*Note this story is in Pangasinan

Ambelat so pakalikas to may golungolung ed saray taklay to may priso. Sikatoy inawit da ed basil na kuarto. Nen timmuntong may priso ed palasyo, anta to la a sikatoy pateyen da. Kaambagelan ingen ya ninonot to ni a onla ed syudad na Buso, balet anta to a gloria so akasalalay dia. No atakew to labat kumon iman.

Mamarlang so silew da iramay sulo dimad kuarto, balet anggapoy laban da ed samay apoy a manlalapo diman ed trono. Puro istorya labat so nadngel to may priso nipaakar ed sayan pinalsa, balet iraman a salita et ag makapangiter na hustisya ed sayan makapataktakot ya akayurong ed arapan to.

Manterter so dala ed sangi to may Datu. Akarengel may priso a makapataktakot na tanol – singa pukel a tetemeken. Nimmengneng ed sikato may Datu gamit imay saksakey ton mata a kolor ambalanga. Walay inyesaes to ed lenguahe to, tan abulos may priso ed samay golungolung to. Agto sigurado no antoy nagagawa, balet, no ibase diyad batik na kapalaran ed pinambilay to, aliwan maabig iman.

Naniter ya dalan iramay guardia a Buso tan da pinaulyanan a lukas so puerta. Bimmatik may priso. Agto paulyanan a nabulos iyan pankanawnawa. No sikato et ipapaekal da la, aya so labay da. Balet no aya et sananey, anggano panon et walay tsansa to.

Ngalngali to la nasabi imay sular balet sikatoy naunaan a baleg a apoy.

Say saklor na Datu ya singa garing et mankirlap ed apoy. Inegnaan toy ulo na priso tan ginmapon angan. Mankelaw iray guardia no akin et lanang a pangagalawan to may Datu iray kakanen to, balet ag lara inmesel. Gagawaen na ari so labay to.

————————————–=

English Version

The chains felt heavy on the prisoner’s wrists. He was led into a new room. The prisoner knew that he was already dead the moment he stepped in the palace. It was foolish of him to even consider going to the city of the Buso, but he knew glory was on the line. If only he had managed to steal it.

The torches in the room were burning brightly, but they were dwarfed by the blaze radiating from the throne. The prisoner had only heard stories about this creature, but those words could not do justice to the horror that sat before him.

Blood dripped from the Datu’s mouth. The prisoner heard a sickening crunch and the Datu stared at him with its one red eye. It mumbled something in its language and the prisoner’s chains were set loose. He wasn’t sure what was happening, but, with his luck, it wasn’t something good.

The buso guards gave way and left the doorway open. The prisoner ran. He wasn’t going to let his chance go to waste. If they were letting him go then this was what they wanted, if this was something else then he would at least have a chance.

He almost got to the courtyard before a large flame overtook him.

The Datu’s ivory horn pulsed with flame. It grabbed the prisoner’s head and started eating. The guards wondered why the Datu always played with his food, but they kept silent. Royalty does what it will.

=—————————————=

*Pangasinan (Salitan Pangasinan) – sometimes called Pangasinense is one of the major languages of the Philippines. It is the language spoken in the province of Pangasinan, on the west-central seaboard of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf, the northern portion of Tarlac and southwestern La Union, most of whom belong to the Pangasinan ethnic group. Pangasinan is also understood in some municipalities in Benguet, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, and by the Aeta or Aeta of Zambales.

Written by Karl Gaverza

Translation by Rengel Arconado
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Rengel Arconado

Inspired by the Datu of the Buso in ‘Adventures of Tuglay’ reprinted in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Datu of the Buso Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Mahigpit ang kapit ng mga kadena sa pulso ng bilanggong ito. Dinala siya sa isang bagong silid. Sa simula pa lang ng pag-apak niya sa palasyo, alam na niyang hindi maganda ang kahahantungan ng mga pangyayari. Napakahangal din naman kung tutuusin ang pagpunta sa lalawigan ng Buso, pero gagawin niya ito para sa kadakilaan – kung nagawa lang niyang nakawin iyon.

