*Note this story is in Chavacano/ Chabacano Caviteno

El monstruo del Rio Linothangan

Una mujer tá de pie na orilla de rio ta buscando de mana respuestas. No sabe ele porque tana este lugar ele otra vez. Deseo de ele antes pa, di rompí el mana grillos de este pequeñito pueblo y man arriesgá na mundo mas grande, para difundir sus mana alas y volar. Pero como ícaro ele ya quemá.

Agora ,ta quedando ele con su familia otra vez, pero no ese ta sentí como casa para ele. El sonido del río ta calmá su alma atribulada. Masque onde man ele anda , el agua el que ta buscá ele primero.

Allí estaba el Danube, claro que si , sus besos ta perdurá pa masque después de muchos años, pero na un momento todo ya quedá lavada. Su corazón nunca di pertenecé con masque quien man, al menos na su mente.

No ele ya queda costumbrao con el frio; el trópico tiene un pag garrá con ele que , nunca ele puede  di quebrá, pero vale la pena masqui na, para di mirá el subida del sol hace pintá el hielo con  un pincel escarlata.

Ele ya frotá sus brazos y pensar sobre el calor achicharrante del río Nilo. Sus mana amigos ya advertí con ele ya, puede ele di cojé un fiebre, pero no ele ya escuchá na ilos. El llamao del agua, es tan recio para ele di resistí.

La iluminación, el que ya buscá ele na río Ganges , el timor na mana rápidos del río Chilko, mana migos del todo la vida na pag navigando pa bajo del río Mississippi, y el pag asombrá na mana luces Nagas na río Mekong.   Y cosa ba ele ta podí buscá na río Linothangan ? No ele saber, y no quiere ele saber.

Ya quedá tarde ya, y ele ya reprendí su mismo, porcasa,  no ele ya cabá nada na todo’l dia. Mas mejor si ya gastá su hora man buscá trabajo o hací mana tareas rutinas na casa, o …. Nada . ansina ya man su vida agora.

Su pelo y su mana ropas calao y goteando na mana piedras del río na bajo de su mana pies, ya cerrá ele, sus mana ojos y ya respirá ele profundo. Cuando ele ya abrí sus ojos, ele ya quedá sorprendido na un visita que ya inmiscuí na su paz. Na frente de ele quedá un criatura chiquito.

“Hola,” ya bisá el criatura. “ ¿quien uste ?”

Su alma, casi ya escapá su cuerpo na surpresa, “¡ay dios mio ! no vos hace quel! Me vos ya asustá. ”

“ lo siento mucho ñorita, solo quiere yo jugar con alguien.” ya bisa el criatura

“  pues…” ya respondí ele

“ por favor ñorita, ta quedá yo tan solo aquí na rio, nadie ta andá quí y yo ta sentí tan solo.” ya bisá el criatura

Ele ya está pie y ya obtené un mejor mirada del muchacho, el criatura ya reculdá ele a uno de su mana primo na mismo edad y energía, este tipo de criatura es el tipo que ta peleá un respuesta de ‘no, incluso na frente de averia .

“ ¿cosa vos quiere jugar ?” ya preguntá ele

“ …… Sabe yo ! aquí , gara vos este bola y tirá vos ese na rio , y di trapá yo ese !” ya respondí el criatura.

“ divertido be ese para vos ?” ya bisa ele

“ ¡ por favoooorrrr !” ya exclamá el criatura

“ pues , bien bien .” ya respondí ele

Su rostro ya traicioná un sonrisa, el primero que ya monstrá ele desde pa, na su pag regresá na pueblo, y si él criatura es correcto , este es divertido , casi ya  olvidá ele sobre todo que ya pasá.

Ya tirá ele el bola na décimo vez , y ya anda ese na derecha del muchacho, y el criatura ya intentá nadar tan rápido como ele ta podí. Pero de repente , el criatura ya pará , y el bola ya flotá lejos

“ ¿hoy, muchacho porque vos no ta perseguí el bola? No ba quel el punto de este juego?” ya preguntá ele

“ No yo puede anda allá señorita, no na quel parte del río.” ya respondí él criatura.

