*Note this story is in Tagalog

“Sa gitna ng isla, may mga kakaibang nilalang na gumagawa ng mga nakakakilabot na bagay.  Malalaman mo kung ano sila kahit mukhang tao sila, dahil ang itim na bilog ng kanilang mga mata ay hindi tulad ng karaniwang tao, kundi mga makitid na hiwa, tulad sa mga pusa.  Kumikislap din ang kanilang mga mata na parang may sumasayaw na apoy sa loob.

Ang kanilang pangunahing pagkain ay lamang-loob ng mga bangkay, hindi kinakailangang sariwa. Nakita ko itong mga nilalang na pinunit ang tiyan ng sariwang bangkay at mabangis na kinagat at pinunit ang laman, tulad ng mga hayop na labis ang gutom.

Kapag mababa ang suplay ng mga bangkay, doon pinakamapanganib ang mga nilalang. Pupunta sila sa talahiban at magta-trance, pagkatapos, ang kanilang astral na katawan ay lilipad palayo. Itong kakaibang mahika ay wala sa anumang nakita ko noon, kahit sa lahat ng paglalakbay ko.

Ang astral na anyo nitong mga nilalang ay pumapasok sa mga bahay ng walang kamalay-malay na mga biktima at biglang sasalakay sa kanila. Tinatanggal ang kanilang lamang-loob na tulad ng bagong aning bangkay, pinapawi ang kanilang gutom para sa laman ng buhay.  Maririnig sila, ang tunog ay tulad ng pag-ungol ng tao, at mas malakas ito kapag mas malayo sila sa kanilang biktima.

Napansin ko ang pagwisik ng katas ng kalamansi sa mga kamamatay lang, na ang sabi sa akin ay para pigilan ang mga nilalang sa pagpasok sa mga libingan.

Binalaan ako na kapag marinig ko ang pag-ungol, o makita ang pagkislap ng kanilang mga mata, kailangan kong kumaripas ng takbo papalayo, ang alternatibo ay labanan sila at ang tanging sandata na sinabi sa akin na mabisa ay isang kris na pinahiran ng katas ng kalamansi.

Itong nilalang ay tulad ng iba pang hayop sa mga isla, kumakain ng lamang-loob ng mga bangkay at lumilipad sa gilid ng kanilang mga biktima. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mangyayari kapag nakita ko ang isa sa personal, bagaman umaasa ako para sa kapakanan ng aking pananaliksik, ang aking mga maikling talaan ay mapapanatili.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ginagawa ko ito, kung bakit patuloy kong inilalagay ang aking sarili sa harapan ng panganib upang maitala itong mga kakaibang nilalang. Batid ko ang hindi pagsang-ayon ng aking pamilya sa parehong pamamaraan at pagsasaliksik ko, ngunit kinakailangang malaman ang mga bagay na ito. Dapat mayroong paraan para balaan ang mga tao tungkol sa mga panganib nitong mga isla, kahit maging kapalit ang aking kaluluwa.”

—- Mula sa mga maikling talaan ni Mari Bas

=—————————–=

English Version

In the center of the island, strange creatures go about their horrible ways. You can tell what they are even if they look human, as their pupils are not round like regular folk, but are narrow slits, much like those of felines. Their eyes also flash as if dancing flames can be seen inside them.

Their main diet consists of the entrails of corpses, not necessarily fresh. I have seen these creatures rip apart the stomach of a fresh corpse and savagely bite and tear through the flesh like ravenous scavengers.

When the supply of corpses is low, that is when these beings are the most dangerous. They will go into the tall grass and fall into a trance, then, their astral bodies fly away. This strange magic is nothing like I’ve ever seen before, even in all of my travels.

These creatures’ astral forms would go into the houses of unsuspecting victims and pounce on them. Gutting their entrails like a newly harvested corpse, satiating their hunger for living flesh. They can be heard, the sound is like human moaning, it is louder the farther they are from their victim.
I have noticed that lime juice is sprinkled on the newly dead, which I have been told is a ward against the creatures from entering the graves.

I have been warned if I hear the moaning, or see the flickering of their eyes, I must run away with much haste, the alternative would be to fight them off and the only weapon that I have been told is effective is a kris rubbed with lime juice.

This creature is much like the other scavengers of the islands, feasting on the innards of corpses and flying to the side of their victims. I do not know what will happen when I find one in person, though I hope for the sake of my research, my notes survive.

I do not know why I do this, why I keep putting myself in harm’s way to record these strange beings. I have noted my family’s disapproval of both my methods and my research, but these things have to see the light of day. There must be something to warn the people of the dangers of these islands, even if it may cost me my very soul.

—- From the notes of Mari Bas

————————–————————–————————–—

Inspired by the Berbalang legends from Cagayan Sulu.

Berbalang Illustration by Ysa Peñas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonechitect/

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Ilang taon na akong hindi nakapunta sa bahaging ito ng kagubatan.

Hindi na magmula noong nangyari ang…

Gumagalaw ang lupa habang binubuo ng tagapagsilbi ang katawan nito. Sinabi sa akin na maraming engkanto ang gumagamit nitong mga elemental na nilalang bilang mga bantay at sa tuwing nakakakita ako ng isa, inilalapit ko ang aking rosaryo at iniintindi ang babala.

Itong bahagi ng probinsiya ay nagtataglay ng mga mahahalagang alaala para sa akin.

Naalala ko noong una ko siyang nakilala, napakagwapo niya, tulad ng kanyang uri.

Dinala niya ako sa kanyang mundo at wala akong naranasan na ganoong kaligayahan noon, o kailanman.

Hindi nga lang ako simpleng kabataan. Alam ko ang mga kuwento—kung paano ang pagkain ng itim na bigas sa kanilang lugar ay magkukulong sa akin doon magpakailanman o kung paano ang pagdarasal sa nag-iisang Diyos ay magpapawala ng kanilang mahika.

Masyado akong maraming nalalaman, at napakakaunti din.

Pagkatapos, ako ay umibig.

Isang batang-isip na pagkakamali.

Kapag ang engkanto ay umibig sa tao, magsisimula itong magpakita ng pisikal na kaanyuan. Ang taong biktima (o dapat bang sabihing iniibig?) ay magkakasakit. Kapag nanligaw ang engkanto, unti-unting humihina ang katawan ng tao, hanggang sa puntong mawalan siya ng malay

Sinasabing kung ang taong iniibig ng engkanto ay namatay, ang ibig sabihin nito ay  tumawid na siya sa mundo ng engkanto.

Mas malugod kong tinanggap ang kamatayan kung siya ang katabi ko.

Kami lang, magkasama.

Pero natakot ako. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin kaya ang likas kong reaksiyon ay magdasal.

Dahil doon, ang mahika ng kanilang kaharian ay nawala.

Ang tanging alaala ng kanyang mundo, ang bato-bato, ay tumingin sa akin. Ang mukha nitong hindi gumagalaw ay tila nakaukit ang bahid ng kalungkutan.

Tila kabaliwan na mag-iwan ng bulaklak sa isang alaala, ngunit nandito ako.

Siya iyon. Palaging siya iyon. Hindi ko kayang makasama ang sinuman pagkatapos ng mga araw ng pag-ibig at panganib na kasama ang engkanto.

Ang mga hindi nagtagumpay kong relasyon ay patunay ng pag-ibig na iyon.

Michael, Jaime, Simon, James…

Patuloy ang listahan.

Kailanman ay hindi nila matutumbasan ang karanasan ko sa kanya.

Kung kaya, itinapon ko ang aking rosaryo, isinuot ang aking pinakamagandang damit, at nagtungo sa kagubatan.

Nandoon ang bato-bato, ang piping saksi sa aking pagkatalo.

Nagsimula akong pumasok sa kuweba. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat asahan. Isinigaw ko ang kanyang pangalan.

At pagkatapos, wala.

Ilang oras kong sinubukan na hanapin ang daan papasok sa kanyang mundo. Namaga na ang aking lalamunan, duguan ang mga kamao, lahat para sa pagkakataong masilayan ang nawala kong pag-ibig.

Hindi pa ako nakaramdam ng ganitong katinding pag-iisa.

Pagkatapos ng ilang oras, kinulayan ng araw ang kagubatan ng pula at alam kong oras na para umalis.

Nagtataka pa rin ako

Iniisip niya pa kaya ako?

Ibig bang sabihin na hindi na niya ako iniibig dahil ako ay malusog pa?

Bakit hindi niya ako bigyan ng isa pang pagkakataon?

Alam ko na ang daang papasok sa kanyang mundo ay nandoon pa din sa kuweba.

Kung hindi, bakit nandoon pa din ang bato-bato?

Babalik ako, sa ilalim ng liwanag ng bilog na buwan.

Kasama ang mga dasal at agimat.

Kailanman ay hindi ko susukuan ang aking pag-ibig.

=————————–=

English Version

I haven’t been in this part of the forest in years.

Not since what happened with…

The ground moves as the servant builds its body. I was told that many engkanto use these elemental creatures as guards and every time I chance upon one, I take my rosary close and heed the warning.

This part of the province holds so many dear memories for me.

I think back at the time I first met him, he was too beautiful, as his kind always was.

He took me to his world and I had never had such pleasure before, or since.

I was no mere youth though, I knew the stories, about how eating black rice in their domain would trap me there forever or how praying to the one God would dissipate their magic.

I knew too much, and also too little.

Then I fell in love.

Such a childish mistake.

When an engkanto falls in love with a human, it will start to show physically. The human victim (or should I say lover?) will fall ill. When an engkanto courts, the human’s body becomes progressively weaker, up to the point of the human becoming unconscious.

It is said that if the subject of the engkanto’s love dies then that means he has crossed over to the engkanto’s world.

I would have welcomed death had he been by my side.

Only us, together.

But I was scared. I didn’t know what to do so by instinct I prayed.

And thus, the magic of their realm disappeared.

The only remnant of his world, the bato-bato, looked at me. Its unmoving face etched with what looked to be a twinge of sadness.

It seems crazy to leave a flower on a memory, yet here I am.

It was him, it was always him. I could never be with anyone after spending the days of love and danger with the engkanto.

My failed relationships are a testament to that love.

Michael, Jaime, Simon, James…

The list goes on.

They could never come close to giving me what I had with him.

And so, I tossed my rosary, wore my best clothes and ventured into the forest.

The Bato-bato was there, a silent witness to my lost cause.

I take the first steps into the cave. I didn’t know what to expect. I shouted his name.

And then, nothing.

I spent hours trying to look for an entrance o his world. My throat was sore, my knuckles bloody, all for the chance to see a glimpse of the lover I lost.

I had never felt so alone.

After a few hours the sun painted the forest red and I knew it was time to go.