Nakakasilaw ang liyab ng mga sulo, ngunit natatabunan ito ng alab mula sa trono. Marami nang narinig na kwento ang bilanggo tungkol sa nilalang na ito, pero wala pa ito sa kalingkingan ng kilabot na makikita sa harapan niya.

May pumapatak na dugo mula sa bibig ng Datu. Nakarinig ang bilanggo ng nakakangalisag na tunog at bumaling ang pulang mata ng Datu sa kaniya. Hindi niya naintindihan ang winika nito, pero pinalaya ang bilanggo sa pagkakakadena. Kung ano man ang nangyayari, sa dami ng kamalasan niya, alam niyang hindi maganda ang kahihinantnan nito.

Ang mga bantay ng Buso ay nagbigay daan sa kaniya, at iniwang bukas ang pintuan. Tumakbo ang bilanggo. Hindi niya papalampasin ang pagkakataong ito. Baka pinapakawalan siya ng mga bantay, kung hindi naman ay sayang pa rin ang pagkakataon niyang makatakas.

Makakalabas na sana siya tungong patyo, ngunit bigla siyang nilamon ng malalaking apoy.

Nag-aapoy ang mga sungay ng Datu. Sinakmal nito ang ulo ng bilanggo at saka sinimulang pagpiyestahan. Isang palaisipan sa mga bantay kung bakit hilig ng Datu na paglaruan mga pagkain nito, pero pinipili nilang manahimik. Nasusunod palagi ang gusto ng isang Maharlika.

=———————=

English Version

The chains felt heavy on the prisoner’s wrists. He was led into a new room. The prisoner knew that he was already dead the moment he stepped in the palace. It was foolish of him to even consider going to the city of the buso, but he knew glory was on the line. If only he had managed to steal it.

The torches in the room were burning brightly, but they were dwarfed by the blaze radiating from the throne. The prisoner had only heard stories about this creature, but those words could not do justice to the horror that sat before him.

Blood dripped from the Datu’s mouth. The prisoner heard a sickening crunch and the Datu stared at him with its one red eye. It mumbled something in its language and the prisoner’s chains were set loose. He wasn’t sure what was happening, but, with his luck, it wasn’t something good.

The buso guards gave way and left the doorway open. The prisoner ran. He wasn’t going to let his chance go to waste. If they were letting him go then this was what they wanted, if this was something else then he would at least have a chance.

He almost got to the courtyard before a large flame overtook him.

The Datu’s ivory horn pulsed with flame. It grabbed the prisoner’s head and started eating. The guards wondered why the Datu always played with his food, but they kept silent.

Royalty does what it will.

————————–————————–————————-

*Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a quarter of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by the majority. Its standardized form, officially named Filipino, is the national language of the Philippines, and is one of two official languages alongside English.

Written by Karl Gaverza

Translation by Jillianne Santos
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Jillianne Santos

Inspired by the Datu of the Buso in ‘Adventures of Tuglay’ reprinted in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Datu of the Buso Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

*Note this story is in Bicol

Magabat sa pagmati kan preso an kadena sa saiyang mga kamot. Dinara siya sa bagong kwarto. Sa paglaog niya siya sa palasyo, aram niya na magagdan siya. Kapatalan an pagkonsiderar sa pagduman sa ciudad nin Buso pero nakataya an saiyang kamuwarayan. Kung nahabon niya lang kuta.

Maliwanag an mga sulo sa kwarto pero mayo an mga ini kumpara sa liyab kan liwanag na hali sa trono. Nadangog na kan preso an mga istorya tungkol sa nilalang pero mayong tataramon an makakataong hustisya sa katataktan na nakatukaw sa atubangan niya.

Nagtuturo an dugo hali sa ngabil kan Datu. Nakadangog an preso nin nakakasukang tanog. Tigtitigan siya kan Datu kan saiyang sarong pulang mata. Garo may tigsabi ini sa saiyang lenggwahe. Tigtanggal an mga kadena kan preso. Dae niya aram kung anong nangyari pero bako ining maray.

Nagtaong agihan an mga gwardya asin winalat na bukas an pintuan. Nagdalagan an preso. Dae niya papalampason an pagkakataon na ini. Kung pinapadulag man siya, ini an gusto ninda mangyari. Kung ini ay iba man, maray na na may pagkakataon siya.

Harani na siya sa luwas bago siya nilamon kan dakulang kalayo.

May pulso nin sulo an garing na tambuli kan Datu. Kinua niya an payo kan preso asin kinakan niya ini. Tano daw ta perme tigkakawatan kan Datu an saiyang pagkakan, sa paghorop-horop kan mga gwardya. Pero dae na lang sinda nagtaram. Nagigibo kan hadi an anuman na gusto niyang gibuhon.

————————–————————–————————–

English Version

The chains felt heavy on the prisoner’s wrists. He was led into a new room. The prisoner knew that he was already dead the moment he stepped in the palace. It was foolish of him to even consider going to the city of the Buso, but he knew glory was on the line. If only he had managed to steal it.

The torches in the room were burning brightly, but they were dwarfed by the blaze radiating from the throne. The prisoner had only heard stories about this creature, but those words could not do justice to the horror that sat before him.

Blood dripped from the Datu’s mouth. The prisoner heard a sickening crunch and the Datu stared at him with its one red eye. It mumbled something in its language and the prisoner’s chains were set loose. He wasn’t sure what was happening, but, with his luck, it wasn’t something good.

The buso guards gave way and left the doorway open. The prisoner ran. He wasn’t going to let his chance go to waste. If they were letting him go then this was what they wanted, if this was something else then he would at least have a chance.

He almost got to the courtyard before a large flame overtook him.

The Datu’s ivory horn pulsed with flame. It grabbed the prisoner’s head and started eating. The guards wondered why the Datu always played with his food, but they kept silent. Royalty does what it will.

————————–————————–———————–

*Central Bikol, commonly called Bikol Naga, is the most-spoken language in the Bicol Region of southern Luzon, Philippines. It is spoken in the northern and western part of Camarines Sur, second congressional district of Camarines Norte, eastern part of Albay, northeastern part of Sorsogon, San Pascual town in Masbate, and southwestern part of Catanduanes. Central Bikol speakers can be found in all provinces of Bicol and it is a majority language in Camarines Sur.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Tagalog Translation by Angela Arnante
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Angela Arnante

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

Datu of the Buso Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

The chains felt heavy on the prisoner’s wrists. He was led into a new room. The prisoner knew that he was already dead the moment he stepped in the palace. It was foolish of him to even consider going to the city of the buso, but he knew glory was on the line. If only he had managed to steal it.

The torches in the room were burning brightly, but they were dwarfed by the blaze radiating from the throne. The prisoner had only heard stories about this creature, but those words could not do justice to the horror that sat before him.

Blood dripped from the Datu’s mouth. The prisoner heard a sickening crunch and the Datu stared at him with its one red eye. It mumbled something in its language and the prisoner’s chains were set loose. He wasn’t sure what was happening, but, with his luck, it wasn’t something good.

The buso guards gave way and left the doorway open. The prisoner ran. He wasn’t going to let his chance go to waste. If they were letting him go then this was what they wanted, if this was something else then he would at least have a chance.

He almost got to the courtyard before a large flame overtook him.

The Datu’s ivory horn pulsed with flame. It grabbed the prisoner’s head and started eating. The guards wondered why the Datu always played with his food, but they kept silent.

Royalty does what it will.

————————–————————–————————-
Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Datu of the Buso in ‘Adventures of Tuglay’ reprinted in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Datu of the Buso Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen