*Note this story is in Cebuano

Gitawag nila siyag “Ang Tawong Kidlat”.

Dili basta-bastang talan-awon. Siya, samtang gasiyagit-siyagit ngadto sa bagyo,

hapit mapapas sa kalibotan sa nasipyat nga paglabay sa kidlat.

And video sa maong panghitabo nag-viral pagka-ugma. Ug ganina lang gyong

buntag miabot na og milyon ka views.

Tanang tawo buot masayod sa Tawong Kidlat ug giunsa iyang panan-aw saiyang

sitwasyon.

Naswertehan ba? Mga pag-ampo nga natubag?

Bisan unsa pa gani na, kinahanglan nako ni mahibaw-an.

Giandam nako akong recorder ug notebook, ug migawas na sa akong sakyanan.

Labihan ka kusog sa hangin karong hapona. Ingon sa balita naa daw

katag-katag nga pag-ulan. Haom ra gyod para sa akong pagabuhaton karon, sa akong

pamati.

Akong mabatian ang vibration sa akong cellphone nga akong gibutang sa akong

bulsa. Mabasa sa mensahe ang mga pulong “DEADLINE 11PM URGENT”.

Nangitag patay ning akong editor. Gawas pa sa Tawong Kidlat, utangan pako

niyag usa ka piyesa mahitungod sa kahimtang sa mga migrant worker sa nasod sa

Singapore.

Kon mahuman nako ang interview ubos sa usa ka oras, siguro ako ning

mahuman tanan bag-o ko maligsan sa deadline.

Nakapangagho na lang ko. Kon matambagan lang nako karon akong

kaugalingong niaging mga milabay nga oras, dili unta ko maing-ani karon.

Sa upat katuig nakong tinarbaho, ang akong ideyalismo sa pagka-peryodista

napapas na lang og iya. Gamay ang suholan, taas nga oras sa pagtrabaho, naa pa

gasamok-samok ang reyalidad sa politika sa opisina. Pero, sige na lang, at least

makabiyahe-biyahe ko panalagsa, diba? Mao na guro ning giingon nilang Stockholm

Syndrome.

Siguro, panahon na arong atong sutaon kon unsay makapaigting niining Tawong

Kidlat.

Giabrihan niya ang gate ug natingala kaayo ko. Gasuot kinig pamiste gikan sa

maayong sastre pakapinan pas dako niyang ngisi.

Akong gipabati kaniya akong kahimuot sa iyang nindot nga suot ug maikagon

kining mitubag nga una pa daw niya kining higayon nga mga interview mahitungod sa

bisan unsang hisgotanan.

Oh, nindot ni, hunahuna nako sa akong kaugalingon. Mao ning klaseha sa mga

interview diin grabe ang ilang pagpangandam aron mapabati sa kadaghanan ang

sugilanon sa ilang kinabuhi.

Ayaw kalimot sa deadline Pia, 11pm impunto. Dili na kinahanglan nga

magpataasay pa mog tingog sa imong editor.

Gigiya kos Tawong Kidlaw sa iyang sala ug tapad mi nga naglingkod tupad sa

usa ka karaang lamesang narra.

=———————————————————-=

“Hello, Mr. Severino, daghang salamat sa imong gigahin nga oras aron

makigstorya. Ako diay si Pia Robianes gikan sa The Chronicle. Okay ra ba sa imo kon

ato ning i-record ang maong interview?”

“Ngano god og dili, Pia. Bisan unsa nga imong kinahanglan. Kon wa ka

masayod, usa ko ka dakong fan sa imong mga sinulat. Kada adlaw ko gabasag The

Chronicle.”

Tsk. Gitawag ko niyas akong first name ug nasayod na kini sa akong mga sinulat.

Dili gyod ni maayo basta ingon ani.

“Sige. Mahimo mo bang mapaambit sa atong mga mambabasa kon unsa ang

nahitabo kanimo gikan sa imong kaugalingong pagtan-aw?”

“Nahitabo to tanan gabii sa usa ka Biyernes. Galingkod-lingkod ra ko sa sala

tong akong nabantayan akong iro nga si Sena nga dili gapanumbaling sa akong mga

tawa. Ako gyod siyang gipangita sa tibuok balay pero dili nako kini makita. Kusog kaayo

ang hangin adtong tungora ug grabe ang pagdalugdog pero bisan pa nianang tanan

ako gihapong nadunggan ang panagpaghot ni Sena gikan sa gawas sa balay. Dali-dali

kong migawas ug nagsiyagita sa iyang ngalan aron masuta kon diin kini. Mao na

kadtong tungora nga naigo kos dakong kidlat. Abi gyod nakog patay nako ato ba. Dali

kong misulod balik sa balay ug nagpaabot nga mawala ang bagyo. Nakuha sad kadto

sa CCTV ang tibuok panghitabo ug ako kining gi-post sa social media. Ug mao kadto,

nahitabo na dayon ang tanan. Ako ra gyod nagpuyo niining balay ug kon naigo ko adto,

wala gyoy makakita ni makadumdom nako ba.”

