*Note this story is in Tagalog

Naghanda na si Haring Indarapatra. Sumasalamin sa talim ng kanyang espada ang sinag ng araw at siya ay huminga nang malalim. Puno ang kanyang isipan ng mga kuwento tungkol sa nilalang na may kakayahang makakita ng lahat, ngunit haharapin niya ang halimaw gaano man ito kahila-hilakbot.

Ang pang-apat ay ang kakila-kilabot na ibon mula sa Bundok Gurayn.

Mabilis na nakailag si Haring Indarapatra sa ulong papalapit sa kanya, ang matalim na tuka ay hindi tumama ng ilang pulgada lamang ang layo. Gumulong siya sa lupa upang iwasan ang dalawa pang ulo at sinubukang tamaan ang pangatlo, ngunit ang balat ng halimaw ay mas matibay kaysa sa inaasahan ni Haring Indarapatra.

Pagkabigla ang tanging bagay na hindi inaasahan ni Haring Indarapatra. Sa bawat direksyon, isa sa pitong ulo ay nagbabantay. Dahil dito, nagpasya ang hari na gamitin ang taglay niyang lakas sa suliraning kinaharap. Habang ang isang ulo ay bumaba papunta sa kanya, mahigpit na hinawakan ni Haring Indarapatra ang kanyang espada gamit ang dalawa niyang kamay at ginamit niya ang lahat ng kanyang lakas upang putulin ang ulo ng halimaw.

Umalingawngaw sa buong kabundukan ang mga sigaw ng anim pang ulo, pinagsamang sakit at galit. Pagod na pagod na si Haring Indarapatra, sumisigaw sa sakit ang bawat kalamnan niya, ngunit walang panahon upang magpahinga. May anim pang ulo ang halimaw, naghahanda upang mapaghigantihan siya.

Lumipas ang araw at gabi, tumapon sa mga tigang na mga bato sa kabundukan ang dugo mula sa magkabilang panig. Halos mapurol ang espada ni Haring Indarapatra mula sa patuloy na pagtaga sa balat ng ibon, ngunit ang kanyang mga ulos ng pagtaga ang nagpatumba sa halimaw.

Tinitigan niya ang katawan ng halimaw at pumikit. Nakuntento siya sa kanyang nagawa,
Nagising si Haring Indarapatra na may naiisip. Paano kung hindi napatay ang lahat sa lupaing ito? Tiyak na may mga nakaligtas sa mga burol at kagubatan. Kaya’t isinilid ng hari ang kanyang espada at nagpatuloy sa isa pang paglalakbay.

Isang araw, nakita niya sa malayo ang isang magandang babae. Hindi malaman ni Haring Indarapatra kung ito ay isang ilusyon lamang, ngunit siya ay galak na galak na makakita ng isa pang tao. Naglahong bigla ang dilag bago pa man makalapit ang hari at naupo siya sa isang malapit na bato, pagod, at gutom.
Nanalangin siya para sa kaginhawahan at habang pinagmamasdan ang paligid, nakita niya ang palayok ng hindi pa lutong bigas at isang malaking apoy sa harapan nito. Habang niluluto niya ang bigas, nakarinig siya ng malakas na tawanan. Nagalak ang kanyang puso! May isang matandang babae ang nagmamasid sa kanya. Binati niya ang matandang babae at nag-usap sila habang kumakain si Haring Indarapatra ng kanin.

“May mga nakaligtas pa,” wika ng matandang babae sa hari, “ngunit kakaunti lamang.” Inilarawan niya ang kuweba kung saan nagtatago ang mga tao, malayo sa mga nakatatakot na apat na halimaw. Nagtago ang matandang babae at kanyang asawa sa isang guwang na puno at nagawang lumabas lamang nang patayin ni Sulayman ang ibon na si Pah.

Dinala ng matandang babae si Haring Inbdarapatra sa kuweba at nagtipion ang mga tao sa paligid ng estranghero at nakinig sa kanyang salaysay. Ikinuwento niya ang kanyang kapatid na si Sulayman at kung paano nito pinatay ang mga halimaw na sina Kurita, Tarabusaw, at Pah.

Isinalaysay niya kung paano nadaganan ng pakpak ng malaking ibon ang kanyang kapatid at kung paano siya naglakbay mula sa kanyang mga lupain upang ipaghiganti ang kanyang kapatid. Ikinuwento niya kuung paano niya pinatay ang pitong ulong ibon ng Bundok Gurayn,
Nagpasalamat ang mga tao sa estrangherong nagligtas sa kanilang lupain mula sa mga halimaw. Ibinigay ng pinuno ng mga tao ang kamay ng kanyang anak na babae kay Haring Indarapatra at nagulat siya dahil ito ang magandang babae na nakita niya noon.

Lumabas ang ilang mga taong nagtatago at bumalik sa kanilang mga tirahan, namuhay ng mapayapa at masaya sa natitirang bahagi ng kanilang mga araw.

=——————=

English Version

King Indarapatra readied himself. The sun reflected against the blade in his hands and he breathed in deep. His mind was filled with tales of the creature being all-seeing, but he would face the beast no matter how fearsome it was.

The fourth was the dreadful bird of Mount Gurayn.

King Indarapatra deftly dodged the head coming towards him, the sharp beak missing its mark by only a few inches. He rolled on the ground avoiding another two heads and tried to strike at a third, but the beast’s hide was tougher than King Indarapatra thought.

Surprise was the one thing King Indarapatra could not count on. In each direction, one of the seven heads would be watching. So the king resorted to applying his strength to the problem. As another head bared down upon him, King Indarapatra held his sword with two hands and used all his strength to cut the monster’s head in half.

The screams of the other six heads echoed through the mountain range, a combination of pain and anger. King Indarapatra was exhausted from the effort, his every muscle screamed in agony, but there was no time to rest. The monster still had six other heads, all preparing to take a vengeful strike at him.

The nights blended with the days, blood from both sides was spilt on the barren rocks of the mountains. King Indarapatra’s blade was almost blunt from hacking away at the bird’s hide, but his strikes were true and the monster did fall.

He stared at the body of the beast and closed his eyes, content with what he had done.

King Indarapatra awoke with a thought. What if not all were slain in these lands? Surely there must be some survivors among the hills and forests. Thus, the king sheathed his sword and went on another journey.

One day he saw, in the distance, a beautiful woman. King Indarapatra did not know if it was an illusion, but he was delighted to see the sight of another human being. The woman disappeared before the king could get near and he sat on a nearby rock, tired and hungry.

He prayed for relief and, surveying the area, he saw a pot of uncooked rice and a large fire on the ground in front of it. As he cooked the rice, he heard loud laughter. His heart rejoiced! An old woman was watching him. He greeted her and they talked as King Indarapatra ate his rice.

“There are other survivors,” the old woman told the king, but very few. She described a cave in which the people were sheltered, far from the fearsome might of the four beasts. The old woman and her husband hid in a hollow tree and were only able to venture outward when Sulayman killed the bird, Pah.

The old woman led King Indarapatra to the cave and the people gathered around the stranger and listened to his tale. He told of his brother, Sulayman and how he slew the beasts Kurita, Tarabusaw and Pah. He told of how his brother was crushed under the wing of the great bird and how he journeyed from his lands to avenge his brother. He told of how he slew the seven headed bird of Mount Gurayn.

The people gave thanks to the strangers that rid their land of the monsters. The headman of the people gave his daughter’s hand in marriage to the king, and King Indarapatra was surprised to find that it was the beautiful woman that he had seen before.

Others eventually came out of their hiding places and returned to their homes, living in peace and happiness for the rest of their days.

=——————=

Adapted from “Mythology of Mindanao” in Philippine Folklore Stories. Cole. 1916. (Full text can be accessed at http://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/pft/index.htm)

The Bird of Mount Gurayn Illustration by Julius Arboleda

Watercolor by Catherine Chiu

*Note this story is in Tandaganon

“Pag-andam kamo, kinahanglan nato mupanaw adeser musubang ang adlaw.”

Gipukaw ako ni Papa sa dayawi na damgo. Naglupad kuno ako sa ibabaw sa mga bukid ug ngadto sa kakahoyan na amo da nan superhero. Pero ang mga damgo pirmi yaoy kahumanan, kinahanglan na sab magsukakod sa bag-o na adlaw. Gisugdan nako sa pagpamahaw ug pag-andam sa ako mga gamitonon kuman na adlaw.  Nangasangit na isab ang ako mga kamot sa pukot. Gikasakitan na isab ako ni Papa kay arang kuno nako ka lamya. Haod kahapon.

“Mukadto kita kuman na adlaw sa langob.”

Yatinga ako. Maglikay sa pirmi sila Papa ug iban na mga mananagat na mukadto dapit sa langob. Laong nila kay delikado kuno ngadto dapit kay dili matagna ang tubig. Pero hibawo ako na wara sa isab amo lain na mahimo. Yagkagamay na ang amo kuha ug wara ako kahibawo kung hangtod kanus-a kami mabuhi sa pagpanagat. Lang-on ko dakan siguro si Papa na maghanap ako nan trabaho sa syudad. Mas madayaw pa yaon kaysa maghuna-huna kung sakto da ba ang amo kuha para makakaon kami.

“Pag-amping ug ayaw gayud pagkadto sa hayag.”

Amo yaon ang pasidaan na amo ilaong adeser kami molarga sa dagat. Wara gayud ako kasayod kung unoy buot ipasabot nan yaon pero dayaw siya pirmi pamation. Murag kada adlaw nako yaon mabatian hangtod sa yaon na ako sa saktong edad para managat. Nigan-ay ang mga pukot kuman, ilhanan na yadugangan ang ako kusog. Pwede na siguro ako makapanarbaho sa construction site ngadto sa syudad.

“Sampungi ang imo mga talinga!”

Yasawan ako sa pagsinggit ni Papa. Inday nanga tagtabunan niya ang iya mga talinga. Dayawi ang kanta. Amo da nan may mga anghel na gakanta sa ako palibot. Gan-ay ang ako pamati, abri ang ako huna-huna sa kalibutan. Gusto nako mukadto sa kung uno man galling yaon yagkanta nan dayawi.

“Ayaw pagsawom sa tubig!”

Amo bagan yadton laong ni Papa, pero dili nako mabati kadayaw. Gibira niya ang ako kamot pabalik pero kinahanglan nako hanapon kung sin-o ang gakanta. Hunungan na dapat niya yaon, ang pagpugong sa ako pirmaminti. Wara siya kasayod kung uno na kalisud ang umaabot. Wara nay bilin ngadi. Dili sa pirmi muhatag nan isda ang dagat, hain pa. Kinahanglan namo mukadto sa lugar na yaon makalaom kami.

“Ang hayag! Ayaw pagkadto sa hayag!”

Yakita ko na sila kuman, dayawi sila. May gahunghong sa ako na mokadto ilawom nan tubig. Wara kasabot si Papa. Tiguwang na siya para makita ang ako yakita. Mokadto ako kay para mahilwas kami tanan. Makakwarta na ako ug mapakaon na nan sakto ang ako pamilya. Makita da ni Papa. Makita da nila tanan.

=————————-=

English Version

“Get ready, we have to leave before sunrise.”

Papa woke me up from a nice dream. I was flying over the mountains and going through the woods like a superhero. But dreams always have to end, now it’s time to face another day. I start my routine, grabbing a meal and preparing all the supplies for the day. My hands got tangled in the nets again and Papa scolded me for being slow. Just like yesterday.

“We’re going by the cove today.”

That was strange. Papa and all the older fishermen would always avoid going near the cove. They say it’s dangerous since the current is unpredictable in that area. But I know we don’t really have much of a choice. The catch of the day has been getting smaller and smaller and I don’t know how long we can live off the ocean. I think I’m going to tell Papa that I should go to the city to find work. It’s better than wondering if we can catch enough fish to feed ourselves.

“Be careful and make sure you don’t follow the lights.”

It’s the warning that we fisherman say before we go out on the water. I don’t know what it’s supposed to mean but it’s always comforting to hear.  I think I’ve heard it every day since I was old enough to be on a boat. The nets seem lighter today, a sign that I’m getting stronger. Maybe I can find work in a construction site in the city.

“Cover your ears!”

Papa’s shout scared me. I don’t know why he was covering his ears. The music was so beautiful. It was like a chorus of angels floating all around me. I feel so free, so in touch with the world. I want to go to whatever’s making such a beautiful sound.

“Don’t go in the water!”

I think that’s what papa said, but I didn’t hear him so well. He tried to pull me back by the arm but I need to go find the singer of this wonderful song. He needs to stop doing that, always holding me back. He doesn’t know how hard it’s going to be in the future. We don’t have anything left here. The sea isn’t going to keep giving us fish, not anymore. We need to go somewhere else somewhere where we can hope.

“The lights! Don’t follow the lights!”

I can see them now, they’re so beautiful. The glow under the water is calling me. Papa doesn’t understand. He’s too old to see the future. Not like I can. I’ll follow the light and it will save us all. I can make enough money to feed our family. He’ll see. They’ll all see.

=————————=

*Tandaganon (also called Tinandag, Naturalis, Tagon-on) is a closely related variety of Surigaonon spoken in the central Surigao del Sur municipalities of Tandag City, San Miguel, Tago, Bayabas, Cagwait, Marihatag, San Agustin, and most of Lianga. It can be classified as a separate language or alternatively as a southern variety of Surigaonon. There are about 100,000 speakers.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Tandaganon Translation by Mark Anthony Ramos
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Mark Anthony Ramos

Story inspired by Kataw/Catao entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Kataw Illustration by Leandro Genisto from Aklat ng mga Anito
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Watercolor by Mykie Concepcion
Tumblr: http://mykieconcepcion.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Kasalanan ko ang lahat ng ito.

Nag-aalala na si papa ngayon. Halos isang araw nang hindi nakauuwi si kuya at hindi namin alam kung nasaan siya. Kahit si papa, hindi batid kung nasaan si kuya ngunit naririnig ko siyang umiiyak sa kwarto ni mama kahit wala namang tao roon.

Kailangan ko siyang tulungan. Simula nang masaktan si mama ng sanggol na iyon, gumulo na ang lahat, ngunit sa katapangan na mayroon ako, batid kong mahahanap ko si kuya. Tinanong ko ang lahat ng nasa ospital kung may nakakita bas a kaniya, pinakita ko maging ang kanyang larawan! Hanggang sa isang  babaeng guwardiya ang nagsabing may nakita siyang isang batang lalaki sa labas ng ospital na kamukha ni kuya.

Hinintay kong makatulog si Papa saka ako patakbong lumabas ng ospital. Sabi ng guwardiya, nakita niya si Kuya na naglakad papuntang kagubatan at doon ko siya hahanapin. Marami na akong narinig na kuwento ng matatanda tungkol sa nangyayari sa kakayuhan, ngunit naroon si kuya at kailangan ko siyang hanapin. Ayokong malungkot si papa at alam kong gusto siyang makita ni mama pagkadilat ng kanyang mga mata

Mas malawak ang kagubatan kaysa aking inaakala. Wala naitutulong ang sobrang kadilimang nito. Hindi ko alam kung paano mahahanap si kuya ngunit kailangan kong magpatuloy sa paglalakad hanggang sa makita ko siya. Nararamdaman kong makikita ko na siya ngunit si papa ang unang nakakita sa akin! Nakagugulat.

Niyakap niya ako at sinabing labis siyang nag-alalang hindi na ako makita at baka pati ako ay mawala rin. Sinabi ko kay papa na hindi ako mawawala, sa katunayan, hinahanap ko si kuya.  Humingi ako ng tawad na sa kalungkutang naidulot ko sa kanya subalit kailangan ko rin siyang tulungan. Magwawalong taong gulang na ako at malaki na upang tulungan sila ni  papa, kuya, at mama.

Muli akong niyakap ni papa ngunit kami ay napatigil nang may marinig kaming tumatawa. Hinanap namin kung saan ito nanggaling hanggang sa makita namin ang guwardiyang nagturo sa akin kung saan pumunta si kuya! Iba ang kanyang kasuotan ngayon, at ang kanyang mukha ay mas nakatatakot! Ang kanyang mga ngipin ay napakatutulis. Siguro isa siyang Aswuu—Aswii—Aswang!

Nagsimulang gumalaw nang kakaiba ang kanyang katawan, at ito ay agad na nagbago! Mas lumaki ang kanyang matutulis na mga ngipin, ang kanyang mga kamay at paa ay nagbago at naging isang malaking baboy. Isang malaking nakatatakot na baboy.

Sinabi ni papa na tumakbo. Sumigaw siya na bumalik ako sa ospital at humingi ng tulong! Takot na takot ako! Patakbong papalapit ang malaking baboy kay papa ngunit wala akong magawa.

Kasalanan ko ang lahat ng ito.

Wala akong silbi.

=———————–

English Version

This is all my fault.

Papa’s really worried now. Kuya hasn’t been back in almost a day and we don’t know where he is. Papa doesn’t know but I can hear him crying from mama’s room when he thinks no one’s around.

I have to help him. Ever since mama got hurt by that baby everything just went wrong, but I’m brave and I know I can find kuya. I asked everyone in the hospital if they saw my kuya, I even had his picture! One guard said she saw a boy that looked like my kuya walk outside the hospital.

I waited until papa was asleep then I ran outside of the hospital. The guard said that she saw him walk in the direction of the forest and I knew that’s where I had to go. I heard the adults talking about bad things happening in the trees, but kuya was there and I had to find him. I don’t want papa to be sad and I know mama will want to see him when she wakes up.

The forest is bigger than I thought it would be. It doesn’t help that it’s dark out. I don’t know how to find kuya but I’m sure if I keep walking I’ll see him eventually. I think I was about to find him but papa found me first! It was a big surprise.

He hugged me and said he was so worried when he couldn’t find me and that I shouldn’t run away. I told him that I wasn’t running away, and I was trying to find kuya. I said I was sorry that I made him sad but I need to help him out. I’m almost 8 and I’m big enough to help papa and kuya and mama.

Papa hugged me again but when stopped when we heard someone laughing. We looked behind us and we saw the guard that told me about kuya! She was wearing different clothes now, and her face got scarier! It looked like all her teeth were sharper. I think she was an Aswuu—Aswii—Aswang!

Her body started to move in a strange way, and it changed! Her teeth grew longer, her arms and legs changed and she looked like a giant pig. A giant scary pig.

Papa told me to run away. He said to go back to the hospital and find help! I was so scared! The giant pig was running after papa and I couldn’t do anything.

It’s all my fault.

I’m so useless.

=———————————–=

Story continued from the Siring’s Tale:

Inspired by the Harimodon legends from Bicol

Harimodon Illustration by Leandro Geniston fromAklat ng mga Anito
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Watercolor by Mykee Concepcion
Tumblr: http://mykieconcepcion.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Kapampangan

“Keni na, malapit na!” Pupulayi ya I Jason king burul. King panamdaman ng Nick maybug ya rugung makbung ing keyang pusu. Alya kasi itang atletikung anak, at ena buring payalala da kaya ing katutwan nayta, oneng kaluguran ne I Jason, pane yang malelyari ita at kadwa na ne king biye ing pamagsubuk ka reng panibayung bage.

Memagkasakit ya rugu I Nick king pamanukyat na kaybat tambing ne mung miragsa karas na king babo. Atsu ne man pane I Jason king siping na, kukutnan ne nung ayus ya mu, kanyan, ene makapaninaya king tula ng ipakit kaya ing itsura king lalam ning burul, “Nanung ke astigan na niting pepaglakaran mu ku kareng burul burul a reni kaybat —–” Saka na ikit Nick.

Libingan ya pala, pero alya itang karaniwan a sukuan. Atsu king dosi, bala dina-dinalang butul ning damulag ing makalatag king paligid ning kabitisan ning burul. “O siya, istu ka pin, astig ya pin ini,” bulung ng Nick. “Akuna keka e,” ngana namang Jason, “Pero ali me pa akakit ing pekamabias a parti.”

Etad nong Jason king gubat a butul. Apansinan ng Nick na ela kumpletu deng butul, ating mangadagul a pirasung mababating, lalu na king gulut. Ena iisipan na masanting yang pamikiran ini, pero atsu ne man ing pamagtiwala na kang Jason, at pane naman masale, maralas.

“E tamu masigla, atsu keni,” pangabulung ng Jason. “Siryosu?” Lalawen neng Nick ing pamaglupa ning batu a buri ng ukyatang Jason. “E ta masigla akuna, eme buring migising ini” tekap neng Jason ing gamat na king asbuk ng Nick. “Siryosu kung mayap.”

Sinaguli kanyan, ginalo ya ing gabun kaybat pingwa neng Jason ing gamat ng Nick saka ne binili king lalam na ning punu, “Nanu ita!?” Manganerbyusan ne rugu ing Nick. Saka neng tirung Jason ing babo at ikit neng Nick ing rasun. Makatakut yang tutu, mas maragul ya pa ka reng punu saka ya mangulisak bala mung kulug.

“Enaka ta akit king lalam ning punung ayni, keni tana manaya manga man king mibalik ya king pamanudtud na.” Nganang Jason. “Magdala kung pamangan.”

Migbuntung pangisnawa ne I Nick, makanini talaga ing malelyari patse kayabe ne I Jason.

=————————=
English Version

“Come on it’s over here!” Jason was running over the hill. Nick felt his heart almost burst. He wasn’t the most athletic child and he didn’t like being reminded of that fact, but this was always how it went and Jason was his best friend so being pushed to do new things was a fact of life.

Nick struggled up the last few steps of the hill and he dropped as soon as he reached the top. Jason was by his side as always, asking if he was okay, but this time he was more exited to get Nick to look below the hill. “What could be so cool that you made me walk through a bunch of hills and—–“ Then Nick saw it.

It was a graveyard, but not by any normal standards. Dozens, maybe hundreds of carabao skeletons were scattered around the foot of the hill. “Okay, you were right, this is really cool,” Nick whispered. “Told you so,” Jason replied, “But you haven’t seen the coolest part.”

Jason led them though the skeletal forest. Nick noticed that the bones were never complete, there were giant chunks of them missing, mostly from the back, he didn’t think this was a good idea, but he trusted Jason and that always worked out fine. Mostly.

“Be very quiet. It’s through here,” Jason whispered. “Seriously?” Nick was looking at the rock face Jason wanted them to climb. “I said be quiet, you don’t want to wake it up.” Jason clamped his hand over Nick’s mouth. “I’m dead serious.”

Suddenly the ground shook. Jason grabbed Nick’s arm and he dragged him under a nearby tree. “What was that?!” Nick was starting to get frantic. Jason pointed upwards and Nick saw the cause. It was terrifying. It towered over the trees and it roared with a voice like thunder.

“It won’t see us from under this tree, we should wait until it goes back to sleep again,” Jason said. “I brought food.”

Nick sighed. Stuff like this always happened with Jason.

=—————————-=

Inspired by the Bungisngis entry in  Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971. and in 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Samar. 2015

Bungisngis Illustration by Leandro Geniston fromAklat ng mga Anito
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*Note this story is in Cuyonon

Ingdara ang pangalamo ang angin alin sa kasaplan.

Usá? Békén. Iba anang pangalamo.

Arabuay. Naélaman ko dia.

Anang paningot, isara sa anang ing papabugal, ay midyo maroya dading gabi. Sa mga normal nga adlaw, kaya na maélaman kung anonong ayép maski sa marayéng distansya, paagi sa pangalamo lamang.

Tama.

Tao.

Békén ang midyo malam dén, ig matégas. Dagi malémék pa anang onod. Aglébas dén da ang marakéng adlaw na ara tana kakakaén i mga kabatan. Mas madasig sanda kaysa sa mga malam, atagamtam pa sa anang dila ang matamis na lasa i andang onod pagkatapos na i kaénén.

Tatlo?

Békén. Darwa lamang.

Aga pabaskég sa anang léba ang amot ang angin. Dorong kasabor sa anang pamati. Saka lalaki. Pito ka dagon anang idad, ingkékélban ig ingolasan mayad. Midyo mabaél anang lawas. Ang sakabilog, babai. Mi rilasyon sa lalaki. Isarang daraga. Tana maman ang agapangona kanandang darwa sa andang pag-agi sa kagéban. Agapangona papakon kanana, anang onang pagkaén sa aglébas na pira ka adlaw. Ang mga mayrinték na mga ayép maman ang naging pagkaén ang babai na iganti sa pira ka dominggo nga aglébas. Ing dadara na sa anang kwiba, na kung sadin ang kalayo maman ang nagaonong sa anang mapongaw na kabui.

Maski sa ibang mga iganti, tana ing lilipi-lipi lamang. Békén tana mabaskég pariho ang Bungisngis, ang makaradlék na Dambuhala, o ang ingsompang si Sarimao. Tana si Bekat, isarang babai na iganti na kakapangalamo. Ig dading adlaw, tana inggégétém.

Ang mga kabatan ay sa parti ang kagéban na marapit sa suba.

Sakto. Mamawgasan na na lagi ang karni. Ag bél tana mabaél na sanga na naolog sa kaoy ang narra para umpisan anang  pangaso.

Dato roman ang pangalamo.

Basi sa pangalamo, makokon na na parihong ingolasan ang darwa ka bata, andang kélba asisintian na agaloa sa andang lawas.

Agagarokgok dén anang tyan sa kagétém. Ang dapat na lamang boatén ay makarapit maité, ig ilampés ang sanga. Kaysara lamang.

Ag ogiaw ang daraga, na ag taw timpo para sa anang libayén kadalagan.

Ing dakép ni Bekat ang daraga, mintras aga pélég-pélég na makaboliaw sa anang awid.

Mi napangalamoan si Bekat sa daraga, isarang pamot? Indi tana maliag ag kaén dato, midyo tana akaén kemikal.

Timpo rén para lémésén na ang daraga. Ang maramig na tobig ang suba ay siguradong mababanlawan ig maminosan ang pangalamo ang pamot.

“Arabuay!” makon ang daraga. “Indi mo ako lémésén, akéng onod magiging matégas!”

Ag isip si Bekat, siguro dato manda rason kung ayamo matérégas anang mga nakaén dati. Ag gorang ang iganti, ang daraga sigi pa ang pélég-pélég.

“Hmmmm.. Ano akéng bubuatén kanimo?”

“Pabayan mo ako kaoli. Dadaran ta kaw mas marakéng mga tao”

“Kaya ta kamo i-kaénén tanan kung mi tsansa ako. Piro ministir ko lamang ang makakaén maité.”

“Tay anono imong naliagang pagkaén?”

“Datong midyo maonod ig masabaw.”

“Pwidi ko itaw kanimo akéng libayén! Pabayan mo ako kaoli para mabél ko tana.”

“Pasamoro kung ag palagiaw kaw?”

“Indi ako ag palagiaw, matod!

Ing pabayan ni Bekat na kaoli ang daraga, ig ag élat tana.

Ag salép ang adlaw, ig ag élat tana para éngéd.

Ag kasésérémén dén, ig aga élat tana para éngéd.

“Dyaski! Aloko ako roman.” Makon tana sa anang sadili.

Békén dia ang primirong timpo na naloko tana, ig békén dan ang oring timpo. Anang baskég kapariho anang kakabosan.

Kasingot tana pangalamo ang usá sa angin.

Ig agpadayon tana sa pangaso.

=—————————-=

English Version

The scent was carried by the western wind.

Deer? No not gamey enough.

Wait. I know this one.

The olfactory sense, the one she was most proud of was weak tonight. In normal days she could identify the musk of a carabao or even the scent of freshly cut undergrowth at a great distance.

Yes.

Humans.

Not the stringy kind, she thought, much more tender.

It had been a while since she had eaten juveniles. They were faster than the older ones, but the sweet taste of their flesh lingered on her tongue, long after that meal.

Three?

No. Two.
The wafting of the breeze emboldened her.

A great vintage. She said to no one in particular.

One male. Seven years old, very nervous. Sweating too much. A bit heavy set.

Another one. Female. Related to the boy. Old enough to have passed puberty. She seems to be the one leading them both through the forest.

Leading them to her first meal in a while.

Small game was what the giantess had been subsisting on for the past few weeks. She brought them to her cave, the soft light of the small fire exuding some form of comfort in her bleak existence.

She was an outcast even among the giants. She was not the strong Bungisngis, the fearsome Dambuhala or the oath sworn Sarimao.

She was Bekat, the giantess who could smell.

And today she was hungry.

The humans were in the part of the forest where the river ran.

Perfect. She could wash the meat without having to inconvenience herself.

She took a large log, felled from a narra tree and started her hunt.

That smell again.

She could tell by the scent that both of them were sweating, their adrenaline seeping out of their bodies.

Her belly growled. All she had to do was get close enough for one swipe. Just one.

The girl screamed, giving ample time for the boy to run away.

Bekat grabbed her quarry, the girl struggling to escape her grasp.

She smelled something on the girl, a kind of perfume or a lip balm? Bekat never liked eating those, they tasted like chemicals and preservatives.

It was time to drown her prey. The cold waters of the river would rush away any unwanted flavors.

“Wait!” The girl said. “Do not drown me giant, my flesh will be tough!”

Bekat reflected, had all her drowned prey been tough to chew? That may have been the case.

The giantess sat down, the girl still struggling against her grip.

“Hmmm.. How should I deal with you, child?”

“You could release me, giant. I can bring you many more humans.”

“I could not eat all of you given the chance. I only want a light meal.”

“then what kind of meal do you want to have?”

“Something plump and juicy.”
“I can get you my brother! All you need is to let me go and I can bring him!”
“What if you run away?”
“I will not, I promise.”
So Bekat let her go and waited.

The sun set and she waited.

Twilight passed and she waited.

“Damn, fooled again,” she said.

It was not the first time she was tricked like this and it wouldn’t be the last. Her strength equaled her ignorance.

She smelled a whiff of deer in the air.

And resumed her hunt.

–===================================–

*Cuyonon is a regional Visayan language spoken on the coast of Palawan, and the Cuyo Islands in the Philippines.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Cuyonon Translation provided by Arlan Belen
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Arlan Belen

Inspired by the Bekat description in The Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology, Maximo Ramos, Phoenix Publishing, 1990.

Bekat Illustration by emirajuju
IG: https://www.instagram.com/emirajuju/

*Note this story is in Pangasinan

“Grrrah,”  Inmakis so buwaya.

“Mampainawa ka la, magano lan onsabi so naakan, pian walay naakan tayon dua.” Maaron inkuan na aswang ed alaga to.

Mairap so mananap na ayep ed sarayan agew, amta na totoo a sayan pasen ed katakelan so pasen a panaganen na aswang tan say ayayep to, balet ag-itan makapangigapo ed sikato a mananap na naakan.

“Kaukolan tayo labat so onasingger ed baryo, tan mas onaligwas so amin a bengatla,” Say buwaya so nanngulngul lamet tan pinaseguroan na aswang.  “Amtak, makalmo kami na pigaran ugugaw, amtak ya labalabay yo so panangan na saratan.”

Malikeliket ya inmawet so ikol na buwaya; pigay bulan to lan ag-agawa itan.

On, onasingger itayo ed baryo tan manggawa na patit. Naerel tayo iramay manlangoy ed gilig na ilog! Akiulop si aswang ed ayep to diad gilig na ilog.

Sikatoy narasan, tan ontan met so alaga to. Lapud panag-alwar na totoo, mairap so pananap na tagano. Say unor a panangan da et sakey a managsigay a dinmalan ed kaarawi na katakelan. Sikatoy mabisbiskeg tan maruksa, ya ag-itan labalabay na balang sakey ed sikara.

Say aswang et amin a imis balet. Amta to a dakdakel so naala ton ayep. Sikatoy lawas nanmatalek ed biskeg na ayayep to pian narel so tagano ra, agto singa arum ya aswang a mantikyab ed kaliberliber na baryo pian manaktakot ed saray totoo.

Sikatoy sakey ya agalon hayopan, sakey a klase na aswang a mamapabaleg ed saray buwaya pian mananap ya nabuwag da. Mabetbet a babalawen tan tatawagen na arum ya aswang a mangiras iray kapara ran totoo, balet agda amta so irap a kaukolan na sakey pian napabaleg labat so sakey a buwaya manlapud sakey ya iknol.

Nampalner lamet so alaga to tan inmelek. Pigay taon iran nankakasakey tan pinabaleg to iyan buwaya manlapu la’d inkaugaw to. Amta to iray ugali tan ugali to a singa met ed sikato. Sikara so agnibiig. Amta to a no walay kanen to, magmaliw lan mangiras.

“Wadia kami la,” so aswang tan say alaga to so akaalagey ed gilig na ilog.

“Panaon la pian mangala na naakan.”

“Grrrah,” so ebat na alaga to.

=—————————–=

English Version

“Grrrah,” The crocodile groaned.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Time to get some food.”

“Grrrah,” replied her pet.

=——————–=

*Pangasinan (Salitan Pangasinan) – sometimes called Pangasinense is one of the major languages of the Philippines. It is the language spoken in the province of Pangasinan, on the west-central seaboard of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf, the northern portion of Tarlac and southwestern La Union, most of whom belong to the Pangasinan ethnic group. Pangasinan is also understood in some municipalities in Benguet, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, and by the Aeta or Aeta of Zambales.

Written by Karl Gaverza

Translation by Nelmar A. Mallari, MDC
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Nelmar A. Mallari, MDC

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

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

*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga

“Hilingon mo daw an irarom kan higdaan ko?” an maluyang tingog ni Jess epekto kan saiyang pagpapabolong. Iyo ini an gibo niya barubanggi puon kan pagdigdi ninda ospital, kumbinsido siya na igwang kun ano sa irarom kan saiyang higdaan na dahilan kan saiyang paghilang.

Tulong bulan an mga tests asin burulongan asin sya dai marahay-rahay. Aram ko na dapat magin masurípot an buhay alagad anom na taon sana man si Jess. Mayong aki na dapat mag-agi sa mga dagum asin tubo sa aroaldaw na mayo man sanang nakukuang kasimbagan. Dai ini masurípot(fair).

Nagngirit lang ako asin hinadokan an saiyang noo. “Mayo man nin mampák(monster) sa irarum kan saimong higdaan, kaya magpahingalo ka na. Kaipuhan dapat may kusog ka para sa mga tests saaga, sige na?” Nagngirit man si Jess sakuya asin nagturog na. An katatagan talaga kan mga hubenes dai man nanggad palyadong nagpaugma sako, alagad naglalaom ako na lugod magin husto ini para sa saro pa niyang aldaw.

Dai nanigo. Nagadan si Jess kan bangging idto. Nakaturog ako sa kataid niya asin katakod kaini an mga doktor asin mga nars naghihiridali asin nagkukururahaw. Saro sa mga nars pinugulan ako ta pinipirit kong mahiling kun ano an nangyayari.

An nars tig-ibanan ako pasiring sa pinto asin duman ko man nanggad nahiling. Kan inot nagmamawot ako na huli ini sa tubong nakaturuhok kay Jess, alagad garo may sala digdi. Dakula ini bakong arog kan mga wire o ano man hasta ini hanggan sa irarum asin puro kan higdaan.

