*Note this story is in Cuyonon

Sa primiro, ing pilayan tana.

Masyadong malabég ang adlaw. Masyadong marakéng mga naynabo, suroayan, orogiawan, ig sobrang rakéng mga dapat taposon sa opisina. Sobra ra anang kalipay datong makita na anang kama. Anang ololonan agaaimbitar kanana na magpakon sa mga logar na kung sadin ara kakaistorbo kanana, logar nga kung sadin kakatinir tana paz.

Sa ikarwa, kabati tana kanta.

Ing adlékan tana sa daman-daman, piro anang kapilay maman dén anang ing papamatian. Ang bégat ang kalibotan midyo maman ang aga dés kanana pababa, ig midyo aga-ukay anang lébéngan. Iba ang gabing dia, makon tana sa anang ololonan. Kakapanari tana rén da. Mintras loay-loay tana kakakatorog, abéréng tana kung ayamo anang kamalay agapatogtog mabaskég na kanta. Sa anang éna-éna, akikita na anang sadili na magariklamo kinaromanan.

Sa ikatlo, mi mga anino.

Tatlo ka adlaw, piro ara tana para éngéd kakakatorog. Indi tana pa ra éngéd kapakon sa logar na anang ingtitingwa mintras apiréng. Tana ay sa logar na kung sadin indi tana kakalyék. Sa logar tana na ara tana kontrol. Ag séléng tana sa kilid anang kama, sa mantsa ang kapi ig naulog na asukar sa salég, ig ingkon na sa anang sadili, ayos ako lamang. Agpangadi tana na basipa ayos tana lamang manda.

Sa ikaapat, ag kadlaw tana.

Ag ngirit ang malam sa anang binuatan, mi saka kalag tana romang angkénén. Pirmi sanda kakamata, ig ing isip anda na ara rén ang daman-daman. Piro sa oras na agpiréng sanda roman, diyan tana para saradoan ang puertan. Ing batak na anang lawas, ig ing lébasan ang ibang mga kalag na aga paranaw-panaw sa kalibotan ang taginép. Saka daligmata ang ag sugod, halos magbonggoan sanda, ig ing silotan na ang kada mata ang padlék. Masyadong malabég ang gabing dia, maliag tana lamang ag panari.

=—————-=

English Version

The first time, she was tired.

The day had been too long. Too many memories of shouting and fights, too many deadlines she couldn’t ignore. It had been pure joy when she finally saw her bed. The pillows invited her to journey with them to places where her boss couldn’t call her, somewhere she could finally be at peace.  The last thing she saw was the light from her phone gently going dark.

The second time, she heard music.

She was afraid of the nightmare, but exhaustion overtook her senses. The weight of the world felt like it was pushing her down and digging a grave for her. Tonight would be different, she told her pillow. She would finally be able to rest. As she drifted off, she wondered why her neighbors were playing such loud music. In her head, she imagined complaining the next day.

The third time, there were shadows.

It was three days and still she did not sleep. She could not bring herself to go to the place she had been when her eyes were closed. It was a place where she couldn’t move her body. It was a place where she had no control. She looked at her bedside, at the coffee stained floor and the crumpled packets of sugar and she told herself she would be okay. She prayed she would be okay.

The fourth time, she laughed.

The old woman smiled at her handiwork, another soul for her to claim. They would always wake up and think that the nightmare has passed, but once they close their eyes, she would be there to block the door. She hauled her corpulent frame, and passed the other spirits roaming through the dream world. A daligmata rushed through, nearly ran into her and she cursed each eye on the beast. This night had gone on for too long, she needed some rest.

=—————————–=

*Cuyonon is a regional Visayan language spoken on the coast of Palawan, and the Cuyo Islands in the Philippines.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Cuyonon Translation provided by Arlan Belen
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Arlan Belen

Story inspired by Batibat entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Batibat Illustration by Leandro Geniston
FB page: That Guy With A Pen

Watercolor by Alexa Garde
Website: www.Lexa.us

*Note this story is in Cuyonon

“Sa matod lang, indi ko dia makita bilang problima.” Makon si Angela. “Mas maite ateng magiging trabaho.”

Ikalimang bisis den naynabo na mi akaona agbuat sa andang dapat buaten. Ag sala sa angin ang maborong pangalamo ang  asusunog na lawas ang mangalok. Angirit pa si Angela, mintras si Diosdado, nga pirmi ra, midyo ing gorames anang itsura. “Indi ko dia maliagan,” makon si Diosdado. Agpanaw tana paraye sa patay na lawas ang mangalok para magpaangin.

“Ara masyadong biktima na mga tao, Dio.”

“Sino man ang aga buat dia siguradong aga gamit kalayo sa pagpatay i mangalok.”

“Matod, aga abot ang timpo na ang kalayo ay nagiging karoyan ang tanan.”

“Beken dia timpo para magniloko-loko!”

“Ang matinglo, midian kita reng timpo!! Indi mo ma-bel, ara kita i pakipag-kompitinsya sa kung kikino. Ang mayad na mangalok, at patay na mangalok.”

“Indi mo gamiten akeng limeg laban kanaken.” Makikita sa mata ni Angela na beken tana pabor. Pirming kondan si Diodado. Aliag na pirming nanalaeman ang tanan.

“Selenga Dio, anono ateng bubuaten kung maelaman ta kung sino aga buat i dia?  Pakigampangan sanda na magpanari sa andang ingbubuat? Na dapat kita lamang ang manigdakep mangalok digi sa Metro?”

“Pwidi sanda kataw importanting impormasyon kanaten.” Akoriseng para enged si Diosdado.

Ara ibang paagi para kalosot, sa isip ni Angela. Ara ren ibang paagi kundi magpa-oyon den lang. “Sigi. Okay. Sigi. Indi ta ren ampangan dia.”

“Selengen ta ren lang ang mga biktima.”

Midyo ag tas ang lokon ni Angela. “Dia mga mangalok, beken makokon na mga biktima.”

“Indi mo sanda ren lamang selengen na mga mangalok. Buaten ta ren lamang, ateng dapat buaten.”

“Ikaw ang madadason.”

“Ang onang biktima.”

“Ang onang biktima ay isarang kiwig, ag pwisto tana marapit sa iskwilan para magpandakep mga bata. Basi sa impormasyon, marakeng mga bata ang ag kon na kakita sanda tió na adaba-daba ang mga mata. Isara kananda ag bel pa litrato, ig agtawag kanaten ang anang mga gorang-gorang.”

“Sa timpong dia…”

“Indi mo ako istorbon, Dio. Akita amen sa atep ang sunog na lawas ang kiwig. Sa anyong tao den, ig mga kwarinta tegka sinkwinta anang idad. Ara reng ibang importanti na makikita pa sa logar ang kinaynaboan.

“Okay, ang madasong biktima.”

“Isarang wakwak na aga manman sa maternity ward. Marakeng mga aberedes ang nabelan bago kita ingtawagan.” Aka koriseng si Angela.

“Ange—” kon ni Diosdado.

“Indi kita pwidi sa ibang-ibang logar sa saka timpo, Dio.”

“Naelaman ko.”

“Mapadayon kita.”

“Basi sa footage na ateng nabel, ag kunwari ang wakwak na bisita sa maternity ward. Kada gabi na ig katatorog don tana aga-ataki. Makonkon tana sa babai. Karaekan sa mga nanay madali ag sarig sa mga babai da.”

“Makabebereng lamang na ara ta nakita anang lawas sa ospital.”

“Kung sino man ang ag patay sa wakwak, ag buat den paagi na mapadali ang paglimpyo.”

“Akita ang lawas ang wakwak sa pararadan sarakayan sa isarang asusunog na kotsi.

“Abebereng ako lamang na ara mi akakita sa naynabo, midyo lamang bomba na gulpi ag lupok.”

“Ara ra CCTV sa pararadan.”

“Maswirti sanda. Mapakon kita sa pangatlo.”

“Ang mga tiktik?”

Ag pa een si Angela.

“Midyo kaw alingling sa saka bucket ang Chickenjoy. Ang mga sigbin ay akarasunog da. Apat kabilog na tiktik, itabid pa ang andang agalin nga mangalok. Ing akes na ang saka tiktik mintras asusunog sanda.”

“Midian pang ibang impormasyon?”

“Dato ang problima, ingtawagan kita lang pagkatapos dia maynabo. Ara kita kilalang ibang biktima. Ara pasobaling agpatay, kung sino man ang ag buat dia sa mga tiktik. Midyo naelaman nang lagi na mangalok ang isarang tao o ayep.

“Midyo kita ra.”

“Indi kaw ag pabogal, Dio. Mi mga sitwasyon da na kung kaysan indi tang lagi masingot kung mangalok ang saka tao o beken.”

“Piro ang manigpatay na dia, ara palya.”

“Tama kaw, magagamit ta ang impormasyon na dan.”

“Pakon kita sa ikaapat na biktima.”

“Ang sinasa’ban, akeng paborito.” Paburit ni Angela. “Atatandan ko pa ang pangalamo.”

“Iba ang sakabilog na dia.”

“Matod. Agumpisa ang sunog sa seled anang lawas, paloa. Ang mag-abot kami, ag lopok anang lawas, ig aglagpak kanamen tanang anang mga kinaen.”

“Akakasigmi.”

“Korang pa dan imong diskripsyon sa talagang naynabo.”

“Ang pang-ori?”

“Okay, dia ang talagang makakagolpi. Maski kita naelaman ta na indi ta kaya ang asbo kung kita-kita lang.”

“Indi ta maelaman dan.”

“Ing libot ko ang logar, saka padis na marka ang lapak lamang akeng nakita.”

“Mayad para kananda.”

“Ange—?”

Okay, okay – ameng naabotan ang asbo na sa anang anyong ayep. Ig pariho sa iba, doro rang kasunog.”

“Anono andang pagkapari-pariho?”

“Poro sanda ing pangsunog.”

“Siryoso ako, selengan ta ang mga ditalyi.”

“Hmmmm..”

“Sigi, kunwari kita sanda. Pagkakita ta sa mga mangalok, anono ateng boboaten? Boboan ta gasolina, ig sindian ta gamit ang posporo?”

“Araboay. Konan dan olit.”

“Ang posporo?”

“Beken, ang gasolina. Sa mga logar kung sadin ta akita andang mga lawas, mi apangalamoan kang gasolina o lana?”

“Midian?”

“Sa akeng seleng, beken tao ang mi binoatan dia.”

“Saka mangalok pa?”

“Beken, beken toladato. Ara ako pa ababati na mangalok na kakakontrol kalayo. Mi iba pa.”

“Dapat tang padalemen ateng imbistigasyon. Anong klasing tao o ayep ang mi madalem na silag laban sa mga mangalok?”

“Liban kanaten?”

“Liban kanaten.”

“Sa akeng seleng…”

“Anono?”

“Indi mo dia maliagan.”

“Konan kanaken.”

“Dapat kitang magkonsulta sa ispiritu i ang mga puno.”

“Mi otang na leba tana kanaten.”

“Agugulpian ako sa pagpabor kanimo. Akeng kaysip asisilag kaw kanana.”

“Ang silag ay isarang emosyon na dapat i-risirba para sa giyira. Akeng isip aga kon na mi beken matringlo digi, dapat kong sarigan akeng paena-ena.”

“Apaayon ako kanimo.”

Asaraot ang alitaptap sa atobangan ang puno ang Balete, asinyas sa darwa na magseled. Midyo abububuay den da bago sanda oman kaseled sa logar ang mga ispiritu, beken sanda sanay, piro agdiritso sanda para enged i dason sa sanag, sa isip andang toyó. Sa midyo pira ka adlaw na andang pagpanaw, apapateng-pateng ni Angela ang pigura ang saka batang babai na agakapet payong.

“Agbalik akeng mga paboritong kakarawat!” Makon ang batang babai na akalogbo sa kalipay.