I still wonder:

Does he think of me?

Is the fact that I’m healthy means that he stopped loving me?

Why won’t he give me another chance?

I know the portal to his world is still there by the cave.

If it wasn’t why was the bato-bato there?

I will return, by the light of the full moon.

With incantations and agimats.

I will never surrender my love.

=———————————–=

Story inspired by the Engkanto Myths

Bato-bato Illustration by Michael Sean B. Talavera
IG: @maykelshan
Deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/isaneleach13

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Noong araw, may isang galit na dalaga na walang ibang mapuntahan. Isang matinding sakuna ang bumalot sa lupain at ang mga tao sa kanyang probinsya ay walang magawa kung hindi isara ang kanilang mga hangganan upang mapigilan ang pagkalat ng sakit.

Hindi iyon ang kanyang tahanan. Totoo – naroon ang kanyang pamilya, pero hangad niya ang mga naglalakihang istaktura na aabot na sa langit, ang karagatan ng mga tao na tila walang katapusan, at ang mahahabang gabi na kasama ang mga kaibigan habang nainom ng alak.

Sa paglipas ng mga araw na umabot na ng ilang linggo, lalo lamang tumindi ang kanyang kalungkutan.

Walang paraan para makaalis siya ng bahay na hindi mahuhuli ng mga opisyal.

Kaya niyang mawala sa kanyang mga libro, pero natapos na niyang basahin ang lahat ng mga iyon. Sinubukan niyang tumakas sa liwanag ng mga gadyet na kanyang dala mula sa kanyang tahanan, ngunit hindi sila gumana ng kasing bilis sa gusto niya. Sinubukan niya ring gumawa ng musika, pero wala siyang inspirasyon.

Wala siyang pinanghahawakan sa buhay.

Wala roon, kahit katiting.

Isang araw, binasag siya ng kanyang kalungkutan.  Hindi na niya makayanan ang apat na sulok ng kuwartong walang saysay sa kanya.

Hinintay niyang makatulog ang kanyang pamilya (at umasang pati ang mga guwardiya) at tumakbo patungo sa mga kalye na parang isang baliw.

Kung kaya niya lang, gusto niyang sumigaw hanggang umabot sa kalangitan. Sa wakas, mayroon na siyang kaunting kalayaan.

Sapat na iyon kahit man lang sa isang gabi.

Ito na ang kanyang nakaugalian – ang iunat ang kanyang katawan at itulak ang mga hangganan sa kanyang kakayahan.

Hanggang dumating ang gabing iyon.

Naligaw siya sa ihip ng hangin kaya hindi na niya namalayan ang mga ilaw na papalapit sa kanya. Sinubukan niyang tumakbo, pero hindi na niya alam ang bahaging iyon ng bayan at inasahan na niyang mahuhuli siya.

“Psssssssssst. Halika dito.”

Sa kadiliman, nadinig niya ang ingay mula sa puno ng Galawin. Naalala niya ang mga kuwento ng kanyang lola tungkol sa mga ispirito na naninirahan sa mga puno.

Naisip niya na mas mabuti pang makipagsapalaran siya sa puno kaysa sa mahuli, at hinayaang balutin siya ng kadiliman.

May kaunting liwanag siyang naaninag (na sa wari niya ay) galing sa loob ng puno.

Nakaupo sa kanyang harapan ang isang nilalang – tao ang anyo, balot sa tagpi-tagping amag at lumot.

Naunang bumasag sa katahimikan ang dalaga.

“Kamusta po kayo?”

Sinuklian siya ng mainit na ngiti ng nilalang.

“Kamusta ka din? Ano ang pangalan mo?”

“Ako po si Julie. Ikinagagalak ko po kayong makilala.”

“Ikinagagalak ko rin na makilala ka.”

“Pasintabi po, pero ANO po kayo?”

“Gusto ko rin sanang malaman kung ano ako. Alam ba talaga natin kung ano tayo?”

Natahimik at nagulumihanan si Julie sa naging sagot sa kanya.

“HAHAHA. Nagbibiro lang ako. Pikon kasi kayong mga tao pagdating sa mga biro.”

“Ipagpaumanhin po ninyo. Hindi lang po ako sanay na  –”

“Makakita ng ispirito? Ganyan ang karamihan ng tao. May dahilan kung bakit kami ay tinaguriang alamat na ginagamit ng tao para makuha ang gusto nila.”

“Ano po ba ang GUSTO ninyo?,” tanong ng dalaga.

“Gusto ko lang makatulong,” sagot ng nilalang na nakangisi.

“Ano po ang ibig ninyong sabihin?”

“Naisip ko na puwede kong iangat ang diwa.” (Kalaunan ay nalaman ni Julie na ito ay isang biro lamang.)

Napabuntong-hininga si Julie at sinabi, “Hindi po ako maaaring manatili dito – hindi sa bayang ito, hindi na kailanman. Gusto ko po sanang tubuan ng pakpak at lumipad pabalik po sa aking tahanan.”

“Sa palagay mo ba ay iyon ang makakatulong sa iyong nararamdaman? Narinig ko na wala ring nandoon para sa iyo.”

“Iyon pa rin po ang aking tahanan.”

Tumango ang nilalang. “Sa panahon ng kaguluhan, walang mas komportable sa kung saan maaari mong ilabas ang nilalaman ng iyong puso.”

“Opo, nauunawaan ninyo – hindi po katulad ng aking pamilya.”

“Sigurado ako na ang gusto lamang nila ay ang mapabuti ka.”

“Paano po? Mas lalo lang po akong nadurog nitong mga nakaraang linggo. Hindi po ako makagalaw. Hindi po ako makapag-isip. Hindi ko po man lang makausap ang mga kaibigan ko dahil nakakayamot po ang signal dito.”

“Ikaw din, nayayamot.”

“Opo.” Naupo si Julie at isinubsob ang ulo sa kanyang mga kamay.

“Naisip mo ba na maaaring hindi ito tungkol sa iyo?”

“Parang katulad po ng mga taong naririnig ko sa balita ang sinabi ninyo.”

“Hindi mo ba naisip na may punto sila?”

“Alam niyo po pala ang nagaganap ngayon.”

“Kapag may mga pangyayari na kasing laki nito, ang mga ispirito ay nag-uusap-usap.”

“Saan po ninyo ito nabalitaan?”

“Sa naglalakbay na simoy ng hangin, ngunit hindi na iyon mahalaga.”

“Pero bakit po nandito pa rin kayo? Bakit hindi po kayo tumulong para mawala ito?”

“Higit na kasi iyan sa aking kapangyarihan.”

“Bakit pa po ninyo ako kinakausap?”

“Dahil kung hindi ko man maayos ang malaking problema, baka man lang kaya kong –”

“Ayusin po ako?”

“Puwede kong subukan.”

“Bakit pa po? Malamang ay matunaw na lang po ako sa aking kuwarto habang iniisip ko kung ano po ang dapat gawin bago po gumuho ang mga pader.”

“Mas nanaisin mo ba iyon kaysa –”

“Kaysa mamatay po ako?”

“……”

“Hindi po ako tanga. Alam ko po ang mga panganib. Kung hindi po iyon ang aking ikamatay, maaaring ang kuwarantenas po ang ikamatay ko. Nararamdaman ko po ang sarili ko na unti-unting nauupos.”

“May nakilala na ako na katulad mo. Ang mga madamdamin.  Ang mga matatapang. Ang mga tao na handang silaban ang sarili para lang maramdaman na sila ay buhay.”

“Kita po ninyo – alam ninyo –  ”

“At ang mga tao na walang pakialam sa mga luha na naiwan nila sa kanilang dinaanan.”

“……”

“Ilang mga pusong sawi ang iyong iniwan? Ilang kalooban ang iyong winarak dahil ikaw ay nainip at naghanap ng bago?”

“Hindi po iyan patas.”

“Ang katotohanan ay hindi laging patas.”

Nanahimik si Julie habang nakaupo sa tabi ng nilalang.

“Wala na sila.”

Saka lang naalala ni Julie na siya nga pala ay tumatakbong papalayo sa mga guwardiya.

Tumingin si Julie sa nilalang at nagpasalamat sa pagpapaunlak nito sa kanya. Bago siya umalis ay tinanong niya ito, “Maaari po ba akong bumalik dito bukas? Gusto ko po sanang kausapin pa rin kayo.“

“Hindi mo naman kailangang maglakbay ng malayo para makarating dito. Kailangan mo lang pakinggan ang ihip ng hangin sa gabi.”

Habang pinagmamasdan niya ang dalaga na tumatakbong pabalik sa kanyang bahay, napangiti ang Dawinde.

Kahit wala mang kaibahan,

siya ay magpapakita ng kabutihan.

=——————————————————=

English Version

Once there was an angry girl with nowhere to go. A great sickness enveloped the land, and the people in her province had no choice but to close themselves off to avoid its spread.

This place was not her home, she had family there, true, but she longed for the giant girders that reached the clouds, the bustling sea of people that never seemed to end, the long nights spent with friends over a glass of wine.

And as the days passed into weeks, her loneliness only grew.

There was no way she could leave her house, lest she get caught by the officials.

She would have lost herself in books, but she had read them all. She tried to escape into the bright screens she had brought from home, but they didn’t work as fast as she had wanted them to. She tried to make music, but she had no muse.

She had nothing in her life.

Not there at least.

One day the loneliness broke her. She couldn’t stand the four walls of a room that had no meaning to her.

She waited until her family fell asleep (and hopefully the guards as well) and ran through the streets like a madwoman.

If she could she would have screamed at the heavens, finally she had a small bit of freedom.

And that was enough, for at least one night.

This became her routine, trying to stretch her body and pushing the boundaries of what she could do.

Until one fateful night.

She had lost herself in the breeze that she almost didn’t notice the flashlight moving towards her. She tried to run, but this part of the town was unknown to her and she fully expected to get caught.

“Psssssssssst. Over here.”

In the darkness, she could only hear that the sound came from the Galawin tree. She remembered the stories that her lola would tell, about spirit beings that inhabited the trees.

She figured that she’d rather take her chances in the tree than get caught and let the darkness take her.

A small light illuminated (what she assumed was) the interior of the tree.

Sitting in front of her was a creature, human in form, covered with a patchwork of fungus and moss.

She was the first to break the silence.
“Hello.”

The creature replied back with a warm smile.

“Hello, what is your name?”

“I’m Julie, it’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too.”

“Excuse me, but, what ARE you?”

“I wish I knew myself. Do we really know what we are?”

Julie met this statement with a confused silence.
“HAHAHA, I’m just kidding. You humans are so touchy when it comes to jokes.”

“I’m sorry, I’m just not used to—”

“Seeing a spirit? Most humans are, there’s a reason why we’re regarded as legends used by people to get what they want.”

