*Note this poem is in Maguindanaon

So limu, lilini na makatingguma

Na makauyag sa tademan

a mapaet

Endu makanggay sa salig, apas

Ow  mana bu ka pamakikinegeng tanu

Na kasabutan tanu man e ngini kaulad kasla nu dungya

So limu, lilini na makatingguma

Na makasigay a makatayaw siya kanu kinabpapalak kinadtatankaya tanu

Makalandaw kanu alung-alung nu mga alwak tanu

Pabila ka makauma den siya kanu kahadapan tanu

Na mabaluy a makauyag kanu uyag-uyag tanu

So limu, lilini na makatingguma

Siya kanu kinapamalinpapak nin

Na mapananawag nin so kawalaw tanu

Na niya husto na niya tanu kadsulamigan na

Su bantang

So limu, lilini na makatingguma

A menggay sa langun a nataratanto sa leka

Endu  langun a nataratanto sa leka a maaden mabaloy

Sa daden makagkibil lun

=———————-

English Version

Love will arrive,

It will bring back old memories

Of pain

Of hope

If we dare listen to it

We will know how big the world truly is

Love will arrive,

It will shine a light on our exile

Cast away the shadows of our souls

When it comes into our sight

It will lead us into life

Love will arrive,

On feathered wings

It will call out our bravery

And we must choose

The cost

Love will arrive,

Will you give all that you are

And all that you will ever be

To truly be free

=——————–=

*Maguindanao or Maguindanaon is an Austronesian language spoken by majority of the population of Maguindanao province in the Philippines. It is also spoken by sizable minorities in different parts of Mindanao such as the cities of Zamboanga, Davao, and General Santos, and the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, as well as Metro Manila. This was the language of the historic Sultanate of Maguindanao, which existed before and during the Spanish colonial period from 1500–1888.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Traslation by

Forester SANGGACALA R. ABDULA

Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright ©

Forester SANGGACALA R. ABDULA

Inspired by Biraddali description in Voices from Sulu A Collection of Tausug Oral Traditions. Rixhon. 2010.

Biraddali Illustration and Color by Alexa Garde
Website: Lexa.us

*Note this story is in Cebuano

Abi sa tanan istorya-istorya ra sa kalibotan ang mahitungod sa biraddali. Mabinantayon ra gyud mi aron dili makit-an. Apan sa usa ka higayon, naay usa sa amoa ang wala nagbantay. Kaming pito nga mag-igsoon gidala ang bangaw sa kalibotan unya gihubo amoang plata’ng pako aron makapagpahulay ug maligo sa preskong tubod sa bukid.

Usa ka adlaw, nakita sa usa ka tawo amoang pako sa yuta ug gihadlok mi na himuong iyang asawa. Kaming unom nga magulang sa mag-igsoon utokan na maong gitak-op na namo amoang pako pagduol niya. Pagkahuman, gisul-ob amoang pako ug nilupad sa langit. Layo ang gitaguan sa pako sa kinamanghuran ug nakawat kini sa tawo.

Ang biraddali dili motalaw. Nahimong bitin ang kinamanghuran. Nidakin-as siya apan mangangayam ang lalaki ug nabitik ang bitin sa hawla. Sunod nahimong banayaw ang kinamanghuran. Nagtago siya sa yuta sa lasang apan tin-aw ang panan-aw sa lalaki maong nakita siyang nagkapakapa. Nahimong aluhipan ang kinamanghuran. Nisaka siya sa mga sanga sa kahoy aron makaikyas apan paspas ang lalaki. Nasakpan ang aluhipan sa sanga. Sa kataposan, wala na’y mabuhat ang kinamanghuran. Kung wala ang pako sa biraddali mapus-aw ilahang gahom.

Ang kinamanghuran sanong na maasawa sa lalaki ug nipuyo siya kauban sa lalaki. Naghulat siya sa adlaw na makuha niya og balik iyang plata’ng pako aron makalupad sa bangaw padulong sa langit. Kaming iyang mga igsoon dili motugot na mabilin ang kinamanghuran sa kalibotan kauban sa lalaki.

Dili namo irisgo na masikop amoang pako sa lalaki. Mata’g usa sa amoa nahadlok na maputol amoang pako maong gidala namo ang amoang hunghong sa hangin. Nanghinaot na ang usa moabot sa amoang natanggong na igsoon.

Nihunghong mi sa lasang ug sa mga kahoy. Giingon namo na gilubong sa lalaki iyang plata’ng pako sa ilalom sa kahoy tapad sa suba. Nihunghong mi sa kagawasan ug paglaum. Nihunghong mi na gimingaw mi sa iya.

Ug usa ka adlaw, nadungog mi. Ang kinamanghuran niikyas sa balay sa lalaki samtang wala kini ug nikabad siya padulong sa lasang. Wala na’y mas paspas pa na biraddali ug wala pa’y anghel na mas nakasabot sa kahulogan sa kagawasan.

Huna-huna sa tanan istorya-istorya ra ang biraddali kay kabalo mi sa kamangtas sa tawo. Dili na makawat ang amoang mga pako. Dili na mahibaloan sa isa sa amoa ang kahadlok na matanggong sa kalibotan. Dili na mahibaloan sa tanan ang kaalaotan sa amoang pagkadili kompleto.

Magpabilin mi’ng istorya-istorya lang sa katawhan ug sa kaanyag sa bangaw. Karon ug sa kahangtoran.

=——————————=

English Version

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

————————–————————–———————–

*The Cebuano language, alternatively called Cebuan and also often colloquially albeit informally referred to by most of its speakers simply as Bisaya (“Visayan”, not to be confused with other Visayan languages nor Brunei Bisaya language), is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 21 million people, mostly in Central Visayas, western parts of Eastern Visayas and most parts of Mindanao, most of whom belong to various Visayan ethnolingusitic groups, mainly the Cebuanos. It is the by far the most widely spoken of the Visayan languages, which are in turn part of wider the Philippine languages. The reference to the language as Bisaya is not encouraged anymore by linguists due to the many languages within the Visayan language group that may be confused with the term.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Cebuano Translation by Sarah Masiba
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Sarah Masiba

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

The Seven Biraddali Sisters Illustration and Colors by Elise Mendoza.

*Note this story is in Waray

Ginhuhunahuna han nga tanan nga sumat-sumat la an biraddali dinhi ha kalibutan, diri hira maaram nga nag-

iikmat la kami hin duro nga diri kami makit-an. Labot man gud la hadto’n kausa, hadto’n takna nga an usa ha amon asya’n hinungdan nga waray kami makabantay. Kay man gud, kami nga pito nga magburugto nga babayi, nalusad dinhi ha kalibutan pinaagi han balangaw basi hukason an amon plata nga mga pako agud magpahilbway ngan mangarigo ha mahagnaw nga mga busay ha kabukiran.

Usa ka adlaw, may usa nga tawo nga nakakita han amon mga pako nga nakada han tuna ngan iya kami gintarhog nga hihimuon kami kuno niya nga mga asawa. ‘Ta kay, maupay na la nga kami nga unom nga mga namamagurang baga nakapanhunahuna nga igpaharani la an amon mga pako, asya dida han tidaop na hiya, ginsuklob namon dayon an am’ mga pako ngan linmupad balik ha kalangitan. Lugaring an amon pudo nga bugto, tungod kay hirayo an iya binutangan han iya mga pako, asya nga nakawat an mga ini hadto’n lalaki.

Man gud, diri napapirdi iton usa nga biraddali. Siyahan, ginliwat han am’ pudo nga bugto an iya kalugaringon ngan nahimo hiya nga halas. Kinmamang na unta hiya pahirayo lugaring kay parupanganop ngay-an an lalaki asya nga ginbitik la hiya dayon hini ngan ginbutang dida hin tangkal. Abaadaw kay ginliwat na liwat han amon bugto an iya kalugaringon ngan nahimo hiya nga kamuntaha asya nga nakatago hiya ilarom han kagurangan. ‘Ta kay matarom ngay-an an pangitaan han lalaki, nakit-an niya an amon bugto nga nagdadagmit pahirayo. ‘Ka niyan, nagpakaulalahipan liwat an amon bugto, nagsarusaklang hiya han mga sanga han kahoy basi makatalwas la han paglanat han lalaki, lugaring malaksi gud an lalaki kay iya nabalaong an ulalahipan dida han usa nga sanga. Ha katapos-taposan, waray na gud an am’ pudo nahimo, kay kun waray man gud an iya mga pako, nagtitikawara an gahom han biraddali.

Sinmugot na la an amon bugto na magin asawa hiya han lalaki, ngan nag-ukoy hiya kaupod han lalaki samtang naghihinulat han adlaw nga makuha niya balik an iya plata nga mga pako ngan makalupad balik sakay han balangaw tikadto ha kalangitan. Waray kami tinmugot nga mga magurang nga mag-inukoy na la liwat ha kalibutan an amon pudo nga bugto upod adto nga lalaki.

Lugaring nadiri kami mamiligro nga madakop han mga lalaki, ngan nahadlok liwat an tagsa ha amon nga mapipilo an amon mga pako, asya ginpasakay namon an amon mga huring dida han kahanginan, naglalaom nga an usa hini makaabot didto han amon dinakop nga bugto.

Naghuring kami kabahin han kagurangan ngan kakahoyan, ngan ginsumatan namon hiya nga ginlubong han tawo an iya plata nga mga pako didto ilarom hin usa nga puno ha ligid han salog. Naghuring kami hiunong hin kagawasan ngan paglaom. Naghuring kami nga ginhihidlaw na kami ha iya.

Ngan usa ka adlaw, nahibatian gihapon kami. Nakakalagiw an amon pudo nga bugto tikang han balay han lalaki samtang nakadto ini ha kagurangan. Pitos an iya dalagan tikadto han kakahoyan. Waray pa gud kami igkita hin lurulaksi nga biraddali, ngan waray pa gud liwat anghel an nakasantop kun ano iton kagawasan.

Ginhuhunahuna han nga tanan nga sumat-sumat la iton biraddali, kay maaram kami kun ano an kabangis nga hinuhuptan hiton tawo. Diri ug diri na makukuha tikang ha amon an amon mga pako. Diri na mahibabaro an bisan hin-o ha amon kun ano an kahadlok hiton pagkagaod hin usa ha tuna. Diri na mag-aagi an nahabibilin ha amon han kakurian han pakahibaro nga diri kami kumpleto.

Magpapabilin kami nga buhi dida ha mga mito ngan sumat-sumat han mga tawo ngan han kabaysay han balangaw. Ha pagkayana, ug ha kadayonan.

=————————————————————–=

English Version

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

=—————————————=

*Waray is the fifth-most-spoken native regional language of the Philippines, native to Eastern Visayas. It is the native language of the Waray people and second language of the Abaknon people of Capul, Northern Samar and some Cebuano-speaking peoples of eastern and southern parts of Leyte island. It is the third most spoken language among the Visayan languages, only behind Hiligaynon and Cebuano.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Waray translation by Hiyom Labon Buhi

Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Hiyom Labon Buhi

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

The Seven Biraddali Sisters Illustration and Colors by Elise Mendoza.

You can find the original adaptation here:

*Note this story is in Bicol

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

English Version

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

————————–————————–———————–

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

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

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

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

The Seven Biraddali Sisters Illustration and Colors by Elise Mendoza.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Maraming nag-iisip na kathang-isip lang kami sa daigdig na ito, ngunit nag-iingat lang kami upang ‘di makita ng iba. Puwera na lang noong isang pagkakataon, isang sandaling kami’y nagpabaya. Alam niyo kasi, kaming lahat na pitong magkakapatid na babae, pumapanaog kami mula sa langit tungo sa lupa gamit ang isang bahag-hari. Sa tuwing kami’y maliligo sa malalamig na batis sa bundok, hinuhubad namin ang aming mga makikislap naming pakpak upang guminhawa.
Isang araw, nakita ng isang tao ang aming pakpak na sa lupa, at saka kami binantaang gawing kaniyang mga asawa.

Marunong kaming mga mas nakatatandang kapatid na madaliang abutin ang aming mga papak upang agad na makalipad patungong langit. Ngunit ‘di ito napagtanto ng aming bunso, at inilapag niya ang kaniyang pakpak nang malayo sa kaniya. Ninakaw ito ng lalaki.

Hindi basta bastang susuko ang mga biraddali. Nagpalit anyo ang aming bunso, una’y bilang ahas upang makagapang ng mabilis papalayo. Ngunit mangangaso pala ang lalake, at nahuli niya sa isang hawla ang aming bunso. Sunod nama’y nag-hugis alakdan ang aming bunso, at nagtago sa mga nagsihulog na dahon sa gubat. Ngunit matalas ang mata ng lalaki, at nakita siyang tumatakas. Nagpalit anyo muli ang bunso namin upang maging alupihan, at madaling inakyat ang mga punong-kahoy nang ‘di mahuli. Ngunit matulin ang lalake’t naabutan siya sa isang sanga. Sa huli, walang nagawa ang aming bunso. Unti-unting humihina ang kaniyang kapangyarihan dahil ‘di niya suot ang kaniyang mga pakpak.

Bumigay ang aming bunso sa nais ng lalake na siya’y maging asawa. Nagsama sila, ngunit ang aming bunso’y tahimik lang na nag-aantay na makuha muli ang kaniyang mga makikislap na pakpak upang makalipad at umuwing muli sa langit. Hindi kami makapayag na mga ate niya na hayaang maiwan ang aming bunso sa lupa kasama ng taong iyon.

Ngunit nag-iingat kaming ‘di mahuli ng lalaking ito. Takot kaming makuhanan ng aming mga pakpak, kaya’t ipinahatid namin sa hangin ang aming mga bulong, nawa’y umabot sa aming nahuling bunso ang aming mensahe.

Binulungan namin ang gubat at ang lahat ng mga puno, upang ipaabot sa aming bunso na inilibing ng lalaki ang kaniyang mga pakpak sa ilalim ng isang puno, sa tabi ng ilog. Pag-asa’t paglaya ang laman ang aming mga bulong. Ibinulong din naming nangungulila kami para sa kaniya.

Sa wakas, narinig niya kami. Sa sandaling umalis ng bahay ang lalaki, tumakas ang aming bunso. Humangos siya tungo sa gubat. Walang briddali ang mas mabilis pa ang kaysa sa aming bunso, maging mga anghel, ‘di matatalos ang halaga ng nadama niyang paglaya.

Maraming mag-aakalang kathang-isip lang ang mga briddali. Pero ito’y dahil alam namin ang kalupitan na kayang iparanas ng tao. Hindi na maaring may kumupit muli ang aming mga pakpak. Hindi na muling mararanasan ng isa sa amin ang pagdurusa ng pagiging ‘di buo.

Mabubuhay na lamang kami sa kathang-isip ng tao, at sa likas ng kariktan ng bahag-hari, mula ngayon, at magpakailanman.

————————–————————–————————–———–

English Version

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Written by Karl Gaverza
Tagalog Translation by Ruiz Act
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Ruiz Act

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

The Seven Biraddali Sisters Illustration and Colors by Elise Mendoza.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

————————–————————–———————–

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

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

The Seven Biraddali Sisters Illustration and Colors by Elise Mendoza.

Love will arrive,
It will bring back old memories
Of pain
Of hope
If we dare listen to it
We will know how big the world truly is

Love will arrive,
It will shine a light on our exile
Cast away the shadows of our souls
When it comes into our sight
It will lead us into life

Love will arrive,
On feathered wings
It will call out our bravery
And we must choose
The cost

Love will arrive,
Will you give all that you are
And all that you will ever be
To truly be free

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Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by Biraddali description in Voices from Sulu A Collection of Tausug Oral Traditions. Rixhon. 2010.

Biraddali Illustration and Color by Alexa Garde
Website: Lexa.us