*Note this story is in Cebuano

Gimasahe ni Doktora ang iyang agtang ug nagpaharon-ingon nga interesado sa istorya’s bag-ong baye.

Nadungog na ni niya’g pila na ka gatos. ‘Gibiyaan ko’s akong uyab ug dili na ko kaatiman nga ako ra usa.’, ‘Bata pa kaayo ko para ani.’, ‘Kinalisorang desisyon ni nga akong buhaton.’

Bla bla bla bla bla

Dugay na ug gikapoy si Doktora mao nga miadto na lang siya’s punto.

“Pwede nato mabuhat ang operasyon ugma. Anhia ko’s aning adres ug dal-a nya ang bayad.”

Makayamyam ra’g ‘ou’ ang baye lahos sa iyang luha samtang naghilak siya.

Ing-ani diay ni rong semanaha.

Mibiya ang baye ug naghulat ang Doktora nga muabot siya.

“Musalig lang kong nadungog to nimo tanan?”

“Alangan.”

“Ambot lang ngano maghasol-hasol pa gyud ka manghiring sa ilang mga istorya. Parehas ra gihapong mahitabo.”

“Makapalabi man gud sa… kalami.”

“Kaluod ba nimo.”

“Kasakit ba. Kahibaw baya ka nga dili ta mabuhi kon wala ang usa. Kadugay na ba.”

Mihupaw si Doktora ug milikay sa iyang tutok.

“Naa nimo ang adres. Adto ra sa gisabotang oras.”

“Siguradoha nga natulog siya. Hinumdomi ang nahitabo’s Laguna.”

“Baynte ka tuig nato. Nakat-on na ko’s akong mga sayop. Suwayon ta na nimo.”

Nagpagawas siya’g hait nga katawa nga nagpakurog sa dukogan ni Doktora. Gilubag niya iyang liog ug mingaab.

Saba unta. Nganong dili saba? Naghunahuna si Doktora.

Giuyog niya iyang ulo haron mawala ang hunahuna. Bisa’g pila na ka dekadang tag-as, wala gihapon siya naanad sa iya.

Basi’g dili g’yod.

“Adto na.”

“Alangan, Doktora. Kita lang nya ta puhon.”

Mibiya siya, pero wala’y kalangan aduna.

Miadto si Doktora sa kusina ug nagpagawas og botelya nga iyang gitigom para sa karong higayon.

Iyang mga ‘pasyente’ naghunahuna nga iyaha ning balay: usa ka kuwarto nga han-ay ug limpyo tan-awn. Nagpadungag ni sa ilad ug nagpatambok sa ilang paglaom haron makahunahuna sila nga ang operasyon parehas sab.

Kabugoa g’yod.

Giyarok niya ang dyin ug nagpakupot siya sa mga memorya.

Nakahinumdom siya sa panahon kadtong aduna pa siya’y pangalan.

Mas sayon ang kinabuhi sa una. Aduna lang siya’y usa nga abtonon.

Dili to bahin sa kahibalo o sa pagpanumpa. Kinahanglan lang niya ang titulo. Makakompleto unta to sa iyaha.

O mao iyang gihunahuna.

Lad-ok na sab, memorya na sab.

Pangawat unsa’y gipabayad nila sa operasyon. Ug sigurado si Doktora nga wala sila’y tinuod nga kaalam sa medisina.

Pero desperado siya.

Gipundo niya tanan niyang tinigom ug nakig-abot sa ilaha sa usa ka hugawng motel. Gipahigda nila siya ug giandam ilang mga hiramenta.

Pagkita niya sa unsa ilang gamiton, misiyagit siya.

Gidemanda niya nga iesterilays ilang hiramenta.

Gihisgot niya unsa’y mga tambal nga kuhaon.

Giluwaan niya ilang kakuwang ug mao iyang giingon sa ila.

Ganahan niya nga mumata.

Ming-ingon sila nga nayabag siya, mas maayo nga magpiyong unya mumata human sa pagtiwas sa operasyon kaysa makakita unya matugawan og maayo.

Sa diha nagkaila sila—si Doktora ug iyang magkadugayng kaila.

Misulod siya sa kuwarto nagdala’g presensiya nga nakapahunong hasta sa iyaha.

Iyang gipagawas ang mga trabahante. Gipangutan-an niya si Dotkora kon ganahan g’yod ba siya magmata para ani.

Miingon si Doktora’g ou.

Naigo na siya’s alkohol ug naghayang na siya sa sopa, ang botelya hapit na mahurot.

Naghunahuna siya sa baye ug iyang binugo ug mihilak, usa ka ideya nagsige’g lumba sa iyang utok.

Basin igkahuman ini, iya na g’yong buhaton.

Pero sa kinalawman, kahibalo siya nga talawan ra kaayo siya makatiwas.

Samtang mikatag ang kahubog ug napugos siya’g katulog, inandang pulongan migawas sa iyang mga ngabil.

“Magkita ta ugma.”

=————————-=

English Version

Doctora rubbed her temples and feigned interest in the new girl’s story.

It was something she had heard a hundred times over. ‘My boyfriend left me and I can’t take care of it by myself.’, ‘I’m too young for this.’, ‘it’s the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.’

Blah blah blah blah blah

It was late and Doctora was tired so she went straight to the point.

“We can do the procedure tomorrow. Meet me at this address and have the payment with you.”

The crying girl could only mumble a ‘yes’ through her tears.

It was going to be one of those weeks.

The girl left and Doctora waited until he arrived.

“I trust you heard all that?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t know why you bother eavesdropping on their stories. You’ll do the same thing anyway.”

“It makes it all the more… delicious.”

“You disgust me.”

“Such hurtful words. You know we can’t live without each other. It’s been too long.”

Doctora sighed and avoided his gaze.

“You have the address. Just go there at the agreed time.”

“Make sure she’s asleep. Remember that time in Laguna.”

“That was 20 years ago. I learn from my mistakes, something you should try thinking about.”

He let out a shrill laugh that sent a shock down Doctora’s spine. He threw his neck back and bellowed.

It should be loud. Why isn’t it loud? She thought.

She shook her head to clear the thought away. After the long decades she still never got used to him.

Maybe she never will.

“Just go.”

“Of course, Doctora, I will see you soon.”

He left, but it gave no reprieve.

Doctora went to the kitchen and brought out the bottle she was saving for this one.

Her ‘patients’ thought that this was her home, a single bedroom that looked neat and clean. It added to the illusion and fed on their hopes making them think that the procedure would be the same.

Such idiots.

She took a swig of gin and let the memories take her over.

She thought back to a time when she had a name.

Life was easier then, there was one goal that she needed to reach.

I wasn’t about the knowledge or the oath. She needed the title. It would complete her.

Or so she thought.

Another gulp, another memory.

It was robbery what they charged for the procedure. And she was sure that they didn’t even have any actual medical knowledge.

But she was desperate.

She pooled her savings and met them in a dingy motel. They told her to lie down and they prepared their instruments.

When she saw what they were going to use, she shouted.

She demanded that they sterilize their tools.

She told them which painkillers to get.

She spat at their incompetence and told them simply,

She wanted to be awake.

They told her it was crazy, better to be under and wake up with the procedure complete without having to look at the disturbing operation.

That was when she met him.

He walked into the room with a gravitas that made even her pause.

He told the workers to leave the room. He asked her if she really wanted to be awake for this.

She said yes.

The alcohol had gotten to her and she was sprawled on the sofa, the bottle almost empty.

She thought about the girl and her stupid choices and cried, one solitary idea racing through her brain.

Maybe after this one I’ll finally do it.

But deep down she knew she was too much of a coward to end it.

As the inebriation took over and forced her into slumber, a familiar phrase left her lips.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

=——————————–=

*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 Jan Alexander Arcenal
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jan Alexander Arcenal

Based on the Ekek myths/urban legends

Ekek Illustration by Timothy Aldrin Ocleasa

FB: @notsoperfect_art

IG: notsoperfect_art

EK-EK-EK

Nalumos ang tigulang sa kakulba nga dili masabtan pagkadungog niya sa tingog gawas sa iyang kwarto. Sa mahinay nga tingog, miingon siya: “O Ginoo ko, dili lang unta siya”. Gisulayan niya’g siyagit para muhawa ang dautang presensya. Unta mihawa na to apan nahibalo siya nga dili ‘to makaabot sa kwarto sa iyang anak nga natulog.

EK-Ek-Ek

Buot unta niyang mukuha ug kutsilyo gikan sa kusina apan nagdagan ang oras. Busa, nagdali-dali na lang siya ug pangukay ug butang sa iyang kwarto. Nakit-an niya ang dako niyang gunting nga gigamit niya kaniadto. “Sakto ra ni”. Nahurot na ang oras para sa paghuna-huna, labi na ‘ron niining sitwasyong delikado. Gikuha niya ang gunting ug mibulhot ang tigulang ngadto sa kwarto sa iyang anak, nag-ampo nga husto ra ang gikuptan niya.

Ek-ek-ek

Pagkaabot niya sa purtahan, misinggit usab siya ug labi pang isog ug dako, naninguha nga mapukaw ang uban tawo sa balay apan nagiunsara ang iyang anak sa kwarto. Nahibalo siya sa angay niyang buhaton. Sa wala’y pagduhaduha, misulod siya sa kwarto.

ek-ek-ek….

Gitutokan niya ang mangtas, kansang dilang taas ug ngil-ad nagtilap-tilap na sa tiyan sa iyang minahal nga anak. Nakahinumdom siya niadtong gabiing labing alaut, diin una niyang nadunggan ang tingog. Diin gikuha kaniya ang iyang kinaunhang anak sa kalaluman sa gabii nga nalumos sa tingog sa ulan ug hangin. Nanumpa siya nga dili kini mahitabo na usab.

…

Sa pagbuot nga dili mantandog maskin naay kahadlok, gikuptan niya’g maayo ang gunting ug misulong siya.

=—————————–=

English Version

Ek-Ek-Ek

The old woman hears the sound from her bedroom and her heart drops. “Please God not her.”, she whispers. She screams, and silently hopes that this can be enough to scare the creature away but she knows that her voice isn’t strong enough to reach her daughter’s bedroom.

Ek-Ek-EK

There’s not enough time to go to the kitchen to get a knife, it might be too late. She looks around her room and sees a pair of scissors. “Good enough.” she thinks. But there’s no time to think, not when this much is at stake. She runs out of her room with the scissors in her hand, praying that it may be enough.

Ek-EK-EK

She is close enough now. She screams again, louder than before, louder than anything she has ever screamed before. It may be enough to wake up the others in the house, but she knows her daughter is alone in the room. She opens the door with the scissors in her hand.

EK-EK-EK

She stares down the beast. She sees its long, red tongue attached to her daughter’s womb and she remembers that dark stormy night when she first heard the sounds. When she lost her first baby. She vows that it will never hurt her family ever again.

EK-EK-EK-EK

The old woman grasps the scissors in her hand and charges at her nightmare.

=————————=

*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 Carl Ritchie S. Temple

Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Carl Ritchie S. Temple

Story inspired by the Ekek legends

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

Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
FB: Wildling Child
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildlingchild/

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Ek-Ek-Ek

Kinulbaan ang mal-am sang makabati kang huni halin sang iya kwarto. Hutik na, “ Dios ko, indi daad tana.” Nagsinggit siya kag nagapangamuyo nga kahadlukan kang sapat ang iya tingug. Pay nakabalo siya nga indi makaabot ang iya tingug sa kwarto sang iya bata nga nagakaturog.

Ek-Ek-Ek

Uyon niya magdara sang kutsilyo pay waay  dun tana ka oras nga mag-adto sang kusina. Nagapangita siya ka puwede madara gikan sa iya kuwarto. Nakit-an na ang pares kang gunting. “Sakto na diya.” Waay dun sang oras nga mag-isip, karun pa nga na sa pigado dun sanda nga sitwasyon.  Nagdalagan tana paguwa sa iya nga kwarto nga may kaput nga gunting, nagapangamuyo nga sakto dun ang iyang ginakaptan.

Ek-Ek-Ek

Sang paparapit dun, nagsinggit duman tana kang tama ka kakusog. Nagahandum siya nga mapukaw ang tanan nga imaw sa balay. Man-an niya nga isa lang ang iya bata sa kwarto. Ginbuksan niya ang puwertahan samtang may kaput niya mangid ang gunting.

Ek-Ek-Ek

Nakit-an niya ang sapat. Malabog, adto ang pula nga dila sang busong sang iya bata. Nadumduman na ang indi malimtam nga gab-I sang mabatian niya ang huni.  Ang gab-I kun diin nadura ang iya una nga bata. Nangako tana nga indi dun matabo sa kung sin-o man sa iya nga pamilya ang natabo sa iya.

Ek-Ek-Ek

Kaput sang mal-am  ang  gunting kag gin atubang ang iya nga daman.

=-=——————————–=

English Version

Ek-Ek-Ek

The old woman hears the sound from her bedroom and her heart drops. “Please God not her.”, she whispers. She screams, and silently hopes that this can be enough to scare the creature away but she knows that her voice isn’t strong enough to reach her daughter’s bedroom.

Ek-Ek-EK

There’s not enough time to go to the kitchen to get a knife, it might be too late. She looks around her room and sees a pair of scissors. “Good enough.” she thinks. But there’s no time to think, not when this much is at stake. She runs out of her room with the scissors in her hand, praying that it may be enough.

Ek-EK-EK

She is close enough now. She screams again, louder than before, louder than anything she has ever screamed. It may be enough to wake up the others in the house, but she knows her daughter is alone in the room. She opens the door with the scissors in her hand.

EK-EK-EK

She stares down the beast. She sees its long, red tongue attached to her daughter’s womb and she remembers that dark stormy night when she first heard the sounds. When she lost her first baby. She vows that it will never hurt her family ever again.

EK-EK-EK

The old woman grasps the scissors in her hand and charges at her nightmare.

————————–————————–————————–—

*The Hiligaynon language, also colloquially referred often by most of its speakers simply as Ilonggo, is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 9.1 million people, mainly in Western Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN, most of whom belong to the Visayan ethnic group, mainly the Hiligaynons. It is the second-most widely spoken language and a member of the so-named Visayan language family and is more distantly related to other Philippine languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Zyryl Leal Abuyen
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Zyryl Leal Abuyen

Story inspired by the Ekek legends

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

Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
FB: Wildling Child
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildlingchild/

Doctora rubbed her temples and feigned interest in the new girl’s story.

It was something she had heard a hundred times over. ‘My boyfriend left me and I can’t take care of it by myself.’, ‘I’m too young for this.’, ‘it’s the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.’

Blah blah blah blah blah

It was late and Doctora was tired so she went straight to the point.

“We can do the procedure tomorrow. Meet me at this address and have the payment with you.”

The crying girl could only mumble a ‘yes’ through her tears.

It was going to be one of those weeks.

The girl left and Doctora waited until he arrived.

“I trust you heard all that?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t know why you bother eavesdropping on their stories. You’ll do the same thing anyway.”

“It makes it all the more… delicious.”

“You disgust me.”

“Such hurtful words. You know we can’t live without each other. It’s been too long.”

Doctora sighed and avoided his gaze.

“You have the address. Just go there at the agreed time.”

“Make sure she’s asleep. Remember that time in Laguna.”

“That was 20 years ago. I learn from my mistakes, something you should try thinking about.”

He let out a shrill laugh that sent a shock down Doctora’s spine. He threw his neck back and bellowed.

It should be loud. Why isn’t it loud? She thought.

She shook her head to clear the thought away. After the long decades she still never got used to him.

Maybe she never will.

“Just go.”

“Of course, Doctora, I will see you soon.”

He left, but it gave no reprieve.

Doctora went to the kitchen and brought out the bottle she was saving for this one.

Her ‘patients’ thought that this was her home, a single bedroom that looked neat and clean. It added to the illusion and fed on their hopes making them think that the procedure would be the same.

Such idiots.

She took a swig of gin and let the memories take her over.

She thought back to a time when she had a name.

Life was easier then, there was one goal that she needed to reach.

I wasn’t about the knowledge or the oath. She needed the title. It would complete her.

Or so she thought.

Another gulp, another memory.

It was robbery what they charged for the procedure. And she was sure that they didn’t even have any actual medical knowledge.

But she was desperate.

She pooled her savings and met them in a dingy motel. They told her to lie down and they prepared their instruments.

When she saw what they were going to use, she shouted.

She demanded that they sterilize their tools.

She told them which painkillers to get.

She spat at their incompetence and told them simply,

She wanted to be awake.

They told her it was crazy, better to be under and wake up with the procedure complete without having to look at the disturbing operation.

That was when she met him.

He walked into the room with a gravitas that made even her pause.

He told the workers to leave the room. He asked her if she really wanted to be awake for this.

She said yes.

The alcohol had gotten to her and she was sprawled on the sofa, the bottle almost empty.

She thought about the girl and her stupid choices and cried, one solitary idea racing through her brain.

Maybe after this one I’ll finally do it.

But deep down she knew she was too much of a coward to end it.

As the inebriation took over and forced her into slumber, a familiar phrase left her lips.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

=———————————————————————————

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Based on the Ekek myths/urban legends

Ekek Illustration by Timothy Aldrin Ocleasa

FB: @notsoperfect_art

IG: notsoperfect_art

Ek-Ek-Ek

The old woman hears the sound from her bedroom and her heart drops. “Please God not her.”, she whispers. She screams, and silently hopes that this can be enough to scare the creature away but she knows that her voice isn’t strong enough to reach her daughter’s bedroom.

Ek-Ek-EK

There’s not enough time to go to the kitchen to get a knife, it might be too late. She looks around her room and sees a pair of scissors. “Good enough.” she thinks. But there’s no time to think, not when this much is at stake. She runs out of her room with the scissors in her hand, praying that it may be enough.

Ek-EK-EK

She is close enough now. She screams again, louder than before, louder than anything she has ever screamed. It may be enough to wake up the others in the house, but she knows her daughter is alone in the room. She opens the door with the scissors in her hand.

EK-EK-EK

She stares down the beast. She sees its long, red tongue attached to her daughter’s womb and she remembers that dark stormy night when she first heard the sounds. When she lost her first baby. She vows that it will never hurt her family ever again.

EK-EK-EK

The old woman grasps the scissors in her hand and charges at her nightmare.

————————–————————–————————–—

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Story inspired by the Ekek legends

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

Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
FB: Wildling Child
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildlingchild/