*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga

“Anó an tanog na ini?”

“Dai ko aram, an tanog garo nagngunguya. Tibaad sarong nagpapangudto nin lalaw na hayop.”

“Likayan ta an dalan kun sain ini hali. Mari na, kaipuhan ta magdalidali, paabot na an natatada sa sainda.”

“Dai ko maaraman kun pano mo ako kinakaulay manongod sa estupidong pangangayam na ini, bako ini arog kan muya ko sa manga tawong ini”

“Eksakto, magagamit mo an pagkasuya na iyan tanganing mag-ungos an samuyang kapangganahan, maduman na kita, sa hiling ko an masunod na tanda iyo an yaon sa ibabaw kan bulod na ini.”
“Nago, alagad kun manggana, tatawan mo ako nin 2 pidaso nin manok hali sa Jollibee.”
“KAGURANGNAN TANG DIOS!”
“Ok, ok, nago, sarong pidaso na sana.”

“Dai! Maghiling ka digdi. Diosmiyo, Kagurangnan tang Dios!”
“Ano ‘ni—– Linti—–“
“Saro ining gadan na hawak!”
“Nahiling ko idto!”
“Anong gigibuhon ta?!”

“Okey, kalmado sana, maghinangos sana!”
“Diosmiyoperdones Kagurangnan tang dios.”
“MAGHANGOS SABI KO! Makibilang ka sakuya, saro. Duwa. Tolo.”

“Saro. Duwa. Tolo.”

“Hilinga? Kaipuhan ta sanang magin kalmado asin—– ANONG IMPYERNO INI”
“Naghihiro ini! Abaanang Dyosmiyoperdon ”
“Dai ko aram kun ano ika alagad rumayo ka! Habo ming magkaigwa nin problema.”
“Diosmi igwang dugo sa liog niya.”
“An boot sanang ipasabot kan sakuyang katood iyo an dai mi intensyon na kulgan ka.”
“Pakiulay, dai mo kami kulgan! .”

“Rumayo ka!”

“AAAHHHGHGH!”

“…. halat.”
“…..buhay pa daw kita?”
“Ano an ginigibo kaini?”
“Sa hiling ko nginingiritan kita kan manga ini.”
“Dai mayo ining nguso.”
“Ano pa daw an ginigibo kaini?”
“Sa hiling ko nagpapaaram na ini ngunyan”

“Ako….. Anong nangyari?”

=—————————————=

English Version

“What’s that sound?”

“I don’t know, sounds like crunching. Maybe a wild animal’s having lunch.”

“Let’s avoid the path where it’s coming from then. Come on we need to hurry, the rest of them are already ahead.”

“I don’t know how you talked me into going on this stupid scavenger hunt, it’s not like I even like these people.”

“Exactly, you can use that hatred to fuel our victory, now let’s go, I think the next clue is over this hill.”

“Fine, but if we win you owe me a 2 piece chicken from Jollibee.”

“OH MY GOD!”

“Ok, ok, fine, a 1 piece.”

“No! Look over here. Oh my god, oh my god!”

“What’s—– HOLY—–“

“It’s a dead body!”

“I can see that!”

“What do we do?!”

“Okay, calm down, just breathe!”

“Ohmygodohmygodohmygod.”

“I SAID BREATHE! Count with me, one. Two. Three.”

“One. Two. Three.”

“See? We just need to stay calm and—– WHAT THE HELL”

“It’s moving! Ohmygodohmygodohmygod”

“I don’t know what you are but stay away! We don’t want any trouble.”

“Ohymygodthere’sbloodonitsneck.”

“What my friend is trying to say is we don’t mean you any harm.”

“Pleasedon’thurtus.”

“Stay back!”

“AAAHHHGHGH!”

“……wait.”

“…..are we still alive?”

“What’s it doing?”

“I think it’s laughing at us.”

“It doesn’t have a mouth.”

“Well what else do you think it’s doing?”

“I think it’s waving goodbye now.”

“I…..What just happened?”

=—————————————————=

*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

Story inspired by Numputul entry in Myth Museum. Medina. 2015.

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

*Note this story is in Bicol-Legazpi

Ginuno’ sa suraton ni Mari Bas:

Uminagi ako kaito sa rona kan Bikol kan makasabat ako ki sarong klase ki asbo na orog na makaintresantehon para sakuya.
An lawason kainiyo kabaing kan kada’luman kan banggi, makakurabon sagumsomon. Alagad ini, bakong lalagon bako agid kan lain pang kaarog niya.

Taramon kan manga gurang, an manga naghehelang nanggad an dapat mahahandal kainiyong sinasa’ban na ini ta’ dae man ini nangangayam ki laman.

Hinarapot ko sinda kun ano’n pigkakan kainiyo dangan an simbag ninda “hati’ ki tawo”. Huli ta dae ko nasabutan na maray an boot ninda sabihin, pigikog-ikogan ko ki sarong semana su saro sa linalang, sa kamuyahan ko man na maisihan an manga kahiloman kainiyo.
Narumduman ko an sakuyang kaaraman manungod sa organong pamarong. An makapamarong nagpupuon hali sa panhimationg suldan pasisiring sa alintak. An parong minaabot sa lanob-lanob kan dungo o sa agihan kan paros na minasugpon sa ngaragngag kan halunan pasiring man sa dungo. An pangnamit buda an pamarong magkatabang. Kun punod man an dungo, an parong dae makaantos sa panhimationg suldan na pigpaurog pa kan sango.

An kahayagang ini ginibong orog na makahati’on pa an sakong naaraman manungod sinasa’ban.

Pano’pano’ ki makasumosumo na parong an linalang na ini, muyahon ki surusi’pon buda hati’hati’ ki igwang helang. Dawa an makadurudismayong namasta’ nang parong dadarahon an linalang sa kaugmahan. Muyahon nanggad ini kan linalang, nangangayam baya na garo lalaw na gadya, parong an pigsususogan.

Paladan man ako ta saro sa partidaryo kan parangurag ko malain an pagmati, huli kaini naobserbaran ko an gibogibo kainiyo mantang ini nangangayam.

An sinasa’ban hali sa manga puon ki kahoy na pigharung-harungan kainiyo. Sa labilabing pagkahipno sa namasta nang parong, nasususog kainiyo an kagharong na igwang helang. Dangan, garu man sana igwang pigsunod na oras, burubangging pigpapara’ kainiyo an labilabing punaw. An naghehelang na kaito minarara pa lugod an namamatian.

Naghururonhuron kami kan manga gurangan kan barrio, an taramon ninda luwayluway na pigsusurop kan linalang an burabod nin buhay kan saiyang pigbiktima, sagkod na an helang kan makaherakonon na kalag luminakop na.

Dae ko na naobserbaran pa na maray an linalang kan ini biyong pinarayo kan manga tawo buda kan parangurag ko, buda maraoton man baga kaya sa sakuyang lado kun mumuyahon ko na igwa pa ki naghehelang an madipisilan buda maghingagdan ta muya ko pa maobserbaran na maray an mampak na ito.

Naghali ako sa rona kan Bikol makarihis an pirang aldaw, sa natatadang oras pigparasagunsong ko na sana an kadlagan ta naglalaom man giraray ako na madudukayan nu manunutaran ko an sinasa’ban duman sa saiyang pigiistaran. Nagpatabang ako sa sakuyang parangurang na magkua ki udo ki karabaw, pantaon lamang nganing magluwas an linalang sa saiyang pigsasalagan.

Dae ko biyong mataram an makadidigwaon na pangyari kan mahiling ko an pagkakan kan linalang ki hati’ kan ibang linalang mantang ini garu ugmahonon pa. Mala nanutaran ko na napapagalunong maray an karabaw kun minakakan an linalang na naunambitan, tamaonon nanggad an tina’wang duon kan manga gurangan duman.

An sinasa’ban makangangalas na linalang, makadidiskwido sa sadiri kainiyong paagi.

Lugod man dae ko na maparong nuarin pa man an namasta nang presensya kainiyo.
=————————————————————=

English Version

From the notes of Mari Bas:

As I was going through the Bicol region I came across a particular kind of aswang that piqued my interest.

Its form was a being as black as night, terrifying to behold. Yet it was not as aggressive as others of their kind.

The elders say that only the sick should fear the sinasa’ban since it does not hunt for flesh.

I asked them what it feeds on and they simply said “the waste of humans”. Not knowing what they meant, I followed one of the creatures for a week, seeking to know its secrets.

I recall my knowledge about the olfactory organs. That the ability to smell comes from sensory cells directly connected to the brain. Smells reach either through the nostrils or through the channel that connects the roof of the throat to the nose. The sense of taste goes hand in hand with the sense of smell. When the nose is congested odors can’t reach the sensory cells stimulated by smell.

That information made my discoveries about the sinasa’ban all the more disgusting.

The beast is intoxicated by fetid smells, particularly the phlegm and excreta of the sick. Even the faintest scent sends it into a state of elation. It seeks the cause of the smell, hunting like a rabid dog, guided by the smell.

It was fortunate that one of my guide’s family members fell ill. I was able to observe the creature during its hunt, as it were.

The sinasa’ban came from the trees it called its home and, seemingly possessed by the smell, locates the sick person’s abode. And then, like clockwork, every night satiates its unnatural hunger. I saw that the ill person had taken a turn for the worse once the sinasa’ban started to feed.

I consulted with the elders of the village and they said that the creature slowly absorbs the victim’s life essence, causing the poor soul’s illness to progress.

I was not able to observe the creature further as my guide and others from his village chased it away, and it would be remiss of me to want to have the sinasa’ban claim a life just so I may know more about the beast.

I leave the region in a few days, time I spent going into the forest hoping to find the sinasa’ban in its natural habitat. I asked my guide to help me collect the dung of carabaos, which lured the creature out from its hiding place.

It cannot be put into words the sheer nausea I had watching the creature eat excrement and it seemingly enjoying it. I noted that the carabaos seemed to get more exhausted as the creature was feeding, it seemed that the elders were correct in their assertion.

The sinasa’ban remains a curious creature, dangerous in its own way.

I hope I will never have to smell its presence ever again.

=———————————————————————=

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 Brian Nalagon
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Brian Nalagon

Inspired by the Sinasa’ban description in Merito B. Espinas, ‘The supernatural world of the ancient Bikols,’ in Unitas, vol. 41, no. 2, 1968 pp. 188-189 in Intersections: Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific
Monograph 1: The Philippines at the Turn of the Sixteenth Century – Malcolm W. Mintz (2011)

Illustration by Rob Cham

FB: https://www.facebook.com/robocham

Website: robcham.com

Twitter: twitter.com/robcham

IG: instagram.com/robcham

*Note this story is in Tagalog

May mga munting liwanag na gumuhit mula sa madilim na kalangitan – mga piping saksi sa tanawin na parehong may hiwaga at wala: isang dalaga na isinilang ng liwanag ng buwan at isang binata na isinilang ng tao ang nakaupo sa harap ng isa’t isa. Naudyok na mag-usisa ang mga alitaptap at sila ay lumipad papalapit upang pakinggan ang usapan ng magkapares.

“Nakita kita kahapon.”

“Ginawa mo?”

“Ikaw ay sumayaw sa ilalim ng liwanag ng buwan.”

“Hindi ko naisip na may taong nanonood.”

“Muntik ko nang makalimutan kung gaano ka kaganda.”

“Huwag mong gawin iyan.”

“Ikaw ay kumukuti-kutitap sa pagitan ng liwanag ng buwan at gumalaw patungo sa liwanag. Gusto sana kitang batiin, pero sa isang iglap, nawala ka.”

“Kinailangan kong bumalik.”

“Iyan din ang sinabi mo sa akin noon.”

“Iyon ang katotohanan noon, tulad ngayon. Ito ay isang pagkakamali.”

“Sabihin mo lang sa akin ang isang bagay. Naging mahalaga ba iyon?”

“Ang alin ang naging mahalaga?”

“Ikaw at ako?”

“….”

“Nakikiusap ako na ako’y tingnan mo. Ipinangako natin na tayo ay magiging tapat sa isa’t isa.”

