*Note this story is in Cebuano

Bisan sa ulahing gabii sa tuig, ang ulan dili gyud mobiya kay Danica. Ang tingog sa nagkutab-kutab niyang ngipon niduyog sa mga lusok-ulan sa simponiya sa kasubo. Gigakos ni iyang hubo’ng mga paa ug tiil aron makutlo ang nabili’ng kaiinit sa iyang lawas.

Ang tinubuang sinilas na gihatag sa iyang inahan luag ra kaayo ug mahulog sa pagdagan niya sa silonganan. Namatikdan ni Danica na nahulog ang usa sa sandayong ug ang usa nawala sa ngitngit nga dalan.

Si Danica nga nag-inusara sa katugnaw ug umog, gikuptan ang bulak sa sampaguita duol sa iyang dughan. Hinay ang dagan sa adlaw, walay dagha’ng sakyanan ug walay ni usang kutay sa sampaguita ang nabaligya. Walay ni usang nihatag sa iya bisan piso.

Ang kilat nipahayag sa langit ug ang makalolooy na batang babaye nipadaplin. Dili siya magtuga-tuga og uli sa balay kay wala siya’y nabaligya ug ang iyang amahan masuko gyud sa iya. Sa balay tugnaw man pud kay ang hangin harosong mosulod sa iyang bintana ug mabiling basa og kaging iyang kwarto.

Nangurog ang iyang gamay’ng kamot. Gikuptan niya og ayo ang iyang bulak ug gisimhot ang kahumot. Mahiaguman ra ni Danica ang kaharuhay sa baho sa mga bulak. Kini magpadumdom sa iya nga naa pa gihapon mga maanyag na butang sa kalibotan kung maghatag lang og tagad.

Ang suga sa dalan nihulma og anino sa panan-aw ni Danica. Nabantayan niya na naay tindahan sa mga muwebles sa atbang. Ang kilat nikatag sa dalan ug sa kadiyot nakakita siya sa sulod sa tindahan.

Naay lamesa nga may puti nga hapin. Mga maanindot na kubyertos nga nagtuyok sa tibuok sa litson. Ang baboy nitutok sa iya ug sa iyahang hunahuna nagngisi kini sa iya.

Ang awog sa eksena nihunong sa pagliti sa dalugdog na nipiti sa dalunggan ni Danica.

Nagsugod na og tulo ang atop ug ang ulan nisagol sa iyang mga luha.

Karong tuig, ang Christmas mas subo kaysa malipayon. Lisod ang panahon, ang iyang amahan natanggal sa trabaho sa pabrika ug nagsugod og inom aron malimtan ang problema. Ang iyang inahan nisulay og pangita og trabaho isip usa ka manghinloay apan dili igo para sa ilang mga kinahanglan.

Ug ang iyang Lola Fatima, ang nag inusarang tawong nagmahal sa iya, wala na. Ang kasakit sa iyang dughan wala na nihawa paghuman ato’ng higayona.

Usa pa ka lagiti sa kilat ang nihayag sa dalan. Libo ka gagmay’ng suga ang nisayaw sa hangin ug mga makahibulungang kolor ang nagduladula sa atubangan niya. Ang gamay’ng batang babaye nisulay og kab-ot apan ang suga nawala. Nabilin na pud siyang nag-inusara.
Nitan aw siya sa langit ug naghulat sa kilat na moabo. Gitubag sa langit ang iyang pangadiye. Nikilat ug sa gilaw nagtindog ang iyang Lola Fatima, madan-ag ug matahom, ang yuhom na nikumot sa dughan ni Danica.

“Lola!” Siyaok sa bata. “Kuyuga na lang ko palihog!” Kabalo siya na mawala ang iyang lola sa pagliti sa dalugdog, sama sa galutaw na mga suga. Nihunong ang ginhawa ni Danica sa pagliti sa dalugdog na niuyog sa bintana palibot niya.