“Beken dadi Aura. Mi ipapakitaw akong pabor.”

“ Makarawat kita anay, pariho ang dati Mr. Diosdado.”

“Ara kami ren timpo para dyan,” makon si Angela.

Ag pa-een da si Diosdado. “Aura, mi otang na leba kaw kanamen.”

Golpi koriseng ang bata.

“Anono indong aliagan?”

Ag sabat si Angela, “Mi saka tao o ayep na agapamatay mangalok sa Metro. Agagamit sanda kalayo sa pagpatay sa mga… biktima.”

Ag dogang si Diosdado na ag kon, “Ara ra mga tao na biktima sa dadi, sa ameng pagkaelam.”

“Makabebereng, sigoro aga lemek den anang leba mintras amamalam.”

Aka-ignek si Angela mi Diosdado, “Kilala mo?”

“Pira kamo ron ka dagon pandakep mga mangalok? Abebereng ako na ara indo tana pa nababagat.”

“Baritan kanamen.” Siryoso na ag pakiman si Diosdado.

Ingtangkeb ni Aura anang payong, ag panaw papakon sa darwa.

“Pamatian indo ang kwinto.”

Mi saka lalaki (kung makokon mo tanang tao) na tedek sa tagiposon na ag mal a isarang mangalok.

Ag imbeng sanda mintras nabubui, ig kong iba lamang ang mga bagay-bagay, ara maliag ikon kananda ang “ara kataposan”.

Ang mangalok pati anang asawa, ag imbeng pira kagatos nga dagon para sa isara mi isara.

Asta saka adlaw ng odas tana ang mangalok. Adora ang mangalok, ing salan tana na dorong kasakit sa anang tagiposon.

Ig ag kalayo anang mata.

Tenged sigoradong mapamales tana ag lagted-lagted tana sa iba-ibang logar apamatay mga mangalok.

Tegka sa makita na anang “mangalok”.

“Arabuay, maliag ikonon mi saka imortal nga aga sagiap anang asawang mangalok para patayen?” pakiman ni Angela.

Ag sabat si Aura,”Mayad, mi apamati ra gali kanaken! Akeng kaysip alilimegen ako lamang sa akeng sadili digi.”

“Ig kakapaloa tana kalayo sa anang mata?”

“Matod kamong apamati kanaken? Sa matod, midyo mas agapolpol kamong mga tao kada timpo na ing kakampang ta kamo.”

“Dio, iba reng arampangen dia.” Ing kawidan ni Angela ang braso ni Dio.

“Ara ako ron alilipay, naelaman indo ang dalan paloa.” Ing abrian olit ni Aura anang payong ig aglepad paobong. Mintras adodora tana sa anadang paneleng, ag golpi linog ang logta.

Priparado ang darwa sa kondiang sitwasyon, beken dia ang onang bisis na ag palagiaw sanda sa logar ang mga ispirito.

Pag loa anda, asingot anda ren da ang maborong pangalamo i ang logar ang mga tao.

Agselengan si Diosdado pati si Angela. Si Diosdado ang ag ona limeg.

“Ano sa imong pabetang?”

“Midyo ministir kitang mag-priparar.”

“Para sadin?”

“Sa ona na ateng kalaem na tao lamang ang mi binoatan ang tanan, ayos lamang kanaken, piro ang mangalok na dia mi anang sadiling toyó. Indi ag boay na mi mga tao o bagay na madadamay.

Ag tonga-tonga si Disodado.

“Marake pa ateng dadakepen.”

=——————–=

English Versio

“I honestly don’t see how this is a problem.” Angela was beaming. “Less work for us.”

This was the fifth time they were beaten to the punch. The stench from the flaming carcass of the aswang left an acrid aftertaste in the air. Angela was still smiling while Diosdao, as usual, had his face crumpled into a grimace.

“I don’t like this,” Diosdado said. He walked away from the corpse to get some fresh air.

“There weren’t that many human victims, Dio.

“Whoever’s doing this is using fire to deal with aswang.”

“To be fair, at a certain point fire becomes everything’s weakness.”

“This isn’t the time for jokes!”

“But now we have time!! Don’t you get it, we’re not competing with whoever this is. The only good aswang is a dead aswang.”

“Don’t use my own words against me.”

Angela rolled her eyes. Diosdado was always like this. He always had to know.

“Look Dio, what do we do when we find out who this is? Tell them politely to stop? That there’s only room for one set of aswang hunters in this Metro?”

“They could be a valuable source of information.” Diosdado was still grimacing.

There was no way to escape this, Angela thought. She had no choice but to surrender. “Fine. Okay. Fine. Let’s get through this.”

“Ok let’s look at the victims.”

Angela’s eyebrow shot up. “These were aswang, not exactly what we’d call victims.”

“Ignore the fact that they were aswang. Let’s do this our way, like we always do.”

“If you say so.”

“So, the first victim.”

“The first one was a kiwig, it was attempting to hunt children near a public school. Based on what information we gathered, multiple children said that they saw a dog with fiery eyes. One of them even took a picture of it and her parents called us.”

“It was then—”
“Don’t interrupt me Dio. We found the remains of the kiwig on the roof, most of the corpse was burned to ash. It was in its human form, that of a middle-aged woman. There was nothing else in the scene that was worth noting.”

“Okay the next one.”

“A typical wakwak stalking a maternity ward. There were multiple miscarriages before we were called in.” Angela’s face contorted.

“Ange—-” Diosdado started.
“We can’t be everywhere Dio.”

“I know.”

“Let’s continue.”

“Based on the footage we were able to get, the wakwak disguised itself as a visitor in the maternity ward. It spent its nights feeding during graveyard hours. It looked like it was a woman. Most mothers would trust another woman more.”

“It was surprising that we didn’t find its body in the hospital.”
“Whoever killed it was kind enough to make things easier to clean up.”

“The wakwak was found in the parking lot in a burned-out car.”

“I’m surprised no one saw what happened. It was like a bomb that detonated suddenly.”