“Matagal na panahon na iyon.”

“Pero naaalala mo pa.”

“…”

“Pakiusap?”

“Oo. Iyon nga.”

“Hindi iyan ang gusto mo talagang sabihin. Hindi mo ba maalala kung paano ang nangyari dati? Noon ay ikaw lang at ako –”

“Bulag ka ba para hindi makita ang mga nangyayari? Walang ibang paraan para ang mga pangyayari ay magpatuloy.”

“Nagmamahalan tayo noon.”

“Ikaw ay nagkaroon ng malubhang karamdaman.”

“…”

“Huwag mo akong tingnan ng ganyan.  Ganoon talaga ang mangyayari. Kapag ang isa sa amin ay umibig sa isa sa inyo –”

“Ito ay matatapos.”

“Lagi itong natatapos.”

“Maari ka bang manatili, kahit sandali lang?”

“Kaya kong gawin iyan.”

Gumuhit ang liwanag sa direksyon ng magkapares. Alam ng mga alitaptap na narinig ng dalaga na isinilang ng liwanag ng buwan na sila ay nakikiusisa, pero wala silang pakialam. Lumipad sila patungo sa kalangitan at sumayaw sa kanilang liwanag, habang sinasabi ang kuwento ng pagkabigo at pag-ibig sa sinuman na nagnanais na makinig.

=—————————————-=

English Version

Wisps of light streaked through the night sky, standing silent witness to a sight both strange and not: a daughter of moonlight and a son of man sitting across from each other. Curiosity filled the fireflies and they flew closer to the pair to hear.

“I saw you yesterday.”

“Did you?”

“You were dancing in the moonlight.”

“I didn’t think anyone was watching.”

“I almost forgot how beautiful you were.”

“Don’t do this.”

“You were flickering between the moonbeams, moving through the light. I wanted to say hello, but in a moment, you were gone.”

“I needed to go back.”

“That’s what you told me before.”

“It was as true then as it is now. This was a mistake.”

“Just tell me one thing. Was it worth it?”

“Was it worth what?”

“You and me?”

“….”

“Look at me, please. We promised each other that we’d be honest.”

“That was a long time ago.”

“But you still remember.”

“…”

“Please?”

“Yes. It was.”

“You can’t mean that. Don’t you remember how things were? It was just you and me—“

“Are you so blind that you couldn’t see what was happening? There was no way things could have continued.”

“We were in love.”

“You were dying.”

“…”

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s the way things are. If one of us falls in love with one of you—“

“It will end.”

“It always ends.”

“Could you stay, just for a little while?”

“I can do that.”

Light streaked from the direction of the pair. The fireflies knew that the daughter of moonlight heard them eavesdropping, but they didn’t care. They flew to the skies and danced with their lights, telling a story of loss and love to anyone that would take the time to hear it.

=————————————–=

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

Engkanto Illustration by Pia BMorante

*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
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Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
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*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 Bikol

Kinuwâ ni Leyana an saiyang bag asin duminalagan nganing habulon an saiyang mga barkada. Maduruman pâno sinda sa dagat sa sunod na semana asin iyo na sana pirmi an saindang tig-uururunan. Mas tigpaparaurunan pa ngani ninda kun ano an saindang susuuton asin an saindang mga kukuwaan nin litrato kaysa sa mga sanga-sanga kan mga puno na tiga-agihan ninda.

Dae ninda natînuhan an mapayatun asin maitomon na halimaw na may nagakubogkubog na bitis asin dakulaong mga kasukasuan na nag-sabat sainda. An saiyang kakanusan napapailing lalo nin saiyang ngimot asin dakulaong lusî na nakalaylay sa baba.

Napabuntong-hininga an mga babayi asin binaliktad an saindang mga badô, an saindang mga dudô naiiling na. Nakatindugon an lusî kan halimaw na sa sobrang dakulâ, natatakluban na an saiyang pangiling. Nagduruderecho sana sa pagururon an mga babayi na garo man sana warang nangyari.

Si Leyana sana an may tinaram manongod sa nangyari, “Nauuyam ako ta pirmi ta na sana uto gigibo pagnagpaparasunod yan satuya.”

“Eh, aram mo naman sana yang tambaloslos,” simbag ni Divine, “dangag man yang halimaw na yan, kayâ kun pirming arog kâan an posisyon nya pag tiga-iling kita, dae nya man kita aanuhon.”

“Iyo nganî kaya maski purupano, naiirak na ako saiya, ta sarô-sarui na sana nganî an aram nyang gibuhon, dae nya pa nagigibo,” sabat ni Dana.
“Ano man an gigibo nya?” apot ni Gina.

“An aram ko pati mga manok asin urig, tiga biktima pa kaan,” taramon ni Divine.

“Kairak man palan kan mga manok.” Ulok ni Gina. Su ibang babayi nagbalik sa tigaururunan ninda manongod sa beach trip, kayâ nalingawan na su nangyari kasubâgo sa halimaw, pero dae pa natutunawan si Leyana.
“Dapat dae ta tiga-pailing an lawas ta pagnasasabatan ta yang tambaloslos ta nakakababa yan nin istima ta.”“Ano pa man an magiginibo ta? Nyata, mas maray saimong magahasa?” prankahon si Divine kaya kilala sya nin iba na maurag magtao nin opinyon pag an mga kaiba nya dae kayang makataram.
“Syempre dae! Pero dapat tatao kita kun pâno protektahan an sadiri ta na dae na kailangang iluwas an satuyang dudô!”

“Leyana, duman ka na sana sa pinaka madali, dae ka man aanuhon kan tambaloslos ta dae ka man kaan maiiling. Pirmi mo na sana tigpaparadipisilan an buhay mo!” Muya na ni Ginang magbalik sa tiguururunan ninda kun ano an susuoton ninda para sa group shot asin padiit diit na syang nauuyam.

“Parâ an punto ko man sana, baka igwa pang ibang pwedeng gibuhon imbis maprotektahan ta an sadiri ta.”“Pero an pagpailing kan dudô ta, pagprotekta na uto. Dae ta man tigapayagan an tambaloslos na may gibuhon satuya.” Padiit diit namang nagkakainteres si Divine kun pasain na an tiguururunan ninda. “Dae ta man kailangan makilaban kun dae man sya malaban.”
“Pero bako uto tamâ!”