“ ¿ Cosa vos quier bisá, muchacho ?” ya pregunta ele

“ ta bisá de ilos , peligroso raw di anda allá. Todo de maná ancianos na pueblo ta prohibí niso pa’ anda allá.” ya respondí él criatura.

“ pues .. no ilos aqui agora no ? anda niso para cogé el bola.” ya bisa ele, na criatura, pero no pa ya moví el criatura.

“ ya anda yo allá guna vez ñorita, ya queda ese largo tiempo ya, pero ta reculdá yo pa. Hay algo na río.” ya respondí él criatura

“ sabe vos ba si cosa queda quel ?” ya pregunta el mujer

“ tal vez , queda ese el hombre oscuro.” ya respondí el criatura

“ ¿cosa ba vos ta bisando ?” ya interrumpí el mujer

“ ya bisá mi Aguela hay un hombre oscuro que ta quedá cerca del río, no quiere ele ninguno di andá na su lugar.” ya bisá el criatura.

El mujer ya quedá y anda na muchos partes del mundo y ya visitá ele este mana lugares un montón de veces. No ele extranjera na mana cuento cuento . ta parecía nervioso el criatura, pero hay fuerza na mana números.

“ hoy , anda vos conmigo, sigurao yo cosa man aquel, no puede ese di ganá contra de niso dos.” su segundo sonrisa ya dale confianza na criatura y ya tomá el muchacho su mano.

“ bueno ñorita, yo ta confiá na ti.” ya bisá el criatura

Ya caminá ilos na orilla del río siguiendo el corriente .  el mochacho ya salgá na agua por muchos tiempos ya, pero parece que sus ropas nunca ta pará el su pag goteá.

“ caminá vos na mi lado ,¿vale? No yo quiere di  queda mojao mi mana ropas .” ya bisa el mujer

“ vale.” ya respondí el criatura

El bajao del sol ya quedá cerca y después de muchos veces ilos ya atentá coger el bola, ya brillá el suerte con ilos finalmente. El corriente ya pará , y ya dejá el bola estático na superficie del agua.

“ ¿pues … cosa ta esperando vos ?” ya bisá el mujer “ bueno vos ya man, man nadar, el bola no tá masiao lejos. Anda ya vos y cogé ese na agua, y retirá ya vos na casa.”

“ ta creé yo no niso debe queda quí ñorita.” ya bisá el criatura con nervios

“ hoy hoy hoy criatura, ¿ven ya y cogé ya niso vos bola, vale ? nohay nada quí .” ya bisa’l mujer con consuelo.

“ yo ta reculdá , ya andá ya yo aquí !” exclamá’l muchacho

“ ¿cosa vos ta reculdá?” ya preguntá’l mujer

“ di vení ese aquí ! por favor, corré ! “ ya exclamá’l muchacho

“ esperá …” ya bisá’l mujer

Na ese memento , un figura ya subí desde’l agua . tiene ese mana tentáculos que ya reculdá el mujer de un pulpo. Ya garrá el monstruo el bola y el criatura ya gritá

“ el hombre oscuro no quiere a nadie di andá na su casá !” el muchacho ya garrá su cabeza y ya caé na sus mana rodillas.

“ ven ya !” ya bisá’l mujer, mientra ya garrá ele el brazo del muchacho pero ya quedá como un piedra el criatura, nada ta podi mové el muchacho.

“¡ lo siento ! lo siento ! deja me salí ! deja me salí !” el criatura ya gritá más recio. Sus mana lagrimas ya mezclá con el vaho tá goteando na suelo.

“¡ niso tiene que corré ! , no ta podí ese di capturá niso , si di andá niso lejos desde’l río.” ya bisá’l mujer na criatura. El criatura ya mirá na mujer con desesperación na su mana ojos.

“No yo ta podí deja el río, nunca yo ta podí , sino …..” ya bisá el criatura

“ ¿sino .. cosa ?” ya exclamá’l mujer y agora tá moviendo ya el monstruo hacia ilos, no quiere ele di sabé quelaya largo ta podí alcanzá el mana tentáculos del monstruo.

Ya señalá el muchacho na bola,

Su mente ya quedá enredao, debe ele di corré, imposible ese , no puede ele man pelear con el monstruo. No ese su problema, si no quiere el muchacho di seguí, problema ya del muchacho aquel. Debe ele di pensá con su mismo, y con su mismo numa.