“There was also no CCTV in the parking lot.”
“Lucky for them. And now we go to number three.”

“The tiktiks?”

Angela nodded.

“It was like looking in a bucket of Chickenjoy. The familiars were burned as well. I counted 4 tiktik in addition to the aswang master. She was hugging one of the birds when she was burned.”

“Anything interesting there?”

“That’s the thing, we were called after the fact. There were no victims that we know of. Whoever killed the tiktiks struck without waiting. Like he was able to see that it was an aswang right away.”

“Like we do.”

“Don’t feed your ego, Dio. We’ve been in situations where we couldn’t be sure if someone was an aswang.”

“But this whoever can.”

“You’re right, that could be useful.”

“Anyway, the fourth victim.”

“The sinasa’ban, my favorite kind.” Angela was dripping with sarcasm. “I can still remember the smell.”

“This one was different though.”
“Yeah it burned from the inside out. When we got to it, it burst and showered us with all the filth it had eaten.”

“It was disgusting.”

“That’s an understatement.”

“The last one?”

“Okay this is the one that was most surprising. Even we couldn’t handle an asbo by ourselves.”

“And whoever this is they were able to do it alone.”

“We don’t know that.”
“I went through the whole site, there was only one set of footprints.”

“Well good for them.”

“Ange—”

“Okay okay – the asbo was in its beast form when we got to it. Same as the others, burned to an absolute crisp.”

“So what do they have in common?”
“They all got fried.”

“I’m serious, we have to look at the details.”

“Hmmmm..”

“Okay let’s pretend we’re them. We somehow find the aswang and then what? We pour gasoline on it and light a match?”

“Wait. Say that again.”

“The match?”

“No, the gasoline. In the sites did you ever smell gasoline or oil?”

“Did you?”

“I don’t think whoever did this is human.”

“Like another aswang?”

“No, nothing like that. I’ve never heard of an aswang that can control fire. It’s something else.”

“So, let’s expand our search. What kind of entity would hold a grudge against aswang?”

“Apart from us?”

“Apart from us.”

“I think…..”

“What?”

“You’re not going to like this.”

“Tell me.”

“We should consult with the spirits of the trees.”

“She owes us one favor.”

“I’m surprised you’re agreeing with this. I thought you hated her.”

“Hate is an emotion better saved for battle. My gut says there’s something here, I have to trust my instincts.”

“If you say so.”

=—————————————————————————————=

The fireflies danced in front of the Balete tree beckoning the two hunters in. It had been long since they have entered the realm of the spirits and they were not used to the shift in reality, but they trudged on into the light, seeking their goal.

She finally came into view in what seemed like days of walking, a small girl holding an umbrella.

“My wonderful playmates have returned!!” The little girl leaped into the air.

“Not today, Aura. I request a boon.”

“Oh no, but we had so much to play with last time Mr. Diosdado.”

“We don’t have the time for this,” Angela said.

Diosdado nodded. “Aura, you owe us.”

Suddenly the girl’s face contorted into a scowl. “What do you want party poopers?”

Angela answered, “There is an entity hunting aswang in the Metro. They prefer the use of fire when they dispatch their… victims.”

Diosdado added, “There have been no human victims for now, not directly at least.”

“That’s strange, he must have gotten soft in his old age.”

Angela and Diosdado both exclaimed, “He?!”

“You two have hunted the aswang for how long now? I’m surprised you haven’t met him sooner.”

“Tell us,” Diosdado’s eyes were stern.

Aura closed her umbrella and walked towards the two hunters.

“Let the story flow.”

=————————————————————————————————–=

There was once a man

(If you can call him that)

Completely in love

With a monster

They spent their lives together

And if things were different

Eternity would have meant nothing to them

The monster

And her husband

Had centuries

In each other’s arms

Until one night

The monster betrayed him

She vanished

Leaving him with a broken heart

And his eyes burned

For vengeance would be his

So, he travels the land

Hunting monsters

Until he finds his

=————————————————————-=

“Wait, so there’s an immortal creature looking for his aswang wife to kill her?” Angela

Aura replied with a sarcastic smile, “Wow you actually listened! And here I thought I was talking to myself.”

“And he can spew fire from his eyes?”

“Did you even listen to me? I swear you humans get dumber every time I talk to your kind.”

“Dio, this changes everything.” Angela grabbed Diosdado’s arm.

“I’m bored now, you know the way out.” Aura opened her umbrella and flew upwards. As soon as she was out of sight, tremors violently raged through the earth.

The two were prepared for this, after all it wouldn’t be their first time escaping from the engkanto’s realm.

The portal closed behind them and they savored the acrid air of the human world.

=———————————————————-=

Diosdado and Angela stared at each other. It was Dio who broke the silence.

“What do you think?”
“I think we need to prepare.”

“For what?”

“When we thought it was another human, I was fine, but this thing sounds like he has his own agenda. It won’t be too long that something or someone is going to be collateral damage.”

Diosdado nodded.

“More for us to hunt.”

=———————=

*Cuyonon is a regional Visayan language spoken on the coast of Palawan, and the Cuyo Islands in the Philippines.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Cuyonon Translation provided by Arlan Belen
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Arlan Belen

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

Illustration by Art of EDOY

*Note this story is in Cuyonon

“Pwidi kaw ag silip sa idalém ang kama?” Maroya ang bosis i Jess téngéd sa anang masakit. Akasanayan na rén kada gabi ang binoatang dia ompisa ang tana ma-ospital. Aparét tana na mi bagay sa idalém anang kama na rason sa anang padayon nga pagmasakit.

Tatlo ka bolang pagpabulong piro ara pa ra éngéd ititinglo anang pamati. Naélaman ko na ang kabui békén patas, man lang si Jess ay aném ka dagon pa lamang na bata. Ig dapat ara bata na adlaw-adlaw asasakitan téngéd sa tingway ig mga tubo na ingpapasék sa anang lawas, piro ara pa ra éngéd i ayad. Békén patas ang kabui.

Ag ngirit ako ig ing arékan ko anang dai. “Ara mga padlék sa idalém ang kama, pagpanari rén. Mi mga check-up ka pa aroman, ministir mo imong késég, ayos?” Ag ngirit balés si Jess ig loay-loay akakatorog. Akabibilib ang tibay ang léba ang mga bata, piro basipa na makaya na pa ra ag padayon na mabui sa madarason nga adlaw.

Piro ara natabo. Apatay si Jess ang gabi rang dato. Akakaturog ako sa anang tépad, ig nasintian ko ron lamang na agadaragoyon ig agaorogiaw ang mga doktor ig nars. Ing kapétan ako ang isara sa mga nars mintras agarégés ako na séléngén kung anono ang atatabo.

Inggoyod ako ang nars sa puertan, ig doto ko nakita. Akéng kaysip isara lamang sa mga tubo na akakabit sa lawas ni Jess, piro midiang békén i normal. Masyadong mabael ang bagay na dato para sa tubo, o anumang bagay na pariho sa tubo, na ag alin sa idalém ang kama.

Dato akéng natandan ang gabing dato, ig maraké pang mga makabébéréng na mga bagay ang naynabo pagkatapos. Nadora ang lawas ni Jess mintras ing dadara sa punirarya, ara ra kuno problima sa pag-byahi, piro ara kuno kaabot ang lawas doto.

Ing bubuat ko ang tanan na maélaman kung anono ang atabo. Makon ang nars ing takawan kuno ang 3^rd floor ang ospital ang aglébas nga bolan, siguro koniktado dato sa pagkadora ang lawas ni Jess.

Sasagiapén ko tana.

Maski diyang ilélébéng ko tana rén lamang.

=—————–=

English Version

“Can you check under my bed?”  Jess’ voice was weak from the treatments. It had been her routine every night since we moved to the hospital, she was convinced there was something under her bed that kept making her sick.

Three months of tests and medicine and she still hasn’t gotten any better. I know life’s not supposed to be fair but Jess is only six years old. No child should have to go through days of needles and tubes and still not getting any answers. It wasn’t fair.

I smile and I kiss her forehead. “There aren’t any monsters under your bed, now go get some rest. You need your strength for the tests tomorrow, alright?” Jess smiles at me and drifts off to sleep. The resilience of youth never failed to impress me, but I hoped that it would be enough to get her through one more day.

It wasn’t. Jess died that night. I had fallen asleep next to her and the next thing I knew doctors and nurses were rushing in and shouting. One of the nurses had to restrain me because I kept trying to see what was happening.

The nurse lead me to the door and I that was when I saw it. At first I thought it was one of the tubes that was attached to Jess, but there was something off about it. It was too big to be a wire or anything like that and it ended at the bottom of the bed.

That’s all I remember from that night and there were too many strange things that happened after. Jess’ body was “lost” en route to the funeral home, the morgue says there was nothing wrong with the transport, but the body never got there.

I’m doing all I can now to find out what happened to Jess. The nurses said that there was a break-in a month ago on the third floor of the hospital, maybe that’s connected to Jess’ disappearance.

I will get her back.

If only to bury her.

=——————————=

*Cuyonon is a regional Visayan language spoken on the coast of Palawan, and the Cuyo Islands in the Philippines.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Cuyonon Translation provided by Arlan P. Belen & Agnes A. Factor

Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Arlan P. Belen & Agnes A. Factor

Story inspired by the Balbal description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Balbal Illustration and Watercolor by Nightmaresyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Cuyonon

Ingdara ang pangalamo ang angin alin sa kasaplan.

Usá? Békén. Iba anang pangalamo.

Arabuay. Naélaman ko dia.

Anang paningot, isara sa anang ing papabugal, ay midyo maroya dading gabi. Sa mga normal nga adlaw, kaya na maélaman kung anonong ayép maski sa marayéng distansya, paagi sa pangalamo lamang.

Tama.

Tao.

Békén ang midyo malam dén, ig matégas. Dagi malémék pa anang onod. Aglébas dén da ang marakéng adlaw na ara tana kakakaén i mga kabatan. Mas madasig sanda kaysa sa mga malam, atagamtam pa sa anang dila ang matamis na lasa i andang onod pagkatapos na i kaénén.

Tatlo?

Békén. Darwa lamang.

Aga pabaskég sa anang léba ang amot ang angin. Dorong kasabor sa anang pamati. Saka lalaki. Pito ka dagon anang idad, ingkékélban ig ingolasan mayad. Midyo mabaél anang lawas. Ang sakabilog, babai. Mi rilasyon sa lalaki. Isarang daraga. Tana maman ang agapangona kanandang darwa sa andang pag-agi sa kagéban. Agapangona papakon kanana, anang onang pagkaén sa aglébas na pira ka adlaw. Ang mga mayrinték na mga ayép maman ang naging pagkaén ang babai na iganti sa pira ka dominggo nga aglébas. Ing dadara na sa anang kwiba, na kung sadin ang kalayo maman ang nagaonong sa anang mapongaw na kabui.

Maski sa ibang mga iganti, tana ing lilipi-lipi lamang. Békén tana mabaskég pariho ang Bungisngis, ang makaradlék na Dambuhala, o ang ingsompang si Sarimao. Tana si Bekat, isarang babai na iganti na kakapangalamo. Ig dading adlaw, tana inggégétém.

Ang mga kabatan ay sa parti ang kagéban na marapit sa suba.

Sakto. Mamawgasan na na lagi ang karni. Ag bél tana mabaél na sanga na naolog sa kaoy ang narra para umpisan anang  pangaso.

Dato roman ang pangalamo.

Basi sa pangalamo, makokon na na parihong ingolasan ang darwa ka bata, andang kélba asisintian na agaloa sa andang lawas.

Agagarokgok dén anang tyan sa kagétém. Ang dapat na lamang boatén ay makarapit maité, ig ilampés ang sanga. Kaysara lamang.

Ag ogiaw ang daraga, na ag taw timpo para sa anang libayén kadalagan.

Ing dakép ni Bekat ang daraga, mintras aga pélég-pélég na makaboliaw sa anang awid.

Mi napangalamoan si Bekat sa daraga, isarang pamot? Indi tana maliag ag kaén dato, midyo tana akaén kemikal.

Timpo rén para lémésén na ang daraga. Ang maramig na tobig ang suba ay siguradong mababanlawan ig maminosan ang pangalamo ang pamot.

“Arabuay!” makon ang daraga. “Indi mo ako lémésén, akéng onod magiging matégas!”

Ag isip si Bekat, siguro dato manda rason kung ayamo matérégas anang mga nakaén dati. Ag gorang ang iganti, ang daraga sigi pa ang pélég-pélég.

“Hmmmm.. Ano akéng bubuatén kanimo?”

“Pabayan mo ako kaoli. Dadaran ta kaw mas marakéng mga tao”

“Kaya ta kamo i-kaénén tanan kung mi tsansa ako. Piro ministir ko lamang ang makakaén maité.”

“Tay anono imong naliagang pagkaén?”

“Datong midyo maonod ig masabaw.”

“Pwidi ko itaw kanimo akéng libayén! Pabayan mo ako kaoli para mabél ko tana.”

“Pasamoro kung ag palagiaw kaw?”

“Indi ako ag palagiaw, matod!

Ing pabayan ni Bekat na kaoli ang daraga, ig ag élat tana.

Ag salép ang adlaw, ig ag élat tana para éngéd.

Ag kasésérémén dén, ig aga élat tana para éngéd.

“Dyaski! Aloko ako roman.” Makon tana sa anang sadili.

Békén dia ang primirong timpo na naloko tana, ig békén dan ang oring timpo. Anang baskég kapariho anang kakabosan.

Kasingot tana pangalamo ang usá sa angin.

Ig agpadayon tana sa pangaso.

=—————————-=

English Version

The scent was carried by the western wind.

Deer? No not gamey enough.

Wait. I know this one.

The olfactory sense, the one she was most proud of was weak tonight. In normal days she could identify the musk of a carabao or even the scent of freshly cut undergrowth at a great distance.

Yes.

Humans.

Not the stringy kind, she thought, much more tender.

It had been a while since she had eaten juveniles. They were faster than the older ones, but the sweet taste of their flesh lingered on her tongue, long after that meal.

Three?

No. Two.
The wafting of the breeze emboldened her.

A great vintage. She said to no one in particular.

One male. Seven years old, very nervous. Sweating too much. A bit heavy set.

Another one. Female. Related to the boy. Old enough to have passed puberty. She seems to be the one leading them both through the forest.

Leading them to her first meal in a while.

Small game was what the giantess had been subsisting on for the past few weeks. She brought them to her cave, the soft light of the small fire exuding some form of comfort in her bleak existence.

She was an outcast even among the giants. She was not the strong Bungisngis, the fearsome Dambuhala or the oath sworn Sarimao.

She was Bekat, the giantess who could smell.

And today she was hungry.

The humans were in the part of the forest where the river ran.

Perfect. She could wash the meat without having to inconvenience herself.

She took a large log, felled from a narra tree and started her hunt.

That smell again.

She could tell by the scent that both of them were sweating, their adrenaline seeping out of their bodies.

Her belly growled. All she had to do was get close enough for one swipe. Just one.

The girl screamed, giving ample time for the boy to run away.

Bekat grabbed her quarry, the girl struggling to escape her grasp.

She smelled something on the girl, a kind of perfume or a lip balm? Bekat never liked eating those, they tasted like chemicals and preservatives.

It was time to drown her prey. The cold waters of the river would rush away any unwanted flavors.

“Wait!” The girl said. “Do not drown me giant, my flesh will be tough!”

Bekat reflected, had all her drowned prey been tough to chew? That may have been the case.

The giantess sat down, the girl still struggling against her grip.

“Hmmm.. How should I deal with you, child?”

“You could release me, giant. I can bring you many more humans.”

“I could not eat all of you given the chance. I only want a light meal.”

“then what kind of meal do you want to have?”

“Something plump and juicy.”
“I can get you my brother! All you need is to let me go and I can bring him!”
“What if you run away?”
“I will not, I promise.”
So Bekat let her go and waited.

The sun set and she waited.

Twilight passed and she waited.

“Damn, fooled again,” she said.

It was not the first time she was tricked like this and it wouldn’t be the last. Her strength equaled her ignorance.

She smelled a whiff of deer in the air.

And resumed her hunt.

–===================================–

*Cuyonon is a regional Visayan language spoken on the coast of Palawan, and the Cuyo Islands in the Philippines.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Cuyonon Translation provided by Arlan Belen
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Arlan Belen

Inspired by the Bekat description in The Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology, Maximo Ramos, Phoenix Publishing, 1990.

Bekat Illustration by emirajuju
IG: https://www.instagram.com/emirajuju/

*Note this story is in Cuyonon

Ako ang barasolon sa tanang natabo.

Ingpanemdeman na kong sadin nagimpisa ang tanan. Klaro ron da nga lagi ang manga sinialis datong ona pa lamang; dan lamang, mas naintindian na i’ dogang ang tanan dadi. Nagapangamoyo tana sa Dios adlaw-adlaw nga kabay pang loasen tana sa anang kabedlay nga dia. Matod nga paloa lamang ang tanan, maski papanarien tana ren i’ ang Ginoo, ang anang leba indi kapameyeng asta indi na matapos ang anang pinitinsia.

Dorong ka silinsio ang apon datong nagbalik anang asawang babai. Ingsogata na anang asawa sa airport  nga maambeng ang leba. Datong sa impayangat pa ang anang asawa, pirming nasasambit i’ anang asawa sa anang manga solat kong moro i’ ramig sa pamati ang klima doto. Ang ramig kono mara sa molto nga midiong agasedep sa imong lawas asta sa imong ogat.