“So,” Julie looked at the creature, “what DO you want?”

“I just want to help,” the creature replied with a toothy grin.

“What do you mean?”

“I figured I could lift some spirits,” (Julie later realized this was a joke)

Julie sighed, “I can’t stay here, not in this town, not anymore. I wish I could just grow wings and fly back home.”

“Do you think that would make you feel better? I hear it’s pretty empty there as well.”

“It would still be home.”

The creature nodded, “In times of strife nothing is more comfortable than being where  you can let your heart out.”

“Yes, see you understand. Not like the rest of my family.”

“I’m sure they only want what’s best for you.”

“How? The past few weeks I’ve gotten more broken. I can’t move, I can’t think. I can’t even talk to my friends because the signal here is miserable.”

“And so are you.”

“Yes.” Julie sat down and buried her head in her hands.

“Did you ever think it might not be about you?”

“You sound like everyone on the news.”
“You don’t think they have a point?”

“So, you know what’s going on.”

“When something as big as this is happening, the spirits tend to talk to one another.”

“Where did you hear it from?”

“A travelling breeze, but that doesn’t matter.”

“Then why are you still here? Why don’t you help get rid of it?”

“That is beyond my powers.”

“Why are you even talking to me?”

“Because if I can’t fix the bigger problem then at least I can—”

“Fix me?”

“I can try.”

“Why bother? I’ll probably just melt into my room, trying to figure out what I can do before the walls start to close in.”

“Would you rather that than—”

“Than being dead?”

“……”

“I’m not stupid, I know the risks. If it doesn’t kill me the quarantine just might. I can feel myself slowly slipping away.”

“I’ve met your kind before. The passionate. The brave. The ones willing to set themselves on fire just to feel alive.”

“See—you know—”

“And those that don’t care about the tears they leave in their tracks.”

“……”

“How many broken hearts have you left behind? How many spirits have you shattered just because you became bored and wanted something new?”

“That’s not fair.”

“The truth seldom is.”

Julie sat in silence with the creature.

“They’re gone now.”

It was then that Julie remembered that she was actually running away from the guards.

Julie looked at the creature and thanked it for its time. Before she left she turned to it and asked, “Can I come back tomorrow? I’d still like to talk to you.”

“You don’t have to go all the way here. Just listen to the night air”

And as the Dawinde saw her running back to her house it smiled.

If nothing else,

It would be kind.

——————————————————————-===

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Ang lahat ng tao ay nangangailangan ng mga kuwento sa kanilang buhay. Dahil doon, sila ay nagiging mas tao.

Ang sino man na tututol ay baka nangangailangan na muling magsiyasat ng kanilang mga puso.

Iyon ang sinasabi ng lolo ni Jaime sa lahat, o kahit sino na nakikinig.

Mahal siya talaga ng kanyang pamilya. Sa bawat pagtitipon ng angkan, nilalapitan niya ang kanyang mga apo at sinasabihan ng mga nakamamanghang kuwento.

At nakikinig silang lahat.

Halos lahat sila.

Si Jaime ay espesyal na kaso.

Kung titingnang maigi, si Jaime ay ang tipo ng bata na may mga magulang na masyadong abala sa mga bagay na importante sa mga matanda kaya nakakalimutan nila na may kasama silang bata sa bahay.

Nakuha ni Jaime ang kanyang unang tablet noong siya ay apat na taon at ang una niyang cellphone noong siya ay pitong taon. Ang plano na binili ng kanyang mga magulang para sa datos ng internet ay walang limitasyon at inisip nila na ito ang pagkakaabalahan ni Jaime hanggang malimutan niya na siya ay mag-isa.

Nagkamali sila, tulad ng karamihan sa mga magulang na may nag-iisang anak. Kung tutuusin, hindi man lang nila sinubukang paganahin ang kahit na ano– lahat ay bago.

Naupo si Jaime sa harap ng kanyang lolo at bahagyang nakinig sa kanyang mga kuwento.

Bago pa man matapos ang kuwento, sumabat si Jaime. “Hindi po iyan totoo!”

Napatingin ang lahat ng mga pinsan niya sa kanya at batid sa kanilang mga mukha na sanay na sila. Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na ginambala niya ang kuwentuhan at alam nila na hindi ito ang huli.

Napabuntong-hininga ang lolo ni Jaime. “Ano na naman ngayon?,” tanong niya na nakangiti.

“Wala naman po talagang Engkanto– gawa-gawa lang po iyan!,” sabi ni Jaime.

“Paano mo naman nalaman?,” sagot ng kanyang lolo.

“Nabasa ko po sa internet!” Dahil ang pagbabasa ng mga bagay sa internet ang ginagawa kapag mayroon kang tablet at datos na walang limitasyon.

“Totoo naman iyan. Nanunumpa ako sa ngalan ng aking ina,” masayang sagot ng lolo ni Jaime.

“Hindi po iyan totoo, at sigurado po ako!”

Samantala, abala sa panonood ang ibang mga apo sa nangyayari.  Ito ang paborito nilang bahagi tuwing oras ng kuwentuhan. Ang pagtatalo ni Jaime at ng kanyang lolo ay halos abutin ng buong maghapon, at nakalilibang ito na pagmasdan.

“Totoo iyan! Ako ay dinala sa puno ng balete at nakarating sa kaharian ng mga engkanto!”

Matindi ang iling ni Jaime. “Wala pong lugar na ganyan! Hindi po iyan makikita sa Google Maps!”

Abogado ang lolo ni Jaime sa dati niyang buhay at hindi siya papayag na talunin ng isang bata na wala pa halos siyam na taong gulang.

“Kung nakinig ka lang sana sa aking kuwento, malalaman mo na ang kaharian ng mga engkanto ay hindi matatagpuan ng teknolohiya ng tao.”

“Hindi ko po kailangang pakinggan ang kuwento ninyo kasi alam ko po na iyon ay gawa-gawa lang.”

“Tinatawag mo ba akong sinungaling?”

“Hindi ko naman po sinabi na nagsasabi po kayo ng totoo.”

“Ano ang ibig mong sabihin?”

Ipinagpatuloy nila ito hanggang umabot na ng hapunan (at minsan kahit naghahapunan, ang adobo ni Lola Anding ay hindi kayang patigilin ang kanilang pagtatalo).

Ito ang eksena na nagaganap taon-taon.

Hanggang umabot ang taon na naging malubha ang karamdaman ng kanyang lolo kaya hindi na niya kayang magkuwento, at ang mga tiyuhin at mga tiyahin niya ay pabulong na pinag-uusapan ang kalagayan ng kanyang lolo.

Hindi malaman ni Jaime ang kanyang gagawin. Walang nagturo sa kanya kung paano ilabas ang kanyang galit, kaya kinuha niya ang kanyang tablet at cellphone para subukang takasan ang mundo.

Hindi naisip ng kanyang mga magulang na may problema siya, dahil ang mga tinedyer ay kilala sa pagiging bihasa sa pagmukmok.

Si Jaime ay nagmukmok at nagpatugtog ng malakas na musika para subukang ibsan ang kanyang nararamdaman, pero wala itong naitulong sa kanya.

Hindi niya pinasukan ang ilang klase niya para mabisita ang kanyang lolo sa ospital, dahil sa kabila ng kanilang mga pagtatalo ay mahal na mahal niya ito.

“Magiging maayos din ang lagay ko,” sabi ng kanyang lolo habang nakapikit.

“Hindi po totoo iyan.”

“Ngayon, bakit mo naman naisip iyan?”

“Nabasa ko po sa internet.”

“Lagi ko sa iyong sinasabi na huwag mong isubsob ang ulo mo sa iyong mga gadyet. Napakalawak ng mundong sisiyasatin kapag tumingin ka pataas.”

“Sinusubukan niyo po akong ilihis.”

“Mahaba ang oras na inilalaan mo sa iyong cellphone at patuloy ka pa ring mapagmasid.”

“Pakiusap, huwag niyo po akong iiwan, lolo.”

“Wala naman akong ibang pupuntahan.”

“Hindi po iyan ang nabasa ko.”

“Ang buhay ay higit pa sa mga salita, apo.”

“Alam ko po kung ano ang cancer.”

“Hindi kayang ituro ng internet ang lahat ng bagay.”

“Sapat naman po ang naituro sa akin. “

“Ano ba ang sinasabi doon?”

“Na baka hindi na po kayo makakalabas dito ng buhay.”

“Kakayanin ko ito.”

“Talaga po?”

“Tinatawag mo ba akong sinungaling?”

“L..Lolo…” Nagsimulang umagos ang luha sa mukha ni Jaime.

“Ipangako mo sa akin na may gagawin kang isang bagay.”

“Kahit na ano po.”

“Pumunta ka sa puno ng balete sa aking likod-bahay at panoorin ang mga bituin.”

“Lolo, seryoso po ako.”

“Seryoso din naman ako. Panahon na para matuto ka ng mga bagay na hindi kayang ituro ng internet.”

“Lolo..”

“Nangangako ka ba?” Tinitigan siya ng kanyang lolo na kayang gunawin ang salitang ‘hindi’.

“Ipinapangako ko po, lolo.”

“At ipinapangako ko na ako ay magiging maayos.”

Ang mga ilaw sa loob ng kuwarto ng ospital ay umandap-andap habang papasok ang mga magulang ni Jaime. Hindi nila alam kung ano ang gagawin sa isang bata na tumakas sa kanyang klase para makita ang kanyang lolo, kaya’t ginawa nila ang sa tingin nila ay tama at kinuha ang kanyang mga gadyet.

Wala nang pakialam si Jaime. Mayroon siyang pangako na kailangang tuparin.

Binigyan ni Lola Anding ng tsaa si Jaime para maging komportable ang kanyang pamamalagi. Noong nagpakita si Jaime sa harap ng pintuan ng kanyang lola, hindi niya alam ang kanyang sasabihin, pero hindi na niya kailangan. Tila palaging alam ng mga lola ang iyong iniisip. Napangiti ang kanyang lola habang sinasabi, “Magdala ka ng jacket. Baka lumamig sa labas.”

Pinasalamatan ni Jaime ang kanyang lola at naupo sa ilalim ng puno. Malalim na ang gabi, pero alam naman ng lahat na ang mga tinedyer ay bihasa sa pananatiling gising sa magdamag. Pakiramdam niya ay nakahubad siya dahil wala siyang dalang cellphone. Sinubukan niya na lamang alalahanin ang sinabi ng kanyang lolo.

Panahon na para matuto ka ng mga bagay na hindi kayang ituro ng internet.

