*Note this story is in Bicol Naga

Tighiling ni Manay Paul an surat na tigwalat ni Lolo Ambo saiya. Gusto niya mang respetuhon an mga kagustuhan ni Lolo Ambo, masakit. Kaipuhan niyang ipabakal an daga para may kwarta sinda maglipat sa ibang lugar para sa kinabukasan kan saiyang pamilya. Naglakaw si Paula sa kahoy nin Balate sa may boundary kan uma. Mayong ilaw sa mga sanga ngunyan na banggi. Dae niya sigurado kun an ibig sabihun kaini na kung mahali man an mga tao sa kahoy.

“Sorry.” Nagdadakol na an mga luha sa mata ni Paula. “Aram ko na pinangako ni Lolo Ambo na mayong mangyayri sa saindong kahoy asin pinakiulay niya na gibuhon mi an pangakong ito, pero kaipuhan kong pilion an ikakarahay kan sakong pamilya. May makulog si Lila, dae mi kaya mabakal an saiyang bulong. Si Roberto, dae makahanap trabaho. Ako…ako ang ina, kaipuhan kong itao sa sakuyang mga aki an magayon na buhay sainda.” Tigpunasan ni Paula an saiyang mga luha, “Patawadon nindo ako.”

Maliwanag an bulan sa madiklom na langit. Oras na an nakaagi asin mayong nangyari. Mayong senyas, mayong senyas na pwede magsabi na nadangog kan mga tao sa kahoy an saiyang sinabi. Dae niya aram kung ano ang pwede mangyari pero sana may sabihon sinda saiya ning dawa ano. Kung anuman.

Naghalat siya hanggang aga asin pagkatapos, naglaog siya sa saiyang harong, nagpuon nang mag-impake.

Tulong bulan na an nakaagi, tigmamasdan ni Manay Paula an saiyang mga aki, ngunyan nanaman lang siya naugma ni arog kaini sa kahaluyan nin panahon. Nagdadalgan si Lila kaiba an saiyang mga pinsan. Nagirumduman ni Manay Paula kung gano kaluya ang itsura kan aking babae sa ospital asin nagsabi sya nin pangadyi ning pasasalamat na maluhay sana. Nagtukaw siya asin pinunan niyang gibuhon an tradisyon niyang pagkakaaga-an magbasa nin diyaryo.

An headline, “Bagong Kaganapan Sa Rali Kan Mga Nagpoprotesta” na mayo mang pinagbago; naakusahan nin korapsyon an kumpanyang nagpapatugdok kaiba an mga lokal na opisyales para dae na ninda pansinun an kararatan na dulot kaini sa kapaligiran, pero may sarong letrato na halos nagpatindog ki Paula sa saiyang pagkatukaw.

Letrato in ikan sarong magayon na aking babae na nakapula habang nanginginutan sa mga nagpoprotesta laban sa bulldozer.

Nagngirit si Manay Paula. Kaya man pala ninda an saindang mga sadiri.

=——————=

Engilsh Version

Manang Paula looked at the letter that Lolo Ambo left her. As much as she wanted to respect his wishes, times were hard. She had to sell the land to have enough money to move where it would be a better future for her family. Paula walked to the Balete tree in the edge of the field. There weren’t any lights in the branches tonight. She didn’t know if that meant the people in the tree were going toleave as well.

“I’m sorry.” The tears were starting to swell up in Paula’s eyes. “I know that Lolo Ambo promised that nothing would happen to your tree, and he asked all of us to keep that promise alive, but I have to choose what’s best for my family. Lila is sick and we can’t even afford her medicine anymore. Roberto can’t find a job. I… I am a mother and I need to give my children the life they deserve.”

Paula wiped away the tears from her cheek, “Please forgive me.

The moon was still in the night sky. Hours passed and nothing happened. There was no sign, nothing to tell Paula that the people in the tree heard her. She didn’t know what to expect, but she had hoped that they would tell her something. Anything.

She waited by the tree until morning and afterwards, she went to her house and started packing.

Three months later, Manang Paula was looking at her children and she was happy for the first time in a long while. Lila was running around playing with her cousins, Manang Paula remembered how weak her little girl looked in the hospital bed and she said a soft prayer of thanksgiving. She sat down and started her morning tradition of reading the newspaper.

The headline read “Protesters Rally New Development” which wasn’t surprising; the construction company had been accused of bribing the local officials so they could ignore the environmental destruction they were causing, but a certain picture almost made Manang Paula jump out of her seat.

It was of a beautiful girl in red leading the protesters against a bulldozer.

Manang Paula smiled. They could take care of themselves after all.

————————–————————–————————–

*Central Bicol, commonly called Bicol Naga, is the most-spoken language in the Bicol Region of southern Luzon, Philippines. It is spoken in the northern and western part of Camarines Sur, second congressional district of Camarines Norte, eastern part of Albay, northeastern part of Sorsogon, San Pascual town in Masbate, and southwestern part of Catanduanes. Central Bicol speakers can be found in all provinces of Bicol and it is a majority language in Camarines Sur.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Angela Arnante
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Angela Arnante

Inspired by ‘The Fairy of Balete Tree’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Mariang Ilaya Illustration by Laura Katigbak
FB: Rabbit Heart
IG: https://www.instagram.com/rabbitheartart/

The post Mariang Ilaya – Bicol Naga Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga

Magtubod ka sakuya! Nahiling ko ini digdi, nagtutuga ako”

Ipiggala ni Jia an saiyang manga mata. Duwang oras na puon kadtong mahiling ni Jaime an ‘sarong bagay’ sa manga poon asin nagdesisyon na butungon siya.

“Tibaad sarong usa sana man idto. Hilinga , dai mayo akong nahiling na anuman na kaagid sa ‘bagay’ na nahiling mo. Maninigo na daw tabi kita magbalik?”

“Ay ta, ta’wan mo sana ako nin kadikit na oras, mahihiling nyato ini, aram ko an gigibuhon ta!”

Pig-isip ni Jia kun ano an ‘ini’ na kukunon niya.

Midbid na ninda an lambang saro puon kang mag-adal sa elementarya, alagad nagpuon sana sinda magin magkatood sa inot taon kan hayskul. Puon kadto, pigbuhos ninda an kadaklan sa saindang anwa*, sa pagtaram manongod sa saindang manga pamilya asin katood, an boot sabihon kan manga bituon, asin an hinuna nindang magigin kaarog kan saindang nuanoy.

Dai naghaloy, harayo na an memorya kan hayskul. Pigsusudya sinda kan saindang manga kag-anak na mag-adal sa manga unibersidad na harayo sa probinsya, na magkaigwa nin marhay na nuanoy, o kaya inisip ninda. Ipigpasa ni Jaime an kadaklan sa paglaog sa unibersidad asin nag-irok sa sarong eskwelahan sa Maynila mantang napag-uyunan si Jia na magduman sa Unibersidad nin Silliman sa Dumaguete.

Dai pa nin sarong bulan, masuwayan na sinda nin dalan. Iyo man, maninigo man sindang mag-ulay paminsan-minsan dangan hilingon an lambang saro sa pista-opisyal pag nagbisita sinda sa saindang pamilya. Alagad ini na an kasagkuran, asin siguro mawot sana ni Jaime nin mas kadakol na oras sa saiya.

O tibaad…

‘Hala. Ah, dai man baya.’ naisip ni Jia.

Narumduman niya an paagi kan paghiling niya sa saiya. Kaidtong nakaaging bulan, igwang nagbago. Parati na sana nahahandal manongod sa nuanoy si Jaime. Gabos na bagay sobra an pig-isip sa punto na nadadaog na siya kaini (asin an gabos na harani sa saiya). Alagad ibahon na siya, dai pa man nahaloy. Dai mayo na an manga pusog na hapot na nagamit niya. Tuninong sana sinda kan magkakairibahan sinda.

Igwa siyang romantikong pana’naw manongod sa pagkamoot na dawa an katotohanan dai nakikipagkompetensya asin tibaad iyo an rason kun tano ta nungka siya nagkaigwa nin bata. Pag napag-uulayan ninda an nuanoy, parating naglalaog an urulayan kun siisay an makakatapos sa sainda.

Kaidto pa man, pigsambit na ni Jia na dai mayo siyang labot na aktibong maghanap nin sarong tawo. Daing sirbi an manga Dating app, magtatapos an manga online chat sa pang-goghosting niya; sarong aldaw igwang makakakapot sa saiya. Sa ngunyan, igwa siyang buhay tanganing mabuhay.

Magtatapos si Jaime, na tapat sa saiyang sadiri, sa sarong oras na pagsasalaysay manongod sa kun pa’no dapat hanapon an pagkamoot sa gabos nin lugar. Nakakaugma asin medyo nakakaayoayo kung pa’no siya kasiguro sa paghahanap nin tunay na pagkamoot (o kasing totoo kan mahahanap kan sarong hagbayon).

Pero siguro nagibo na niya.

Nadugangan an gabos.

Pirang oras na sindang nagsosolosolo.

Napag-uurulayan na ninda an saindang manga plano para sa unibersidad.

Tibaad ini na an huring tyansa na magkakahirilingan sinda.

‘Sasabihon niya sakuya na padangat niya ako’ nagdadalagan sa isip ni Jia.

Napaisip siya kun ano an sasabihon niya. Kun sasabihon niya sa saiya na dai niya namamatian an parehas na paaging ini, makukulgan an saiyang puso, asin moot niya pa nanggad siya bilang sarong katood. Tibaad iyo an sasabihon niya na maninigo idto na sarong pagpipilian sa maabot na aldaw, pwede nindang balikan ini pag nagin mas mature na sindang duwa. Nagkaigwa man nin pagpipilian na sabihon na haloy na niya ining midbid kaya dai na niya ini maisip na iba apwera sa sarong pigura nin tugang.

‘Okay’ napaghuropan niya. ‘Kaya ko ini.’

“J, pwede daw tabi na magpundo kita?”

“Ta’no, pagal ka na? Maninigo man kitang magpahingalo nin kadikit, tibaad pagal man an bagay na idto. Baka maabutan ta pa ‘to.”

“Aram ko kun manongod sain talaga ini.”

“Bako ining usa! Midbid ko an usa, nakahiling na ako nin kadakol na manlainlain na usa. Kun ano man ini, bako ining sarong usa.”

“Magpundo ka na, aram kong bako ining pasil para saimo.”

“Ha?”

“Masuwayan na kita pagkatapos kan bulan na ini. Tibaad dai na magkasabatan giraray an satong manga landas. Pinapaduman mo ako sa lalaw na paghapag na ini ta igwa kang mawot na sabihon sako.”

“Iyo, pigsasabi ko saimo na yaon duman an bagay na idto asin pwede tang madakop ito!”

Nagsenyas si Jia sa sarong dakulang gapo dangan nagtukaw sindang duwa. Nasakitan siyang hilingon ini sa mata, alagad mas marhay na tangkason na niya an band aid ngunyan.

“Aram kong sasabihon mo na namomoot ka sakuya.”

“Syempre namumutan taka J. Magkamidbidan na kita kadto pa man, dai ko maisip an sarong urog kamarhay na katood na arog mo.”

“Dai, an boot kong sabihon. ‘Padangaton mo ako’ padangaton mo ako.”

“Ano?”

Makaagi an pirang segundo, sa luwas kan manga poon, sarong lalaw na nilalang an nagsugod sa atubangan ninda. Kasingdakula ini kan sarong dakulaon na kanding, igwang manga piad na kabaing kan kanbing na kumpleto sa manga kuko, alagad naglalakaw ini sa pangmahurihan na piad. Igwa ining balukag sa bilog na hawakn asin sa liwanag nin hapon, haros tawo an lalawgon kaini. Naglukso an nilalang sa atubangan kan duwa dangan nagbutas nin matinis na kurahaw bago naglukso pabalik sa kadlagan.

Pig-abot nin pirang minuto bago nakamukna nin manga kataga an mga hagbayon. Nagtindog si Jaime dangan inugmahan sa saiyang trayumpo.

“Sabi ko saimo! Sabi na! Tunay ini asin pigsabi ko saimo! Iyo! Iyo!”

“Dyosmiyo, totoo man nanggad.”

“Iyo! Hilnga? Dai ako mahaman nin arog kaiyan!”

“Nago, nago, tama ka. Ano an bagay na idto?”

“Dai ko aram pero siguradong bako ‘tong sarong usa.”

“Dai mo kaipuhan na magin surupugon manungod digdi.”

“Iyo! Nagsayang ka nin 3 oras sakuya, nagsasabing dai ka nagtutubod sakuya. Nom, ‘say nagngingirit ngunyan.”

Napahangos nin hararom si Jia. “Ika baga.”

“Hamag yan, tama ako. Nagduman siguro to sa dalan na idto kun nagdalagan kita tibaad makua ta ‘to bago maglubog an saldang. Sa hiling ko nagwalat ini nin bakas, bayai akong busision an daga.”

“J, ano ‘tong pigsasabi ko?”

“Arin na parte?”

“Itong— nadarodara** ka sakuya.”

“Ah, hahahahaha mauragon man yan.”

“Ano?”

“Masinuba ka J, dapat komedyante ka talaga.”

“Boot daw na dai ka— uh—– romantikong interesado sakuya?”

Nagngisi nin makusog si Jaime kasabay kan pagkurahaw kan nilalang.

“Bako ka sana an sakuyang tipo.”

Note:
* – anwa means time in Old Bikol Sentral
** – darodara means fall in love in Bikol Sentral

=————————————-=

English Version

“You have to believe me! I saw it here, I promise!”

Jia rolled her eyes. It had been 2 hours since Jaime saw ‘something’ in the trees and decided to drag her along.

“It was probably a deer. Look, I haven’t seen anything that resembles the ‘thing’ that you saw. Can we please go back?”

“C’mon, just give it a bit more time, we’ll find it, I know we will!”

Jia wondered what ‘it’ he was getting at.

They had known each other since elementary school, but they only started to be friends in the first year of high school. Ever since then, they spent the majority of their time together, talking about their families and friends, the meaning of the stars, and what they thought their futures would be like.

High school was soon to be a distant memory. Their parents encouraged them to go to universities away from the province, to have a better future, or so they thought. Jaime had passed most of the university entrance test and settled on a school in Manila while Jia decided to go to Silliman University in Dumaguete.

In less than a month, they would go their separate ways. Sure, they might chat from time to time and see each other on holidays when they visit their families. But this was the end, and maybe Jaime just wanted a bit more time with her.

Or maybe…

‘Oh no. Oh god no.’ Jia thought.

She remembered the way he looked at her. In the past month something about it changed. Jaime was always one to worry too much about the future. Everything was overthought to the point of overwhelming him (and everyone close to him). But recently he was different. Gone were the soliloquies that she had gotten used to. It was just silence when they were around each other.

He had this romantic view about love that reality couldn’t compete with and maybe that’s why he never had a girlfriend. When they talked about the future, the topic of who they’d end up with would always come up.

Jia had always said that she didn’t care enough to actively seek someone. Dating apps were useless, online chats would end with her ghosting; one day someone she could handle would find her. In the meantime, she had her life to live.

Jaime, true to his nature, would end up with an hour-long spiel about how one should seek love in all places. It was funny and a little bit cute how he was just so sure about finding true love (or as true as a teenage boy could find).

But maybe he already did.

It all added up.

They’ve been alone for hours.

They’ve talked about their plans for university.

This may be the last time they might see each other.

‘He’s going to tell me he loves me’ Jia’s mind raced.

She thought about what she was going to say. If she told him she didn’t feel the same way it would break his heart, and she still loved him as a friend. Maybe she would say that that might be an option in the future, they could revisit it when they both became more mature. There was also the option of saying that she’d known him for so long that she couldn’t think of him as anything else other than a brother figure.

‘Okay’ she thought. ‘I can do this.’

“J, can we please stop?”

“Why, are you tired? We can take a small rest, maybe the thing’s tired too. We might catch up to it.”

“I know what this is really about.”

“It’s not a deer! I know deer, I’ve seen many different kinds of deer. Whatever this was, it wasn’t a deer.”

“Stop okay, I know this isn’t easy for you.”

“Huh?”

“We’re going to be apart after this month. Our paths might not ever cross again. You’re sending me on this wild chase because you want to tell me something.”

“Yes, I’m telling you that the thing is there and we can catch it!”

Jia motioned to a large rock and they both sat down. She had trouble looking him in the eye, but better she rip the band aid off now.