El monstruo ya moví lentamente más cerca, todavía tá sosteniendo pa el bola. Tá desafiando su instinto, el mujer ya corré hacia el monstruo. El mana tentáculos de monstruo ya lanzá hacia ele, pero solo ya pegá ese el agua vacía. Ya gastá ele su vida alrededor del maná ríos, y con ese, vení el habilidad que ta dejá sorprendido masqui quien man mana nadadores experimentaos.

Ya rodeá el mujer el monstruo, para di intentá queda confundido ese. despues , ele ya lanzá hacia el tentáculo que ta sostená el bola. Na este punto, no hay ya ele ma pensá di hací. Ta podé ele contené su respiración mas largo que un gente normal, ¿pero ta quedá ba este tiempo suficiente, para di cogé el bola na monstruo.?

Ya cogá ele el bola na monstruo, y ya sentí ele un calor suave que ya rodeá na su cuerpo. “ yo ta confiá na ti ñorita.” el voz del muchacho ya resoná na sus mana orejas. Un destello brillante ya inundá el bola y ya queda ese librao na garras del tentáculo.

Con el esfera na bajo de su codo, ele ya serpenteá a travéz del agua como un delfín, esquivando el mana intentos torpes del monstruo, para di capturá ele.

Tan pronto como ya salí ele del agua, ya corré ele mas lejos que ya podí ele na río. Ya ardé sus pulmones , y ya caé ele na suelo.

Ya queda ele despertada na un suave susurro. El muchacho, tá de pie na frente de ele,

Su forma translúcida, el muchacho ya sonreí, y ya tomá su mano, “ sabe yo ta podí yo di confiá na ti ñorita.”

Ya abrasá ele el criatura por cosa ta sentí como un eternidad, hasta ya derretí el muchacho, y el luz ya desvanecí.

El mujer ya retirá na casa, mojao ya mojao ya pedí ele con su aguela un toalla , para di quedá seguro no ele di goteá na dentro del casa. Mientras ele ta secá su cuerpo , ele ya preguntá con su aguela sobre el río.

Su aguela ya respondí “ ¿ aquel lugar ? mucho tiempo que ya pasá un hombre ya andá pescá na quel vanda del río. Nunca ele ya riterá, quel pobre alma. Ya bisá del otro otro, ya quedá un grande bestia cual ya atrapá ele, pero queda probablemente el corriente del agua. A veses di quedá violente el río y ta llevá ese el mana pobre si onde onde que nadie de niso sabe, ‘especialmente el mana criatura, siempre ta jugando na río, ta perdí niso uno, cada unos años.”

Ya dalé ele gratitud con su aguela y ya andá ele na su dormitorio.

¿ Cosa ya buscá ele na río Linothangan ?

Paz

Finalmente

Paz …..

=———————-=

English Version

A woman stood by the riverside looking at the water for answers.

She didn’t know why she was back in this place. It had always been her desire to break the shackles of this small barangay and taking a chance in the bigger world, to spread her wings and fly to the sun.

But, like Icarus, she burned.

Now she was living with her family again, though it didn’t feel like home.

The river’s sound soothed her troubled soul. No matter where she went, water would be the first thing that she sought out.

There was the Danube, of course. The taste of his kiss still lingered, even after all these years. But in a moment, it was all washed away. Her heart could never belong to anyone, at least in her mind.

The cold never sat well with her; the tropics had a hold that she could never seem to break. It was worth it though, to see the sun rise and paint the ice with a scarlet brush.

She rubbed her arms and thought back to the blistering heat of the Nile. Her friends warned her that she might catch the fever, but she didn’t listen. The call of the water was too strong for her to fight.

Enlightenment was what she found in the Ganges.

Fear in the rapids of Chilko.

Lifelong friends cruising down the Mississippi.

Wonder at the Naga lights of the Mekong.

And what would she find in the Linothangan? She didn’t know.

She didn’t want to know.

It was late in the afternoon and she chided herself. She had done nothing the whole day. The time could have been spent finding work or doing chores or…. Nothing. That was what her life was now anyway.

She closed her eyes and breathed deep.

When she opened them, she was surprised to find a visitor intruding on her… nothing.