Ano nga ba ang alam niya? Ang kanyang cellphone ay luma at de-pindot pa.  Alam ni Jaime na ang lahat ng kailangan niyang malaman ay mahahanap naman niya sa internet.

Malayo sa siyudad ang bahay ng lolo ni Jaime. Hindi sanay si Jaime sa mga kumukutitap na liwanag mula sa madilim na kalangitan.

Gusto niya sanang samahan siya ng kanyang musikang puno ng galit, pero ang nadidinig niya lang ay ang kaluskos ng mga dahon at ang paminsan-minsang pagkokak ng palaka.

Isinandal ni Jaime ang ulo niya sa mga paikot na ugat ng puno ng balete at siya ay pumikit.

Nang dumilat siya, may isang dalaga na nakatayo sa kanyang harapan. Kumikinang siya sa kadiliman. Wala pang nakita si Jaime na kasingganda niya at bumilis ang pintig ng kanyang puso. Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon, nakatutulong na may kumpiyansa at tiwala sa sarili, pero sa kasamaang-palad ay parehong wala kay Jaime ang mga iyon.

“Ummm..ahhh,” ang tangi niyang nasambit.

“Marahil ay ikaw si Jaime. Inaasahan namin ang iyong pagdating,“ sabi ng magandang dalaga.

“Paumahin po?” Nananaginip naman si Jaime noon, tulad ng lahat, pero wala pa siyang naging panaginip na parang totoo. Kinurot niya ang kanyang sarili para magising at nang hindi tumalab, tiningnan niyang muli ang dalaga.

“Huwag kang matakot. Nasabi sa amin ng iyong lolo na ikaw ay dadating.”

“Sinabi po niya?”

“Sinabi niya talaga iyon, at lubos ang aming kagalakan na makilala sa wakas ang apo ng aming bayani.”

“Ang inyo pong bayani?”

“Oo. Hindi ba sinabi ng iyong lolo?”

Sa pagkakataong iyon, naalala niya ang lahat. Ang mga kwentong naipon ng madaming taon ay bigla niyang naisip. Mayroong kuwento ang kanyang lolo na kumain daw siya ng itim na kanin sa mundo ng mga engkanto pero nagawa niyang makipagtawaran para siya ay makauwi nang ibigay niya ang kaunting laruang pera sa kanyang bulsa, o ang kuwento kung saan nakipagsundo daw ang mga engkanto sa kanya para ilayo ang Bakunawa ng sa gayon ay makapagsayaw sila sa ilalim ng liwanag ng buwan.

“Ibig niyo po bang sabihin ay totoo ang lahat ng iyon?” Si Jaime ay naguluhan.

“Lahat ng iyon at higit pa. Ngayon, kunin mo ang aking kamay.  May ibibigay akong natatangi sa iyo.”

Sinunod ni Jaime ang iniutos sa kanya. Hindi pa rin siya sigurado kung nananaginip lang siya, pero wala siyang dahilan para manlaban. Gusto niyang lubos na malaman ang mga kuwento ng kanyang lolo.

“Dala mo na ba?” Palaging gusto ng kanyang lolo na diretso agad sa usapan.

“Opo, dala ko po,” sagot ni Jaime sa boses na tulad ng isang nangangailangan nang umidlip.

“Mukhang naging matindi ang iyong pakikipagsapalaran.”

“Hindi niyo po alam kahit kalahati nun.. o baka alam po ninyo.”

“Tinakbuhan mo ba ang mga guwardiya ng Kamaritaan?”

“Siyempre po naman.”

“Hinamon mo ba ang mga anak ng Ulilangkalulua?”

“Dalawang beses po.”

“Si Ibabasag? Nakausap mo ba siya?”

“Ipinahahatid po niya ang kanyang pagmamahal at pinapasabi po niya na ‘salamat’.”

“Alam mo ba na isang beses ay tinulungan ko siyang magsilang ng dalawampung anak?”

“Opo, nabanggit po niya.”

“At paano naman ang–”

“Lolo, kung maaari po sana ay kainin niyo na po ang ugat.”

“Kayo talagang mga kabataan ngayon, palagi na lang umiiwas sa mga usapan. Alam mo ba noong panahon ko–”

“Sa tingin ko po ay sapat na ang nalalaman ko tungkol sa panahon na iyon.”

“Oh, ang mga kuwento na puwede kong sabihin.”

“Sabihin po ninyo ang mga iyan sa susunod na pagtitipon ng ating angkan.”

“Bakit kailangan pang mag-antay? Kumuha ka ng silya at makinig ka sa matandang lalaki.”

“Lolo?”

“Ano iyon?”

“Ipagpaumanhin po ninyo na tinawag ko po kayong sinungaling.”

“Huwag na. May mga bagay akong nagawa na kahit ako ay hindi makapaniwala.”

“Pero nangyari po talaga iyon?”

Napangiti ang lolo ni Jaime at sumenyas na siya ay maupo sa kanyang tabi.

“Sa palagay ko ay oras na para sa isa na namang kuwento.”

English Version

Everyone needs stories in their lives. It’s what makes them more human.

Anyone that disagrees might need to have their hearts reexamined.

That’s what Jaime’s lolo tells everyone, or at least everyone that listens.

His family loves him, of course. Every reunion he goes around to all of his grandchildren and tells them wonderful stories.
And they all listen.

Well, most of them do.

Jaime is a special case.

See, Jaime is the type of child whose parents spend too much time doing important adult things that they forget that they have a child at home.

Jaime got his first tablet at the age of four and his first cellphone at seven. His parents bought an unlimited data package and in their heads they thought that it would keep Jaime busy long enough to forget he was alone.

They were wrong, as most parents are when they have an only child. See they haven’t tested anything out yet, everything’s brand new.

And so Jaime sits in front of his lolo half-listening to his stories.
Even before the story ends Jaime interjects, “That’s not true!”
His cousins all look at him with the same resigned face. This isn’t the first time he’s interrupted a story and they know it won’t be the last.

Jaime’s lolo sighs, “What is it this time?” he says with a smile.

“There’s no such thing as an Engkanto, they’re made-up!” Jaime says.

“How do you know that?” his lolo replies.

“I read it on the internet!” because reading things on the internet is what you do when you have a tablet and unlimited data.

“Well it’s true, I swear on my mother,” Jaime’s lolo’s beamed.
“It can’t be true, and I know for sure!”

Meanwhile, all the other grandchildren were busy watching the spectacle. This was their favorite part of story time. Lolo and Jaime’s arguments could last all day and there were nothing if not entertaining.

“It’s true! I was taken to the balete tree and went to the realm of the engkanto!”

Jaime shakes his head vigorously. “There’s no such place! It’s not even on Google Maps!”

Lolo was a lawyer in a past life and there was no way he would lose to someone barely nine years old.

“If you had listened to my story you would know that their realm cannot be found by human technology.”

“I don’t need to listen to your story to know it’s made up.”
“Are you calling me a liar?”

“Well I’m not calling you a truther.”

“What does that even mean?!”

And on they went until it was time for dinner (and sometimes even during dinner, even Lola Anding’s Adobo couldn’t stop their arguments).

This scene played itself year after year.

That is, until one year when lolo was too sick to tell his story and the titos and titas talked about lolo in hushed sounds.
Jaime didn’t know what to do. No one had ever taught him how to let his anger out, so he took his tablet and his phone and tried to run away from the world.

His parents didn’t think there was anything wrong with him, after all teenagers are known to be masters at sulking.
So Jaime sulked and played loud music to try to make sense of his feelings, but none of it helped.

He would cut his classes to visit lolo in the hospital, because no matter how much they argued Jaime loved his lolo very much.

“I’m going to be fine,” his lolo would say through closed eyes.
“No you’re not.”

“Now why do you think that?”

“I read it on the internet.”

“I keep saying that you should stop hiding your head in your gadgets. There’s a whole world to explore if you look up.”
“You’re trying to distract me.”

“All that time on your phone and you’re still so observant.”
“Please don’t leave me lolo.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“That’s not what I read.”

“Life is lived in more than words, my boy.”

“I know what cancer is.”

“The internet can’t teach you everything.”

“It taught me enough.”

“So what does it say?”

“That you might not make it out of here alive.”

“I will.”

“Really?”

“Are you calling me a liar?”

“I..Lolo..” tears were starting to stream down Jaime’s face.

“Promise me you’ll do me one thing.”

“Anything.”

“Go to the balete tree in my backyard and watch the stars.”
“Lolo I’m being serious.”

“So am I. It’s time that you learned there are some things the internet can’t teach you.”

“Lolo..”

“Do you promise?” Lolo looked at him with a gaze that disintegrated the word ‘no’.

“I promise lolo.”

“And I promise I’ll be alright.”

The fluorescent lights in the hospital room flickered as Jaime’s parents entered the room. They didn’t know how to deal with a child that skipped school to see his grandfather, so they did what they thought was sensible and took away his gadgets.
Jaime didn’t mind. He had a promise to fulfill.

Lola Anding gave Jaime some tea to help him settle in. When he showed up at her door he didn’t know what to say, but he didn’t need to. Lolas always seem to know what you’re thinking and she gave a smile as she said, “Bring a jacket, it might get cold outside.”

Jaime thanked her and sat under the tree. It was late, but as everyone knows teenagers are masters of staying up through the night. He felt naked without his phone and tried to think of what his lolo said.

It’s time you learned something the internet can’t teach you.
What did he know? His phone still had buttons. Jaime knew everything that you ever need to know was on the internet.
Lolo’s house was far outside the city and Jaime wasn’t used to seeing so many shimmering lights in the night sky.

He wished he had his angry music to keep him company, but there was just the sound of rustling leaves and the occasional croak from a frog.

Jaime rested his head against the winding roots of the balete tree and closed his eyes.

When he opened them again a woman was standing in front of him. She glowed in the darkness, he had never seen anyone as beautiful as her before and his heart skipped a few beats. In these situations it paid off to have confidence and sureness, unfortunately Jaime had neither.

“Ummm..ahhh,” he managed to say.

“You must be Jaime, we’ve been expecting you,” the beautiful woman said.

“Excuse me?” Jaime had dreams before, everyone has, but he had never been in one so real. He pinched himself to try go back to the waking world and when that didn’t work he looked at the woman again.

“Don’t be frightened, your lolo told us you were coming.”

“He did?”

“Of course he did, and it is such a pleasure finally meeting our hero’s grandchild.”

“Your hero?”

“Yes, didn’t your lolo tell you?”

And in that moment it all came back to him. Years of stories rushing their way into his head. There was the one where lolo said he ate the black rice in the world of engkantos but managed to bargain his way out with some play money he had in his pocket, or the one where the engkanto hired him to keep the Bakunawa away so that they could have their moonlight dances.