“I know you’re going to say you’re in love with me.”

“Of course I love you J. We’ve known each other since forever, I can’t imagine a better friend like you.”

“No, I mean. ‘Love me’ love me.”

“What?”

A split second later, out of the trees, a wild creature dashed in front of them. It was about the size of a large goat, with legs like a goat complete with hooves, but it walked on its hind legs. It had hair all over its body and in the afternoon light its face looked almost human. The creature jumped in front of the two and let out a shrill scream before bounding away back into the forest.

It took a few minutes before the shellshocked teenagers were able to form words. Jaime stood up and enjoyed his triumph.

“I told you! I knew it! It was real and I told you! Yes! Yes!”

“Oh my god it was actually real.”

“Yes! See? I wouldn’t make something like that up!”

“Okay, okay, you were right. What was that thing?”

“I don’t know but it sure as hell wasn’t a deer.”

“You don’t have to be so smug about it.”

“Yes I do! You spent 3 hours with me saying you don’t believe me. Well who’s laughing now.”

Jia sighed. “You are.”

“Damn right I am. It went that way if we run maybe we can get to it before sundown. I think it left a trail, let me check the ground.”

“J, what about what I said?”

“Which part?”

“The— you being in love with me one.”

“Oh, hahahahaha that was a good one.”

“What?”

“You’re full of jokes J, you should really be a comedian.”

“So you’re not— uh—– romantically interested in me?”

Jaime laughed as loud as the creature screamed.

“You’re just not my type.”

=——————————————————————=

*Central Bicol, commonly called Bicol Naga, is the most-spoken language in the Bicol Region of southern Luzon, Philippines. It is spoken in the northern and western part of Camarines Sur, second congressional district of Camarines Norte, eastern part of Albay, northeastern part of Sorsogon, San Pascual town in Masbate, and southwestern part of Catanduanes. Central Bicol speakers can be found in all provinces of Bicol and it is a majority language in Camarines Sur.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Joseph Villanueva Ciudadano
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Joseph Villanueva Ciudadano

Inspired by the Oguima description in Diccionario mitológico de Filipinas in Volume 2 of Retana, W.E. Archivo del bibliófilo filipino by Ferdinand Blumentritt (1895)

Oguima Illustration by Abe

The post Oguima – Bicol Naga Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga

Ang manga pila asin bakrus sa takyag kan babaye testamento kan naging buhay niya. Dae niya maintindihan kun tano pinalad siyang makakua nin maisog na agom na dae ngani makatao saiya asin sa manga aki kan saindang panganga-ipo, pero nagdesision siyang mag-tsaga.

Ang baybayon pirme nang natao saiya  nin katuninongan.  Duman sa baybayon may dakulang gapo na kun saen dinadara niya ang saiyang umboy kada tapos nin pagbudal saiya kan agom.  Duman ang saiyang manga luha nasumaro sa dagat.  Mayo siyang madadalaganan, alagad ang dagat nakaka-tao nin ginhawa, maski para mentras o maghaloy pa man.

Bilang agom may tungod siya, sarong obligasyon sa sarong lalake na parasugal asin buratsero, pero tungod pa nangad.  Inako kan babaye ang saiyang palad alagad magabaton na ang manga pila asin bakrus.

Sarong banggi, ang sobra ─ tama na.  Ang babaye nagdulag, nagduman sa baybayon para isalbar ang sadire asin buhay kan saiyang aki.  Asin duman sa may dakulang gapo nagparahibe.  Hinibian niya ang manga palad asin manga dagat.  Alagad ang mas hinibian niya ang saiyang aki, ta anong futuro ang naghahalat sa pobreng umboy.

Nagparahibe siya sagkod na may makadangog.

Ang manga hibion kan babaye dinara kan manga alon sa kairarum-iraruman abot sa talinga kan diyos nin dagat.  Nungka pa si diyos nin dagat naka-danggog na mamundoon na istorya sagkod pano nin dusa asin kina-hirakan niya ang babaye y ang saiyang aki.

Hale sa kairaroman kan kadagatan and diyos nin dagat nagbutwa asin hinapang ang babaye.  Pinapili niya ang babaye, magistar digde sa daga o mag-iba saiya, sa irarom kan mga alon na ang kamundoan kan babaye mawawara.

Mayong puedeng pagpilian.  Ora mismo ang babaye tuminango asin si diyos kan dagat binago ang babaye asin aki niya.  Ang mga ine naging mga nilalang kan kadagatan.

Padagos sinasabi na itong babaye na naka-kuang consolasyon sa dagat, na inako kan saindang hadi, sagkod pa man nagsusumaro sa manga alon asin manga sabo-sabo, sagkod na sa katapusan nin panahon.

=————————————————–=

The scars and bruises on the woman’s arms were a testament to the life that she lad. She did not know why fate had chosen to give her a cruel husband that would not even provide for the needs of her and her child, but she had decided to persevere.

She had always found peace in the beach. By the shore there was a big rock where she would bring her baby after each beating her husband gave. There her tears would join the ocean. There was nowhere else she could run, but the sea afforded her some measure of comfort, for however long that would last.

She had her duty as a wife, a duty to a man who was a gambler and a drunkard, but a duty nonetheless. The woman accepted her fate, but the scars and the bruises were taking their toll.

One night, too much was enough. To save her life and the life of her child the woman fled to the beach and went by the large rock and cried. She cried to the fates and the oceans. She cried about her life and her scars. But mostly, she cried for her child, for what future would await the poor baby.

She cried until she was heard.

Far beneath the waves the woman’s cries were carried by the waves to the ears of the god of the sea. He had never heard such a tale of sadness and woe and decided to take pity on the woman and her child.

From the depths of the oceans the god of the sea emerged and faced the woman. He gave her a choice, to stay on land or to go with him, underneath the waves where the woman’s sadness would vanish.

There was no choice to be made. Immediately the woman nodded and the god of the sea transformed the woman and her baby into creatures of the sea.

So it went that the woman who found solace in the sea, was embraced by its ruler, forevermore to be one with the waves and the sea foam, until the end of time.

=——————————————–=

*Central Bicol, commonly called Bicol Naga, is the most-spoken language in the Bicol Region of southern Luzon, Philippines. It is spoken in the northern and western part of Camarines Sur, second congressional district of Camarines Norte, eastern part of Albay, northeastern part of Sorsogon, San Pascual town in Masbate, and southwestern part of Catanduanes. Central Bicol speakers can be found in all provinces of Bicol and it is a majority language in Camarines Sur.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Patricia P. SanJose
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Patricia P. SanJose

Inspired by “The Origin of the Duyong.” in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Duyung illustration by Seika Mitsuya
https://www.instagram.com/seikart/

The post Duyung – Bicol Naga Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bicol-Legazpi

Daing nakamidbid saimo arog kan pagkamidbid ko saimo

Midbid taka na bago ka pa man pinangaki. An saimong ina, sarong magayon na babayi.  Siya pirming nagduduman sa may salog, hinihiling an pagbulos kan tubig pasiring sa sunlupan. Niyaon ako kan an saimong ama, an maginoo, nag-atang nin kasal. Ginibo niya ito harani sa kahoy na an.

Kan ika sadit pang aki, muyahonun mong magkawat sa may tubigan. Pirmi mong pigmamasdan an pagdalagan kaini, an saimong mga bantay dai ka pigbabayaan nganing masiguro ninda dai ika maaano. Dai man sindang dapat ikahadit, ta sagkod niyaon ako warang makakulog sa saimo.

Nagdakula ika na an salog harani saimong boot. Sa edad na anom, ika makaraw na aki. Saimong kinakarawan an mga gurang na kapadian asin ika minadulag pasiring sa salog kung sain dai ka ninda madadakop. Saro kang matibay na paralangoy. Wara saimong mga kakawat an kayang magsabay sa saimong kaskas. Na-oogmang maray an sakong puso na an tubig saimong namomotan.

Niyaon ako kan ang saimong puso inot na nakulogan. Marhay kang lalaki para sa babaying ito. Naromdoman ko na ika nagparaisip kung nata arog kaito ang nangyari. Ang bilog na bulan nagsisirdang sa kamatangaan nin banggi kan ika pighanap kan saimong mga bantay. Haloy ka nindang pighanap pero dai ka ninda nakua ta niyaon ako, sinisiguro na igwa kang oras para saimong sadiri. Kinaagahan, nagimata ka na maray an kamugtakan, tulos man na ika nag-uli sa saimong mga magurang.

Nagdakula ka na sarong marhay na lalaki, makusog an boot asin may itsura. Niyaon ika pirmi sa may salog, duman sinusurat mo an saimong mga tula asin sa piling mga okasyon ini saimong binabasa. Ang saimong boses kalmado asin mayumhok sa pamati. Ini ang sakong pampakaturog sa kada banggi na minaagi.

Duwang bulan na an nakaagi kan makusog mong pigtula ang saro sa saimong mga gibo. Ini patungkol sa buhay, kun pano ini nakalugad nin hararom sa kalag nin kada sarong tawo. “Arog kan sarong kutsilyong nakatusok sa kalag”, iyan an saro sa mga linya kan saimong tula. An salog nagliko asin padagos na nagbulos sa pagsabay sa saimo. Sa mga oras na ini, aram ko na kun ano an dapat kong gibohun.

Kan an satuyang mga mata nagsabatan, bako namatian mo man? Kun panong kitang duwa an dapat na magibahan. Dai ka nakahiro sa saimong tinitindugan, an satong mga mata dai ta mahali sa kada saro mientras na ang salog nagkakanta. Ini naglangkaw, naglangkaw sagkod maabot an saimong mga mata asin  nahiling mo  kun ano ako.

Siyempre, nakigkig ka. Gabos man na tawo pag nahiling ninda an totoo kong itsura. Dai tulos nag-laog sa isip mo na kaya ako nakasul-ot nin bugkos nin uhot asin sapad nin mga batag tanganing maitago ko an kabanga kan sakong lawas. Nadara ka kan sakong gayon asin ako sa imo man. Nahihiling ko an pungaw sa saimong kalag. Dai na bale na an sakuyang kulit itom asin abo an kolor o ini pano nin tunok. Muya mo ako, iyo ang importante.

Sagkod sa aldaw na ini, isinusumpa ko an saimong bantay. Pano naaraman nin sarong tawo na magkua nin sundang asin tigbason an tubig sa korteng krus? An kaaraman na ini dapat itinatago  sa mga tawo.

Ah, pero dai dapat ako magpahiling nin kaluyahan saimong hampang, sakong namomotan.

Diit na panahon na sana, kitang duwa magiibahan na. Sagkod an salog nagbubulos, an sakong puso saimo sana.

Ngonyan asin sagkod pa man.

=—————————————————–=

English Version

Nobody knows you like I do.

I’ve known you since before you were born. Your mother was such a beautiful woman. She would spend time by the river, watching it run into the horizon. I was there when your father, the gentleman, proposed. He did it right by that tree.