It was a small boy, her hair and clothes dripping on the river rocks.

“Hello,” he said. “Who are you?”

Her soul almost escaped her body. “Don’t do that! You startled me!”

“I’m sorry. I just want someone to play with.”

“Well…”

“Please, miss. I’ve been so lonely here by the river. No one goes here and I’m so alone.”

She stood up and got a better look at the boy. He reminded her of one of her cousins, same age and same energy. This was the type of child that would fight a ‘no’ even in the face of failure.

“What do you want to play?”

“….I know! Here, grab this ball and throw it in the river so I can catch it!”

“Really? You think that’s fun?”

“Pleeeeaaaasseee”

“Okay, okay.”

Her face betrayed a smile, the first since she got back. He was right, this was fun. It almost made her forget about what happened.

She tossed the ball again for the 10^th time and it washed away to the right of the boy. He tried to swim as fast as he could, but suddenly froze as the ball drifted.

“Hey, why aren’t you chasing the ball? Isn’t that the whole game?”

“I can’t go there miss, not in that part of the river.”

“What do you mean?”

“They say it’s dangerous to go there. All the old people forbid it.”

“Well they’re not here are they? Let’s get your ball.”

The boy still didn’t move.

“I went there once miss. It was a long time ago, but I can still remember. There’s something in the river.”
“Do you know what that something was?”

“Maybe it was the dark man.”

“What are you talking about?”

“My lola said that there was a dark man living by the river. He doesn’t want anyone to go to his place.”

She had been around the world a dozen times and was no stranger to tall tales. The boy looked really nervous, but there was strength in numbers.

“Hey, go with me. I’m sure whatever it is it can’t take the both of us.”

Her second smile of the day made the boy nod and take her hand.

“Okay miss. I trust you.”

They walked down the river following the current. The boy had been out of the water for a while but it seemed that he would never stop dripping.

“Just walk next to me okay? I don’t want to get my clothes wet.”

“Alright.”

It was nearing sundown and after a few miscalculated attempts at grabbing the ball, luck finally shined on them. The current stopped, which left the sphere static on the river.

“Well what are you waiting for?” she said. “You’re a pretty good swimmer, the ball’s not that far. You can grab it and go home.”

“I don’t think I should be here miss.”

“Hey, come on, let’s get your ball alright? There’s nothing here.”

“I’ve been here before miss. I can remember.”

“Remember what?”

“It’s going to come here! Please miss run!”

“Wait—–”

At that moment a figure emerged from the water. It had tentacles and reminded her of an octopus. It held the ball and the boy cried out, “The dark man doesn’t like people to come to his place.” He clutched his head and dropped to his knees.

“Let’s go!” she grabbed the boy’s arm but it was as if he was made of stone, nothing could move him.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Please just let me leave!!” The boy cried out even harder, his tears mixed with the moisture dripping to the ground.

“We have to run! It can’t catch us if we go away from the river.”

The boy looked at the woman with despair in his eyes.

“I can’t leave the river. I never could. Not as long as—–”

“As long as what?!” The monster was moving towards them now, she didn’t want to know how long its tentacles could reach.

The boy pointed at the ball.

Her mind was a whirlwind. She should run, there was no way that she could fight the monster. It wasn’t her problem, if the boy didn’t want to follow that was on him. She should think of herself.

Just herself.

Just like then.

The creature was inching closer to the riverbank still holding the ball. In defiance of her instincts, she ran towards it. The monster’s tentacles darted towards her but they only hit empty water.

She spent her life around rivers and with that came a dexterity that surprised even the most experienced of swimmers.

She rounded the creature, trying to confuse it and plunged to the tentacle that had the ball.

At this point she was out of ideas. She could hold her breath for longer than a normal person, but would that be enough time to wring the ball from the monster.

She grabbed the ball and felt a gentle heat surround her.

“I trust you miss.” The boy’s voice echoed in her ears.

A bright flash suffused the ball and tore it away from the tentacle.

With the orb under her elbow she weaved through the water like a dolphin, dodging the monster’s clumsy attempts to catch her.

As soon as she surfaced, she ran as far as she could away from the river.

Her lungs burned and she fell to the ground.