“Do you mean all of it was true?” Jaime was bewildered.
“All that and more. Now, take my hand, we have something special for you.”

Jaime did as he was told. He still wasn’t sure if this was a dream, but there was no point in fighting. He wanted to know more about his lolo’s stories.

“So do you have it?” Lolo always wanted to get to the point.

“I do,” Jaime said in the voice of someone that really needed to take a nap.

“You sound like you’ve had quite the adventure.”

“You don’t know the half of it.. or maybe you do.”

“Did you run from the guards of Kamaritaan?”

“Of course.”

“Did you challenge the children of Ulilangkalulua?”

“Twice.”

“How about Ibabasag? Did you talk to her?”

“She sends her love and told me to tell you ‘thank you’”

“Did you know I helped her deliver 20 children one time?”

“Yes, she mentioned that.”

“And what about—–“

“Lolo, please just eat the root.”

“You young people these days, always trying to avoid conversation. You know back in my time—”

“I think I know enough about that time.”

“Oh the stories I could tell.”

“Tell them at the next family reunion.”

“Why wait? Grab that chair and listen to an old man.”

“Lolo?”

“What is it?”

“I’m sorry I called you a liar.”

“Don’t be, some of the things I did I don’t even believe myself.”

“But they did happen?”

Lolo gives Jaime a wry smile and motions to the seat beside him.

“I think it’s time for another story.”

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

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

*Note this story is in Tagalog

APOYKAMATAYANHILAKBOTAPOYAPOYAPOY

Nagsisigaw ang kabayo sa hangin. Alam na niya kung ano ang paparating pero wala pang kamalay-malay ang kanyang sakay. Sinubukan ng sakay na pakalmahin ang hayop pero hindi ito gumana. Kumaripas ng takbo ang kabayo papaloob ng kagubatan at ang kanyang sakay ay kumapit ng mahigpit.

KAMATAYANDUGOSAKITAPOY

Mas malakas na ngayon ang mga sigaw. Ang kabayo ay nakaramdam na ITO ay malapit na. ITO ang pinaka kinatatakutan ng kanilang uri sa lahat. Sinubukan ng kabayo na hanapin ang daan palabas ng kagubatan, na hindi alintana ang bigat sa kanyang likod. Naramdaman ng kabayo na papalapit na ang  mga yabag at naamoy na ang usok, kaya bumilis ang tibok ng kanyang puso.

APOYKAMATAYANDUGOAPOYDUGO

Hindi ito ordinaryong Tikbalang. ITO ay hindi ang sakim na Anggitay, ang patagong Tuwung, ang  matulin na Bawa, o ang tusong Tayho. Alam ng kabayo kung ano ito batay sa nananalaytay niyang dugo – ang likas na pakiramdam na ipinasa ng kanilang uri sa bawat henerasyon.

HILAKBOTSAKITAPOYAPOYAPOY

Bumagal ang pagtakbo ng kabayo. Nahulog ang kanyang sakay – maaaring patay o wala siyang malay. Masyadong takot ang kabayo sa paparating na titingin. Iniwan ng tapat na kabayo ang kanyang amo. Mas malakas ang kanyang pangamba kaysa sa kanilang pinagsamahan.

APOYSAKITKAMATAYAN

Hindi man lang lumingon ang kabayo habang taranta ito sa muling pagtakbo.
=———————————————-=

English Version

FIREDEATHTERRORFIREFIREFIRE

The horse screams in the air. It knows what’s coming but his rider is oblivious. The rider tries to calm his beast down but it doesn’t work. The horse darts through the forest thrashing wildly and his rider hangs on for dear life.

DEATHBLOODSICKNESSFIRE

The screams are louder this time. The horse can sense that IT is near. IT that their kind fear above all. The horse tries to find some path out of the forest, not even thinking about the weight on its back. The horse can feel the hoofbeats come nearer, it can smell the smoke, and its heart beats faster.

FIREDEATHBLOODFIREBLOOD

This is no ordinary Tikbalang. IT is not the greedy Anggitay, the stealthy Tuwung, the fleet Bawa or the cunning Tayho. The horse knows this in its blood, the animal instinct passed down from generations of its kind.

TERRORSICKNESSFIREFIREFIRE

The horse slows down to a gallop. His rider falls off him, maybe dead, maybe unconscious. The horse is too afraid of what will come to check. The loyal steed leaves its master. Primal fear is stronger than their bond.

FIRESICKNESSDEATHFIRE

The horse doesn’t even look back as it resumes its frenetic run.

The fire is near.

=——————————=

Inspired by the Binangenang entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

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

*Note this story is in Tagalog

May bago akong kaibigan.

Ang pangalan niya ay Aura. Bata siya na katulad ko, pero hindi ko siya nakita sa kapitbahayan namin noon.

Naisip ko na kakaiba na lagi siyang may dalang payong, tapos isinama niya akong lumipad na gamit ito. Napakasaya ang nangyari!

Sinabi niya sa akin na pwede kaming maglaro sa bahay niya at dinala niya ako sa isang malaking bato. Akala ko nagbibiro lang siya, pero nang hawakan niya ang bato, naging isang malaking palasyo ito. Sobrang nagulat ako!

Noong aalis na ako, binigyan niya ako ng madaming barya na pilak at pinilit niya akong ipangako na hindi ko sasabihin kung saan ko iyon nakuha sa kahit kanino. Sinabi niya na siya ay isang enki… enko…. engkantada at may mga masasamang mangyayari sa akin kapag nagsabi ako ng tungkol sa kanya.

Itinago ko ang mga barya sa ilalim ng aking kama, pero hindi ko inisip na iyon ay maganda. Magmula noon, nagkasakit si Lola at pumunta na sa langit. Si Kuya ay nabangga ng kotse at nasa ospital ngayon. Binabantayan siya ni Mama pero tingin ko ay nagkakasakit na din siya.

Gusto kong sabihin kay Papa ang tungkol kay Aura at baka may ginawa siya, pero nadidinig ko ang huni ng hangin at ang tunog ng payong niya sa labas ng aking bintana kapag gabi.

Nadidinig ko siyang tumatawa.

Hindi ako naniniwalang mabuti siyang kaibigan.

=———————————————=
English Version

I made a new friend.

Her name was Aura, she was a kid just like me but I never saw her around the neighborhood before.
I thought it was strange that she always carried an umbrella around, but then she took me flying with it. It was so much fun!

She told me we could play in her house and she took me to this big rock. I thought she was joking but when she touched it, it turned into a big palace. I was so surprised!

When I was about to leave she gave me so many silver coins and she made me promise not to tell anyone where I got them. She told me she was an enki-… enko…. engkantada and that bad things would happen to me if I told on her.
I kept the coins under my bed but I don’t think they were good coins. Since then, Lola got sick and went to heaven. Kuya had a car crash and now he’s in the hospital. Mama’s with him but I think she’s getting sick too.

I want to tell Papa about Aura and that maybe she did something, but every night I can hear the sound of the wind and her umbrella outside my window.
I can hear her laughing.

I don’t think she’s a very good friend.

=————————————————————=

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Ang lahat ng tao ay nangangailangan ng mga kuwento sa kanilang buhay. Dahil doon, sila ay nagiging mas tao.

Ang sino man na tututol ay baka nangangailangan na muling magsiyasat ng kanilang mga puso.

Iyon ang sinasabi ng lolo ni Jaime sa lahat, o kahit sino na nakikinig.

Mahal siya talaga ng kanyang pamilya. Sa bawat pagtitipon ng angkan, nilalapitan niya ang kanyang mga apo at sinasabihan ng mga nakamamanghang kuwento.

At nakikinig silang lahat.

Halos lahat sila.

Si Jaime ay espesyal na kaso.

Kung titingnang maigi, si Jaime ay ang tipo ng bata na may mga magulang na masyadong abala sa mga bagay na importante sa mga matanda kaya nakakalimutan nila na may kasama silang bata sa bahay.

Nakuha ni Jaime ang kanyang unang tablet noong siya ay apat na taon at ang una niyang cellphone noong siya ay pitong taon. Ang plano na binili ng kanyang mga magulang para sa datos ng internet ay walang limitasyon at inisip nila na ito ang pagkakaabalahan ni Jaime hanggang malimutan niya na siya ay mag-isa.

Nagkamali sila, tulad ng karamihan sa mga magulang na may nag-iisang anak. Kung tutuusin, hindi man lang nila sinubukang paganahin ang kahit na ano– lahat ay bago.

Naupo si Jaime sa harap ng kanyang lolo at bahagyang nakinig sa kanyang mga kuwento.

Bago pa man matapos ang kuwento, sumabat si Jaime. “Hindi po iyan totoo!”

Napatingin ang lahat ng mga pinsan niya sa kanya at batid sa kanilang mga mukha na sanay na sila. Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na ginambala niya ang kuwentuhan at alam nila na hindi ito ang huli.

Napabuntong-hininga ang lolo ni Jaime. “Ano na naman ngayon?,” tanong niya na nakangiti.

“Wala naman po talagang Engkanto– gawa-gawa lang po iyan!,” sabi ni Jaime.

“Paano mo naman nalaman?,” sagot ng kanyang lolo.

“Nabasa ko po sa internet!” Dahil ang pagbabasa ng mga bagay sa internet ang ginagawa kapag mayroon kang tablet at datos na walang limitasyon.

“Totoo naman iyan. Nanunumpa ako sa ngalan ng aking ina,” masayang sagot ng lolo ni Jaime.

“Hindi po iyan totoo, at sigurado po ako!”

Samantala, abala sa panonood ang ibang mga apo sa nangyayari.  Ito ang paborito nilang bahagi tuwing oras ng kuwentuhan. Ang pagtatalo ni Jaime at ng kanyang lolo ay halos abutin ng buong maghapon, at nakalilibang ito na pagmasdan.

“Totoo iyan! Ako ay dinala sa puno ng balete at nakarating sa kaharian ng mga engkanto!”

Matindi ang iling ni Jaime. “Wala pong lugar na ganyan! Hindi po iyan makikita sa Google Maps!”

Abogado ang lolo ni Jaime sa dati niyang buhay at hindi siya papayag na talunin ng isang bata na wala pa halos siyam na taong gulang.

“Kung nakinig ka lang sana sa aking kuwento, malalaman mo na ang kaharian ng mga engkanto ay hindi matatagpuan ng teknolohiya ng tao.”

“Hindi ko po kailangang pakinggan ang kuwento ninyo kasi alam ko po na iyon ay gawa-gawa lang.”

“Tinatawag mo ba akong sinungaling?”

“Hindi ko naman po sinabi na nagsasabi po kayo ng totoo.”

“Ano ang ibig mong sabihin?”

Ipinagpatuloy nila ito hanggang umabot na ng hapunan (at minsan kahit naghahapunan, ang adobo ni Lola Anding ay hindi kayang patigilin ang kanilang pagtatalo).

Ito ang eksena na nagaganap taon-taon.

Hanggang umabot ang taon na naging malubha ang karamdaman ng kanyang lolo kaya hindi na niya kayang magkuwento, at ang mga tiyuhin at mga tiyahin niya ay pabulong na pinag-uusapan ang kalagayan ng kanyang lolo.

Hindi malaman ni Jaime ang kanyang gagawin. Walang nagturo sa kanya kung paano ilabas ang kanyang galit, kaya kinuha niya ang kanyang tablet at cellphone para subukang takasan ang mundo.

Hindi naisip ng kanyang mga magulang na may problema siya, dahil ang mga tinedyer ay kilala sa pagiging bihasa sa pagmukmok.

Si Jaime ay nagmukmok at nagpatugtog ng malakas na musika para subukang ibsan ang kanyang nararamdaman, pero wala itong naitulong sa kanya.

Hindi niya pinasukan ang ilang klase niya para mabisita ang kanyang lolo sa ospital, dahil sa kabila ng kanilang mga pagtatalo ay mahal na mahal niya ito.

“Magiging maayos din ang lagay ko,” sabi ng kanyang lolo habang nakapikit.

“Hindi po totoo iyan.”

“Ngayon, bakit mo naman naisip iyan?”

“Nabasa ko po sa internet.”

“Lagi ko sa iyong sinasabi na huwag mong isubsob ang ulo mo sa iyong mga gadyet. Napakalawak ng mundong sisiyasatin kapag tumingin ka pataas.”

“Sinusubukan niyo po akong ilihis.”

“Mahaba ang oras na inilalaan mo sa iyong cellphone at patuloy ka pa ring mapagmasid.”

“Pakiusap, huwag niyo po akong iiwan, lolo.”

“Wala naman akong ibang pupuntahan.”

“Hindi po iyan ang nabasa ko.”

“Ang buhay ay higit pa sa mga salita, apo.”

“Alam ko po kung ano ang cancer.”

“Hindi kayang ituro ng internet ang lahat ng bagay.”

“Sapat naman po ang naituro sa akin. “

“Ano ba ang sinasabi doon?”

“Na baka hindi na po kayo makakalabas dito ng buhay.”

“Kakayanin ko ito.”

“Talaga po?”

“Tinatawag mo ba akong sinungaling?”

“L..Lolo…” Nagsimulang umagos ang luha sa mukha ni Jaime.

“Ipangako mo sa akin na may gagawin kang isang bagay.”

“Kahit na ano po.”

“Pumunta ka sa puno ng balete sa aking likod-bahay at panoorin ang mga bituin.”

“Lolo, seryoso po ako.”

“Seryoso din naman ako. Panahon na para matuto ka ng mga bagay na hindi kayang ituro ng internet.”

“Lolo..”

“Nangangako ka ba?” Tinitigan siya ng kanyang lolo na kayang gunawin ang salitang ‘hindi’.

“Ipinapangako ko po, lolo.”

“At ipinapangako ko na ako ay magiging maayos.”

Ang mga ilaw sa loob ng kuwarto ng ospital ay umandap-andap habang papasok ang mga magulang ni Jaime. Hindi nila alam kung ano ang gagawin sa isang bata na tumakas sa kanyang klase para makita ang kanyang lolo, kaya’t ginawa nila ang sa tingin nila ay tama at kinuha ang kanyang mga gadyet.

Wala nang pakialam si Jaime. Mayroon siyang pangako na kailangang tuparin.

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Binigyan ni Lola Anding ng tsaa si Jaime para maging komportable ang kanyang pamamalagi. Noong nagpakita si Jaime sa harap ng pintuan ng kanyang lola, hindi niya alam ang kanyang sasabihin, pero hindi na niya kailangan. Tila palaging alam ng mga lola ang iyong iniisip. Napangiti ang kanyang lola habang sinasabi, “Magdala ka ng jacket. Baka lumamig sa labas.”

Pinasalamatan ni Jaime ang kanyang lola at naupo sa ilalim ng puno. Malalim na ang gabi, pero alam naman ng lahat na ang mga tinedyer ay bihasa sa pananatiling gising sa magdamag. Pakiramdam niya ay nakahubad siya dahil wala siyang dalang cellphone. Sinubukan niya na lamang alalahanin ang sinabi ng kanyang lolo.

Panahon na para matuto ka ng mga bagay na hindi kayang ituro ng internet.

Ano nga ba ang alam niya? Ang kanyang cellphone ay luma at de-pindot pa.  Alam ni Jaime na ang lahat ng kailangan niyang malaman ay mahahanap naman niya sa internet.

Malayo sa siyudad ang bahay ng lolo ni Jaime. Hindi sanay si Jaime sa mga kumukutitap na liwanag mula sa madilim na kalangitan.

Gusto niya sanang samahan siya ng kanyang musikang puno ng galit, pero ang nadidinig niya lang ay ang kaluskos ng mga dahon at ang paminsan-minsang pagkokak ng palaka.

Isinandal ni Jaime ang ulo niya sa mga paikot na ugat ng puno ng balete at siya ay pumikit.

Nang dumilat siya, may isang dalaga na nakatayo sa kanyang harapan. Kumikinang siya sa kadiliman. Wala pang nakita si Jaime na kasingganda niya at bumilis ang pintig ng kanyang puso. Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon, nakatutulong na may kumpiyansa at tiwala sa sarili, pero sa kasamaang-palad ay parehong wala kay Jaime ang mga iyon.

“Ummm..ahhh,” ang tangi niyang nasambit.

“Marahil ay ikaw si Jaime. Inaasahan namin ang iyong pagdating,“ sabi ng magandang dalaga.

“Paumahin po?” Nananaginip naman si Jaime noon, tulad ng lahat, pero wala pa siyang naging panaginip na parang totoo. Kinurot niya ang kanyang sarili para magising at nang hindi tumalab, tiningnan niyang muli ang dalaga.

“Huwag kang matakot. Nasabi sa amin ng iyong lolo na ikaw ay dadating.”

“Sinabi po niya?”

“Sinabi niya talaga iyon, at lubos ang aming kagalakan na makilala sa wakas ang apo ng aming bayani.”

“Ang inyo pong bayani?”

“Oo. Hindi ba sinabi ng iyong lolo?”

Sa pagkakataong iyon, naalala niya ang lahat. Ang mga kwentong naipon ng madaming taon ay bigla niyang naisip. Mayroong kuwento ang kanyang lolo na kumain daw siya ng itim na kanin sa mundo ng mga engkanto pero nagawa niyang makipagtawaran para siya ay makauwi nang ibigay niya ang kaunting laruang pera sa kanyang bulsa, o ang kuwento kung saan nakipagsundo daw ang mga engkanto sa kanya para ilayo ang Bakunawa ng sa gayon ay makapagsayaw sila sa ilalim ng liwanag ng buwan.

“Ibig niyo po bang sabihin ay totoo ang lahat ng iyon?” Si Jaime ay naguluhan.

“Lahat ng iyon at higit pa. Ngayon, kunin mo ang aking kamay.  May ibibigay akong natatangi sa iyo.”

Sinunod ni Jaime ang iniutos sa kanya. Hindi pa rin siya sigurado kung nananaginip lang siya, pero wala siyang dahilan para manlaban. Gusto niyang lubos na malaman ang mga kuwento ng kanyang lolo.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

“Dala mo na ba?” Palaging gusto ng kanyang lolo na diretso agad sa usapan.

“Opo, dala ko po,” sagot ni Jaime sa boses na tulad ng isang nangangailangan nang umidlip.

“Mukhang naging matindi ang iyong pakikipagsapalaran.”

“Hindi niyo po alam kahit kalahati nun.. o baka alam po ninyo.”

“Tinakbuhan mo ba ang mga guwardiya ng Kamaritaan?”

“Siyempre po naman.”

“Hinamon mo ba ang mga anak ng Ulilangkalulua?”

“Dalawang beses po.”

“Si Ibabasag? Nakausap mo ba siya?”

“Ipinahahatid po niya ang kanyang pagmamahal at pinapasabi po niya na ‘salamat’.”

“Alam mo ba na isang beses ay tinulungan ko siyang magsilang ng dalawampung anak?”

“Opo, nabanggit po niya.”

“At paano naman ang–”

“Lolo, kung maaari po sana ay kainin niyo na po ang ugat.”

“Kayo talagang mga kabataan ngayon, palagi na lang umiiwas sa mga usapan. Alam mo ba noong panahon ko–”

“Sa tingin ko po ay sapat na ang nalalaman ko tungkol sa panahon na iyon.”

“Oh, ang mga kuwento na puwede kong sabihin.”

“Sabihin po ninyo ang mga iyan sa susunod na pagtitipon ng ating angkan.”

“Bakit kailangan pang mag-antay? Kumuha ka ng silya at makinig ka sa matandang lalaki.”

“Lolo?”

“Ano iyon?”

“Ipagpaumanhin po ninyo na tinawag ko po kayong sinungaling.”

“Huwag na. May mga bagay akong nagawa na kahit ako ay hindi makapaniwala.”

“Pero nangyari po talaga iyon?”

Napangiti ang lolo ni Jaime at sumenyas na siya ay maupo sa kanyang tabi.

“Sa palagay ko ay oras na para sa isa na namang kuwento.”

=—————————————-=

English Version

Everyone needs stories in their lives. It’s what makes them more human.

Anyone that disagrees might need to have their hearts reexamined.

That’s what Jaime’s lolo tells everyone, or at least everyone that listens.

His family loves him, of course. Every reunion he goes around to all of his grandchildren and tells them wonderful stories.

And they all listen.

Well, most of them do.

Jaime is a special case.

See, Jaime is the type of child whose parents spend too much time doing important adult things that they forget that they have a child at home.

Jaime got his first tablet at the age of four and his first cellphone at seven. His parents bought an unlimited data package and in their heads they thought that it would keep Jaime busy long enough to forget he was alone.

They were wrong, as most parents are when they have an only child. See they haven’t tested anything out yet, everything’s brand new.

And so Jaime sits in front of his lolo half-listening to his stories.

Even before the story ends Jaime interjects, “That’s not true!”

His cousins all look at him with the same resigned face. This isn’t the first time he’s interrupted a story and they know it won’t be the last.

Jaime’s lolo sighs, “What is it this time?” he says with a smile.

“There’s no such thing as an Engkanto, they’re made-up!” Jaime says.

“How do you know that?” his lolo replies.

“I read it on the internet!” because reading things on the internet is what you do when you have a tablet and unlimited data.

