*Note this story is in Tagalog

“Lintil” sabi ni Jomar habang nakatingin sa ilog. Nakita niya ang dating kaaway mula sa kalayuan.

Hindi kayang itago ng kaniyang mahabang buhok ang mukha nito kay Jomar. Ilang beses niyang pinapaalala sa sarili na kahit ano pa man ang mukha nito, isa pa rin siyang demonyo.

Kinuha na ni Jomar ang kaniyang lambat sa ilog at nilapag ito sa bangka. Ang pagbebenta lang ng ueang* ang pinagkakakitaan niya at tuwing nababaling ang kaniyang paningin, kukuhanin ng demonyo ang lahat ng kaniyang napangisda. Nangangarap na lang siya na sana buhay pa ang kaniyang lolo para maturuan siya kung paano harapin ang ganoong klaseng nilalang. Naisa-isa na ang mga mahal niya sa buhay dahil panahon kaya kailangan niya itong harapin mag-isa.

Nakaupo siya sa kaniyang bangka at nag-iisip kung ano ang gagawin niya ngayon. Hindi niya kayang makipag-unahan dahil mayroon siyang binubuhat. Alam ni Jomar na hindi siya kayang habulin nito sa ilog, kaya kailangan niyang mag-isip kung ano ang gagawin niya: Delikado sumugod sa rumaragasang ilog dahil masisira ang bangka niya sa matutulis na bato, at ang isa namang pwede niyang gawin ay lilituhin niya ito para siya makatakas. Hindi niya nagustuhan ang mga naisip na plano.

Lumipas ang isang oras pagkatapos makita ni Jomar ang nilalang at matagal na rin siyang nakabilad sa araw. Kinikilabutan siya dahil napansin niya na hindi gumagalaw ang demonyo simula nang nakita niya ito. Kailangan niya nang pumunta sa ilog para mauwi niya ang kaniyang napangisda.

Dinaan niya ang bangka pababa sa ilog. Tinangay siya ng rumaragasang tubig at kinailangan ang buong lakas niya para iwasan ang mga tumatalsik na bato at malalakas na agos. Hindi nagtagal nakaabot din siya sa kaniyang pupuntahan, pero ang ginahawang naramdahan ay bigla ring humupa.

Dahil mayroon siyang nasisilayan sa tabing-ilog.

Isa na namang demonyo.

=————————————————–=

English Version

“Linti!” Jomar looked across the river and saw his old nemesis. He could see its face beneath the long hair and he had to remind himself that, no matter what it looked like, it was still a demon.

Jomar fished his net out of the river onto his boat. Selling ueang* was has only source of income and every time he would let his guard down one of these demons would steal his catch and leave him with nothing. He wished his lolo was still alive to tell him how to deal with these creatures, but time took its toll on the people that he loved and he was left alone with his problems as always.

He sat in his boat and wondered what he would do this time. There was no chance of outrunning the demon, not while he was carrying this heavy a load. Jomar knew that the demon couldn’t follow you through a river, and he had to make a choice: Going through the river could be dangerous, the current ran fast and there was a chance that he would end up dashed against the rocks, on the other hand he could take his chances distracting the demon and then making a break for it. Neither of those choices seemed appealing to him.

I had been an hour since Jomar had first seen the demon and his skin was cooked from the heat of the sun. The demon hadn’t moved a single inch and its impassive features sent shivers down Jomar’s spine. It was time to decide, and Jomar knew that the river would be his best bet at surviving and keeping his catch.

He steered the boat down the river and held on for his life. The rapids were violent and it took all his strength to guide his craft through the winding stones and dangerous waters. It didn’t take long to reach his destination, but the relief he felt didn’t last long.

A figure was waiting along the riverbank.

Another demon.

————————–————————–————————–

*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.

*Ueang is freshwater shrimp

Story inspired by the Bawa description in ‘The Myths of the Philippines’. Gaverza. 2014.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Emman Bernardino
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Emman Bernardino

Bawa Illustration by Nica Mapeso

The post Bawa – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

“Grrrah,” sabi ng nagugutom na buwaya.

“Tahimik na, makakakain din tayo, kaunting hintay na lang.” payo ng aswang sa kaniyang alaga.

Nahihirapan silang makakita ng mabibiktima, dahil nag-iingat na ang mga tao para hindi sila mapadpad sa nilulugaran nilang dalawa. Gayunpaman, hindi nawala ang pag-asa ng aswang na makakakita sila ng masarap na makakain.

“Kailangan lang nating lumapit sa barangay at magiging maayos na ang lahat.” Umungol ulit ang buwaya pero pinakalma niya ito.” Alam kong makakakita tayo ng masasarap na maliliit na mga bata.”

Natuwa ang buwaya dahil lumipas na ang ilang buwan matapos siyang makatikim ng masarap na pagkain.

“Lalapit tayo sa mga bahay nila at magtatayo tayo ng patibong . Puwede nating mahuli yung mga lumalangoy sa ilog!” Naglakad silang dalawa papunta sa tabing-ilog.

Ang pag-iingat ng mga tao ay nagbunga ng matagal nilang pagkagutom. Ang huling pagkaing natikman nila ay isang mangingisdang nawawala sa sapa. Nahirapan silang nguyain dahil sa tigas ng laman nito kaya hindi naging malinamnam ang kanilang hapunan.

Dinadaan na lang ng aswang sa ngiti ang lahat. Alam niyang makakakita rin sila ng pagkain. Malakas ang tiwala niya sa lakas ng kaniyang alaga na humuli ng kanilang makakakain, ito ay dahil hindi siya katulad ng ibang aswang na nakakalipad at nananakot ng mga tao.

Isa siyang Agalon Hayopan, isang uri ng aswang na nagpapalaki ng buwaya para humuli ng makakain. Ang ibang aswang ay kinukutya silang tamad, pero kailanman hindi nila maiintindihan ang hirap nang pagpapalaki ng isang buwaya.

Gumawa ulit ng tunog ang kaniyang alaga at siya ay napatawa. Ilang taon na silang magkasama simula nang itlog pa lamang ito. Kilalang-kilala niya ang ugali ng kaniyang alaga at ganoon din ang alaga niya sa kaniya. Hindi sila mapapaghiwalay. Alam niya na kapag nakakain na ito, magiging tamad ang alaga niya.

“Nandito na tayo.” Nag-aabang na ang aswang at ang buwaya sa ilog.

“Oras na para kumain.” sabi ng aswang.

“Grrrah,” sagot ng kaniyang alaga.

=——————————————-=

English version

“Grrrah,” The crocodile groaned.

“Hush now, the food will come by soon, then we will both have something to eat.” The aswang said lovingly to her pet.

Prey was hard to come by these days, the humans knew that this place in the swamp was the hunting ground for the aswang and her pet, but that wasn’t about to stop her from finding a meal.

“We just have to go closer to the village, and then everything will be better,” The crocodile grunted again and the aswang reassured him. “I know, we’ll find some children, I know how much you like the taste of those.”

The crocodile wagged its tail with joy; it had not had that treat in many months.

“Yes, let’s go nearer to the village and set a trap. We can catch the ones swimming by the river!” The aswang walked alongside her pet to the riverbank.

She was hungry, and so was her pet. Due to the human’s caution, food was hard to find. The last meal they both had was a fisherman that strayed too far into the swamp. He was stringy and tough, not a dinner that either of them savored.

The aswang was all smiles though. She knew that prey would be plentiful. She had always relied on the strength of her pet to catch their meals, she was not like the other aswang who would fly around the village terrorizing the humans.

She was an agalon hayopan, a kind of aswang that would raise crocodiles to hunt their prey for them. The other aswang would often jeer and call their kind lazy, but they would never know the hardship one would take just to raise a single crocodile from an egg.

Her pet grumbled again and she laughed. They spent years together and she had raised this one ever since he was a hatchling. She knew his quirks and quips just as well as he knew hers. They were inseparable. She knew that once he had something to eat, he would change back to his lazy self.

“We’re here,” The aswang and her pet stood by the river.

“Time to get some food.”

“Grrrah,” replied her pet.

————————–————————–———————–

*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 Emman Bernardino
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Emman Bernardino

Inspired by the Agalon Hayopan legend from Bicol: Filipinas Volume 12, Page 53, Filipinas Pub., 2003

Agalon Hayopan Illustration by NightmareSyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

The post Agalon Hayopan – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Noong bata pa si Ida inayawan niya na ang pagiging panganay.

Ang pinakamaagang alaala niya ay nang siya ay 5 taong gulang pa lamang. Inaalagaan siya ng kaniyang Tito at naglalaro sila ng tagu-taguan sa damuhan. Nakakita siya ng magandang taguan at hindi siya makita ng kaniyang Tito dahil dito. Lumulubog na ang araw at doon lang napansin ni Ida na may kakaibang nangyayri.

Tumingin siya at napansin na nakadapa ang Tito niya malapit sa puno kung saan sila nagbibilang.

May usap-usapan sa burol na wala naman siyang sakit sa puso. Narinig ito ni Ida sa mga matatanda hanggang sa nalaman niya na hindi lang pala nag-iisa ang kaniyang Tito.

Ang kaniyang Tito Boy ay namatay sa edad na 45.

Ang Lolo Abe naman niya ay binawian ng buhay ng siya ay 65.

Ang pinsan niyang si Layla ay pumanaw ng siya ay 26 pa lamang.

Iyan ang mga pangalang pinag-uusapan sa araw na iyon.

Nang umabot si Ida sa edad na 12, kinausap siya ng mga magulang niya tungkol sa kasaysayan ng kanilang pamilya.

Sinabi ng nanay niya na may lahi sila ng sakit sa puso, at marami na rin siyang kamag-anak na nagkaroon ng ganoong klaseng sakit. Hindi naiintindihan ni Ida ang mismong sinasabi ng kaniyang nanay, pero ang payo lang kay Ida ay mag-ingat at kapag nakaramdam siya na may kakaiba sa kaniyang katawan ay huwag magdalawang-isip at magsabi kaagad.

Tuwing kinakapusan siya ng hininga o mahina ang tibok ng kaniyang puso, lagi niyang naaalala ang sinabi ng nanay niya na, “Mabuti pa ring magpatingin ka sa doktor, para hindi ka matulad sa iyong tito.”

Iba naman ang lahi ng sakit na kaniyang tatay. Marami-rami sa kamag-anak niya na may kaso ng katabaan at nagtataglay ng Type 2 Diabetes. Nagpaliwanag ang tatay niya kung bakit nito pinapasali sa iba’t ibang laro at pinapakain ng mabuti ang kaniyang anak.

At sa paglipas ng panahon, dumarami rin ang mga pagtitipon.

Maraming inaatake sa puso.

Marami ring nagkakaroon ng stroke.

At mayroon ding nagpapakamatay (Ito ang pinakamasakit sa lahat).

Lahat ito ininda ni Ida.

Gumigising siya araw-araw na may pag-asang mabubuhay ulit siya ng isang araw.

Masugid ang pagsunod niya sa kaniyang pamamaraan sa araw-araw: Iinom siya ng gamot, magpapawis, iinom ng protein shake, kakain ng prutas sa agahan, at babantayan ang sariling pangangatawan. Bibilangin ang calories, iiwasan ang mga matatamis, mga saturated fat, mga energy drink, paninigarilyo, at pag-inom ng alak.

Habang siya ay nabubuhay ayos lang sa kaniya ang ganitong gawain.

Hanggang sa, syempre nagising siya sa ospital.

Pangkaraniwang araw iyon at kakatapos lang ng pagtitipon kasama ng kaniyang mga katrabaho. Tanghalian na at kumain lang siya ng kaunti nang bigla siyang makaramdam ng hilo, bumagsak sa sahig at sumusuka ng dugo.

Mabuti na lang mayroong taong nakakita sa kaniya at nadala agad sa siya ospital.

Sa susunod na mga araw ay nababalot siya ng takot at pangamba.

Ang sinabi ng mga doktor na walang kinalaman ang kaniyang naramdaman sa lahing sakit ng mga magulang niya. Nakita nila na parang may sumisira sa lalamunan at iba pang lamanloob ni Ida.

Basang-basa ng luha ang kaniyang unan at nagtataka kung paano ito nangyari sa kaniya.

Ginawa naman niya ng tama ang lahat, at tinanggihan niya ang mga bagay na magbubunga sa sarili niyang kamatayan.

Bakit ito nangyayari sa kaniya?

Nang sumapit ang gabi habang natutulog si Ida, tumapat ang ilaw sa katawan niya na nagmumula sa kabilugan ng buwan. Biglang may lumabas na alupihan na may kasabay na sapot sa bibig niya.

Umakyat ang alupihan sa bintana para bumalik sa kaniyang amo, nakita ng lalaki na gumuguhit ng dugo ang kaniyang alaga, tanda na pinagtagumpayan nito ang tungkuling inatas dito.

Nababalot ng takot si Ida sa buong buhay niya na maaring siyang biglang mamatay, ng hindi man lang niya namamalayan ang mga nangyayari sa kaniyang paligid.

Hindi ang mga kaibigang nasa tabi niya.

O ang kaniyang mga naging kaaway.

Binulsa ng lalaki ang kaniyang alagang alupihan at lumapit sa isang sasakyan para tanggapin ang bayad niya. Makapal na pera ang kaniyang natanggap at doble mula sa kanilang unang pinag-usapan. Kinuha niya ito at umalis sa ospital.

Nagtataka siya kung ano ang nagawa ng taong iyon para kunin ang kaniyang serbisyo.

Kinalimutang kasintahan?

Nagseselos na katrabaho?

Para makaganti?

Kung ano man iyan, maganda ang bayad.

Sana kumalat pa ang balita sa kaniyang ginagawa.

Dahil kailangan niya ng maraming kliyente.

=————————————————=

English Version

Ever since Ida was young, she hated her birthright.

The earliest incident that she could remember was when she was five years old. Her tito was babysitting her and they were playing out in the grass. It was a game of hide and seek. Ida thought that she had found the best spot to hide in, her tito couldn’t find her at all. When it was sundown she knew something was wrong.

She didn’t have to look far. Her tito’s body was facedown by the tree where he was counting down.

At the funeral they said there was something wrong with his heart. Ida listened to the older members of her family and found out he wasn’t the only one.

Tito Boy dead at age 45.

Lolo Abe dead at age 65.

Cousin Layla dead at age 26.

And those were the ones that her family was willing to talk about.

When she was twelve her parents sat her down to talk about their family’s history.

Her mother explained that heart problems were common on her side with a lot of her relatives having something called ‘a weak heart’. Ida didn’t understand the specifics but her mother just told her to be careful and if Ida experienced any symptoms, she should tell her immediately.

And every time Ida would be out of breath or have short palpitations, she would remember her mother saying, “It’s always better to go to the doctor. You don’t want to end up like your tito.”

Her father’s side had a different set of problems. There were many in his family that were obese and suffered from Type 2 diabetes. It explained why he would push Ida to do sports and eat healthy.

And so the years passed, bringing her to more reunions.

More heart attacks.

More strokes.

And even a suicide (That one hurt the most).

Through all this Ida endured.

She woke up every morning determined to live another day.

Her routine gave her a sense of purpose: Take her medications, work out, have a protein shake, eat a breakfast of fruits and oats, and monitor everything. Count calories, no sweets, no saturated fats, avoid energy drinks, no smoking, no drinking were only a few of the things she would keep in mind.

That was her life and she was at peace with it.

Until she woke up in the hospital, of course.

It was a normal day, she had just finished a meeting with her associates and sat down to have lunch. She took a few bites and started to feel dizzy, crumpling to the floor and vomiting blood.

Thankfully someone had called an ambulance and rushed her to the emergency room.

What followed were days of uncertainty and fear.

The doctors said whatever Ida had wasn’t related to her hereditary issues. It looked like something had been ripping through her esophagus and organs.

Her pillow was soaked with tears. It wasn’t fair.

She had done everything right, denying herself even the smallest bit of pleasure just so she would know that she could see the next sunrise.

Why was this happening to her?

That evening, as the light of the full moon washed over her sleeping form, a small centipede with a gossamer thread crawled out of Ida’s mouth.

It made its way out the window towards its master, who, after seeing that the thread was red with her blood knew that his pet had done its duty.

Ida had spent her entire life with the shadow of death looming above her that she didn’t take the time to notice what was happening around her.

Not the friends by her side.

Or the enemies she had made.

The centipede’s master pocketed his pet and walked to the car where he would receive his payment. A fat roll of bills greeted him, double what they had agreed on. He took his spoils and left the hospital.

He wondered though what would anger a person so much that they would need his services?

A jilted lover?

A jealous workmate?

To settle a score?

Whatever it was, it paid well.

Hopefully word would spread.

He needed more clients.

=————————————————————-=

*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 Emman Bernardino
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Emman Bernardino

Inspired by the Mambabarang legends from Siquijor

Mambabarang Illustration by Megel Ramiterre

FB: https://www.facebook.com/the.scribbler.meg/

IG: @_megel

The post Mambabarang – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Pare-parehas ang aking masamang panaginip.

Nagsisimula ito sa aking higaan. Palagi na lang akong nasa ospital at hindi malaman ng mga doktor ang aking karamdaman. Lagi nilang inuulit ang pagsusuri sa akin, habang idinadaan ko lang sa biro ang lahat. Alam kong magpapatuloy ang sakit na nararanasan ko, pero hindi ko sila kayang sisihin dahil ginagawa lamang nila ang kanilang tungkulin.

Dumating na ang karayom at tumagal ng ilang oras ang pagtuturok nila sa akin. Pinapagaan ng nars ang aking pakiramdam, at sinabi niya na hindi magtatagal magiging maayos din ako. Napanatag ang aking kalooban dahil nasa mabuting kamay ang buhay ko, kaya ang kailangan kong gawin sa ngayon ay magtiwala sa kanila hanggang sa ako ay gumaling.

Hindi pa tapos ang hirap dahil kapag nagwakas na ang panggagamot nila sa akin, mararamdaman ko naman ang kalungkutan dala ng pagiging mapag-isa sa aking kuwarto. Naalala ko noong una akong dinala sa ospital, binabantayan lamang nila ako at may bumibista sa aking doktor bawat oras para kumustahin ang aking kalagayan.

Doon ko biglang nakita ang mahabang nilalang na may bahid na pula sa bubungan. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang aking nakikita at kung nakadikit siya sa kung saan, pero nagmumukha itong buhay dahil gumagalaw ito. Gusto kong kumilos para makaiwas sa kaniya, pero mahina ang aking katawan dulot na rin ng mga gamutang pinagdaanan ko.

Dumating ang puntong dumikit sa akin ang dila niya at bigla kong nakaramdam ang sobrang pagod. Hinihigop niya ang bawat lakas ko hanggang sa pagod na rin akong matakot. Titig lang ang kaya kong gawin sa mga oras na iyon. Ang lamig na humaplos sa aking balat ay kumalat sa aking buong katawan.

Sinubukan kong sumigaw pero hindi ko kaya dahil sa sobrang kapaguran. Umiikot ang kakaibang pakiramdam sa aking katawan at ngayon, hindi ko alam kung gaano na ito katagal. Gusto ko lang namang makatulog ulit.

Biglang pumasok ang nars sa kuwarto ko at kusang naglaho ang nilalang sa aking harapan. Kinukumusta niya ako kung maayos lang aking kalagayan. Nahihirapan akong sumagot na “hindi” dahil sa kalagayan ng aking katawan.

“Matagal kang gising ngayon dahil sa gamot, pero makakatulog ka rin.” sabi sa akin ng nars.

Gusto kong sumigaw, ngunit walang boses na lumalabas.

=———————————————————————–=

English Version

Every nightmare I have is the same.

It all starts in my bed. I’m in the hospital, as always. The doctors still don’t know what’s wrong with me. They say that they’re going to try another test and I humor them. I know it’s going to be painful for me, but I don’t blame the doctors, they’re just trying to do their jobs.

Then the needles arrive. I get poked and prodded for hours. The nurses try to reassure me. They tell me that everything’s going to be fine and it will all be over soon. They wouldn’t do anything that would make things worse so all I have to do is breathe, just until it’s over.

The worst part comes when it’s all over. After the tests and the treatments, I’m alone in my hospital bed. Back where I started. They tell me I’ll be put on observation and there will be a doctor checking on me every few hours.

That’s when I see it, something long and red coming from the roof. I don’t know what it is and I don’t know if it’s attached to anything, but it moves like it was alive. I can’t move. I’m too weak from all the tests to stop it from touching me.

Then I feel it. The moment the red thing touches me, it’s like I ran a marathon. The energy flows out of me until I’m too tired to even be afraid. All I do is stare at the red thing. It feels cold to the touch and it moves around until it touches every part of my body.

I try to scream but I’m too tired. The strange sensation is all over my body now and I don’t know how long it’s been. I just want to go back to sleep.

Then suddenly, a nurse walks in. The red thing disappears from my sight. She asks me if I’m okay and I can’t muster the strength to say no.

“Don’t worry the medicine will only keep you awake for a little while longer then you can sleep,” she says.

I try to scream again but nothing comes out.

=——————————————————————————–=

*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 Emman Bernardino
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Emman Bernardino

Inspired by the Mansusopsop legends

Mansusopsop Illustration by NightmareSyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/ 

IG: @NightmareSyrup

The post Mansusopsop – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Maselan ang isang kaluluwa.

Ito ay napagod sa itinagal nito sa buhay. May kakayahan itong makaramdam sa iba’t ibang pananaw. Nagsasalita ito ng walang boses, may kakayahan itong makinig sa katahimikan, at abutin ka mula sa kalayuan. Ang katawan ay isang aninag lamang ng ninanais gawin ng isang kaluluwa.

Nagugutom din ito. Malakas ang gana nito nang hindi mo inaasahan. Gutom ito sa katotohanan, naghahanap ito ng kagandahan, kababalaghan, at gustong-gusto niya ng pagmamahal. Tutulakin ka nitong magkaroon ng romansa at rebolusyon, sa pamamagitan ng pait at paghihirap para lamang siya ay makakain. Hindi kailanman makukuntento ang isang kaluluwa, hindi sa mga buhay na naranasan nito.

Hinati ito ng maraming beses sa bawat katawan na binigyang buhay nito. Binabago ng bawat alaala ang kaluluwa hanggang maabot nito ang walang hanggang posibilidad. Kaya bang buhayin ang isang kaluluwa sa pamamagitan ng isang kislap? Makakapagmuni-muni ba ito tungkol sa taglay mong kagandahan? Mawawala ba ang iyong kaluluwa sa problema ng daigdig? Malaya bang makakapaglakad ang iyong kaluluwa sa mundo? Kailangan bang pagalingin ang iyong kaluluwa? Taglay ba ng iyong kaluluwa ang katotohanan tungkol sa iyong pagkatao?

Pinapadugo ito ng buhay. Pinapahirapan ng buhay ang isang kaluluwa, tinatakpan ito ng mga paghihirap at sakit. Hindi kailanman ginawa ang kaluluwa para sa daigdig na ito, makukuha lamang nito ang kapayapaan sa kalangitan.

Magtatapos ang buhay ng hindi inaasahan at iyon lamang ang panahon kung kailan mapapanatag ang isang kaluluwa. Makakapagpahinga ito sa kaniyang sisidlan, katulad ng iba niyang kasama, at tunay niyang malalaman ang kalayaan mula sa sakit na pinagdaanan niya sa buhay. Mula sa presensya ng kaniyang tagabantay, makakahinga na ito ng maluwag. Sa ilalim ng isanlibong matang nagmamasid, makakalimutan nito ang sakit, ang pahihirap, at kagutuman.

Magiging ligtas ang kaluluwa.

Magpakailanman.

=——————————————————————————————-=

English Version

The soul is a very fragile thing.

Throughout life it is shaken. It can sense the world through a million different lenses. It speaks without voice, it can hear through the deepest silence, it can touch from mountains away. The body is but a pale reflection of what the soul can achieve.

A soul is a hungry creature. It craves more than it could ever hope to get. It quests for truth, it searches for beauty, it seeks out wonder, it longs for love. It forces you to feed its hunger through romance and revolution, through bitterness and burdens. The soul can never be satisfied, not in any life that is lived.

It breaks into a billion pieces in a trillion ways each lifetime. Every moment shifts the soul into a spectrum of possibilities. Will your soul be set off with a spark? Will it reflect the beauty you possess? Will you lose your soul to the world’s problems? Will you bare your naked soul to the world? Will your soul need to be healed? Will your soul seek its missing piece? Will your soul be the truth of who you are?

Life bleeds the soul dry. Life only brings suffering to the soul, covering it in layers upon layers of torment and pain. The soul was never made for the earth, it can only know true peace in the heavens.

Life will end as it inevitably does and it is only then that the soul can finally be secure. It will rest in its jar, among countless others like it and it will know freedom from the pain it so desperately ran from in life. In the shadow of its guardian the soul can breathe like it never could. Under the watchful gaze of a thousand eyes, it can forget the pain and the burden and the hunger.

The soul will be safe.

Forever.

=————————————————————-=

*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.

Walo guards a section of heaven where the souls of all humans are located. The souls are kept in tightly covered jars

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Emman Bernardino
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Emman Bernardino

Story inspired by “Origin of This World (Maranao)” in Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths. Eugenio. 2001.

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

Colors by Alexa Garde
Website: Lexa.us

The post Walo – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Bumibilis ang pagtibok ng kaniyang puso habang nakatingin sa isang babae sa bar. Ngumiti ba siya kay Sam?

Nag-iisip siya ng maaari niyang gawin: Ang pinakaposibleng mangyari ay hindi siya pansinin kapag niyaya niya itong makipag-usap. Kapag naman tumagal ang usapan, kinatatakutan niya na hindi maging interesado ang babae dahil wala siya gaanong maikukuwento. Palaisipan naman sa kakayahan niya na makausap at makuha ang numero nito dahil nangangailangan ng lakas ng loob para magawa iyon.

Lumugok si Sam ng alak para magkaroon siya ng tapang at hinahanda ang sarili sa mga sasabihin: “Gaano ka kadalas dito?” Pangit, gamitin na. “Naglalaro ka ba ng soccer? Nasalo mo kasi ang puso ko.” Masyadong korni, baka iwanan ako bago ko pa matapos. Paano kaya kung, “Ang hirap hindi mapansin ang iyong kagandahan mula sa aking kinauupuan.” Tuwid ang gustong ipaalam, baka gumana.

Naglalakad siya papunta sa babae hanggang sa nakalimutan niya ang kaniyang sasabihin. Naantig siya sa kagandahan nito sa malapitan. Nauutal si Sam at nagmamadali kung ano ang sasabihin, at naisipan niya na lang na magpakilala “Kumusta, ako si Sam.”

Ngumiti ang babae sa kaniya at tumawa, “Nakakatawa ka, ayos lang naman ako, ako pala si Samantha.”

“Ibang klase, Sam din ang pangalan mo?” Sabay siyang naguguluhan sa kung ano ang pag-uusapan nila at napapaisip dahil sa ganda ng boses ni Samantha.

“Gusto mo ba akong samahan? Kikitain ko dapat yung mga kaibigan ko pero hindi sila makakapunta, kaya nandito lang ako mag-isa. Ngumiti ulit si Samantha at nahuli niya si Sam sa kaniyang pakay.

“…sige, walang problema!” Nilakasan ni Sam ang kaniyang loob at nagtanong, “Gaano ka kadalas dito?”

“Hindi gaano, hindi talaga ako mahilig sa lugar na ito. Gusto ko ng lugar na puwedeng sumayaw. Nandito lang talaga ako dahil sa mga kaibigan ko.”

“Ano yung nangyari sa kanila?”

“Bigla silang kinailangan sa mga bahay nila, ngayon nakabihis na ako at hindi alam ang gagawin.”

“Alam ko naman na makakahanap tayo ng lugar na magugustuhan mo.” Ngumiti si Sam, pero sa totoo lang nagdarasal na sana gumana ang kaniyang linyahan.

“Ano ang gusto mong gawin?” Tanong ni Samantha.

“Mayroon akong alam na lugar na matitipuhan mo. Malaki ang sayawan, at magaling din ang DJ magsama-sama ng mga kanta. Kung papayag ka na kasama mo ako.

“Ayos lang sa akin. Para naman hindi sayang yung lakad.” Inabot niya ang kamay ni Sam, habang siya naman ay tuwang-tuwa dahil napapayag niya si Samantha.

Hindi inaasahan ang mga pangyayari sa gabing iyon.

Paano napunta si Sam doon?

Ang naaalala niya sumasayaw lang sila. Baka sumobra siya ng inom at iniwan niya lang ang kaniyang sasakyan sa labas ng bar dulot ng sobrang kalasingan, at ngayon…

Nasa bahay siya kasama ang isang magandang babae. Nasa sahig ang kanilang mga damit at magkadikit ang kanilang mga labi.

Hindi siya makapaniwala na totoo ang nangyayari. Pumunta lang siya ng bar, para makalimutan ang kaniyang lungkot dahil nawalan siya ng trabaho, hindi niya inaasahan mapupunta siya sa kalagayan niya ngayon. Inisantabi niya muna ang lungkot at pinili niyang magsaya kapiling ni Samantha.

Ayaw muna niyang pansinin ang mga pagdududa sa kadahilanan na hindi ito kailangan sa ngayon.

Nararamdaman ni Sam ang init ng balat at hininga ni Samantha sa kaniyang leeg. Gusto niyang hawakan ang buong katawan nito. Kumapit siya sa likuran ni Sam, kaso nasugatan niya ito. Mukha itong masakit pero hindi niya nararamdaman dahil parehas silang nasasabik sa isa’t isa.

Tumingin siya sa mga mata ni Samantha at nagtanong, Ano iyon? Kinalimutan niya ang kaniyang napansin at nagpatuloy na lamang sa kaniyang ginagawa.

Nagpakasakop siya sa kagandahan ni Samantha. Pinaulit-ulit niya sa kaniyang sarili, “Totoo itong nararanasan ko. Ito ang mahalaga sa ngayon.”

Kung pinagtuonan lang niya ng pansin, makikita niya na humaba ang kuko at patalim nang patalim ang mga ngipin ni Samantha.

=—————————–=

Nagbihis na siya dahil tapos na ang kaniyang hapunan.

Kailangan ulit maglinis ngayon gabi, pero ang mahalaga sulit ang kaniyang pagkain.

Hindi siya makapaniwala na gumagana pa rin ang kaniyang galawan.

Tunay na kapang-kapa niya ang mga lalaki.

=————————-———=

English Version

Sam stares at her from across the bar and his heart skips a beat. Did she really smile at him?

His mind tries to go through all the possibilities: He talks to her and she turns him down, that was the most likely scenario. He talks to her and she finds out how boring he is, that was what he was afraid of, he was never the best conversationalist. He talks to her and he gets her number, that would be incredibly unlikely but fortune favors the bold.

Sam downs his liquid courage and prepares himself. “Do you come here often?” No, that was too cliché. “Do you play soccer, ‘cause you’re a keeper?” Too corny, she would probably walk away before he finished. “I can’t help but notice how beautiful you were from across the room.” Direct and straight to the point, maybe that will work.

He walks towards her and his mind draws a blank. She’s even lovelier up close. Sam stutters and his mind races to find words of any kind to start with, finally it settles with “Hello, I’m Sam.”

She smiles back and giggles. “That’s funny, my name’s Samantha. It’s nice to meet you.”

“You’re name’s also Sam? What a coincidence.” The inside of his head is a mess alternating between finding topics to talk about and thinking about how melodic her voice is.

“Do you mind keeping me company? I was supposed to meet my friends here but they aren’t coming so I’m just here all alone.” She smiles again and Sam is caught offguard.

“…sure, that’s no problem.” He gulps and hopes that he can do this. “Do you come here often?”

“Not really, I’m not into bars like this. I like any place with a dance floor. I was just here for a friend.”

“What happened to them?”

“Some emergency at home, now I’m all dressed up with nothing to do.”

“I’m sure we can find something you’re interested in.” Sam smiled, but in his head he was praying that line would work.

“What do you have in mind?” She asked.

“I know a place that you might be interested in. The dance floor’s pretty big and the DJ’s supposed to be amazing. I mean, if you don’t mind going with me.”

“Why not? Might as well salvage this night.” She takes his hand and his mind is filled with fireworks.

Tonight was a welcome surprise.

=————————-———————–=

How did he end up here?

They went dancing, that much he knew. Maybe had one too many drinks. He remembered leaving his car at the club because he was too tipsy to drink, and now…

Now he was with a beautiful girl in her apartment. Their clothes were on the floor and their lips were locked.

He couldn’t believe this was happening to someone like him. He was at the bar to drown his sorrows after losing his job, he never expected to end up like this. Sadness could wait, now was his time to enjoy.

Sam pushed away all the doubts that usually plagued his mind, they were unwelcome in this moment.

He can feel the heat from her skin, and the warmth of her breath on his neck. He wanted to caress every crevice of her body. She dug her nails on his back, it may have hurt but there was too much adrenaline between them for him to notice.

He looked into her eyes and saw something, what was it? His mind brushed that thought away, he wanted to focus on what was happening.

He leaned back and basked in her beauty. This was real. This was the moment. This was all that mattered.

If he paid attention he would have noticed when her nails grew longer and her teeth became sharper.

=————————-————-=

Sam finished her midnight meal and put on her clothes.

It was another night of cleaning up, but at least she had a good meal out of it.

She still couldn’t believe her game still worked.

Men were so predictable.

=————————-————=

*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 Emman Bernardino
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Emman Bernardino

Inspired by the Mandarangkal aswang legends

Mandarangkal Illustration by Julius Arboleda

The post Mandarangkal – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Nararamdaman ko ang malamig na kutsilyo na nakadiin sa aking balat.

Nagsimula ito ng ika-5:30 ng hapon. Natapos kaagad ang laro ng basketball at nagmamadali ako dahil pinapauwi ako ng maaga ng aking nanay. Mayroon akong naririnig na mahinang tunog pero parang nakikilala ko ito. Tumingin ako sa aking kanan at sa puno ng santol nalaman ko ng tuluyan kung ano ito.

“Wak….wak….wak….”

Nagtagal ang tunog nito sa aking tenga at biglang naalala ko ang payo ng aking lolo’t lola, “Malayo ang Wak-wak kapag maingay ito, pero mag-alala ka kapag humina ang tunog nito, ibig sabihin malapit lang ito sa iyo.” Nanlamig ang buong katawan ko habang papasok ako sa bahay.

Ang puno ng santol ay nasa taas lamang ng tulugan ng aking mga magulang, kaya kailangan ko agad tingnan kung ano ang pinag-iinteresan ng Wak-wak. Noong nakita kong buntis yung nanay ko at nanonood siya ng TV, iyon yung puntong naintindihan ko ang lahat. Nagsimula na ang laban.

Tumakbo ako sa kusina para kumuha ng kutsilyo, magaan ito nang hinawakan ko, marahil ito ay sa kadahilanan na alam ko ang kinakailangan kong gawin. Tinago ko ito sa aking shorts, tumabi ako sa aking nanay, at naghihintay kung sakaling sumugod ang halimaw at ilabas ang pulang dila nito.

Naghintay ako nang naghintay.

Tatlumpong minuto akong nakabantay. Tatlumpong minuto rin bago ako lumabas para pakinggan kung nag-iingay pa rin ito.

Naghihintay ako pero wala akong naririnig.

Hanggang sa araw na ito, iniisip ko na baka naramdaman ng Wak-wak na handa akong lumaban at hindi agad mabibiktima ang aking nanay. Pero hanggang ngayon ako ay kinakabahan tuwing ako ay titingin sa puno ng santol, na baka may marinig ako na

“Wak….wak….wak….”

=————————————————————————-=

English version

I could feel the cold steel of the knife pressing against my skin.

It started at 5:30 pm. The basketball game didn’t take too long and my mom wanted me home early so I rushed home as soon as I could. The sound was faint, but very distinct. I looked towards my right and when I saw the santol tree I knew exactly what it was.

“Wak….wak…..wak….”

The sound rang in my ears and suddenly I was hit with my grandparents voices, “If the wakwak sound is loud then that means the creature is far, but be careful if the voice is soft, for that means it is very near.” My blood ran cold the moment I entered the house.

The santol tree was right above the bedroom of my parents, so I knew I had to see if there was anything there that the wakwak might want. When I saw my pregnant mother watching TV, that’s when I knew. The fight had begun.

I raced to the kitchen to get a knife, it felt light in my hand,
probably because I was sure of what I had to do. I hid the knife in my shorts, and sat next to my mother, waiting for the moment the monster would let loose its red tongue.

I waited.

I waited.

It was 30 minutes that I stayed on guard. 30 minutes until I ventured outside to the santol tree to hear if the voice persisted.

I waited and it was gone.

To this day, I’d like to think the creature sensed that I was ready for a fight and that my mother wouldn’t be easy prey. But there are still shivers down my spine every time I look at that santol tree, half expecting to hear a soft falsetto of

“Wak…..wak…..wak….”

=——————————————=

*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 Emman Bernardino
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Emman Bernardino

Inspired by a story told by Ian Quirante

Wak-wak Illustration by Ian Quirante
FB: Ian Quirante Illustrations

IG: https://www.instagram.com/iq_artworks/

The post Wak-wak (Cagayan de Oro) – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Dumadaloy ang malalamabot niyang buhok sa kaniyang balikat. Sumasayaw at nakikisabay siya sa bawat pintig ng ilog hanggang sa maabot niya ang tabing-ilog.

Tinitingnan niya ang inihandog sa kaniya na may pinagsamang tuwa at inis. Mayroong nagbigay sa kaniya na hindi puti, at manok na may hiwa sa leeg nito. Kahit na maraming inialay sa kaniya na magaganda, nakaramdam pa rin siya ng inis at galit. Kaya dahil sa pagsuway na iyon pinalakas niya ang pagragasa ng ilog para mahirap makapangisda ang mga naninirahan doon.

Bumalik ulit siya sa ilog, kinaawaan niya ang ibang espiritu ng kagubatan dahil hindi nila matutuhan ang lihim ng ilog. Walang oras para sa kaniya. Makikita kahit saan ang ilog, sa talon na pinanggalingan nito, sa malakas na pagragasa, sa karagatan, sa kagubatan, at sa mga sapa. Mayroon lang kasalukuyan. Iisa lang ang ilog.

Nararamdaman niya ang bawat yanig sa tubig, mula sa mga hayop ng kagubatan hanggang sa mga mangingisdang nahihirapang isabay ang kanilang mga bangka sa daloy ng tubig. Palagi niyang nasusubaybayan ang pangyayaring iyon. Kayang itago ng mga espirito sa mababang mundo ang kanilang nakaraan, samantalang ang mga espirito sa Kaitaasan ay nagpapakasaya sa pagpapalaganap ng kanilang kababalaghan.

Napaisip siya kung paano naging kakaiba ang ilog. Palagi itong nakikita, pero hindi ito tumitigil. Naglalaman ito ng tubig pero lagi itong napapalitan. Laging nagbabago ang ilog. Nakakahanap ito ng paraan sa mga harang at gumagawa ito ng butas para ito ay makadaloy. Nakakarinig siya ng mga kuwento mula sa ibang mga matatandang espirito sa kalayuan. Ang sabi nila ay may kakayahan ang mga taong gamitin ang lakas ng ilog para sa kanilang kapakanan. Ito ay isang malaking gusaling gawa sa bato at bakal na kayang baguhin ang paggalaw ng tubig, pero palaisipan sa mga espirito kung saan gagamitin ng mga tao ang lakas nito. Ayaw niya nang pag-isipan ang mga kuwentong iyon, dahil hindi ganoon ang isang ilog. Hindi para sa kaniya.

Napaisip siya tungkol sa mga tao at nagtaka kung katulad din sila ng ilog, dumadaloy pero sa ibang paraan. Nagbabago rin ba sila, sumasabog kapag napupuno ang kanilang kakayahan, o natutuyot kapag sobrang mainit? Lumalaki ba sila at pinapalawig ang kanilang kapaligiran o nakapirmi lang sila at hindi gumagalaw? Ginagamit din ba ng ibang tao ang kapwa nila para sa kanilang pansariling layunin?

Wala siyang pagkakaalam sa mga tao bukod sa inihahandog nila sa kaniya. Nararamdaman niya ang paglangoy nila sa tubig. Hindi niya alam kung bakit gustong-gusto nila sa tubig kahit na hindi sila ginawa para doon. Hindi sila nakakahinga sa tubig, pero masaya silang lumalangoy na parang isda.

Iyon ang mga katanungan na hinahanapan niya ng kasagutan sa kasalukuyan.

Nabigla ang isang mangingisda nang nagkatawang-tao siya sa harapan nito. Napaluhod ito at humingi ng tawad, pero hindi iyon mahalaga sa kaniya. Pinapalibutan silang dalawa ng mga rosas hanggang sila ay naglaho.

“Nagugustuhan niyo ba ang ilog”

“Nasaan ako? Dakilang espirito patawarin niyo po ako!”

“Tumayo ka, hindi mo kailangang humingi ng tawad. Sagutin mo ang aking mga katanungan at makakabalik ka na sa iyong mundo.”

“Bakit po ako nandito?”

“Gusto niyo ba ang ilog? Nagbabago rin ba kayo at lumalaki?

“…Hindi ko po kayang magsalita para sa ibang tao. Masyado pa po akong bata at hindi pa sapat ang aking kaalaman para bigyan ko kayo ng kasagutan.”

“Bigyan mo pa rin ako ng sagot. Nagbabago ba ang mga tao?”

“Opo, nagbabago at lumalaki po kami mula pagkabata. Nagbabago rin kami sa bawat pagsubok na ibinibigay sa amin ng buhay.”

“Nahihirapan ba kayo?”

“Opo, lagi naming naaalala ang aming mga pinagdaanan.”

“Sabihin mo sa akin kung anu-ano iyon.”

“A…”

“Magsalita ka!”

“Nawala ang aking tatay noong ako ay bata pa. Nahihirapan akong mangaso, kahit na tinuruan na ako ng aking mga tito. HIndi ko rin kayang sundan ang tamang panahon para sa pagtatanim. Ang mga bungang nakukuha ko ay sapat lamang sa akin at sa aking nanay. Ayaw kong maging pabigat sa aking pamilya kaya tinuruan ko ang aking sarili mangisda para makakuha ng maraming pagkain.”

“At doon tayo nagkita.”

“Opo”

“Nagbago ka ba mula pagkabata?”

“Kinakailangan. Simula nang pumanaw aking tatay ako na ang bumubuhay sa aming pamilya. Kailangan kong siguruduhin na may mag-aalaga sa nanay ko.

“Parang isang espadang nakabaon sa lupa.”

“Ano po iyon?”

“Wala iyon. Magpatuloy ka lang.”

“Sinubukan kong maging malakas kahit na mahirap. Sinabi sa akin ng mga tito ko na isang malakas na mandirigma ang aking tatay at kailangan kong sundan ang kaniyang nasimulan, pero ngayon pakiramdam ko na isa lamang akong takot na bata.”

“Gusto nilang sumunod ka lang sa kanila.”

“Tama! Kahit na may pagkakataon na hindi ko na alam kung ang gagawin ko. Tuwing gabi, pupunta lang ako sa bangin malapit-lapit sa bahay namin para lang magkaroon ako ng oras para sa sarili ko.”

“Pero hindi iyon nangyayari, tama ba?”

“Opo, tama.”

“Salamat, sa pagsagot sa aking mga tanong.”

“Teka! Bago ako umalis, may itatanong muna ako.”

“Nakuha mo naman ang aking paggalang. Ano ang gusto mong malaman?”

“Gagaan naman ba?”

“Ano ang gagaan?”

“Ang aking buhay? Nakakasiguro naman ako na kayang tingnan ng isang dakilang espirito na katulad mo ang aking hinaharap.”

“Mayroon akong sasabihin sa iyong kuwento. Noong una, hinahabol ko ang ilaw ng buwan sa pamamagitan ng ilog. Nararamdaman ko ito sa aking katawan tuwing tumatama ang ilaw sa kaulapan. Tinawid ko ang kagubatan at mga sapa sa kabundukan para lang mahuli ang liwanag ng buwan. Araw-araw kong naiisip na abutin ang liwanag, pero lagi akong iniiwasan nito. Gabi-gabi akong nananaginip na hawak-hawak ang liwanag sa aking mga kamay.”

“Pero hindi mo kayang hulihin ang liwanag!”

“Hindi ko pa alam iyon dati, dahil isa akong bata na nagtataglay ng kahangalan at kayabangan.”

“Ano po ang nangyari?”

“Isang gabi, sobrang liwanag ng buwan at sinundan ko ito sa ilog. Hinayaan ko ang buwan na ilawan ang talon at ang sapa. Sa pagkakataong iyon nalaman ko na hindi ko kayang hulihin ang isang magandang liwanag, kaya tumigil na ako sa puntong iyon. At tuwing makikita ko ang malaking buwan sa kalangitan, ngingiti na lang ako at inaalala ang nakaraan.”

“Ano po ang kinalaman ng pangyayaring iyon sa katanungan ko?”

“Wala. Lahat. Ikaw na ang magpasya.”

“…paalam, espirito.”

“Paalam, sana marami kang mahuli sa iyong pangingisda.”

Noong gabi na iyon, tumingin ang mangingisda sa buwan para alalahanin ang kinuwento sa kaniya ng espirito. Siya lang ang nakahuli ng isda sa araw na iyon at ipinamahagi niya ang nahuli sa kaniyang pamilya. Nagtataka siya kung ano ang ninanais sabihin ng espirito. Napaisip na lang siya na baka may makukuha siya kapag sumapit na ang bukang-liwayway na hindi kayang ipakita ng buwan.

=-==———————————————————-=

English Version

Her hair flowed like water, running down her shoulders in a cascade of black. She danced in rhythm with the pulsing of the river, slowly moving with the current until she reached the riverbank.

She surveyed the offerings with a mixture of pleasure and annoyance. There was an offering that was not white, a single brown chicken with its throat slashed, though there were more than enough other offerings to make up for it, a tinge of offense still lingered on her tongue. She told herself that she would not forget this affront and with a flick of her hand made the current stronger.

She made sure that the fishermen would have a hard day’s work.

She flowed back into the river now, how she pitied the other spirits of the forest that they would never learn the secrets of the river. There was no such thing as time as far as she was concerned. The river is everywhere, at the source, at the waterfall, in the current, in the oceans and mountains and streams. There was only the present. There was only the river.

Every small disturbance in the water she could feel, from the forest creatures lapping up the life giving fluid to the fishermen struggling to steer their boats through the current. She bathed in the pureness of that moment. The spirits in the lower world could keep their secrets of the past and the spirits of the Skyworld could waste their time on riddles of the future.

She thought to herself how strange a river is. It would always be there but it is never still. It is made up of water, but the water never stays in the same place. The river is constant change. It makes its way through the land and cuts through the earth like a sword. She had heard tales from other spirits of great rivers in faraway lands where humans would harness the river’s power for their own use. Great structures of stone and steel would divert the coursing rapids, for what purpose, the spirits didn’t know. She didn’t like to think about those stories, for that is not what the river is. Not to her at least.

She thought about humans and wondered if they were like the river, flowing but different? Do they also change, bursting like a riverbank from too much rain, or drying up in times of drought? Will they grow and widen their surroundings or stay still and unmoving? Will other humans confine them and use their flow for their own purpose?

She had not known many humans in her time apart from the times when offerings were given to her. She could feel them in the river when they swam, of course. She could not understand why beings like them stayed in her waters when they were so ill-equipped for it. They couldn’t even breathe in the water, yet they wanted to swim like fish.

These were questions that she wished to find answers to and what better time to ask then the present?

Her form materialized in front of a confused fisherman. He fell to his knees and asked for forgiveness, but she was not interested in that. The river rose and engulfed them both and in an instant they were gone.

“Are humans like the river?”

“Where am I? Great spirit please forgive me!”

“Get up, you have nothing that needs forgiving. Answer my questions and you will return to your world.”

“Please spirit, why am I here?”

“Are humans like the river? Do they change and grow?”

“…I cannot speak for all humans, great spirit. I am too young and not wise enough to give you your answers.”

“Answer me all the same. Do humans change?”

“…Yes we do. We change from children to adults, each part of our life facing new challenges the world will give us.”

“Were you challenged as well?”

“Yes great spirit, challenges are all I have ever known.”

“Tell me about them.”

“I…”

“Speak!”

“…I was very young when I lost my father. I learned the ways of hunting and farming from my uncles, but it was difficult. I could not follow the seasons of planting as well as I should have. The harvest was only enough to sustain myself and my mother. I did not want to be a burden to the rest of my family so I taught myself how to fish in the river for more food.”

“And that is where we met.”

“Yes, great spirit.”

“Have you changed since you were young?”

“I had to. Since my father’s passing I had to make the decisions for our household. I needed to make sure there was someone to take care of my mother.”

“Like a sword through the earth.”

“…spirit?”

“Never mind. Tell me more.”

“I tried to be strong, but it just gets so hard. My uncles tell me that my father was a great warrior and that I should follow in his footsteps, but now I feel like a scared child.”

“They want you to flow where they want.”

“Exactly! Sometimes I don’t know where to go. During the night I go to the cliffside near my house so I can feel alone, for just a moment. “

“But that moment never comes does it?”

“No. It doesn’t.”

“Thank you, fisherman, for answering my questions.”

“Wait! Before I go, I would ask you something.”

“You’ve earned that much. What is it you wish to know?”

“Does it get any easier?”

“Does what get any easier?”

“My life? Surely a great and powerful spirit like yourself can see the future!”

“Let me tell you a story. Once, I was chasing the moonlight through the river. I could feel it in my bones whenever it shined through the clouds. I crossed the mountain streams and even drifted to the ocean to catch just one band of moonlight. For days upon months upon years I could only think of catching the moonlight, but always it eluded me. I spent nights dreaming that I would hold it in my hands.”

“But you can’t catch moonlight!”

“I did not know that then, I was once a young spirit full of pride and foolishness.”

“What happened?”

“One night, when the moon was bright, I flowed into the river and let the moon shine through every waterfall and stream. In that moment I knew I could not trap something so beautiful, so I let my dream fade into the night. When the moon is full I think back to that moment and smile.”

“What does that have to do with my question?”

“Nothing. Everything. It is up to you to decide.”

“….goodbye spirit.”

“Goodbye young fisherman, may your catch be bountiful.”

That night the fisherman looked to the moon and remembered the spirit’s story. He was the only one to catch fish that day and he shared his bounty with his family. He wondered what the spirit was trying to tell him and sighed. Maybe the sunrise would tell him what the full moon could not.

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*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 Emman Bernardino
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Emman Bernardino

Inspired by the Yumud description in CURRENT RESEARCH IN ETHNOMUSICOLOGY, Vol. 4 = Jose` S. Buenconsejo : Songs and Gifts at the Frontier : Person and Exchange in the Agusan Manobo Possession Ritual. Philippines. Routledge, NY & London, 2002.

Yumud Illustration by Alek Weber
FB: Beartrap, par Alekibutt

The post Yumud – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Case #MKJG 7325

Inabisuhan ang mga pulis tungkol sa mga nalunod na turista dahil sa lakas ng daloy ng Ilog Ulot. Kilala ang lugar sa pagpapasakay sa bangka at tinatawag itong Torpedong pamamangka. Pagkatapos sumakay sa bangka, kasama sa pinapagawa ay ang tumalon sa Deni’s point kung saan sasalubungin ka ng rumaragasang ilog. Sa puntong iyon, doon gagabayan ng mga bangkero ang mga turista para abutin ang lubid para hindi sila matangay ng malakas na hampas ng tubig.

Naganap ang aksidente nang ika-8 ng Hulyo 2018. Ang dalawang turista na parehong galing Tsina ay sina Rowena Yi at Winston Yang. Sumakay sila sa bangka nang ika-1 ng umaga. Maayos ang paggalaw ng kanilang sinasakyan hanggang sa naabutan nila ang Deni’s point, kung saan hindi na sila lumutang pagkatapos nilang tumalon. Dahil sa takot na hindi sila matagpuan, hinanap agad ang mga ito. Nakita nila ang katawan ni Winston Yang sa tabing-ilog, isang kilometro mula sa kaniyang pinagtalunan.

Hindi na ito kayang buhayin dahil pagkakalunod nito. Kinuha at dinala ang kaniyang labi sa pinakamalapit na morge para masuri. Ang pagkakalunod talaga ang sanhi ng kaniyang pagkamatay, pero nakitaan ito ng gasgas sa sakong na parang may humatak sa kaniya pailalim.

Hindi na nakita ang katawan ni Rowena Yi, may mga bali-balita na umabot na ito sa dagat dahil sa malakas na pagdaloy ng ilog. Masinsinang isinagawa ang paghahanap at may kasama ring mga dalubhasang galing Tsina para tumulong maghanap, pero wala itong pinuntahan. Isang buwan pagkatapos maganap ang insidente, nagwakas na ang paghahanap.

Noong ika-3 ng Septyembre 2018 may nawala ulit na mga turista. Ngayon mga bisitang galing Maynila na sina, Loren Albay, Samuel Encarnacion at Iñigo Ferrer ang hindi na natagpuan sa Deni’s point. Tumagal ng dalawang buwan ang paghahanap sa kanilang mga labi at naisipan na hindi na ito kayang makita katulad ng kaso ni Rowena, pero isa sa mga turista na si Samuel Encarnacion ay may Go Pro na nakakabit sa kaniyang helmet. Natagpuan ito ng isang manlalangoy habang isinasagawa ang paghahanap.

Nahirapan silang pag-aralan ang kuha ng kamera. Makikita rito na may tatak ng oras na 30:46, na si Samuel Encarnacion ay nasa likuran kasama ang dalawa niyang kaibigan na nakakakapit ng maiigi sa lubid. Napansin na hindi na nahagip ng kamera si Loren Albay. Ayon sa pag-aaral ng kuha, siya ay maaring natulak ng mabilis na bagay sa kaniyang paanan. Mayroong nakitang tumama sa kaniyang sakong at tinulak siya nito papalayo.

Sinara ang Ilog Ulot sa mga turista, pero bukas pa rin ang pamamangka roon. Pinag-iisipan ng mga naninirahan na buksan ulit ang pasyalan sa susunod na mga linggo, maliban na lang kung may sapat na dahilan para ipasara ang kanilang pangkabuhayan.

Isa sa mga gumagabay ay si Ramon Agbon, Lumapit siya sa pulis at sa mga manlalangoy nang naganap ang insidente at dalawang beses din siya nagbigay ng pahayag:

“Hindi nila ginagalang ang ilog na nito. May mga taong ginagamit ang lugar namin para mangaso, na handang bumaril kailan nito gustuhin. Nagsisimula pa lang ang lahat.”

Tinatanong siya ng mga pulis dahil sa kaniyang isinalaysay, pero inuulit lamang niya ang kaniyang sinabi. Pinapaniwalaan ng ibang pulis na isa lamang itong aksidente, at nangangailangan lamang ng mas mahigpit na panuntunan para hindi na ito mangyari ulit. Iniisip ng iba na may mamamatay taong nasa likuran ng lahat.

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English Version

*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 Emman Bernardino
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Emman Bernardino

The post Ugkoy – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Case #JKGM 9888

Nanganganib ang barangay ng San Pascual kaya tumawag ang kapitan nito sa mga pulis. Isang linggo bago ang Undas nang dumating ang tawag at nagkakaroon ng mga reklamo ng bandalismo sa kalapit na sementeryo. Dalawang pulis ang ipinadala para pag-aralan ang sitwasyon.

Ayon sa kanilang imbestigasyon, mababaw lang ang bandalismong naganap. Nabungkal ang lupa ng mga puntod na humantong sa pagkaladlad ibang mga kabaong. Ang sabi ng pulis wala namang mamahaling mga bagay na nakabaon sa mga puntod. Ang mga singsing at iba pang mamahaling mga bagay ay nandoon pa rin sa mga labi ng mga yumao. Wala ng ibang kakaibang nakita ang mga pulis bukod sa mga nawawalang mga hinlalaki ng mga yumaong nakaladlad.

Iginigiit ng kapitan ng barangay sa mga pulis ang mga kaganapan sa sementeryo habang papalapit ang Undas. Pinadala ulit ang parehas na dalawang pulis para magbantay sa sementeryo buong gabi para mahuli ang gumagawa ng pambababoy.

Nagtutunggali ang pinasang pagsisiyasat ng dalawang pulis. Ang sinabi ng isa may malaking sumugod na aso sa mga pulis at kinagat ang kaniyang sapatos. Ang sinabi naman ng pangalawang pulis, nakita niya ang batang lalaking gumagawa ng bandalismo at hinabol niya ito, wala siyang malay sa malaking asong kumagat sa kaniyang kasama hanggang sa susunod na araw.

Dahil sa kakulangan ng mga pulis sa paligid, hindi nila nabantayan ang buong Undas, pero nagpapasalamat sila dahil nagtapos ito ng mapayapa. Walang bandalismong naganap at taong nabalita.

Makalipas ang ilang mga linggo, nagreklamo ang mga nagbabantay sa sementeryo dahil naganap ulit ang bandalismo sa lugar. Sinira na rin pati ang mga mosoleyo.  Walang mahahalagang bagay na kinuha sa mga katawan bukod sa isiniwalat ng matandang imbestigador, sinabi niya na pinutol ang mga daliri sa paa ng mga yumao.

Ang kongklusyon ng mga inspektor ay mayroong mabangis na hayop na naghahanap ng pagkain at nagkataon lang ito sa mga katawan.

Ang ibang mga pulis, lalo na yung taong nagsabing may batang lalaki na gumagawa ng bandalismo, hindi sumang-ayon sa pagtatapos ng imbestigasyon. Hindi kayang sirain ng isang hayop ang bakal ng mosoleyo, at mayroong mga tambay na nakatira sa loob at labas ng sementeryo.

Dahil walang ebidensyang nagpapatunay sa sapantaha ng kaso, ito ay isinara. Lumipas ang ilang buwan nakakuha ulit ng tawag ang estasyon ng pulis mula sa mga nagbabantay sa sementeryo. May nagbungkal ulit ng mga puntod, pero nandoon pa rin ang mga pag-aari nila, ganoon pa man kalakip pa rin dito ang mga nawawalang daliri sa paa at mga hinlalaki ng mga yumao.

=————————————————————————–=

English Version

Case #JKGM 9888

The captain of barangay San Pascual called the police in a state of distress. The call came a week before Undas and there were complaints of vandalism in the nearby cemetery. Two officers were dispatched to investigate.

Based on their reports the vandalism seemed minor. The ground around the graves was disturbed and some coffins were left exposed to the elements. The officers noted that there was nothing valuable in the graves themselves, wedding rings and other expensive objects were still with the remains. Nothing else out of the ordinary was noticed, except for a peculiar lack of thumbs on the bodies that were fully exposed. 

The barangay captain insisted on a police presence in the graveyard on the days leading up to Undas. The same officers were sent to guard the graveyard during the night in the hope of catching the vandal in the act.

Conflicting reports from the two officers were submitted. One claimed that a large dog attacked the officers and nearly tore his shoe off. The other officer insisted that he saw the vandal was a young boy and gave chase, he was not aware of the attack on his comrade until the next morning.

Due to the lack of officers we are not able to spare resources to guard the whole Undas, but thankfully the holiday finished peacefully. No reports of vandals, human or otherwise were reported.

The next few weeks caretakers from the cemetery complained of the vandal becoming more bold. Even the mausoleums had been broken into. Nothing was taken from the bodies but a senior investigator noted that parts of the toes appeared to have been torn off.

The conclusion that the inspectors reached is that some sort of animal had been foraging for food and chanced upon the bodies.

Other officers, especially the one that said the vandal was a young boy, disagreed with the conclusion. An animal could not have broken through the mausoleum locks, and there were reports of vagabonds living in and around the cemetery.
With no evidence to support either theory the case was closed. Every few months the station gets calls from the caretakers about graves being dug up, but valuables still remained intact, though with each report the curious description of missing toes and thumbs is highlighted.

=———————————=

*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 Emman Bernardino
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Emman Bernardino

Umangob Illustration by Erik John Paredes

Inspired by the Ifugao Umangob legends

The post Umangob – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.