*Note this story is in Bicol Naga

“Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu.”

“Ngonyan otruhon mong sabihon iyan sunod sako.”

“Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu.”

“Marahay. Ngonian tandaan mo, kaipuhan mong pirming sabihon iyan sa kada pag-agi mo sa lugar na ini.”

“Dai man po kita pwedeng mag-sighid digdi, bako daw po mama?”

“Iyo, marahay na natatandaan mo. Igwa akong sarong aking lalaking matali!”

“Alagad taano ta kaipuhan tang sunudon an mga patakaran na ini mama? Sa paghona ko, satuya inng harong?”

“Iyo, satuyang lugar ini na yaon gabos an satong mga gamit, alagad saen nakabugtak sa harong?”

“….an daga?”

“Tama! Alagad an daga asin an bilog na kinaban, bako iyan sadiri ta.”

“Alagad an sa paghona ko na ini an satuyng daga? Bako daw na ini an satuyang oma? Asin bako daw na digdi ako nagkakawat?”

“Iyo, iyo, binakal mi an dagang ini, asin igwa kami kan gabos na papeles tanganing patunayan iyan, alagad nagigin komplikado ini. Hilinga an daga pagsasadiri nin ibang… mga tawo, haloy pa bago kita nagdigdi, bago pa man an siisay pa man na tawo nagpoon nin sarong banwaan sa lugar na ini.”
“Alagad dai ta pwedeng bakalon sana ini sa mga tawong iyan?”

“Igwa sana nin nagkapirang bagay na dai mo mabakal nin kwarta. An lugar na ini iyo an saindang harong asin pirmi nang iyo, haloy na pagkatapos na ika asin ako mawara. Kaipuhan tang makanuod na mamuhay kaiba ninda.”

“Paano kun habo ko? Garo sinda mararaot na tawo. Kun dai ta sasabihon an mga bagay na ini asin kun maglinig sana kita sa palibot kan satong harong kita magkahelang. Paano iyan makatanosan?”

“Paano makatanosan na kaipuhan nindang ihiras an saindang harong sa sato?”

“…”

“Bako ining ideyal na sitwasyon para sa arin man sato, alagad kaipuhan tang makanuod na magin maboot sa lambang saro. Kun mabuot kita sa sainda, mabuot man sinda sa sato. Ngonian ano an sasabihon ta?

“Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu.”

“Marahay na aki.”

=———————–=

English Version

“Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu.”

“Now say it with me.”

“Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu.”

“Good. Now remember, we always have to say that whenever we pass this place.”

“We also can’t sweep here right mama?”

“Yes, it’s good you remembered. I have such a smart boy!”

“But why do we have to follow these rules mama? I thought this was our house?”

“It is, it’s our place with all our things, but what is the house on?”

“….the ground?”

“Good job! Now the ground and all the earth, doesn’t belong to us.”

“But I thought this was our land? Isn’t this our farm? And isn’t this where I play?”

“Yes, yes, we bought this land, and we have all the papers to prove it, but then it gets complicated. See the land belonged to some other… people, long before we came here, before any humans started a town in this area.”

“But can’t we just buy it from those people?”

“There are just some things you can’t buy with money. This place is their home and always will be, long after you and I are gone. We have to learn to live with them.”

“What if I don’t want to? They seem mean. If we don’t say these things and if we just clean around our house we get sick. How is that fair?”

“How is it fair that they have to share their home with us?”

“…”

“It isn’t an ideal situation for either of us, but we have to learn to be kind to one another. If we are kind to them, they will be kind to us. Now what do we say?”

“Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu.”

“Good boy.”
=——————————=

*Central Bicol, commonly called Bicol  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 Bicol speakers can be found in all provinces of Bicol and it is a majority language in Camarines Sur.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Dominador N. Marcaida Jr.
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Dominador N. Marcaida Jr.

Story inspired by Ansisit description in 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Samar. 2015

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

The post Ansisit – Bicol Naga Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga

Tolong paraayam an yaon duman, paharani na sa saindang bibiktimahon.

An enot na paraayam nagsabi, “Magtingag kamo sa itaas, mga kapwa ko paraayam, ta an satong biktima yaon nakatugdon dyan sa mga kahoy.”

An ikaduwang paraayam nagsimbag, “Iyo, amigo ko. An mga hayop na ini na pakpakan dai na makakapamerwisyo sa satong baryo.”

An ikatolong paraayam nagsabi man, “An satong mga sundang dapat na matarom huli ta an kublit kan mga iyan makunot pa sa anit nin damulag.”

Tiniripon kan tolong paraayam an saindang mga tarum asin nagbaklay pasiring sa kabukidan.

Pirang taon na an nakaagi poon kan mag-abot an enot na aswang sa saindang baryo. Idto an pinakamamundong aldaw sa buhay ninda ta mayo nin sarong lalaki o babae na nagkakakusog-boot na magluwas sa saindang mga harong huli sa takot na tibaad dai na makabalik pa giraray.

Dakul na ang sinaklot kan aswang sa baryo, kadakol na kalalakihan asin kababaehan. Sobra kadakol na man na kaakian.

Aram kan mga paraayam na kaipuhan na nindang tapuson an paghade na ini nin takot sa paagi nin pagpabulos nin dugo. Mayo nang ibang pwedeng gibuhon.

Sa tahaw kan kakahoyan nagtukaw an tolong paraayam asin nag-andam sa pagkakan.

“Dai ka mag-gatong nin kalayo,” an sabi kan enot na paraayam, “huli ta an mga linalang sa diklom na ini mamamataan kita.”

“Paano ta lulutuon an satong kakanon kun mayo kitang kalayo?” sabi kan ikaduwang paraayam.

“Kaipuhan tang kakanon na hilaw an satong kakanon,” an sabi kan ikatolong paraayam.

Asin kinua ninda an saindang mga balon asin nagkarakan na.

An ikatolong paraayam binare an katoninongan sa paagi nin paghapot, “Nadangog mo na kun paano sinda naggigibo nin mga aki?”

An ikaduwang paraayam nagsimbag, “Sarong nakakapungot na sistema. Nadangog ko na nagkukua sinda nin dugo sa mga nakuanan asin pinoporma iyan tanganing magin sarong omboy.”

An enot na paraayam nagsabi, “Mga makasusuyang mga linalang. Magigin marahay an kamugtakan kan buhay ta kun sinda gabos garadan na.”

Asin nagkauruyon digdi an tolong paraayam.

An enot na paraayam iyo an nagbantay sa saindang kampo.

“Hahanapon mi sinda sa aga, kun sinda paragal na,” an sabi nya.

“Uyon ako, mas madali nang hanapon sinda sa liwanag kan aldaw,” sabi kan ikaduwang paraayam.

“Asin madali ta sindang madakop na mayong anuman na problema,” an sabi kan ikatolong paraayam.

“Mag-likay ka, tugang, dai ta dapat pagmenuson an mga linalang na ini,” an simbag kan enot na paraayam.

“Totoo iyan. Nadangog ko na sinda nakabitin na nakabaliktad sa mga sanga kan mga kahoy asin naghahalat na an saindang biktima mag-agi sa irarom ninda, na inaagaw an sarong pobreng linalang na mayong ligtas na makadulag,” an ikaduwang paraayam nagsabi man.

“Saludo ako sa saindong kadonongan, mga tugang. Magpahingalo na kita para sa bangging ini, asin ipadagos an satong pangangayam sa aga,” an sabi kan ikatolong paraayam.

Kaya, an mga paraayam nagsurusalida sa pagbantay kan saindang kampo. Sa kada pagribay kan turno ninda nagigin sindang mas marigmat sa saindang pagbantay, naghahangos sa mga agihan sa kakahoyan. An banggi nag-lihis na mayong nangyari asin an mga paraayam nagpadagos kan saindang halawig na pagbaklay sa irarom kan mga kahoy.

“Kaipuhan kong magbuyboy,” an sabi kan ikatolong paraayam.

“Ano iyan, tugang?” simbag man kan ikaduwang paraayam.

“Dai ko aram kun ano an itsura kan mga linalang na ini,” an pag-ako nya.

“Kun siring, magdangog ka nin marhay, tugang. An mga linalang na ini mga depormadong linalang na nag-tatago sa pinakamadiklom na parte kan kakahoyan. Arog sinda kadakula saimo, o sako, alagad igwa sinda nin mga pakpak na minaabot sa lakbang kan mga sanga kan mga kahoy. An saindang mga muro sa bitis asin mga moro sa kamot nakatukdo pabalik hale sa saindang mga ngalungaloan. Siguradong mayo nang ibang linalang na urog kamakanos, o arog kamaraot ki kan aswang,” an simbag kan enot na paraayam.

“Asin sinda maringis. Dai sinda naheherak sa siisay man sa saindang mga biktima, dawa sa pinakasadit,” sabi kan ikaduwang paraayam.

Asin biglang nagtoninong an mga paraayam.

Aram ninda kun pira na an kinua kan aswang sa saindang baryo.

Hinuruhod kan mga paraayam an saindang mga payo asin nag-padara sa sulog nin pagromdom.

Narumdoman kan enot na paraayam an saiyang agom asin kun ano an ipinamati niya saiya. Dai mailadawan sa mga tataramon an kahungkagan kan saiyang puso.

Narumdoman kan ikaduwang paraayam an ngirit kan saiyang tugang. Magkambal sinda asin an pagkadayupot ninda sa lambang saro mayo nin ibang tawo an makakasabot.

An ikatolong paraayam nagigirumdoman an sarong puting tamong na kun saen napapatos an saiyang aki. Pirang semana pa sana an edad kaini kan sinaklot siya kan aswang.

Nakapagdesisyon sinda na tama na asin nagkasararo tanganing labanan an mga demonyong ini.

Asin ngonyan nakaabot na sinda digdi.

Pinalibotan kn tolong paraayam an sarong dakulang kahoy na balete. Nahihiling ninda an mga lawi kan mga linalang na nakadungaw sa mga dahon.

Inandam ninda an saindang mga sundang asin naghoma nang magtagâ.

Nagkatararaka an mga linalang asin mayo na sinda nin oras tanganing makabalos. Igwa nin limang linalang asin dawa ngani napaboran sinda alagad an mga hayop garo baga nagkatararaka, na nagtatao sa mga paraayam nin maninigong panahon tanganing na sinda.

An nagsunod iyo an pagkuriyat nin mga tari asin batbat. Sarong aswang an nakasaklot sa ikaduwang paraayam asin ilinayog sya kaini paitaas. Alagad sa saiyang marikas na pag-isip sana na nagibo niyang tigbason an bitis kan aswang asin luminigid sa daga.

An enot na paraayam solong nakipaglaban sa tolo kan mga aswang. Tinigbas asin tinagpas niya an saindang mahibog na mga kublit, na inilagan an saindang mga kamrot asin inaprobetsaran an saindang pagkaribong.

Nagpanuntok an ikatulong paraayam kan mahiling niya kun ano an dara kan aswang na saiyang nakaatubang.

Idto an saiyang aki, na napapatos nin puting tamong.

An ikatolong paraayam ihinulog an saiyang sundang asin naglakaw pasiring sa aswang na may nagdara kan saiyang aki. Dai nakalaban an aswang asin itinao an aking lalaki sa saiyang ama.

Naghibi an paraayam mantang pigkukugos niya an omboy. Sa gabos nindang kaisugan, an aswang dai na nakapamerwisyo sa mga aki pagkatapos kaini gabos.

Bago pa man makasimbag an paraayam, naglayog na an aswang. An ibang mga paraayam tinambudan an saindang mga lugad asin ngkururahaw sa kaogmahan.

Alagad an ikatolong paraayam mayong ibang naisip kundi an saiyang aki, na ngonian tininong sa saiyang pagkakarga.

Nagpadagos an duwang paraayam pasiring sa laog kan kakahoyan, naghahanap nin iba pang mga aswang tanganing dakupon, mantang an ikatolong para-ayam kurokarga an saiyang aki tanganing pumuli na sa saiyang baryo.

Mayo nang nadangog dapit sa sainda, lagad an duwa minidbid bilang mga heroes a saindang baryo. Danay na naroromdoman an duwang maisog na mga paraayam na nakipaglaban sa mga aswang na nagpahamak sa saindang pagkabuhay.

An ikatolong paraayam asin an saiyang aki huminale sa baryo tanganing maghanap nin sarong bagong buhay na harayo sa peligro na dolot kan mga aswang.

==============================-

Three hunters there were, closing in on their prey.

The first hunter said, “Look to the skies my fellow hunters, our prey stays in the trees.”

The second hunter replied, “Yes, my friend. These winged beasts will not harm our village anymore.”

The third hunter said, “Our blades must be sharp for its skin is as tough as a carabao’s hide.”

The three hunters gathered their weapons and trekked through the mountains.

It had been years since the first alan arrived in their village. Those were dark days when no man or woman would be brave enough to leave their homes for fear of never returning.

The alan took many away from the village, too many brothers and sisters. Too many children.

The hunters knew that they had to end this reign of terror through blood. Nothing else would do.

In the middle of the forest the three hunters sat and prepared a meal.

“Do not make a fire,” the first hunter said, “for the creatures of the night will be able to find us.”

“How will we cook our meal if we don’t have a fire?” said the second hunter.

“We will have to eat our food raw,” said the third hunter.

And they took out their provisions and ate.

The third hunter broke the silence by asking, “Have you heard how they make children?”

The second hunter replied, “A nasty business. I heard they take blood from miscarriages and mold it to become a child.”

The first hunter said, “Disgusting creatures. We’ll all be better off once they’re all dead.”

And to this all the hunters agreed.

The first hunter took watch over their camp.

“We will hunt them in the morning, when they are tired,” he said.

“I agree, it will be much easier to find them with the light of day,” said the second hunter.

“And we will be able to cut them down without any trouble,” said the third hunter.

“Be careful, brother, we must not underestimate these creatures,” replied the first hunter.

“That is true. I’ve heard they hang upside down from the limbs of trees and wait for their prey to pass under them, snatching up the poor soul with no chance of escape,” the second hunter intoned.

“I bow to your wisdom, brothers. Let us rest for the night and resume our hunt in the morning,” the third hunter said.

And so, the hunters took turns watching over their camp. With each rotation they became more aware of their surroundings, breathing in the paths of the forest. The night passed without incident and the hunters resumed their long trek through the underbrush.

“I must make a confession,” said the third hunter.

“What is it, brother?” replied the second hunter.

“I do not know what these creatures look like,” he admitted.

“Then listen close, brother. These creatures are deformed beings that lurk in the darkest parts of the forest. They are as large as you or I but they have wings that span the breadth of the limbs of trees. Their toes and fingers point backwards from their joints. Surely there is no other creature as ugly or as misshapen as the alan,” the first hunter replied.

“And they are vicious. They spare no mercy for any of their victims, not even the smallest ones,” said the second hunter.

And with this silence overtook the hunters.

They knew what the alan took from their village.

The hunters bowed their heads and drifted off to the realm of memory.

The first hunter remembered his wife and how she made him feel. Words could not describe the emptiness that filled his heart.

The second hunter remembered his brother’s laugh. They were twins and shared a bond no other could understand.

The third hunter remembered a white blanket in which laid his son. He was only a few weeks old when the alan took him.

They had decided enough was enough and banded together to fight these demons.

And now it came to this.

The three hunters circled a large balete tree. They could see the feathers of the creatures poking through the leaves.

They readied their blades and prepared to strike.

The creatures were caught by surprise and did not have enough time to retaliate. There were five creatures and though the odds were in their favor the beasts seemed to be caught unawares, giving the hunters ample time to cut them down.

What followed was a stream of talons and steel. An alan grabbed the second hunter and began to fly upward. It was only with his quick thinking that he managed to chop of the foot of the alan and rolled to the ground.

The first hunter fought three of the alan by himself. He hacked and slashed through their thick hides, dodging their blows and taking advantage of their confusion.

The third hunter stopped when he saw what the alan he faced was carrying.

It was his son, wrapped in a white blanket.

The third hunter dropped his sword and walked towards the alan that held his son. The creature did not attack and handed over the boy to his father.

The hunter wept as he cradled the baby in his arms. For all their viciousness the alan had not harmed children after all.

Before the hunter could respond the alan had flown away. The other hunters bandaged their wounds and screamed a cry of triumph.

But the third hunter could only think of his son, now safe in his embrace.

The two hunters continued on deeper in the forest, looking for more alan to hunt while the third hunter took his son and returned to the village.

They were never heard from again, though the pair were hailed as heroes by the village. Forever would the people remember the two brave hunters that stood against the monsters that threatened their way of life.

The third hunter and his son left the village to find a new life, far away from the chaos of the alan.

=——————————=

*Central Bicol, commonly called Bicol  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 Bicol speakers can be found in all provinces of Bicol and it is a majority language in Camarines Sur.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Dominador N. Marcaida Jr.
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Dominador N. Marcaida Jr.

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

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

The post Alan – Bicol-Naga Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga

“Magigibo ko ini sa laog nin duwang minuto. Pirang piye na sana an harayo pasiring sa sunod na edipisyo asin marikas akong makakadalagan.” Namamatean mo an pitik kan saimong puso na nag-aalingahot sa saimong mga bitis, an saimong mga kamot malilipot asin ginaganot, asin an lipot sa saimong taludtod yaon na dyan sa laog nin sarong oras. An mga kusog sa saimong mga bitis nagpopoon nang mag-higot asin huminangos ka nin sarong hararom na hinangos bago magpoon kan saimong pagdalagan.

“Ini an tibaad huring hinangos ko.” An adrenaline nag-aagi sa saimong hawak. An lambang lakdang nagpapamate saimo na ika an pinakamarikas na tawo sa kinaban. Nguminirit an saimong lalawgon. “Ini na!” iniisip mo, “Nakagibo ako kaiyan!” An saimong obheto pira na sanang lakdang an harayo.

“O, dai.” Dai mo aram kun paano ini nakaabot duman na marikas. Sigurado kang marhay na malalampasan mo ini. An babae naghihiling saimo na may nakakurahat an mapula niyang mga mata asin an saiyang makatatakot na lalawgon nagbutas nin sarong kurahaw. “Dai!” An boses sa saimong payo nagkukururahaw man na “Dai dapat arog kaini!”

An saimong mga bitis dinadara ka sa ibong na direksyon, pabalik sa medyo ligtas na kahoy. “Taano ta dai ako nagpirme sa laog kan harong?” An mga desisyon gabos nagpopoon na magbalik tanganing mag-patakot saimo. “Taano ta dai ako nagpoon na magdalagan?”, “Taano ta yaon ako sa lugar na ini?”, “Taano ta dai ako nagdangog kan nagkaigwa ako nin pagkakataon.” An mga boses sa saimong payo dai mapundo sa pagkurahaw.

An kahoy mahihihiling na ngonyan. “Dai ini makakalampas sa mga sanga.” Narealisar mo na mayo pang limang minuto poon kan magpoon kang magdalagan. Mayo pang limang minuto an makakagibo nin pagkakaiba sa pag-ultanan ngonyan asin kan natatada pang parte kan saimong buhay.

“Saro pang lakdang asin yaon na ako duman.” Sarong huring pagdalagan sana asin dai ka na kaini madadakop. Igwa nin sarong momento nin pagduda bago ka mag-laog sa irarom kan kahoy asin bumagsak sa mga ugat. Dai mo namamatian an kulog huli sa saimong adrenaline. “Buhay pa ako.” Dai ka pa nanggad nagin mas mapagpasalamat.

Sagkod na ibugtak mo an saimong kamot sa saimong daghan. “Dai, dai, dai…” An saimong isip nagdadalagan. “Dai kuta ini nagin arog kaiyan karikas.” An dugo nagpupuon nang magbulos sa saimong mga moro pasiring sa iba pang parte kan saimong mga gubing. “Nakagibo ako, dapat ligtas ako.”

Inuruutro mo an mga tataramon na iyan sa saimong payo sagkod na magkaigwa nin sobrang pagkawara nin dugo.

“Dapat ligtas ako.” Iyan an saimong naisip bago ka nagkaturog, tibaad sa huring pagkakataon.

=———————-=

English Version

“I can make it in two minutes. It’s only a few feet to the next building and I can run fast.” You can feel your heartbeat reverberate to your feet, your hands are cold and sweaty and the chill down your spine has been there for the better part of an hour. The muscles in your legs start to tighten and you take one deep breath before starting your sprint.

“This might be the last breath I’ll ever take.” The adrenaline surges through your body. Each step makes you feel like you’re the fastest person in the world. Your face betrays a smile, “This is it!” you think, “I made it!” Your objective is just a few steps away.

“Oh no.” You don’t know how it got there so fast. You were so sure that you were going to outrun it. The woman stares at you with her bulging red eyes and her hideous face twists in a scream. “No!” The voice in your head shouts “It wasn’t supposed to be this way!”

Your legs take you in the opposite direction, back to the relative safety of the tree. “Why didn’t I stay indoors?” The decisions all start coming back to haunt you “Why didn’t I take up running?”, “Why am I in this place?”, “Why didn’t I listen when I had the chance.” The voices in your head won’t stop screaming.

The tree is in sight now. “It won’t be able to get past the branches.” You realize it’s been less than five minutes since you started running. Less than five minutes would make the difference between now and the rest of your life.

“One more step and I’m there.” Just one last dash and it won’t be able to grab you. There is a moment of doubt before you lunge under the tree and crash into the roots. You don’t feel much of the pain because of your adrenaline. “I’m still alive.” You’ve never been more grateful.

Until you put your hand to your chest. “No, no, no…” Your mind trails off. “It couldn’t have been that fast.” The blood starts to trickle down your fingers onto the rest of your clothes. “I made it, I’m supposed to be safe.”

You repeat those words in your head until there’s too much blood loss.

“I should be safe.” Was what you thought before you closed your eyes, maybe for the last time.

=——————————=

*Central Bicol, commonly called Bicol 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 Bicol speakers can be found in all provinces of Bicol and it is a majority language in Camarines Sur.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Dominador N. Marcaida Jr.
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Dominador N. Marcaida Jr.

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

Abat illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

The post Abat – Bicol-Naga Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.