*Note this story is in Kapampangan

“Keni na, malapit na!” Pupulayi ya I Jason king burul. King panamdaman ng Nick maybug ya rugung makbung ing keyang pusu. Alya kasi itang atletikung anak, at ena buring payalala da kaya ing katutwan nayta, oneng kaluguran ne I Jason, pane yang malelyari ita at kadwa na ne king biye ing pamagsubuk ka reng panibayung bage.

Memagkasakit ya rugu I Nick king pamanukyat na kaybat tambing ne mung miragsa karas na king babo. Atsu ne man pane I Jason king siping na, kukutnan ne nung ayus ya mu, kanyan, ene makapaninaya king tula ng ipakit kaya ing itsura king lalam ning burul, “Nanung ke astigan na niting pepaglakaran mu ku kareng burul burul a reni kaybat —–” Saka na ikit Nick.

Libingan ya pala, pero alya itang karaniwan a sukuan. Atsu king dosi, bala dina-dinalang butul ning damulag ing makalatag king paligid ning kabitisan ning burul. “O siya, istu ka pin, astig ya pin ini,” bulung ng Nick. “Akuna keka e,” ngana namang Jason, “Pero ali me pa akakit ing pekamabias a parti.”

Etad nong Jason king gubat a butul. Apansinan ng Nick na ela kumpletu deng butul, ating mangadagul a pirasung mababating, lalu na king gulut. Ena iisipan na masanting yang pamikiran ini, pero atsu ne man ing pamagtiwala na kang Jason, at pane naman masale, maralas.

“E tamu masigla, atsu keni,” pangabulung ng Jason. “Siryosu?” Lalawen neng Nick ing pamaglupa ning batu a buri ng ukyatang Jason. “E ta masigla akuna, eme buring migising ini” tekap neng Jason ing gamat na king asbuk ng Nick. “Siryosu kung mayap.”

Sinaguli kanyan, ginalo ya ing gabun kaybat pingwa neng Jason ing gamat ng Nick saka ne binili king lalam na ning punu, “Nanu ita!?” Manganerbyusan ne rugu ing Nick. Saka neng tirung Jason ing babo at ikit neng Nick ing rasun. Makatakut yang tutu, mas maragul ya pa ka reng punu saka ya mangulisak bala mung kulug.

“Enaka ta akit king lalam ning punung ayni, keni tana manaya manga man king mibalik ya king pamanudtud na.” Nganang Jason. “Magdala kung pamangan.”

Migbuntung pangisnawa ne I Nick, makanini talaga ing malelyari patse kayabe ne I Jason.

=————————=
English Version

“Come on it’s over here!” Jason was running over the hill. Nick felt his heart almost burst. He wasn’t the most athletic child and he didn’t like being reminded of that fact, but this was always how it went and Jason was his best friend so being pushed to do new things was a fact of life.

Nick struggled up the last few steps of the hill and he dropped as soon as he reached the top. Jason was by his side as always, asking if he was okay, but this time he was more exited to get Nick to look below the hill. “What could be so cool that you made me walk through a bunch of hills and—–“ Then Nick saw it.

It was a graveyard, but not by any normal standards. Dozens, maybe hundreds of carabao skeletons were scattered around the foot of the hill. “Okay, you were right, this is really cool,” Nick whispered. “Told you so,” Jason replied, “But you haven’t seen the coolest part.”

Jason led them though the skeletal forest. Nick noticed that the bones were never complete, there were giant chunks of them missing, mostly from the back, he didn’t think this was a good idea, but he trusted Jason and that always worked out fine. Mostly.

“Be very quiet. It’s through here,” Jason whispered. “Seriously?” Nick was looking at the rock face Jason wanted them to climb. “I said be quiet, you don’t want to wake it up.” Jason clamped his hand over Nick’s mouth. “I’m dead serious.”

Suddenly the ground shook. Jason grabbed Nick’s arm and he dragged him under a nearby tree. “What was that?!” Nick was starting to get frantic. Jason pointed upwards and Nick saw the cause. It was terrifying. It towered over the trees and it roared with a voice like thunder.

“It won’t see us from under this tree, we should wait until it goes back to sleep again,” Jason said. “I brought food.”

Nick sighed. Stuff like this always happened with Jason.

=—————————-=

Inspired by the Bungisngis entry in  Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971. and in 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Samar. 2015

Bungisngis Illustration by Leandro Geniston fromAklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

“Lakat diri, ari diri!” Si Jason nagadalagan sa lampas sa babaw sang bungyod. Nabatyagan ni Nick ang iya kasing-kasing nga daw malupok. Indi gid man siya ang pinaka-mabukod nga bata kag indi siya kauyon nga padumdumon sang ini, apang amo gid ini ang pierme nagakahitabo kag si Jason iya labing maayo nga abyan gani ang mapilitan magbuhat sang mga bag-o nga butang daw bahin na sang iya kabuhi.

Nabudlayan gid si Nick sang mga ulihi nga metro pasaka sa bungyod kag naghigda siya sang nakadab-ot na siya sa babaw. Si Jason ara man lang sa tupad niya, nagapamangkot kung okey lang siya, pero sa ini nga tion nakunyag siya nga patanawon si Nick sa dalum sang bungyod. “Ano gid ang tigas dira nga ginpalakat mo ako pila ka bungyod kag….” Amo ato ang pagkakita ni Nick.

May sementeryo sa dalum, pero indi ordinaryo nga sementeryo. Pila ka dosena, basi ginatos pa nga kalabera sang karabaw daw gin lapta sa tiilan sang bungyod. “Okey ah, ensakto ka, grabe gid man ini gali, “ hutik ni Nick. “Siling ko gid sa imo ih,” sabat ni Jason, “Pero wala mo pa nakita ang pinaka-tigas nga parte.”

Gindala siya ni Jason sa kalasangan sang mga kalabera. Nadiparahan ni Nick nga ang mga tul-an indi kumpleto, may mga bahin sang mga kalabera nga wala na, laban ang mga bahin sa likod, pamatyag ni Nick nga indi ini maayo nga magsigue pa sila lakat sa sementeryo sang mga kalabera sang karabaw, pero may salig man siya kay Jason kag laban-laban sa maayo man lang ang nagakahitabo sa punta. Laban-laban.

“Hipos ka lang, ari diri ang alagyan, “ hutik ni Jason sa iya. “Tu-od bala?” Ginatan-aw ni Nick ang daw bukid sang bato nga gusto ni Jason ila taklason. “Siling ko sa imo hipos lang bala, basi ma pukawan mo pa siya.” Gintakpan ni Jason ang baba ni Nick sang iya kamot, “Seryoso ko bala.”

Gulpi lang nag-uyog ang duta. Ginkaptan ni Jason ang butkon ni Nick kag iya siya ginbutong pakadto sa dalum sang isa ka kahoy. “Nano ‘to man?!” Nagasalasala na si Nick. May ginatudlo si Jason sa babaw kag nakita ni Nick kung ano ang nagpa-uyog sang duta. Makakululba. Mas ta-as pa sang sa mga kahoy kag may boses nga daw dagu-ob.

“Indi niya kita makita kung ari lang ‘ta sa dalum sang kahoy, mahulat lang ‘ta asta matulugan siya liwat,” siling ni Jason. “May dala man ako nga pagkaon.”

Nanghayhay si Nick. Amo lang ‘ni pierme nagakatabo kung upod si Jason.

=————————————————————–=

English Version

“Come on it’s over here!” Jason was running over the hill. Nick felt his heart almost burst. He wasn’t the most athletic child and he didn’t like being reminded of that fact, but this was always how it went and Jason was his best friend so being pushed to do new things was a fact of life.

Nick struggled up the last few steps of the hill and he dropped as soon as he reached the top. Jason was by his side as always, asking if he was okay, but this time he was more exited to get Nick to look below the hill. “What could be so cool that you made me walk through a bunch of hills and—–“ Then Nick saw it.

It was a graveyard, but not by any normal standards. Dozens, maybe hundreds of carabao skeletons were scattered around the foot of the hill. “Okay, you were right, this is really cool,” Nick whispered. “Told you so,” Jason replied, “But you haven’t seen the coolest part.”

Jason led them though the skeletal forest. Nick noticed that the bones were never complete, there were giant chunks of them missing, mostly from the back, he didn’t think this was a good idea, but he trusted Jason and that always worked out fine. Mostly.

“Be very quiet. It’s through here,” Jason whispered. “Seriously?” Nick was looking at the rock face Jason wanted them to climb. “I said be quiet, you don’t want to wake it up.” Jason clamped his hand over Nick’s mouth. “I’m dead serious.”

Suddenly the ground shook. Jason grabbed Nick’s arm and he dragged him under a nearby tree. “What was that?!” Nick was starting to get frantic. Jason pointed upwards and Nick saw the cause. It was terrifying. It towered over the trees and it roared with a voice like thunder.

“It won’t see us from under this tree, we should wait until it goes back to sleep again,” Jason said. “I brought food.”

Nick sighed. Stuff like this always happened with Jason.

=———————————————————–=

*The Hiligaynon language, also colloquially referred often by most of its speakers simply as Ilonggo, is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 9.1 million people, mainly in Western Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN, most of whom belong to the Visayan ethnic group, mainly the Hiligaynons. It is the second-most widely spoken language and a member of the so-named Visayan language family and is more distantly related to other Philippine languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza

Hiligaynon translation by Stephen A. Matti

Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Stephen A. Matti

Inspired by the Bungisngis entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971. and in 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Samar. 2015

Bungisngis Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

*Note this story is in Tagalog

“Halika, nandito o!” Tumatakbo si Jason sa taas ng burol. Naramdaman ni Nick na halos sumabog na ang kanyang puso. Hindi siya ang pinaka-atletikong bata at hindi niya gusto na laging ipinapaalala sa kanya iyon, pero ganito lagi ang nangyayari at si Jason ang pinakamatalik niyang kaibigan kaya ang pagtulak sa kanya upang gumawa ng mga bagong bagay ay isang katotohanan ng buhay.

Nahirapan si Nick sa mga huling hakbang ng burol at bumagsak niya nang marating niya ang tuktok. Nasa tabi niya si Jason kagaya ng dati, tinatanong kung ayos lang ba siya, pero ngayon ay mas sabik itong mapatingin si Nick sa baba ng burol. “Ano bang kahanga-hanga dito at nagawa mo akong palakarin sa mga burol at —,“ At nakita ito ni Nick.

Isa iyong sementeryo, pero hindi sa normal na pamantayan. Dose-dosena, maaaring nasa isang daan na mga kalansay ng mga kalabaw ang nagkalat sa paanan ng burol. “O sige, tama ka, kahanga-hanga nga ito,” bulong ni Nick. “Sabi sa’yo e,” sagot ni Jason, “Pero hindi mo pa nakikita yung pinakakahanga-hangang parte.”

Pinangunahan sila ni Jason sa kagubatan ng mga kalansay. Napansin ni Nick na hindi kumpleto ang mga kalansay, may mga malalaking tipak ang mga nawawala, marami rito ay sa bandang likuran. Hindi niya naisip na magandang ideya ito, pero pinagkakatiwalaan niya si Jason at laging nagiging maayos naman ang lahat. Kadalasan.

“Manahimik ka. Nandito na iyon,” bulong ni Jason. “Seryoso?” Tinitingnan ni Nick ang matigas na mukha ni Jason na gustong umakyat. “Ang sabi ko manahimik ka, hindi mo gugustuhing magising iyon.” Inilapat ni Jason ang kamay niya sa bibig ni Nick. “Seryoso ako.”

Walang ano-ano’y yumanig ang lupa. Hinablot ni Jason ang braso ni Nick at hinila siya sa ilalim ng pinakamalapit na puno. “Ano iyon?!” Nagsimulang maging aligaga si Nick. Tumuro si Jason pataas at nakita ni Nick ang dahilan. Nakakatakot iyon. Mas mataas pa iyon sa mga puno at umungol ito ng may boses na parang kulog.

“Hindi tayo makikita njyan mula dito sa ilalim ng puno, dapat tayong maghintay hanggang sa makatulog ulit iyan,” sabi ni Jason. “Nagdala ako ng pagkain.”

Napabuntong-hininga si Nick. Nangyayari talaga ang mga ganitong bagay kapag kasama si Jason

=——————————————————————-=

English Version

“Come on it’s over here!” Jason was running over the hill. Nick felt his heart almost burst. He wasn’t the most athletic child and he didn’t like being reminded of that fact, but this was always how it went and Jason was his best friend so being pushed to do new things was a fact of life.

Nick struggled up the last few steps of the hill and he dropped as soon as he reached the top. Jason was by his side as always, asking if he was okay, but this time he was more exited to get Nick to look below the hill. “What could be so cool that you made me walk through a bunch of hills and—–“ Then Nick saw it.

It was a graveyard, but not by any normal standards. Dozens, maybe hundreds of carabao skeletons were scattered around the foot of the hill. “Okay, you were right, this is really cool,” Nick whispered. “Told you so,” Jason replied, “But you haven’t seen the coolest part.”

Jason led them though the skeletal forest. Nick noticed that the bones were never complete, there were giant chunks of them missing, mostly from the back, he didn’t think this was a good idea, but he trusted Jason and that always worked out fine. Mostly.

“Be very quiet. It’s through here,” Jason whispered. “Seriously?” Nick was looking at the rock face Jason wanted them to climb. “I said be quiet, you don’t want to wake it up.” Jason clamped his hand over Nick’s mouth. “I’m dead serious.”

Suddenly the ground shook. Jason grabbed Nick’s arm and he dragged him under a nearby tree. “What was that?!” Nick was starting to get frantic. Jason pointed upwards and Nick saw the cause. It was terrifying. It towered over the trees and it roared with a voice like thunder.

“It won’t see us from under this tree, we should wait until it goes back to sleep again,” Jason said. “I brought food.”

Nick sighed. Stuff like this always happened with Jason.

=——————————————–=

*Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a quarter of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by the majority. Its standardized form, officially named Filipino, is the national language of the Philippines, and is one of two official languages alongside English.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Tagalog translation by Catherine Britania
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Catherine Britania

Inspired by the Bungisngis entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971. and in 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Samar. 2015

Bungisngis Illustration by Leandro Geniston fromAklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

“Come on it’s over here!” Jason was running over the hill. Nick felt his heart almost burst. He wasn’t the most athletic child and he didn’t like being reminded of that fact, but this was always how it went and Jason was his best friend so being pushed to do new things was a fact of life.

Nick struggled up the last few steps of the hill and he dropped as soon as he reached the top. Jason was by his side as always, asking if he was okay, but this time he was more exited to get Nick to look below the hill. “What could be so cool that you made me walk through a bunch of hills and—–“ Then Nick saw it.

It was a graveyard, but not by any normal standards. Dozens, maybe hundreds of carabao skeletons were scattered around the foot of the hill. “Okay, you were right, this is really cool,” Nick whispered. “Told you so,” Jason replied, “But you haven’t seen the coolest part.”

Jason led them though the skeletal forest. Nick noticed that the bones were never complete, there were giant chunks of them missing, mostly from the back, he didn’t think this was a good idea, but he trusted Jason and that always worked out fine. Mostly.

“Be very quiet. It’s through here,” Jason whispered. “Seriously?” Nick was looking at the rock face Jason wanted them to climb. “I said be quiet, you don’t want to wake it up.” Jason clamped his hand over Nick’s mouth. “I’m dead serious.”

Suddenly the ground shook. Jason grabbed Nick’s arm and he dragged him under a nearby tree. “What was that?!” Nick was starting to get frantic. Jason pointed upwards and Nick saw the cause. It was terrifying. It towered over the trees and it roared with a voice like thunder.

“It won’t see us from under this tree, we should wait until it goes back to sleep again,” Jason said. “I brought food.”

Nick sighed. Stuff like this always happened with Jason.

————————–————————–————————–—

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Bungisngis entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971. and in 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Samar. 2015

Bungisngis Illustration by Leandro Geniston fromAklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen