*Note this story is in Bicol-Sorsogon

“Mama, inhihimo na naman niya utro,” ansabi ni Justo habang inhuhugnot an bado san kaniya ina.

“Okay lang* pabay-an mo lang siya magsayo. Danunan mo na lang ako maghanda san ato pamahaw, makadto pa kita sa plasa,” an simbag san ina.

“Pero atabon pa man! Gusto ko pa magturog”. Kontra ni Justo.

“Pareho kita na duwa gusto pa magturog, pero kun dire kita magkadto sa plasa wara na kita kakaunon na pamahawon. Kumanhi ka na, lutuan ko ikaw san paborito mo.”

“Longganisa?!**sige mama! Hamos na!”

Naghanda na si Justo pagkadto sa plasa pero hapot niya sa utak niya, “Akay irog sun si ate? An pirmi niya inhihmo ay magtan-aw sa luwas san bintana.”

Dire man siya irog sun dati. Nadumduman pa ni Justo san dire pa siya nakaistorya at an magayunon na boses san kaniya kamanghod. Gustuhon niya na inkakarga siya, na maling siya intataas para maimod niya an kalangitan nan an bilog san mundo.

Pero wara na an mga adlaw na yun tapos dire ko aram kun akay. Sayo na gab-i, nabati ko an ako ina na nagngungusngos sa kwarto tapos naimod ko an ako kamanghod na babaye na nakatindog sa piliw san bintana, maling nagkukurukintab an kaniya mga mata.

Dire lang yun an mga nangyari. Nadumduman ko pa na sabi san ina ko na magpirmi lang ako sa kwarto, maski nano an mangyari.Kinandado ni Mama an intiro na pinto nan sinarado an mga bintana nan sinigurado na an intiro ay magpirmi lang kun diin dapat sira.

Nakabati siya sin maluwayon na tunog na nagging intiresado siya. Dire niya mapigilan an kuryusidad kaya dinukot pa niya sin mayad an kaniya talinga sa pinto san kwarto nan naghulat siya.

Nakabati siya san sing-git san kaniya kamanghod nan siyak san kaniya ina.

Pagkatapos, tahimikon na.

An ako ina dire man in-aamin na may-on sin dire mayad na nangyayari. Liliwanan niya an kamanghod ko na babaye uruadlaw sa aga tapos bayaan na siya sa bintana.

Niyan, dire pagihapon aram ni Justo kun akay.

Nano an nangyari sa ako kamanghod? Akay irog siya suon?

“Mama handa na ako! Nakasul-ot bado si Justo na pang uran. Nagdara siya sin kaniya maswertihon na payong basi dire sira mahulos.

“Hala kagwapo man sine na bata! Kanana, kaskason ta lang basi makauli kita tulos basi makapasok ka na sa eskwelahan.

“Mao po Mama”

Dire matios ni Justo na tan-awon mun-a an kaniya kamanghod bag-o  sira maghali sa balay. An mata san kaniya kamanghod ay nakatutok sa bagay na dire man niya naiimod.

Gustuhon pirmi ni justo na magkadto sa plasa. Daghanon an kaniya naiimod nan nababaho. Gustuhon niya magkadto sa isdaan tapos tusok tusukon an mata san mga isda. Naiimod man niya an iba na mga gurang na inhihimo man yun tapos naisip niya na mao yun an paraan para matesting kun isda talaga un.

Habang si Mama ay nakipagtawadan sa nagtitinda sin bonay para sa kanira pamahawon, Si Justo sige man an libot libot sa plasa. Mga bag-uhon pa an mga sulihon tapos sige lang niya an katusok tusok sa mga sayote kun bag-o pa.

An tindera san mga sulihon kay dire nlang inririparo an bata na inuuyagan an mga sulihon niya tapos nagngangalas man siya akay dira pa siya in papahali. Awat awat pa mao natimala sin paratinda na dire man siya mabakal kaya inpahali na siya.

Mao na nariparo ni Justo na inpaparaimod na sira san Mama niya sin maraot san mga tawo sa plasa. Iimudon sira nan mahuring huring sa kanira kaupod bag-o maghali.

“Justo, kumanhi ka dine!” gahoy san kaniya ina sa plasa.

“Pakaon na Mama!” Dunalagan si Justo pakadto sa kaniya ina, gusto na niya mag-uli. Niyan kay namamatian niya na inpaparaiimod sira maski diin.

Pagkatapos bayadan san ina an bonay, naghuring si Justo, “ Mama akay inpaparaimod kita nan intitinaw-an kita nira?

“Pabay-i lang sira. Irog talaga sun an iba na tawo,” simbag san ina niya na di man sigurado.

Pero inpirit pagihapon ni Justo na mabati kun nano an insasabi sa kanira. Sayo lang an kaniya nababati, uru-utro.

“Atros”

Uruadlaw. An kamanghod na babaye ni Justo kay pirmi inliliwanan sin bado san ina tapos mangingkuran sa bintana, dire nagtitigmok maski kankanay. Minsan, Natamaan ni Justo sin bola sa ulo an kamanghod pero dire man lang punikit.

Uruadlaw pirmi ko inhahapot an kaniya ina akay irog sun pero pirmi man inbabag-o an istoryahan.

Sayo na adlaw ay tama na.

An in ani Justo kay bisihunon maghugas sin mga pinggan san dire na siya nakatios,

“Mama, nano an Atros?”

Sa kusina kay umalingawngaw an tunog san nabuka na pinggan.

“Diin mo yun nabati ha, anak?”

“Pan-o… An iba na tawo sa plasa sige an iristoryahan habang nagiimod sira saato.”

“Dire ka mamati sa kanira, anak, dire nnira aram kun nano an insasabi nira.”

“Pero nano yun Mama? Tungkol ine kan Manay?

“Kaipuhan mo na pumasok sa eskwelahan dire mao? Kanana, magliwan ka na.”

“Nakaliwan na ako Mama. Sige na, Sabiha na baya saako. Kay kun madanunan pa si Manay”

Dire masabi ni Justo kun nano kaawat an momento, pero maling an wara katapusan. Nagimudan sira na duwa, halos wara gusto maghali sin imod.

Sa wakas, wara nahimo an kaniya ina.

“Oras na para pumasok ka na sa eskwelahan.”

“pero Mama—–”

“Wara na iba na storya, kaipuhan mo na kumadto sa eskwelahan.”

“Mama—-”

“Dire. Dire ka na maghapot sine utro maski san-o.”

Sa dis oras san gab-i kay nakabati si Justo sin ibahon na tunog na hali sa luwas san bintana. Maling an nagpopokpok sin mga tambol.

Nangalas si Justo kun parada yun, pero nano man na parada an mangyayari san dis oras sin gab-i.

Grabe an kaniya kuryusidad kaya inabrihan niya an kandado san pinto nan sunikop sa luwas.

Nakaimod siya sin grupo san mga tawo, mga haragbabaon sira, mapution, an mga mata kay budlot nan maling an tiyan na buy-ayan na nakapatong sa paso. Nakasakay sira sa maling kabayo nan an tunog san tambol kay sige nira an bungyod maski diin magkadto.

Aabrihan na kunta ni Justo an pintuhan san may kunapot sa kaniya nan tinakupan an kaniya hiwa.

Wara na siya pakahiwag nan an misteryoso na itsura kay natumba sira na duwa sa salog habang kapot si Justo hanggang sa nawara na an tunog san mga tambol.

“Mama!” buranghat ni Justo san maimod niya kun sin-o an tunklang sa kaniya. “Nano Yadto.”

Nagparaturo na an luha san kaniya ina. “ Habo ko na na mawaraan pa ako sin sayo pa dahil sa kanira. Habo ko.” Inhinguha ni Justo na patindugon an kaniya ina na naghihibi.

“Mama,” sabi ni Justo, “ Sige na, Sabiha na saako kun nano an nangyayari.”Nano yadto? May-on sira sin kinaraman sa nangyayari kan manay?”

“Gusto ko lang maging mayad na ina. Nabati ko an mga tambol at aram ko an mga istorya. Aram ko kun nano an kanira kinuwa.”

“Nano an kanira kinuwa Mama?”

“Kinuwa nira an kaluluwa san ate.”

Batog sadto na gab-I, dire na nagtitiwala si Justo kapag bagong buwan. Nagpapadumdum sin simbolo san nawaraan nan pasakit.

Kay pan-o uruadlaw naiimod niya an kamanghod niya na tulala pirmi na nagtatan-aw sa bintana na aram niya kun akay.

Dire na mauuli kun nano an nakuwa sa kaniya.

Nan ito ay sumpa, maski aram niya an nagyari, pero wara siya mahimo, kundi an imudon at maghulat. Para sa pagbabalik ng bagong buwan.

Para maimod an halimaw na kunuwa sa kaniya kamanghod.

=————————————=

English Version

“Mama, she’s doing it again,” Justo says as he pulls his mother’s dress.

“It’s okay anak*just leave her alone. Now help me with breakfast, we have to go to the market,” his mother replies.
“But it’s so early in the morning! I want to sleep more,” protests Justo.

“We both want to sleep more, but if we don’t go to the market there will be no breakfast. Now come along, I’ll make your favorite.”

“Longganisa?!** Ok mama! Let’s go!”

Justo prepares himself for the trip to the market and in the back of his mind he asks, “Why is ate*** like that? All she does is stare outside the window.”

It wasn’t always like that. Justo could remember to the times he wasn’t able to talk and the beautiful serenade of his sister’s voice. He liked the way she would hold him up, as if she was lifting him to the heavens so he could see the entire world.
Those days were gone and he didn’t know why. One night, he heard the soft weeping of his mother from his room and he saw his sister standing by the window side, her eyes glazed.