She was awakened with a gentle whisper.
The boy stood in front of her, his form translucent. He smiled and took her hand.
“I knew I could trust you miss.”

She hugged him for what felt like an eternity, until he melted away and the light faded.

The woman returned home, soaked. She asked her lola for a towel to make sure she didn’t drip inside.

As she was drying herself, she asked her lola about the river.

“Oh that place? A long time ago a man went fishing in that part of the river. He never came back, the poor soul. Some say it was a giant beast that got him, but it was probably the current. The river gets violent sometimes and carries them off to who knows where. ‘specially the kids, always playing in the river, we lose one every few years.”

She thanked her lola and went into her room.

What had she found in the Linothangan river?

Peace

Finally

Peace

=—————————=

*Chavacano or Chabacano is a group of Spanish-based creole language varieties spoken in the Philippines. The variety spoken in Zamboanga City, located in the southern Philippine island group of Mindanao, has the highest concentration of speakers.  Currently existing varieties are found in Cavite City and Ternate, located in the Cavite province on the island of Luzon. Chavacano is the only Spanish-based creole in Asia.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Stacy Paredes Foote
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Stacy Paredes Foote

Inspired by the tale ‘The Monster’ in Negros Oriental and Siquijor Island Legends, Beliefs and Folkways. Aldecoa-Rodriguez. 2000.

The Monster of Linothangan River Illustration by Fam Telmo

FB: https://www.facebook.com/famskaartyhan/
Instagram: @famskaartyhan

*Note this story is in Chabacano / Chavacano Caviteño

Entre na mana cenizas del monte Bita, Sulayman tá de pie firmament, ele ya pasa todo de mana casas vacíos na su camino y su corazón ya queda lleno con tristeza. Había mana juguetes pero no mana criaturas. Había mana campos pero nadie para man hace caso, había mana familias allá guna vez , pero no agora.

Sulayman ya maldecí na cielo, “ Di pagá cosa man bestea que ya hacé esto ! ” ya quedá oscuro el cielo , y ya parecí concedido su deseo.

Y el pájaro ya queda llamao Pah. Por casa na enorme figura del gran pájaro ya queda oscuro el cielo, no ansina que ya vé de nadie antes. Con rapidez ya sacá Sulayman su espada y  ya lográ corta ele uno de mana alas del bestea. El gran pájaro ya girá hacia Sulayman, y ele ya esquivá el enorme cuerpo del bestia pero ya olvida ele, el ala que ya cortá ele, aquel parte del bestia ya plastá Sulayman, este ya sana el que ta cabá su aventura, pero hay un otro.

Datu Indarapatra ya mira con agonia , cuando un pimpollo na lado de su ventana ya secá y morir, ya reculdá ele cuando su hermano Sulayman ya embarcá na su adventura na Mindanao. Ele ya articulá el mana palabras que ele ya bisa cuando ya salí Sulayman. “ Na este ponu ta sabe yo vos destino, si vos viví , si vos morí. Si vos di viví, el ponu tambien di viví, si vos di morí di morí tambien ese.

El corazón de Datu Indarapatra ya queda llenung llenu de venganza, y ele ya recogí todo de sus mana pertenencias , incluido su espada más confiable, y ele ya embarcá na un búsqueda para di buscá su hermano.

Como su hermano Sulayman , Datu Indarapatra ya viajá a través del aire , y ya buscá su mismo na montaña si onde ta crecí el mana rattán.ya vé ele el evidencia del victoria de su hermano na batalla contra na mana Kurita. El mana huesos de maná monstruo  tá llenao el suelo, y ele ya queda llenung llenu de orgullo

El seguida queda monte Matutana, el mana cadavers de mana Tarabusao podrido na suelo ta bisá con ele cosa ele nescesita di sabí. El maná lado lado , tá desprovisto pa del vida , pero el maná monstruos no ya podí man lastimar con alguien otra vez. Datu Indarapatra ya continuá na su búsqueda con maná pensamientos de maná monstruos, ta plagando su mente.

El grand muerte que ya causá de este mana criaturas queda sabido na mana tierras lejanos, incluso na su corte na tierra de puesta del sol dorada. Datu Indarapata es el que ya pedí con su hermano Sulayman para di cruzá el mar pa anda na tierra de Mindanao y hace vencé este mana gran bestias. Raja Sulayman ya andá na mindanao con su propio voluntad, para di vengá sus habitantes, si este es verdad, pero Datu Indarapatra ta sentí un punzada de la culpa, na hecho que ele es responsable na pag morí de su hermano. Ya sacudí ele esos mana pensamientos de su mente, a medida ele ta cercá na monte Bita.

El cuerpo del gran pájaro Pah ta acostá na suelo, ele ya fijá el grande ala cortada del pájaro, y ele ya alzá la,  y tallá ele ya buscá el mana huesos de su hermano. Datu Indarapatra ya llora por el sangre de su sangre, y ya queda ele consumido por el dolor.

El Cielo ya dale respuesta na su oración silenciosa. Mientras ele ya mira hacia arriba ele ya ví un bote chiquiting lleno de agua. Sabiendo cosa ele debe di hacé, ya verté ele el agua sobre na mana huesos de Sulayman, y su hermano ya queda vivo otra vez.

El monte ya queda lleno de alegria, cuando se reuní el man hermanos. Sulayman ya explicá, no ele ya murí completamente, sino durmiendo nomas. Datu indarapatra no le importaba, su corazón ya queda llenung llenu de feliz, por casa su hermano ya queda vivo y bien.

Sulayman ya volví na tierra del puesta del sol dorada, pero Datu Indarapatra ya queda. Quiere ele di cabá el que ya empezá su hermano. Tiene pa el cuarta gran bestia na monte Guryan. Datu Indarapatra ya saludá su hermano adios y ya afilá su espada. Indarapatra ya jurá ele el mismo juramento que ya hace Sulayman na su Reino. Y di ví ele ese cumplido.

=——————=

English Version

Among the ashes of Mount Bita, Sulayman stood resolute. He passed the empty homes and his heart was filled with sadness. There were toys but no children, there were farms, but no one to tend them, there were families here once.

But no more.

Sulayman cursed at the sky. Whatever beast did this would pay. The sky darkened and seemed to grant his wish.

The third was Pah.

The sky was blotted out by the enormous frame of a great bird, like nothing that was ever seen before. Sulayman was quick, he drew his sword and managed to hit its wing. The great bird spiraled towards Sulayman, and he was able to dodge its massive body, but forgot about the wing he had cut off. That part of the beast crushed Sulayman and would have ended his journey.

But there was another.

King Indarapatra watched in agony as the sapling by his window withered and died. He recalled the day his brother, Sulayman, set forth on his journey to Mindanao. He mouthed the words that he said when Sulayman left: “By this tree I will know of your fate. If you will live, it will live, and if you die, it will die also.”

King Indarapatra’s heart was filled with revenge. He gathered his belongings, including his most trusted sword and went on a quest to find his brother.

Like Sulayman, he traveled through the air and found himself on the mountain where the rattan grew. He saw evidence of his brother’s victory against the Kurita. The bones of the monster littered the area and he was filled with pride.

Next was Mount Matutun. The rotting corpse of the Tarabusaw told him all he needed to know. The surrounding areas were still barren of life, but the monster would never be able to hurt anyone again. King Indarapatra continued on his journey and thoughts of the monsters plagued his mind.

The great deaths caused by these creatures were told of in faraway lands, even reaching his court in the land of the golden sunset. It was King Indarapatra that pleaded with Sulayman to cross the seas and rid the land of Mindanao of these great beasts.

It was Sulayman’s choice to go to the distant land and avenge her people, that much was true. But King Indarapatra felt a pang of guilt that he had lead his brother to certain death.

He shook those thoughts away as he approached mount Bita.
The body of the great bird Pah lay on the ground. He noticed the severed wing of the bird and lifted it up, revealing the bones of his brother. King Indarapatra wept for the blood of his blood, so consumed with grief was he.

The heavens replied with an answer to his silent prayer. As he looked up, he saw a small jar filled with water. Knowing what he must do, he poured the water over Sulayman’s bones and his brother lived again.

Joy filled the mountain as the brothers reunited. Sulayman explained that he was not completely dead, but sleeping. King Indarapatra didn’t care, he heart was filled with great happiness that his brother was alive and well.

Sulayman returned to their home in the land of the golden sunset, but King Indarapatra stayed. He wanted to finish what his brother started. There was still the matter of the fourth great beast on Mount Gurayn.

King Indarapatra bade his brother farewell and sharpened his sword. He swore the same oath that Sulayman did and upon his kingdom, he would see it fulfilled.

————————–————————–————————-

*Chavacano or Chabacano is a group of Spanish-based creole language varieties spoken in the Philippines. The variety spoken in Zamboanga City, located in the southern Philippine island group of Mindanao, has the highest concentration of speakers.  Currently existing varieties are found in Cavite City and Ternate, located in the Cavite province on the island of Luzon. Chavacano is the only Spanish-based creole in Asia.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Stacy Paredes Foote
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Stacy Paredes Foote

Continued from the Tarabusaw’s tale

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Adapted from “Mythology of Mindanao” in Philippine Folklore Stories. Cole. 1916. (Full text can be accessed at http://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/pft/index.htm

*Note this story is in Chabacano/ Chavacano Caviteño

El futuro guarda mucho caminos contodo ta busca, pero tiene ta existe seres capaces de vislumbrar el flujo eterno de la existencia. En su mirada baila lo infinito, las innumerables el mana posibilidad si cosa el puede, si cosa de pude, y si cosa el debe.

Uno no pudi evita pregunta si el futuro es niso prisión. La verdadera y precisa comprensió del futuro implica que existe un existencia asegurada de un futuro. Si este el caso, entonces todo las almas está atadas baila sin sentido de la vida. Si cosa de pasa, de pasa. El destino es el verdadero amo del universo.

Tiene naman otro que ta habla el futuro como un río ramificado. El cada acción ta abre un sinfín de nuevo posibilidad na ta multiplica hasta el infinito. El mana opciones esti, ta crea futuros incontables, un arroyo serpenteante de futuros podría ser y solo llega existe si justo opciones que ya saca, posibilidad infinito que ta extiende hacia lo desconocido.

El más miedo futuro de todos es aquel que no ta existe. El pasado, el presente y el futuro pudi realmente para con niso, pero depende únicamente na punto de vista de niso. La realidad ordena a través de un infinito, un en el grupos de tiempo, espacio y espacio-tiempo ya buta na caos tridimensional.

Si cosa el futuro ta guarda, el uno que ta mira ilos todos nuway opción si no juga su papel. Pudi ser guías haci un eternidad dichosa o simples títeres en el juego cruel de un universo. Pero de cualquier manera, bebe su vino y toca su música.

Ta mira ilo el pasado velo de la eternidad. Solo los necios no de oi el pito del mana ponu.

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English Version

The future holds many paths to those that seek them, yet there are beings that can see into the ebb and flow of eternity. In their gaze dances the infinite, the scores upon scores of possibilities of what can, what will, and what must.

One cannot help but wonder if the future is our prison. True, accurate knowledge of the future implies that there is an assured existence of a future. If this is the case then all souls are bound to the meaningless dance of life. What will happen, will happen. Fate is the true master of the universe.

Then there are those that say the future is a branching river. Each action opens up a host of new possibilities that multiply into infinity. It is through these choices that uncountable futures are made, a winding stream of futures that may be, and will only come into existence if the right choices are made, infinite possibilities stretching into the unknown.

The most frightening future of all is one that doesn’t exist. The past, present and future may be real to us, but that is only dependent on our point of view. Reality is ordered through an infinite, one where clumps of time, space and space-time are thrown into four-dimensional chaos.

Whatever the future holds, those that see have no choice but to play their part. They may be the guide to a blissful eternity, or mere puppets in a cruel universe’s game. But either way they will drink their wine and play their music.

They see past the veil of eternity. Only the foolish would not listen to the whistles in the trees.

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*Chavacano or Chabacano is a group of Spanish-based creole language varieties spoken in the Philippines. The variety spoken in Zamboanga City, located in the southern Philippine island group of Mindanao, has the highest concentration of speakers.  Currently existing varieties are found in Cavite City and Ternate, located in the Cavite province on the island of Luzon. Chavacano is the only Spanish-based creole in Asia.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Arlene Cortes
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Arlene Cortes

Inspired by the Palasekan description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Palasekan Illustration by Fam Telmo

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