*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
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*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.

=—————————————=

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.

=———————–=

*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
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*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.

=————————-=

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
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Watercolor by Nicole Chiu
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*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.

=——————–=

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.

=——————————————–=

*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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