That wasn’t all that happened. He remembered that his mother told him to stay in his room, no matter what may happen. She locked all the doors and closed the windows and made sure that everyone in the house was where they were supposed to be.

There was a faint sound of something he couldn’t make out. Justo couldn’t keep his curiosity hidden so he pressed his ear against the door to his room and waited.

There was a scream from his sister and a shout from his mother.

And then, silence.

His mother wouldn’t admit that anything was wrong. She would dress up his sister every morning and leave her by the window.

And still, Justo didn’t know why.

What happened to his sister? Why was she like that?

“Mama I’m ready!” Justo was dressed for the rain. He brought his lucky umbrella along to make sure they both would stay dry.

“Oh what a handsome boy! Now come with me, let’s be fast so we can get back early so you can get ready for school.”

“Okay mama.”

Justo couldn’t help but glance at his sister as they left the house. Her eyes locked on something Justo couldn’t see.

Justo always loved the wet market. There were so many things to see and smell. He liked going by the fish vendors and poking the fish in their eyeballs. He had seen older people do this and he thought it was their way of testing if the fish was really fish.

While his mother was haggling over some eggs for their breakfast, Justo had a look around the market. The
vegetables were especially bright today and he spent his time poking some sayote to see if they were fresh.

The vegetable vendor didn’t look particularly amused at the young boy’s playing with his produce and Justo was wondering why he hadn’t been shooed away yet. Usually it would take a few minutes before the vendors realized he wasn’t going to buy anything and they would tell him to go somewhere else.

It was then that Justo realized that the people in the market were looking at him and his mother strangely. They would give a glance and mumble something to their companions before walking away.

“Justo, come here!” his mother called from across the market.

“Coming mama!” Justo ran to his mother’s side, he wanted to go home. Now, he could feel the stares pulling him in different directions.

After his mother paid for the eggs, Justo whispered, “Mama why are people looking at us funny?”

“Don’t pay them any mind. That’s just how some people are,” his mother said with a hint of uncertainty.

But Justo perked his ears and tried to make out what some of them were saying. He could only hear one word, repeated.

“Atros.”

It was the same day in and day out. Justo’s ate would be dressed by their mother and she would sit by the window, unresponsive to anything. One time, Justo threw a ball at her head and she didn’t even flinch.

Every day he would ask his mother what happened and every day she would change the subject.

One day enough was enough.

Justo’s mother was busy washing the dishes when he blurted out,

“Mama, what’s an Atros?”

The kitchen echoes with the sound of the breaking plate.

“Where did you hear that, anak?”

“It was just…. Some people in the market were talking about it when they were looking at us.”

“Don’t listen to them anak, they don’t know what they’re talking about.”

“But what is it mama? Does it have something to do with ate?”

“You have to get ready for school don’t you? Come on, get dressed.”

“I’m already dressed mama. Please, tell me. Maybe we can help ate.”

Justo couldn’t tell you how long the moment lasted, but it seemed like five forevers. His mother and he had their gazes locked, both not backing down to the other’s will.

Finally, his mother broke the stalemate.

“It’s time for you to go to school.”

“But mama—-”

“No other words, you have to go to school now.”

“Mama—-”

“No. And don’t ask about this ever again.”

It was the middle of the night when Justo heard something strange from outside his window. It was like the beating of drums.

Justo wondered if it was a parade, but what kind of parade would happen in the middle of the night.

Fueled by curiosity he unlocked the front door and peered outside.

He saw a group of people, though they were very short. They had fair skin, eyes that bulged and big pot bellies. They were riding what looked like horses and the sound of beating drums followed them where they went.

Justo was just about to open the door when someone grabbed him and put their hand over his mouth.

He didn’t have time to react and the mystery figure pushed them both to the ground holding Justo down until the sound of the drums faded.

“Mama!” Justo exclaimed after he saw who it was that pushed down. “What are they?”

His mother was in tears. “I won’t lose another one to those things. I won’t.” Justo managed to pick up through her sobs.
“Mama,” Justo said, “Please. Tell me what happened. What are those things? Do they have anything to do with ate?”

“I was just trying to be a good mother. I heard the drums and I knew the legends. I know what they take.”

“What did they take mama?”

“They took her soul.”

Ever since that night, Justo never trusted the new moon. He saw it as a symbol of loss and pain.

Because every day he would see his sister stare blankly out the window and he knew.

She could never get back what was taken from her.

And it was a curse, knowing what happened, for he couldn’t do anything about it, except watch and wait. For the coming of a new moon.

To see the monsters that took his sister from him.

*Child
**Filipino sausage
***Older sister

*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 Jem Pogado
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jem Pogado

Story inspired by the Atros legends from La Union

Artros Illustration by Michael Sean B. Talavera
IG: @maykelshan
Deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/isaneleach13

*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
FB: Wildling Child
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildlingchild/

*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

*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.

*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
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