Ingpaoliolian na anang leba i’ anang asawa. Mabael nga pagantos don ang ingsoprir i’ anang asawa ig anang aliagan lamang ang magtinir den lamang anang asawa sa andang balay. Maski ara na pa nababati ang intirong istoria alin sa anang asawa, naelaman na nga ara ibang andem anang asawa kong indi ang lipatan den lamang ang tanan.

Sa oring solat nga anang narisibi alin sa anang asawa, ingistoria ‘ang babai kong pasamoro nga indi tana ren maliag nga kaparaye pa i’ oman sa anang pamilia. Nagsigondar tana, madali lamang manda pangitaen ang koarta. Mas maayad pa nga makaimbeng na anang asawa agod magbaskeg ig maeget pa andang pagtarabidan bilang pamilia.

Dato anang kalaem.

Nagapamaso ang singsing nga anang ingsosot. Nabereng tana kong ayamo ingsosot na pa dia, agpanemdem ang anang painoino mintras nasisirakan ang singsing i’ ang bolan nga nagamora. Nagileng-ileng tana ig ingsamitan na nga biringen anang pagirisipen sa ibang betang. Ingpangita na ang anang asawa sa apat ka manga bario nga basipang maabotan na pa tana bago tana pa magpalagiaw i’ oman.

Anang kalaem ang ona mapepegengan na anang asawa bago tana magkatinir i’ bagong biktima tenged madali tana lamang sagiapen. Dan lamang, sa primirong bolan anang pagsaragiapen kanana, kaministiran nang risiben sa anang sadili ang pira ka manga betang.

Mas mabaskeg anang asawa kisa kanana. Mas madasig anang asawa.

Ig mi kaakig anang asawa nga indi na nged mapainoinoan.

Pamatian na mas nagbegat ang singsing sa anang alima piro anang singgat nagapademdem kanana i’ ibang betang. Dia maman anang kros nga kaministirang pasanen ig mi darwa lamang ka pamaagi agod dia matapos.

Pagkatapos ang saka dominggo nga pagpanari, datong madora ren ang pilay i’ ang biahi, nagimpisa tana ren i’ tabang-tabang  sa manga orobraen sa balay. Nalilipay andang manga batang lalaki tenged nagbalik den andang nanay. Ara i’ pedped nga aminado ang asawang lalaki nga kakapamaray-baray tana nga makita anang asawa nga napakigonotan sa anang manga bata.

Datong ingrisibi ’anang asawa ang oportonidad nga magobra sa impayangat, andang manga bata doro pang kairintek agod maintindian ang sakripisio na anang boboaten. Ang adlaw nga maggalin tana, ingkepkepan na i’ maiget anang manga bata ig nagtipan tana nga magabalik tana ra nga lagi. Nagkon tana nga mamalen na sanda i’ ang bogos sa anang tagiposon asta’ inoro.

Ang oring ingpakitaw na sa anang asawa ang magtipan tana nga maski anong matabo, titipigan ig papalanggaen na andang manga bata.

Ara i’ pagdarwang isip nga nagtipan da anang asawang lalaki.

Nagkaway-kaway sanda nga nagapaelam sa isara mi isara  ig nagpadayon sa andang bagong kaboi, nagaelat kong inoro ang timpo nga makokomplito sanda reman i’ oman.

Saben dato ron ang oring timpo nga tana tao pa.

Datong primirong nagpalagiaw anang asawa, pagkatapos ‘ang natabo, ingboat na ang tanan-tanan agod elamen kong ano enged ang natabo sa anang ingpakonang logar. Indi tana man kapakon doto piro naelaman na nga mi komonidad i’ ang manga Pilipino kong adin nagaistar anang asawa.

Nagsolat tana kananda ig makakakelba andang sabat.

Andang kon, ara tana enged iistoria ang natetenged sa anang agalen. Kada mi ponsia obin pagtirimes, kadagmitan nagaboat tana i’ lompia ig nagaistoria ang ibang betang kapario ang anang pamilia nga nasala ig kong pasamoro tana ren nanaidlaw kananda. Isara sa manga Pilipino doto ay nars kanodaya ig nasambit manda ang nars nga dato nga midio sa mi iba sa anang manga mata. Maski moro kono tana nagapatikaseg nga itago dia, masasalamin pa ra enged ang kaadlek.

Nagbales i’ solat ang nars kong anono ang anang naelaman natetenged sa agalen i’ anang asawa. Primiro, isara tanang Pilipino nga nakadangat i’ kaayadan sa ibang nasion, dan lamang beken tana kono i’ sigorado sa anang nabati. Anang bilin kono nga marigen i’ ang agalen, kaministiran Pilipina ang nars nga magasirbi kanana sibayang magaobligar tana pa magbayad mabael nga kantidad.

Ang iba nagakon nga kaministiran konong magalin sa Pilipinas i’ ang agalen anang asawa tenged tana mi anang pamilia nagomon sa manga iligal nga nigosio. Ang iba i’ na nagakon nga ang asawa ‘ang agalen napatay nga lagi bago magdarwa kadagon sandang kinasal, nagalin tana agod kapalagiaw sa manga sospitsa. Mi manga maayad dang istoria kapario ang nagpakon tana kono sa ibang nasion agod tawan i’ matinlong kaboi anang pamilia.

Indi katabang ang manga nagasoroagan nga manga istoria.

Maski ang natabo indi maintindian.

Pasamoro naboat i’ ang babai dato sa pamilia nga anang inggegegman?

Ori tana ren.

Pirmi tana lamang nanaori.

Dadi i’ na, isarang pamilia nga mi tatlo ka mimbro ang anang biktima. Bataen pa ang magasawa ig andan mi matinlo pang paaraboton. Andang manga lawas nga naimpisan den i’ kabkab ay nakitang nagwarasag-wasag sa andang salas. Kong seselengen, midio nagbatok pa ang tatay;  dan lamang, anang malalabeg nga koko ang nagteray-teray kanana.

Matapos ang pira kadagon nga tola’diang natatabo, naanad tana ren animan pamatian na ara tana ren mi nasisintian.