Iyo sana iyan an narurumduman ko kan bangging idto asin dakol pang mga dai makatubod na mga bagay an nangyari. Nawara an hawak ni Jess kan pasiring na ini sa punerarya, saysay kan morge na mayo man nangyaring maraot kan pagpasiring ninda duman, alagad nawawara an láwas (body).

Ginigibo ko ngunyan an gabos maaraman lang kung anong nangyari ki Jess. Sabi kan mga nars na nagkaigwa nin pagrangka(break-in) kan nakaaging bulan sa ikatulong palapag kan ospital, baad ini katakod sa pagkawara ni Jess.

Babawion ko siya.

Dawa mailubong sana siya.

=————————————=

English Version

“Can you check under my bed?”  Jess’ voice was weak from the treatments. It had been her routine every night since we moved to the hospital, she was convinced there was something under her bed that kept making her sick.

Three months of tests and medicine and she still hasn’t gotten any better. I know life’s not supposed to be fair but Jess is only six years old. No child should have to go through days of needles and tubes and still not getting any answers. It wasn’t fair.

I smile and I kiss her forehead. “There aren’t any monsters under your bed, now go get some rest. You need your strength for the tests tomorrow, alright?” Jess smiles at me and drifts off to sleep. The resilience of youth never failed to impress me, but I hoped that it would be enough to get her through one more day.

It wasn’t. Jess died that night. I had fallen asleep next to her and the next thing I knew doctors and nurses were rushing in and shouting. One of the nurses had to restrain me because I kept trying to see what was happening.

The nurse lead me to the door and I that was when I saw it. At first I thought it was one of the tubes that was attached to Jess, but there was something off about it. It was too big to be a wire or anything like that and it ended at the bottom of the bed.

That’s all I remember from that night and there were too many strange things that happened after. Jess’ body was “lost” en route to the funeral home, the morgue says there was nothing wrong with the transport, but the body never got there.

I’m doing all I can now to find out what happened to Jess. The nurses said that there was a break-in a month ago on the third floor of the hospital, maybe that’s connected to Jess’ disappearance.

I will get her back.

If only to bury her.

“Can you check under my bed?”  Jess’ voice was weak from the treatments. It had been her routine every night since we moved to the hospital, she was convinced there was something under her bed that kept making her sick.

Three months of tests and medicine and she still hasn’t gotten any better. I know life’s not supposed to be fair but Jess is only six years old. No child should have to go through days of needles and tubes and still not getting any answers. It wasn’t fair.

I smile and I kiss her forehead. “There aren’t any monsters under your bed, now go get some rest. You need your strength for the tests tomorrow, alright?” Jess smiles at me and drifts off to sleep. The resilience of youth never failed to impress me, but I hoped that it would be enough to get her through one more day.

It wasn’t. Jess died that night. I had fallen asleep next to her and the next thing I knew doctors and nurses were rushing in and shouting. One of the nurses had to restrain me because I kept trying to see what was happening.

The nurse lead me to the door and I that was when I saw it. At first I thought it was one of the tubes that was attached to Jess, but there was something off about it. It was too big to be a wire or anything like that and it ended at the bottom of the bed.

That’s all I remember from that night and there were too many strange things that happened after. Jess’ body was “lost” en route to the funeral home, the morgue says there was nothing wrong with the transport, but the body never got there.

I’m doing all I can now to find out what happened to Jess. The nurses said that there was a break-in a month ago on the third floor of the hospital, maybe that’s connected to Jess’ disappearance.

I will get her back.

If only to bury her.

=——————————–=

*Central Bicol, commonly called Bicol  Naga, is the most-spoken language in the Bicol Region of southern Luzon, Philippines. It is spoken in the northern and western part of Camarines Sur, second congressional district of Camarines Norte, eastern part of Albay, northeastern part of Sorsogon, San Pascual town in Masbate, and southwestern part of Catanduanes. Central Bicol speakers can be found in all provinces of Bicol and it is a majority language in Camarines Sur.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Adrian Bulalacao
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Adrian Bulalacao

Story inspired by the Balbal description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

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

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Nangyari ang lahat na kasing bilis ng isang patak ng tubig.

Ang dagat ay pininturahan ng dugo. Ang isang tahimik na gabi ay pinalamutian ng mararahas na bahid. Ang liwanag ng buwan ay nagbigay-saksi sa isang tanawing mas karaniwan sa katayan ng nga hayop.

Sa lahat ng kaguluhang ito ay nakatuon lamang si Mhik sa mainit na luhang umaagos sa kanyang pisngi. Sinumbatan niya ang kanyang sarili: “Malaki ka na; huwag kang umiyak. Pagtatawanan ka ni Kuya at hindi ka seseryosohin nina mama at papa.”

Hindi na niya makita ang kanyang pamilya; hawak-hawak niya ang kamay ni kuya ng magsimula ang lahat. Hiniling niya sa mga tala na maayos na ang kaniyang kalagayan, na sana matapos na ang bangungot na ito.

Tiyak na narinig ng mga nilalang ang kanyang pagsumamo. Sa paligid niya, nagsiikot sila na parang mga buwitreng uhaw sa dugo, naghihintay ng madaling pagkain.

Kitang-kita na sila ni Mhik ngayon, nagniningning sa liwanag ng buwan ang mga nagbabalangaw na mga kaliskis. Naisip niya ang lahat ng pagkakataong sinabi sa kanya ni papa na hindi totoo ang mga halimaw, na pinipigilan lamang siya ng takot.

Mas maraming luha ang nangingilid sa kanyang mga mata ngayon. Hindi niya alam ang gagawin. Pulang-pula ang paligid niya. Tinawag niya si kuya, ang kanyang mama and papa. Sumigaw siya hanggang sa magsilab sa sakit ang kanyang lalamunan. Gusto lang niyang makasama ang kanyang pamilya.

Palapit na ng palapit sa paglangoy ang mga halimaw. Ninais ni Mhik na takpan ang kanyang ilong, pero hindi kaya. Sobrang baho ng alingasaw. Dumausdos patungo sa kanya and mga nilalang, lalo pang bumilis. Pinikit niya ang mga mata at naghintay sa hindi maiiwasan.

Napahiyaw ang nilalang sa sakit habang tinutuhog ng sibat ang ulo nito, bumulwak ang dugong malapuyot mula sa sugat nito. Naghiwa-hiwalay ang ibang nilalang at naiwan si Mhik magisa, subalit akala niya lang pala iyon.

“Nakakadiring mga hayop.” Narinig ni Mhik ang tinig ng isang babae na nagmula sa karimlan. Umikot siya at hinarap ang pinanggalingan ng tinig.

“Lumangoy tayo. Maaaring natakot ko sila sa ngayon, ngunit babalik sila. Ang kanilang uri ay hindi kailanman gustong mag-iwan ng mga saksi.” Mabilis ang babae, ilang saglit lang ay nakalangoy na siya ng ilang metro sa unahan ni Mhik. Sinubukan ng batang babae na maabutan, ngunit hindi siya ang pinakamalakas na manlalangoy.

Mukhang naramdaman ng babae ang pagkabalisa ni Mhik at lumangoy ito sa tabi niya.

“Huwag kang mag-alala malapit na tayo.” Sinubukan niyang magbigay ng katiyakan, ngunit ang kaniyang tinig ay may bakas ng katatagan mula sa digmaan.

Nagsiwalat ang liwanag ng buwan ng isang maliit na bangka na hindi napansin ni Mhik. Itinayo siya ng babae at naramdaman ni Mhik ang lamig ng gabi na gumagapang sa kanyang mga buto.

Naglabas ng kumot ang babae at ibinigay sa maliit na bata. Nagpasalamat siya sa babae kahit nanginginig.

“Nasaan ang pamilya ko?” Tanong ni Mhik sa lamig at luha.

Iniwasan ng babae ang pagtingin sa mga mata ni Mhik. Wala siyang naisagot.

“Pakiusap po! Sabihin ninyo po sa akin!”

Muli siyang sinalubong ng katahimikan.

“Pakiusap po. Ang pangalan ko po ay Mhik. Pumunta po ako dito kasama ng aking kuya at  mga magulang. Hindi ko po alam kung nasaan sila. Nakita ninyona siguro ang nangyari sa kanila.”

“…”

“Malaki po ang kuya ko, kamukha po ng tatay ko. Kamukha ko po si mama pero mas matanda siya. May nunal siya sa gilid ng mukha. Pakiusap po, ma’am, sabihin ninyo po sa akin kung ano ang nangyari sa kanila!”

Sinalubong ng babae ang tingin ni Mhik subalit hindi nagsalita. Kahit bata pa lang si Mhik ay napuna niyang may habambuhay na kalungkutan sa likod ng mga mata ng babae.

“Ikanalulungkot ko.”

Nadurog ang puso ni Mhik. Naalala niya ang lahat ng pulang kulay sa paligid niya.

Nabasag ng kanyang pagsigaw ang katahimikan ng tubig habang tinawag niya ang mga pangalan ng kanyang mag-anak.

Walang kapatawarang ang init ng araw, nigunim gayon din siya.

Tinunton niya ang mga nilalang sa isang kuweba na malapit sa Punto ng Binurong. Maraming pumapasyal sa lugar na ito, at dito tiyak na manginginain ang mga nilalang.

Hinawakan niya ng mahigpit ang kanyang rosaryo at nagdasal. Ginawa niya itong ritwal bago mangaso

“Nawa’y protektahan Mo ako mula sa mga halimaw sa dagat. Ama sa Langit, dinggin mo ang aking panalangin.” Ang mga salita ay dinala ng hangin habang inihahanda niya ang kanyang mga sandata.

Karaniwang nanghuhuli ang mga nilalang sa gabi, ngunit may mga kataliwasan, lalo na kapag malapit sila sa masaganang paligid, kung saan maraming makakain.

Bumaha sa kanyang isipan ang mga alaala at sinubukan niyang pigilan ang mga luha.

Maraming taon na ang nakalipas mula nang isinumpa niyang hanapin at lipulin ang kasuklam-suklam na mga nilalang mula sa balat ng lupa, para matiyak na walang ibang magdurusa tulad niya.

“Para sa ‘yo ito kuya.”

Inihanda niya ang kanyang mga sibat at lumangoy sa yungib.

“Na-miss mo ba sila?”

“SINO SILA?”

“Pamilya mo.”

“Araw-araw.”

“Bakit mo ginagawa ito?”

“Para walang sinuman ang makaramdam ng naramdaman ko.”

“Sulit ba ito?”

“Minsan.”

Tatlo lang ang nasa kweba, nakatakas sa kaguluhan ang iba.

Minura niya ang sarili, “Kailangan kong maging mas mabilis.” Pinunit niya ang isang piraso ng kanyang basang-basang kamiesta at ginawa itong benda.

Sa kanyang pamantayan, maikli ang labanan. Inaasahan niya mas mahigit na labanan. Kumuha siya ng isang piraso ng kanyang kamiseta na basa ng dugo at ginawa itong benda.

“Lubha akong mabagal, napakarami ang nakatakas.”

Iniisip niya ang mga susunod nilang biktima, ang mga batang naiwan na walang magulang.

“Kailangan kong maging mas mabilis.” Sinabi niya ito sa kunsinoman.

Mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang kanyang rosaryo at humingi ng tawad sa kanyang diyos. Alam niyang iba ang magbabayad sa kanyang kabiguan.

Lalaban ako hanggang sa aking hininga, mahal na Panginoon.” Bumabaon ang rosaryo sa kanyang balat, subalit hindi niya pinapansin ang sakit.

“Basbasan ninyo po ang aking mga sibat upang mahanap nila ang kanilang mga pakay. Aalisin ko sa mundo ang kanilang kasamaan, kung ipapahintulot mo.”

Palubog na ang araw ngayon. Tinitingnan niya ang mga katawan ng mga nilalang at ninanamnam ang kabisadong na amoy ng dugo at tubig-alat.

“Patawarin mo po ako, Panginoon.”

Kinuha niya ang kanyang mga sandata at sinimulan muli ang kanyang pangangaso.

=———————————————-=

It all happened as fast as a drop of water.

The sea was painted with blood. Violent streaks decorated the canvas that was supposed to be a quiet evening. Moonlight gave witness to a scene more familiar at a slaughterhouse.

In all this tumult Mhik could only focus on the warm tears rolling down her cheeks. She chided herself, “You’re a big girl now, don’t cry. Kuya will make fun of you and mama and papa won’t take you seriously.”

She couldn’t see her family anymore; she had been holding her kuya’s hand when it started. She wished upon all the stars she could see that he was okay, that this nightmare would soon be over.

The creatures must have heard her prayer. They circled around her like a wake of bloodthirsty vultures waiting for an easy meal.

Mhik could see them clearly now, iridescent scales shining in the moonlight. She thought back to all the times papa told her that monsters weren’t real, that fear only holds you back.

More tears were welling in her eyes now. She didn’t know what to do. There was so much red all around her. She called for her kuya, for her mama and papa. She screamed until her throat burned. She just wanted to be with her family.

The monsters were swimming closer now. Mhik wished she could cover her nose. Their stench was overpowering. The creatures glided towards her, picking up speed. She closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable.

The creature screamed out in pain as a spear impaled its head, blood and ichor spurting out of its wound. The other creatures scattered and Mhik was left alone, or so she thought.

“Nasty beasts.” Mhik heard a woman’s voice cut through the darkness. She spun around and faced the origin of the voice.

“Swim with me. I may have scared them off for now, but they’ll be back. Their kind never likes to leave witnesses.” The woman was fast, in a matter of moments she had swam a few meters ahead of Mhik. The lithe girl tried to catch up to her, but she was never the strongest swimmer.

The woman seemed to have sensed Mhik’s trouble and swam alongside her.

“Don’t worry we’re almost there.” Her voice tried to sound reassuring, but there was a hint of steel from the battle.

The moonlight revealed a small boat that Mhik hadn’t noticed. The woman boosted her up and Mhik could feel the chill of the night creep into her bones.

The woman took out a blanket and gave it to the small girl. She thanked the woman though she was shivering.

“Where’s my family?” Mhik asked through the cold and the tears.

The woman avoided looking into Mhik’s eyes. She gave no reply.

“Please! Tell me!”

Again she was met with silence.

“Please. My name is Mhik. I came here with my kuya and my parents. I don’t know where they are. You must have seen what happened to them.”

“…”

“My kuya’s big, he looks just like my dad. My mom looks a little like me but older. She has a mole on the side of her face. Please ma’am, tell me what happened to them!”

The woman met Mhik’s gaze and didn’t speak. As young as Mhik was she could tell there was a lifetime of sadness behind the woman’s eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

Mhik’s heart sank. She thought back to all the red that was around her.

Her screams broke the stillness of the water as she called out her family’s names.

The sun was unforgiving, but so was she.

She tracked the creatures to a cave near Binurong Point. There were many tourists in the area and it would be a prime feeding ground for the creatures.

She held her rosary tight and said her prayers. It was her ritual right before every hunt.

“May You protect me from the monsters of the sea. Heavenly Father, hear my prayer.” The words were carried on the wind as she prepared her weapons.

The creatures usually hunted at night, but there were exceptions especially when they were around a target rich environment.

Memories flooded her mind and she tried her best to hold back the tears.

It had been years since she made the pledge to hunt these abominations off the face of the earth, to make sure no one else suffered as she had.

“This is for you kuya.”

She readies her spears and swims into the cave.

“Do you ever miss them?”

“Who?”

“Your family.”

“Every day.”

“Why do you do this?”

“So that no one ever has to feel the way I felt.”

“Is it worth it?”

“Sometimes.”

There were only three in the cave, the others must have escaped in the commotion.

She curses herself, “I needed to be faster.” She rips a piece of her blood-soaked shirt and fashions it into a bandage.

The battle was short by her standards. She expected more of a fight. She takes a piece of her blooad-soaked shirt and fashions it into a bandage.

“Too slow, too many of them got away.”

She thinks of their next victims, of the children left behind without parents.

“I need to be faster.” She says to no one in particular.

She grasps her rosary tight and asks her god for forgiveness. She knows someone else will pay for her failure.

“I will fight until my dying breath, dear Lord.” The rosary digs into her skin and she ignores the pain.

“Please bless my spears so they will find their marks. I will purge the world of their evil if you will it.”

The sun is setting now. She looks at the bodies of the creatures and savors the familiar scent of blood and saltwater.

“Forgive me, Lord.”

She takes her weapons and begins her hunt anew.

=———————=

Story inspired by the Magindara description in Bikol Beliefs and Folkways: A Showcase of Tradition. Nasayao 2010.

Magindara Illustration by Jojo Cunanan
Deviantart: https://yamitoki.deviantart.com/
Behance: https://www.behance.net/yami_to_ki937b

The scent was carried by the western wind.

Deer? No not gamey enough.

Wait. I know this one.

The olfactory sense, the one she was most proud of was weak tonight. In normal days she could identify the musk of a carabao or even the scent of freshly cut undergrowth at a great distance.

Yes.

Humans.

Not the stringy kind, she thought, much more tender.

It had been a while since she had eaten juveniles. They were faster than the older ones, but the sweet taste of their flesh lingered on her tongue, long after that meal.

Three?

No. Two.
The wafting of the breeze emboldened her.

A great vintage. She said to no one in particular.

One male. Seven years old, very nervous. Sweating too much. A bit heavy set.

Another one. Female. Related to the boy. Old enough to have passed puberty. She seems to be the one leading them both through the forest.

Leading them to her first meal in a while.

Small game was what the giantess had been subsisting on for the past few weeks. She brought them to her cave, the soft light of the small fire exuding some form of comfort in her bleak existence.

She was an outcast even among the giants. She was not the strong Bungisngis, the fearsome Dambuhala or the oath sworn Sarimao.

She was Bekat, the giantess who could smell.

And today she was hungry.

The humans were in the part of the forest where the river ran.

Perfect. She could wash the meat without having to inconvenience herself.

She took a large log, felled from a narra tree and started her hunt.

That smell again.

She could tell by the scent that both of them were sweating, their adrenaline seeping out of their bodies.

Her belly growled. All she had to do was get close enough for one swipe. Just one.

The girl screamed, giving ample time for the boy to run away.

Bekat grabbed her quarry, the girl struggling to escape her grasp.

She smelled something on the girl, a kind of perfume or a lip balm? Bekat never liked eating those, they tasted like chemicals and preservatives.

It was time to drown her prey. The cold waters of the river would rush away any unwanted flavors.

“Wait!” The girl said. “Do not drown me giant, my flesh will be tough!”

Bekat reflected, had all her drowned prey been tough to chew? That may have been the case.

The giantess sat down, the girl still struggling against her grip.

“Hmmm.. How should I deal with you, child?”

“You could release me, giant. I can bring you many more humans.”

“I could not eat all of you given the chance. I only want a light meal.”

“then what kind of meal do you want to have?”

“Something plump and juicy.”
“I can get you my brother! All you need is to let me go and I can bring him!”
“What if you run away?”
“I will not, I promise.”
So Bekat let her go and waited.

The sun set and she waited.

Twilight passed and she waited.

“Damn, fooled again,” she said.

It was not the first time she was tricked like this and it wouldn’t be the last. Her strength equaled her ignorance.

She smelled a whiff of deer in the air.

And resumed her hunt.

=———————————-=

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Bekat description in The Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology, Maximo Ramos, Phoenix Publishing, 1990.

Bekat Illustration by emirajuju
IG: https://www.instagram.com/emirajuju/

*Note this story is in Cebuano

Dunay usa ka bata nga ginganlan og Edgardo. Gamay siya ug hilomon ug mas gusto niya nga magbasa og mga libro imbes nga makigdula sa ubang mga bata. Lisod makakuha og mga libro sa iyang gamay nga komunidad sa kabukiran ug iyang gipalabi ang mga higayon nga moadto siya sa siyudad, motan-aw sa iyang amahan nga ibaylo ang bulawan nga ilang gimina ug paliton ang mga libro nga iyang gusto.

Usa ka adlaw niana giduol siya ni Faustino, usa ka batang lalaki nga kasagarang molikay niya. Usa ka butang ang pagkalahi og kinaiya, apan ang pagkalahi og kinaiya sa usa ka komunidad sa pipila ka gatos ka mga tawo lamang nagpabati kang Edgardo nga mora siyag naa sa ilawom sa mikroskopyo.

“Mahimo ba ko nga molingkod dinhi?” Gipangutana siya ni Faustino.

“Sure, way mopugong nimo,” tubag ni Edgardo.

“Nakadungog ka ba sa nahitabo?” Gisuwayan ni Faustino nga motutok apan nahimo lang niya ang pagduko sa iyang ulo ug pagtutok sa iyang dili mahimutang nga mga tiil.

“Dili ba ang tanan?” Matod pa ni Edgardo nga wala man gani gipahilayo ang iyang mga mata sa panid nga iyang gibasa.

“Apil si Veronica, nahimo nang 3 sukad sa Pebrero.” Milingkod tupad niya si Faustino.

Kasagaran na nga panghitabo nga mawala ang mga bata sa kabukiran. Bisan asa naa ang kapeligrohan. Mahimong makabayad ka og mahal sa usa ka gutlo nga pagkadanghag.

Usa sab ka isyu ang mga minahan. Kasagaran ang ilang mga amahan o mga igsoon dili na makapauli ug ang mga kompanya sa pagmina magpadala nalang sa ilang mga pahasubo – kon aduna man niy bili.

“Nag-ingon sila nga dunay nagdagit sa mga bata.” Si Faustino, pag-usab, misulay ug napakyas sa pagtutok niya.

Gibutang ni Edgardo ang iyang libro ug mitubag, “Kinsa man kaha ang gustong modagit sa mga bata? Kon tungod ni sa kuwarta dili ba sila magpadala og sulat? Ting-ulan karon, ang mga tawo maglibot-libot sa bukid ug dili na mobalik. Ayaw na pagtagad kaayo niini.”

“Dili.” Gitungtong ni Faustino ang iyang mga kamot sa mga abaga ni Edgardo. “Mabati nako nga lahi ni. Kinahanglan nga mag-uban ta. Gihangyo nako sila si Melinda, Pepito ug Belen. Kitang lima makabantay kon unsay mahitabo sa usag usa.”

“Luwas ka uban kanamo,” ingon ni Faustino nga nagpahiyom.

Mikunot ang agtang ni Edgardo. “Kon ingon nimo.”

Dili ni ang unang higayon nga dunay mihimo niana nga saad. Nahinumdoman niya pagbalik ang iyang magulang nga lalaki. Niadtong mga gabii nga miadto sila sa mga langob aron mangitag bulawan alang sa ilang kaugalingon. Niadtong usa ka higayon wa siya mag-amping. Mahitabo lang ang mga butang ug kinahanglan nimong pasagdaan ni.

Usa ka gabii nahigmata si Edgardo sa hunghong sa laing bata.

“Edgardo —- psssst —— pagmata, importante ni,” matod sa tingog.

Nilanat og pipila ka minuto sa wala pa nahibalik si Edgardo sa reyalidad. Tin-aw kaayo ang damgo nga iyang nabatonan bag-o lang: usa ka balay nga puno sa mga libro para sa iyang kaugalingon. Tin-aw kaayo ang iyang damgo ug nanumpa siya nga usa ka adlaw matuman ni.

“Belen?!”

“Sshhhhhh—paghinay aron walay makadungog nimo.” gitabonan niya ang iyang baba sa iyang kamot.

“Unsay imong gibuhat dinhi?” nakahimo siya sa pagsulti bisan og nagtabon ang iyang mga tudlo.

“Si Faustino.” Seryoso ang iyang nawong. “Nawala siya.”

“Sigurado ka?” Mas hilom si Edgardo ning higayona, “basin ningla-ag lang siya?”

“Tunga-tunga na sa gabii! Wala siya sa iyang balay. Kuyog nako. Si Pepito ug Melinda naa sa daplin sa dakong kahoy duol sa balay ni Faustino. Kinahanglan natong siyang pangitaon.”

Gilugod ni Edgardo ang iyang mga mata ug mihuy-ab pag-usab. “Na hala, mokuyog na lang.”

Sila si Melinda ug Pepito didto sa giingon ni Belen nga ilang adtoan, ang mga aninipot naghatag sa kahoy og makalilisang nga kahayag.

“Maorag nakakita kog agianan,” ingon ni Pepito. “Dunay mga tunob paingon sa mga langob sa mga bungtod.”

Ang tanang mga bata nangislo. Kadto nga mga langob duol sa mga minahan ug peligro man gani alang sa mga hamtong, ug labi na gayod alang sa usa ka grupo ka mga bata.

“Kinahanglan moadto ta,” mi-ingon si Belen, “buhaton usab ni niya alang kanato.”

“Unsa may atong buhaton kon makit-an nato siya? Duna gayoy butang nga responsable sa mga pagkawala. Unsaon man nato ang pagpakig-away niini?” Kahilakon si Melinda.

“Dili kinahanglan nga awayon ni, kinahanglan lang naton pangitaon si Faustino ug ibalik siya dinhi, diin luwas siya,” ingon ni Pepito.

Nagtinan-away silang tanan ug gikuptan nila ang kamot sa usag-usa.

Ang matag usa dunay determinasyon sa pagpangita sa ilang higala, si Edgardo hinuon wala kaayo. Nalingaw pa gihapon siya sa iyang damgo.

Ilang gisundan ang agianan kutob sa ilang mahimo, bisan og nagkapangos-pangos ilang mga panit sa mga bato ug sa mga gamot. Ug sa dihang hapit na silang mangatumba tungod sa kakapoy, nakaabot sila sa ilang destinasyon, usa ka dili mahulagway nga langob nga nahibal-an nila nga agianan sa gasumpay-sumpay nga mga tanel nga mahimong dili na nila matultolan unsaon pagbalik.

Si Belen maoy nangulo sa grupo. Nagdala siya og lampara nga gikan sa iyang mga ginikanan ug nga mao usab nga lampara nga gidala sa iyang mga igsoon niadtong nangadto sila sa mga langob. Dili kaayo siya angayan nga mangulo, apan kinahanglan niyang siguroon nga dunay giya ang uban. Kinahanglan niyang buhaton ni, para kang Faustino.

Si Melinda ang nag-una.

Wala man gani siya ningsiyagit. Sa usa ka gutlo si Belen nagdan-ag sa lampara sa entrada sa laing tanel ug unya sa sunod, nagpanawag na siya sa mga ngalan sa iyang mga kauban. Wala gayod niya nabati ang kahadlok sa kahilom hangtod niadtong higayona, mao ni ang usa sa iyang mahinumdoman sa tibuok niyang kinabuhi.

Gisulayan ni Pepito nga magpabilin sa agi-anan. Nagkuptanay silang tanan ug nabati ni Belen ang iyang pagkurog. Naningkamot siya sa paghupay niya.

“Mamaayo ra ang tanan. Makit-an ra nato silang duha, pramis.”

Misulay Si Pepito sa pagpugong sa iyang mga luha samtang siya miyango, apan gidaog na siya sa iyang kahadlok.

“Dili!” Misinggit siya. “Kinahanglan nga mamauli na ta!”

Gipaningkamotan ni Edgardo nga mapugngan siya.

“Pepito, kinahanglang magkuyog ta, mao lang ni ang paagi nga makalingkawas ta dinhi!”

Wala siya naminaw, iyang gitukmod si Edgardo palayo ug midagan siya ngadto sa kangitngit.

Bug-at ang kahilom sa duha nga nahibilin.

“Tonto kaayo ko sa paghunahuna nga magsilbi ni.” Misugod pagkusog ang hangos ni Belen ug iyang gibutang ang lampara. “Unta to nagkuyog ra ta. Karon dili lang si Faustino ang nawala. Pasayloa ko. Pasayloa ko, Melinda, Pepito! Kinahanglang mamalik ta, basin kon sultihan nato ang atong mga pamilya, unya sila pod ang manganhi dinhi ug kitang tanan mangita nila. Pangitaon nato sila. Kinahanglan natong pangitaon sila.”

Gikuha ni Edgardo ang lampara ug miingon, “Uban nako”.

Wala nay laing mahimo si Belen gawas sa pagsunod sa iyang bag-ong higala.

Ang kahayag gikan sa lampara hinay-hinay nga nahanaw ug ang agi-anan nagkadanlog samtang sila naglakaw. Gisulayan niya paggunit ang bungbong aron makabalanse, apan iyang nabati nga basa usab ni.

Sa kataposan iyang nakita kon unsa ni dihang gitunol ni Edgardo kaniya ang lampara.

Makit-an ang pula bisan asa. Namantsa niini ang iyang mga kamot ug sinina ug dunay nagtulo gikan sa ibabaw.

“Wa ko kasabot—-” misulay sa pagsulti si Belen.

Apan laing kahayag ang misidlak tapad ni Edgardo, nga nagdan-ag sa usa ka binuhat nga nagbitbit og dakong sako nga bulawan.

“Namati ka unta ka nila. Kon namati pa ka tingali si Faustino lang ang nawala.”

“I—-I—-” Naparalisar si Belen, misulay siya sa pagsinggit samtang gidala siya sa binuhat sa lawom nga bahin sa tanel.

Ug sa pagsidlak sa adlaw ngadto kang Edgardo samtang nanglimpyo siya sa iyang kaugalingon sa suba, naghunahuna siya: “Pila kaha ka libro ang akong makuha niini.”

=——————–=

English Version

There was once a child named Edgardo. He was small and quiet and preferred to read books instead of playing with the other children. Books were hard to get in his small mountain community and he treasured the moments when he would go to the city, watch his father exchange the gold they mined for money and buy the books he wanted.

One day he was approached by Faustino, a boy who would usually avoid him. It was one thing to be different, but to be different in a community of a few hundred people made Edgardo feel like he was under a microscope.

“Can I sit here?” Faustino asked him.

“Sure, no one’s stopping you,” Edgardo replied.

“Did you hear about what happened?” Faustino tried to look him in the eye but only succeeded at putting his head down and staring at his shuffling feet.

“Didn’t everyone?” Edgardo said without moving his eyes away from the page he was reading.

“With Veronica that makes 3 since February.” Faustino sat beside him.

It wasn’t uncommon for children to go missing up in the mountains. Danger was everywhere. One moment of absentmindedness could cost you dearly.

The mines were also an issue. Too often their fathers or brothers would just not come home and the mining companies would send their condolences – for whatever that was worth.

“They say someone is taking the children away.” Faustino, again, tried and failed to look him in the eye.

Edgardo put down his book and replied, “Who would possibly want to take the children? If it was for money then wouldn’t they have sent a note? It’s rainy season, people walk around the mountain and don’t come back. Just leave it be.”

“No.” Faustino put his hands on Edgardo’s shoulders. “This is different from that, I can feel it. We have to stick together. I asked Melinda, Pepito and Belen. The five of us can watch what happens with each other.”

“You’ll be safe with us,” Faustino says with a smile.

Edgardo frowns. “If you say so.”

This wasn’t the first time someone made that promise. He thought back to his elder brother. Those nights when they went to the caves together to find gold for themselves. That one time he wasn’t careful. Things would happen and you just had to let them be.

One night Edgardo was awakened by the whispers of another child.

“Edgardo —- psssst —— wake up, it’s important,” the voice said.

It took a few minutes for Edgardo to snap back into reality. The dream that he had was so vivid: a house filled with books all to himself. He was lucid in his dream and he swore that one day it would come true.

“Belen?!”

“Sshhhhhh—don’t let anyone hear you.” She put her hand over his mouth.

“What are you doing here?” he managed to say through her fingers.

“It’s Faustino.” Her face was grim. “He’s missing.”

“Are you sure?” Edgardo was quieter this time, “maybe he just went out for a walk?”

“It’s the middle of the night! He’s not in his house. Come with me. Pepito and Melinda are by the big tree near Faustino’s house. We need to find him.”

Edgardo rubbed his eyes and yawned again. “Fine, might as well.”

Melinda and Pepito were where Belen said they would be, the fireflies giving the tree an eerie aura.

“I think I found a trail,” Pepito said. “There are footprints leading to the caves over by the hills.”

The children all grimaced. Those caves were near the mines and they were dangerous enough for adults, much less a group of four children.

“We have to go,” Belen said, “he’d do the same for us.”

“What are we going to do when we find him? There must be something responsible for the disappearances. How do we fight it?” Melinda was close to tears.

“We don’t need to fight it, we just have to find Faustino and bring him back here, where it’s safe,” Pepito said.

They all looked at each other and put their hands together.

Each had a resolve to find their friend, Edgardo less so. He was still enraptured by his dream.

They followed the trail as best as they could, scraping their skins against the rocks and the roots. And as soon as they were about to fall from exhaustion, they reached their destination, a nondescript cave that they knew was an entrance to a network of tunnels they might not return from.

Belen lead the group. She had taken a lamp from her parents and her siblings had taken her to the caves once. Leadership was not her strength, but she had to make sure the others had a guide. She had to do it, for Faustino.

Melinda was the first.

She didn’t even scream. One moment Belen was shining the lamp on the entrance to another tunnel and the next, when she called out for the names of her companions. She had never feared silence until that moment, it was one she would remember for the rest of her life.

Pepito tried to stay the course. They all held hands and Belen could feel his shaking. She tried to console him.

“It will be alright. We’ll find both of them, I promise.”

Pepito tried to hold back tears as he nodded, yet fear had overtaken him.

“No!” He shouted. “We have to go back home!”

Edgardo tried his best to hold him down.

“Pepito, we have to stay together, it’s the only way we can make it out of here!”

He didn’t listen, he pushed Edgardo off him and ran into the darkness.

The silence weighed heavy on the remaining two.

“I was so stupid to think this would work.” Belen’s breath started to become rapid and she put the lantern down. “We should have stayed together. Now it’s not just Faustino. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry Melinda, Pepito! We have to go back, maybe if we tell our families they can go here and we can all search for them. We’ll find them. We have to find them.”

Edgardo took the lantern and said, “come with me”.

Belen had no other choice but to follow her new friend.

The light from the lantern was slowly fading and the path was getting more slippery as they went along. She tried to grab the wall to balance, but she found that it was damp as well.

She finally saw what it was when Edgardo handed her the lantern.

It was red everywhere. It stained her hands and clothes and drops fell from the ceiling.

“I don’t understand—-” Belen tried to say.

But another light glowed by Edgardo, illuminating a creature carrying a hefty bag of gold.

“You should have listened to them. If you did maybe it would have just been Faustino.”

“I—-I—-” Belen was paralyzed, she tried to scream as the creature carried her deeper into the tunnel.

And as the daylight shined on Edgardo as he cleaned himself in the river, he thought:

“I wonder how many books I can get with this.”

*The Cebuano language, alternatively called Cebuan and also often colloquially albeit informally referred to by most of its speakers simply as Bisaya (“Visayan”, not to be confused with other Visayan languages nor Brunei Bisaya language), is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 21 million people, mostly in Central Visayas, western parts of Eastern Visayas and most parts of Mindanao, most of whom belong to various Visayan ethnolingusitic groups, mainly the Cebuanos. It is the by far the most widely spoken of the Visayan languages, which are in turn part of wider the Philippine languages. The reference to the language as Bisaya is not encouraged anymore by linguists due to the many languages within the Visayan language group that may be confused with the term.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Cebuano Translation by Joanalyn P Gabales
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Joanalyn P Gabales

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

Sagay Illustration by Christian Bitao

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