Tinu ig na nga gakatingala ang mga siyentipiko sang mga buyog. Gamit ang daan nga “aerodynamic theory”, indi ni sila dapat maka lupad. Subong makita nga ang mga buyog maka lupad gamit ang baskog nila nga pwersa. Ang ila paglupad daw indi instakto, daw natunga nag ini nga insekto sa tunga. Ang wala kag tuo nga pakpak makalupad tig isa kag nag hangin nga gaagi sa iya pakpak wala gabulig sa buyog nga makalupad sang maayu.

Isa ini nga mysteryo sa siyensya asta sang isa ka dekada niligad. Pero ako matingala kung anu mapanumduman sang mga siyentipiko kung matubangan nila ang nakita ko.

Tskato guid hambal sang buang nga tigulang, ari guid di sila. Bal an ko nga kung patihun ko akun nabatyagan na makita ko na sila. Tinu ig nga paghulat kag pag hunahuna, mahambal ko naman guid kay lolo nga instakto sya. Ang tanan nga istorya sang Handiong taming parti sa mga ini kag panu nga wala na sila makita ay tuod. Si lolo kag ang iya “platoon” indi mga buang. Abi sang ila mga superyor ang ila mga storya parti sa mga galupad nga bagis isa lang ka pati-pati kag indi matuod. Indi ko na mahulat  nga makita ang ila mga tsura kung mapakita ko na sa ila ang Tiburones.

Ang ini nga mga bagis tama ka interesado. Indi ko mahambal kung paano sila ka tinir sa hangin. Sila bala may “swim bladder” nga nag ebolb kag nag “adopt?” Kilanlang ko ini mapalapitan para mabal an ko. Ang mga bato kay perti ka talom,  napilas pa ko gane pagsaka ko pero wala ini kaso. Anu man ang gamay nga dugo para sa presyo sang siyentipiko nga ebolusyon.

Nakapalapit naman guid ko sa tubig para makita ang ginaubra sang mga Tiburones. Daw ang ila ginakaon mga pispis kag mga isda sa sina nga bahin. Ang ila pagpanakup wala ga lain sa ordinaryo nga pating kag galupad lang sila sa tubig kung makagwa ang pispis halin sa ila.

Ang mga normal nga pating ga salig sa ila nga panimaho sa tubig ti salbar man ko basta indi lang ko madagdag. Ang pinakadaku nga pating daw gapakita nga sya ang mayor. Ang mga ini lain sa mga ordinaryo nga pating kag ang mga ordinaryo nga pating indi lapit sa kaalaam nga ginapakita sang mga Tiburones. Sila daw mga “dolphins” sa ila pamatasan.

Ara ko sa pil as para magkuha sang mayu nga mga “shots.” Ini mga ibedensya para makakuha ko suporta para sa isa ka madaku nga ekspedisyun. Pero ang mga Tiburones may iban nga plano. Sila maka panimaho kung ara sila sa hangin ukon sa tubig. Nakapalagyo ko sa malapit nga kweba.

Ara pako gyapun sa sulod sang kweba. Ang mga pating ga tiyog tiyog sa gwa sa hangin. Basi makapoy man sila, amu na ang tsansa ko nga makapalagyo.

Kung indi, kung sin o man makabasa sang sini nga sulat, palihog pagwa sang kamatu oran. Kilanlan ini makagwa. Palihog nga indi pag usiki ang akun nga sakripisyo.

Scientists have been baffled by the bumblebee for years. Using old aerodynamic theory they shouldn’t even be able to fly. Today, it has been shown that the bumblebee adopts a brute force approach to flying. Their flight is inefficient, as if the insect has been split in half. The left and right wings flap independently and the airflow around the wings never joins to help the bee slip through the air more easily.

It was a scientific mystery until only about a decade ago, but I wonder what those scientists would think if they would be faced by what I saw.  

That crazy old woman was right, they would be here. I knew that if I followed my instincts that I would finally find them. Years of waiting and wondering and I can finally tell my lolo that he was right. All those stories of Handiong taming these things and how they were never seen again were true. Lolo and his platoon weren’t crazy. Their superiors thought that stories of flying sharks were silly superstition. I can’t wait to see their faces when I show them the Tiburones.

These sharks are incredibly interesting. I can’t tell what keeps them in the air. Is it a swim bladder that they somehow evolved and adapted? I have to get closer to find out. The rocks along this cove are very sharp, I managed to cut myself on a steep part of the climb, but it doesn’t matter. What’s a little blood if the prize is a scientific revolution?

I finally got close enough to the water to see what the Tiburones are doing. It seems like their diet consist of the birds and fish around the area. Their hunting pattern isn’t any different from regular sharks and they only fly out of the water when there’s a bird that’s attempting to get away.

Normal sharks rely on their sense of smell in the water so I was safe as long as I didn’t fall in. The largest shark in the frenzy seemed to be exhibiting leader behavior. This is different from regular sharks and I don’t think these things are anywhere close to the intelligence exhibited by those specimens. They seemed to be acting more like dolphins in their outward behavior.

I was by a cliffside to get better shots. This evidence can help me get the support I need for a full expedition. But the Tiburones have a different plan. They seem to be able to smell in the air as well as they do in the water. I barely escaped to a nearby cave in time.

I’m still inside the cave. The sharks are circling outside in the air. Maybe they’ll get tired and I can have a chance to escape.

If I don’t, to whoever’s reading this letter, please let the truth get out. They are out here. Don’t let my sacrifice be in vain.

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Tagalog translation by Allen Suating
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Allen Suating

Story inspired by the Ibalon (A Bikolano epic).

Pating na Pakpakan Illustration by Leandro Geniston
FB: That Guy With A Pen

Watercolor by Mykie Concepcion
Tumblr: http://mykieconcepcion.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Ilocano

Nabayagen nga makurkuriro dagiti panpanunot ti nalaing ti siyensya kadagiti bumblebees. No usarem laeng ti immune-una nga pammati aggapo ti aerodynamics, haan da koma dapat makatayab. Ita, naipakitan nga dagiti bumblebees ket agus-usar ti brute force approach tapno makatayab. Diay panagtyab da ket haan a kasjay kasiaya-at, kaslang koma jay insekto ket magudwan. Jay kannigid ken kannawan nga pay-yak na ket agpaypayak-pak nga haan agsinnurot ken jay panagayos ti angina jay aglaw-law ti pay-yak na ket haan pulos agsabat tapno koma matulungan a nalaklaka a makatayab etoy a klase ti uyukan (bee).

Etoy talaga ket mesa a misteryo iti siyensiya ingana idi maysa dekada manipud ita, ngem siyak ket maburburiburan no ana ngata met ti panunutem dagiti siyentipiko no maamwan da ken makita da met ti nakitak.

Diay mesa nga agmauyong nga baket ket agpayso, isudan ket umay to ditoy. Ammok nga no usarek ket surutek daytoy marikriknak isudan to ket masarakak. Ado a tawenen ti ururyekon ken pagpanpanunutakon ket itan maibigak met laengen ken lolo kon nga isuna ket agpayso. Amin nga insar-sarita ni Handiong a paam-amluyen na dagitoy ken no kasano nga nagpukaw da ket agpaypayso. Ni lolok ken dagijay kakadwa na ket haan nga agkatok. Dagijay ngatwen na ket agpanpanunot nga dagiti istorya da nga agpagarup iti tumaytayab nga yu ket mesa lang a pammati nga awan payso na. Mandiak makaurayen nga makita dagiti langlanga da no ipakitak kanyadan iti Tiburones.

Daytoy a klase ti yu ket maidumduma. Mandiak maibaga no ana ti mangtultulong kanyada nga kaslang koma tumayab. Swim bladder ngata iti rason na? Kitkitaek a nalaing tapno maamwak ti gapo na. Dagiti batbato daytoy a parte iti baybay ket natirad, nasugat ken naiwa toy sakak idi umululi nak, ngem beybey-ak latta. Para ana daytoy bassit a dara nga rumwar no ti sukat na mesan to a rebolusyon pan-siyentipiko?
Nakadanon nak met laengen ket nakaasidegak a nalaing kadetoy danom tapno makitak no ana talaga ububraen na dagitoy a Tiburones. Kaslang ti kankanen da ket dagiti bilbil-lit ken dagiti ik-ikan nga asideg sadiay ayan da. Ti panagtiliw da ket haan met nga naidumduma kadagiti dadduma nga yu ken sada lan makatayab a rumwar ti danom no addan to dagiti bil-lit nga tumayab ket umadayon.

Dagiti normal lang a sharks ket agdepende jay panagangot da jay uneg danom iso a siyak ket nasyaat latta basta haan nak matinnag sadiay danom. Napansin ko met a diay kadakkelan kanyada ket isu ti umas-asta a lider da. Daytoy a banag ket maidumduma no kitkitaen ken mamati nak met nga ti kinalaing da dagitoy ket haan maipada ket adayo sadiay ipakpakita dagiti specimens. Isuda ket kaslang koma dolphin no buybuyaem.

Umas-asideg nak jay igid ti dirra-as tapno makaala nak ti namaymayat a picture da. Daytoy nga ebidensiya ket makatulong kanyak para kadediay kompleto a panagilahad ken panagipakitak kadagitoy. Ngem dagitoy a Tiburones ket adda sabali a plano da. Kaslang maangot da pay iti angin haan lang sadiay uneg danom. Baglaengen ta nalasatak isuda ket simrekak jay uneg ti asideg a kweba.

Adda nak palang toy uneg ti kweba. Dagitoy a yu ket tuloy-tuloy latta ti panaglikos da diay ruwar, sadiay angin. Siguro mabannog danto latta ket mauma da ken kayak to metten ken isun to ti oras a panagtakas kon.

No haan, sadino man a makabasbasa kadaytoy a surat, agpakpakaasi nak nga irwar yon to a kadwa yo ti kapaysuwanan. Isuda ket adda lang ta ruwar. Haan mo kadi babay-an dagitoy sakripsyok a kas awan laeng. Ϫ

English Version

Scientists have been baffled by the bumblebee for years. Using old aerodynamic theory they shouldn’t even be able to fly. Today, it has been shown that the bumblebee adopts a brute force approach to flying. Their flight is inefficient, as if the insect has been split in half. The left and right wings flap independently and the airflow around the wings never joins to help the bee slip through the air more easily.

It was a scientific mystery until only about a decade ago, but I wonder what those scientists would think if they would be faced by what I saw.

That crazy old woman was right, they would be here. I knew that if I followed my instincts that I would finally find them. Years of waiting and wondering and I can finally tell my lolo that he was right. All those stories of Handiong taming these things and how they were never seen again were true. Lolo and his platoon weren’t crazy. Their superiors thought that stories of flying sharks were silly superstition. I can’t wait to see their faces when I show them the Tiburones.

These sharks are incredibly interesting. I can’t tell what keeps them in the air. Is it a swim bladder that they somehow evolved and adapted? I have to get closer to find out. The rocks along this cove are very sharp, I managed to cut myself on a steep part of the climb, but it doesn’t matter. What’s a little blood if the prize is a scientific revolution?

I finally got close enough to the water to see what the Tiburones are doing. It seems like their diet consist of the birds and fish around the area. Their hunting pattern isn’t any different from regular sharks and they only fly out of the water when there’s a bird that’s attempting to get away.

Normal sharks rely on their sense of smell in the water so I was safe as long as I didn’t fall in. The largest shark in the frenzy seemed to be exhibiting leader behavior. This is different from regular sharks and I don’t think these things are anywhere close to the intelligence exhibited by those specimens. They seemed to be acting more like dolphins in their outward behavior.

I was by a cliffside to get better shots. This evidence can help me get the support I need for a full expedition. But the Tiburones have a different plan. They seem to be able to smell in the air as well as they do in the water. I barely escaped to a nearby cave in time.

I’m still inside the cave. The sharks are circling outside in the air. Maybe they’ll get tired and I can have a chance to escape.

If I don’t, to whoever’s reading this letter, please let the truth get out. They are out here. Don’t let my sacrifice be in vain.

————————–————————–————————––

*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
Tagalog translation by Jerald James G. Montgomery
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jerald James G. Montgomery

Story inspired by the Ibalon (A Bikolano epic).

Pating na Pakpakan Illustration by Leandro Geniston
FB: That Guy With A Pen

Watercolor by Mykie Concepcion
Tumblr: http://mykieconcepcion.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Matagal nang naguguluhan ang mga siyentipiko sa kakayahang lumipad ng mga bubuyog. Ayon sa isang lumang teorya mula sa pag-aaral ng aerodaynamiks, hindi dapat sila nakakalipad. Sa kasalukuyan, nadiskubre na binubrusko ng mga bubuyog ang paglipad nila. Magulo ang paraan ng paglipad nila, na tila hinati sa dalawa ang insekto. Magkaiba ang paspas ng kaliwa at kanang pakpak nito, at hindi tumutulong sa pagdali ng lipad ng bubuyog ang hangin sa paligid ng mga pakpak niya.

Halos isang dekada na nang maresolba ang mysteryo sa paglipad ng mga bubuyog, pero di ko lubos matanto kung ano ang iispin nung mga eksperto na yon kung makita nila ang nasilayan ko.

Tama nga yung matandang babae na may tililing, dito ko nga sila matatagpuan. Sigurado ako na kapag sinundan ko yung mga pakiramdam ko, sa wakas, mahahanap ko rin sila. Makalipas ang mga taon ng paghihintay at pagmumuni, masasabi ko na rin sa lolo ko na tama siya. Lahat ng kwento ng papapaamo ni Handiong sa mga ‘to at kung pano hindi na sila muling nakita ay totoo. Hindi baliw ang lolo ko at ang tropahan niya. Akala nung mga nakatataas sa kanila na yung mga kwento tungkol sa mga lumilipad na pating ay katawa-tawang produkto ng isipan lamang. Hindi na ko makapaghintay kung ano ang magiging reaksyon nila kapag napakita ko na sa kanila ang Pating na Pakpakan.

Nakakahanga ang mga pating na to. Hindi ko labis maisip kung ano ang nagpapanatili sa kanila sa hangin. Isa bang swim bladder na nakamtan nila sa pagbabago o sa pag-adjust? Kailangan kong lumapit para makita. Matatalas ang mga bato dito sa baybayin, nahiwa ako sa isang matalas na parte ng pagakyat, pero di bale. Ano naman ang kaunting dugo kung ang makakamit ko naman ay siyentipikong rebolusyon?

Nakalapit na rin ako upang makita kung ano ang pinagkakaabalahan ng mga Pating na Pakpakan. Tila ang kanilang kinakain ay mga isda at ibon sa paligid. Hindi naiiba sa normal na pating ang kanilang paraan ng pagkuha ng pagkain, at lumilipad lamang sila palabas ng tubig kung may ibong sinusubukan makatakas.

Nakadepende ang mga normal na pating sa pang-amoy nila sa tubig kaya ligtas ako hangga’t hindi ako nalalaglag sa tubig. Ang pinakamalaking pating ay ang nagmimistulang pinuno nila. Ibang-iba sila sa mga regular na pating, at naisip ko na parang hindi nga magkalapit ang pagkatalino nila. Mas mukhang dolphin ang pagkilos ng mga Pating na Pakpakan.

Nasa may bangin ako para makakuha ng mas malinaw na litrato. Matutulungan ako ng ebidensya na ‘to para makakuha ng suporta na kailangan ko para sa isang kumpletong ekspedisyon. Pero may ibang plano sila. Tila kasingtalas ng pangamoy nila sa tubig ang pangamoy nila sa ere. Muntikan na kong hindi makaabot sa isang kweba.

Nasa loob pa rin ako. Pinalilibutan pa rin ako ng mga pating sa ere sa labas. Baka mapagod sila at magkaron ako ng pagkakataong makatakas.

Kung hindi, sa kung sinoman na nagbabasa nito, nakikiusap ako na ilabas nyo ang katotohanan. Naninirahan at gumagala sila rito. Wag niyong hayaang masayang ang sakripisyo ko.

————————–————————–————————–—–

English Version

Scientists have been baffled by the bumblebee for years. Using old aerodynamic theory they shouldn’t even be able to fly. Today, it has been shown that the bumblebee adopts a brute force approach to flying. Their flight is inefficient, as if the insect has been split in half. The left and right wings flap independently and the airflow around the wings never joins to help the bee slip through the air more easily.

It was a scientific mystery until only about a decade ago, but I wonder what those scientists would think if they would be faced by what I saw.

That crazy old woman was right, they would be here. I knew that if I followed my instincts that I would finally find them. Years of waiting and wondering and I can finally tell my lolo that he was right. All those stories of Handiong taming these things and how they were never seen again were true. Lolo and his platoon weren’t crazy. Their superiors thought that stories of flying sharks were silly superstition. I can’t wait to see their faces when I show them the Pating na Pakpakan.

These sharks are incredibly interesting. I can’t tell what keeps them in the air. Is it a swim bladder that they somehow evolved and adapted? I have to get closer to find out. The rocks along this cove are very sharp, I managed to cut myself on a steep part of the climb, but it doesn’t matter. What’s a little blood if the prize is a scientific revolution?

I finally got close enough to the water to see what the Pating na Pakpakan are doing. It seems like their diet consist of the birds and fish around the area. Their hunting pattern isn’t any different from regular sharks and they only fly out of the water when there’s a bird that’s attempting to get away.

Normal sharks rely on their sense of smell in the water so I was safe as long as I didn’t fall in. The largest shark in the frenzy seemed to be exhibiting leader behavior. This is different from regular sharks and I don’t think these things are anywhere close to the intelligence exhibited by those specimens. They seemed to be acting more like dolphins in their outward behavior.

I was by a cliffside to get better shots. This evidence can help me get the support I need for a full expedition. But the Pating na Pakpakan have a different plan. They seem to be able to smell in the air as well as they do in the water. I barely escaped to a nearby cave in time.

I’m still inside the cave. The sharks are circling outside in the air. Maybe they’ll get tired and I can have a chance to escape.

If I don’t, to whoever’s reading this letter, please let the truth get out. They are out here. Don’t let my sacrifice be in vain.

————————–————————–————————––

*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
Tagalog Translation by Ghost Kendrick
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Ghost Kendrick

Story inspired by the Ibalon (A Bikolano epic).

Pating na Pakpakan Illustration by Leandro Geniston
FB: That Guy With A Pen

Watercolor by Mykie Concepcion
Tumblr: http://mykieconcepcion.tumblr.com/

Scientists have been baffled by the bumblebee for years. Using old aerodynamic theory they shouldn’t even be able to fly. Today, it has been shown that the bumblebee adopts a brute force approach to flying. Their flight is inefficient, as if the insect has been split in half. The left and right wings flap independently and the airflow around the wings never joins to help the bee slip through the air more easily.

It was a scientific mystery until only about a decade ago, but I wonder what those scientists would think if they would be faced by what I saw.

That crazy old woman was right, they would be here. I knew that if I followed my instincts that I would finally find them. Years of waiting and wondering and I can finally tell my lolo that he was right. All those stories of Handiong taming these things and how they were never seen again were true. Lolo and his platoon weren’t crazy. Their superiors thought that stories of flying sharks were silly superstition. I can’t wait to see their faces when I show them the Tiburones.

These sharks are incredibly interesting. I can’t tell what keeps them in the air. Is it a swim bladder that they somehow evolved and adapted? I have to get closer to find out. The rocks along this cove are very sharp, I managed to cut myself on a steep part of the climb, but it doesn’t matter. What’s a little blood if the prize is a scientific revolution?

I finally got close enough to the water to see what the Tiburones are doing. It seems like their diet consist of the birds and fish around the area. Their hunting pattern isn’t any different from regular sharks and they only fly out of the water when there’s a bird that’s attempting to get away.

Normal sharks rely on their sense of smell in the water so I was safe as long as I didn’t fall in. The largest shark in the frenzy seemed to be exhibiting leader behavior. This is different from regular sharks and I don’t think these things are anywhere close to the intelligence exhibited by those specimens. They seemed to be acting more like dolphins in their outward behavior.

I was by a cliffside to get better shots. This evidence can help me get the support I need for a full expedition. But the Tiburones have a different plan. They seem to be able to smell in the air as well as they do in the water. I barely escaped to a nearby cave in time.

I’m still inside the cave. The sharks are circling outside in the air. Maybe they’ll get tired and I can have a chance to escape.

If I don’t, to whoever’s reading this letter, please let the truth get out. They are out here. Don’t let my sacrifice be in vain.

————————–————————–————————––

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Story inspired by the Ibalon (A Bikolano epic).

Tiburones Illustration by Leandro Geniston
FB: That Guy With A Pen