“Unsa diay nahitabo sa imong iro?”

“Wala na nako nakita si Sena human ato.”

“Pasensya kaayo.”

Irong nawala. Nindot nga anggulo sa maong storya.

“So, unsa imong maingon mahitungod sa mga kidlat nga hapit nakaigo kanimo?

Dili gyod to basta-bastang panghitabo, usa sa milyon katsansa nga kadto mahitabo.”

“Usa sa 3,222,000. Akong pagtan-aw”

Siyempre, iya kadto gisuta.

“Unsa imong gihunahuna nga wala gyod kay bisan unsang tatsa human sa

maong panghitabo?”

“Pamati nako nakatabang kini.” Naa siyay gibutang nga puti ug gamay nga

butang. “Mao ni akong agimat. Bisan kaniadto pa, dako na kaayo kinig tabang nako ug

gahatag sad kinig dakong swerte nako sa lain-laing mga butang.”

Tu-ara, mao na ni akong gihulat.

“Asa ka gikan ani?”

“Akong binuhat. Akoy nagbuhat ani.”

“Sa asa mani gama?”

“Bukog”

Adtong tungora usa ka lanog na pagdalugdog ang nakapaigting kanako sa akong

lingkoranan.

“Nindota god ani. Kanang, okay ra kon mogamit sako kadali sa inyong CR?”

“Of course, saka lang sa hagdanan ug naa anang unang pertahan sa tuong

bahin.”

“Salamat, salamat.”

=———————————————————————————–=

“Pamati nako naay dili mao.”

Dako kaayo ang iyang pinuy-anan. Dako kaayo nga kinahanglan kag katabang

nga maglimpyo. Wala nagkulang ang iyang balay sa nindot nga mga butang. Walay

abog sa bisan asang dapit.

Pero basin nadala rakas imong kaugalingong pagbati, Pia. Iya gyod

gipangandaman ang inyong interview, ug natural ra gyod nga manglimpyo siya sa iyang

kaugalinong balay.

Naa pa say laing istorya dinhi.

Dali nako gihuman akong akong angay humanon sa CR ug mibalik dayon ko sa

sala.

Wala ngadto ang Tawong Kidlat.

Miginhawa kog lalom ug nagfocus. Siguro nagkuha ra kadtong tubig.

Dali nakong gilabay ngadto nga hunahuna human wala pa kini nakabalik kapin

napulo na kaminuto.

Ug akong nabantayan nga gaandar pa man diay ang recorder.

Akong girewind ang record ngadto sa punto nga mibiya ko para mag-CR.

Mibungat lamang kinig pipila ka storya ug nagdala kinig kahadlok sa akong

kalawasan.

“Pagka-anyag nga baye. Mohaom gyod to ngadto sa uban.”

-==—————————————————————————–==

Ang iyang pagbati nga mabuhi ang nagtukmod kaniya aron manghipos ug

modagan na padulong sa iyang sakyanan, wala nay paglingi-lingi pa.

Pero kining maong pagbati mas mitimbang ug mikiling ngadto sa natural nga

pagkamsuktanon sa usa ka peryodista.

“Kinsa kaha ning ‘uban’”?

Ug ngano kaha buot sa Tawong Kidlat nga mahimo siyang kauban niining

ubana?

Nakahukom siyang tagsa-tagsaon ang mga kwarto niiing maong balay. Siguro

aduna siyay makitang interesante kon kugihan lang niya kinig tan-aw.

Pero dili sad siya ing-ana ka hangal. Basig nagpaabot lang diha sa kilid-kilid ang

Tawong Kidlat maong dapat mabinantayon kini.

Wala ra kaayoy nakitang interesante sa unang mga kwarto: mga librong

gipang-agub-ob ug usa ka bakanteng lawak-kan-anan.

Pero sa iyang pagpaniid sa usa ka lawak nga morag usa ka kusina, nakatimaho

kinig dili mao nga naggikan sa duol nga pertahan.

Milingiw siya sa iyang luyo aron masiguro nga wala ang Tawong Kidlaw. Ug

mipadayon kinig ukoy sa direksyon sa natimahoang pansot.

Hapit siya nakasuka sa iyang nakita.

Mga patayng lawas nga nakaday-a nga anaa sa nagkalain-laing estado sa

pagkadugta. Tanan mga babaye.

Gikuha niya ang iyang phone ug gisugdan ang pagkuhag mga litrato.

Maayo na lang nga adunay igong signal aron maupload kini.

Sa usa ka suok, aduna siyay nakitang gamay nga lamesa.

Pia, ayaw paghinangal. Pahawa na diha ug panawag og pulis. Igo na ang

ebidensya nga imong nakuha, Pia. Mamatay ka gayod diri Pia kon dili pa ka mohawa.

Wala niya gisubay ang iyang hunahuna ug mipadayon og ukoy padulong sa

maong lamesa.

Napuno kinig mga himan ug usa ka puti ug gahi nga butang.

Sa igong pagpanukit, iyang naamgo nga aduna kini gikubi-kubi sa mga bukog.

Ang agimat, hunahuna niya.

Aduna nakay igong ebidensya. Dagan. Pahawa na.

Nakadumdom siya nga adunay pertahan padungong sa gawas duol sa kusina.

Makagawas pa unta siya kon midagan na siya duha ka minuto kaniadto.

=——————————————————=

”So, nakita na nimo akong koleksyon.” Milukop ang kamot sa Tawong Kidlat sa

iyang liog. “Kabalo ka, taod-taod na sad tika ginabantayan. ‘Ang darling sa The

Chronicle’. Kabalo ko nga kinahanglan aduna koy buhaton aron makuha imong

atensyon. Kon kabalo lang ka kon unsa akong gisakripisyo ug kinsa akong

nangapasuko. Pero ang importante ni-a na ka. Dili nako makahulat nga idungag imong

maanyag nga mga bukog.”

Dili kini niya unang higayon nga mabutang siya niining maong posisyon ug

nakapasalamat siyag ahat sa mga mandatory self-defense classes para sa iyang

pag-ikyas.

Dili na gyod siya magreklamo sa iyang klase sa Krav Maga sunod.

Dili na sad mabangbang ang kakusog sa dalugdog, ang hangin ug ulan

nakapabuta sa panan-aw ni Pia.

Unsa nako ning yati nga makasulod sa sakyanan, hunahuna niya.

“Balik nganhi!”

Napandol si Pia ug mihasmag kaniya ang Tawong Kidlat.

Sa ilang panagsukliayg kusog, iyang nabantayan nga gasuot sa agimat ang

Tawong Kidlat.

Mihunghong kaniya ang pagbating pagkaperyodista nga kadto usa ka

importanteng butang aron siya makalingkawas sa kasamtangang sitwasyon.

Gilabni niini ang agimat gikan sa liog sa Tawong Kidlat ug mikamang palayo niini.

Misiyaok ang Tawong Kidlat ug nabuta si Pia sa paghagsa sa dakong kidlat nga

miigo sa iyang dumadakop.

Pagbalik sa iyang panimuot, nakaatubang kaniya ang usa ka dako ug puti nga iro

nga nagpiti-piti sa kuryente. Miyango kini sa iyang ulo ug kalit nga nawala.

=——————————————————–=

Nahiabot ang kapulisan human sa usa ka oras. Nakita nila ang daghang mga

patayng lawas nga nagkatag sulod sa balay.

Sumala nila pangkuhaon sa Tawong Kidlat ang mga babayeng pamati niya nga

wala nay mangita kanila isip katabang. Para kon mahuman na siyag gamit kanila,

himuon kini niya parte sa iyang koleksyon.

Gitawagan nako akong editor ug ako siyang gipahibalo sa nahitabo. Kadto ang

kinaunhang higayon sulod sa tulo ka tuig nga ako siyang nakitang malipayon. Ug

nahuwasan sad daw ang iyang kaguol human nakabalita nga okay na kini.

Mihangad ko ngadto langit ug nakapahunahuna ko kon unsa tong nahitabo

ganina. Unsa man tong iro-a to?

Pero ako ra tong gahinag oras aron sutaon kadto.

Samtang gitan-aw nako ang napaig nga lawas sa tawong buot mohunos sa

akong kinabuhi, pamati nako, human niining tanan, gipanindigan gyod sa Tawong Kidlat

ang iyang ngalan.

=——————————–=

English Version

They called him ‘The lightning man’.

It was a great spectacle. He, shouting out against the typhoon, missing being hit by two bolts of lighting by literal inches.

The video went viral overnight and as of this morning had reached a million views.

Everyone wanted to know about the Lightning man and how he saw his situation.

Was it blind luck? A prayer answered?

Whatever it was I was going to find out.

I readied my recorder and notebook and stepped out of the car.

The winds were strong this afternoon. The forecast called for scattered thunderstorms. Appropriate for the setting I suppose.

I can feel the phone buzz in my pocket. The message read “DEADLINE 11PM URGENT”

My editor was out for blood. Apart from the lightning man I still owed her a piece on migrant worker’s conditions in Singapore.

If I finish the interview in an hour or less, I should be able to get everything done by the deadline.

I let out a sigh. If only past me could see what I’ve become.

After four years on the job the idealism of journalism wore itself out. Mediocre pay, long hours and office politics were my reality. But hey, at least I get to travel sometimes? That’s probably the Stockholm Syndrome talking.

Well it’s time to see what makes the lightning man tick.

He opens the gate and I’m surprised. He’s wearing a well-tailored suit and a large grin.

I compliment him on his clothes and he earnestly replies that it’s the first time he’s ever been interviewed about anything.

Oh great, I think. It’s going to be one of those interviews. When they prepare themselves this much you just know they’re dying to tell their life story.

Remember the deadline Pia, 11PM sharp. You don’t need another shouting match with your editor.

The lightning man leads me to his living room and we sit beside each other by an antique narra table.

