*Note this story is in Inabaknon

Kapa’i kay nagkinahanglan nga atalaw kaw si kamatayon?

Pata’anin ako, agbuwan istorya si ka’aw .

Ngan siray bali na awat mga panahon, aniya’ bali yaman danda nga ag’istar matapit si kalawot. Gana’  ngi adda ruyag-na bisita, husto na si iya i kamingawan nagpumwan na si mahaya ruma’-na. Aggamit na hamok pirmi i mga allaw ngan sangom nga aniya’  iya pina’agi si beach, nga kun singnga para isip na i kada bitu’on ngan kun pira bug’os i baybay.

Aniya’  hamok adda kumpanya-na, ma’in  pariyo si bisan say a’a ha si kalibutan, kay ma’in gayud iya a’a bisan pa pinapa’i. I lingaw-na si kamatayon i kahuruhuwang na pirmi para ka’ibanan i kasurub’on na. Primiro mayya agsikilalahay ngan ag’ako’ na si lingaw-na si kamatayon i sa’i-na si danda. Ga’I iya atalaw ma’in pariyo na si mga a’a nga dapat agtangdo na hamok ngan agbuwan respito sito lingaw.

“Kapa’i  kay ga’i kaw angabat katalaw?” I patilaw na si lingaw. “Parti kaw kun kay kapa’i mas aghalap i kinabuhi’.” I saruman na si danda.

Dati, ga’i  ni adda kapinugaran mahalap i lingaw-na si kamatayon ngan pirmi to hamok antis anakka i panahon nga satima na si danda i larao, adda to ritwal nga nagparahimo para ka protektaran i puho’ -na si sa’i-na si mga maruyag magkilwag sito pakahuman-na si kamatayon. Siray, aruyag i lingaw si danda, kay ga’i iya bisan sumiran akabagat adda a’a nga agbuwan respiratar pariyo si pagpakulaw na respito si iya.

Masiniluson i lingaw-na si kamatayon ngan karuyag na agtatawa’ na hamok i danda. Agsunuran na i danda pada’iray  si baybayon ngan agplanuhan na nga limbo nayto, para pirmi na iya si pudir na si kamatayon hasta si kahastahan.

Piro kay ma’in bulok i danda, sakatu’anan  na kon ay i hirimuhon na si iya si lingaw. Ag’ambanan na i ruma’-na ngan padugok iya si papo’-na danda. Aniya’  pambihira kapangyarihan-na sito maktong nga adda beses na agdiri’an na sito ampo nayto danda. Gana’ la’in  pagpipili’an na si danda, ag’itatapit na i lingaw-na  si kamatayon.

Ngan satakka na na kunta’  si lingaw i danda nginarat to iya. Hintak to danda to kawara’an hingasong, ga’i na sa abat na i kupkop na si lingaw.

Piro kay ga’i  gad kunta’ ambanan na si danda i lingaw-na si kamatayon. Sakatu’anan  na sanglit i pagtraydor na si iya si adda kumpanya nga agtapuran na gayud, ngan sito butang, ga’i  liwat iya pahuway hasta ga’i iya akabulos. Balang ga’i nagrespitar i kamatayon pina’agi si paghimo’ si larao, pada’iray iya. Rangka na kon ay may i primyo na si lingaw.

Ma’in  kinahanglan nga agkatalawan mo i kamatayon.

Atalawa si kun titakka pakatima na siray.

=————————-=

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 Inabaknon language, also known as Abaknon, Abaknon Sama, Capuleño, Kapul, or Capul Sinama, is an Austronesian language primarily spoken in the Island Municipality of Capul of Northern Samar, in the Eastern Visayas Region of the Philippines. Unlike the other indigenous languages of the Eastern Visayas, namely Waray, Cebuano and Boholano, Inabaknon is not classified as part of the Visayan language family, but is rather grouped with the Sama–Bajaw languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Inabaknon Translation by Jo-An Panis Magloyuan
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jo-An Panis Magloyuan

Inspired by the Aswang (Capiz) description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

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

*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga

Tano ta kinakatakutan mo ang kagadanan?

Maistorya ako saimo.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dae mo katakutan ang kagadanan.

Katakutan mo ang kasunod.

=———————————————————-=

English Version

Why should you fear death?

Let me tell you a story.

A long time ago, there was a rich woman who lived by the sea. She would not have any visitors, for she liked the quiet that her large house gave her. She would spend her days and nights by the beach, counting each star and each grain of sand.

She had but one friend, not like any person in the world, for it was not a person at all. The shadow of death would spend time with her to ease her loneliness. They first met when death’s shadow claimed the woman’s mother. She was not afraid as most people would have been and greeted the shadow politely.
“Why are you not running in fear?” The shadow asked. “You are part of what makes life beautiful.” The woman answered.

Death’s shadow had never been called beautiful before and it stayed until the woman finished the larao, the ritual ceremony to protect her mother’s body from those that would harm it after death. The shadow fell in love with the woman then, for it had never met a human who respected death such as she did.

Death’s shadow was a jealous thing and it wanted the woman all to itself. It had followed her to the seaside and had planned to drown the woman, so that she may be in death’s embrace forever.

The woman was no fool, though and knew what the shadow had planned. She left her house and visited her grandmother. For you see, the old woman had great power that was once rejected by her granddaughter. The woman had no choice, death’s shadow was approaching.

When the shadow caught up to the woman it was surprised. She had become deathless, she would never know the shadow’s embrace.

The woman would not leave death’s shadow though. She had known the betrayal of a trusted friend, and she would not rest until she had her revenge. Every time death was not respected through the larao, she would be there. Desecrating what would have been the shadow’s prize.

You should not fear death.

Fear what comes after.

=———————————————————————=

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

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

Inspired by the Aswang (Capiz) description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

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

Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
FB: Wildling Child
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildlingchild/

*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
FB: That Guy With A Pen

Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
FB: Wildling Child
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildlingchild/

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Bakit mo kailangang matakot sa kamatayan?

Hayaan mong kwentuhan kita.

Noong unang panahon, may isang mayamang babaeng nakatira sa gilid ng dagat. Ayaw niya nang may bumibisita sa kanya sapagkat gusto niya ang katahimikang naibibigay sa kanya ng kanyang malaking bahay. Ginugugol niya ang kanyang mga araw at gabi sa tabi ng dagat, binibilang ang bawat bituin at bawat butil ng buhangin.

Meron lamang siyang iisang kabigan, ngunit hindi katulad ng sinumang tao sa mundo, dahil hindi ito isang tao. Ang anino ng kamatayan ay sinasamahan siya upang maibsan ang kanyang kalungkutan. Una silang nagkita noong kinuha ng anino ng kamatayan ang ina ng babae. Hindi siya takot, ‘di tulad ng karamihan sa mga tao, at binati pa ang anino ng may paggalang.

“Bakit hindi ka tumatakbo dahil sa takot?” Ang tanong ng anino. “Isa kang parte ng kung anong nagpapaganda sa buhay.” Ang sagot ng babae.

Ang anino ng kamatayan ay hindi kailanman natawag ng maganda at ito ay nanatili hanggang sa matapos ng babae ang larao, ang seremonya ng ritwal para protektahan ang katawan ng kanyang ina mula sa mga nagbabalak na gawan ito nang masama pagkatapos ng kamatayan. Noon din ay nahulog ang anino para sa babae, sapagkat hindi pa ito nakakikilala ng isang taong nirerespeto ang kamatayan na katulad ng ginawa niya.

Ang anino ng kamatayan ay seloso at gusto nitong sa kanya lamang ang babae. Sinundan niya ito sa tabing-dagat at napagplanuhang lunurin ang babae, upang manatili na ang babae sa yakap ng kamatayan magpakailanman.

Ngunit hindi hangal ang babae, at alam niya kung ano ang pinlano ng anino. Umalis siya sa kanyang bahay at bumisita sa kanyang lola. Palibhasa’y ang matandang babae ay may dakilang kapangyarihan na tinanggihan dati ng kanyang apo. Wala nang pagpipilian ang babae, dahil mabilis na dumarating ang anino ng kamatayan.

Nang makasunod na ang anino sa babae, ito ay nagulat. Ang babae ay hindi na maaaring mamatay, hindi na niya malalaman ang yakap ng anino.

Ngunit hindi iniwan ng babae ang anino ng kamatayan. Alam niya ang kataksilan ng pinagkatiwalaang kaibigan, at hindi siya magpapahinga hanggang hindi siya nakapaghihiganti. Sa tuwing hindi nirerespeto ang kamatayan sa pamamagitan ng larao, ay naroon siya. Nilalapastangan ang kung anumang magiging premyo ng anino.

Hindi mo dapat katakutan ang kamatayan.

Katakutan ang kung ano ang susunod.

————————–————————–————————–—

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.

————————–————————–————————––

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

Inspired by the Aswang (Capiz) description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

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

Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
FB: Wildling Child
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildlingchild/

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.

————————–————————–————————

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Aswang (Capiz) description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

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