*Note this story is in Ibanag

“Wiyyang innang i gukag na kama?” Mahina dang i boses ni Jess ta mippiga ngana itinubbo
tannisa. Megafu ta neyali kami tu ospital, kada gabi na ngana lamang iyavu nu egga i mayan na
gukag na kama na tu mappataki nisa. Tallu vulang tu tests, duwa na medisina ngana i naddalang,
amme na pa rin, adde sangawe, mammapya.

Ammu tu akkang tu balanse i pattolay ngyem sais pala i
dagunni Jess para ta kunne. Awang tu abbing ta mundo i dapat makaramdam tu piga nga aggaw tu
matubbo na dagung duwa na tube tapus awang pa rin tu mala tu sagut. Amme na wiyya.

Inumokkakku quiray na. “Awang tu banig ta gukag na kamang, magibannag ka dang.
Mawag mu i sikan para ta exam mu sonumma, di ba?” Nawawwang i assinni Jess. Babbayag
nekatrugang. Magaling i abbing ta kunne nga ira situacion, kaya ipaddasal ku na lang tu mabalinna
yawe i zigaziga na pattolay.

Ngyem, amme na nabaling. Natay si Jess ta gabi. Nekatrugang nga, ta biko na. I sunud ku
nala tu nakannamwang ay maginna ira nars duwa na doktor tu mappabibibi, makkule. Egga paga
tadday tu nars tu mappigil nyo para masingang nu anni i mesimmu. Vinulunganna ta pwerta at tari
ku nasingang ngaming. Abatakku yari normal tu tube tu masingakku la kada aggaw kani Jess i
nakaipay nisa, ngyem akkang. Duma yari. Dakal tu nagadde ngana ta gukag na kama. Yari la maalala
ta kagabi, tas nesimmu ngana i duma-duma tu bagay ira.

Nawawwang i baggi ni Jess paangay ta morgue. Tabbag na morgue, awang tu mali ta takay,
ngyem amme na nagadde na baggi tannira. Kwakku ngaming i kaya para kani Jess. Egga bi nabida
na nars, tu egga siminallung dati ta third floor na ospital. Baka egga kinalaman na ta
pakkawawwang ni Jess.

Panolikku yayya.

Mapya la metanang.

=———————–=

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.

=—————————=

*Note this story is in Ibanag

Mapia Noka Ngamin

Nakanna na palung y ulo na minangngallu. Nikarigatan na y mattanniao ta danum ngem kitanna magimmang na masikan nga badiu. Ammu na nga makadde ira maski masikan y danna na uran. Kitadda netuttol yaya tawe tapenu malimo anna mattalo yaya nira adde noka ta adde.
Naraddam na y luwa nga nallawan ta mata na yena na sanga newakki na y Rosario. Navurungan y yena na mas netallugaring ta kararua na. Y minangngallu ay paborito na yama anna inakkakka na y ollu nga pangurugan megafu ta pangurug na nga y bebay dian na daga na.

Nakimallo y yena na tu mangurug ta mangipaliag sa, mangipaliag nira. Pinadakal na yaya tu daddamman na y aya anna nawag, ngem kitanna gininna y yena na. Kitanna noka malippawa y pattolay da ngoga ta bebay, danari nanangngal nira.

“Aswang ng dagat”- yaton I agal nira. Kadiad da tu y cancion na espiritu y neyappan da ta minangngallu tape nu malaggappan anna kanadda ira. Nakaddag yaya nu kunnasi nabbayag yaton nga kinaladdug anna nu ngatta mangurug paga laman y aru nga totolay aganne sangawe. Ammu na minangngallu danari nga istoria nu para anni ira: yaton nga gannug nga nepinta aganne ngoga y respeto anna paddayarayaw ta espiritu ira.

Awan tu inna nakua. Ragu-ragun nga nappasa y nanguli ta angngurugan na totolay nu sinni aranniad da nga paki offunan. Awan ngana tu mangitavvung ta bebay onu makimallo ta palung. Yaya laman ngana. Yaya y ultimo ta mawawawan nga angngurugan.

Makkafi-kafi y lima-lima na. Massuku galaman ngana y baggi na ta awan tu immang na sikan na palung anna uran. Niraddam na y yena na anna pinasikan na y nono na. Nevuya na y ultimo nga pakimallo nage na nadanna ta danum:

Y danum ituttol na ta balê
Mammakatalo nga niko
O espiritu na badiu anna danum
Y zibbo mabbalin tu nawag
I palung makkalma
Egga nga noka ta bebay
Mapia noka ngamin.

=—————————————————-=

English Version

“They will save me.”

The waves crash over the fisherman’s head. He tries to tread water but the storm will not let up. Thousands upon millions of raindrops batter the ocean’s shapeless form, but he knows they will pass. They did not lead him here to drown and he will trust in them until the end of his days.

He remembers the tears in his mother’s eyes when he tossed her rosary aside. She was scared for him, but more concerned for his soul. The fisherman was his father’s son and carried on believing in the old ways because the water was in his blood.

His mother begged him to trust his savior, their savior. The one she had raised him to remember in love and light, but he couldn’t listen to her. She could never understand the life they had at sea, the guardians that protected them.

“Aswang ng Dagat” – that’s what they called them. They say that the spirits lured fishermen into the water with their songs to drown and eat them. It still surprised him how long that lie had lasted and how many people still believed in it. The fishermen knew those stories for what they were: a brush used to paint over the centuries of respect and admiration of the spirits.

There was nothing he could do though. The years had changed what people turned to in their times of need. There were no more offerings by the sea, or prayers to the waves. What was left was him. The last son of a dying belief.

The fisherman’s arms are getting weak now. His body is finally surrendering to the endless onslaught of the waves and the rain. He thinks back to his mother and stays firm in his conviction. His lips release one final prayer before his head goes beneath the waves:

The water will lead me home
I will trust in you
O spirits of storm and sea
The darkness will turn into light
The waves will calm
I will be with the sea

————————–————————–————————–—

*The Ibanag language (also Ybanag or Ibanak) is spoken by up to 500,000 speakers, most particularly by the Ibanag people, in the Philippines, in the northeastern provinces of Isabela and Cagayan, especially in Tuguegarao, Solana, Abulug, Cabagan, and Ilagan and with overseas immigrants in countries located in the Middle East, United Kingdom and the United States. Most of the speakers can also speak Ilocano, the lingua franca of northern Luzon island. The name Ibanag comes from the prefix “I” which means “people of”, and “bannag”, meaning river. It is closely related to Gaddang, Itawis, Agta, Atta, Yogad, Isneg, and Malaweg.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Gretheline Ramos Bolandrina
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Gretheline Ramos Bolandrina

Inspired by the Magindara entry in Bikol Beliefs and Folkways: A Showcase of Tradition. Nasayao 2010.

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

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

*Pomelo fruit

*The Ibanag language (also Ybanag or Ibanak) is spoken by up to 500,000 speakers, most particularly by the Ibanag people, in the Philippines, in the northeastern provinces of Isabela and Cagayan, especially in Tuguegarao, Solana, Abulug, Cabagan, and Ilagan and with overseas immigrants in countries located in the Middle East, United Kingdom and the United States. Most of the speakers can also speak Ilocano, the lingua franca of northern Luzon island. The name Ibanag comes from the prefix “I” which means “people of”, and “bannag”, meaning river. It is closely related to Gaddang, Itawis, Agta, Atta, Yogad, Isneg, and Malaweg.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Jake Calubāquib Coballes
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jake Calubāquib Coballes

Inspired by the Wak-wak entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Wak-wak (Surigao) Illustration and Watercolor by Nightmaresyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Ibanag

Maturu pitufulu nga ragun ngana i nappasa adde gari, ngem, sinni kari i mabbilang? Tadday nga’ laman nga laka-lakay nga kuruga mapalubbangan nu mappakoli. Minum-ma tapenu makaraddam-ma. Anna, minum-ma gapa tapenu makattammak-ku.
Egga ta tangabbagan nga kuwarto yuri afu-afu ku ira, tuange ta afu-afu ku ta ‘tuk. Maimammo nga’ nga mappabalo ta Yafu ta grasya nga neyawa Na. Maraddammak-ku yuri gabi-gabi ira na paggigiak-ku gari turi ta kampo na POW. Naggiak-kami ta atatazzi ira nga bagon na tren; ari mi masingan i lawan. Ta adde na pakapangwa na Hapon ira, pinaddurummo da sikami ngamin ta unak na bago-bagon. Maraddammak-ku yuri kakavulu ku nga nakipabbakal. Masippo ira nga totolay. Ngem, nepallo i kabbi ra megafu ta taki anna bisin. Ari ku lagu ammu nu kunnasi nga’ nakalawan turi. Ari tu kasikannan na baggi’ laman i kegafuan na. Ngem, ta paginingak-ku ta mata-mata na ana-ana ku ira, anna turi ta ana-ana ra gapa, anna turi ta negaka-gaka na ana-ana ra, ammu’ nga yuri balor na pakipabbakal ku ay ari tu meparig ta ziga-riga nga iniyatattak-ku. Nu awayya na, ekku paga ulian yuri nga ziga-riga maski mamittanga-milyon paga.
Nagitubang ta biko ku si Isa, anna nakimallo tu magistorya nga’ paga. Ta ngamin nga afu-afu ku ta ‘tuk, yayya tamma i kasiriban, megafu ta vuluvvuga i aya na ta pabbibbik ta libru ira, anna nepallo i aya na nga maggigginna ta istorya’ ira, talugaring ta gerra gari. Sangaw nga aggaw, duma i istoryak-ku sa.

Nu tagi-mittan, ay lubbe nga’ ta Lingayen. Anni i aya ku nga maggian ta biko na bebay turi, anna pakolian ta nono ku danuri kofuk-ku ira nga kavulu ku nga nakipabbakal, danuri kofuk-ku ira nga natay. Maimammo ngana i levu sangaw, ngem, kagitta na magigginna’ paga adde sangaw yuri guni-guni na eroplano ira nga manompi ta bira-biray anna barko ira. Kamikaze kudda lagu turi. Gari ta nappasa nga ragun, ay ari nga’ nattattadday. Nakafi ngana i mata-mata’, ngem, makata’ paga yayya maski paga tu tadday nga milya i karayyu na.

Gari, awat-tu oras mi nga mangitanam. I makwa mi laman ay takkabban yuri baggi-baggi na nakkakatay ta dapan ira.
Fuwersadu ibattang mi laman ngana ira megafu ta mabi kami nga massifu anna malilli ta pala-palattuk na Hapon.

Naddinnulang kami ta nabayag. Ari ku ammu nu nammuak-ku yayya gari, nu nakavulu ku yayya onu kalinga’ yayya gari. Ari yayya nappika, anna ari laman gapa yayya nagguyu-guyu. Siminaddak laman yayya turi anna enna finugaddan yuri dalanak-ku. Ekku nelawan yuri ila nga neregalu niakan nuri marino nga nammuak-ku ta kabalin na gerra. Ari ku napanono, maski mittan, nga meusa’ gabba lagapa yuri nga ila ta korianan.

Ekku dinudduk yuri amang ta gian na niketaddagan na. Nawawan yuri takki-takki na, kunnud, naubbaran anna nevullak yuri dapan. Ganganalaman, nagaguk ta navuyu-vuyu yuri levu. Ta duma nga totolay, yuri nga aguk ay kagitta na tu nalabbak nga pattak. Ngem, napenam-ma’ ngana. Ammu’ nga nu mittan, i kunnaw nga gannug ay makapaliag nikaw.

Nagamundu si Isa. Ari na tamma nga kurugan yuri nestorya’ sa. Nakimallo mangana yayya ta tadday paga nga istorya nga meyannung turi ta kamikaze ira, anna danuri bira-biray. Netulu ku lagapa yuri uray na. Ari mu gamma makwa nga igamma i abbing nga magaya nga magginna ta istorya.

Maturu pitufulu nga ragun ngana i nappasa adde gari nga agga-aggaw, ngem, ari tu mawawan yuri ikara-kararruwa anna guni-guni ira.

English Version

About 70 years have passed since those days, probably more, but who’s counting? I’m just an old man who only has his memories to keep him warm. I drink to remember, I also drink to forget.

My grandchildren are in the next room, along with my great-grandchildren. I silently thank the Lord for my good grace. I remember the nights in the POW camp, stuffed in boxcars without any way to see the outside world. The Japanese would kick as many of us in each car as they could. I remember the men I fought with, good men. They were broken by disease and hunger. I don’t know how I got out of there alive. It took more than any sort of physical strength that I could ever bear. But looking into the eyes of my children and their children and their children’s children, I know what I was fighting for was worth all the suffering I could ever endure. I would do it again one million times over.

Isa sits next to me and asks me for another story. Among all my great-grandchildren I think she’s the smartest, she always has her head stuck in a book and she really likes hearing my stories, especially from the war. Today, I’m going to tell her something different.

I sometimes go back to Lingayen. I like to stand by the gulf and remember the friends that fought with me, the friends I had lost. It’s quiet now, but I can still hear the lingering echoes of the kamikaze aircraft flying into the ships. Last year I wasn’t alone. My eyes aren’t what they used to be, but I could recognize what it was from a mile away.

No one had time for burials then. We were resourceful and had to use what we could. That usually meant covering the bodies in mats and leaving them where we found them while we avoided machine gun fire.

We stared at each other for a long time. I don’t know if it was someone I knew, someone I bled with or someone I made bleed. It didn’t say a word, it didn’t even move. It just stood there, blocking my way. I took out the knife that was a gift from the marine I met after the war. I never thought I would have to use it.

I stabbed the ghost where it stood, its legs disappeared and the mat unfurled, releasing a horrible stench. To some people that putrid odor would be disgusting, but with all I’ve been through, I know that sometimes horrible smells can lead you to freedom.

Isa frowns, I don’t think she believes my words. She asks for another one about the kamikazes and the ships and I surrender. There’s no arguing with a young child looking for a story.

It has been around 70 years since those days, but the ghosts and echoes still linger.

————————–————————–————————–—-

*The Ibanag language (also Ybanag or Ibanak) is spoken by up to 500,000 speakers, most particularly by the Ibanag people, in the Philippines, in the northeastern provinces of Isabela and Cagayan, especially in Tuguegarao, Solana, Abulug, Cabagan, and Ilagan and with overseas immigrants in countries located in the Middle East, United Kingdom and the United States. Most of the speakers can also speak Ilocano, the lingua franca of northern Luzon island. The name Ibanag comes from the prefix “I” which means “people of”, and “bannag”, meaning river. It is closely related to Gaddang, Itawis, Agta, Atta, Yogad, Isneg, and Malaweg.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Jake Calubāquib Coballes
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jake Calubāquib Coballes

Story inspired by the Pasatsat entry in in Myth Museum. Medina. 2015.

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

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

*Note this story is in Ibanag

Ta gafu na, naggian yuri dakal a dios a si Gamhanan, i makapangwa ta ngamin a dios, i manolay, manaron anna manangngal ta ngamin a totolay. Kavulun na danuri karuan nga dios ira na pappatulan na, nga maggian ta vukik na Daeogdog. Ta paggian na turi, pinanolay na, anna pinagarulian na i totolay, nu nakaliwa ira.

Ta korianan na, iparattal nuri Gamhanan i uran, anna tattang na bilak turi ta totolay nga ari tu makimoray sa. Danuri totolay nga ari tu nangitabba o nangitunnak ta atang ta gib o silong nga paggianan na, ay makasissim ta rakay na panagaruli na.

Ta gafu na, naggian gapa yuri panigotlo, i ayam nga tattangngalan ni Gamhanan. Makwa nuri ayam nga mappalaju kagitta na silagab o kil-kila nu makkaso ta bannag. Ta nepallo a kemmemmi na nga innan, ay awat-tu ta makakwa nga tagannan yuri ayam. Ari tu megafu laman yaw ta assing na totolay ta pangibalo ni Gamhanan, nu ari gapa ta pakawayya nuri ayam nga mallavvun nu dumattal i malas o suerte gafu ta pagumme na.

Ta korianan na, yuri urian nga pagumme nuri panigotlo ay maginna ta nage na pattanganayun o pagenteru na vulan, gafu ta yayya i mangisenyas ta pange na mapippia nga paggatab anna suerte. Megafu taw, magayaya danuri totolay ta ili. Kunnud, mapparan ira ta pappabalo ra turi ta dakal a dios tuange ta ayam na nga tangngalan na.

Ta gafu na, egga i pagayaya anna nawak. Awat-tu ikassing nuri panigotlo ta totolay ira nga maggian ta levu na vukik na Daegdog, megafu ta daya-rayawad-da yayya ta pakapangwa na nga mallavvun nu dumattal i suerte onu malas.

Ta korianan na, yuri marattan anna makemmemmi tu innan nga ayam ay napatay na tadday nga mennunung nga minangnganu. Yuri duddu na nga furaw ay maffuga-fugab nga nabbalin tu uzzin megafu ta daga na. Maffuga-fugab ngana yayya nga ari tu magumme tapenu mangisenyas ta dattal na guray anna kapianan onu alum, vurung anna appennanama.

Ta gafu na, naggian yuri dakal a dios anna yuri ayam na.
Ta korianan na, napaggang yuri totolay megafu turi ta
kiningwa ra.

English Version

In the beginning, there was the great god Gamhanan, the most powerful of all the gods, the giver of life, security and livelihood. He dwelt with the other gods of his land in Mount Daeogdog, giving life and punishing errant mortals.

In the end, the god Gamhanan would send the rain and drought to those mortals who would defy his will. Those that would not give the proper offerings to his cave dwelling would know the bitter taste of the god’s punishment.

In the beginning, there was the panigotlo, Gamhanan’s favored pet. It dashed across the river like a ray of pure light. So beautiful was this animal that none would dare harm it, not only for fear of Gamhanan’s retribution but also because it could foretell omens with its bleating.

In the end, the panigotlo would have its last bleating before the full moon, being the harbinger of good harvest and fortune. The people of the village would rejoice and prepare for their thanksgiving to the great god and his pet.

In the beginning, there was joy and light. The panigotlo did not have anything to fear from the mortals surrounding Mount Daegdog, for it was favored, and it would foretell favor or misfortune.

In the end, the majestic beast was killed by a lowly hunter named Dagasanan. Its white fur forever stained by blood. Never again would its bleats tell of abundance and purpose, never again would it warn of flood and despair.

In the beginning, there was the great god and his pet.

In the end, the mortals paid their price.

————————–————————–————————–

*The Ibanag language (also Ybanag or Ibanak) is spoken by up to 500,000 speakers, most particularly by the Ibanag people, in the Philippines, in the northeastern provinces of Isabela and Cagayan, especially in Tuguegarao, Solana, Abulug, Cabagan, and Ilagan and with overseas immigrants in countries located in the Middle East, United Kingdom and the United States. Most of the speakers can also speak Ilocano, the lingua franca of northern Luzon island. The name Ibanag comes from the prefix “I” which means “people of”, and “bannag”, meaning river. It is closely related to Gaddang, Itawis, Agta, Atta, Yogad, Isneg, and Malaweg.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Jake Calubāquib Coballes
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jake Calubāquib Coballes

Inspired by the Panigotlo description in ‘A Legend of Aklan’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Panigotlo Illustration by Julius Advincula
IG: https://www.instagram.com/subhelic

*Note this story is in Ibanag

Kinovovuk mangana sakan na aninu’.

Sangaw, ta pangumma mabi gapa. Ta paddaguk-ku nga pallutu turi ta chapsuy, nekagi na niakan nga ekku kanu apan yuri ila anna ekku duddugan yuri weytres nga mangalawa turi ta tumunuk nga order. Neana-anabik na ta talinga’ yuri marakay nga gannu-gannug nga meannung turi ta babay, nu kunnasi kanu yayya nga maguvovuk ta likuk ku; nu kunnasi na kanu nga nekagi ta totolay nga ulapa nga’ kanu yatun ta pinanawan sakan na nobyo’; nu ngatta kanu awan tu magiddu ta kagitta’ kanu nga palla.

Nekagi’ ta boss ku nga marakay i gawa-gawayyak-ku yatun ta pinalabbe na sakan. Infiyernu yuri biyahe’ nga palabbe ta apartment ku. Kunnud, liwa gabba yuri pinaggiak-ku ta biko na bentana. Gafu turi, dinul-dulangan sakan na totolay ta patangoras. Inni-innad-da sakan, ngem nakkummak nga’ laman. Manaki ku garay ta agini-iningan onu atensyon na totolay.

Kustu ngana. Ta olang ku, nagempake nga’ anna giminatang nga’ ta tiket na eroplano nga mattoli ta Iloilo. Patangoras laman yuri biyahe, kunnud, nattakay nga’ gapa turi ta olu-olu nga bus nga mallabbe ta giam-mi. Dakal nga billay na baggi’ i makkag-kagi niakan tu maguyoyung nga’ megafu taw ta kiningwa’ nga makipabbakal ta tadday a ari-masingan. Ngem, yaw nga nesimmu ay mabi nga naimammo.

Naguvovuk mangana yuri aninu.

Kinagi na niakan nu kunnasi i kalogon na nga fuwersan yuri drayver na bus nga dompian i kadafung mi nga kotche, onu mas nakasta paga, madompi i tadday nga balay. Mas nassika-sikan anna naggalla-gallu yuri ana-anabik ira ngem finuwersa’ nga wawanan. Makanassing ngana yayya. Mepangngo nga makanassing yayya.

Aranni ngana nga mattangnga-gabi ta paddattal ku ta ili. Kengak-ku ngana i oras ku. Enna’ nappalaju turi ta tana. Ammu’ nga egga yayya turi, kagitta na gari kustu enna pinatay yuri wagi’ nga babay. Nekagi na wagi’ nga mappalaju nga’ ta arayyu, ngem, manaki ku yayya nga ibattang, abbo ku gapa nu mauffunak-ku yayya. Ari ku makattamman yuri kulle na wagi’ kustu nakaga yuri aninu na.

Yuri ana-anabik ta talinga’ ay nabbalin tu kulle-kulle. Napporay ngana yuri aninu anna ari nga’ gapa ngana makennak. Ekku ina yuri flashlayt ku anna nessibo ku ta arubang ku. Nappasa i piga nga minuto, ay naguk ku ngana yayya. Maguk ku i nalabbak nga pattak anna natuggi nga tabbi. Maguk ku i pakapaliag ku.

Naguyoyung yuri sigbin. Nepasingan na yuri ngipa-ngipan na anna mabi na nga tinalebaran sakan, kunnud, ta patangasegundo, ay nammuak-ku i imammo. Nesimmu ngana, mattalimoray nga’ ngana.

Mangananwan, marakay i natageno ku. Ganganalaman, gavva tu ari nga’ makenango’.

Tanakwan nga aninu i enna kinaga.

English Version

My shadow spoke to me again.

This time it was during lunch. I was preparing the chop suey and it told me to take the knife and stab the waitress who was going to pick up the next order. It whispered terrible things about her, how she talked behind my back; how she told people I was insane and that’s why my boyfriend left me; how no one would ever love a freak like me.

