devil will seek to lead you astray and his child is no different. Always put your trust in the Lord. For only in Him will you find true salvation.”

The sermon ends with that. I’m still a bit shaken from the change that the priest had while he was saying it. I take a small detour to the park where I notice something strange.

It’s a baby. It seems to have been left alone, the poor thing. I go near it to see if I can help it find its parents. The words of the priest still echo in my ears, but I ignore them.

A baby can’t hurt me.

*The Bikol languages or Bicolano languages are a group of Central Philippine languages spoken mostly in the Bicol Peninsula in the island of Luzon, the neighboring island province of Catanduanes and the island of Burias in Masbate. There is a dialect continuum between the Visayan languages and the Bikol languages; the two together are called the Bisakol languages.

The Tabaco-Legazpi-Sorsogon (TLS) dialect is spoken in the eastern coast of Albay and the northeastern part of Sorsogon. TLS is the dialect that has been most influenced by the Inland Bikol languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Tagalog Translation by Krishna Shai Azurin
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Krishna Shai Azurin

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

Patiyanak Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

The post Patiyanak – Bicol Sorsogon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.