*Note this story is in Cebuano

Nagbag-o si Leo human mamatay si tito Paul. Wala na siya’y panumbaling sa akong mga mensahe ug nagakulong lang sa iyang kwarto. Wala ko na usab siya nakit-an sa eskwelahan.

Niadtong panahona, napulo ug lima pa lang ang among pangedaron. Nagkailhanay me kaniadtong anaa pami sa elementarya ug nahimo ming managhigala sulod sa pipila ka tuig. Parehas mi nga bugtong nga anak sa among pamilya, busa didto mi nagkasinabot.

Dili ko gusto nga magtumo-tumo sa akong nahibaw-an ug unsa man gani ang iyang gibati. Gisultihan ako sa mga hamtong nga pasagdaan ko na lamang siya, pero para kanako, sama ra sa pagkalimot kaniya og ako kining buhaton.

Matag hapon, pare-parehas lang ang mga mensahe nga ginapadala nako sa iyaha:

“Hi L, ako ni si Rafa. Nahibaw ako nga lisod ang imong kahimtang karun. Naa rako diri pirme kung kinahanglan nimo ug kaestorya o bisan makauban man lang. I-text lang ko kung andam naka nga makig-estorya sa imong gibati. Nabalaka nako nimo.”

Ge seen lamang niya ang akong mensahe, pero bisan ingon ana, kampanti nako. Ang importante, nakahibaw siyang andam akong maminaw kaniya.

Human usa ka semana, ni-reply siya:

“Hi R, pasensya na kung karun lang ko naka-reply nimo. Bug-at lang gyud para kanako ang mga nahitabo, halos way tulog. Salamat kaayo sa imong pagpangumusta kanako. Makig-estorya unya ako kanimo puhon.”

Ug ako mitubag:

“Oo L, nahibaw kong ang pagkawala ni Tito Paul dako kaayo’g epekto kanimo. Kung asa man siya karun, nasayod akong gihandom niya nga maayo raka.”

Ug ang iyang tubag nagpahadlok kanako:

“Bakakon ug traydor to siya.”

=————————————————————=

Mao na kadto ang ulhi namong pag-estorya ni Leo ug wala na siya mikontak kanako sulod sa usa ka bulan. Siya ang perme nga hisgutan ug pulutan sa tsismis sa among eskwelahan. Adunay nagpakalat ug tsismis nga gipadala kuno si Leo sa Mental Institution kung diin ginabutang ang mga tawo nga adunay sakit sa panghuna-huna. Adto kuno siya magpuyo sulod sa usa ka tuig. Aduna usab lain nga naga-ingon nga  nitakas siya ug nakit-an kuno ni nila nga naligsan ug nga gusto sa iyang pamilya nga e sekreto ang iyang kamatayon. Gibuhat nako ang tanan nga ipaglaban siya ug nga ang ilang mga sulti-sulti dili tinuod, apan wala akoy mabuhat kay daghan sila ug nag-inusara lamang ako.

Ang kinaulhiang mensahe ni Paul nagpabilin gihapon nga kwestyunable kanako. Nakaila ako sa ilang pamilya sa dugay nang panahon ug malipayon kaayo sila. Usa ka OFW si Tiya Tress, halos tibuok niyang kinabuhi anaa siya sa Saudi, pero nagaulian gihapon kini, kada tuig o adunay selebrasyon. Si Tiyo Paul usab kay usa ka dako ug tingog nga laki. Perme niining ginasulti sa uban ang mga nakab-ot ni Paul ug nga iyang ginabutang sa ilang sala ang mga kadaugan niini.

Naglibog nako. Daghan ako’g mga possibilidad sa mga nahitabo ug sa buot ipasabot ni Leo.

Unsa diay nga klase nga tawo si Tiyo Paul sulod sa ilang panimalay? Abusado ba kini?

Nganong wala man ako pagsultihi bisan sa makausa sa akong higala?

Sa akong paglantaw, nakahuna-huna ako kung unsa ako ka maka-sarili, ginabuhat kini nga nag-inusara. Sa pagkatinuod, si Leo ang adunay problema ug dili ako. Ug dili siya ganahan nga makig-estorya kanako, problema na niya.

Ako gihapon siyang ginapadalhan ug mensahe matag hapon ug iya gihapon kong gina-seen.

Para kanako, ang importante nakahibaw akong buhi siya.

Gidala-dala ko ang kabalaka hangtod sa katapusan sa tuig. Nakuyawan ko nga dili nako niya panumbalingon ug nga mawad-an na ako’g koneksiyon kaniya.

Usa lamang ako ka mahadlukon nga bata nga naghandom nga maayo ang iyang higala.

=———————————————————————————=

Katapusan na kaniadto sa ting-ulan sa dihang nakadawat ko og tubag gikan kang Leo. Usa lang kadto ka mensahe apan mipuno kini sa akong kasingkasing sa paglaom. Buhi si Leo ug makita na nako siya.

MAGKITA TA SA PARK KARONG ALAS 11 SA GABII.

Gabii na kaayo ug layo kini sa among balay. Apan wala na akoy pakialam. Si Leo ang akong labing suod nga higala ug kinahanglan ko niya.

Nianang gabhiona giingnan nako akong mga ginikanan nga matulog ko og sayo. Nahibaw sila nga usa ako ka maayong bata. Maayo ang mga grado, adunay maayong pamatasan, kanunay sayo nga muoli, ug uban pa. Ug nasayod akong dili magduda ang akong pamilya kanako.

Ang parke 3 kilometros ang gilay-on gikan sa among balay ug nagbsikleta lamang ako ug gibaybay ang dalan gamit ang kahayag sa bulan. Swerte ko kay takdol ang buwan niadtong gabhiona.

Pag-abot nako sa parke milingkod ko sa punoan sa balete ug nagpaabot kang Leo.

“R?”

Usa ka kamot migunit sa akong abaga gikan sa luyo ug ang akong kasingkasing hapit molukso sa akong dughan.

“L, nganong manghadlok ka man! Nakuratan ako!”

“Pasayloa.”

Makalilisang tan-awon si Leo. Ang iyang buhok gubot, ang mga mata lubog ug siya nipayat layo sa iyang panglawas sa ulhi nako siyang nakit-an.

Ginalikayan niya ang paglantaw sa akong mga mata ug miatras siya, dili siya gusting makita ko ang iyang hitsura.

Gihatagan gihapon nako siya sa labing dako nga gakos nga akong mahimo.

Wala ko kabalo kung pila na ka oras ang nilabay ug nakahunahuna ko nga mas maayo nga ako una siyang pangutan-on.

“Nahibaw ko nga lisud dawaton ang mga butang sukad sa pagkamatay sa imong papa.”

“WALA KA KAHIBAW KUNG UNSAY GIBUHAT NIYA NAKO!”

Ang iyang tubag nakapaatras nako. Ang nawong ni Leo nagbaha sa mga luha.

“Tama ka, wala ko mahibaw. Apan mao gani nga naa ko dinhi. Papaminawa ko. Palihug, L.”

“Dili ko gusto nga makasakit sa bisan kinsa.”

“Dili lagi ko nimo mapasakitan, salig lang. Manglingkod ta ta ug mag-estorya, ha?”

“Lumingkod ka. Kinahanglan nimo nga makita kini.”

Gibuhat nako ang iyang gihangyo, milingkod ako sa punoan sa balete. Ang tibuok parke nadan-agan sa kahayag sa takdol nga bulan.

Walay nakaandam nako sa buhaton ni Leo. Hangtod karon ang panumduman nakapahadlok kanako.

Nadungog nako ang pag-crack sa iyang buko-buko samtang gihiwi ang liog. Nangurog ang iyang kalawasan dihang nahagba sa yuta ug haw-ang ang nahibilin. Nakita nako ang pagpitik sa iyang kasing-kasing ug ang iyang mga tinae mibuak samtang natunga kini.

Siya naglutaw sa hangin nga walay lain gawas sa iyang ulo ug mga lamang-loob.

Nagsuka ko dihang nahuman ang ngilngig nga talan-awon.

Mitan-aw siya nako ug nakita pa nako ang mga luha sa iyang mga mata. Miingon siya, “Ako kini. Mao kini ang nahitabo nako.”

Ug naputos sa kahilom ang palibot.

Niining higayona si Leo na ang mibuak sa kahilom.

Gisultihan ko niya bahin sa iyang amahan. Adunay usa ka kabilin gikan sa pamilya ni Tiyo Paul, usa ka tunglo nga nahibal-an lamang ni Leo sa pagkamatay sa iyang amahan. Magtatangal sila, mga binuhat nga nagakaon ug unod sa tawo ug nagalupad sa kagabhion, Mangita sa mga mabiktima.

“Naningkamot ko nga manakop lang ug iring ug iro, pero kada adlaw mas mokusog ang tunglo. Matag higayon nga makakita ko og tawo sa gabii gusto nakong kan-on ang ilang kasingkasing.”

“Nakahibaw ba si Tiya?”

“Gitago ni Papa ang tunglo gikan kaniya, mao nga iyang gipugos siya nga mahimong OFW.”

“Mao kini ang hinungdan nga wala ka nakigsulti kanako?”

“Oo.”

“Nganong gisulti nimo kini kanako karon?”

Mipalayo si Leon kanako sa usa ka kahoy pipila ka metros ang gilay-on.

“Nakita nimo kanang bag?”

“Oo.”

“Ablihi kana”

Ang bag napuno sa asin ug daw usa ka gray nga pulbos.

“Unsa ang-”

“Kon imong ibutang ang asin ug abo sa akong Katunga nga lawas dili na nako makabalik pag-usab. Sa higayon nga ang adlaw moigo kanako. ”…

“Unsay imong buot ipasabot?”

“Kon ang abo ug asin isablig sa akong lawas, dili na ko makabalik pag-usab. Kung dili ko mabalik ang katunga sa akong lawas sa pagsubang sa adlaw, dili na ako mobalik gikan niana. ”

“Unsa… gusto nimo patyon ko taka?!”

“Dili ko ganahan sa pagpadayon sa pagbuhat ani R. Kada adlaw ang akong huna-huna mosulti kanako sa pagpatay sa mga tawo nga akong makita. Wala ka kasabot?! Pasakitan nako ang usa ka tawo ug dayon ang lain ug dayon ang lain. Kini mahimong mas sayon ​​alang kanako. Hangtud nga mahimo na akong usa ka mananap sama sa akong hitsura. ”

“Dili kinahanglan nga ingon niini ang paagi, mangayo kita ug tabang sa ubang taw, kinahanglan adunay lain pa nga mahimo ug dili ingon niini!”

Milutaw si Leo paduol nako.

“Nakahibalo ka ba nga ang akong papa nagtipig og mga tropeyo? Gipakita niya kini kanako sa wala pa niya gihatag kanako ang tunglo. Mga bukog sila, gagmay. Mahimong gatosan sila.”

Ug nalukop na usab sa kahilom ang palibot.

“L, palihog ayaw kog pabuhata ani. Ako ang imong labing suod nga higala.”

“Mao nga gisultihan ko ikaw niini. Palihog R. Dili ko gustong makapasakit og lain.”

Walay hunong nga nagbakho si Leo, ang iyang mga luha mitulo sa iyang naglutaw nga mga lamang-loob.

Ang mga panumduman nagsugod sa pagdagsa sa akong hunahuna, ang kahadlok nga mikuyanap sa akong mga ugat, hangtod nga aduna akoy nadumduman.

“Nakahinumdom pa ba ka kaniadtong napulo pa ta kaniadto ug nangandoy ako nga makalupad?”

“Oo ang imong bitiis kinahanglan nga naka-cast sa hapit tunga sa tuig.”

“Unsay imong gibati samtang galupad?”

“Nindot kaayo sa paminaw.”

“Ug gusto pa nimong tapuson kini?”

“Oo.”

Mibarog ko sa ibabaw sa iyang haw-ang nga lawas ug gisablig ang asin ug abo.

Gitan-aw nako si Leo sa iyang mga mata ug gipangutana siya, “naa pa bay lain nga gusto nimo nga akong buhaton?”

“Mahimo ka bang magpabilin uban kanako? Hangtod nga mosubang ang adlaw?”

“Bisan unsa para nimo.”

Naglingkod kami didto sulod sa pipila ka oras samtang naghulat sa pagsubang sa adlaw. Sa dihang nahitabo kini napapas kay sa akong gidahom, ang lawas ni Leo ug ang ulo nabungkag sa diha nga ang silaw sa adlaw miigo kaniya.

Sa dihang nahibal-an sa akong mga ginikanan nga nag-tikas ko tungang gabie, sila nasuko kanako. Giingnan nako sila nga naningkamot ko nga pangitaon si Leo ug sila nahuwasan sa kasuko kanako. Abi nakog nakita nila nga naghilak ko.

Aduna pay tsismis human niadto. Si Leo milayas ug gituohan nga patay na ang labing inila teorya. Wala gyud nako sila gitul-id ug sa paglabay sa mga tuig nakalimtan ra sa mga tawo.

=—————————————–=

Hangtod karon, nahinumdom pa ko nga gihangyo ko niya nga buhaton ang labing lisud nga desisyon sa akong kinabuhi.

Goodbye L.

Gimingaw ko nimo sa kanunay.

=—————————-=

English Version

Leo wasn’t the same after tito Paul died. He’d ignore my messages and hole himself in his room. It became rarer and rarer to see him in school.

Back then we were only fifteen. We met in grade school and had been best friends for years. Both of us were the only child of our family and we bonded through that.

I didn’t want to pretend that I knew what he was going through. Most of the adults that I talked to told me to give him space, but that, to me, just felt like giving up.

Every afternoon I’d send the same message:

“Hey L it’s Rafa. I know you’re going through some stuff right now. I’m always here if you need me, to talk or just to be there. Hit me up when you can please. I’m really worried about you.”

He’d leave me on seen, which was still a relief for me. At least he’d know I was there.

After a week he finally messaged back:

“Hey R, sorry I didn’t get back to you ‘til now. Things have been getting too much to handle, haven’t been sleeping much. Thanks for reaching out to me, I really appreciate it. Let’s talk soon alright?”

And I replied:

“Of course L, I know tito Paul’s passing hit you hard. I know wherever he is now he’s wishing you’re alright.”

His reply unsettled me:

“He was a bastard.”

=————————————————————=

After that conversation Leo didn’t contact me for a month. He was the main topic of everyone’s gossip in school. Someone started the rumor that he was put in a mental institution and would have to stay there for the whole year. There was another where they said he ran away weeks ago and they found him in a ditch and the family wanted to keep his death a secret.

I tried to shut them down the best I could, but once the words were out in the air they couldn’t be brought down.

Leo’s last message still disconcerted me. I had known their family for years and they seemed to be happy.

Tita Tress was an OFW, she spent most of her time in Saudi, but would visit every now and then, every other year during holiday season. Tito Paul was a loud man, in the best sense of the term. He would always tell everyone about Leo’s achievements and would put them all over their sala.

My mind raced to all the possibilities of what Leo could have meant.

What was tito Paul like behind closed doors?  Was there any kind of abuse?

Why didn’t my best friend tell me?

Looking back, I realize how selfish I was, trying to make this about myself. Leo was the one that had the problem. If he didn’t want to tell me that was his choice.

I still messaged him every afternoon and he still would leave me on seen.

At the very least he’s alive. I’d think to myself.

I hung onto that thought to the latter part of that year. I was so scared that he’d leave my messages unseen and I’d never hear from him ever again.

I was just a scared kid that needed his best friend to be okay.

=———————————————————————————=

It was the end of the rainy season when I finally got a response from Leo. It was just one message but it filled my heart with hope. Leo was alive and I could finally see him.

MEET ME AT THE PARK TONIGHT AT 11

It was late. It was far. It didn’t matter.

Leo was my best friend and he needed me.

That night I told my parents that I was going to bed early. I was the requisite good boy. Good grades, well behaved, always on time, etc. My family wouldn’t suspect a thing.

The park was 3 kilometers away from me and I biked using the light of the moon. I was lucky there was a full moon that night.

When I got to the park I sat by the balete tree and waited for Leo.

“R?”

A hand gripped my shoulder from behind and my heart nearly jumped to my chest.
“Dammit L, don’t scare me like that! God!”

“Sorry.”

Leo looked awful. His hair was disheveled, eyes sunken and he was thinner than I’d ever seen him.

He tried to avoid eye contact and took a step back, knowing what he looked like.

I still gave him the biggest hug I could.

I didn’t know how much time passed and I thought it would be best for me to break the silence.

“I know things have been rough since your dad passed.”

“YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT HE TURNED ME INTO!”

The reply made me step back. Leo face was flooding with tears.

“You’re right, I don’t. But that’s why I’m here. Let me listen. Please, L.”

“I just don’t want to hurt anyone.”

“You won’t hurt me, I promise. Let’s just have a seat and talk, okay?”

“You should sit, I need you to see this.”

I did what he asked, sitting back by the balete tree. The whole park was illuminated by the light of the full moon.

Nothing could have prepared me for what Leo was about to do. Even now the memory horrifies me.

I could hear his spine crack as his neck turned.  His body shivered as it fell to the ground and what was left was hollow. I could see his heart beat and his lungs inflate as they detached.

He was floating through the air with nothing but his head and organs.

I vomited as the grisly spectacle finished.

He looked at me and I could still see the tears in his eyes. He said, “This is me. This is what I have become.”

The silence was heavy.

This time it was Leo who broke the silence.

He told me about his father. There was an inheritance from tito Paul’s side of the family, a curse that Leo only learned about as his father passed away. They were magtatangal, creatures that fed on human flesh who flew at night, searching for victims.

“I tried to be only catching cats and dogs, but every day the curse gets stronger. Every time I see someone at night I want to change and eat their hearts.”

“What about tita?”

“Papa kept the curse a secret from her, it’s why he pushed her to be an OFW.”

“This is why you haven’t talked to me.”

“Yes.”

“Why are you telling me this now?”

Leo floated to a tree a few meters away.

“Do you see that bag?”

“Yeah.”

“Open it.”

The bag was filled with salt and what looked to be a grey powder.
“What is—”

“If you put the salt and ashes on my body I won’t be able to reattach. Once the sun hits me….”

“What are you talking about?”

“If the ash and salt are sprinkled on my body, I won’t be able to reattach. If I cant be complete when the sun hits, I won’t be coming back from that.”

“You…..do you want me to kill you?!”

“I can’t keep doing this R. Every day my instincts tell me to kill people I see. Don’t you understand?! I’m going to hurt someone and then another and then another. It’s just going to get easier for me. Until I’m as much a monster as I look like.”

“It doesn’t have to be this way, we can find someone to talk to, there has to be something else we can do!”

Leo floated nearer to me.

“Did you know my dad kept trophies? He showed them to me before he gave me the curse. They were bones, small ones. There must have been hundreds of them.”

Another pause, another break in the silence.

“L, please don’t make me do this. I’m your best friend.”

“That’s why I’m telling you this. Please R. I don’t want to hurt anyone else.”

Leo sobbed unceasingly, his tears falling onto his floating organs.

Memories started to flood my mind, the fear pulsing through my veins, until something struck me.

“Remember when we were ten and I thought I could fly?”

“Yeah your leg had to be in a cast for nearly half a year.”

“What’s it like to fly?”

“It’s the most liberating feeling you could ever have.”

“And you still want to end it?”

“Yes.”

I stood above his hollow body and sprinkled the salt and ash.

I looked at Leo in his eyes and asked him, “is there anything else you want me to do?”

“Can you stay with me? Until the sun comes up?”

“Anything for you.”

We sat there for hours waiting for sunrise. When it happened it was faster than I expected, Leo’s body and head disintegrated as soon as the sun rays hit them.

When my parents found out that I snuck out they were livid. I told them I was trying to find Leo and they eased out of punishing me. I think they saw that I was crying.

There was even more gossip after that. Leo ran away and was assumed dead was the most popular theory. I never corrected them and as the years passed people forgot.

=—————————————–=

To this day, I still remember him asking me to make the most difficult decision of our lives.

Goodbye L.

I’ll always miss you.

=—————————–=

Inspired by the description of the Magtatangal in “Distinctions Made Among the Priests of the Devil” in “Customs of the Tagalogs” by Juan de Plasencia. 1589.

Magtatangal Illustration by Fam Telmo

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*Note this story is in Chavacano/ Chabacano Caviteno

El monstruo del Rio Linothangan

Una mujer tá de pie na orilla de rio ta buscando de mana respuestas. No sabe ele porque tana este lugar ele otra vez. Deseo de ele antes pa, di rompí el mana grillos de este pequeñito pueblo y man arriesgá na mundo mas grande, para difundir sus mana alas y volar. Pero como ícaro ele ya quemá.

Agora ,ta quedando ele con su familia otra vez, pero no ese ta sentí como casa para ele. El sonido del río ta calmá su alma atribulada. Masque onde man ele anda , el agua el que ta buscá ele primero.

Allí estaba el Danube, claro que si , sus besos ta perdurá pa masque después de muchos años, pero na un momento todo ya quedá lavada. Su corazón nunca di pertenecé con masque quien man, al menos na su mente.

No ele ya queda costumbrao con el frio; el trópico tiene un pag garrá con ele que , nunca ele puede  di quebrá, pero vale la pena masqui na, para di mirá el subida del sol hace pintá el hielo con  un pincel escarlata.

Ele ya frotá sus brazos y pensar sobre el calor achicharrante del río Nilo. Sus mana amigos ya advertí con ele ya, puede ele di cojé un fiebre, pero no ele ya escuchá na ilos. El llamao del agua, es tan recio para ele di resistí.

La iluminación, el que ya buscá ele na río Ganges , el timor na mana rápidos del río Chilko, mana migos del todo la vida na pag navigando pa bajo del río Mississippi, y el pag asombrá na mana luces Nagas na río Mekong.   Y cosa ba ele ta podí buscá na río Linothangan ? No ele saber, y no quiere ele saber.

Ya quedá tarde ya, y ele ya reprendí su mismo, porcasa,  no ele ya cabá nada na todo’l dia. Mas mejor si ya gastá su hora man buscá trabajo o hací mana tareas rutinas na casa, o …. Nada . ansina ya man su vida agora.

Su pelo y su mana ropas calao y goteando na mana piedras del río na bajo de su mana pies, ya cerrá ele, sus mana ojos y ya respirá ele profundo. Cuando ele ya abrí sus ojos, ele ya quedá sorprendido na un visita que ya inmiscuí na su paz. Na frente de ele quedá un criatura chiquito.

“Hola,” ya bisá el criatura. “ ¿quien uste ?”

Su alma, casi ya escapá su cuerpo na surpresa, “¡ay dios mio ! no vos hace quel! Me vos ya asustá. ”

“ lo siento mucho ñorita, solo quiere yo jugar con alguien.” ya bisa el criatura

“  pues…” ya respondí ele

“ por favor ñorita, ta quedá yo tan solo aquí na rio, nadie ta andá quí y yo ta sentí tan solo.” ya bisá el criatura

Ele ya está pie y ya obtené un mejor mirada del muchacho, el criatura ya reculdá ele a uno de su mana primo na mismo edad y energía, este tipo de criatura es el tipo que ta peleá un respuesta de ‘no, incluso na frente de averia .

“ ¿cosa vos quiere jugar ?” ya preguntá ele

“ …… Sabe yo ! aquí , gara vos este bola y tirá vos ese na rio , y di trapá yo ese !” ya respondí el criatura.

“ divertido be ese para vos ?” ya bisa ele

“ ¡ por favoooorrrr !” ya exclamá el criatura

“ pues , bien bien .” ya respondí ele

Su rostro ya traicioná un sonrisa, el primero que ya monstrá ele desde pa, na su pag regresá na pueblo, y si él criatura es correcto , este es divertido , casi ya  olvidá ele sobre todo que ya pasá.

Ya tirá ele el bola na décimo vez , y ya anda ese na derecha del muchacho, y el criatura ya intentá nadar tan rápido como ele ta podí. Pero de repente , el criatura ya pará , y el bola ya flotá lejos

“ ¿hoy, muchacho porque vos no ta perseguí el bola? No ba quel el punto de este juego?” ya preguntá ele

“ No yo puede anda allá señorita, no na quel parte del río.” ya respondí él criatura.

“ ¿ Cosa vos quier bisá, muchacho ?” ya pregunta ele

“ ta bisá de ilos , peligroso raw di anda allá. Todo de maná ancianos na pueblo ta prohibí niso pa’ anda allá.” ya respondí él criatura.

“ pues .. no ilos aqui agora no ? anda niso para cogé el bola.” ya bisa ele, na criatura, pero no pa ya moví el criatura.

“ ya anda yo allá guna vez ñorita, ya queda ese largo tiempo ya, pero ta reculdá yo pa. Hay algo na río.” ya respondí él criatura

“ sabe vos ba si cosa queda quel ?” ya pregunta el mujer

“ tal vez , queda ese el hombre oscuro.” ya respondí el criatura

“ ¿cosa ba vos ta bisando ?” ya interrumpí el mujer

“ ya bisá mi Aguela hay un hombre oscuro que ta quedá cerca del río, no quiere ele ninguno di andá na su lugar.” ya bisá el criatura.

El mujer ya quedá y anda na muchos partes del mundo y ya visitá ele este mana lugares un montón de veces. No ele extranjera na mana cuento cuento . ta parecía nervioso el criatura, pero hay fuerza na mana números.

“ hoy , anda vos conmigo, sigurao yo cosa man aquel, no puede ese di ganá contra de niso dos.” su segundo sonrisa ya dale confianza na criatura y ya tomá el muchacho su mano.

“ bueno ñorita, yo ta confiá na ti.” ya bisá el criatura

Ya caminá ilos na orilla del río siguiendo el corriente .  el mochacho ya salgá na agua por muchos tiempos ya, pero parece que sus ropas nunca ta pará el su pag goteá.

“ caminá vos na mi lado ,¿vale? No yo quiere di  queda mojao mi mana ropas .” ya bisa el mujer

“ vale.” ya respondí el criatura

El bajao del sol ya quedá cerca y después de muchos veces ilos ya atentá coger el bola, ya brillá el suerte con ilos finalmente. El corriente ya pará , y ya dejá el bola estático na superficie del agua.

“ ¿pues … cosa ta esperando vos ?” ya bisá el mujer “ bueno vos ya man, man nadar, el bola no tá masiao lejos. Anda ya vos y cogé ese na agua, y retirá ya vos na casa.”

“ ta creé yo no niso debe queda quí ñorita.” ya bisá el criatura con nervios

“ hoy hoy hoy criatura, ¿ven ya y cogé ya niso vos bola, vale ? nohay nada quí .” ya bisa’l mujer con consuelo.

“ yo ta reculdá , ya andá ya yo aquí !” exclamá’l muchacho

“ ¿cosa vos ta reculdá?” ya preguntá’l mujer

“ di vení ese aquí ! por favor, corré ! “ ya exclamá’l muchacho

“ esperá …” ya bisá’l mujer

Na ese memento , un figura ya subí desde’l agua . tiene ese mana tentáculos que ya reculdá el mujer de un pulpo. Ya garrá el monstruo el bola y el criatura ya gritá

“ el hombre oscuro no quiere a nadie di andá na su casá !” el muchacho ya garrá su cabeza y ya caé na sus mana rodillas.

“ ven ya !” ya bisá’l mujer, mientra ya garrá ele el brazo del muchacho pero ya quedá como un piedra el criatura, nada ta podi mové el muchacho.

“¡ lo siento ! lo siento ! deja me salí ! deja me salí !” el criatura ya gritá más recio. Sus mana lagrimas ya mezclá con el vaho tá goteando na suelo.

“¡ niso tiene que corré ! , no ta podí ese di capturá niso , si di andá niso lejos desde’l río.” ya bisá’l mujer na criatura. El criatura ya mirá na mujer con desesperación na su mana ojos.

“No yo ta podí deja el río, nunca yo ta podí , sino …..” ya bisá el criatura

“ ¿sino .. cosa ?” ya exclamá’l mujer y agora tá moviendo ya el monstruo hacia ilos, no quiere ele di sabé quelaya largo ta podí alcanzá el mana tentáculos del monstruo.

Ya señalá el muchacho na bola,

Su mente ya quedá enredao, debe ele di corré, imposible ese , no puede ele man pelear con el monstruo. No ese su problema, si no quiere el muchacho di seguí, problema ya del muchacho aquel. Debe ele di pensá con su mismo, y con su mismo numa.

El monstruo ya moví lentamente más cerca, todavía tá sosteniendo pa el bola. Tá desafiando su instinto, el mujer ya corré hacia el monstruo. El mana tentáculos de monstruo ya lanzá hacia ele, pero solo ya pegá ese el agua vacía. Ya gastá ele su vida alrededor del maná ríos, y con ese, vení el habilidad que ta dejá sorprendido masqui quien man mana nadadores experimentaos.

Ya rodeá el mujer el monstruo, para di intentá queda confundido ese. despues , ele ya lanzá hacia el tentáculo que ta sostená el bola. Na este punto, no hay ya ele ma pensá di hací. Ta podé ele contené su respiración mas largo que un gente normal, ¿pero ta quedá ba este tiempo suficiente, para di cogé el bola na monstruo.?

Ya cogá ele el bola na monstruo, y ya sentí ele un calor suave que ya rodeá na su cuerpo. “ yo ta confiá na ti ñorita.” el voz del muchacho ya resoná na sus mana orejas. Un destello brillante ya inundá el bola y ya queda ese librao na garras del tentáculo.

Con el esfera na bajo de su codo, ele ya serpenteá a travéz del agua como un delfín, esquivando el mana intentos torpes del monstruo, para di capturá ele.

Tan pronto como ya salí ele del agua, ya corré ele mas lejos que ya podí ele na río. Ya ardé sus pulmones , y ya caé ele na suelo.

Ya queda ele despertada na un suave susurro. El muchacho, tá de pie na frente de ele,

Su forma translúcida, el muchacho ya sonreí, y ya tomá su mano, “ sabe yo ta podí yo di confiá na ti ñorita.”

Ya abrasá ele el criatura por cosa ta sentí como un eternidad, hasta ya derretí el muchacho, y el luz ya desvanecí.

El mujer ya retirá na casa, mojao ya mojao ya pedí ele con su aguela un toalla , para di quedá seguro no ele di goteá na dentro del casa. Mientras ele ta secá su cuerpo , ele ya preguntá con su aguela sobre el río.

Su aguela ya respondí “ ¿ aquel lugar ? mucho tiempo que ya pasá un hombre ya andá pescá na quel vanda del río. Nunca ele ya riterá, quel pobre alma. Ya bisá del otro otro, ya quedá un grande bestia cual ya atrapá ele, pero queda probablemente el corriente del agua. A veses di quedá violente el río y ta llevá ese el mana pobre si onde onde que nadie de niso sabe, ‘especialmente el mana criatura, siempre ta jugando na río, ta perdí niso uno, cada unos años.”

Ya dalé ele gratitud con su aguela y ya andá ele na su dormitorio.

¿ Cosa ya buscá ele na río Linothangan ?

Paz

Finalmente

Paz …..

=———————-=

English Version

A woman stood by the riverside looking at the water for answers.

She didn’t know why she was back in this place. It had always been her desire to break the shackles of this small barangay and taking a chance in the bigger world, to spread her wings and fly to the sun.

But, like Icarus, she burned.

Now she was living with her family again, though it didn’t feel like home.

The river’s sound soothed her troubled soul. No matter where she went, water would be the first thing that she sought out.

There was the Danube, of course. The taste of his kiss still lingered, even after all these years. But in a moment, it was all washed away. Her heart could never belong to anyone, at least in her mind.

The cold never sat well with her; the tropics had a hold that she could never seem to break. It was worth it though, to see the sun rise and paint the ice with a scarlet brush.

She rubbed her arms and thought back to the blistering heat of the Nile. Her friends warned her that she might catch the fever, but she didn’t listen. The call of the water was too strong for her to fight.

Enlightenment was what she found in the Ganges.

Fear in the rapids of Chilko.

Lifelong friends cruising down the Mississippi.

Wonder at the Naga lights of the Mekong.

And what would she find in the Linothangan? She didn’t know.

She didn’t want to know.

It was late in the afternoon and she chided herself. She had done nothing the whole day. The time could have been spent finding work or doing chores or…. Nothing. That was what her life was now anyway.

She closed her eyes and breathed deep.

When she opened them, she was surprised to find a visitor intruding on her… nothing.

It was a small boy, her hair and clothes dripping on the river rocks.

“Hello,” he said. “Who are you?”

Her soul almost escaped her body. “Don’t do that! You startled me!”

“I’m sorry. I just want someone to play with.”

“Well…”

“Please, miss. I’ve been so lonely here by the river. No one goes here and I’m so alone.”

She stood up and got a better look at the boy. He reminded her of one of her cousins, same age and same energy. This was the type of child that would fight a ‘no’ even in the face of failure.

“What do you want to play?”

“….I know! Here, grab this ball and throw it in the river so I can catch it!”

“Really? You think that’s fun?”

“Pleeeeaaaasseee”

“Okay, okay.”

Her face betrayed a smile, the first since she got back. He was right, this was fun. It almost made her forget about what happened.

She tossed the ball again for the 10^th time and it washed away to the right of the boy. He tried to swim as fast as he could, but suddenly froze as the ball drifted.

“Hey, why aren’t you chasing the ball? Isn’t that the whole game?”

“I can’t go there miss, not in that part of the river.”

“What do you mean?”

“They say it’s dangerous to go there. All the old people forbid it.”

“Well they’re not here are they? Let’s get your ball.”

The boy still didn’t move.

“I went there once miss. It was a long time ago, but I can still remember. There’s something in the river.”
“Do you know what that something was?”

“Maybe it was the dark man.”

“What are you talking about?”

“My lola said that there was a dark man living by the river. He doesn’t want anyone to go to his place.”

She had been around the world a dozen times and was no stranger to tall tales. The boy looked really nervous, but there was strength in numbers.

“Hey, go with me. I’m sure whatever it is it can’t take the both of us.”

Her second smile of the day made the boy nod and take her hand.

“Okay miss. I trust you.”

They walked down the river following the current. The boy had been out of the water for a while but it seemed that he would never stop dripping.

“Just walk next to me okay? I don’t want to get my clothes wet.”

“Alright.”

It was nearing sundown and after a few miscalculated attempts at grabbing the ball, luck finally shined on them. The current stopped, which left the sphere static on the river.

“Well what are you waiting for?” she said. “You’re a pretty good swimmer, the ball’s not that far. You can grab it and go home.”

“I don’t think I should be here miss.”

“Hey, come on, let’s get your ball alright? There’s nothing here.”

“I’ve been here before miss. I can remember.”

“Remember what?”

“It’s going to come here! Please miss run!”

“Wait—–”

At that moment a figure emerged from the water. It had tentacles and reminded her of an octopus. It held the ball and the boy cried out, “The dark man doesn’t like people to come to his place.” He clutched his head and dropped to his knees.

“Let’s go!” she grabbed the boy’s arm but it was as if he was made of stone, nothing could move him.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Please just let me leave!!” The boy cried out even harder, his tears mixed with the moisture dripping to the ground.

“We have to run! It can’t catch us if we go away from the river.”

The boy looked at the woman with despair in his eyes.

“I can’t leave the river. I never could. Not as long as—–”

“As long as what?!” The monster was moving towards them now, she didn’t want to know how long its tentacles could reach.

The boy pointed at the ball.

Her mind was a whirlwind. She should run, there was no way that she could fight the monster. It wasn’t her problem, if the boy didn’t want to follow that was on him. She should think of herself.

Just herself.

Just like then.

The creature was inching closer to the riverbank still holding the ball. In defiance of her instincts, she ran towards it. The monster’s tentacles darted towards her but they only hit empty water.

She spent her life around rivers and with that came a dexterity that surprised even the most experienced of swimmers.

She rounded the creature, trying to confuse it and plunged to the tentacle that had the ball.

At this point she was out of ideas. She could hold her breath for longer than a normal person, but would that be enough time to wring the ball from the monster.

She grabbed the ball and felt a gentle heat surround her.

“I trust you miss.” The boy’s voice echoed in her ears.

A bright flash suffused the ball and tore it away from the tentacle.

With the orb under her elbow she weaved through the water like a dolphin, dodging the monster’s clumsy attempts to catch her.

As soon as she surfaced, she ran as far as she could away from the river.

Her lungs burned and she fell to the ground.

She was awakened with a gentle whisper.
The boy stood in front of her, his form translucent. He smiled and took her hand.
“I knew I could trust you miss.”

She hugged him for what felt like an eternity, until he melted away and the light faded.

The woman returned home, soaked. She asked her lola for a towel to make sure she didn’t drip inside.

As she was drying herself, she asked her lola about the river.

“Oh that place? A long time ago a man went fishing in that part of the river. He never came back, the poor soul. Some say it was a giant beast that got him, but it was probably the current. The river gets violent sometimes and carries them off to who knows where. ‘specially the kids, always playing in the river, we lose one every few years.”

She thanked her lola and went into her room.

What had she found in the Linothangan river?

Peace

Finally

Peace

=—————————=

*Chavacano or Chabacano is a group of Spanish-based creole language varieties spoken in the Philippines. The variety spoken in Zamboanga City, located in the southern Philippine island group of Mindanao, has the highest concentration of speakers.  Currently existing varieties are found in Cavite City and Ternate, located in the Cavite province on the island of Luzon. Chavacano is the only Spanish-based creole in Asia.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Stacy Paredes Foote
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Stacy Paredes Foote

Inspired by the tale ‘The Monster’ in Negros Oriental and Siquijor Island Legends, Beliefs and Folkways. Aldecoa-Rodriguez. 2000.

The Monster of Linothangan River Illustration by Fam Telmo

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*Note this story is in Ilocano

Iggem ti masangwanan adu nga waya kadaguiti mangbirok dalan na, ngem adda met daguiti makakita pinagpababa ken panagayus ti kinaagnanayon. Ket sadi buya da ket agsasala awan patinggana, haan nga mabilang nga posibilidad kadaguiti kinaagpaysuanan, inya nga mabalin, ken inya ti masapul.

Pagsiddaawan daguiti nasirib nu ti masangwanan ket pagbaludan. Pudno, agpayso a pannakaammo ti masangwanan mangpasagid iti kinaipapananna mangipatalek iti kinaadda iti masangwanan. Ket nu kastoy ngarod amin nga kararua ket naibalud iti sala ti biag nga awan serserbina. Nu ania ti mapasamak, ket mapasamakto. Gasat iti agpayso nga among iti law-ang.

Ket adda met mangibaga nga ti masangwanan ket kas maysa a karayan nga adda pangsangaan na. Amin nga panagtignay ket manglukat ti baro nga posibilidad nga mabalin nga mangpaadu inggat awan patingga. Kadaguitoy ngarod nga tabay  ket haan mabilang nga masangwanan ket mabalin amin, nalikmot nga pagayusan ti masangwanan, ket maaramid nu ti linteg iti pilien: naduma nga posibilidad ti waya-waya ket maiaplag, nga pati saan pay nga ammo ket madanun na.

Nakaam-amak nu man pay ket masangwanan saan met gayam nga agpayso. Ket iti napalabas, agdama ken masangwanan mabalin nga agpayso kenya tayo, ngem agpannuray laeng babain ti panagmatmat tayo. Kinapudno ket naituding babaen ti awan patingga, sadiay sangaraay nga panawen, baet ken tiempo ket naibelleng sadi uppat a dimensionna nga kinaranggas.

Aniaman iggem ti masangwanan, daguiti makakita ket awan mabalinna nu ‘di ket aramiden ti pasetda. Mabalin nga isuda iti giya sadi naragsak a kinaagnanayon, wenno abalbalay da met laeng gayam iti naulpit nga panagay-ayam ti lubong. Ngem, aniaman nga kasasaad ti mabalin nga kinaagpayso, inumin da daguiti arak da ken patukaren da latta daguiti musika da.

Makita da nalabes nga bengbeng iti kinaagnanayon. Ken maag laeng ti haan dumngeg kadaguiti sagawisiw ti kakayuan.

=—————————-=

English Version

The future holds many paths to those that seek them, yet there are beings that can see into the ebb and flow of eternity. In their gaze dances the infinite, the scores upon scores of possibilities of what can, what will, and what must.

One cannot help but wonder if the future is our prison. True, accurate knowledge of the future implies that there is an assured existence of a future. If this is the case then all souls are bound to the meaningless dance of life. What will happen, will happen. Fate is the true master of the universe.

Then there are those that say the future is a branching river. Each action opens up a host of new possibilities that multiply into infinity. It is through these choices that uncountable futures are made, a winding stream of futures that may be, and will only come into existence if the right choices are made, infinite possibilities stretching into the unknown.

The most frightening future of all is one that doesn’t exist. The past, present and future my be real to us, but that is only dependent on our point of view. Reality is ordered through an infinite, one where clumps of time, space and space-time are thrown into four-dimensional chaos.

Whatever the future holds, those that see have no choice but to play their part. They may be the guide to a blissful eternity, or mere puppets in a cruel universe’s game. But either way they will drink their wine and play their music.

They see past the veil of eternity. Only the foolish would not listen to the whistles in the trees.

*Ilocano is the third most-spoken local language of the Philippines.An Austronesian language, it is related to such languages as Malay (Indonesian and Malaysian), Tetum, Chamorro, Fijian, Maori, Hawaiian, Samoan, Tahitian, Paiwan and Malagasy. It is closely related to some of the other Austronesian languages of Northern Luzon, and has slight mutual intelligibility with the Balangao language and the eastern dialects of the Bontoc language.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Ilocano translation by Jerraine Ruth
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jerraine Ruth

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

Palasekan Illustration by Fam Telmo

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*Note this story is in Chabacano/ Chavacano Caviteño

El futuro guarda mucho caminos contodo ta busca, pero tiene ta existe seres capaces de vislumbrar el flujo eterno de la existencia. En su mirada baila lo infinito, las innumerables el mana posibilidad si cosa el puede, si cosa de pude, y si cosa el debe.

Uno no pudi evita pregunta si el futuro es niso prisión. La verdadera y precisa comprensió del futuro implica que existe un existencia asegurada de un futuro. Si este el caso, entonces todo las almas está atadas baila sin sentido de la vida. Si cosa de pasa, de pasa. El destino es el verdadero amo del universo.

Tiene naman otro que ta habla el futuro como un río ramificado. El cada acción ta abre un sinfín de nuevo posibilidad na ta multiplica hasta el infinito. El mana opciones esti, ta crea futuros incontables, un arroyo serpenteante de futuros podría ser y solo llega existe si justo opciones que ya saca, posibilidad infinito que ta extiende hacia lo desconocido.

El más miedo futuro de todos es aquel que no ta existe. El pasado, el presente y el futuro pudi realmente para con niso, pero depende únicamente na punto de vista de niso. La realidad ordena a través de un infinito, un en el grupos de tiempo, espacio y espacio-tiempo ya buta na caos tridimensional.

Si cosa el futuro ta guarda, el uno que ta mira ilos todos nuway opción si no juga su papel. Pudi ser guías haci un eternidad dichosa o simples títeres en el juego cruel de un universo. Pero de cualquier manera, bebe su vino y toca su música.

Ta mira ilo el pasado velo de la eternidad. Solo los necios no de oi el pito del mana ponu.

=————————=

English Version

The future holds many paths to those that seek them, yet there are beings that can see into the ebb and flow of eternity. In their gaze dances the infinite, the scores upon scores of possibilities of what can, what will, and what must.

One cannot help but wonder if the future is our prison. True, accurate knowledge of the future implies that there is an assured existence of a future. If this is the case then all souls are bound to the meaningless dance of life. What will happen, will happen. Fate is the true master of the universe.

Then there are those that say the future is a branching river. Each action opens up a host of new possibilities that multiply into infinity. It is through these choices that uncountable futures are made, a winding stream of futures that may be, and will only come into existence if the right choices are made, infinite possibilities stretching into the unknown.

The most frightening future of all is one that doesn’t exist. The past, present and future may be real to us, but that is only dependent on our point of view. Reality is ordered through an infinite, one where clumps of time, space and space-time are thrown into four-dimensional chaos.

Whatever the future holds, those that see have no choice but to play their part. They may be the guide to a blissful eternity, or mere puppets in a cruel universe’s game. But either way they will drink their wine and play their music.

They see past the veil of eternity. Only the foolish would not listen to the whistles in the trees.

=———————————————————–

*Chavacano or Chabacano is a group of Spanish-based creole language varieties spoken in the Philippines. The variety spoken in Zamboanga City, located in the southern Philippine island group of Mindanao, has the highest concentration of speakers.  Currently existing varieties are found in Cavite City and Ternate, located in the Cavite province on the island of Luzon. Chavacano is the only Spanish-based creole in Asia.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Arlene Cortes
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Arlene Cortes

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

Palasekan Illustration by Fam Telmo

FB: https://www.facebook.com/famskaartyhan/
Instagram: @famskaartyhan

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Magmula ng pumanaw ang tito Paul niya, hindi na naging tulad ng dati si Leo. Binabalewala lang niya ang mga mensahe ko at nagkukulong na lamang siya sa kuwarto niya. Paglaon, bihira na ko na siyang makita sa paaaralan.

Kinse anyos pa lang kami noon. Nagkakilala at naging matalik na magkaibigan sa maraming taong nagdaan. Pareho kaming nag-iisang anak ng pamilya at nagkakasundo kami sa bagay na iyon.

Hindi ko nais magpanggap na alam ko kung ano man ang pinagdadaanan niya.  Karamihan sa mga matatandang nakakausap ko ang nagsasabing bigyan ko lang siya ng puwang. Subalit, ang hayaan siya sa ganung kalagayan ay parang pagsuko na rin.

Tuwing hapon, pinapadalhan ko siya ng parehong mensahe:

“Uy, L si Rafa ito. Alam kong may pinagdadaanan ka. Nandito lang ako kung kailangan mo ng may makakausap o makakasama man lang. Tawagan mo ako kung kailan mo kaya. Nag-aalala lang ako sa’yo.”

Bagamat alam kong binabasa lang niya mensahe ko, ayos na rin sa akin iyon. Ang mahalaga, nandoon ako para sa kanya.

Makalipas ang isang linggo, tumugon siya sa mensahe ko, sabi:

“Kamusta R, ngayon lang ako nakasagot sa mensahe mo. Masyadong maraming nangyari kamakailan at hindi ako masyadong nakakatulog. Salamat sa patuloy na pakikipag-ugnayan, malaking bagay ito para sa akin. Mag-usap tayo pag may pagkakataon ha?”

At sumagot ako:

“Siyempre naman L, alam kong mabigat sa iyo ang nangyari sa pagkawala ng tito Paul mo. Alam kong gugustuhin niya na nasa maayos kang kalagayan.”

Ngunit nabagabag ako sa tugon niya:

“Walang hiya siya!”

Matapos ang huling komunikasyon ko kay Leo,  hindi siya nakipag-ugnayan muli at naging paksa ng usap-usapan sa paaaralan. May nagsasabing dinala daw siya sa sa isang mental institution at kailangan niyang manatili doon ng buong taon. May ilan namang nagsasabi na lumayas daw siya ilang linggo na ang nakakalipas at nakita na lang na walang buhay sa isang estero subalit gusto ng pamilya niya na itago ang pagkamatay nito.

Ginawa ko lahat para iwasto ang mga hindi magagandang usapan patungkol kay Leo pero ang totoo, kapag nagsimula ang ganitong klaseng usapin, mahirap na ito pigilan.

Subalit ang lubos nakakagulo ng isipan ko ay ang huli niyang sinabi tungkol sa tito Paul niya. Matagal ko ng kilala ang pamilya nila at mukha naman na masaya sila.

Si Tita Tress, ang ina ni Leo, ay isang OFW, datapuwa’t nilalaan niya ang buong oras niya sa Saudi, bumubisita naman siya tuwing may okasyon. Sa kabilang banda, si tito Paul naman ay kilala bilang lubhang masiglahin subalit maingay na indibidwal. Lagi niyang ipinagmamalaki ang mga mga nakamit na parangal ni Leo at madalas inilalagay sa kanilang sala.

Napaisip ako ng lubusan kung ano marahil ang ibig sabihin ni Leo.

Ano ba talaga ang ugali ng tito Paul niya kapag sila-sila na lang? May pang-aabuso kayang nagaganap?

Bakit hindi ito nagawang ipabatid sa kanya ng kanyang matalik na kaibigan?

Pakiwari ko ay pinili ni Leo na sarilinin ang problema. Napagtanto ko kung gaano ako kasarili at hindi naunawaan agad ang bigat ng problema na pasan-pasan ni Leo ng mga sandaling iyon.

Lagi ko siyang pinapadalhan ng mensahe tuwing hapon at alam ko na alintana niya ang mga ito.

Ang mahalaga, buhay siya. Maisip ko lang iyon ay panatag na ako.

Pinanghawakan ko ang paniniwalang ito hanggang matapos ang huling bahagi ng taon. Natatakot ako na dumating ang araw na hindi niya babasahin ang mensahe ko at malaman ko na lang na may nangyaring masama sa kanya.

Isa lang akong takot na bata na kailangan ang kanyang matalik na kaibigan. Nanalangin na nasa maayos siyang kalagayan.

=================

Patapos na ang panahon ng tag-ulan nang sa wakas ay makatanggap ako ng tugon mula kay Leo. Isa lang itong mensahe pero napuno ako ng pag-asa. Buhay si Leo at makikita ko siya ulit.

MAGKITA TAYO SA PARKE, ALAS-ONSE NG GABI

Kahit masyadong gabi at malayo, hindi na mahalaga sa akin iyon.

Matalik na kaibigan ko si Leo at kailangan niya ako.

Nang gabing iyon, sinabi ko sa mga magulang ko na matutulog ako ng maaaga. Masunurin akong bata, may magandang grado, mabait, lagi sa oras at iba pa. Hindi maghihinala pamilya ko.

Tatlong kilometro ang layo ng parke mula sa amin at ang liwanang ng buwan ang gabay ko sa pagbibisekleta. Masuwerte ako at kabilugan ng buwan ng gabing iyon.

Nang nakarating ako sa parke, umupo ako sa tabi ng puno ng balete at hinintay si Leo.

“R”

Laging gulat ko ng may isang kamay ang sumandal sa aking mga balikat mula sa likod.

“Ano ba Leo?! Huwag mo akong takutin ng ganyan!

“Pasensya na.”

Miserable ang kaanyuan ni Leo. Magulo ang kanyang buhok, malalim ang mga mata at halata ang ikinapayat niya.

Pilit niyang iniiwasan ng tingin ang mga mata ko sapagkat hindi lingid sa kanya kung gaano kamiserable ang gayak niya pero sa kabila nito ay mahigpit ko siyang niyakap.

Hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal na ang nakalipas at nagpasya ako na basagin ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa.

“Alam ko kung gaano kahirap ang pinagdaanan mo simula ng nawala ang iyong ama.”

“HINDI MO ALAM KUNG ANONG GINAWA NIYA SA AKIN!”

Napaatras ako sa pagsagot niya at napaluha si Leo ng mga sandaling iyon.

“Tama ka, hindi ko ‘nga alam. Kaya ako nandito. Hayaan mo akong makinig. Pakiusap, L.”

“Ayaw ko ng makasakit ulit.”

“Hindi mangyayari iyon, pangako. Maupo muna tayo at mag-usap.”

“Ikaw ang maupo, mayroon kang kailangan makita.”

Nakinig ako sa sinabi niya at sumandal ako sa puno ng balete. Ang buong parke ay naiilawan ng buwan.

Walang makakapaghanda sa akin sa ginawa ni Leo. Kinikilabutan ako tuwing naaalala ko ang mga sandaling iyon.

Maririnig ang pagtunog ng buto niya sa bawat pagbaling ng kanyang leeg. Nanginginig ang kanyang katawan nang mahulog ito sa lupa at ang natira na lamang ay ang malaking puwang ng laman. Makikita ang pagtibok ng kanyang puso at ang paggalaw ng kanyang baga habang hiwalay sila mula sa katawan nito.

Lumulutang si Leo sa hangin subalit wala akong makita kundi ang kanyang ulo at mga lamang-loob.

Naduwal ako sa kahindik-hindik na nasaksihan ko.

Tumingin siya sa akin at makikita pa rin ang mga luha sa kanyang mga mata. “Ako ito. Naging ganito na ako,” malungkot na wika nito.

Mabigat ang katahimikang naramdaman ko. Sa pagkakataong ito, si Leo naman ang bumasag ng katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa.

Inilahad niya ang kuwento patungkol sa kanyang ama. Isang sumpa ang ipinamana sa kanilang pamilya mula sa angkan ng tito Paul niya. Nalaman lang niya ito noong pumanaw ang kanyang ama. Sila ay nabibilang sa magtatanggal, mga nilalang na kumakain ng laman ng tao. Lumilisan sila sa gabi upang maghanap ng kanilang mabibiktima.

“Noong una, pusa at aso lang hinuhuli ko, subalit habang tumatagal, nararamdaman ko na lumalakas ang sumpa. Tuwing makakakita ako ng ibang tao sa gabi ay parang gusto kong magpalit anyo at kainin ang kanilang puso.”

“Paano si tita?”

“Itinago ng ama ko ang sikreto mula sa kanya. Ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit kinonsinte niya na mag-OFW siya.”

“Marahil ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit hindi mo ako kinakausap?

“Oo.”

Bakit ngayon mo lang ito sinabi?”

Dagliang lumutang si Leo ilang layo mula sa puno.

“Nakikita mo ba ‘yang supot na ito?”

“Oo.”

Naglalaman ang supot ng asin at kung ano mang bagay na tila abo.

“Ano it–”

“Kapag nilagyan mo ng asin at abo ang aking katawan, hindi na ako muling makakabalik dito. At ‘pag nasinagan ako ng araw…”

“Anong sinasabi mo?”

“Lagyan mo ng asin at abo ang aking katawan. Hindi na ulit ako makakabalik sa katawan ko pag nasinagan ako ng araw.”

“Nais mong wakasan ko buhay mo?”

“Hindi ko na kayang gawin ito R. Sa bawat araw na lumilipas, sinasabi ng sarili ko na pumatay. Naiintindihan mo ba? Makakapanakit lang ako at mauulit lang ito hanggang sa wala na itong katapusan. Magiging mas madali sa akin ang pamamaraang naiisip ko habang hindi  pa ako tuluyang nagiging tunay na halimaw.

“Hindi dapat magkaganito. Hahanap tayo ng pwede nating kausapin hinggil dito, may magagawa pa tayo.”

Lumapait si Leo sa akin, animo ay lumulutang sa hangin.

“Alam mo ba na nagtatago ng tropeo ang aking ama? Mga bagay na nagpapaalala ng kanyang mga biktima. Ipinakita niya sa akin ito bago niya ibigay ang sumpa. Binubuo ito ng mga buto, mga malilit na uri. Siguro malapit sa ilang daan ang bilang nito.

Napapatahimik na lang ako.

“L, huwag mong akong piliting gawin sa iyo ito, matalik mo akong kaibigan.”

“Kaya ko ito sinasabi sa iyo. Pakiusap R, hindi ko na nais makapanakit pa ng iba.

Napahikbi na lang sa iyak si Leo at ang kanyang luha ay walang tigil ang pagpatak sa mga lumulutang na lamang-loob nito.

Kasabay nito, dumaloy ang mga alaala sa aking isipan, ang takot na tumitibok sa aking pulso, at ang ibang gunita ng kahapon.

“Naalala mo ba noong sampung taong gulang pa tayo, at akala ko na kaya kong lumipad?

“Oo, at kalahating taon na nakabalot ang paa mo dahil nabalian ka.”

“Anong pakiramdam kapag lumilipad ka?”

“Ito ang pinakamalayang pakiramdam na mararanasan mo.”

“At gusto mo itong tapusin?”

“Oo.”

Lumapit ako sa walang laman na katawan ni Leo. Matapos ang ilang sandali ay isinaboy ko dito ang asin at abo.

Tumingin ako sa kanyang mata at tinanong, “mayroon pa ba akong magagawa para sa’yo?”

“Maaari ka bang manatili muna sandali? Kahit hanggang sumikat ang araw?”

“Oo naman, para sa’yo.”

Ilang oras kaming naghintay hanggang dumating ang bukang-liwayway. Hindi ko inaasahan na mabilis ang mga susunod na pangyayari. Matapos haplusin ng liwanag, ang kanyang ulo at katawan ay dagliang nadurog ng pinong-pino na animo’y buhangin.

Kalaunan, nalaman din ng aking magulang ang ginawa kong pagtakas ng gabing iyon. Sinabi ko na hinanap ko si Leo at hindi naman ako pinarusahan. Palagay ko ay nakita nila akong umiiyak.

Makalipas noon, maraming naging haka-haka tungkol kay Leo. Ang pinaka-patok ay ang paglayas niya at ang pag-aakalang namatay na siya. Hindi ko na iniwaksi ang paniniwala nila hanggang lumipas ang panahon at nakalimutan na ito ng mga tao.

=———————————————————–=

English Version

Leo wasn’t the same after tito Paul died. He’d ignore my messages and hole himself in his room. It became rarer and rarer to see him in school.

Back then we were only fifteen. We met in grade school and had been best friends for years. Both of us were the only child of our family and we bonded through that.

I didn’t want to pretend that I knew what he was going through. Most of the adults that I talked to told me to give him space, but that, to me, just felt like giving up.

Every afternoon I’d send the same message:

“Hey L it’s Rafa. I know you’re going through some stuff right now. I’m always here if you need me, to talk or just to be there. Hit me up when you can please. I’m really worried about you.”

He’d leave me on seen, which was still a relief for me. At least he’d know I was there.

After a week he finally messaged back:

“Hey R, sorry I didn’t get back to you ‘til now. Things have been getting too much to handle, haven’t been sleeping much. Thanks for reaching out to me, I really appreciate it. Let’s talk soon alright?”

And I replied:

“Of course L, I know tito Paul’s passing hit you hard. I know wherever he is now he’s wishing you’re alright.”

His reply unsettled me:

“He was a bastard.”

=————————————————————=

After that conversation Leo didn’t contact me for a month. He was the main topic of everyone’s gossip in school. Someone started the rumor that he was put in a mental institution and would have to stay there for the whole year. There was another where they said he ran away weeks ago and they found him in a ditch and the family wanted to keep his death a secret.

I tried to shut them down the best I could, but once the words were out in the air they couldn’t be brought down.

Leo’s last message still disconcerted me. I had known their family for years and they seemed to be happy.

Tita Tress was an OFW, she spent most of her time in Saudi, but would visit every now and then, every other year during holiday season. Tito Paul was a loud man, in the best sense of the term. He would always tell everyone about Leo’s achievements and would put them all over their sala.

My mind raced to all the possibilities of what Leo could have meant.

What was tito Paul like behind closed doors?  Was there any kind of abuse?

Why didn’t my best friend tell me?

Looking back, I realize how selfish I was, trying to make this about myself. Leo was the one that had the problem. If he didn’t want to tell me that was his choice.

I still messaged him every afternoon and he still would leave me on seen.

At the very least he’s alive. I’d think to myself.

I hung onto that thought to the latter part of that year. I was so scared that he’d leave my messages unseen and I’d never hear from him ever again.

I was just a scared kid that needed his best friend to be okay.

=———————————————————————————=

It was the end of the rainy season when I finally got a response from Leo. It was just one message but it filled my heart with hope. Leo was alive and I could finally see him.

MEET ME AT THE PARK TONIGHT AT 11

It was late. It was far. It didn’t matter.

Leo was my best friend and he needed me.

That night I told my parents that I was going to bed early. I was the requisite good boy. Good grades, well behaved, always on time, etc. My family wouldn’t suspect a thing.

The park was 3 kilometers away from me and I biked using the light of the moon. I was lucky there was a full moon that night.

When I got to the park I sat by the balete tree and waited for Leo.

“R?”

A hand gripped my shoulder from behind and my heart nearly jumped to my chest.
“Dammit L, don’t scare me like that! God!”

“Sorry.”

Leo looked awful. His hair was disheveled, eyes sunken and he was thinner than I’d ever seen him.

He tried to avoid eye contact and took a step back, knowing what he looked like.

I still gave him the biggest hug I could.

I didn’t know how much time passed and I thought it would be best for me to break the silence.

“I know things have been rough since your dad passed.”

“YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT HE TURNED ME INTO!”

The reply made me step back. Leo face was flooding with tears.

“You’re right, I don’t. But that’s why I’m here. Let me listen. Please, L.”

“I just don’t want to hurt anyone.”

“You won’t hurt me, I promise. Let’s just have a seat and talk, okay?”

“You should sit, I need you to see this.”

I did what he asked, sitting back by the balete tree. The whole park was illuminated by the light of the full moon.

Nothing could have prepared me for what Leo was about to do. Even now the memory horrifies me.

I could hear his spine crack as his neck turned.  His body shivered as it fell to the ground and what was left was hollow. I could see his heart beat and his lungs inflate as they detached.

He was floating through the air with nothing but his head and organs.

I vomited as the grisly spectacle finished.

He looked at me and I could still see the tears in his eyes. He said, “This is me. This is what I have become.”

The silence was heavy.

This time it was Leo who broke the silence.

He told me about his father. There was an inheritance from tito Paul’s side of the family, a curse that Leo only learned about as his father passed away. They were magtatangal, creatures that fed on human flesh who flew at night, searching for victims.

“I tried to be only catching cats and dogs, but every day the curse gets stronger. Every time I see someone at night I want to change and eat their hearts.”

“What about tita?”

“Papa kept the curse a secret from her, it’s why he pushed her to be an OFW.”

“This is why you haven’t talked to me.”

“Yes.”

“Why are you telling me this now?”

Leo floated to a tree a few meters away.

“Do you see that bag?”

“Yeah.”

“Open it.”

The bag was filled with salt and what looked to be a grey powder.
“What is—”

“If you put the salt and ashes on my body I won’t be able to reattach. Once the sun hits me….”

“What are you talking about?”

“If the ash and salt are sprinkled on my body, I won’t be able to reattach. If I cant be complete when the sun hits, I won’t be coming back from that.”

“You…..do you want me to kill you?!”

“I can’t keep doing this R. Every day my instincts tell me to kill people I see. Don’t you understand?! I’m going to hurt someone and then another and then another. It’s just going to get easier for me. Until I’m as much a monster as I look like.”

“It doesn’t have to be this way, we can find someone to talk to, there has to be something else we can do!”

Leo floated nearer to me.

“Did you know my dad kept trophies? He showed them to me before he gave me the curse. They were bones, small ones. There must have been hundreds of them.”

Another pause, another break in the silence.

“L, please don’t make me do this. I’m your best friend.”

“That’s why I’m telling you this. Please R. I don’t wat to hurt anyone else.”

Leo sobbed unceasingly, his tears falling onto his floating organs.

Memories started to flood my mind, the fear pulsing through my veins, until something struck me.

“Remember when we were ten and I thought I could fly?”

“Yeah your leg had to be in a cast for nearly half a year.”

“What’s it like to fly?”

“It’s the most liberating feeling you could ever have.”

“And you still want to end it?”

“Yes.”

I stood above his hollow body and sprinkled the salt and ash.

I looked at Leo in his eyes and asked him, “is there anything else you want me to do?”

“Can you stay with me? Until the sun comes up?”

“Anything for you.”

We sat there for hours waiting for sunrise. When it happened it was faster than I expected, Leo’s body and head disintegrated as soon as the sun rays hit them.

When my parents found out that I snuck out they were livid. I told them I was trying to find Leo and they eased out of punishing me. I think they saw that I was crying.

There was even more gossip after that. Leo ran away and was assumed dead was the most popular theory. I never corrected them and as the years passed people forgot.

=———————————————-=

To this day, I still remember him asking me to make the most difficult decision of our lives.

Goodbye L.

I’ll always miss you.

=———————————————–=

Inspired by the description of the Magtatangal in “Distinctions Made Among the Priests of the Devil” in “Customs of the Tagalogs” by Juan de Plasencia. 1589.

Magtatangal Illustration by Fam Telmo

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Instagram: @famskaartyhan

Leo wasn’t the same after tito Paul died. He’d ignore my messages and hole himself in his room. It became rarer and rarer to see him in school.

Back then we were only fifteen. We met in grade school and had been best friends for years. Both of us were the only child of our family and we bonded through that.

I didn’t want to pretend that I knew what he was going through. Most of the adults that I talked to told me to give him space, but that, to me, just felt like giving up.

Every afternoon I’d send the same message:

“Hey L it’s Rafa. I know you’re going through some stuff right now. I’m always here if you need me, to talk or just to be there. Hit me up when you can please. I’m really worried about you.”

He’d leave me on seen, which was still a relief for me. At least he’d know I was there.

After a week he finally messaged back:

“Hey R, sorry I didn’t get back to you ‘til now. Things have been getting too much to handle, haven’t been sleeping much. Thanks for reaching out to me, I really appreciate it. Let’s talk soon alright?”

And I replied:

“Of course L, I know tito Paul’s passing hit you hard. I know wherever he is now he’s wishing you’re alright.”

His reply unsettled me:

“He was a bastard.”

=————————————————————=

After that conversation Leo didn’t contact me for a month. He was the main topic of everyone’s gossip in school. Someone started the rumor that he was put in a mental institution and would have to stay there for the whole year. There was another where they said he ran away weeks ago and they found him in a ditch and the family wanted to keep his death a secret.

I tried to shut them down the best I could, but once the words were out in the air they couldn’t be brought down.

Leo’s last message still disconcerted me. I had known their family for years and they seemed to be happy.

Tita Tress was an OFW, she spent most of her time in Saudi, but would visit every now and then, every other year during holiday season. Tito Paul was a loud man, in the best sense of the term. He would always tell everyone about Leo’s achievements and would put them all over their sala.

My mind raced to all the possibilities of what Leo could have meant.

What was tito Paul like behind closed doors?  Was there any kind of abuse?

Why didn’t my best friend tell me?

Looking back, I realize how selfish I was, trying to make this about myself. Leo was the one that had the problem. If he didn’t want to tell me that was his choice.

I still messaged him every afternoon and he still would leave me on seen.

At the very least he’s alive. I’d think to myself.

I hung onto that thought to the latter part of that year. I was so scared that he’d leave my messages unseen and I’d never hear from him ever again.

I was just a scared kid that needed his best friend to be okay.

=———————————————————————————=

It was the end of the rainy season when I finally got a response from Leo. It was just one message but it filled my heart with hope. Leo was alive and I could finally see him.

MEET ME AT THE PARK TONIGHT AT 11

It was late. It was far. It didn’t matter.

Leo was my best friend and he needed me.

That night I told my parents that I was going to bed early. I was the requisite good boy. Good grades, well behaved, always on time, etc. My family wouldn’t suspect a thing.

The park was 3 kilometers away from me and I biked using the light of the moon. I was lucky there was a full moon that night.

When I got to the park I sat by the balete tree and waited for Leo.

“R?”

A hand gripped my shoulder from behind and my heart nearly jumped to my chest.
“Dammit L, don’t scare me like that! God!”

“Sorry.”

Leo looked awful. His hair was disheveled, eyes sunken and he was thinner than I’d ever seen him.

He tried to avoid eye contact and took a step back, knowing what he looked like.

I still gave him the biggest hug I could.

I didn’t know how much time passed and I thought it would be best for me to break the silence.

“I know things have been rough since your dad passed.”

“YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT HE TURNED ME INTO!”

The reply made me step back. Leo face was flooding with tears.

“You’re right, I don’t. But that’s why I’m here. Let me listen. Please, L.”

“I just don’t want to hurt anyone.”

“You won’t hurt me, I promise. Let’s just have a seat and talk, okay?”

“You should sit, I need you to see this.”

I did what he asked, sitting back by the balete tree. The whole park was illuminated by the light of the full moon.

Nothing could have prepared me for what Leo was about to do. Even now the memory horrifies me.

I could hear his spine crack as his neck turned.  His body shivered as it fell to the ground and what was left was hollow. I could see his heart beat and his lungs inflate as they detached.

He was floating through the air with nothing but his head and organs.

I vomited as the grisly spectacle finished.

He looked at me and I could still see the tears in his eyes. He said, “This is me. This is what I have become.”

The silence was heavy.

This time it was Leo who broke the silence.

He told me about his father. There was an inheritance from tito Paul’s side of the family, a curse that Leo only learned about as his father passed away. They were magtatangal, creatures that fed on human flesh who flew at night, searching for victims.

“I tried to be only catching cats and dogs, but every day the curse gets stronger. Every time I see someone at night I want to change and eat their hearts.”

“What about tita?”

“Papa kept the curse a secret from her, it’s why he pushed her to be an OFW.”

“This is why you haven’t talked to me.”

“Yes.”

“Why are you telling me this now?”

Leo floated to a tree a few meters away.

“Do you see that bag?”

“Yeah.”

“Open it.”

The bag was filled with salt and what looked to be a grey powder.
“What is—”

“If you put the salt and ashes on my body I won’t be able to reattach. Once the sun hits me….”

“What are you talking about?”

“If the ash and salt are sprinkled on my body, I won’t be able to reattach. If I cant be complete when the sun hits, I won’t be coming back from that.”

“You…..do you want me to kill you?!”

“I can’t keep doing this R. Every day my instincts tell me to kill people I see. Don’t you understand?! I’m going to hurt someone and then another and then another. It’s just going to get easier for me. Until I’m as much a monster as I look like.”

“It doesn’t have to be this way, we can find someone to talk to, there has to be something else we can do!”

Leo floated nearer to me.

“Did you know my dad kept trophies? He showed them to me before he gave me the curse. They were bones, small ones. There must have been hundreds of them.”

Another pause, another break in the silence.

“L, please don’t make me do this. I’m your best friend.”

“That’s why I’m telling you this. Please R. I don’t wat to hurt anyone else.”

Leo sobbed unceasingly, his tears falling onto his floating organs.

Memories started to flood my mind, the fear pulsing through my veins, until something struck me.

“Remember when we were ten and I thought I could fly?”

“Yeah your leg had to be in a cast for nearly half a year.”

“What’s it like to fly?”

“It’s the most liberating feeling you could ever have.”

“And you still want to end it?”

“Yes.”

I stood above his hollow body and sprinkled the salt and ash.

I looked at Leo in his eyes and asked him, “is there anything else you want me to do?”

“Can you stay with me? Until the sun comes up?”

“Anything for you.”

We sat there for hours waiting for sunrise. When it happened it was faster than I expected, Leo’s body and head disintegrated as soon as the sun rays hit them.

When my parents found out that I snuck out they were livid. I told them I was trying to find Leo and they eased out of punishing me. I think they saw that I was crying.

There was even more gossip after that. Leo ran away and was assumed dead was the most popular theory. I never corrected them and as the years passed people forgot.

=———————————————-=

To this day, I still remember him asking me to make the most difficult decision of our lives.

Goodbye L.

I’ll always miss you.

=———————————————–=

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the description of the Magtatangal in “Distinctions Made Among the Priests of the Devil” in “Customs of the Tagalogs” by Juan de Plasencia. 1589.

Magtatangal Illustration by Fam Telmo

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*Note this story is in Tagalog

Ang hinaharap ay maraming angking landas para sa mga naghahanap. Ngunit may mga nilalang na may kakayahang makita ang takbo’t daloy ng walang-hanggan. Sa kanilang mga titig ay sumasayaw ang kawalang-katapusan, ang laksa-laksang posibilidad ng mga maaaring maganap, magaganap, at nararapat na maganap.

Hindi tuloy mapigilang pagbulayan kung ang hinaharap ba ay isang kulungan. Oo, ang tumpak na pagkaalam sa hinaharap ay nagpapahiwatig ng tiyak nitong pag-iral. Kung magkagayon, lahat ng kaluluwa ay nakagapos sa walang kabuluhang sayaw ng buhay. Anumang dapat maganap ay magaganap. Kapalaran ang tunay na panginoon ng sansinukob.

Mayroon ding nagsasabing ang hinaharap ay isang nagsasanga-sangang ilog. Bawat kilos ay lumilikha ng mga bagong maaaring mangyari, na siya ring dumarami nang walang hangganan. Sa pagpili ay nalilikha ang hindi mabilang na mga hinaharap, isang liko-likong sapa ng mga hinaharap na maaaring umiral at iiral lamang kung wasto ang mapipiling hakbang, walang-hanggang mga posibilidad patungo sa walang nakaaalam.

Ang pinakanakakikilabot na hinaharap ang iyong hindi umiiral. Ang nakaraan, kasalukuyan, at hinahanap ay waring totoo para sa atin, ngunit ito’y batay lamang mula sa kung saan tayo nakatanaw. Ang reyalidad ay naisaayos ayon sa kawalang-hangganan, kung saan ang mga kumpol ng oras, espasyo, at space-time ay itinatapon sa 4-dimensiyonal na saligutgot.

Anumang hawak ng kapalaran, silang nakakikita ay walang magagawa kundi gawin ang tungkuling naiatas sa kanila. Maaari silang maging gabay sa walang katapusang ligaya, o di kaya’y maging papet sa malupit na laro ng sansinukob. Gayunman, sila’y magsisipaglasing at tutugtugin ang kanilang musika.

Natatanaw nila ang kabilang ibayo sa likod ng tabing ng kawalang-hangganan. Hangal lamang ang hindi makikinig sa mga sipol mula sa mga puno.

=————————————————–

English Version

The future holds many paths to those that seek them, yet there are beings that can see into the ebb and flow of eternity. In their gaze dances the infinite, the scores upon scores of possibilities of what can, what will, and what must.

One cannot help but wonder if the future is our prison. True, accurate knowledge of the future implies that there is an assured existence of a future. If this is the case then all souls are bound to the meaningless dance of life. What will happen, will happen. Fate is the true master of the universe.

Then there are those that say the future is a branching river. Each action opens up a host of new possibilities that multiply into infinity. It is through these choices that uncountable futures are made, a winding stream of futures that may be, and will only come into existence if the right choices are made, infinite possibilities stretching into the unknown.

The most frightening future of all is one that doesn’t exist. The past, present and future may be real to us, but that is only dependent on our point of view. Reality is ordered through an infinite, one where clumps of time, space and space-time are thrown into four-dimensional chaos.

Whatever the future holds, those that see have no choice but to play their part. They may be the guide to a blissful eternity, or mere puppets in a cruel universe’s game. But either way they will drink their wine and play their music.

They see past the veil of eternity. Only the foolish would not listen to the whistles in the trees.

=———————————————————–

*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 Levi Masuli
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright ©  Levi Masuli

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

Palasekan Illustration by Fam Telmo

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The future holds many paths to those that seek them, yet there are beings that can see into the ebb and flow of eternity. In their gaze dances the infinite, the scores upon scores of possibilities of what can, what will, and what must.

One cannot help but wonder if the future is our prison. True, accurate knowledge of the future implies that there is an assured existence of a future. If this is the case then all souls are bound to the meaningless dance of life. What will happen, will happen. Fate is the true master of the universe.

Then there are those that say the future is a branching river. Each action opens up a host of new possibilities that multiply into infinity. It is through these choices that uncountable futures are made, a winding stream of futures that may be, and will only come into existence if the right choices are made, infinite possibilities stretching into the unknown.

The most frightening future of all is one that doesn’t exist. The past, present and future may be real to us, but that is only dependent on our point of view. Reality is ordered through an infinite, one where clumps of time, space and space-time are thrown into four-dimensional chaos.

Whatever the future holds, those that see have no choice but to play their part. They may be the guide to a blissful eternity, or mere puppets in a cruel universe’s game. But either way they will drink their wine and play their music.

They see past the veil of eternity. Only the foolish would not listen to the whistles in the trees.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

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

Palasekan Illustration by Fam Telmo

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A woman stood by the riverside looking at the water for answers.

She didn’t know why she was back in this place. It had always been her desire to break the shackles of this small barangay and taking a chance in the bigger world, to spread her wings and fly to the sun.

But, like Icarus, she burned.

Now she was living with her family again, though it didn’t feel like home.

The river’s sound soothed her troubled soul. No matter where she went, water would be the first thing that she sought out.

There was the Danube, of course. The taste of his kiss still lingered, even after all these years. But in a moment, it was all washed away. Her heart could never belong to anyone, at least in her mind.

The cold never sat well with her; the tropics had a hold that she could never seem to break. It was worth it though, to see the sun rise and paint the ice with a scarlet brush.

She rubbed her arms and thought back to the blistering heat of the Nile. Her friends warned her that she might catch the fever, but she didn’t listen. The call of the water was too strong for her to fight.

Enlightenment was what she found in the Ganges.

Fear in the rapids of Chilko.

Lifelong friends cruising down the Mississippi.

Wonder at the Naga lights of the Mekong.

And what would she find in the Linothangan? She didn’t know.

She didn’t want to know.

It was late in the afternoon and she chided herself. She had done nothing the whole day. The time could have been spent finding work or doing chores or…. Nothing. That was what her life was now anyway.

She closed her eyes and breathed deep.

When she opened them, she was surprised to find a visitor intruding on her… nothing.

It was a small boy, her hair and clothes dripping on the river rocks.

“Hello,” he said. “Who are you?”

Her soul almost escaped her body. “Don’t do that! You startled me!”

“I’m sorry. I just want someone to play with.”

“Well…”

“Please, miss. I’ve been so lonely here by the river. No one goes here and I’m so alone.”

She stood up and got a better look at the boy. He reminded her of one of her cousins, same age and same energy. This was the type of child that would fight a ‘no’ even in the face of failure.

“What do you want to play?”

“….I know! Here, grab this ball and throw it in the river so I can catch it!”

“Really? You think that’s fun?”

“Pleeeeaaaasseee”

“Okay, okay.”

Her face betrayed a smile, the first since she got back. He was right, this was fun. It almost made her forget about what happened.

She tossed the ball again for the 10^th time and it washed away to the right of the boy. He tried to swim as fast as he could, but suddenly froze as the ball drifted.

“Hey, why aren’t you chasing the ball? Isn’t that the whole game?”

“I can’t go there miss, not in that part of the river.”

“What do you mean?”

“They say it’s dangerous to go there. All the old people forbid it.”

“Well they’re not here are they? Let’s get your ball.”

The boy still didn’t move.

“I went there once miss. It was a long time ago, but I can still remember. There’s something in the river.”
“Do you know what that something was?”

“Maybe it was the dark man.”

“What are you talking about?”

“My lola said that there was a dark man living by the river. He doesn’t want anyone to go to his place.”

She had been around the world a dozen times and was no stranger to tall tales. The boy looked really nervous, but there was strength in numbers.

“Hey, go with me. I’m sure whatever it is it can’t take the both of us.”

Her second smile of the day made the boy nod and take her hand.

“Okay miss. I trust you.”

They walked down the river following the current. The boy had been out of the water for a while but it seemed that he would never stop dripping.

“Just walk next to me okay? I don’t want to get my clothes wet.”

“Alright.”

It was nearing sundown and after a few miscalculated attempts at grabbing the ball, luck finally shined on them. The current stopped, which left the sphere static on the river.

“Well what are you waiting for?” she said. “You’re a pretty good swimmer, the ball’s not that far. You can grab it and go home.”

“I don’t think I should be here miss.”

“Hey, come on, let’s get your ball alright? There’s nothing here.”

“I’ve been here before miss. I can remember.”

“Remember what?”

“It’s going to come here! Please miss run!”

“Wait—–”

At that moment a figure emerged from the water. It had tentacles and reminded her of an octopus. It held the ball and the boy cried out, “The dark man doesn’t like people to come to his place.” He clutched his head and dropped to his knees.

“Let’s go!” she grabbed the boy’s arm but it was as if he was made of stone, nothing could move him.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Please just let me leave!!” The boy cried out even harder, his tears mixed with the moisture dripping to the ground.

“We have to run! It can’t catch us if we go away from the river.”

The boy looked at the woman with despair in his eyes.

“I can’t leave the river. I never could. Not as long as—–”

“As long as what?!” The monster was moving towards them now, she didn’t want to know how long its tentacles could reach.

The boy pointed at the ball.

Her mind was a whirlwind. She should run, there was no way that she could fight the monster. It wasn’t her problem, if the boy didn’t want to follow that was on him. She should think of herself.

Just herself.

Just like then.

The creature was inching closer to the riverbank still holding the ball. In defiance of her instincts, she ran towards it. The monster’s tentacles darted towards her but they only hit empty water.

She spent her life around rivers and with that came a dexterity that surprised even the most experienced of swimmers.

She rounded the creature, trying to confuse it and plunged to the tentacle that had the ball.

At this point she was out of ideas. She could hold her breath for longer than a normal person, but would that be enough time to wring the ball from the monster.

She grabbed the ball and felt a gentle heat surround her.

“I trust you miss.” The boy’s voice echoed in her ears.

A bright flash suffused the ball and tore it away from the tentacle.

With the orb under her elbow she weaved through the water like a dolphin, dodging the monster’s clumsy attempts to catch her.

As soon as she surfaced, she ran as far as she could away from the river.

Her lungs burned and she fell to the ground.

She was awakened with a gentle whisper.
The boy stood in front of her, his form translucent. He smiled and took her hand.
“I knew I could trust you miss.”

She hugged him for what felt like an eternity, until he melted away and the light faded.

The woman returned home, soaked. She asked her lola for a towel to make sure she didn’t drip inside.

As she was drying herself, she asked her lola about the river.

“Oh that place? A long time ago a man went fishing in that part of the river. He never came back, the poor soul. Some say it was a giant beast that got him, but it was probably the current. The river gets violent sometimes and carries them off to who knows where. ‘specially the kids, always playing in the river, we lose one every few years.”

She thanked her lola and went into her room.

What had she found in the Linothangan river?

Peace

Finally

Peace

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the tale ‘The Monster’ in Negros Oriental and Siquijor Island Legends, Beliefs and Folkways. Aldecoa-Rodriguez. 2000.

The Monster of Linothangan River Illustration by Fam Telmo

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