Ming ginlaw na ang adlawa sa iyang way pasaylo nga kasuwaw apan wa kini makapugong sa
duha ka maghigala sa pag pahulay sa ilang mga pako samtang nag patong sa puno-an ug
nag-abiabi sa usat usa.

Ang usa bag-o lang naka escapo gikan sa pagkabinhag sa layong nasud samtang ang usa
nangitag kapasayluan sa ilang hari. Grabeng kalisud ang mingbungad ka nila himatungod sa
panahon og higayon apan mapasalamaton sila kay nagka-abot sila aning punuan.

“Ibutyag ka nako imung sugilanon, higala” Mi ingon ang bantogan’g langgam.

“Nag sugod ang tanan katong naa ko sa Piedras Platas, susama sa akong kanonay buhaton.”
“Katong punuan nimo nga diyamente?”

“o, kato. Samtang ming talisawop ang adlaw, gisugdan nako ang una sa pito nako ka awit.
Pagkahuman nako sa ika-pito, wa ko kabantay nga aduna diay tawo sa ubos unya na itihan
nako siya.

“Nahimu dayon siyang bato.”

“Mao gyud. Kining mga tawhana wa ni sila kaibaw unsa ilang gi pangbuhat. Pagkasunod adlaw
naa nasay laing tao nga nakatulog ilawm sa akong punuan. Wa ko nasayud nga igsoon diay to
niya ang nakatug pagni-agi.”

“Unsa may nahitabo ato?”

“Ang laing igsoon sa katong nangahimong bato ming abot og gi dakop ko samtang natulog ko.
Nalikayan niya akong mga iti kay wa man siya nakatulog. Giluwas niya iyang mga igsuon sa
pagka bato apan wa sila malipay sa ilang kaluwasan. Ila nahinoong gikulata ilang igsuon nga
nag luwas nila unya gidala ko nila sa ilang hari.

“Wa gyud ni utlanan ang kapintas sa katawhan?”

“Wa na ko padungga sa akong mga awit ang hari aron ma-ulian siya hangtod nabalik ang tinuod
nga nakadakop nako, ming abot tuod siya. Mingkanta ko sa akong awit ngan sa pagkasayod sa
tanan sa gibuhat sa duha ka mag-igsoon. Gi takwil na unta sila kung wa sila pasaylua sa ilang
igsoon nga ilang gikulata.

“Murag inosente ra kaayu to siya.”

“Pagkahuman gi atiman ko og tarong apan akong tinguha mao ang makabalik og lupad.
Nahatagan ko ani nga higayon katong gibuhi-an ko sa usa sa mag-isoon. Murag iya tong gi
buhat aron mapasanginlan ang ilang buutan nga igsoon pero ako lang ning tagna.”

“Murag kuyaw to imung na agi-an, higala.”

“Makaingon ko nga akong ka-agi talagsaon gayud. Kanang igo na para sa usa ka kinabuhi.
Usahay mu-abot ragyud ang higayon apan wa gyud tay mabuhat kung mao man. Akong
pagkadakop nakahatag lag labing pagdayeg sa akong nabating kaluwasan nga karong nasinati.
“Mga pulong nga angay panaminan, mao kini akong gidahum gikan kanimo.”

Ang adlaw ming talisawop samtang ang duha ka langgam nagpadayun sa ilang pagkukalubildo.

Ang kahayag sa mga bituon ming hatag og pagsidlak sa ilang mga pako samtang nag storya
silang duha.

=—————————————–=

English Version

The sun shone with an unforgiving glare, but this did not stop the two friends from resting their wings upon a tree and greeting each other warmly.

One had just fled from captivity in a faraway kingdom while the other had sought forgiveness from their king. It had been an exceptionally challenging time in the lives of both these great birds, but they were thankful for each other’s company.

“Tell me your story, old friend,” the great bird, Sumayang Galura, requested.

“It started when I was spending the night on the Piedras Platas, as I always do.”

“Your tree of diamond?”

“The very same. As the sun was setting, I began to sing the first of my seven songs, when I had finished with the seventh, I did not realize that there was a human below me and my droppings had fallen on him.”

“He then turned to stone”

“That he did. Some humans just don’t realize what they get themselves into. The next day the same thing happened with another human that fell asleep at the foot of my tree, I didn’t know they were brothers then.”

“What happened then?”

“The human’s other brother came forth and captured me while I slept. He stayed awake during my songs and avoided my droppings until I fell asleep. He turned his brothers back from stone, but they did not appreciate their freedom. They beat the brother that freed them and took me to their king.”

“Will the cruelty of humans never cease?”

“I would not sing my song to heal the king until my true captor returned, and he did. I sang and my song revealed the duplicity of the two brothers, they would have been banished if not for the forgiveness of the brother that freed them.”

“He sounds like a naïve human.”

“After that, I was not treated badly, but I yearned to stretch my wings and fly through the sky once again. I had this opportunity when one of the brothers just released me. I think it was to frame the good brother as a fool, but that is just my guess.”

“It seems you have had a great ordeal, old friend.”

“I have had an adventure, as what fills most of our lifetimes. Sometimes they come to us and we do not have any choice in the matter. My captivity has only made me more grateful for the freedom I now possess.”

“Wise words, I would expect no less from you.”

The sun set as the two great birds continued their conversation. The star’s light gave their feathers a brilliant glow as they talked late into the night.

————————–————————–————————–—

*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 Julius Cesar Cudera
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Julius Cesar Cudera

Inspired by Ibong Adarna

Adarna Illustration and Watercolor by Franz Lim

“Alberto it’s time for bed!” Neni shouted from the hallway. She checked Alberto’s bedroom and was surprised to find him already under the covers.

She had noticed that he was less energetic than usual and she was worried that he wasn’t sleeping well.

“Neni I’m going to sleep!” Alberto said from under his blanket.
There wasn’t much she could do. Neni switched the lights off and told Alberto to have good dreams.

“I’ll see you in the morning. We’ll go to the park tomorrow okay?” She said as she walked out of his room.

“Neni! Time to sleep!” was Alberto’s reply.

Alberto yawned as he rode his winged steed through the clouds. It felt like only yesterday when one of the princesses of Kahangian*asked Alberto and his horse to stave off an invasion.

Alberto knew he couldn’t say no. When adventure calls he only had one answer.

But Alberto wished this adventure would end soon. Victory seemed out of reach as the endless onslaught of birds came wave after wave.

These were no ordinary birds. They flew like umbrellas along the clouds of Kahangian. The princess told Alberto that the birds would usually keep to themselves, but something must have happened to rile them up. She was afraid that this was only the beginning of a larger assault on her realm.

Alberto and his horse spent the last few weeks rerouting the birds away from the kingdom. As much as the princess wanted him to use force, Alberto could not bring himself to harm the birds.

After redirecting the latest wave of birds Alberto was summoned to the princess’ chambers.

She told him that it was time to end this. Redirecting the birds was a waste of time if they just kept coming back. She gave Alberto a box and told him to go to the king of the birds and slay him.

Alberto opened the box and was surprised to find a sword with his name engraved on it. It felt heavy in his hands and he looked at the princess and shook his head.

He would not do as she asked. Violence wasn’t the answer, at least not to him. He left the box in the princess’ chambers and went to his horse.

This would end, but on his terms.

Alberto’s horse smiled. As a horse he was used to keeping his opinions to himself but today he couldn’t help it.
He was proud that he made the right choice in Alberto. The birds weren’t violent, at most they were a nuisance to the princess’ kingdom.

They flew through the clouds with as much grace as the horse could muster. As adept as he was with galloping, the horse was clumsy with his wings. They barreled through the surge of birds ahead of them, Alberto had to spit out a few feathers, but eventually they came upon the roost of the king of birds.