“Well it’s true, I swear on my mother,” Jaime’s lolo’s beamed.

“It can’t be true, and I know for sure!”

Meanwhile, all the other grandchildren were busy watching the spectacle. This was their favorite part of story time. Lolo and Jaime’s arguments could last all day and there were nothing if not entertaining.

“It’s true! I was taken to the balete tree and went to the realm of the engkanto!”

Jaime shakes his head vigorously. “There’s no such place! It’s not even on Google Maps!”

Lolo was a lawyer in a past life and there was no way he would lose to someone barely nine years old.

“If you had listened to my story you would know that their realm cannot be found by human technology.”

“I don’t need to listen to your story to know it’s made up.”

“Are you calling me a liar?”

“Well I’m not calling you a truther.”

“What does that even mean?!”

And on they went until it was time for dinner (and sometimes even during dinner, even Lola Anding’s Adobo couldn’t stop their arguments).

This scene played itself year after year.

That is, until one year when lolo was too sick to tell his story and the titos and titas talked about lolo in hushed sounds.

Jaime didn’t know what to do. No one had ever taught him how to let his anger out, so he took his tablet and his phone and tried to run away from the world.

His parents didn’t think there was anything wrong with him, after all teenagers are known to be masters at sulking.

So Jaime sulked and played loud music to try to make sense of his feelings, but none of it helped.

He would cut his classes to visit lolo in the hospital, because no matter how much they argued Jaime loved his lolo very much.

“I’m going to be fine,” his lolo would say through closed eyes.

“No you’re not.”

“Now why do you think that?”

“I read it on the internet.”

“I keep saying that you should stop hiding your head in your gadgets. There’s a whole world to explore if you look up.”

“You’re trying to distract me.”

“All that time on your phone and you’re still so observant.”

“Please don’t leave me lolo.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“That’s not what I read.”

“Life is lived in more than words, my boy.”

“I know what cancer is.”

“The internet can’t teach you everything.”

“It taught me enough.”

“So what does it say?”

“That you might not make it out of here alive.”

“I will.”

“Really?”

“Are you calling me a liar?”

“I..Lolo..” tears were starting to stream down Jaime’s face.

“Promise me you’ll do me one thing.”

“Anything.”

“Go to the balete tree in my backyard and watch the stars.”

“Lolo I’m being serious.”

“So am I. It’s time that you learned there are some things the internet can’t teach you.”

“Lolo..”

“Do you promise?” Lolo looked at him with a gaze that disintegrated the word ‘no’.

“I promise lolo.”

“And I promise I’ll be alright.”

The fluorescent lights in the hospital room flickered as Jaime’s parents entered the room. They didn’t know how to deal with a child that skipped school to see his grandfather, so they did what they thought was sensible and took away his gadgets.

Jaime didn’t mind. He had a promise to fulfill.

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Lola Anding gave Jaime some tea to help him settle in. When he showed up at her door he didn’t know what to say, but he didn’t need to. Lolas always seem to know what you’re thinking and she gave a smile as she said, “Bring a jacket, it might get cold outside.”

Jaime thanked her and sat under the tree. It was late, but as everyone knows teenagers are masters of staying up through the night. He felt naked without his phone and tried to think of what his lolo said.

It’s time you learned something the internet can’t teach you.

What did he know? His phone still had buttons. Jaime knew everything that you ever need to know was on the internet.

Lolo’s house was far outside the city and Jaime wasn’t used to seeing so many shimmering lights in the night sky.

He wished he had his angry music to keep him company, but there was just the sound of rustling leaves and the occasional croak from a frog.

Jaime rested his head against the winding roots of the balete tree and closed his eyes.

When he opened them again a woman was standing in front of him. She glowed in the darkness, he had never seen anyone as beautiful as her before and his heart skipped a few beats. In these situations it paid off to have confidence and sureness, unfortunately Jaime had neither.

“Ummm..ahhh,” he managed to say.

“You must be Jaime, we’ve been expecting you,” the beautiful woman said.

“Excuse me?” Jaime had dreams before, everyone has, but he had never been in one so real. He pinched himself to try go back to the waking world and when that didn’t work he looked at the woman again.

“Don’t be frightened, your lolo told us you were coming.”

“He did?”

“Of course he did, and it is such a pleasure finally meeting our hero’s grandchild.”

“Your hero?”

“Yes, didn’t your lolo tell you?”

And in that moment it all came back to him. Years of stories rushing their way into his head. There was the one where lolo said he ate the black rice in the world of engkantos but managed to bargain his way out with some play money he had in his pocket, or the one where the engkanto hired him to keep the Bakunawa away so that they could have their moonlight dances.

“Do you mean all of it was true?” Jaime was bewildered.

“All that and more. Now, take my hand, we have something special for you.”

Jaime did as he was told. He still wasn’t sure if this was a dream, but there was no point in fighting. He wanted to know more about his lolo’s stories.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

“So do you have it?” Lolo always wanted to get to the point.

“I do,” Jaime said in the voice of someone that really needed to take a nap.

“You sound like you’ve had quite the adventure.”

“You don’t know the half of it.. or maybe you do.”

“Did you run from the guards of Kamaritaan?”

“Of course.”

“Did you challenge the children of Ulilangkalulua?”

“Twice.”

“How about Ibabasag? Did you talk to her?”

“She sends her love and told me to tell you ‘thank you’”

“Did you know I helped her deliver 20 children one time?”

“Yes, she mentioned that.”

“And what about—–“

“Lolo, please just eat the root.”

“You young people these days, always trying to avoid conversation. You know back in my time—”

“I think I know enough about that time.”

“Oh the stories I could tell.”

“Tell them at the next family reunion.”

“Why wait? Grab that chair and listen to an old man.”

“Lolo?”

“What is it?”

“I’m sorry I called you a liar.”

“Don’t be, some of the things I did I don’t even believe myself.”

“But they did happen?”

Lolo gives Jaime a wry smile and motions to the seat beside him.

“I think it’s time for another story.”

—————————————————————————————————————————–

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

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

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Nadinig mo ang kanilang boses na tinatawag ang iyong pangalan at ikaw ay napangiti. Naisip mong ito ay isa na namang gabi ng kasiyahan sa labas ng siyudad. Hindi mo na maalala kung saan mo sila nakilala o kung kailan nangyari iyon, pero hindi na mahalaga, dahil ang alam mo lang ay ang kasabikan – kung paano tumibok ang iyong puso kapag kasama mo sila, at kung paano ang mundo ay tila bukas at maganda muli.

Maganda. Sila ay napakaganda… at mayaman. Sila ay halos sobrang ganda para maging totoo. Mayroon silang mga mata na kaya kang akitin sa loob ng segundo na ito ay iyong tingnan. Halos takot kang hawakan ang kanilang damit – na parang masisira kapag hinawakan mo ang maselang tela. Lumiliwanag sila sa ilaw at tingin mo ay parang gawa sila sa ginto. Baka nga totoo.

Ngayon gabi, dinala ka nila sa ibang lugar. Sinabi nila na may pagdiriwang sa bahay. Sa iyong pagdating, hindi mo maihalintulad ang bahay sa mga nakita mo noon. Ito ay marilag, napakalaki, at mamahalin. Hindi mo lubos na maisip ang akmang salita para ilarawan ang iyong paghanga na nakapasok ka sa loob.

Puno ang pagdiriwang ng mga kahalintulad nila ang kagandahan, pero may ilan din na kakaiba ang anyo. Walang nagsabi sa iyo na ito ay isang pagtitipon kung saan ang mga kasali ay nakabihis ng nakakatakot na kasuotan. Nakararami ang nagbihis bilang mangkukulam o aswang, kaya pakiramdam mo ay hindi akma ang iyong kasuotan para sa okasyon. Hindi naman ito inalintana ng iyong mga bagong kaibigan. Sinabi nila na napakahalaga na ikaw ay nakarating.

Binigyan ka nila ng pagkain na parang isang uri ng itim na kanin, pero mas alam mo kung ano iyon.  Nasa kanila ang pinakamagagandang bagay, pati pinakamagandang mga droga. Kumain ka ng walang pag-aatubili. Ang lakas ng iyong tama ay kamangha-mangha. Naramdaman mo na nagsisimulang magbago at gumalaw ang iyong kapaligiran. Ang lahat ng tao ay parang nagbabago – ang kanilang mga buhok at mga mata ay nagiging kulay puti. Ikaw ay nakaramdam ng paglutang – parang ikaw ay inaangat mula sa sahig. Ang tugtugin ay tila lalong lumalakas.

Tumingin ka sa iyong relo. Alas-dos na ng umaga. Masyado ka nang ginabi. Alam mong dapat ka nang umuwi. Kailangan mo nang bumalik sa karaniwan at nakakasawang buhay na kasama ang iyong karaniwan at nakasasawang mga kaibigan. Kahit papaano ay wala ka na ding pakialam. Mukhang hindi masamang isipin na manatili na lamang.

Ayaw mo nang umuwi ng bahay.

Tingin mo ay hindi mo na ito magagawa.

=——————————————————————=

English Version

You hear their voices calling your name and you smile. Another night of fun out in the city, you think. You don’t remember where you met them or when that was, but it doesn’t matter, all you know is the thrill. How it makes your heart beat when you’re with them, how the world is somehow open and beautiful again.

Beautiful. They’re so beautiful. And rich. These people are almost too good to be true. They have eyes that just captivate you within a second of looking at them. You’re almost afraid to touch their clothes, like touching them might destroy the delicate fabric. They shine so brightly in the light you almost think they might be made of gold. Maybe they are.

Tonight they take you somewhere different. They say it’s a house party. When you arrive it’s unlike any house you’ve ever seen before. Regal, spacious, luxurious, you can’t even find the words to describe how amazing it is just to be inside.

The party is filled with equally beautiful people, but also some strange ones. No one told you it would be a costume party. So many people dressed as witches and aswang that you feel under-dressed at this occasion. Your new friends don’t mind though, they say it’s so great to have you here.

They offer you some food, it looks like some kind of black rice, but you know better. They have all the best things, including the best drugs. You eat it without a second thought. The high is amazing. You feel things start to change and move around you. Everyone seems to be changing, their hair and eyes turning white. You can feel yourself floating, like you’re being lifted off the floor. The music feels like it’s getting louder.

You look at your watch. It’s 2am. Getting late. You know you have to get home. Have to go back to your normal, boring life, with your normal, boring friends. But somehow you don’t care anymore, it doesn’t seem like a bad idea to stay.

You never want to go home.

You don’t think you can.

=——————————————–=

Story inspired by the Dalaketnon entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos.

Illustration and Watercolor by Laura Katigbak
FB: Rabbit Heart
IG: https://www.instagram.com/rabbitheartart/

*Note this story is in Tagalog

May mga munting liwanag na gumuhit mula sa madilim na kalangitan – mga piping saksi sa tanawin na parehong may hiwaga at wala: isang dalaga na isinilang ng liwanag ng buwan at isang binata na isinilang ng tao ang nakaupo sa harap ng isa’t isa. Naudyok na mag-usisa ang mga alitaptap at sila ay lumipad papalapit upang pakinggan ang usapan ng magkapares.

“Nakita kita kahapon.”

“Ginawa mo?”

“Ikaw ay sumayaw sa ilalim ng liwanag ng buwan.”

“Hindi ko naisip na may taong nanonood.”

“Muntik ko nang makalimutan kung gaano ka kaganda.”

“Huwag mong gawin iyan.”

“Ikaw ay kumukuti-kutitap sa pagitan ng liwanag ng buwan at gumalaw patungo sa liwanag. Gusto sana kitang batiin, pero sa isang iglap, nawala ka.”

“Kinailangan kong bumalik.”

“Iyan din ang sinabi mo sa akin noon.”

“Iyon ang katotohanan noon, tulad ngayon. Ito ay isang pagkakamali.”

“Sabihin mo lang sa akin ang isang bagay. Naging mahalaga ba iyon?”

“Ang alin ang naging mahalaga?”

“Ikaw at ako?”

“….”

“Nakikiusap ako na ako’y tingnan mo. Ipinangako natin na tayo ay magiging tapat sa isa’t isa.”

“Matagal na panahon na iyon.”

“Pero naaalala mo pa.”

“…”

“Pakiusap?”

“Oo. Iyon nga.”

“Hindi iyan ang gusto mo talagang sabihin. Hindi mo ba maalala kung paano ang nangyari dati? Noon ay ikaw lang at ako –”

“Bulag ka ba para hindi makita ang mga nangyayari? Walang ibang paraan para ang mga pangyayari ay magpatuloy.”

“Nagmamahalan tayo noon.”

“Ikaw ay nagkaroon ng malubhang karamdaman.”

“…”

“Huwag mo akong tingnan ng ganyan.  Ganoon talaga ang mangyayari. Kapag ang isa sa amin ay umibig sa isa sa inyo –”

“Ito ay matatapos.”

“Lagi itong natatapos.”

“Maari ka bang manatili, kahit sandali lang?”

“Kaya kong gawin iyan.”

Gumuhit ang liwanag sa direksyon ng magkapares. Alam ng mga alitaptap na narinig ng dalaga na isinilang ng liwanag ng buwan na sila ay nakikiusisa, pero wala silang pakialam. Lumipad sila patungo sa kalangitan at sumayaw sa kanilang liwanag, habang sinasabi ang kuwento ng pagkabigo at pag-ibig sa sinuman na nagnanais na makinig.

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English Version

Wisps of light streaked through the night sky, standing silent witness to a sight both strange and not: a daughter of moonlight and a son of man sitting across from each other. Curiosity filled the fireflies and they flew closer to the pair to hear.

“I saw you yesterday.”

“Did you?”

“You were dancing in the moonlight.”

“I didn’t think anyone was watching.”

“I almost forgot how beautiful you were.”

“Don’t do this.”

“You were flickering between the moonbeams, moving through the light. I wanted to say hello, but in a moment, you were gone.”

“I needed to go back.”

“That’s what you told me before.”

“It was as true then as it is now. This was a mistake.”

“Just tell me one thing. Was it worth it?”

“Was it worth what?”

“You and me?”

“….”

“Look at me, please. We promised each other that we’d be honest.”

“That was a long time ago.”

“But you still remember.”

“…”

“Please?”

“Yes. It was.”

“You can’t mean that. Don’t you remember how things were? It was just you and me—“

“Are you so blind that you couldn’t see what was happening? There was no way things could have continued.”

“We were in love.”

“You were dying.”

“…”

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s the way things are. If one of us falls in love with one of you—“

“It will end.”

“It always ends.”

“Could you stay, just for a little while?”

“I can do that.”

Light streaked from the direction of the pair. The fireflies knew that the daughter of moonlight heard them eavesdropping, but they didn’t care. They flew to the skies and danced with their lights, telling a story of loss and love to anyone that would take the time to hear it.

=————————————–=

Inspired by the Engkanto description in Bikol Beliefs and Folkways: A Showcase of Tradition. Nasayao 2010.

Engkanto Illustration by Pia BMorante

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Hinabol ni Limbas ang kanyang huli sa karaniwang niyang bilis. Mayroon siyang pinanghahawakan na reputasyon na walang nakakatakas sa kanyang mga pana, at hindi siya papayag na ito ang maging una. Akala ng baboy damo ay makakatakas siya sa pamamagitan ng pagtakbo pababa sa matarik na burol, pero masyadong alam ni Limbas ang kagubatan, at mayroon siyang madadaanan para mahabol ang baboy damo sa maikling oras.

Tumakbo siya sa pamilyar na daanan hanggang sa siya ay nagulimihanan. Ang madalas niyang puntahan na daanan ay nagbago ang itsura, kaya siya ay nalito sa sarili niyang kagubatan.

“Naliligaw ka ba, estranghero?,” tanong ng isang lalaki na may mahabang balbas. Halos madaling naisip ni Limbas na hindi tao ang kanyang kausap. Mayroong hindi mapagkakailang awra ang lalaki na nakapalibot sa kanya. Ito ay engkanto, pero palakaibigan siya, naisip in Limbas.

“Kamusta po kayo, engkanto?,” tanong ni Limbas. “Mukhang ako po ay naligaw sa inyong kaharian.”

“Ah, kilala mo ang mga tulad ko. Hindi ako aasa ng mas mababa mula sa dakilang Limbas– ang batikang mangangaso. Gusto kong imbitahan ka sa aking tirahan.”

“Salamat po sa iyong kabutihan, pero bakit po ninyo ako iniimbita? Sigurado po ako na wala kayong interes sa isang abang tao na tulad ko.”

“Diyan ka nagkakamali, kaibigan. Napapanood kita habang ikaw ay nangangaso at ito ay nagbibigay ng matinding  kaaliwan dito sa amin. Ang iyong bilis at lakas habang hinahabol ang iyong huli ay parang isang sayaw, at nais kitang pasalamatan sa pagpapamalas ng iyong galing.”

Nabigla si Limbas. Ang alam lang niya ay kailangan niyang tanggapin ang imbitasyon ng enkanto. Ang mga kuwento na kanyang naalala ay nagpapayo na kailangan niyang palubagin ang mga ispirito, at huwag gawing kaaway ang kahit sino sa kanila.

Ang bahay ng engkanto ay nababalot ng karingalan.  Hindi pa siya nakakita ng mga hayop na puro kulay puti, o isang plantasyon ng kakaw na napakalawak.

Ang pinakamangha-mangha ay ang karwahe ng engkanto. Ito ay hinihila ng dalawang puting kabayo na kayang dalhin ka sa kahit saan sa Luzon. Sa tuwing sumasama siya sa pinupuntahan ng engkanto, lagi siyang binibigyan nito ng pabuya.

“Kailangan mong tandaan na halikan ang kamay ng iyong mga magulang sa tuwing bibigyan mo sila ng mga regalo,” sabi ng enkanto. “Kung hindi mo ito gagawin, ang mga dala mong mga regalo ay magbabago ang anyo.”

Sinunod ni Limbas ang bawat bilin sa kanya at bumalik sa kanyang mga magulang kada ikapitong araw. Sa bawat uwi niya sa kanilang tahanan, lagi siyang may ibang regalo na ibinibigay.

“Kaibigan, ibigay mo itong mga gintong bola bilang kasunod mong regalo sa iyong mga magulang,” sabi ng engkanto at binigay kay Limbas ang makikinang na bagay.

“Salamat po, kaibigang engkanto. Sigurado po ako na mamamangha sila sa kagandahan ng mga ito.”

Sa kasabikan ni Limbas, nakalimutan niya ang ibinilin ng engkanto. Hindi niya hinalikan ang kamay ng kanyang mga magulang bago ibigay ang mga regalo.

Nagbago ang anyo ng mga gintong bola at naging mga bunga ng puno ng anahaw.

Pinanood ng engkanto ang mga nangyari at siya ay napailing. “Kailan kaya matututo ang mga tao na makinig?,” malungkot niyang sabi.

=——————————————=

English Version

Limbas was chasing his quarry with his usual swiftness, he had a reputation to uphold that no prey of his could escape his arrows, and he wasn’t about to let this one be the first. The boar thought it could evade him by running down the steep hill, but Limbas knew this forest well, there was a path that would let him catch up to the boar in little time.

He ran through familiar ground until he was confused. The path that he had taken so many times before had changed, he could not get his bearings in his own forest.

“Are you lost there stranger?” A bearded man asked. Almost immediately, Limbas knew that he was not human. There was an unmistakable aura around him, this was an engkanto, though a friendly one, Limbas thought.

“Hello, engkanto,” Limbas replied, “I am lost in what seems to be your realm.”

“Ahh, you know of my kind. I would expect no less from the great Limbas, the famed hunter. I would like to invite you to my house.”

“I thank you for your kindness, but why are you inviting me? Surely you have no interest in a lowly human such as myself?”

“That is where you are wrong, my friend. I have watched you hunt and it is great entertainment for my kind, your swiftness and strength when chasing your prey is like a dance, and I would like to thank you for showing me your prowess.”

Limbas was taken aback, all that he knew was he should accept the engkanto’s invitation. All the stories he could remember reminded him to appease the spirits, not make enemies out of them.
The house of the engkanto was bathed in magnificence. He had never seen animals that were all white in color, nor a cacao plantation that was so vast.

The most wondrous thing there was the engkanto’s carriage. It was pulled by two white horses and could take one anywhere in Luzon. Each time he would accompany the engkanto on one of his trips, he was given a reward.

“You must remember to kiss the hands of your parents before giving them gifts,” the engkanto said, “If you do not do this, the gifts you possess will not be the same.”

Limbas followed the instructions to the letter, returning to his parents after seven-day periods. Each time he came home, he had a different gift to give.

“My friend, have these golden balls, as your next gifts to your parents,” the engkanto gave Limbas the shiny objects.

“Thank you, friend engkanto, I am sure they would marvel at these beauties.”

Yet, excited as he was, Limbas forgot the instruction of the engkanto. He did not kiss their hands before giving them the gifts.

The golden balls changed into the fruits of the anahaw tree.

The engkanto, watching all of this transpire, shook his head. “When will these humans ever learn to listen?” he said sadly.

=————————————————-=

Adapted from ‘Banahaw’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Engkanto (Tagalog) Illustration by Ysa Peñas
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