Apan wala nawala ang iyang Lola Fatima. Napalibutan siya sa mga maanindot na linalang, ilang panit sama sa porselana ug ang ilang nawong puno’g kalinaw. Nikaway sila kay Danica ug ningisi siya sa ila.

Ug sila tanan, ang mga linalang ug ang iyang Lola Fatima gihumlad ilang palad ug gidani siyang mokuyog sa ilaha. Nitindog si Danica ug nilakaw padulong sa iyang lola. Gusto niyang mahikaplagan ang init lingkawas sa ulan ug katugnaw ug makauban ang tawong naghigugma sa iya.

Nikilat sa usa pa’ng higayon ug nawala si Danica sa usa ka kidlap.

Ingon sa uban nilayas daw siya kay mas gipili ang kinabuhi sa dalan kaysa sa kaugalingong balay. Sa uban pa, nakit-an daw siya sa usa ka dato’ng lalaki ug gihatagan siya’g balay. Nagpuyo daw siya kauban sa lalaki kay gisagop na siya niini.
Naa pa’y istorya na nakakita na og kalinaw ang bata sa langit kuyog ang mga matahom na linalang. Sa lugar asa siya luwas ug hangop sa gugma sa iyang lola.

=———————————-=

It was the last evening of the year and the rain still wouldn’t leave Danica alone. The sound of her chattering teeth joined the raindrops in a melancholy symphony. She huddled against her bare legs and naked feet to lure the last bit of warmth her body could give.

The hand me down slippers that her mother gave were much too big and they had fallen off while she ran for shelter. Danica noticed that one of them fell into the gutter and the other seemingly disappeared in the dark street.

So there Danica was, alone in the cold and damp, clutching her sampaguita flowers close to her chest. It was a slow day, not many cars were about and she hadn’t sold a single string of sampaguitas. No one had given her so much as a peso.

The lightning lit up the sky and the poor girl retreated into her corner. She didn’t dare go home, for she had sold nothing and her father would surely be angry with her. At home it was cold as well since the winds would surely come violently through here window and leave her room wet and freezing.

Her small hands were shivering. She held her flowers close and breathed in their scent. Danica always found comfort in the smell of flowers, they reminded her that there were still beautiful things in the world, if one cared to look.

The streetlights cast shadows that played in front of Danica’s eyes. She noticed that across her was a furniture shop. The lightning filled the street and for a brief second she could see into the store.

There was a table and on it was a lily white tablecloth. Beautiful silverware sat there surrounding a whole roast lechon. The pig was staring right at her and she thought she could see it smiling.

The spell of the scene broke as the thunder rang in Danica’s ears.

The roof above her began to leak and the raindrops mixed with her tears.

This year, Christmas was more somber than happy. It had been a difficult time; her father had lost his job in the factory and began to drink his problems away. Her mother tried to find work as a cleaning lady, but she wasn’t able to make enough for all their needs.

And lola Fatima, the only person who had loved her, was now no more. There was a pain in Danica’s heart that never went away after that.

Another bolt of lightning struck near, illuminating the street. Thousands of small lights danced in the air, and wonderful colors played in front of her. The little girl reached out and tried to grab them, but the light disappeared and once again, she was left alone.

She looked to the sky and waited for the lightning to come, and the sky answered her prayer. It was again light and in that radiance stood lola Fatima, so bright and lovely, with a smile that made the hurt in Danica’s heart leave.

“Lola!” The child cried out. “Please let me come with you!” She knew that her grandmother would disappear as soon as the thunder came rolling in, just like the floating lights. Danica’s breath stopped as thunder shook the windows around her.
But Lola Fatima did not disappear. She was surrounded by beautiful creatures, their skin porcelain white and their faces calm. They waved at Danica and she smiled back.

And all of them, the creatures and Lola Fatima stretched out their arms to the girl as if beckoning her to come. Danica stood up and walked to her lola. She wanted most to just feel warm again, to ignore the rain and the cold and be with someone that loved her.

The lightning struck one final time and Danica disappeared with the flash of light.

Some say that she ran away, preferring a life on the streets to her own home life. Others say a rich man found her and gave her a home and that she lives with him now as his adopted daughter.

Still one story persists, one where the girl finally finds peace in a heaven filled with beautiful faeries where she is finally safe and warm in the embrace of her lola.

————————–————————–————————–—

*The Cebuano language, alternatively called Cebuan and also often colloquially albeit informally referred to by most of its speakers simply as Bisaya (“Visayan”, not to be confused with other Visayan languages nor Brunei Bisaya language), is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 21 million people, mostly in Central Visayas, western parts of Eastern Visayas and most parts of Mindanao, most of whom belong to various Visayan ethnolingusitic groups, mainly the Cebuanos. It is the by far the most widely spoken of the Visayan languages, which are in turn part of wider the Philippine languages. The reference to the language as Bisaya is not encouraged anymore by linguists due to the many languages within the Visayan language group that may be confused with the term.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Cebuano Translation by Sarah Masiba
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Sarah Masiba

Story inspired by the Faeries of Niza description in Tuwan Nahuda. Narrated by Muham Julasman. in Voices from Sulu A Collection of Tausug Oral Traditions. Rixhon. 2010.

The Faeries of Niza Illustration by emirajuju
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*Note this story is in Cebuano

Kahay imong gihunahuna na ang mga isda kanunay na ingon ana, ug sa pipila ka mga kaso ikaw sakto. Apan naay gainusarang isda sa tanan, siya ang Hari sa mga isda ug siya gapuyo sa lawom luyo sa mga bawod, gamit iyahang gahom aron magmando sa lawom nga tugkaran sa lawod.

Kadaghanan sa mga tawo nakalimot na ang Hari tahuron ug ilimod ang angay kaniya, apan sa kadugayan ilang nakat-unan na wa’y pagbali sa pagpanumpa aron mahimong tahuron.

Adunay usa ka magtiayon na ginganlang Juan ug Juana nga nakat-unan pag-ayo ang pagtulun-an. Nagpuyo sila sa baybayon ug nagpaabot sa paglabay sa panahon nga grasyahan sila og anak.

Sa wa magdugay, mipahiyom ang swerte sulod sa pipila ka mga tuig ug mapun-an usab ang ilahang pamilya.

Atol sa pagmabdos ni Juana nangala kini ug bangus aron kan-on. Si Juan nga maalagaron nga bana muadto og layong lawod aron makapanagat sa isda nga gipangita sa iyang asawa.

Unya miabot ang adlaw na wa’y kuhang bangus sa iyang pukot si Juan. Galingkod sa iyang bangka, gasagmuyo naghunahuna nga wa’y bitbit alang sa iyang asawa.

Gawas sa kahilom usa ka tingog ang mitawag kang Juan. Milingi kini ug sa iyang pagkatingala Nakita ang usa ka bangus nga gasul-ob og korona.

Nagpaila ang bangus sa kaugalingon isip Hari sa mga Isda ug nangutana nganong bangus lamang ang gipangita ni Juan. Natingala kini og nganong nagkaminos ang mga sakop niini sa lawod.

Pagpatim-aw ni Juan nga mabdos ang iyang asawa ug nangala kini og bangus kada adlaw. Iyaha pu’ng giasoy ang kasubo mahitungod niini.

“Ayaw kabalaka,” asoy sa Hari sa mga Isda, “Hatagan tika sa tanang bangus nga imong kinahanglan, apan suklian nimo kini sa paghatag sa imong anak pag-edad niini ug pito ka tuig.”

Makita sa nawong ni Juan ang pagkakugang. Tinuod di niya mahatag ang iyang anak ngadto sa Hari sa mga isda, apan iya pu’ng gihunahuna ang iyang asawa, destrosar na walay bitbit. Tempo pa nga nihit ang bangus ug walay kasayuran si Juan nga makakuha ba kini og bangus nga siya ra ug walay tabang gumikan sa Hari sa mga Isda.

Sa kataposan, misugot si Juan sa uyon sa Hari sa mga Isda ug, tinuod sa iyang mga gipamulong, gihatagan niya si Juan og daghang bangus nga di mayhap. Sa kadaghan niini, padayon gihapon iyang pagbitbit niini pagkahuman og panganak ni Juana.

Ginganlan nila ang bata og “Maria” ug ilaha kining gihigugma pag-ayo. Pagtungtong sa babayeng bata sa enad nga siyete, nagpakiluoy si Juan sa Hari sa mga Isda nga buhian sila sa gipanaad. Ang Hari walay lubaylubay ug miingon kini, “Ang saad, saad.”

Ug ang usa ka hari di angay balibaran.

Miuli si Juan nga nagupok ang kasingkasing. Sugod atong adlawa, gidid-an ni Juan ug Juana ang ilang pinanggang anak na muduol sa dagat.

Kana, hangtod miabot ang usa ka adlaw, samtang nanglaba sina Juan ug Juana sa may suba. Adunay miabot na masilakon nga bangka. Sa pagkahalangdon niini, gitapokan kini sa mga tawo aron masuta ang maanyag na panan-awon. Si Maria nga gitukmod sa iyang pagkamapaniiron, miuban sa panon sa katawhan paingon sa baybayon.

Sa kalit lang, usa ka dakong bawod ang paingon sa baybayon ug gidala si Maria.

Mituratoy ang katawhan paingon kang Juan ug Juana aron sultihan sa panghitabo, apan umawi na ang tanan. Nasayod ang duha nga gikuha sa Hari sa mga Isda si Maria.

Bisan pa, ang ilang paghiguma sa anak nagpabiling lig-on, matag gabie sulod sa daghang panuigon ila kining huwaton sa may baybayon ug naghinaot nga makita ang panagway sa ilang anak nga si Maria.

Ug ang ilang pag-ampo gidungog sulod sa kahayag sa bulan diin Nakita nila ang usa ka babaye nga ang lawas Katunga babae ug ang Katunga bangus. Sa usa ka paniplat sa taas nga itom na buhok niini, ilang naamgohan nga mao kini ang nahilayo nilang anak, na karon sa kahangtoran paghisakop sa mga bawod.

=—————————=

English Version

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Onyok was tired from the day’s work. The sun was bearing down mercilessly and he decided to find shelter underneath a coconut tree.

His eyes were heavy and he took the moment to drift into blissful sleep.

It was then he heard a voice.

“Have you heard the tale of the orphaned spirit?”

“Who are you? What is this? Am I dreaming?”

“No?”

“What is this? Please, I am just a farmer.”

“Have you heard the tale of the orphaned spirit?”

Onyok knew in his bones that he would have to answer,

“No, I have not.”

“Then sit close and listen.”

He took a deep breath and waited to hear the story.

=———————————————————————————=

The orphaned spirit took the form of a large snake. He was a god to some and, in the beginning, ruled the heavens that he called his home.

The world was young then, there were no seas or oceans, no plants or animals. The earth was made of nothing but hard rocks.

In his realm the god-serpent saw nothing but clouds of white. This triggered his wanderlust. He would go down to the earth and climb the highest peaks and traverse the deepest crevasses.

One day he saw another being sitting down below him.

Infused with shock, it took many moments before he could speak.

At last he asked.

‘Who are you?’

The being responded:

‘I am the ruler of the universe, Bathala.’

Incensed with anger the orphaned spirit lashed out. He challenged Bathala to combat, filled with rage.

And so, it came to pass that the orphaned spirit was slain, his power outmatched by that of Bathala.

The serpent-god’s body was buried by his opponent far from his home in the clouds.

=——————————————————————–=

“Why are you telling me this?” Onyok’s voice echoed in the dreamscape.

“Because you and all the others should know what had transpired.”

“Why should we know?”

“Let me ask you, what were you leaning on?”

“I… do not understand.”

“What were you leaning on before drifting to the realm of dreams?”

“A coconut tree?”

“Exactly. The tree holds the form of the orphaned spirit. Its trunk the god-serpent’s body. In the end Bathala made the first man and woman and, using the parts of the coconut tree, they built homes, used it for food and clothing. The coconut tree gave them life and it was, in part, because of the orphaned spirit.”

“But still, why me? Why are you telling me all this?”

“You are the first of many, those that have been touched by the orphaned spirit. You shall carry on his word and bring his story to the highest peaks and lowest depths.”

“I cant… what about my family?”

“They will not understand, and only a few will, but you will persevere.”

“And if I choose to say ‘no’?”

“Ahhh humans, always so eager to displease.”

The dreamscape trembled, shapes appeared and twisted form, the turbulence shifted and Onyok was face to face with the serpent-god.

“Now do you know what I am?”

“You are the orphaned spirit from the story.”

“Yes, little one, and I am now your master.”

“No, I refuse! I have a family, I have a farm. There are people that depend on me! I will not allow myself to be your slave!”

“There is no choice to make. The solitary god and the wandering spirit will not win again! You will spread my gospel throughout the world and gain me power!”

Onyok could feel himself change, he could see the skin around his arms change into scales. He tried to scream, and maybe he did, but no sound escaped the void surrounding him.

=————————————————=

The serpent-god smiled.

That sad little human would be the first among many to spread his word and what better way to fight the solitary god than use his own creations against him?

And now all the orphaned spirit has to do is wait.

Until his own inscrutable plans come to a head.

But until then the trees that bear his form will serve as his vessels.

To gain power.

One human at a time.

=———————————————————–=

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by The First Coconut Tree and the Creation of man (Fansler 1911) in Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths. Eugenio. 2001

Illustration by Frances Alcaraz

Website: http://francesalcaraz.com/

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Kaisa was left in a strange bed alone. He didn’t even bother to say goodbye, but that’s just the way it was. Boys will be boys.

She picked her clothes off the floor and took a shower. Her skin was raw from the soap rubbing against it. No matter how hard she tried she couldn’t wash off last night.

Maybe she didn’t want to. This was how her weekends went. She would meet a strange man somewhere out in the world, then she would be left alone. Like always.

It was the way the world worked. At least her world.

She dressed herself and went outside. The noontime sun was bright and felt painful against her skin.

There was a gathering of people near the town hall and her curiosity was piqued. There was nothing else to do today so why not go?

She asked an old woman what the commotion was about and was met with disbelief.

“You mean you don’t know?! She has come from the mountain!” the old woman shouted.

“Who is ‘she’? And which mountain did she come from?” Kaisa was confused. It seemed like the whole town was here for this occasion.

“She has come! From the heights of the Skyworld she has come!” no matter how hard she tried Kaisa couldn’t get a meaningful sentence from the old woman, so she gave up and pushed through the crowd to see what the fuss was about.
And as she pushed away a young couple she saw her.

Kaisa had never seen such a beautiful woman. The sunlight glistened against her skin which seemed to be made from precious marble. Her hair was black as a moonless night and her smile; it was almost as if you could fit the whole world into her smile.

All around the crowd cheered at her arrival. It was a miracle made real, nothing like they had ever seen before. None of them would have ever guessed that they would see one such as her in their lifetime.

And Kaisa just stared.

“Where have you been?” she whispered to herself.

There was a force building inside her, one she could not deny. It swelled in her chest until it could not be held back.

“How dare you come here?!” Kaisa burst out.

“Don’ talk to her like that!” a bystander was horrified that she could raise her voice to the Diwata.

The Diwata was confused at the outburst, she didn’t understand why a human would react to her presence that way. She walked towards Kaisa and gently put her hand to the girl’s face.

“I’m here now,” the Diwata looked at Kaisa with pity.

Kaisa laughed, “Where were you ten years ago? Where were you when I was new?” tears streamed down her face “When I was one of those maidens that your kind would come to?!”

There are certain kinds of sadness that build up through your lifetime. Some stay with you, nestling until they shadow your soul. Kaisa’s sadness was that and more. It latched onto her spirit like honey and would not be shaken off.

“How dare you come to me now, when I am this!?” Kaisa crumpled into the arms of the Diwata, her tears flowing into a seemingly endless river.

Silence reigned through the crowd. The scene had an almost sacred quality about it.

“I’m here now,” the Diwata repeated.

The Diwata began to hum a soft tune. It echoed the bending of the bamboo forest, the silent dignity of the running stream and the gentle sound of nature’s creatures.

“I forgive you.” Kaisa’s words lingered through the music.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Diwata myths

Diwata Illustration by Kristienne Amante
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“A spark of Gugurang’s fire.”

The lambana knew this would end badly if she didn’t follow proper procedure. The last time something tried to take the fire of Gugurang without permission was the whole Asuang debacle, and she didn’t want this to be anything like that. She approached his servants and made a formal request for the spark. The lambana was representing her Diwata, and it was a request directly from Her. It only took a few years’ wait before the request was granted and the lambana was overjoyed that it was so fast.

“A coconut from the tree of Galangkalulua.”

Working her way through the children of Ulilangkalulua was no small feat. The lambana had to be very careful to be sure she wasn’t seen. Thankfully, her mistress told her that one of the small coconuts would suffice, thought it had to be. With the lambana’s small size, she couldn’t carry anything else. She crept among the clouds in the cover of night and snatched the coconut away before anyone was the wiser.

“A whisper of Saragnayan.”

Every creature knew of what happened to Saragnayan, how he loved his wife, Malitung Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata, and how he was defeated by the sons of the hero, Labaw Donggon. What they didn’t know was that Saragnayan still lived in the form of his spirit. His whispers echoed in the minds of those tempted to do evil and sow chaos. The Lambana didn’t have to go far to find a whisper, for Saragnayan voice could be heard in all places where humans lived. She snatched it as it was about to enter the ear of a young boy wondering whether he should steal a new toy.

“A grain of Sappia’s blood.”

This was the easiest thing to get on her list. The grains of red rice were plentiful in the field and the lambana took a moment to think about the mission that had been given to her. She did not know why her mistress wanted these diverse items, and the lambana had not known her mistress to be a great collector of oddities, but the lambana knew that it wasn’t her place to make judgments on the whims of her mistress.

“Soil from the birth of the world.”

In the beginning, there lived four beings on an island no larger than a hat. Nothing grew on this island, there were only those three beings and one bird. One day they sent the bird out across the waters and it returned with some earth, a piece of rattan and some fruit. The lambana knew that that soil would eventually become the earth that every being was standing on. She would have to go to the great god Melu to petition her mistress’ request. It took moments, then years, maybe even centuries. Time was not what it was in other places. In the end, the lambana got her request.

She returned triumphantly to her mistress’ side, clad in all the items she was sent to procure. Even getting one would have been a great accomplishment, but her mistress just took the items without giving the lambana a second glance.

“Good work, faithful servant,” said her mistress.

“I live to serve and I serve to live,” was the lambana’s reply.

————————–————————–————————–—

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Lambana myths and

“Asuang steals fire from Gugurang” in Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths. Eugenio. 2001.

“The First Coconut Tree and the Creation of Man” in Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths. Eugenio. 2001.

“The Rice Myth” in Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths. Eugenio. 2001.

“The Epic of Labaw Donggon.” in Philippine Folk Literature:The Epics. Eugenio. 2001.

“IN THE BEGINNING” Philippine Folklore Stories. Cole. 1916. http://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/pft/pft42.htm

Lambana illustration by Dyani Lao:
Website: www.dyanilao.com
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