Alberto’s horse bowed his head. As much as he was a horse, he was also part bird, and there were certain rules that you had to follow to make sure the other birds wouldn’t get mad at you.
The king of birds was enormous, his large frame almost blacking out the sun. He took one look at Alberto and his horse and said, “Who are you and why are you here?!”

Alberto’s horse was still looking at the ground when he heard Alberto answer.

“Why you attack the kingdom?”

“Strange human, I attack nothing. I am just trying to get back what belongs to me.”

Alberto’s brow creased in confusion.

“But princess said you attack!”

“The princess was the one that started this. She and her kingdom stole my crown! I’ve been sending my birds to her kingdom to get it back.”

“But princess said—-“

The king of birds whirled around and put his beak up to Alberto’s face.

“I’ve heard of you, human. You and your bentohangin have made quite a name for yourselves in this realm. And I am asking you, please, get my crown back and I will tell my birds to stop.”

Alberto looked at his horse and they nodded in unison.

The princess stared at her mirror as her servants brushed her hair. She had not calculated that the human would reject her gift, but no matter. A few bats of her eyelashes and some tears would certainly do the job the next time.

She bade her servants to leave her alone and walked to a hidden door in her chambers. In it was a chest and in that chest was her prize.

It was the most beautiful headpiece in all of Kahangian, inlaid with fallen stars and made from gold straight from Ginton’s forges. Such beauty should only belong to her, the fairest princess in the clouds.

“L—-I—-A—-R!” Alberto’s voice rang through the princess’ chambers.

The princess managed to catch the crown as it fell through her fingers. She had not expected the human to be back so soon.
“You’re a liar!” Alberto shouted again.

“I’m so glad you’re here! The birds have been trying to steal from me!” It was time for the tears. The princess was familiar with this tactic, many heroes had fallen for her charms and this one would be no different.

“That’s not your crown!” Alberto and his horse moved towards the princess.

“This is my father’s! The birds are jealous of its beauty and keep trying to take it from me, but you won’t let them will you? Please help me!” Tears were flowing down her cheeks as she looked into Alberto’s eyes.

“L—–I—–A—–R!” Alberto grabbed the crown from the princess and ran towards his horse.

“Guards! Get them!”

Alberto and his horse were experts and running away. The guards tried to catch up to the pair but once you’ve escaped from the flying serpents guarding Ulilankalulua’s grave everything seems like a turtle in comparison.

“You are not welcome here!” The princess shouted through the clouds, “We will hunt you down!”

The birds flocked Alberto and his horse. They were overjoyed at the sight of the crown and accompanied them to their king’s throne.

“You have made yourself an enemy of the princess’ kingdom.” The king of birds said to Alberto.

“Yes.”

“Thank you, know that the kingdom of birds will help you, whenever you will need it.”

“Yes.”

Alberto looked at his horse and smiled. Alberto’s horse hugged his companion and neighed. They knew they made the right choice, even if it meant making a powerful enemy.

“Neni! I’m tired!”

“Okay Alberto, you can take a nap soon. Let’s clean up your crayons okay?”

“Okay.”

Today Alberto woke up early and even got ready for breakfast in time. Neni was still worried that he wasn’t getting enough sleep but that was nothing a good nap couldn’t fix.

She helped him clear his crayons and wondered why he kept drawing umbrellas.

“Neni! Bird!” He showed a drawing that was like the other umbrellas but bigger than the rest.

“It looks great Alberto! Let’s clean up and you can take a nap, okay?”

“Okay!”

Continued from the Bentohangin’s tale

*Kahangian is the fifth layer of the universe

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Hubot description in The Soul Book. Demetrio & Cordero-Fernando 1991.

Hubot Illustration by Edrian Paolo T. Baydo

Color by Alexa Garde
Website: Lexa.us