*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Isa ka gab-I, galinagumba ang kalangitan. Isa ka dako nga espiritu ang nahulog sa duta kag napierde.

Nanagu ini sa kabukiran, blan sini nga ini natabu na maka sien — indi, pila ka libo ka beses na sang una.

Ang gusto lang sini magpahuway asta maga gwa naman ang sunod nga bulan.

Pero sina nga gab-I daw may lain gid nga nakatago.

Ang espiritu nagbarikutot sa tupad sang kuweba kag ginpiyong ang mga mata sini, nagalaum sang mahamuok nga tulog.

Kuntani madayun na ini kung indi tungod sa isa ka tingog nga nagpukaw sini.

“Ano atu?”

Ginpangita sang espiritu sa iya palibot kung diin naghalin ang gahod. Wala ini naanad mangita sang mga butang nga mas gamay pa sang sa bulan.

Ini nag singgit, ” Sino ina? Magpakita ka!”

“Indi mo kinahanglan magsinggit.  Ari ako diri.”

Ginlisu sang espiritu ang iya ulo kag sa entrada sang kuweba may isa ka matahum nga tawo.

Nanghayhay, kag sa panumduman sang espiritu. Isa sa ila.

Ang espiritu wala sang pagbatok sa mga matahum nga tinuga, mas nubo sila sa iya, literal man ukon metapora. Nahibaluan man nila mabudlay sapakon ang mga espiritu, kay sila gid maukpan sang kaakig sini.

“Ginabalabagan mo ang akon nga kuweba,” siling sang matahum nga tinuga.

“Ginamandar mo bala nga mahalin ako?” siling sang daku nga espiritu sa pang istorbo sini.

“Ginahingyo ko lang nga sa iban ka lang tani, hapos ka lang makalupad sa kalangitan nga daw pispis. Palihog indi pagbalabagi ang akon kuweba.”

“Kag ngaa masaylo ako bi sa iban? Sin-o ka sa pamatyagan mo para hambalan si Kedu kung diin makadto.”

“Palihog, gusto ko mag-isahanon.”

“Indi bala tanan man kita.”

“Teh mahalin ka na?”

“No gid, sa pamatyag ko.”

Nagpanghayhay ang matahum nga tinuga. Nahibalu-an niya nga wala sang paagi nga magdaug siya. Nakibot man siya nga ginpahambal siya ni Kedu sang amu sini kalawig. Sa kakusog sang gahum sini, makahalit ini sang matahum nga tinuga sa isa ka pitik. Wala man sang may madula sa matahum nga tinuga, amu nga ini nagdesider nga magpungko sa malapit nga bato kag nag istorya sa daku nga espiritu.

“Ngaa ginpili mo magpahuway diri?”

“Nakita ko ini halin sa babaw kag daw komportable, ngaa abi makadto ako di?”

“Daw sa nakapoy gid ikaw.”

“Nakapoy gid.”

“Ano natabo?”

“Pareho lang permi. Nadakpan ko ang bulan, apang indi ko ini makaptan.”

“Ano kinalain niya subong?”

“Gusto ko mahibaluan.”

Nanghayhay si Kedu kag narealisar nga wala na niya masalaysay ang ini nga istorya sa pila na ka bulan. Ang matahum nga tinuga arisgado para mamangkot, kundi pasugtan na lang.

“Nagsugod ini sang sinauna pa nga tiyempo. Kung sa diin mga espiritu nga mas makusog pa sa imo kag sa akon, naga dominar sang tanan nga butang, ang nagligad, ang subong kag ang mangin pa lang.”

“Bu-ot mo silingon, nga indi ikaw halin diri sa duta?”

“Indi, gamay nga espiritu, indi ako diri naghalin.”

Nakibot ang matahum nga espiritu. Sa ila kalibutan, ang ginhalinan indi importante. Ginhuna-huna lang sini nga maski ano ka klase nga espiritu, parti ka na gid sang kadutaan. Napukaw ang iya interes kag madamo pa gusto mahibaluan.

Nagpadayun si Kedu, “Madamo sang mga diyos sang una kaangay man sang mga demonyo. Ang ila giyera tama ka baris kag madugo. Pero wala man nagmayo sang sila nag apinay. Kis-a napinsar niya man kung ano natabo kung lain ang ginpili nya nga desisyon. Basi kumpleto pa ako.”

“Kumpleto?”

“Hibalu-a ang imo lebel. Pasugira ako sang akon istorya.”

“Pasensyaha ako, daku nga espiritu, palihog padayon.”

“Kami gin-engganyo sang promisa sang immortalidad. Kag naintu-an kami s apagpati sa ila mga binutig. Sa daku nga dagat kami nagtindug, bayolente nga ginbaliskad ang mga balud sa masarangan sang amon gahum. Naglipas ang walay katubtuban, asta ang amon premyo nagbangon halin sa kaidalman. Ang Amrita.”

“Amrita?”

“Ang duga sang immortalidad. Ang solo nga rason ngaa kami nag-ubra para sa ila.”

“Ano natabo sa ila?”

“Ginpanginwala nila ang amon nga parte. Nag-ilig ang kaakig sa amon mga ugat samtang nagplano sang pagbalos. Maski lain nga plano ang akon nga ginpili.”

Nag-agi ang katinong sa mga espiritu nga daw angay sa mga tun-og sa mga dahon.

“Daku nga espiritu? May mala-in bala?”

“Ako –” nagpalatik si Kedu. “Wala ko na gani madumduman kung ano ang akon ngalan.”

“Ano buot mo silingon?”

“Indi importante ang mga ngalan. Lain atu nga panahon. Kumpleto pa ako sadto. Samtang ang iban nga kapareho ko nagaplano, ako nag-giho na ya. Nag kuno-kuno ako nga isa sa ila, ginkuha ko ang duga kag nalab-ot ang akon nga handum.”

“Nangin immortal ikaw.”

“Kung ano man ang maayo nga gindulot sina. Ang duwa nakita ang akon taktika kag ginpaandaman ang pinakakusog nga sahi nila.”

“Ang duwa?”

“Ang adlaw kag ang bulan, siyempre.”

Naglungo ang matahum nga espiritu. Abi gid niya nga ang Kedu kag ang bulan repleksyon sang kalikasan, ang walay katapusan nga saot sa kunop sang kalangitan. Makakilibot nga ini tama ka personal.

Nagpadayon si Kedu, ” Ano pa abi ang akon mahambal? Nasamaran ang akon ulo kag subong amu na sini ako, lawas nga indi kompleto.

“Kag ngaa nagkadto ikaw sa sini nga kadutaan?”

“Ginasundan ko ang adlaw kag ang bulan, maski diin sila nagapasanag. Sa iban nga kadutaan, ang akon ulo ang nagalagas sang bulan, sa iban kung ano ang bilin sang akon lawas amo ang magalagas sa mga tunto nga ina. Pero indi ta sila makaptan, ang duwa nag inum man sang duga. Basi mientras tanto atun kapalaran nga padayunon ang ini nga pagkuno-kuno.

“Salamat sa imo salaysay, daku nga espiritu. Dungug gid sa akon nga ini mabati-an.”

“Maayo, kay ikaw mapatay upod sina nga nga dungug.”

Sa isa ka pitik ang higante nga ikug ni Kedu naghampas sa porma sang matahum nga espiritu.

Kag sa kalinungan nga nagsunod, nagbarikutot si Kedu sa atubang sang kuweba, katapusan, makuha na gid niya ang gusto nga pauway.

=—————————–=

English Version

One night, the heavens churned. A great spirit fell to the ground and was defeated.

It retreated to the mountains, keenly aware that this had happened a hundred—no, a thousand times before.

All it wanted to do was rest until the next moon would come.

But that night had something else in store.

The spirit huddled beside a cave and closed its eyes, hoping for the sweet tranquility of sleep.

And it would have succeeded if not for a voice that jolted it awake.

“Excuse me?”

The spirit looked around for the source of the noise. It was not accustomed to looking for things smaller than the moon.

It bellowed, “Who is there?! Show yourself!”

“You don’t need to shout. I am right here.”

The spirit tuned its head and at the entrance of the cave was a beautiful man.

Sigh, the spirit thought. One of them.

The spirit had nothing against the beautiful ones, they were beneath him, both literally and metaphorically. They also knew better than to engage with the spirit, lest they suffer its wrath.

“You’re blocking my cave,” the beautiful one said.

“Are you demanding that I leave?” the great spirit eyed this inconvenience.

“I’m asking you to go somewhere else, you can move through the sky as easily as a bird. Please do not block my cave.”

“And why would I go elsewhere? What makes you think that an insignificant spirit such as yourself has any right to tell Kedu where to go.”

“Please, I would just like to be left alone.”

“Don’t we all.”

“So, will you move?”

“No, I don’t think I will.”

The beautiful spirit sighed. He knew there was no way he could win. He was also surprised that Kedu let him speak this long. With its enormous power it could destroy the beautiful spirit in an instant. There was nothing left to lose for the beautiful spirit anyway so he decided to sit on a nearby rock and have a conversation with the great spirit.

“Why did you choose this place to rest?”

“I saw it from above and it looked comfortable, why else would I go here?”

“You seem very tired.”

“I am.”

“What happened?”

“The same as always. I caught the moon but could not hold it.”

“Why couldn’t you?”

“What difference does it make?”

“I would like to know.”

Kedu sighed and realized he had not told that story for many moons. The beautiful spirit was brash enough to ask, might as well humor it.

“It started in the time before times. Where spirits greater than you or I held dominion over everything that was, is, and will be.”

“You mean that you were not from this land?”

“No, small spirit, I was not.”

The beautiful spirit was surprised. In their realms origins did not matter. It was assumed that, whatever spirit you are, you had always been a part of this land. His curiosity was piqued and he wanted to know more.

Kedu continued, “There were many gods then as well as demons. Their battles were fierce and much blood was spilt. Though it was not any better when they decided to work together. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I had made different choices. Maybe then I would still be complete.”

“Complete?”

“Know your place. Let me tell my story.”

“I apologize great spirit, please continue.”

“We were enticed by the promise of immortality. And fools we were for believing their lies. By the great ocean we stood, tossing the waves as violent as our powers allowed. The eternities passed by, until our prize rose from the depths. The Amrita.”

“Amrita?”

“The nectar of immortality. The only reason why we would ever work with them.”

“What happened then?”

“They denied us of our share. Anger flowed through our veins as we planned our revenge. Though I chose a different ploy.”

Silence blanketed the spirits like dew settling on leaves.

“Great spirit? Is there something wrong?”

“I—” Kedu let out a chuckle. “I don’t even remember what my name was.”

“What do you mean?”

“Names do not matter. It was a different time. I was complete then. While others of my kind planned, I set out into action. I disguised myself as one of them, taking in the nectar and achieving my goal.”

“You became immortal.”

“For whatever good that did. The two had seen through my ruse and warned the most powerful of their kind.”

“The two?”

“The sun and the moon, of course.”

The beautiful spirit nodded. He had always assumed that the Kedu and the moon were reflections of nature, an endless dance in the cloak of the sky. It was surprising to find out it was so personal.

Kedu carried on, “What else is there to say? My head was severed and now I am what I am, a body left incomplete.”

“And why did you come to this land?”

“I follow the sun and moon wherever they shine their light. In some lands it is my head that hunts the moon, in others what is left of our body pursues those fools. But we cannot hold them, the two had also imbibed the nectar. Maybe we are forever destined to carry out this charade.”

“Thank you for your story, great spirit. I feel honored to have heard it.”

“Good, then you will die with that honor.”

In a split second Kedu’s massive tail crashed onto the beautiful spirit’s form.

In the silence that followed Kedu curled up in front of the cave, finally able to get the rest that he sought.

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Pauline Brooks Dalisay
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Pauline Brooks Dalisay

Inspired by the Ketu/ Kedu descriptions in Tagalog Borrowings and Cognates by Jean Paul Potet (2016) and Diccionario mitológico de Filipinas in
Volume 2 of Retana, W.E. Archivo del bibliófilo filipino by Ferdinand Blumentritt, trans Marcaida D. (2019)

Kedu Illustration by Yuriko Yoshida
IG: @yumiro45

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The post Kedu – Hiligaynon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

“Akun ni tanan sala.”

Ginbalikan sang lalake kung san-o ini nagsugod. Tama ka klaro ang mga senyales, apang may pagbanta na nga magagiya subong. Adlaw-adlaw niya ginapangamuyo nga luwason siya sang Ginoo sa sini nga kabudlayan.  Pero indi ini matu-od syempre, maski silingun sang makaaku nga mag-untat, nahibalu-an niya sa iya tagipusuon nga indi siya makapadayon asta matapos niya ang iya penitensya.

Isa ka malinong nga hapun, sang ang babaye nagbalik. Mainit ang pagbatun niya sang ini gintabo niya sa airport.

Sang ara ang babaye sa iban nga pungsod, permi ini nagasulat parti sa katugnaw nga iya nabatyagan. Ini iya ginkumpara nga kaangay nga daw gapalanupsup sa iya nga kaugatan.

Ginsilingan niya siya nga indi ini importante. Daku nga kabudlay ang inagyan sang babaye, kag ang gusto lang niya makapahuway ini sa ila balay. Wala pa niya nabati-an ang bug-os nga istorya halin sa asawa, pero makita niya sa mga mata sini, nga gusto na lang sini malipatan.  Sa ulihi nga sulat sang babaye, iya ginsaysay kung paano sini indi na masarangan pa nga mapalayo sa ila pamilya.  Nag-ugyon siya, pabay’i da ang kwarta.  Paga-unungan niya ang iya asawa, kag malampuwasan nila ini kag mas mangin mabakod.

Sa subong, amu ina ang iya ginapatihan.

Daw naga-pangpasu ang singsing pangkasal. Katingalahan nga ginasuksok niya pa ini, maski nagapadumdum ini sang mga nagligad sang naigu sang repleksyon sang bulan.  Naglungo na lang siya kag ginhatag ang atensyon sa iya tuyo.

Dira siya niya nasundan, paagi sa mga nagkalain-lain nga apat ka baryo, kag nagalaum siya nga maabtan niya antes ini makapalagyo.

Sang una, iya ginpaminsar nga mapauntat niya ini antes pa makapang biktima, kay madali ini siya makilal-an.

Sa tunga sang nagabiti nga init sang adlaw, pagkatapos sang isa ka bulan nga paglagas – lagas sa asawa, gin-aku niya sa iya kaugalingon.

Mas makusog. Mas madasig.

Mas baris nga indi niya maintindihan.

Mabug-at ang singsing sa iya tudlo, pero ang inggat sini nagpadumdum sa iya sang pila ka butang. Amu ini ang iya kalbaryo, kag duha lang ka butang ang makapauntat sini.

Pagkatapos sang isa ka semana nga pagpahuway halin sa pagka-jetlag, gilayon na ini nagbulig sa sulod balay.

Ang mga bata nila nga lalaki, nalipay gid nga nagpauli ang ila iloy. Wala siya nahadlok nga aku-on nga, daw mahibi siya, sang makita niya gahampang ini kaupod sa ila mga kabataan.

Sang ginbatun sang babaye ang oportunidad nga mag-ubra sa iban nga pungsod, tam-an pa ka gagmay ang ila kabataan para maintiendihan ang pagsakripisyo sini. Sadto nga adlaw, ginhakus niya sila sang hugot kag nag-promisa nga magabalik ini gilayun. Nagsiling ini nga palangga niya gid sila asta sa katubtuban.

Ang ulihi nga ginhingyo sang iya asawa, amu ang promisa nga iya pagatatapun ang ila mga kabataan.

Wala sang pag-alang-alang nga nagpromisa siya.

Naglakat na sila, kag nagbalik sa ila bag-o nga pangabuhi, nagahulat sang adlaw nga mangin kumpleto liwat sila.

Basi amu na sadtu ang ulihi nga adlaw nga ang iya asawa isa ka tawo.

Sang una nga nagpalagyo ang iya asawa halin sa ila balay, ginhimu niya ang tanan para mahibalu-an kung ano gid ang natabu sa iban nga pungsod. Indi siya makalakat didto nga siya mismo, apang may komunidad sang mga Pilipino nga nakahibalu kung sa diin gatinir ang iya asawa.

Nagsulat siya sa ila kag ang ila mga sabat daw makatilingala.

Suno sa ila, wala gid gaistorya ang iya asawa parte sa iya amo. Sa ila mga pagtipon, nagahimu man lang ang iya asawa sang lumpia, kag maga-istorya sang iban nga bagay pareho sang iya nabilin nga pamilya kag kung ano nga kahidlaw sang iya asawa sa ila. Isa sa mga Pilipino didtu amu ang tigulang nga nars, kag nagmuno sa iya nga daw may lain sa mga mata sang babaye.  Bisan ano katagu sang iya asawa, makita nga nahadlok ini.

Nagbalos sa sulat niya ang nars kag ginsugid lang ang nabal-an sini parte sa amo sang babaye. Ini isa ka man ka Pinoy nga nangin madinalag-on sa iban nga pungsod, sa kung paano nga paagi, wala sini mahibaluan. Suno sa istorya sini, ang amo gid sini ang naghingyo nga isa ka Pinay ang magatatap sa iya kag magabayad ini sang daku nga balor para diri.

Liwan sa amu ni nga detalye, ang iban mga kuno-kuno na lang nga istorya nga indi man makabulig. Suno sa iban, kilanlan sang iya amo nga lalake, nga maghalin sa Pilipinas tungod sa mga ilegal nga ulubrahon. Siling naman sang iban, ang iya mga asawa wala gadugay sang duha ka tuig pagkatapos niya pakaslan, kag siya naghalin para indi pagsuspetsahan. May mga maayo man nga istorya, pareho sang,  siya naglakat para mahatagan sang maayo nga pangabuhi.

Ini tanan nga mga wala gakaangot nga istorya, wala sang pulos.

Wala sang pulos ang natabo.

Paano ini nahimo sang iya asawa sa ila pamilya nga pinalangga?

Ulihi na siya.

Ulihi na lang siya permi.

Subong, isa naman ka bata-on nga mag-asawa kaupod ang ila anak, may masanag nga bwasdamlag kung tani. Ang mga kinan-an kag natunga nila nga bangkay nagalinapta sa ila nga sala. Nagapakita nga siya tuyo batu-an sang isa ka amay, apang ang iya mga kuko dasig nga nagisi ang kaundan sini.

Pagkatapos sang tinuig sa hampang nga ini, tig-a na ang iya balatyagon sa tanan luwas diri.

Gin-isip niya liwat kag gindugang sa nagadaku nga numero.

Siento kuwarenta y siete.

Siento kuwarenta y siete ka inosente nga mga kabuhi.

Siento kuwarenta y siete ka tawo nga ang dugo yara sa mga kamot niya.

Nahibalu-an niya nga ang ini nga numero magadaku pa, kung indi niya ini mapunggan.

Makahalam-ot nga madali niya maobserbahan ang asawa. Wala sini ginatago ang pilas.

Ang ruta sini sa mga banwa sang Panay kag lampas pa. Nakita ini sa Tuguegarao, Cagayan de Oro, Mindoro kag Puerto Princesa. Ang istorya sang babaye permi mabati-an sang mga bata gikan sa ila ginikanan, sa kung diin sila ginapahog nga kuhaon sila sang babaye sa gab-i kung indi sila mangin mapinatihon.

Balan sang lalake nga maski siya magdaug, ang istorya sini magapabilin.

Apang indi nila mahibalu-an ang istorya sa likod sang karakter nga ini.

Ang amay nga tuyu lang masalbar paagi sa paghimalos, ang bana nga wala ginsapak ang mga pag-andam, ang lalaki nga ang gusto lang mangin kumpleto ang ila pamilya.

Samtang nagatindug ang lalaki sa dugo sang pinaka bag-o nga biktima sang babaye, siya natingala kung sin-o ang magapangibabaw?

Ang kadalag-an niya?

Ukon ang kadalag-an sini?

=—————————=

Engilsh Version

It’s all my fault.

He thinks back to when it all started. The signs were obvious, but he had the benefit of hindsight to guide him now. He prayed every day that God would deliver him from this labor. That was just for show of course, even if the lord told him to stop, in his heart he couldn’t go on until he fulfilled his penance.

It was a quiet afternoon when she came back. He met her at the airport with all the warmth he could muster. During her stay abroad, she would always write about how the cold made her feel. She described it as the chill becoming a ghost, doing everything possible to find a way into your veins.

He told her it didn’t matter. She had gone through a great ordeal and he wanted to get her settled in their home. He still hadn’t heard the whole story from her, but he could see in her eyes that she just wanted to forget. In the last letter she sent she wrote about how she couldn’t be away from her family anymore. He agreed, money be damned. He would see his wife through this and their family would come out stronger.

At least that’s what he believed.

The wedding ring on his finger burned. He wondered why he still wore it, considering the memories that played through his mind when it reflected the moonlight. He shook his head and tried to focus. He tracked her here through four different barrios and hoped that he could get to her before she ran away.

In the beginning, he foolishly thought that he would be able to stop her before she claimed another victim, after all she was easy to spot. In the harsh light of day that followed his first month of pursuing her, he had to admit to himself.

She was stronger. She was faster.

She possessed more cruelty than he could ever understand.

The ring felt heavy in his hand, but its glint reminded him of something else. This was his cross to bear, and there were only two ways it could ever end.

After a week of readjustment, she had fixed her jet lag and began to help around the house. The boys were thrilled to have their mother back. He wasn’t afraid to admit that the sight of her, playing with the children she had left, brought tears to his eyes.

When she accepted the offer to go abroad their children were too young to understand the sacrifice she was about to endure. That day, she hugged them tight and promised them that she would be back as soon as she can. She told them she would love them forever.

The last thing that she asked of him was to give his word that he would take care of their children.

There was no hesitation when he made that oath.

They waved goodbye and settled into their new lives, waiting for the day they would be complete again.

Maybe that was the last time she was truly human.

When she fled the first time, after the incident, he did all he could to find out what really happened abroad. He couldn’t travel there himself, but he knew that there was a community of Filipinos where she had stayed.

He wrote to them and their answers were troubling.

They said she never talked about her employer. During their gatherings she would make lumpia and talk about other things like her family back home and how much she missed them. One of the Filipinos there was an old nurse and she mentioned that there was something in her eyes. No matter how hard she tried to mask it, she was afraid.

The nurse wrote back about what she knew about the employer. First that he was a fellow Filipino that gained success abroad, though through which channels she wasn’t sure. He had specifically requested a Filipina be his caregiver and he was willing to pay a good amount of money for it.

Apart from that the nurse only had rumors that weren’t much help. Some said that he had to leave the Philippines because his family was involved in illegal ventures. Others say his wives never lived past two years of marriage and he left to avoid suspicion. There were kinder stories where he left to give his family a better life.

All these conflicting stories made no sense.

What happened made no sense.

How could she do that to the family she loved?

He was too late.

He was always too late.

This time it was a family of three, a young couple that had a bright future ahead of them. Their half-eaten corpses scattered around what remained of their sala*. It looked like the father tried to fight her off but her claws ripped through him easily.

After years of this game he was already numb to all emotions but one.

He counted again and added it to the growing number.

147.

147 innocent lives.

147 people whose blood was on his hands.

He knew that number would not stop growing, not until he finished what she started.

It was almost funny that she was so easy to track. She didn’t even try to hide the scar. Her path cut through the towns of Panay and even beyond. She was seen in Tuguegarao, Cagayan de Oro, Mindoro and Puerto Princesa. Her story was heard by children whose parents warned them that she would take them in the night if they were disobedient.

He knew that even if he succeeded, her legend would live on.

But they would never know of the forgotten character of the story.

The father seeking redemption in revenge, the husband that ignored the warnings, the man that only wanted his family to be complete.

As he stood over the blood of her latest victims, he wondered which ending would prevail?

His triumph?

Or hers?

*Living room

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Pauline Brooks Dalisay
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Pauline Brooks Dalisay

Inspired by the Maria Labo Urban Legends

Maria Labo Illustration by Sandra Sison

The post Maria Labo – Hiligaynon Translaiton appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Indi mapinsaran sang iban ang mga trahedya nga dala sang mga tinuga nga ini. Nagakadumduman ko sa gihapon ang mga sugilanon nga ginasugid sadto ni lola, mga sugilanon sang pagtimalos kag kapirdihan. Ginasundan nila ako sa akon mga hupa.

Nag-umpisa ang tanan sa akon nga lolo. Nagdesisyon sia nga magkaingin sa gamay nga bahin sang duta sa kabukiran agud ihanda ini para sa tigtalanum. Wala ko nahibaluan kon ngaa ginpili nia magkado sa malayo nga bahin sang bukid, mas malayo sa masami nia nga ginaplastaran. Malapit ato sa busay nga ginatawag nila nga “lamesa,” tungod sa tapan nga bato sa idalum.

Ginsunog nia ang kahoy nga ara didto kag amo ato ang umpisa sang mga ginamo.

Pagkatapos, ginkadtuan sia sang akon lola kag nanay sa payag agud dal-an sia sang panyapon kag updan sia sa gab-i. Nagakadumduman kuno nila gihapon ang mabaskog nga mga tunog sang mga tiil sang kabayo. Nagalanog sa ila nga memorya ang pamatyag sang kakulba sang ginpalibutan sila sang amo to nga mga tunog bag-o sila magtulog kon gab-i.

“Benito, gwa! Kinahanglan ka namon estoryahon!” Ginatinguhaan ni lola kag nanay nga ilugon ang tingug kada isugid nila ang sugilanon, apang indi nila ini mahimo sang husto. “Grabe ang kaakig nga ara sa tingug,” siling nila, “sobra pa sa amon sarang mailog.”

“Masanag ang bulan sadto nga gab-i.” Sa bahin nga ini ginalaragway ni lola ang mga tinuga. “Tawo sila halin ulo tubtob sa hawak, apang kabayo halin sa hawak tubtob sa ila mga tiil.” Ginpanumdom ko ang mga mito nga naggikan sa lain-lain nga bahin sang kalibutan, kon sa diin may mga tinuga nga tunga-tunga nga kabayo kag tawo nga nagabulig sa katawhan. Siling sa akon ni lola indi gid mabinuligon ang mga espiritu nga ini. Nagkari sila agud magtimalos.

“Gabaan ka gid sang imo pagkamatinaastaason kag indi pagtahod.” Gintudlo sang manugmando sang mga kabalan si lolo. Ginhambalan sia sini nga napatay ang iya utod sang ginsunog ni lolo ang kahoy nia. Nagpakitluoy ang lolo ko para sa iya nga kabuhi. Indi man nia kon tani pagsunugon ang kahoy kon nahibaluan nia nga may taglugar ini.

Wala sang labot ang mga tinuga.

Sa amo nag-umpisa ang trahedya.  Naghalin ang mga tinuga sadto nga gab-i, apang nagpabilin ang ila nga sumpa. Indi mahambal sang mga doctor kon ano gid man ang masakit sang akon nga lolo. Nag-untat sia kaon tungod kada magkaon sia nagaubo sia kag nagasuks sang dugo. Nagakasunog kuno ang tutunlan nia kon nagasuka sia.

Wala sang mahimo ang akon nga lola, nagpakonsulta sila sa manog bulong, sa amon lokal nga faith healer. Gintinguhaan sang manog bulong nga dal-on sa estoryahanay ang mga tinuga. Hambal ni lola kada gab-i nagagamit ang manog bulong sang lain-lain nga ritwal, apang wala sang pulos ang mga ini.

Indi gid mauloulohan ang mga tinuga.

Matapos napatay si lolo, naigo sang kilat ang magulang nga lalaki ni mama samtang ara sia sa ibabaw sang puno sang lubi sa gwa sang ila balay. Matapos ang tatlo ka tuig na patay sia sa iya katulugon.

Nadula ang kalabanan sa mga pagkabutang sang pamilya ni nanay kag nagpabilin sila nga pigado tubtob napatay si lola tungod sa cancer.

Wala nakabalo ang mga tinuga nga ini kon ano ang buot silingon sang kaluoy, mangita sila sang balos tubtob nabayaran sila paagi sa dugo.

Maghalong sa mga kabalan, kay indi sila mamati sa inyo pagpangayo sang kapatawaran. Kag maghalong sa palibot sang mga kahoy sa babaw sang kabukiran, indi mo lang mabal-an kon may taglugar dira, indi tubtob ulihi na.

=———————=

English Version

The tragedies that these creatures bring are unimaginable to some. I still remember the stories that my lola used to tell, stories of vengeance and loss. They follow me in my nightmares.

It all started with my lolo. He decided to kaingin a small piece of land in the mountains, to prepare it for the planting season. I don’t know why he decided to go further up the mountain, away from his usual spot. It was near the waterfall they called “lamesa”, relating to the flat rock on the bottom.

He burned the tree that was there and that was the start of the troubles.

My lola and mother joined him in the payag (nipa hut) afterwards to bring him dinner and to spend the night with him. They still remember the loud hoofbeats. The feeling of dread when the sound circled their small hut still echoes in their memories before they sleep at night.

“Benito, come out. We need to talk to you.” My mother and lola tried to replicate the voice every time they told the story, but they said they could never get it right. “There was too much anger in the voice,“ they said, “more than we can mimic.”

“The moonlight was bright that night.” This was the part of the story where lola describes the creatures. “They were human from head to trunk, but were horses from their trunk to their feet.” I thought back to myths from a different part of the world, where half-human half-horse beings would help humankind. Lola told me that these spirits weren’t helpful at all. They came seeking vengeance.

“You will pay for such arrogance and disrespect.” The leader of the kabalans pointed to my lolo. It told him that my lolo killed its brother when he burned his tree. My lolo begged for his life. He would not have burned the tree had he known there was something living there.

The creatures didn’t care.

Thus began the tragedy. The creatures left that night but their curse lingered. Doctors were never able to tell what exactly was wrong with my lolo. He stopped eating because every time he ate he would vomit and cough up blood. He said it would burn his throat every time he vomited.

My lola had no other choice, she consulted the manggagamot, our local faith healer. The faith healer tried to reason with the creatures. My lola said that night after night the faith healer would try another ritual, but it was all for naught.

The creatures would not be appeased.

After my lolo died, my mom’s elder brother was struck by lightning while he was at the top of the coconut tree outside their house. After three years he died in his sleep.
My mother’s family lost most of their properties and were trapped in poverty until lola died of cancer.

These creatures don’t know the meaning of mercy, they will seek their vengeance until they are repaid in blood

Beware the kabalans, for they will not listen to your pleas of forgiveness. And be careful around the trees high up in the mountains, you will never know if one makes its home there, not until it’s too late.

————————–————————–———————

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Paul Aries Valera
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Paul Aries Valera

Adapted from a Story told by Grace Collantes

Kabalan Illustration by Ysa Peñas
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The post Kabalan – Hiligaynon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

“Pagpanghimos na, malakat ta bag-o magbutlak ang adlaw.”

Ginpukaw ako ni papa gikan sa manami nga dalamguhanon. Nagalupad ako sa ibabaw sang kabukiran kag pakadto sa kagulangan nga daw kaangay sang isa ka superhero. Apang may katapusan ang mga damgo, ti-on na para atubangon ang bag-o nga adlaw. Akon gin-umpisan ang akon adlaw pina-agi sa pagpamahaw kag pag-andam sang amon mga galamiton. Nagumon ang akon kamot sa lambat, “baw sapagka laminday gid sa imo,” pangakig ni papa sa akon nga pareho lang kagapon.

“Makadto kita sa linaw subong.”

Makatilingala. Si papa kag ang iban pa nga mangingisda nagalikaw makadto didto kay delikado-gulpi lang kis-a nagabaskog ang butong sang tubig. Apang, daw wala man ko sang mahimo. Kada adlaw naga gamay ang amon mga hulik, indi mahibal-on kon hasta kutob kami mangabuhi sa kadagatan.

Kis-a akon nahuna-huna-an nga ma lisensya ako kay papa nga malakat na lang ko sa ciudad kag didto mangita trabaho. Mas maayo pa ina sang sa magpalibog pirmi kon may mahulik bala kami nga isda para may maka-on.

“Pag-andam gid  kag siguraduha nga indi mag sunod sa kasanag.”

Amo na ang permi ginapa-andam sang mga mga mangingisda tagsa nga manghulik isda, ambot kon ano ang bu-ot silingon sina apang daw nagapahamtang sang pamatyag kon makabati ako sina. Daw nagakabati-an ko ina adlaw-adlaw sang nag-umpisa ako mag-upod sa baroto.

Daw kamag-an sang lambat subong aw, basi nagkusog na ko. Basi sa sunod pwede na ako mag ubra sa construction sa ciudad.

“Tabuni imo nga dulunggan!”

Nakibot gid ko sa singgitan ni papa. Wala ko kabalo kon nga-a ginatabunan nya ang iya dulunggan. Katahum sang ambahanon. Daw kaangay sang mga naga-ambahan nga mga manugtunda samtang nagalupad palibot sa akon. Nakabatyag ako sang kahilway, akon mabatyagan ang kalibutan. Gusto ko kadtu-an kon sa diin nagahalin ang ambahanon.

“Indi magkadto sa tubig!”

Daw amo sina ang ginhambal ni papa, apang daw wala ko siya nabati-an maayo. Gintilawan nya nga butungon ako sa akon braso apang kinahanglan ko pangitaon ang nagakanta sang sining matahum nga ambahanon. Pirmi nya lang gid ko napunggan, san-o pa ni sya mag-untat. Wala sya kabalo kon ano kabudlay magpadulong sa palaabuton. Wala na sang bilin para sa amon diri. Wala na sang isda nga ginahatag ang kadagatan sa amon. Kinahanglan na namon magkadto sa lugar kon sa diin may paglaum.

“Ang kasanag! Indi pagsunda ang kasanag!”

Makita ko na sila, sapagka tahum sa ila. Ginatawag ako sang kasanag sa idalum sang tubig. Wala ini masayran ni papa. Tigulang na gid sya para makita ang palaabuton. Indi kaangay ko. Sundan ko ang kasanag, amo ini ang maka salbar sa amon tanan. Makakita ako sang madamo nga kwarta agud makakaon kami. Bay-i lang, mabal-an ya gid. Mabal-an lang ni 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.

*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

Translated by Rehel Jemera Sausa
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Rehel Jemera Sausa

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
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The post Kataw – Hiligaynon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Sa tion lamang sang full moon ukon bilog nga bulan lamang makikit-an ang lunar eclipse kag kung magaagi ini sa anino sang aton kalibutan.

Sa tatlo nga eclipse, ang full moon gid ang pinakamatahum kag indi basta basta malimtan. Makit-an gid naton ini kung ang bilog gid nga bulan maga-agi sa umbral shadow sang kalibutan. Trenta y cinco porsyento lamang ang tyansa nga magatabo ang lunar eclipse kag pilang beses lang gid naton makita sa isa ka tuig.

Sa tion sang total lunar eclipse kaabot gihapon ang silak sang adlaw sa bulan apang indi galing direkta. Maagi danay ang silak sang adlaw sa atmospera sang kalibutan bag-o ma-separar ang pinaka-asul sini nga kasanag bag-o mangin kulay dalag ukon kahil– ang kolor sang adlaw. Ang pula nga suga nga ini ay nagalain ang direksyon kung ini mag-agi sa atmospera sang kalibutan kag kung ginaiwagan ang bulan. Muni ang rason kung ngaman ginatawag ang ‘Lunar Eclipse’ bilang ‘Blood Moon’ ukon dugo nga bulan.

Muni ang ila tawag.

Tistingan ninyo ipaguha ang inyo nga ‘telescope’ samtang Blood Moon para makit-an ninyo sa inyo kaugalingon. Obserbahi ang mga bitoon kung paano ini maghulag kung paano magpalayo sa aton panan-awan samtang may eclipse. Diri, mas makit-an gid naton ang pagkapula sang iwag asta sa indi na gid kita makalingad sa pagtulok diri.

Daw sa ‘deja vu’ ukon hitabo nga daw natapos na. Nga daw natabo na ini sa imo sadto sa pila na ka-beses. Kululbaan kag makatilindog balahibo ang pamatyagan kapin pa gid sa imo likod. Abi mo kung ano na, gali “eclipse” ma lang.

Pero halong lang, indi gid pagdirekta ang “telescope” sa “Blood Moon” kung indi ka gusto nga may makit-an ka sa pagtalikod mo.

=————————-=

English Version

English Version

A lunar eclipse can only occur at full moon and only if the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow.

Of the three kinds of lunar eclipses a total lunar eclipse is the most striking. Supposedly it is when the whole moon passes through Earth’s umbral shadow. Only 35% of eclipses are total lunar eclipses. Lunar eclipses occur a few times per year.

During a total lunar eclipse indirect sunlight can still reach the moon. That sunlight has to first pass the Earth’s atmosphere which filters out most blue colored light leaving a bright red or orange glow. This red light refracts through Earth’s atmosphere and illuminates the moon. This is why a total lunar eclipse is sometimes referred to as a ‘Blood Moon’

Or so they say.

Take a telescope out during a Blood Moon and see for yourself. See how the stars seem to move out of the way when the eclipse occurs. How the movement of the light seems to flicker and fade almost as if there’s something else that the light is reflecting on.

If you’re lucky you might see the small bits of orange and yellow light move around in big dots. You’ll see them twist in a zig-zag pattern toward the moon. When the eclipse starts you might see the light dots stop and stay stationary for the whole duration of the eclipse. You’ll see the red light grow deeper and deeper and you won’t be able to look away.

There will be a feeling of déjà vu. Like you’ve seen this moment happen a hundred times before. You’ll feel a deep chill in your spine and for some reason you’ll be scared. You’ll think that’s ridiculous, it’s only an eclipse.

But be careful not to point your telescope directly above the Blood Moon.

You might see something looking back.

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Trisha Delfin
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Trisha DelfinTrisha Delfin

Story inspired by Laho description in The Soul Book. Demetrio & Cordero-Fernando 1991.

Laho Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
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Watercolor by Nicole Chiu
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The post Laho – Hiligaynon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Wala — Tu-o — Talikod — Atubang

Lantawa ang pagsaot kag paghulag, ang iya li-og nagabukal-bukal . Ang pugot nagahulag sa kapatagan

nga madasig kag manaya-naya pareho sang kilat. Ang saot sini makabihag kag makawiwili, apang masobra pa sa  pagka-tarso ang yara sa iya panghulag.

Baboy talunon — pispis — man-og — ido

Ang pugot indi bal-anon nga nagabag-o sang porma, nagailis sa pinakaordinaryo nga sahi sang sapat. Ginasundan sini ang iya pagsaot, ang pagki-ay sang lawas sini nagalaragway sang imahe sang mahika kag kag kalikasan.

Ang transpormasyon naghatag laragway sa kanta sang kagulangan, kag sa mga nagapuyo diri.

Wala — Baboy talunon — Tu-o — Man-og

Wala ini sang baba, apang mabatyagan mo ang iya harakhak. Ang pugot isa ka tarso nga sahi, nagikan sa mahika kag katingalahan. Nagabalik ini sa iya matuod nga porma, pabalik sa mga sapat kag maski tawo. Ang pagbukal sang iya li-og nagadungan sa ritmo sang iya saot.

Atubang — Talikod — Tu-o — Wala

Nagbalik na ini sa iya orihinal nga porma, ang iya saot magatapos na. Madamo pa sang kinahanglan pamatyagan sa iya panghulag, nagasugid ini sang dalagku pa nga pagdiskubre. Mga istorya sang mga higante nga kanibal, kag makatilingala nga manggad, mga katalagman nga indi mapatihan kag perpekto nga premyo.

Wala — Tu-o — Wala — Tu-o

Ang pag-uya-uya sang pugot nagapatulog sa imo. Ang imo ulo puno sang mga posibilidad nga ikaw mangin bagani.

Sa kaagahun, ini madula, balik sa mga kakahuyan nga ginaistaran sini, apang sa karon magasaot lamang. Nagabukal-bukal ang li-og kadungan sang ritmo sini. Magabaylo ini sang porma kaangay sang mga sahi sa kagulangan, kag dayon ikaw magabugtaw.

===—————————————-===

English Version

Left – Right – Back – Forth

See it dance and move, as its neck-stump froths and bubbles. The headless one moves through the field as swift and as graceful as lightning. Its dance captivates and entertains, yet there is more than mere mischief in its movements.

Boar – Bird – Snake – Dog

The headless one seamlessly changes shape, transforming into the most mundane of beasts. It still follows its dance, the rhythmic swaying of its bodies call forth images of magic and nature. The transformations give insight to the song of the forest, and those that live in it.

Left – Boar – Right – Snake

It has no mouth but its laughter can be felt. The headless one is a playful creature, a being made of magic and wonder. It shifts from its true form back into those of animals and even of humans. The bubbling of its neck-stump seems to follow the rhythm of its dance.

Back – Forth – Right – Left

It shifts to its true form, the dance about to come to an end. There is more to feel than just the wonder of its movements, it foretells great adventure to be found: A tale of cannibalistic giants and wondrous treasure, of unimaginable danger and perfect rewards.

Left – Right – Left –Right

The swaying of the headless one leads you to sleep. Your head is filled with the possibilities of the hero you could become. In the morning, it will be gone, back to the trees it calls its home, but for now it will dance. Its neck-stump will bubble and froth to its own rhythm. It will change shape to the denizens of the forest, and then you will awaken.

To seize your destiny.

————————–————————–————————–—

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Pauline Brooks Dalisay
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Pauline Brooks Dalisay

Story inspired by Awan-ulo-na entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Awan-ulo-na Illustration by Leandro Geniston fromAklat ng mga Anito
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The post Awan-ulo-na – Hiligaynon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

“Indi pag-buy-i! Dali-a!”

Nagakurog ang akun mga tudlo, samtang ginatulod ako nga mag-una sang bag-ong yanggaw.

Wala sang tyempo para magpangduha – duha. Ginalauman niya kami.

Nabatyagan ko ang bug-at sang sako sa likod ko, samtang ang unod  sini ang akon ginakay-o.

Ginpamangkot ko ang akun upod kung pwede nga sulungon na lang namon ang patyo para sa inughalad,

apang siling niya preska nga karne lang ang ginakaon. Wala na ako nagbais, kay maski hubin pa siya, magulang siya gihapon sa akon, kag ang amon nga sahi, ginarespeto ang edad, wala sang liwan.

Akon ginbalikan ang tyempo nga ini nagsugod. Isa lang atu ka gab-e nga pareho sini. Pagpanglakaton sa tungang gab-I ang sabat sa akun madalum nga ginabatyag. Kung tani nahibaluan ko nga sala ako.

Gulpi lang nagkudog-kudog ang akon dughan. Nagapalagyo ako palayo gikan sa isa ka daku, kag maitom nga sapat, nga indi ko makita. Nanglaktod ako sa kakahuyan, samtang ginapanumdum nga ang mga kahoy magaserbi nga akun panagu-an, apang madasig ang ini nga sapat, kag dayun niya ako nalab-ot.

Napangatubang ko ang mala-higante nga pareho sang baboy-ramo , ang dalag nga ngipon nya nagabadlak sa kasanag sang bulan. Nag-singgit ako sadto, pero wala man sang pulos.  Wala sang maski isa nga makabulig sa akon, kag bisan may mga tawo, ano bala ang mahimo nila batuk sa sini nga sapat.

Ginpiyong ko ang akon mga mata kag nangamuyo na matapos na ini dayun, kag naghulat nga daw kaangay sang walay katubtuban. Ginmuklat ko ang akon mga mata, kag gilayon ang nawong sang pinakamatahum nga babaye, nga akon nakita. Nagasuksok ini sang malaba nga bestida nga itom. Ang iya mga mata, naga baga nga makahaladlok tulukon.

Naglakat siya pakadto sa akon, samtang ako indi kahulag sang kahadlok. Wala ko mahibaluan kung sa diin na nagkadto ang sapat, kag gilayon ko siya nga ginpangandaman, nga delikado kag dapat kami makapalagyo sa peligro. Ginkadlawan nya lamang ako kag ginsilingan nga wala ako sang dapat kabalak-an.

Ako iya ginhalukan.

Ang sabor masami nga daw iya sang pinakamalapuyot nga dugo. Nagkudog ang akon lawas sang nagtandug ang iya bibig, nga daw ako ginkilatan. Daw madula-an ako sang pagginhawa kag ginhapo nga daw kaangay sang isa ka sakayanon.

Kag siya nadula.

Amu ato ang pagsugod sang akon pagpanglakaton. Sadalayon, nakilala ko ang akon isigkapareho, mga sahi nga nagapangabuhi nga daw kaangay sang ordinaryo samtang ginapunggan ang ila paglaway sa dugo sa masarangan nila.

Ginakahuya ko gihapon ang akon una nga pagkasa. Ang akun pagkagusto tama ka kusog kag wala ko mahibaluan paano punggan. Dugo kag karne lang ang akon nga gusto, kag madamo ini sa syudad.

Reana, ang iya ngalan. Sala nga nagsalig siya sa akon, kag sala man ako para dumdumon ang iya ngalan.

Kis-a, samtang gakatulog ako, makita ko gihapon ang iya guya nga nagapakitluoy. Nagbugtaw ako nga nagapalamugnaw, naga-singgit samtang nagapangayo ako sang pasensya, nagtulok ako sa palibot pero wala man sang tawo.

Ang mga malain nga damgo ang pinakamabudlay nga parte sini. Ginadaman ako sang mga tingug sang pagsinggit sang mga nabiktima ko. Ginpamangkot ko ang akon kaupod kung siya ginadaman man, apang ang siling lang niya, “maanad ka na lang na sadalayon. Isa ka adlaw magustuhan mo na ina.”

Nahadlok ako kay basi insakto siya.

Ang iban nga bag-ong yanggaw, ginpauntat kami sa madaku nga kahoy kag kami ginpahipos. May mga tawo didto, mga mangangaso nga pareho sa amun. Apang lain nga sahi sang sapat ang ila ginapangita.

Ginapangita nila ang pinakatigulang. Ang pinakatigulang, nga amu man ang amun tuyu bisitahun sang akon kaupod.

Ginsilingan ako sang akon kaupod, nga hulatun kag magpanago samtang ginabantayan ang halad, kag siya na ang bahala sa mga tawo. Nagpungko ako sa kahoy, kag naglaum nga wala sang mga pagsinggit.

Sa akon pagkakibot, gilayon nga natapos sang bag-ong yanggaw ang kilanlan himuon. Duwa lang sila kabilog, kag mahapos lang ang pag-gulot sang ila mga li-og.

“Lapit na lang kita. Mga diyes minutos nga pagpanglakaton kag malab-ot na naton ang iya nga kuweba,” siling sang akon kaupod.

Ginpamangkot ko siya, kung pwede namun ilisan ang halad sang lawas, sang mga lalaki nga bag-o niya lang ginpatay, pero gintampa nya ako.

“Untati na ang paglaum sa pagkamortal nga wala ka na! Ini nga halad maga-paayo sang pabor para sa atun halin sa tigulang. Ginpili ta ina para sa ini nga tuyu, indi bala?!,” siling niya.

“Pero tama pa siya ka bata. Sigurado, magustuhan man sang tigulang ang iban,” sabat ko.

Antes ako makasugpon, gin-agaw sang bag-ong yanggaw ang sako, halin sa akon likod, kag gin-ula ang unod sini.

Mga banta katorse anyos ang pang edaron sini nga babaye kag wala gihapon sang animo. Ginkuha sang akon kaupod ang butkon sini, kag gilayon nga ginpaggwa ang iya mga matalum nga kuko kag ginkuha ang dugo sang makaluluoy nga tinuga.

Nag -ngurob ang akon nga tiyan.

“Nabatyagan mo man ang gutom, indi bala?,” siling niya.

“Untati ina. Inosente siya,” ginabatu-an ko pero daw kanamit gid sang sabor sang dugo.

“Wala sang inosente. Isa lang siya ka pagkaon. Tandaan mo ina.”

Gin kuha niya ang corazon sang  babayi kag gintulod sa akon dughan. Nag-ilig ang dugo niya kag naglapta sa mga dahon kag ugat sa palibot namon. Gindilapan ko ang akon bibig kag nasaboran ang matam-is nga unod sa akon dila.

“Amu ini ang atun ihalad.”

Ang akon utok nagpalumba sa mga imahe nga pula kag itom, mga singgit kag pagpakitluoy nga wala ginhatag.  Ginpamati-an ko ang pagkudog sang akon corazon, kag sa sina nga ti-on, kinapoy na ako sang pagpakigbatu.

Indi na ako tawo, kag indi ako dapat magpakuno-kuno nga isa ako. Subong nga gab-I, makita ko na ang tigulang kag amon paga-ambitan ang unod. Ginsulit-sulit ko ini sa akon paminsaron asta nga amu na lang ini ang akon madumduman.

Antes magpadayun, ginpauntat ko ang akon upod kag namangkot.

Nagkurisong siya, apang nagsabat man. Ginsugiran nya ako, nga ang tigulang, tama na gid kadugay, mas tigulang pa sahi namon, kag pinakakusog gid katama. Sa gamay niya nga kuweba, may mga magagmay kag itom nga pisu, nga iya ginagamit para ipa-on halin sa katawhan pakadto sa kasi-ot sang kadulman.

Wala ako kabalo kung mapati ako sa iya pero kami nagpadayon.

Nalab-ot gid man namon ang kuweba sang tigulang kag nabudlayan ako mag ginhawa. May makatilingala nga klase sang gahum. Gahum nga nagasugo nga dapat pamati-an.

Gintulod ako sang akon kaupod kag ako nagluhod. Ginhalad ang corazon sa ba-ba sang kuweba kag didto ko siya nakita.

Kalabanan sa mga aswang daw tawo ang itsura, pero ang ini nga tigulang daw tinak-an na sang sini nga paagi. Mas tigulang pa sa pinakatigulang nga aswang nga akon nakita.

Nagkagat siya sa corazon kag kami iya ginpasulod.

“Dali kamo sa akun puloy-an.”

Ang madalum niya nga tingug ang nagpakurog sang akun tul-an. Nagasabat ang akon utok sa akon mga tinaga.

Indi na ako tawo, kag indi ako dapat magpakuno-kuno nga isa ako. Subong nga gab-I, makita ko na ang tigulang kag amon paga-ambitan ang unod.

Akon ini ginsulit-sulit.

Indi na ako tawo.

Indi ako dapat magpakuno-kuno nga isa ako.

Makita ko na ang tigulang kag amon paga-ambitan ang unod.

Daw sa nahibalu-an niya ang akon ginapaminsar, kag gin-agda ako sang tigulang nga magkagat sa corazon sang babaye.

Handa ko nga ginbatun.

Kay indi na ako tawo.

Kag indi ako dapat magpakuno-kuno nga isa ako.

=———————–=

English Version

“Don’t drop it! Hurry up!”

My fingers were shaking as the other newborn nudged me forward. There wasn’t time for hesitation. He was expecting us.

The sack on my back feels heavy as I adjust the contents inside. I asked my companion if we could just raid the cemetery for the tribute but he said that only ate fresh meat would be suitable. I didn’t argue, young as he was, he was still older than me and our kind respects age, if nothing else.

I think back to when this all started. It was a night just like this. A late evening stroll was the perfect remedy to the pressure I was feeling. I wish I knew back then how wrong I was.

In an instant my chest was pounding. I was running away from a large, black creature that I couldn’t see. I cut through the forest thinking the trees would serve as my sanctuary but the thing was nimble, it easily moved through the undergrowth and caught up with me.

I came face to face with a gigantic, boar-like creature, its yellow teeth glimmering in the moonlight. I screamed then, but it didn’t matter. There was no one there to help me, and even if there were people what could they do against such a terrible creature.

I closed my eyes and prayed for it to be over quickly, and I waited for what seemed to be an eternity. I opened them and cast my eyes on the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She was wearing a long, black dress and her eyes held back a fire that was terrifying to behold.

She walked up to me and I was still paralyzed from fear. I didn’t know where the creature had gone and I tried to warn her that it was dangerous and that we should get to safety. She laughed right to my face and told me there was nothing to worry about.

Then she kissed me.

It tasted like the darkest shade of blood. I felt my body quivering at the touch of her lips, flowing throughout my body like a torrent of lightning. Breath was sucked out of my lungs and I gasped for air as if I were a drowned sailor.

Then she was gone.

That was the start of my journey. Eventually I met others of my kind, those living in the edges of society, trying to contain their bloodlust as best as they can.

I still feel shame from the first time I went out to hunt. The drive was strong with me then and I didn’t know how to control it. All I wanted was blood and meat, and there was an ample supply in the city.

Reana, that was her name. She was a fool to have trusted me and I was a fool to remember her name. Sometimes, when I sleep I can see her face begging for mercy. I wake up in a cold sweat, screaming and I try to tell her I’m sorry, but I look around and there’s no one there.

The nightmares are the worst part of this. All my past victims haunt me with their screams. I asked my companion if he had dreams too and he said, “It will sort itself out in time. One day you’ll learn to enjoy it.”

I’m afraid he may be right.

The other newborn makes us stop by a large tree and motions me to be quiet. There are humans here, hunters just like us, though our prey is vastly different. The humans are looking for the old one, the one my companion and I seek to visit.

My companion tells me to lie in wait and to protect the tribute while he deals with the humans. I sit by the tree and hope there are no screams.

To my surprise the other newborn finishes the job quickly. There were only two of them apparently and it was nothing that couldn’t be handled by a swift strike to their necks.

“We’re very close, only a ten minute walk and we should arrive at the entrance to his cave,” he said.

I ask him if we could exchange the tribute with the bodies of the men he just killed and he slaps me across the face.

“Stop clinging to humanity that you do not have! This tribute will put us in good favor with the old one. We specifically picked it out for that purpose, remember?!” he said.

“But she’s so young. Surely the old one would be satisfied with the others,” I replied.

Before I could react the other newborn grabs the sack from my back and forces its contents to the ground.

The girl could not have been older than fourteen and she was still unconscious. My companion takes her arm and takes out his claws, drawing blood from the unfortunate soul.

In that moment my stomach grumbles.

“You feel it too don’t you? The hunger,” he says.

“Stop, she is innocent,” I try to keep my focus but the blood smells so tasty.

“No one is innocent. They’re only a next meal. Remember that.”

He rips out the girl’s heart and pushes it to my chest. Blood flows from her and spreads across the leaves and roots around us. I lick my lips and taste the sweet flavor of flesh upon my tongue.

“This will be our tribute.”

My mind races with images of red and black, of screams and mercy ungiven. I listen to the sound of my beating heart and in that moment I am tired of fighting.

I am no longer human, and I shouldn’t be pretending I am. Tonight we will see the old one and share this flesh. I repeat the mantra in my head until it’s all I can remember.

Before moving forward I stop my companion and ask a question.

He frowns, but gives an answer. He tells me that the old one is ancient, far older than others of our kind, and more powerful than we could ever imagine. In his cave are small, black chicks that he uses to turn others away from humanity into the embrace of darkness.

I don’t know if I believe him but we push through ahead.
We finally reach the cave where the old one resides and I find it hard to breathe. There is a strange power here, one that demands to be heard.

My companion nudges me forward and I kneel. I present the heart to the mouth of the cave and that’s when I see him.
Most aswang have human forms, but it seems like the old one had tired of that affectation. He looked more primal than any aswang I had seen before.

He takes a bite out of the heart and bids us to enter.
“Welcome to my home.”

His voice is deep and sends a jolt down my spine. My mind echoes with my own words.

I am no longer human, and I shouldn’t be pretending I am. Tonight we will see the old one and share this flesh.
And I repeat.

I am no longer human.

I will not pretend that I am.

I will see the old one and share this flesh.

As if he knows what is going on in my head the old one offers me a bite of the girl’s heart.

I readily accept.

For I am no longer human.

And I will not pretend that I am.

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Pauline Brooks Dalisay
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Pauline Brooks Dalisay

Inspired by the Aswang na Kalibonan legends

Ebwa illustration by Andrew Rebuldela
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewrebuldela/

The post Aswang sa Kalibonan – Hiligaynon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Nakilala ko si Mita sang nagligad nga duha ka semana. Lain ang pirmi ko ginaagihan maglakat papuli halin sa estasyon sang MRT, pero sang adlaw nga ato ginpili ko nga magtilaw sang bag-o nga butang. Nakibot ako sang nakita ko sia sa kalsada, nagatulog sa daan nga mga diario kag may tutoy nga nagahigda sa ingud nia. Indi mahimu nga magtaas sa anum ka tuig ang iya nga edad. Ginpukaw sia sang tutoy kag nakita nia ako. Naglakat sia palapit sa akon kag naghambal “mano po” samtang ginkuha ang akon kamot kag ginpalapit sa agtang nia. Nangita ako sang mahimo ko nga ihatag sa iya apang mga sketchbook kag lapis lang ang unod sang bag ko. Ginhambalan ko sia nga wala ako sang mahatag sa iya, kag nagsabat sia nga “Okay, po. Maayong gab-i, po!” nga may nagabanaag nga ngirit. Nagsaad ako sa iya nga magabalik ako agud may mahatag sa iya sa masunod nga adlaw, gani nagngirit sia kag nagpasalamat liwat.

Amu ina ang rason kon ngaa pirmi na ako gakadto diri. Ginasigurado ko nga may makaon si Mita bag-o ako magpuli kag puro lamang ngirit ang ara sa iya guya. Ginpamangkot ko kon ngaa nagaisahanon sia kag kon ano ang natabo sa mga ginikanan niya, kag nagsabat sia sa akon nga wala sia nakahibalo. Bilog nia nga kabuhi ara na sia sa kalsada, apang wala lang ini sa iya. Makasalig sia sa kabuot sang mga dumuluong sa iya.

Ginpamangkot ko sia kon kaigo man ang mga limos nga nagakabaton niya, kon may pagkaon man sia para sa adlaw-adlaw. Nagsiling si Mita nga may mga tion nga ginalabayan lang sia sang mga tawo kag pirmi sila nagapakuno-kuno nga wala nila sia nagakakita, gani nasubuan sia, apang ara pirmi ang iya anghel de la guardia agud magbulig sa iya.

Ginsugiran nia ako nga may ara sang mabuot nga anghel nga pirmi nagabilin sang mga bulak para sa iya kada magtulog sia. Ginakalipay ni Mita ang katahum sang mga ini, apang ara gid ang mga adlaw nga wala sia sang kalan-on. Hambal nia sa akon daw matam-is nga mga prutas ang sabor sang mga ini, daw paho. Naglitik ang tagipusuon ko sang nabatian ko ato. Nagapati ako nga indi dapat amu sini ang mga butang. Wala dapat sang nagakabuhi nga kasubong sini. Ginhatagan ko sia sang Jollibee takeout kag ginhambalan ko sia nga makitaay kami bwas. Ang “Salamat, ate” ni Mita pirmi may kaupod nga hanggud nga ngirit. Sa banta ko indi ko gid ina malimtan.

Makabuluang ang nagsunod nga aldaw. Kasisidmon na kag nagalakat ako papuli sang may pulis nga nagaharang sa bahin sang kalsada kon diin dampi nagaplastar si Mita. Pamatyag ko daw wala tahaw ang akon pagtangis sang nabatian ko ang balita. Luwason nia kon tani ang iya tutoy nga gin tulod nia palayo sa alagyan sang taxi. Wala sia nakaluwas. Ginpamangkot ako sang pulis kon kilala ko sia kag ang iya mga ginikanan. Gintrapuhan ko ang akon mga luha kag ginhambal sa iya ang tanan ko nga nahibaluan, apang wala man sang madamo nga nasugid si Mita sa akon.

Nagpabilin ako sa hilit sang pila ka oras. Amo lang ini ang mahimu ko para sa iya. Nagapaninghamot nga daw mga bulak ang iya ginplastaran. Nangamuyo ako sang ara ako didto.

Ginhimo ko ang katapusan nga pagtulok sa lugar kon diin kami nagkilalahay kag nakita ko nga ara didto ang mga bulak. Nahibaluan ko nga indi ko malimtan ato nga bata kag ang iya nga ngirit. Basi may ara man iban nga nakakilala sa iya kay nakabati ako sang tingug sa malayo nga bahin nga nagtawag sa pangalan nia. Ginhatag ko ang ulihi ko nga pagpaalam kag nagpanaw papuli.

=———————————=

English Version

I met Mita two weeks ago. I would always take the same route going home, walking from the MRT station, but that day I decided that I might as well try something new. I was surprised to find her on the street, she was sleeping on some dirty newspapers and there was a puppy lying next to her. She couldn’t have been more than six years old. The puppy woke her up and she saw me. She walked up to me and said “mano po”, taking my hand to her forehead and I tried to find something to give her, but my bag only had my sketchbooks and pencils. I told her that I couldn’t give her anything then and she said “Ok po, have a good night po!” with a radiant smile. I promised her that I would be back and give her something the next day and she smiled and gave me another thank you.

That’s how I ended up going here every day. I always make sure Mita has something to eat before I go back home and she’s nothing but smiles. I asked her why she was alone and what happened to her parents, and she told me she didn’t know. She had always lived her life on the street, but that didn’t matter to her, she could always count on the kindness of strangers to help her.

Today I asked her if begging was enough for her, if she had something to eat every day. Mita told me that there were times when people just walked by, they always pretended not to see her and that would make her sad sometimes, but there was always her guardian angel to help her.

She told me there would always be this kind angel that left her flowers every time she slept. Mita enjoyed how pretty they were, but there were those days when she had nothing to eat. She told me they tasted like sweet fruits, like a mango. My heart broke a little after hearing that, I don’t think this is the way things should be, no one’s life should be like this. I gave her some Jollibee take out and told her I’d see her tomorrow. Mita’s “Thank you Ate.” Always came with a giant smile. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that.

The next day was senseless. I was walking home at sunset and there was a policeman blocking off the area of the street where Mita was. I don’t think I stopped crying as I heard the news. She was trying to save her puppy and pushed it out of the way of a taxi. She didn’t make it. The policeman asked if I knew her and asked if I knew her parents. I dried my tears and told him what I could, but there wasn’t much that Mita let me know.

I stayed at the corner for a few hours. It was the least I could do for her. Her spot still smelled like flowers and I said a prayer for her while I was there.

I took one last look at the place that I met her and saw there were flowers there. I know that I won’t be able to forget the girl with that smile. Someone else must have known her because I could hear a voice calling her name in the distance. I said my last goodbye and walked back home with tears in my eyes.
————————–————————–————————–

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Paul Aries Valera
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Paul Aries Valera

Inspired by the Kamanan Daplak entry in Myth Museum. Medina. 2015.

Kamanan Daplak Illustration by Kayla Teodoro
Tumblr: mikaylateodoro.tumblr.com

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The post Kamanan Daplak – Hiligaynon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Ek-Ek-Ek

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

Ek-Ek-Ek

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

Ek-Ek-Ek

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

Ek-Ek-Ek

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

Ek-Ek-Ek

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

=-=——————————–=

English Version

Ek-Ek-Ek

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

Ek-Ek-EK

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

Ek-EK-EK

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

EK-EK-EK

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

EK-EK-EK

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

————————–————————–————————–—

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

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

Story inspired by the Ekek legends

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

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

The post Ekek – Hiligaynon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Mga adlaw nga pareho sang ligad ang adlaw nga ini sang nagmasakit si Lola kag hindi makabangon para magkadto sa bukid kag mag pang-ani. Isa sa mga pinakabata nga babahe nga nagapang-edadon sang walo katuig ang nag bulontaryo nga mag upod sa iya tiyo kag sa iya magulang nga bahi para mag saka sa mataas nga banglid kung diin sila naga-ani.

Tungod sa responsibilidad niya sa iya ginikanan nag dako siya nga may batasan nga mabaskog makisimpalad. Sa bata palang niya nga edad na muklat na siya sa kamatuoran nga kinahanglan niya mag bulig sa iya Nanay tungod patay  na ang iya Tatay kag magulang nga lalaki. Kag wala ina nagpugong sa iya nga kuryusidad kag gusto usisaon ang mga misteryoso sa palibot.

Lain ang panggawi niya sa mga bata nga kaedad niya. Samtang ang mag kaedad niya nagahampang sang munyika kag “balay-balay” siya naman mas gina pili mag himo sang mga bagay nga hindi para sa iya nga edad, pareho sang pag saka sa mga mataas nga bukid nga siya lang kag pang angkat sa mga lalaki mag sugal. Tungod sina gina tawag siya nga tomboy sang iya mga kabaryo.

Kag sa tini’on nga ini kinahanglan niya tindogan ang responsibilidad niya sa iya pamilya. Kasisidmun sang nag tupa ang mabaskog nga ulan nga mabatian sa  atop sang ila payag, inoras na ang paghulat sang bata upod ang iya magulang nga bahi kag tiyo sa paghulaw sang ulan. Wala naging balabag ang madamol nga ulan para untatan ang ila ubra tungod  hindi nila gusto uyangan ang oras  kag adlaw.

Masanag na ang bulan sang natapos nila ang pag-ani kag na pagkasugtanan nila nga magpaligad sang gab’i sa ila payag tungod delikado na mag tabok sa madulom nga suba. Pagkatapos nila mag desisyon gilayon sila nagpahuway.

Sa tunga sang manami nga pagtulog sang bata, na ka bugtaw siya sa isa ka stranghero nga huni  halin sa sagwa sang ila payag. Gina lauman niya nga ang huni amo ang naga padulong nga ulan  naman, pero ang mga bituon masanag na kag wala sang patimaan nga magaulan liwat . Na talupangdan niya nalang nga ang manami nga huni ang nagahalin sa kakahoyan sang talon.

“Wala sang may nagaistar diri!” Sa isip-isip sang bata. Gin hakos siya sang iya kuryusidad kag gin sunod ang sonata  pakadto sa pang-pang sang Lamesa falls. May mga sugilanon nga ilistaran ina sang mga misteryoso nga nilalang. Ang pagla’um sang bata nga ang mga sugilanon nga to ang isa lamang ka ubra-ubra naislan subong sang pagduha-duha.

Sa ibabaw sang busay may isa kamatapan nga bato kung diin gin kuha ang pangalan sang busay. Pero malain ang itsura sini subong sa atubang sang bata. Ang lugar napuno sang malahalon nga mga nagabisti nga mga lalaki, babahe, bata kag kabayo nga naga kinang sa palibot. Naga indak ang mga taho sa manami nga sonata nga nagapuno sa palibot. Ang mga manamit nga pagkaon ang nagatumpok sa mga lamesa nga may magarbo nga desinyo ang nagpalipat sa bata kung diin siya.

Hindi malipatan sang bata ang gab’i nga ato, isa sa pinakamanami nga lalantahon ang iya nakita. Maputi nga panit, mataas nga ilong kag ekspresibo nga mga mata ang naga balik-balik sa iya huna-huna kung paminsaron niya ang kanami sang lugar.

Gina lantaw niya ang mga ini asta nga nag abot ang oras nga magbalik na siya sa ila payag. Gin sekreto sang bata ang iya nga nakita kag gusto istorya sa iya mga kabataan pagabot sang tion ang parte sa mga engkanto nga naga istar sa Lamesa falls.

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English Version

It was a day just like any other when lola got sick and could not go up the mountain to harvest crops. One of the youngest, a girl of eight volunteered to go with her uncle and eldest sister up the steep trek to the slopes where they gathered crops.

The girl had a soul for adventure, but that was tempered by filial duty. Her father and eldest brother had passed on and at that young age she knew that she had to assist her mother. That didn’t stop her curiosity or her love of exploration.

The villagers called her a tomboy. She behaved unlike the other girls her age. While they were preoccupied with dolls and playing “bahay bahayan” the girl would jump headfirst into deep streams, hike the mountains alone and challenge the boys to games of skill and chance.

Today she had to do her duty for her family. The hard rains struck the roof of their payag (nipa hut) and the girl and her older sister and uncle were waiting for hours. It was late in the afternoon when the clouds broke and the three rushed to their plots high up in the mountains, they did not want to let the last lights of the day slip away.

The harvest was finished when the moon was bright in the sky and the three agreed that it would be too dangerous to cross the river at the foot of the mountain at night. They decided to spend the night in the payag and the three drifted into the land of dreams.

That is, until something awoke the little girl. It was a strange sound coming from outside the payag. She thought it might be the rain coming back for another shower, but the night sky was dry. She realized that the sweet sound was music making its way through the leaves and branches of the forest.

“There aren’t any people that live here!” She thought to herself. Curiosity overtook the young girl and she followed the music to the banks of Lamesa falls. There were stories that the falls were the home of enchanted beings. The girl used to think that those stories were just make believe, but now she wasn’t so sure.

In the waterfall there was a flat rock at the bottom from where the falls derived there name. It was gone then and in its place was a dry plaza filled with expensively dressed men, women, children and horses. Music was thick in the air and the people were moving to the sweet sounds. There was a banquet filled with food and the whole scene enthralled the girl so much that she forgot she was in a forest.

The girl would never forget that night, for it was the most beautiful sight that she had ever seen. Their fair skin, aquiline noses and expressive eyes would flash into her mind whenever she thought of beauty.

She watched them until it was time for her to return to the payag and kept their secrets to herself until sometime in the far future when she would tell her own children about the engkanto that lived in the forest along bodies of water.

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Joy Nuñal
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Joy Nuñal

Adapted from a Story told by Grace Collantes

The Engkanto of Lamesa Falls Illustration by Ysa Peñas
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