“Garo man su may magiginibo ka pa, bakô man yan tawo. Dae man kaan maiintindihan kun ano an persepsyon ta kaya mas maray kun gibuhon ta na sana an dapat tang gibuhon asin magdalagan na sana, arog kan gigibo nin iba,” taramon ni Divine.

“Nyatâ bayâ importantehon yan saimo?” An uyam sa tono kan boses ni Gina, mas halata na.

“Abo ko na kayâ na arog na sana kâto pirmi. Aram mong an ibang lalaki tigpaparaalat pa an tambaloslos ngani sana mailing kitang nakauba? Insulto ito para satuyang mga babayi.”

“Ilinga, kun muya kan mga lalaki maging mga manyak, bahala sinda, makadiri naman sinda kayâ warâ naman sindang rason na bako sinda halimaw.” Nararamdaman ni Divine na may igwa jan sa sinabi nya. “Leyana, ano man nanggad ang kikahaditan mo?”

“Magtugâ kamo, dae nindo sasabihon sa iba?” Nagtarango gabos.
“Kan naka-aging semana pâno kan naglalakaw ako paulî alî sa iskwilahan, tigsundan ako kan tambaloslos arog kan gigibo nya pirmi, ugaring may igwa pa akong napansin. Si Rico, su taga higher batch baga. Nararamdaman ko an saiyang mga mata palibot sakuya kan inali ko an blawsa ko.”

Nawâran nin ribok pagkatapos kan tigamin ni Leyana. Sarong pagkakasarabutan an nabuo sa alingawngaw kan saiyang mga tinaram.
“Dae ka na maglakaw na solo sa sunod, sarabay na lang kita pirmi, bakô man arayô an arong nindo samuya.” Nagngirit si Gina, imbis dae na marumduman ni Leyana su nangyari.

“Manyak man sya. Taramon mo dapat uto saiya.” Kinupô ni Divine si Leyana “Dae mo man kailangan maagihan an mga yan.”

Nagtururô an luha kan duwang babayi asin nakatindog sana sindang duwa sa kasilensyuhan sagkod kan dinisturbo nanaman sinda kan halimaw giraray.

May labi-labing urî nin dagit. An iba, nagpupuon sa kasilensyuhan, nag-aaloy muna bâgo makaluwas. Ugaring igwa man na iba, su yaon na talaga dyan asin tigakurumungan na an mga puso kan tawo sagkod magsabog ini sainda.
“Pabayai na sana kami!” Tinapok ni Divine an saiyang bag sa tambaloslos.
“Sagad na kami saimo!” Tig-sipâ ni Gina an tambaloslos sa saiyang mga baglang parte kan lawas.

“Dae ka na nanggad magranirani sakuya!” binungag ni Leyana ini sa pandok, an saiyang sadit na kamao tuminama sa butog kâning ngudoy.
Nakigkig an tambaloslos sa pagpailing kan pagkabayolente ninda saiya asin buminwelta ini paduman sa mga puno nganing magtago.

Pinamara kan mga babayi an saindang mga luha asin tigpurot an saindang mga gamit.

Sa pagkagimata ninda sa nangyari, nagkaraputan sinda nin kamot asin nag-aralî sinda na igwang kamurawayan.Bakô pasil mag-istar sa sarong baryong igwang tambaloslos. Mas dipisil maging babayi tâ pirmi mong papaalion utong halimaw asin an mga lalaki na unâ ninda makaka saro sinda.
Aram ni Leyana na an mga halimaw yaon sana maski sain-sain kayâ kailangan mong labanan yan sa sadiri mong paagi, bako sa iba.

——————————————————————————
English Version

Leyana picked up her schoolbag and ran to catch up with her friends. They were going to the beach next weekend and that was all they could talk about. The conversations about what they would wear and what pictures they would take took precedence over the cracking branches from the trees next to the girls.

Without warning a lanky, black creature with wobbly legs and big joints ambushed the girls. Its ugliness was amplified by its big mouth and huge penis that dangled to the ground.The girls sighed and turned their clothes inside out, exposing their breasts. The creature’s penis erected so much it covered its vision and the girls continued with their conversation as if nothing happened.

Only Leyana commented on the incident, “I hate that we have to do that every time it comes by.”

“Well you know the tambaloslos,” Divine replied, “it’s a stupid creature, and as long as it sees us in that position, it can’t do anything.”

“Yeah I almost feel bad for the thing, it only knows how to do one thing and it fails more often than not,” Dana chimed in.“What does it even do?” Gina asked.

“I heard it even victimizes chickens and pigs,” Divine said.“Poor chickens.” Gina laughed.

The other girls went back to the topic of their beach trip leaving their encounter with the creature behind, but Leyana wasn’t satisfied.
“We shouldn’t have to expose ourselves every time it comes by, it’s demeaning.”

“What else can we do? Would you rather be raped?” Divine was blunt and she was known for making points that other people would like to keep quiet.
“Of course not! We should be able to defend ourselves without having to let our breasts hang out!”

“Leyana, just take the easier way out, the tambaloslos won’t harm you if it can’t see you. Why are you making things so difficult?” Gina wanted to go back to asking about what the girls were going to wear for their group shot and she was starting to get annoyed.

“I’m just saying we can find another way to defend ourselves.”“But being exposed is defending ourselves, it’s not like we let it do anything to us.” Divine was starting to get interested with the way the conversation was going. “We don’t need to fight it if it can’t fight.”

“But it’s not right!”

“It’s not like we can reason with it anyway, it’s not human. It will never understand our point of view so we do what we need to do and run away, just like everyone else does,” Divine shot back.

“Why is this so important to you?” the exasperation in Gina’s voice was almost palpable.

“I’m just so sick of it. Do you know some of the boys wait for the tambaloslos just so that they can have a chance to look at us while we take our clothes off? It’s insulting to us as women.”