When you were a little baby you loved to play by the water. You’d always be watched of course, your guardians would hover around you to make sure you were alright. They didn’t need to worry, as long as I was there nothing would be able to harm you.

You grew up with the river by your side. At six years old you were a mischievous little boy. You would play tricks on the old priests and run away to the river where they couldn’t catch you. You were a great swimmer. None of your playmates could match your speed. It made my heart swell with pride knowing that you took to the water so well.

I was there during your first heartbreak. You were too good for that girl anyway. I remember you trying to find sense in what had happened. It was midnight and the moon full in the sky when your guardians came to look for you. Try as they might they couldn’t find you, of course, I was there to make sure you had your privacy. You woke up the next day, not a scratch on you, and went back home to your parents.

You grew into a fine young man, so dashing and handsome. You would stay by the riverside and write your poems, even orating them on some occasions. Your voice was so soothing and calm. It was my lullaby every night.

Two moons ago you spoke one of your poems out loud. It was about life, how it cuts deep into the soul of every person. “Like a knife through the soul”, that was one of the lines from your poem. The river bent and flowed to match your oration. It was then I knew what I had to do.

When our eyes met you could feel it couldn’t you? How we were meant to be together. You stood there, solid on the ground as we locked our gaze and the river sang. It rose higher until it reached your eyes and you saw me for what I was.

You were surprised, of course. Most humans are when they see my true form. You didn’t realize that I wore the bundle of rice straws and cluster of bananas to hide my lower half. You were enthralled by my beauty and I, by you. I could see the longing in your soul. It didn’t matter that my skin was black and grey or that it was covered with spines, you wanted me and that was all that mattered.

To this day I still curse your guardian. How did a human know to get a bolo and slash at the water with a cross? That knowledge should have been hidden from humans.

Ah but I should not show weakness in front of you, my love.

We will be together soon enough. As long as the river flows, my heart will belong to you.

Always 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
Translation by Wella Guianan
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Wella Guianan

Adapted from a story from Abra, Calaba River told by Guillermo Guillen Crisologo

Berberoka Illustration by Guillermo Guillen Crisologo

The post Berberoka – Bicol-Legazpi Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga

Tano ta kinakatakutan mo ang kagadanan?

Maistorya ako saimo.

Kaidtong haloy nang panahon may mayaman na babaye nakaistar harane sa dagat.  Habo siya ning manga bisita ta husto na sana ang katuninongan dulot kan saiyang dakulang harong.  Aldaw-banggi yaon siya sa baybayon, sinasaro-saro an mga bituon siring man ang tipasi kan baybay.

Solomente ang amigo niya, bako ine ordinaryong persona, ta bako man tawo. Ini-ibahan siya ni anino ni kagadanan para maginhawaan ang saiyang kapungawan.  Enot na nagkatuparan ang duwa kan nagadan si ina kan babaye.  Dae arog sa kadaklan na tawo, mayong takot ang babaye na nagtaong-galang sa anino ni kagadanan.

“Tano ta dae ka nagdalagan sa takot?” Naghapot ang anino. “Ta ika parte sa pag-gibo nin kagayunan kan buhay.”

Nungka nadangog kan anino ni kagadnan na siya magayon o may gayon asin ine dae huminale sagkod na natapos ang larao. Iyan ang ritual na naproprotektar sa hawak kan ina o siisay man na gadan sa manga malaen o gustong mag-kulog kaine.  Namoot ang anino sa babaye ta siya pa sana na tawo ang nagtao nin totoong galang ki kagadanan.

Si anino ni kagadanan maselos asin gusto na masadire ang babaye.  Sinonod niya ang babaye sa baybayon asin pinagisipan na lunudon para sagkod pa man nakakugos saiya ang babaye.

Kaya lang bako man tonta ineng babaye.  Naaraman niya ang plano ni anino.  Naghale siya sa harong asin binisita ang saiyang lola.  Kawasa ang lola niya poderoso o may kusog na sinayumahan niya kaidto.  Paabot na si anino, dae nang padudumanan ang babaye.

Nangalas si anino kan na-abotan ang babaye.  Mayong kagadanan ang nagin ni babaye, mayo nang kugos ang makokomple ni anino.

Pero dae binayaan ni babaye si anino.  Aram-araman niya ang katikasan kan pigtiwalaan na amigo, asin mayo muna siya mapahingalo sagkod na makabalos. Kada mina-mayong galang ang kagadanan sa pa-agi nin larao, yaon ang babaye duman.  Ta ang magrapak iyo ang premio ni anino.

Dae mo katakutan ang kagadanan.

Katakutan mo ang kasunod.

=———————————————————-=

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.

=———————————————————————=

*Central Bicol, commonly called Bicol Naga, is the most-spoken language in the Bicol Region of southern Luzon, Philippines. It is spoken in the northern and western part of Camarines Sur, second congressional district of Camarines Norte, eastern part of Albay, northeastern part of Sorsogon, San Pascual town in Masbate, and southwestern part of Catanduanes. Central Bicol speakers can be found in all provinces of Bicol and it is a majority language in Camarines Sur.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Patricia P. SanJose
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Patricia P. SanJose

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/

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

Sarong mapahunod na tawo si Gregorio. Tiga-gibo nya an saiyang trabahong paragupit na daeng reklamo. Sakto sana an saiyang sahod nganing may maitao sya sa saiyang agom asin mga akî, asin muyahon nyang makipaguron sa saiyang mga parabakal, pati maaraman an saindang mga buhay. Nakakatabang uto para saiya.

Sarong aldaw, an presidente nin banwâ nag-apot saiya kun pwede syang gupitan. An mga barkada ni Gregorio tigbarati sya sa trabahong ini tâ nakakatabang nin maray sa negosyo nya an paggupit sa sarong tawong sikat asin kilala.

Ugaring dae man tigaisip ni Gregorio na swerte uto. Kun kakaurunon mo maski sisay sa banwâ ninda, madadangog mo sainda an kauyaman ninda sa presidente.

Si Erlinda Cuntapay nganî dae nakabayad kan saiyang buwis sa sarong bulan kayâ nagduman an presidente sa saiyang arong maski matangâ na asin ‘kinuwâ’ an saiyang ari-arian ‘para sa ikararahay kan banwâ’ an tinaram nya.

Kan nagpundo an saiyang kabayô sa sobrang pagal sa tahaw kan dalan, sinugô kan alkalde sa saiyang mga tawo na badilon ini asin palitan kan sarô pang kabayô na maguyod sainda.

Kan panahon na kan eleksyon, maski si Gregorio bakô ligtas sa pagbisita kan presedente. Igwa pa syang mga lugad sa saiyang takyag sagkod ngunyan, asin may pasâ pang pasô na sarong pagirumdom sa mga kayang gibuhon kan president.

Nag-angos nin ararom si Gregorio, garo man sana pang-udyan nya na utong inangos, asin luminaog na sya sa arong kan president.

Nakigkig sya sa nailing nya.

Sa payo kan presidente may duwang dakulaong sungay, arog nanggad kan sa karabaw. Nagtukaw an presidente sa saiyang tukawan asin nag-alat kay Gregorio na gupitan an saiyang buhok.

Takutunong maray si Gregorio kayâ dae makataram. Nagibo nya mang gupitan sa palibot kan sungay nganing magkaigwang presentableng itsura.

Nagtindog an presidente asin nag-tao nin pa-iyong tangô. Natînuhan nya an pandok ni Gregorio sa salamin asin nagtaram:

“Papabigtîon ta ka pag may ibang tawong nakaaram sa nailing mo ngunyan.”

Tigpalibutan nin takot si Gregorio. Nagpaaram na ini asin uminali sa arong kan presidente.

Bakô man tsismoso si Gregorio, abô nya man parakaurunon an mga tawo masyado. Pero sa sobrang gabat kan sikreto sa abaga kan kairak na lalaki, muya nyang paluwason ini.

Nagduman sya sa kabâsan asin may nailing na sarong butong. Nagkua sya nin pala asin nagkalot sa irarom kan botong asin naglaog sya. Duman sa luhô, suminuriyaw sya, “May sungay an presidente! May sungay an presidente!”

Namarayan sa ginibo nyang pag-ali kan gabat sa kinâban, tinakluban nya su luhô asin uminulî.

An dae nya aram, may mga tawong nagaragi sa may butong asin nadangog an boses alî duman. Si Pedro Alejandre an inot na nakadangog kâto asin tinaram nya ini sa saiyang amigo na si Sonny Biazon, na tinaram man kay Sofia Antonio, na tinaram man kay Leona Hilario na dae man matago kay Carlo Idelfonso na tinaram man sa mga tugang nyang sina Conchita asin Ces.

Makalagpas an pirang oras, nakaabot na sa buong banwâ manongod sa nagtataram na botong. Maski an mga tawuhan kan presidente nagduman sa may botong, madangog sana an “May sungay an presidente!”

Nadangog ni Gregorio na nagatiripon an mga tawo sa arong kan presidente, pero aram nyang wara man uto kinaaraman saiya. Buminalik sya sa daeng ribok nyang buhay barbero.

Napagal naman garo an mga tawo sa presidente tâ nangyayari an mga bâgong eleksyon na dae naiiling an nakaaging presidente.  

Nagugma an bilog na banwâ tâ warâ na an presidente ninda asin nakaangos na nin maray si Gregorio.

Dae nya aram na kan naaram kan mga tawo an sungay kan presidente, ginadan ninda ini tulos, tâ unâ ninda an saiyang sogot nakaabot na sa saiyang itsura.

Nabuhay nin may kamurawayan an barbero na dae aram an saiyang ginibo sa pagpalayas kan sogot sa banwâ alî sa demonyong presidente.

English Version

Gregorio was a humble man. He did his work as a barber without any complaints. He made enough to provide for his wife and children and he liked talking to his customers, getting to know their lives. It was therapeutic for him.

One day, the presidente of the town asked him to cut his hair. Gregorio’s friends congratulated him on this job, being the barber of such an important man would do wonders for his business.

Gregorio didn’t think that it was any sort of accomplishment. If you talked to any person in the town you would hear hushed tones of the kind of man the presidente was.

Erlinda Cuntapay failed to pay her taxes one month and the presidente showed up to her house in the middle of the night and ‘repossessed’ some of her belongings ‘for the benefit of the town’ as he said.

When one of his horses stopped in the middle of the street due to exhaustion, the mayor ordered his men to shoot it and to have the other horse pick up the slack.

When it came to election time, even Gregorio wasn’t safe from one of the presidente’s visits. There was still a bruise on his arm and a broken vase that served as reminders to the methods that the presidente would stoop to.

Gregorio took a breath he thought might be his last and entered the presidente’s house.

What he saw shocked him.

On the presidente’s head were two very large horns, very much like that of a carabao’s. The presidente sat down on his chair and waited for Gregorio to cut his hair.

Gregorio was too afraid to say anything. He managed to cut around the horns to have a presentable appearance.
The presidente stood up and gave an approving nod. He noticed Gregorio’s face in the mirror and simply stated:

“I will give the order for you to be hanged if anyone finds out about what you saw today.”

Fear enveloped Gregorio. He said his goodbyes and walked out from the presidente’s house.

Gregorio wasn’t a gossip, he didn’t like to talk about other people. But this secret weighed on the poor man’s shoulders so much that he had to find some sort of release.

He went to the field and saw a bamboo thicket. Gregorio took a shovel and made a hole under the bamboo and he went inside. There, in that hole he shouted at the top of his lungs “The presidente has horns! The presidente has horns!”

Satisfied that he unloaded his burden to the world, Gregorio filled up the hole and made his way home.

What he didn’t know was that there were people that passed by the bamboo and heard a voice through the thicket. Pedro Alejandre was the first to hear it and of course told his friend Sonny Biazon, who told Sofia Antonio, who told Leona Hilario who couldn’t keep it from Carlo Idelfonso who told his sisters Conchita and Ces.

Soon enough the whole town knew about the talking bamboo. Even the councilmen went to the thicket to hear the shouts of “The presidente has horns!”

Gregorio heard that people were gathering at the house of the presidente, but he wanted nothing to do with that. He retreated to his quiet barber’s life.

The people must have had enough of the presidente for new elections were being done without sight of the previous presidente.

The town rejoiced that the cruel presidente was no more and Gregorio breathed a sigh of relief.

He did not know that when the townspeople discovered the horned presidente they killed him on sight, as they thought his wickedness had finally spread to his appearance.

The barber lived out his days in peace, never knowing his role in ridding the town of an evil man.

————————–————————–————————–——-

*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

Translation by Jeremiah Cordial

Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Jeremiah Cordial

Adapted from ‘The Presidente Who Had Horns’ in Philippine Folklore Stories. Cole. 1916. full text can be seen at http://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/pft/pft52.htm

The Horned Presidente Illustration by Armie Loraine Corpuz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armieraine/

The post The Horned Presidente – Bicol Legazpi Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bicol

Nagkaigwa ka na daw nin amigo na namuhay nin duwang beses?

May mga sektreto an kada tawo, mga sekretong tig tatago. minsan, dai mo linalaoman, asin maaraman mo na kaipuhan mo pa mag pili

May nabâgo daw sa mga sikretong ini?

Dai ko man nanggad nasisimbag an kahapotan na iyan. Kan naaraman ko na sya… bako na kami arog kan dati. Ngonian, dai ko aram kun talagang bistado ko sya.

Naaraman ko kan naglalakaw kami papuli. Matanga na. Kan nakaabot kami sa pampang kang salog, mayo nang parabaroto na madara samo sa saibong.

Gusto kong magbalik na sa baryo, maghanap nin lugar na matuturugan, alagad pinirit ako kan amigo ko ma magbalyo nin salog.

Kan hinapot ko sya kun pano, an sabi nya “papâsanon taka”.

Nagngirit ako. Huna ko nagsusuba lang sya.

Pero dai, namalayan ko nalang, na naglalayog na kami sa panganoron na garo gamgam. May parte sako na gustong matakot, asin may parte man na naoogma sa malaya ka na dara kan paglayog mi.

Kadikit na syang mahulog sa kalangitan nin huli ta may mga limonsito ako sa bulsa. Sabi kan mga gurang, matibay daa ining panlaban sa mga arog ninda. Nagagabatan sinda sa mga limonsito.

Aswang palan an amigo ko.

Binutasan ko an mga limonsito asin binaba nya ako sa balyong salog. Dai na sya nagtaram puon kadto. Alagad aram ko na nagtitiwala sako an sakong amigo.

Napagdesisyonan ko na dai ipagsabi sa iba, nakua na niya ang sakong boot sa pagiging amigo ko asin dai ko siya kayang traydor sa ano man na rason

Alagad minsan dai ako makaturog sa banggi asin nag hohorop-horop

Amigo nya daw talaga ako o sunod na kakanon?

————————–————————–————————–—

English Version

Did you ever have a friend that lived a double life?

There are secrets that people hide, some you would never expect and when you find out you have to make a choice.
Does the secret change anything?

I still can’t answer that question. When I found out what he was… well things haven’t really been the same between us. Now I don’t think I ever knew him.

I found out while we were on our way home. It was past midnight and when we reached the shore of the river we found that there was no boatman to bring us across.

I wanted to go back to the barrio, find someplace to stay the night, but my friend insisted that we cross the river.

When I asked how he just said “I’ll carry you.”

I laughed. I thought he was joking.

But he wasn’t and before I knew it we were flying through the air like a pair of birds. Part of me was scared out of my mind, while another enjoyed the freedom that only soaring through the winds could give.

We almost fell out of the sky because I had lemons in my pocket. The elders told me that they were an effective weapon against their kind. The lemons would feel like heavy weights to them.

My friend is an aswang.

I let the lemons fall and he dropped me off on the other side of the river. We haven’t spoken since, but I know my friend trusted me enough to keep his secret.

I decided not to tell anyone, he had earned my trust by being my friend and won’t betray that for anything.

But sometimes I lie awake at night and wonder.

Am I really his friend or his next meal?

————————–————————–————————––

*The Bikol languages are a group of Central Philippine languages spoken mostly on the Bicol Peninsula in the island of Luzon, the neighbouring island province of Catanduanes and the island of Burias of Masbate.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol translation by Kevin Tiambeng and Karl Ian Basilla Basallote
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Kevin Tiambeng Karl Ian Basilla Basallote

Based on “The Aswang of Baco’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Aswang (Tagalog) Illustration by Ysa Peñas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonechitect/

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