Ingbilang na oman ang patay ig ingdogang na sa mas nagatas pang nomiro.

147.

147 nga manga inosinting kaboi.

147 ka manga tao nga andang dogo nagamantsa sa anang manga alima.

Naelaman na nga padayon pang magatas ang manga nomiro poira ren lamang kong taposon na kong anoman ang ingimpisan i’ anang asawa.

Makakakadlaw kong isipen nga madali tana lamang andan matoman. Ara na moro isasari i’ tagoan anang pali. Anang dalanen nagarombo sa Panay ig sa onan pang manga logar. Ori tanang nakita sa Tuguegarao, Cagayan de Oro, Mindoro, ig Puerto Princesa. Anang istoria nabati i’ ang manga bastek nga ingpapaandam i’ andang gorang-gorang nga kong sanda magpasotil ngani, sanda bebelen na labi pa kong gabi.

Naelaman na nga maski magdaeg tana man, ang istoria natetenged sa anang asawa indi ren madora.

Dan lamang indi ren makilala ‘ang manga tao ang nalipatan deng karakter sa istoria.

Ang tatay nga nagasagiap i’ kaloasan paagi sa pagpamales, ang asawang lalaki nga ara nga lagi ipalaman sa manga sinialis, ang lalaki nga ara ibang andem kong indi ang makomplito i’ oman anang pamilia.

Mainstras nagatindeg tana sa dogo i’ ang bagong biktima i’ anang asawa, nagapainoino tana kong ading kataposan ang magadaeg. Ang kanana o sa anang asawa?

=————————————-=

English Version

It’s all my fault.

He thinks back to when it all started. The signs were obvious, but he had the benefit of hindsight to guide him now. He prayed every day that God would deliver him from this labor. That was just for show of course, even if the lord told him to stop, in his heart he couldn’t go on until he fulfilled his penance.

It was a quiet afternoon when she came back. He met her at the airport with all the warmth he could muster. During her stay abroad, she would always write about how the cold made her feel. She described it as the chill becoming a ghost, doing everything possible to find a way into your veins.

He told her it didn’t matter. She had gone through a great ordeal and he wanted to get her settled in their home. He still hadn’t heard the whole story from her, but he could see in her eyes that she just wanted to forget. In the last letter she sent she wrote about how she couldn’t be away from her family anymore. He agreed, money be damned. He would see his wife through this and their family would come out stronger.

At least that’s what he believed.

The wedding ring on his finger burned. He wondered why he still wore it, considering the memories that played through his mind when it reflected the moonlight. He shook his head and tried to focus. He tracked her here through four different barrios and hoped that he could get to her before she ran away.

In the beginning, he foolishly thought that he would be able to stop her before she claimed another victim, after all she was easy to spot. In the harsh light of day that followed his first month of pursuing her, he had to admit to himself.

She was stronger. She was faster.

She possessed more cruelty than he could ever understand.

The ring felt heavy in his hand, but its glint reminded him of something else. This was his cross to bear, and there were only two ways it could ever end.

After a week of readjustment, she had fixed her jet lag and began to help around the house. The boys were thrilled to have their mother back. He wasn’t afraid to admit that the sight of her, playing with the children she had left, brought tears to his eyes.

When she accepted the offer to go abroad their children were too young to understand the sacrifice she was about to endure. That day, she hugged them tight and promised them that she would be back as soon as she can. She told them she would love them forever.

The last thing that she asked of him was to give his word that he would take care of their children.

There was no hesitation when he made that oath.

They waved goodbye and settled into their new lives, waiting for the day they would be complete again.

Maybe that was the last time she was truly human.

When she fled the first time, after the incident, he did all he could to find out what really happened abroad. He couldn’t travel there himself, but he knew that there was a community of Filipinos where she had stayed.

He wrote to them and their answers were troubling.

They said she never talked about her employer. During their gatherings she would make lumpia and talk about other things like her family back home and how much she missed them. One of the Filipinos there was an old nurse and she mentioned that there was something in her eyes. No matter how hard she tried to mask it, she was afraid.

The nurse wrote back about what she knew about the employer. First that he was a fellow Filipino that gained success abroad, though through which channels she wasn’t sure. He had specifically requested a Filipina be his caregiver and he was willing to pay a good amount of money for it.

Apart from that the nurse only had rumors that weren’t much help. Some said that he had to leave the Philippines because his family was involved in illegal ventures. Others say his wives never lived past two years of marriage and he left to avoid suspicion. There were kinder stories where he left to give his family a better life.

All these conflicting stories made no sense.

What happened made no sense.

How could she do that to the family she loved?

He was too late.

He was always too late.

This time it was a family of three, a young couple that had a bright future ahead of them. Their half-eaten corpses scattered around what remained of their sala*. It looked like the father tried to fight her off but her claws ripped through him easily.

After years of this game he was already numb to all emotions but one.

He counted again and added it to the growing number.

147.

147 innocent lives.

147 people whose blood was on his hands.

He knew that number would not stop growing, not until he finished what she started.

It was almost funny that she was so easy to track. She didn’t even try to hide the scar. Her path cut through the towns of Panay and even beyond. She was seen in Tuguegarao, Cagayan de Oro, Mindoro and Puerto Princesa. Her story was heard by children whose parents warned them that she would take them in the night if they were disobedient.

He knew that even if he succeeded, her legend would live on.

But they would never know of the forgotten character of the story.

The father seeking redemption in revenge, the husband that ignored the warnings, the man that only wanted his family to be complete.

As he stood over the blood of her latest victims, he wondered which ending would prevail?

His triumph?

Or hers?

*Living room

*Cuyonon is a regional Visayan language spoken on the coast of Palawan, and the Cuyo Islands in the Philippines.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Cuyonon Translation provided by Elyn Grace S. Bagalay & Ryan D. Ibañez
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Elyn Grace S. Bagalay & Ryan D. Ibañez

Inspired by the Maria Labo Urban Legends

Maria Labo Illustration by Sandra Sison