“Look if those boys want to be perverts it’s all on them, they’re disgusting in their own way and they don’t have the excuse of being a monster.” Divine could sense there was something behind this dialogue. “Leyana, what’s really bothering you?”

“Promise you won’t tell?”

All the girls nodded.

“It was when I was walking home last week from school. The tambaloslos followed me like it normally does, but there was someone else behind him. It was Rico from the higher batch. I could feel his eyes all over me when I took my blouse off.”

There was silence after Leyana’s confession. An unspoken bond of sisterhood was forged in the echo of her words.“Don’t walk alone anymore, let’s go together, your house isn’t that far from mine anyway.” Gina smiled, trying to get Leyana’s mind off what had happened.

“He’s an asshole. You should confront him.” Divine hugged Leyana “You shouldn’t have had to go through that.”The tears fell from both girls and they stood in silence until they were disturbed again by the black creature.

There are many kinds of anger. Some, borne from silence, take their time to reach the surface. But there are others, those that have lingered on and blanketed people’s hearts until they suddenly burst out in rage.
“Leave us alone!” Divine threw her schoolbag at the tambaloslos.

“We’ve been through enough!” Gina kicked the creature in its privates.
“Don’t you ever come near me again!” Leyana punched at the creature’s face, her small fists landing blows against its protruding lips.

The tambaloslos was shocked at the display of violence that came its way and made its way back to the trees to safety.The girls dried their tears and picked up their things.

In the wake of the attack, they held each other’s hands and basked in the silence only they could understand.

It wasn’t easy living in a village haunted by a tambaloslos. It was even harder being a girl having to fend off that monster and boys who think they could take advantage.

Leyana knew that monsters are everywhere and you had to fight them on your terms, not anyone else’s.

———————————————————-
*Igwang labi-labing isturya manongod sa tambaloslos. Sa ibang bersyon kan alamat, nangbubukod daw an Tambaluslos sa mga tawong naglalakaw-lakaw sa bulod. An saro sanang paagi imbis makatakas saiya, suluton mo sana an bado mong pabaliktad. Nagigiulok digdi an halimaw na uto asin maulok na grabe sagkod matakluban kan saiyang dakulang ngudoy an saiyang pandok, kaya dae nya naiiling an saiyang biktima na nagkakaigwa nang oras makadulag.

*There are many depictions of the tambaloslos. In some versions of the myth the Tambaluslos chases people who wander in the woods. The only way to escape it is to take off your clothes and wear them inside out. The creature finds this act very hilarious and it will laugh so much that its wide lips would cover its face, therefore preventing it from seeing the victim who in turn will have ample time to escape.

*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

Bikol Translation by Jeremiah Cordial

Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Jeremiah Cordial

Story inspired by the Tambaloslos myths from Bicol

Tambaloslos Illustration by Michael Sean B. Talavera

IG: @maykelshan
Deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/isaneleach13

*Note this story is in Bicol
Ali sa sinapupunan nin daga ako minatalubo Naga-kintab arog nin araw sa maagahonSa saimong kamot lilason ko an mga kalag Asin tiga-dara an mga tawo sa karaotanAno ako?

Ali sa sinapupunan nin daga ako minatalubo Naga-kintab arog nin araw sa maagahonSa saimong kamot lilason ko an mga kalag Asin tiga-dara an mga tawo sa karaotanAno ako?

“Mata na.”

“Anong..? Anong nangyayari?”

“Nagtataram ka nanaman kan turog ka pa.”

“Ah, pasensya na tabi. Nagpamatanga garo ako kasubanggi.”

“Nagpundo na baga su uran.”

“Nagpundo na? Maray yan ta nganing makakuha na kita nin mga maray na litrato.”

“Ma-ayos na ako. Ika mag-taga-ayos ka naman ta igwa pa kitang diit na oras nin liwanag.”

“Sige. Masanli muna ako. Sana man lamang matapos ta na ining shooting na dae tigaantala nin uran.”

“Oh wow.”

“Nyata?”

“May budlangaw sa likod mo.”

“Siguro bako man nanggad maraot ang panahon ngunyan.”

Malipot sa pakiramdamWara akong tunay na liwanagUgaring dae ako mawawaraAno ako? Na-gimata siyang daplusunon. Su pangiturugan niya nanaman kaya tungkol sa mga laad, su mga dilaw na kino asin su kakanusang maraot-raot. Tig-paalala niya sa sadiri niya na aloy na ito, mas dakul pang mga bagay an kailangan kan saiyang atensyon.

Alangkawon ang saiyang tindog, an saiyang garing na sungay maliwanagon an kintab sa kadikluman kan kwebang tiga-istaran niya. May mga yamang maiiling sa mga bulod na ini, asin kukuwaon niya gabos na kaya niyang dar’hon.

Ugaring may mga kislap man gilayon kan nakaagi na na dae naa-ali sa saiyang isip. Narurumduman niya an saiyang lumang pangaran asin kun pano an saiyang gayon nakakaapod kan iling maski kan mga pinakamakukusog na diyos. Tig-basang-basang niya ang pangaran ni Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan asin naglustab sa salog. Siguro kun bako dahil saiya, yaon pa garo ang gayon niya.

Pagnakuha niya na an saiyang kayamanan, magiging marhay na gabos. Mabalik na siya liwat sa dati niyang itsura. Dae na kailangan magpara-tambay sa kadikluman kan saiyang kweba. Dae na kailangan magpara-alat mag-uraw para makadakop nin mga hayop na makakaon. Dae na kailangan magpara-iling sa saiyang sadiring repleksyon asin marumduman na saro na palan siyang halimaw.

Sa kaarayuan, may nailing siyang kislap nin mga liwanag. Kayamanan? Dae kakayanun kan puso nya an kaugmahan niya. Nag-uraw na, ugaring dae na siya maalat sa saiyang manliligaw. Ta oras niya na para maghanap nin pagkaon.

Minasabay ako sa agosSa bilog na kinabanDae ako arayo sa kapangyarihanTa ako nanggad ang kapangyarihanAno ako?

An maliwanag na diyos nag-dungaw ali sa langit asin nag-himutok. Mamundo siya ta nagluwas nanaman su tig-liligawan niya na dae siya kaiba. Nakatukaw siya sa mga panginoron sa Mundong Itaas asin tiga-rumdom an mga nakaagawang selosong diyos.

Marahayrahay na hapon nin tag-init kan nangyari ito, an maliwanag na diyos tig-ta’wanan an babae nin kapangyarihang gamiton an saiyang prismatikong ilaw asin ginamit ini kan babae imbis masapawan an gayon nin mga diyosa. Ang kaherak na babaeng ini, mas dakol pa an kasakiman kaysa sa kadunungan, sa saiyang ka-ambugan naisipang kalabanon an sarong diyosa. Maswerte pa ngani siya, maski purupano. Ta kun si Ynaguinid an kinalaban niya, dae na siya mabubuhay para kwaon an mga napasang pidaso kan saiyang miserableng buhay.

Ugaring bako man iyan digdi o duman.

Ginibo kan maliwanag na diyos an gabos, syempre. Tig-tao niya liwat an saiyang kagayunan sa abot kan makakaya niya. Ugaring dae kayang madaog kan saiyang kapangyarihan ang sumpa kan babae. An diyosa nin ka-agasan may ugaling dae nagpapatawad ta arog kaito an saiyang kayang gibuhon.
Ka-itaasan kan iling. Kasakiman. Ka-ambugan. An mga diyos mas may pagkaparehas pa sa mga tawo kaysa sa pagtaram ninda nin totoo.

Kun dae sana luminampas an babaeng ini sa banal na gubat nin diyosa.
Kun dae niya sana nailing an mga dwendeng burubitbit an mga kayamanan.
Kun dae niya sana tig-ambog na siya an pinakamagayon.

Dae kuta mararaot an saiyang puso. Dawa ano pang mangyari, an saiyang pagpadaba sa babaeng uto, dae man giraray nasuklian. Nag-aasa man gilayon siya na kung matabangan niyang maibwelta an tunay na anyo kan babae, maiiling niya na an nararamdaman niya para saiya.

Ugaring dae niya kakaputan an saiyang pag-asa na arog kaito kaaloy. Naghimutok an maliwanag na diyos asin padikit-dikit binutasan ang saiyang ilaw paduman sa kinaban. Baka mailing niya na nanggad kun ano an tiga-hanap niya.

An sakuyang pangako sarong pangituruganNa may kabasoganAsin katiwasayanSarong testimonya sa maray na pagtiwala Ano ako?
“Nailing mo uto?!”

“Una ko baga ataason na kita para makailing pa king mga kabayo?!”

“Iyo baga, dae ko sana aram kun nyata yaon yan digdi.”

“Tig-iling mong maray?”

“Masyado siyang makaskas, kaso garo nakuha ko man sa kamera.”

“Mag-ali na kita ta abo kong maabutan kita pag nag-balik pa uto. Dae kaya ako sanay sa mga hayop.”

“Oh sige na. Bati prinsesahun ka pa. Sapat naman garo ining mga nakuha ta para pagpilian kan mga editor. Mag-palit ka na tapos mababa na kita. Makakaabot man garo kita bago mag-banggi.”

“Sige, madali lang ako.”

Igwa kutang makukuwang kayamanan, ugaring bako ito su tig-paparahanap niya. Madayaon man ini gabos. Nyata siya pa an tig-sumpa sa makanusong anyong ini? Su diyosa ngani magayunon kaso makauyam man. Nagbulos an saiyang luha sa dati niyang makinisong pandok habang sunod-sunod an tagiting nagtatagdo sa daga.

Aram kan maliwanag na diyos an sarong igwa sa sumpa na dae aram kan babae. Kinaganang ginto kan diyosa nin ka-agasan an mata kan babae imbis pirmi niyang pagparahanapon an kayamanang dae niya makukuwa maski nuarin. Saro ito sa natadang insulto saiya para madagdagan an sumpa niya. Gigibuhon man kan maliwanag na diyos an gabos, ta sa saiyang puso nagpapara-antabay siya sa saiyang presensya.

“Ayos ka na?”

“Iyo, pero mas maray kung alaton ta na lang na mag-uraw.”

“Abo ko lamang mag-agi sa madugi.”

“Dae ka na magpara-reklamo. Maray ngani ta may nakuha kitang mga magayong litrato.”

“Pailing daw…. Iyo, tama ka, maray ngani ta magayon an itsura ko jan. Alat, dae ko marumduman ining saro.”

“’Yan garo su kabayo. Makaulok lamang ta magkaparehas ang buhok nindo.”

“Tiga-apod mo akong kabayo?”

“Alo daw jan. Alaton ta na sanang mag-uraw-uraw an langit tapos maali na kita.”

Duminarusdos an dugi sa bulod sa pag-uli kan babae sa kweba niya. Sarong aldaw, mababalik man sana an saiyang gayon asin ipapailing niya sa gabos na mga diyos kun ano an nararapat para saiya.

English Version

Out of earth’s womb I grow
Glistening like the morning sun
In your hands I poison souls
And lead all men to ruin
What am I?

“Wake up.”

“Wha..? What’s happening?”

“You’re talking in your sleep again.”

“Oh, sorry. Must have been up too late.”

“It stopped raining.”

“Did it? That’s good we can finally take some nice pictures.”

“I’ll get everything set up. Get yourself ready, we still have a few more hours of sunlight.”

“All right. Let me get dressed. Hopefully we can finish this shoot without the weather getting in the way.”

“Oh wow.”

“What?”

“There’s a rainbow behind you.”

“Maybe the weather’s not so bad after all.”

Cold to the touch
I have no true light
Yet I will never be lost
What am I?

She wakes up with a cold sweat. It was that dream again, the flashes of light, the yellow field mice and the wretched ugliness that followed. She reminded herself that it was in the past, there were more important things that needed her attention.
She stood tall, her ivory horn shining bright in the dark cave that housed her. There was treasure to be found in these mountains, and she would take all that she could carry.

Still, flashes of the past crept into her thoughts. She remembered her old name and the way her beauty would inspire love in even the mightiest god. She cursed the name of Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan and spat at the floor. If it wasn’t for her she would still have her beauty.

Once she had her treasure all would be well, she would finally be whole again. No more passing time in the darkness of this cave. No more having to wait after the raindrops for her chance to hunt. No more looking at her reflection and staring into the monster that she had become.

In the distance she could see flashes of light. Treasure? Her heart could barely contain itself. The rain had stopped, but she would not wait for her suitor. It was time to hunt.

I flow in a current
Throughout the world
I am never far from power
For power is what I am
What am I?

The bright god looks down from the heavens and sighs. She has gone without him again. He sits among the clouds of the Skyworld and reminisces about old rivalries and jealous gods.

It had been a warm summer afternoon when it happened, the bright god had given the girl the gift of his prismatic light and she used it to make her beauty rival the gods’. The poor girl, more vain than wise, it was in her hubris that she thought to challenge a goddess. She was lucky, in a way. Had she offended Ynaguinid she would not be alive to pick up the pieces of her broken life.

But that was neither here nor there.

He did his best, of course. He gave her back what beauty he could. But there was no fighting the power of her curse. The goddess of greed was as prideful as she was powerful.

Pride. Vanity. Hubris. Maybe the gods had more in common with mortals than they would like to admit.

If only the girl had not passed by the goddess’ sacred grove.

If only she had not seen the dwarves carrying the sacks of treasure.

If only she had not claimed that she was the fairest.

His heart would still be broken. In the midst of everything his love was still unrequited. He hoped that if he could help her return to her true form she would finally see that they could be together.

But he would not hold out hope for that. The bright god sighed and set loose his light towards the earth. Maybe she would finally find what she was looking for.

My promise is a dream
Of full stomachs
And freedom
A testimony to good faith
What am I?

“Did you see that?!”

“I thought we were too high up for horses?!”

“We are, I don’t know what that thing is doing here.”

“Did you get a good look at it?”

“It was too fast, I think I got it on camera.”
“We should go, I don’t want to be here when it gets back. I’m not good around animals.”

“Alright, princess. I think we have enough shots for the editors to choose from anyway. Get changed and we can start hiking. I think we can make it down before sunset.”

“Fine, I’ll be fast.”

There was treasure to be had, but not what she had been looking for. None of this was fair. Why was she the one that was cursed to stay in this horrible form? The goddess was petty and despicable. Tears flowed from her once-beautiful face as the raindrops pattered on the ground.

The bright god knew one aspect of the curse that the girl did not. The goddess of greed blew gold into the girl’s eyes so that she would forever chase treasure that she could not find. It was a final insult to add to her injury. He would do what he could, for in his heart he longed to have her near.

“Are you good?”

“Yeah, but I think we have to wait for the rain to stop.”

“I’m not looking forward to the muddy trek.”

“Stop complaining, at least we got some good shots out of this trip.”

“Let me see…. Fine, you’re right, at least I look good. Wait, I don’t remember this one.”

“I think that was the horse. Funny, its mane almost looks like your hair.”

“Did you just call me a horse?”

“Relax. Let’s just wait for the clouds to clear and we can get out of here.”

Mud splashed though the mountain as the girl returned to her cave. Someday she would have her beauty back and then she would show all the gods what she truly deserved.

————————–————————–————————

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

Inspired by the myth of the Anggitay and the Visayan goddess of greed, Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan.

Anggitay Illustration by Abe Joncel Guevarra
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joncel/

*Note this story is in Cuyonon

Ang timpo datoanay, mi isarang tao nga kakonkon i’ kambing o isarang kambing nga kakonkon i’ tao. Ara tana ingboat kondi agpamadlek sa mga tao sa Bicol paagi sa anang oyeng makaradlek. Ang korimaw nga dia ingtatawag nga Laqui.

Isarang adlaw, mi isarang batang babai ang akabagat sa laqui. Ingsamitan nang panolayan ang bata por midio sa anang marimong oyen, tay agkadlaw lamang ang bata.

“Ara ako iaadleki kanimo!” makon ang bata. “Way, imong oyen pakadlaw!”

Indi maelaman i’ ang laqui kong anonong boboaten, ara tana pa kabagat i’ tao nga ara iaadleki sa anang oyen. Ingpanolayan ig ingadlek-adlek na pa ra ang bata apang agasabat lamang ang bata i’…

“Imong oyen pakadlaw ingan-ingan!” siagit i’ ang batang babai.

Indi pa ra maelaman i’ ang laqui kong anonong boboaten. Agisip tana i’ pamaagi agod maadlekan ang bata.

Screeeeeeeeee! Screeeeeeeeee!

Agsiagit i’ patorobabaw ang laqui. Ang tonog i’ dato aganingal sa bilog nga kageban. Ingsagiap i’ ang laqui ang bata, apang ingetekan tana datong masapoan nang doto pa ra nged ang bata.

“Aroy! Ang ka rimo ra imong bosis.” Ingpatererekan i’ ang bata ang laqui.

Agngereb ang laqui. Saken mi pamaagi nga aadlekan ang batang dia. Animan agboat tana i’ plano.

Nakita ‘ang laki ang maiteng kalipatpat nga agaoni sa anang katepad na pono, ingbe’ras na ang langgam ig ingpakita sa bata.

“Ang ka tinlong langgam!” Agyemyem ang bata.

Golping ingremekremek i’ ang laqui ang langgam sa anang siki, agporasik ang dogo sa oyen i’ ang batang babai.

AHHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHHH!

Agbatikal ang ogiaw i’ ang pobring bata sa mga pono ig akaina’loy sa kalipay ang laqui. Dali-dali agdalagan ang bata nga agaogiaw paraye.

Ingnisnis i’ ang laqui ang anang siki sa pono ig agngirit.

Beken lamang isara ang pamaagi sa pagpanolay sa mga tao.

English Version

There was once a man that looked like a goat, or a goat that looked like a man. It spent its days trying to scare the people of Bicol through its frightening face. This creature was called the Laqui.

One day, a young girl happened to come across the laqui. It tried to scare her away with its ugly face, but the girl just laughed.

“I am not afraid of you!” said the girl. “I think your face looks funny!”

The laqui didn’t know what to do, it had never come across a human that was not afraid of its face. The laqui tried as hard as he could to scare the little girl but only got her words as a reply.

“Your face is so funny!” the little girl squealed.

The laqui still didn’t know what to do. It started to think about what it could to scare the little girl.

SCREEEEEEEE! SCREEEEEEEEE!

The laqui let out a high pitched scream. Its shrill sound echoed throughout the forest. The laqui turned to the little girl, but was disappointed to find that she was still there.

“Your voice isn’t very nice.” The little girl stared at the laqui.
The laqui grunted, surely there must be a way to scare off the little girl. So it hatched a plan.

There was a small songbird chirping in a tree nearby, the laqui grabbed the creature and showed it to the girl.

“What a cute little bird!” The girl smiled.

Without warning the laqui crushed the tiny bird in its hooves, blood from the creature splattered all over the little girl’s face.

AAAAHHHHHHH! AAAAHHHHHHH! AAAAHHHHHHH!

The screams of the girl ricocheted amongst the trees and the laqui let out a sigh of relief. The girl ran away, screaming as she went.

The laqui rubbed his bloody hooves against the bark of a tree and smiled.

There was more than one way to scare a human.

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Cuyonon Translation provided by Ryan D. Ibañez and Elyn Grace Bagalay
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Ryan D. Ibañez and Elyn Grace Bagalay

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

Laqui Illustration by Sofia Marie Cuarto
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*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
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It all happened as fast as a drop of rain.

The sea was painted with blood. Violent streaks decorated the canvas that was supposed to be a quiet evening. Moonlight gave witness to a scene more familiar at a slaughterhouse.

In all this tumult Mhik could only focus on the warm tears rolling down her cheeks. She chided herself, “You’re a big girl now, don’t cry. Kuya will make fun of you and mama and papa won’t take you seriously.”

She couldn’t see her family anymore; she had been holding her kuya’s hand when it started. She wished upon all the stars she could see that he was okay, that this nightmare would soon be over.

The creatures must have heard her prayer. They circled around her like a wake of bloodthirsty vultures waiting for an easy meal.

Mhik could see them clearly now, iridescent scales shining in the moonlight. She thought back to all the times papa told her that monsters weren’t real, that fear only holds you back.
More tears were welling in her eyes now. She didn’t know what to do. There was so much red all around her. She called for her kuya, for her mama and papa. She screamed until her throat burned. She just wanted to be with her family.

The monsters were swimming closer now. Mhik wished she could cover her nose. Their stench was overpowering. The creatures glided towards her, picking up speed. She closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable.

The creature screamed out in pain as a spear impaled its head, blood and ichor spurting out of its wound. The other creatures scattered and Mhik was left alone, or so she thought.

“Nasty beasts.” Mhik heard a woman’s voice cut through the darkness. She spun around and faced the origin of the voice.

“Swim with me. I may have scared them off for now, but they’ll be back. Their kind never likes to leave witnesses.” The woman was fast, in a matter of moments she had swam a few meters ahead of Mhik. The lithe girl tried to catch up to her, but she was never the strongest swimmer.

The woman seemed to have sensed Mhik’s trouble and swam alongside her.

“Don’t worry we’re almost there.” Her voice tried to sound reassuring, but there was a hint of steel from the battle.

The moonlight revealed a small boat that Mhik hadn’t noticed. The woman boosted her up and Mhik could feel the chill of the night creep into her bones.

The woman took out a blanket and gave it to the small girl. She thanked the woman though she was shivering.

“Where’s my family?” Mhik asked through the cold and the tears.

The woman avoided looking into Mhik’s eyes. She gave no reply.

“Please! Tell me!”

Again she was met with silence.

“Please. My name is Mhik. I came here with my kuya and my parents. I don’t know where they are. You must have seen what happened to them.”

“…”

“My kuya’s big, he looks just like my dad. My mom looks a little like me but older. She has a mole on the side of her face. Please ma’am, tell me what happened to them!”

The woman met Mhik’s gaze and didn’t speak. As young as Mhik was she could tell there was a lifetime of sadness behind the woman’s eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

Mhik’s heart sank. She thought back to all the red that was around her.

Her screams broke the stillness of the water as she called out her family’s names.

The sun was unforgiving, but so was she.

She tracked the creatures to a cave near Binurong Point. There were many tourists in the area and it would be a prime feeding ground for the creatures.

She held her rosary tight and said her prayers. It was her ritual right before every hunt.

“May You protect me from the monsters of the sea. Heavenly Father, hear my prayer.” The words were carried on the wind as she prepared her weapons.

The creatures usually hunted at night, but there were exceptions especially when they were around a target rich environment.

Memories flooded her mind and she tried her best to hold back the tears.

It had been years since she made the pledge to hunt these abominations off the face of the earth, to make sure no one else suffered as she had.

“This is for you kuya.”

She readies her spears and swims into the cave.

“Do you ever miss them?”

“Who?”

“Your family.”

“Every day.”

“Why do you do this?”

“So that no one ever has to feel the way I felt.”

“Is it worth it?”

“Sometimes.”

There were only three in the cave, the others must have escaped in the commotion.

She curses herself, “I needed to be faster.” She rips a piece of her blood-soaked shirt and fashions it into a bandage.

The battle was short by her standards. She expected more of a fight. She takes a piece of her blooad-soaked shirt and fashions it into a bandage.

“Too slow, too many of them got away.”

She thinks of their next victims, of the children left behind without parents.

“I need to be faster.” She says to no one in particular.

She grasps her rosary tight and asks her god for forgiveness. She knows someone else will pay for her failure.

“I will fight until my dying breath, dear Lord.” The rosary digs into her skin and she ignores the pain.

“Please bless my spears so they will find their marks. I will purge the world of their evil if you will it.”

The sun is setting now. She looks at the bodies of the creatures and savors the familiar scent of blood and saltwater.

“Forgive me, Lord.”

She takes her weapons and begins her hunt anew.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Story inspired by the Magindara description in Bikol Beliefs and Folkways: A Showcase of Tradition. Nasayao 2010.

Magindara Illustration by Jojo Cunanan
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