=———————————————————-=

“Hello Mr. Severino, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me. My name is Pia Robianes of the Chronicle. Would you mind if I record this interview?”

“Of course not Pia. Whatever you need. I’m a big fan of your work. I read the Chronicle all the time.”

Ugh he’s using my first name and he’s seen what I do. That’s never a good sign.

“Alright, can you tell our readers about the incident from your point of view?”

“It all happened on a Friday night. I was sitting right here in the sala when I noticed that my dog Sena wasn’t responding to my calls. I looked for her all over the house but I couldn’t find her. The winds were strong and there was thunder everywhere but through it all I managed to hear Sena’s bark coming from the outside. I rushed out immediately and screamed out her name to see where she was. That was when the lightning hit. I swear I thought I was dead in that moment. I rushed back into the house and waited out the storm. The CCTV was able to capture what happened and I posted it on social media and well, you know the rest. It’s a good thing they missed me. I live alone and no one would have ever found me if I got hit.”

“What happened to your dog?”

“I wasn’t able to find Sena after that.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that.”

A lost dog. An interesting angle for the story.

“So what do you think about both bolts of lightning missing you? That must have been a one in a million chance of that happening.”

“1 in 3,222,000. I checked.”

Of course he did.
“With those chances how do you think you left without any injury?”

“I think this helped me.” He let down a small, white object. “This is my agimat. It’s always been useful to me and has given me great luck in many things.”

Finally, something interesting.

“How did you get it?”

“I made it myself.”

“What is it made out of?”

“Bone.”

At that moment a loud rumble of thunder jolted me out of my seat.

“Very interesting Mr. Severino. Would you mind if I went to the bathroom?”

“Of course it’s up the stairs and the first door to your right.”

“Thank you.”

=———————————————————————————–=

Something’s off. I can feel it in my gut.

The house was huge. Big enough that you would need help cleaning it. But everything was pristine. No traces of dust anywhere.

Maybe you’re just being paranoid Pia. He dressed up for the interview, it stands to reason that he’d clean up the house as well.

There’s another story here though.

I finish my business in the bathroom and head back to the living room.

The lightning man isn’t there.

I take a breath and refocus. Maybe he’s just getting us some water.

Ten minutes pass and I throw that thought out.

Then I realize the recorder was still on.

I rewind it to the point just after I had left for the bathroom.

He only says one sentence and it brings chills to my spine.

“Such a beauty. She will go great with the rest.”

-==—————————————————————————–==

Self-preservation told her to grab her things, run out to the car and never look back.

But self-preservation lost out to journalistic curiosity.

Who were “the rest”?

And why would the lightning man want her to be a part of them?

She decided to check the house room by room. She was bound to find something if she looked hard enough.

But she wasn’t stupid. The lightning man may be around any corner and she had to be careful.

The first few rooms were of little interest, just moldy old books and an empty dining room.

As she crept by what looked to be the kitchen a fetid smell assaulted her senses, coming from a nearby door.

She looked behind her to make sure the lightning man wasn’t there and headed to the source of the odor.

What she saw nearly made her vomit.

Bodies were piled up, in varying states of decomposition. All of them women.

She took out her phone and began to take pictures.

At least there’s enough signal to get this uploaded.

In the corner she could see a small table.

Pia don’t be stupid. Pia run away and get the police. You have enough evidence. Pia you WILL die if you stay here.

She ignored her internal monologue and skulked to the table.

It was filled with tools and solid white material.

Upon closer inspection she realized the lightning man was working with bones.

The agimat, she thought.

You have enough evidence. Run. Run now.

She remembered that there was a door to the outside by the kitchen.

She might have made it if she ran two minutes sooner.

=——————————————————=

“So you’ve seen my collection.” The lighting man’s hands coiled around her neck. “You know, I’ve been watching you for a long time now. ‘The darling of the Chronicle’. I knew I had to do something drastic to get your attention. You don’t know what I sacrificed and what I angered. But you’re here. I can’t wait to add your beautiful bones.”

It wasn’t the first time she was in this position and she thanked the mandatory self-defense classes for her escape.

She’d never complain about Krav Maga again.

The thunderstorm was in full force now, wind and rain were obscuring Pia’s vision.

How the hell do I get to the car, she thought.

“Get back here!”

Pia hit the ground as the lightning man tackled her.

In the struggle she realized that the lightning man was wearing the agimat.

Journalistic intuition told her that that was significant and that it might be her only way out.

She ripped the agimat from the lightning man’s neck and crawled away from him.

The lightning man screamed and Pia was blinded by the crash of lightning directly hitting her would be captor.

As she regained her senses she faced a large, white dog, crackling with electricity. It nodded its head and vanished in an instant.

=——————————————————–=

The police managed to get there within the hour. They found more bodies littered inside the house.

They think that the lightning man hired girls that no one would miss as maids. When he was done with them, they’d join the rest of his collection.

I called my editor and let her know what happened. It was the first time in 3 years that I’ve heard her happy. And she seems relieved I survived.

I look towards the sky and wonder what happened. What the hell was that dog?

But I’ll have time to find that out.

As I look at the charred corpse of the man that tried to murder me, I think, in the end, the lightning man lived up to his name.

=—————–=

*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 Gil Nambatac
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Gil Nambatac

Inspired by the Kimat description in Cole, Fay-Cooper. (1922). “The Tinguian.” FMNH-AS, Vol. 14, no. 2, p 295

Kimat Illustration by CJ Reynaldo

IG: @caldatelier

*Note this story is in Aklanon

Sang una hay may isaeang ka dyos nga Gamhanan ro pangaean. Imaw ro makakagahum sa tanan — taga-tao it kabuhi, kahamungayaan, ag pangabuhi-an. Gaistar imaw sa bukid it Daeogdog, kaibahan ro ibang mga dyos. Idto imaw gadumaea ko sang kalibotan — gatao it kabuhi ag gakastigo sa mga gakasaea nga tawo.

Sa ulihi, si Gamhanan hay magapadaea it bunok ag grabi ka init sa mga tawo nga indi magtuman sa anang sugo. Sanda nga indi magtao it maayos nga haead sa anang eungib hay gaba-an gid.

Sang una hay may una nga panigotlo, ay Gamhanan nga pinaeabing alaga. Nag-alagwa imaw patabok it suba nga mat kahayag it dasig. Grabi katahum ro rayang sapat nga uwa it sin-o man nga mangisip nga sakitun da. Isaeang ka rason hay nahadlok sanda sa kaakig ni Gamhanan. Euwas karon, ro huma it panigotlo hay nagatao it kataeagman.

Sa ulihi, ro panigotlo, bilang taga daea it timgas nga ani ag dibwenas, hay magahuma sa pinaka-ulihing bisis bag-o ro pag ugsad it buean. Ro mga tao sa banwa hay gapangalipay mentras gapreparar ko andang haead sa magagahom nga dyos ag sa anang alaga.

Sang una, may kalipay ag kahayag. Ro panigotlo hay wa it inugkabaeaka sa mga tawo na nagapalibot sa bukid it Daeogdog dahil imaw hay pinaeabi ag nagatao it kataeagman.

Sa ulihi, ro matahum nga sapat hay hapatay it isaeang ka pobreng mangangayam nga si Dagasanan. Ro anang puting baeahibo hay may mantsa eon it dugo, tubtub sa katubtuban. Indi eon hibatian ro anang huma nga gakahueogan it bugana ag katuyo-an. Indi eon it uman imaw mag pabat-oe it baha o kahuga-an.

Sang una, may isaeang ka magagamhanang dyos ag anang alaga.

Sa ulihi, ro mga tao hay nagbayad sa andang utang.

=——————————=

English Version

In the beginning, there was the great god Gamhanan, the most powerful of all the gods, the giver of life, security and livelihood. He dwelt with the other gods of his land in Mount Daeogdog, giving life and punishing errant mortals.

In the end, the god Gamhanan would send the rain and drought to those mortals who would defy his will. Those that would not give the proper offerings to his cave dwelling would know the bitter taste of the god’s punishment.

In the beginning, there was the panigotlo, Gamhanan’s favored pet. It dashed across the river like a ray of pure light. So beautiful was this animal that none would dare harm it, not only for fear of Gamhanan’s retribution but also because it could foretell omens with its bleating.

In the end, the panigotlo would have its last bleating before the full moon, being the harbinger of good harvest and fortune. The people of the village would rejoice and prepare for their thanksgiving to the great god and his pet.

In the beginning, there was joy and light. The panigotlo did not have anything to fear from the mortals surrounding Mount Daegdog, for it was favored, and it would foretell favor or misfortune.

In the end, the majestic beast was killed by a lowly hunter named Dagasanan. Its white fur forever stained by blood. Never again would its bleats tell of abundance and purpose, never again would it warn of flood and despair.

In the beginning, there was the great god and his pet.

In the end, the mortals paid their price.

————————–————————–————————–

*Aklanon (Akeanon), also known as Bisaya/Binisaya nga Aklanon/Inaklanon or simply Aklan, is an Austronesian language of the Bisayan subgroup spoken by the Aklanon people in the province of Aklan on the island of Panay in the Philippines. Its unique feature among other Bisayan languages is the close-mid back unrounded vowel [ɤ] occurring as part of diphthongs and traditionally written with the letter ⟨Ee⟩ such as in the autonyms Akean and Akeanon. However, this phoneme is also present in other but geographically scattered and distant Philippine languages, namely Itbayat, Isneg, Manobo, Samal and Sagada.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Aklanon Translation by Chi Payba-Suarez
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Chi Payba-Suarez

Inspired by the Panigotlo description in ‘A Legend of Aklan’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Panigotlo Illustration by Julius Advincula
IG: https://www.instagram.com/subhelic

*Note this story is in Ilocano

Payyak a puraw.

Rupa ti babai.

Bagi ti kabalyo.

Nagsilnag ti kinaraniag nga agtaud kenkuana kadagiti diding ti balay a kasla agsalsala nga apoy a nakasango iti tallaong.

Binalakadan idi ti inana a saanna pulos a taliawen daytoy, ngem saan a makaidna ni Rai a mangsirip iti nagbabaetan ti ramayna. Ammona dagiti pakasaritaan dagiti datdatlag a pinarsua, no man pay aminda nga ub-ubbing ket ammoda. Ngem sabali laeng no isuna mismo ti makakita iti sangonsango.

“No man bilang siak ti nainkalintegan nga anak dagiti dadakkelko, dawatek ngarud dagiti sumaganad a sagut manipud kenni Allah, ti Kangatoan: ‘Sapay koma ta ti Kura Sambalani, argaman ti pirak ken balitok a pulserasna, ket agparang ken umay ditoy lubong manipud law-ang iti mamimpito a daras. Sapay koma ta yegna pay kaniak dagiti kawes nga insuot dagiti daddakelko iti aldaw ti panagkallaysada tapno isuotko met.’”

Dayta ti dinamag ni Tuwan Putli iti kata-kata² ni Manik Buwangsi, ti sarsarita nga ammona a sipupuso. No agsakay ni Tuwan Putli iti Kura Sambalani, ti lawag dayta a pinarsua, malaksid ti kinapintas ni Tuwan Putli, ket isu ti makagapu unay no apay a masinga dagiti agparparti ti baka para iti pasken a pakaputdan kadagiti ramayda.

Nasdaaw ni Rai iti nakitana. Insakay ti Kura Sambalani ti natay nga imam iti likodanna ket inruginan ti nagtayab a nangturong ti langit.

Ti imam ket nasantoan unay a tao, saan ngarud a nakaskasdaaw a ti Kangatoan ket mangibaon iti maysa kadagitoy a nailangitan a pinarsua tapno itayabna daytoy idiay langit.

Saan a masinunuo ni Rai no ania ti nanglugan kenkuana nga agsao, ngem manipud iti ngiwatna naisawang dagitoy a balikas, “Nasantoan! Pangngaasim ta sungbatam ti saludsodko!”

Nagsardeng ti panaganges dagiti nakitaripnong bayat ti panagur-urayda iti sungbat. Pinadas ni Rai a miningmingan no adda pagilasinan ti kaririknana iti rupana, ngem mapurar dagiti matana iti lawag daytoy.

Nagsardeng ti Kura Sambalani iti panagtayabna ket nagtapaw iti sango ti ubing.

Saan a nagduadua ni Rai, “Mabalin kadi nga ipannak kenni amak?”

Iti likodanna, nagsennaay ti inana.

Nagwingiwing ti Kura Sambalani ket timmalikod.

Ket nagyaman ni Rai iti maudi a gundaway bayat ti panangitayabna ti imam idiay langit.

Immisem ni Rai kas ti isem ti maysa a makaammo a ti pananggun-od iti gundaway no dadduma ket isu ti bukod a gunggona.

_____________________

¹Ti Kura Sambalani ket kadawyan a mailadladawan a kas maysa a puraw wenno karkarna a kabalio a mangitayab kadagiti kararua dagiti mararaem a tao nga agturong idiay langit wenno iti panagbiag kalpasan ti ipapatay. Iti sumagmamano a pakasaritan, ti Kura Sambalani ket nailadawan a kas maysa a pinarsua a puraw ti payakna, kagudua a kabalio ken kagudua a tao nga addaan iti rupa ti maysa a babai (kas nailadawan iti kaunaan a sarsarita ti Tausug a nakaibatayan iti daytoy a sarita. Daytoy a kayulogan ti Kura Sambalani ket naadaw manipud iti Buraq/Burak, ​​maysa a pinarsua iti Islamiko a kannawidan a mangisalakan kadagiti propeta).

²Marchen wenno sarsarita a Tausug.

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English Version

White wings.

A woman’s face.

A horse’s body.

“If I am the legitimate daughter of my parents, I wish for the following gift from Allah, the Most High: ‘May my Kura Sambalani with her silver and gold bracelet, show up and come from outer space to this world seven times. May she bring me the clothes that my parents wore on their wedding day so that I could wear them.’”

That was what Tuwan Putli’ asked in the kata-kata* of Manik Buwangsi’, a tale she knew by heart. Tuwan Putli’ would ride the Kura’ Sambalani and the light from the creature in addition to Tuwan Putli’s beauty were so great that they distracted those that were slaughtering cows for the feast causing them to cut their fingers.

Rai could only stand dumfounded at the sight that she beheld. The Kura’ Sambalani carried the deceased imam on her back and she began to fly towards heaven.

The imam was an especially pious man and it was no surprise that the Most High would send one of these celestial creatures to carry him to heaven.

Rai didn’t know what possessed her to speak, but the words flowed from her mouth. “Holy One! Please answer my question!”

Breaths stopped as those gathered waited for a response. Rai tried to see if there was any trace of emotion on her face, but the light hurt her eyes.

The Kura’ Sambalani stopped her ascent and floated in front of the child.

Rai didn’t hesitate “Can you take me to see my father?”

From behind her mother let out a gasp.

The Kura’ Sambalani shook her head and turned away.

Rai let out one final “Thank you” as she and the imam flew towards heaven.

Rai smiled the smile of someone that knew that taking a chance is sometimes its own reward.

*Tausug folktale

**The Kura Sambalani is usually described as a white/ wondrous horse that brings the spirits of venerated persons to heaven/ the afterlife. In some folktales the Kura Sambalani is described as a white winged being, half horse and half human with a woman’s face (as described in the original Tausug folktale this story is inspired by. This version of the Kura Sambalani is heavily influenced by the Buraq/Burak, a creature in Islamic tradition that transported prophets.

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*Ilocano is the third most-spoken local language of the Philippines.An Austronesian language, it is related to such languages as Malay (Indonesian and Malaysian), Tetum, Chamorro, Fijian, Maori, Hawaiian, Samoan, Tahitian, Paiwan and Malagasy. It is closely related to some of the other Austronesian languages of Northern Luzon, and has slight mutual intelligibility with the Balangao language and the eastern dialects of the Bontoc language.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Ilocano translation by Deo M. Ramos
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Deo M. Ramos

Inspired by the Kura Sambalani description in Manik Buwangsi’. Narrated by Mullung. in Voices from Sulu A Collection of Tausug Oral Traditions. Rixhon. 2010.

Kura’ Sambalani Illustration by Rai Hamid
FB: Wombatrai

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Sa tion lamang sang full moon ukon bilog nga bulan lamang makikit-an ang lunar eclipse kag kung magaagi ini sa anino sang aton kalibutan.

Sa tatlo nga eclipse, ang full moon gid ang pinakamatahum kag indi basta basta malimtan. Makit-an gid naton ini kung ang bilog gid nga bulan maga-agi sa umbral shadow sang kalibutan. Trenta y cinco porsyento lamang ang tyansa nga magatabo ang lunar eclipse kag pilang beses lang gid naton makita sa isa ka tuig.

Sa tion sang total lunar eclipse kaabot gihapon ang silak sang adlaw sa bulan apang indi galing direkta. Maagi danay ang silak sang adlaw sa atmospera sang kalibutan bag-o ma-separar ang pinaka-asul sini nga kasanag bag-o mangin kulay dalag ukon kahil– ang kolor sang adlaw. Ang pula nga suga nga ini ay nagalain ang direksyon kung ini mag-agi sa atmospera sang kalibutan kag kung ginaiwagan ang bulan. Muni ang rason kung ngaman ginatawag ang ‘Lunar Eclipse’ bilang ‘Blood Moon’ ukon dugo nga bulan.

Muni ang ila tawag.

Tistingan ninyo ipaguha ang inyo nga ‘telescope’ samtang Blood Moon para makit-an ninyo sa inyo kaugalingon. Obserbahi ang mga bitoon kung paano ini maghulag kung paano magpalayo sa aton panan-awan samtang may eclipse. Diri, mas makit-an gid naton ang pagkapula sang iwag asta sa indi na gid kita makalingad sa pagtulok diri.

Daw sa ‘deja vu’ ukon hitabo nga daw natapos na. Nga daw natabo na ini sa imo sadto sa pila na ka-beses. Kululbaan kag makatilindog balahibo ang pamatyagan kapin pa gid sa imo likod. Abi mo kung ano na, gali “eclipse” ma lang.

Pero halong lang, indi gid pagdirekta ang “telescope” sa “Blood Moon” kung indi ka gusto nga may makit-an ka sa pagtalikod mo.

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English Version

English Version

A lunar eclipse can only occur at full moon and only if the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow.

Of the three kinds of lunar eclipses a total lunar eclipse is the most striking. Supposedly it is when the whole moon passes through Earth’s umbral shadow. Only 35% of eclipses are total lunar eclipses. Lunar eclipses occur a few times per year.

During a total lunar eclipse indirect sunlight can still reach the moon. That sunlight has to first pass the Earth’s atmosphere which filters out most blue colored light leaving a bright red or orange glow. This red light refracts through Earth’s atmosphere and illuminates the moon. This is why a total lunar eclipse is sometimes referred to as a ‘Blood Moon’

Or so they say.

Take a telescope out during a Blood Moon and see for yourself. See how the stars seem to move out of the way when the eclipse occurs. How the movement of the light seems to flicker and fade almost as if there’s something else that the light is reflecting on.

If you’re lucky you might see the small bits of orange and yellow light move around in big dots. You’ll see them twist in a zig-zag pattern toward the moon. When the eclipse starts you might see the light dots stop and stay stationary for the whole duration of the eclipse. You’ll see the red light grow deeper and deeper and you won’t be able to look away.

There will be a feeling of déjà vu. Like you’ve seen this moment happen a hundred times before. You’ll feel a deep chill in your spine and for some reason you’ll be scared. You’ll think that’s ridiculous, it’s only an eclipse.

But be careful not to point your telescope directly above the Blood Moon.

You might see something looking back.

*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 Trisha Delfin
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Trisha DelfinTrisha Delfin

Story inspired by Laho description in The Soul Book. Demetrio & Cordero-Fernando 1991.

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

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

*Note this story is in Bicol-Miraya

Magpon 2019, baga nagpara pula ang langit pagnagririknum.

Aram ko kin nyanga.

Kiton mo, yatong mga kaw’y na aralangkawon.

Kaypwan sinda malinigan.

Hay, nasobran naman ako sa kakaysip.

Uni ang aram san ubos.

Yading pandemya naapektwan ubos, dakulon ang naospital, nagralockdown, dakulon ang naguran.

Rumdom ko pa nung munang magkaCovid ako. Makapangluluya, makawara gana, makauyam na grabe.

Pero nalampasan ko. Usad ako sa mga sinwerte pa man.

Wara ka na talaga magiginibo pag nawaran ka ning pamarong dangan pangnamit. Byu nako sato nagakawn ning krayola ta tibad barang magbalik su pangnamit ko. Pero wara nangyari.

Pasensiya na. Nawara naman ako.

Ang mga naguran sa pandemic sige ang alangkaw, nag sampulo, nag sanggagtos, hanggang nag riboribo na. Baga ka imposible. Paguna ko sa mga palabas sana yadi pwede mangyari.

Su mga gurangon na, su mga ma-edad na ang pirming nabibiktima.

Pirang mga gurang na ang indi na makikita ang mga makuapo ninda.

Kadakol.

Riparon mo baya pag nagririknum.

Ayo mga kwan na pigangal na salakap.

Mga espiritu sinda  na nagadarang ilang didi sa daga.

Sakay ning saday na bangka, nagasabay sinda sa paros na amihan tanganing darawn su mga nagkagururan sa utos, naguran sa pagudo-udo dangan pag suko ning dugo, su mga naguran sa trangkaso – ubos sinda didara sa Kiyabusan.

Kaya nung nagkapandemya, nagruluwasan su mga salakap.

Ngana naman na ayo balita sading monkey pox, mas dakol pang mga kalag ang dadarawn san mga salakap sa Kiyabusan.

Nya uno ang kinaraman sadi pag nagririknum?

Kiton mo yatong mga kaw’y.

Utong mga aralangkawon.

Kita mo, ang mga salakap ayo man lider.

Si Tumangkuyun.

Trabaw ninda na daran siya ning dugo.

Kaya bukon sana kalag san mga naguran sa pandemic ang pigadara ninda sa Kiyabusan, naga tipon man sinda ning dugo san mga nagkagururan.

Su mga kaw’y dapat pirmi malinig.

Nasabutan mo?

Pigalinigan ninda yatong mga kaw’y  satong mga dugo alin sa mga nagkagururan.

Kaya ibaon na pagnagririknum.

Indi magulay, ang langit mas lalo pang maga para pula pag nagririknum na.

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English Version

The sunsets seem redder since 2019.

And I know why.

See, there are trees that hold up the sky.

And they must be cleansed.

Oh, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Let’s head back to what everyone knows.

The pandemic spared no one, completely filling emergency rooms, starting lockdowns and releasing a wave of death that will ripple many years in the future.

I still remember the first time I was stuck in a Covid ward. I had never felt so powerless, so filled with despair and anguish.

But I survived. I was one of the lucky ones.

No one can really prepare for the loss of smell and taste. I actually ate crayons to try to test if my senses would come back. Safe to say they didn’t.

I’m off topic again, I’m sorry.

The pandemic’s numbers steadily rose, from tens to hundreds to thousands. Numbers that I thought weren’t possible. Numbers that I thought were only real in movies.

It targeted the elderly the most.

How many grandparents would never see their grandchildren again?

Too much.

And we head back to the sunsets.

There are creatures called the salakap.

Those that bring epidemic sickness to earth.

They travel in a huge outrigger (adiyung) and sail with the northeast winds through the high regions and carry back to the realm of Kiyabusan those that have died from smallpox, dysentery, flu and other epidemic diseases.

And they were never as busy as they were when the pandemic hit.

Now with the news of monkey pox they will bring more souls to Kiyabusan.

Now what does that have to do with sunsets?

Again we go back to the trees.

The ones that hold up the sky.

See, the salakap have a leader.

Their name is Tumangkuyun.

And it is their duty bound by blood.

The salakap not only bring the souls of those that have died in epidemics to Kiyabusan, they also collect the blood from those that died.

The trees must be kept clean.

Do you follow me?

They clean the trees with that blood.

The sunsets have never been the same since.

And it might not be long.

Before the skies are painted.

A foreboding scarlet.

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*Bikol Miraya is a dialect spoken in Daraga, Camalig, and Pilar. It is different from Bikol Sorsogon as Bikol Sorsogon and Bikol Masbate have similarities with Visayan Languages.

Inspired by the Tumangkuyun description in Tagbanuwa Religion and Society. Fox. 1982.

Tumangkuyun Illustration by Race De Villa

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