I told my boss that I was feeling sick today and he let me go home. The commute back to the apartment was hell. I made the mistake of standing by the window and people stared for an hour. They looked right across me and I just kept my head down. I didn’t want the attention.

Enough is enough, I packed my bags and booked a flight back to Iloilo. The flight only lasted an hour and I took the first bus back home. A big part of me thinks I’m crazy for doing this, trying to fight back a monster with another one, but that part is quickly silenced.

The shadow spoke again.

It told me how easy it would be to go up to the driver and force the bus to hit a passing car, or better yet a building. The whispers were getting stronger but I force them away. It’s getting scared. It should be.

I reach the town late. It’s close to midnight, but I can’t waste any more time. I run towards the field. I know it will be there, just like it was when it killed my sister. She told me to run, but I didn’t want to leave her, I thought I could help her. I’ll always remember her scream when it bit her shadow.

The whispers in my ears turn into shouts. The shadow’s angry and I can’t wait. I take the flashlight from my bag and set it in front of me. A few minutes later I smell it. The smell of rotting flesh and burnt skin. The smell of my salvation.

The sigbin is vicious. It bares its teeth and rushes past me and for a second I know true peace. It’s happened, I am finally free.

A moment later I feel something wrong. The sudden realization leaves me gasping for air.

It bit the wrong shadow.

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*The Ibanag language (also Ybanag or Ibanak) is spoken by up to 500,000 speakers, most particularly by the Ibanag people, in the Philippines, in the northeastern provinces of Isabela and Cagayan, especially in Tuguegarao, Solana, Abulug, Cabagan, and Ilagan and with overseas immigrants in countries located in the Middle East, United Kingdom and the United States. Most of the speakers can also speak Ilocano, the lingua franca of northern Luzon island. The name Ibanag comes from the prefix “I” which means “people of”, and “bannag”, meaning river. It is closely related to Gaddang, Itawis, Agta, Atta, Yogad, Isneg, and Malaweg.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Jake Calubāquib Coballes
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jake Calubāquib Coballes

Inspired by the Sigbin entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971., Myth Museum. Medina. 2015. and 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Samar. 2015

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

*Note this story is in Ibanag

Turi ta ili na Igbahay, ay maggian i tadday a neruma nga ayam. Ta ragun na Yafu tam, 1539, ay gavva tu sinallung na totolay na ili yuri balay na tadday nga marakay a tolay nga mangngagan tu Talagman. Turi ta lagum na balay na ay nadangnganad-da i aru nga kananassing anna napalla-palla a gannu-gannug. Talugaring danaw a gannug ay yuri ngisi nga gayang nga egga tu appa nga annariddu a takki-takki na, kuku-kuku na, anna sita-sitan na, tuange ta atuttukkaw na nga kagitta tu ila i kataram na.

Ikagi na totolay na ili, nga yuri nga ayam ay kavulun na tadday paga nga pinaratu nga mas mataganna anna mas marakay. Yuri nga rakay ni Talagman ay kuruga nepallo yatun ta iana-anabik na totolay na ili ay tu sigben kanu yayya. Gari nga aggaw, i sigben kanu, ay tolay nga mameppagafu ta gannu-gannug nga rakay anna taganna, maggafu turi ta pattuttukan na nga lugar.

Meammung taw, istoryan na kailian nga gari kanu ta tadday a aggaw, ay nagafu’ kanu na tadday a lalaki nga makapangwa si Talagman nga maddagun nga mattattaganna. Megafu taw, ginappo kanu nuri lalaki yuri talinga ni Talagman. Megafu turi, gari nga aggaw ay egga i negagangay onu tradisyon turi ta ili na Igbahay, nga danuri kailian turi ay maagal tu Ibajao, nga danuri kakaruan nga lallaki ay magappo yuri talinga ra. Yaw nga negagangay ay makwa tapenu meimmang yuri pakkasinabban nuri sigben turi ta ari-masingan nga maagal tu oag, nga yayya gapa tu mangiyawa ta denu nga mawak tapenu mabbalin nga sigben i tadday a tolay.

Kuruga nepallo i rakay ni Talagman, yatun ta adde ta sangaw a aggaw, istoryan na totolay nu kunnasi yayya makataganna nga usan na laman ay yuri aginingan na. Adde sangaw, edda pakolian i istorya na kaka-kakay ra ta ‘tuk, tu nasingad-da kanu gari nga lugguran ni Talagman i baggi na ta denu nga naggafu ta baddi a bote. Kunnud, kabalin na ay makkagak yayya, ngem, ibattang na i gadduwa na baggi na ta balay na.

Kagitta gabba laman gapa ni Talagman yuri kavulun na nga uac-uac nga naraka-rakay anna minattaganna. Yuri nga palla nga gayang, ay usan na yuri nataram nga attuttukkaw na tapenu duddugan na i totolay. Meammung taw, magaya yayya nga ikarammu danuri kuku-kuku na ta patta-pattak na totolay. Kurug a nafulotan i aya na nga mappaziga yatun ta mefulun yayya turi ta afu na nga sigben nga makkaga-gakak tapenu magalek ira ta totolay nga tagannad-da.

Yaw nga istorya ay magatu a ragun ngana i kadana na. Ngem, mepangngo nga ipakammu, nga nu masingam-mu yuri uac-uac anna danuri appa na nga takki-takki, ay aranni nga tumuttuttul laman sa maffugab yuri afu na.

English Version

In the town of Igbahay, there exists a curious creature. In the year of the Lord, 1539, the people of the town raided the house of an evil man called Talagman. In his house they found many horrors. One most strange was a black crow with a beak as sharp as a knife, four long feet and claws and spines.

Now, it was said by the townsfolk that this creature was the companion of something more malicious. The evil of Talagman was so great that the people of the town whispered that he was a sigbin. In those days, a sigbin was a man who caused great evil and harm from his hiding place.

The townsfolk even tell a story of one day when a strong man caught Talagman in the middle of an evil act and the strong man cut off Talagman’s ear. Now, in those days there was a tradition in the town of Igbahay, whose people are called the Ibajaos, where certain men would have their left ear cut off. This practice was to break the pact that sigben would have with the spirit called oag, the creature that gives the oil which would make a man become a sigben.

Such was the evil of Talagman that, to this day, people would tell stories of how his glance alone would cause harm. They still say of stories where their great-great-great grandparents would see Talagman take a small flask, anoint his body with oil and fly through the air leaving half of his body in his house.

The cruelty and malice of Talagman had his match in the uac-uac, his companion. The misshapen crow would stab victims with its sharp beak and take great pleasure in raking its claws against the flesh of humans. So great was its love of torture that it would fly with its sigben master to find fresh meat that it could dig its claws in.

This story is of hundreds of years past, but always be warned. If you see the uac-uac and its four legs, know that its master will not be far behind.

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*The Ibanag language (also Ybanag or Ibanak) is spoken by up to 500,000 speakers, most particularly by the Ibanag people, in the Philippines, in the northeastern provinces of Isabela and Cagayan, especially in Tuguegarao, Solana, Abulug, Cabagan, and Ilagan and with overseas immigrants in countries located in the Middle East, United Kingdom and the United States. Most of the speakers can also speak Ilocano, the lingua franca of northern Luzon island. The name Ibanag comes from the prefix “I” which means “people of”, and “bannag”, meaning river. It is closely related to Gaddang, Itawis, Agta, Atta, Yogad, Isneg, and Malaweg.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Jake Calubāquib Coballes
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jake Calubāquib Coballes

Inspired by “The Legend of the Sigbin.” Pavon (1838-1839) in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Uac-uac Illustration by NightmareSyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Ibanag

Egga gari y tadday nga minangnganuh nga nakaliwah tad dakal. Inala-alek na y anukan na tag gukak na Vukik Daeogdog nu sitaw maddian y dios da ira. Si Gamhanan nga kuruga makapangwa tan nira e egga y neeruma nga ayam na. Tadday yaw nga furaw nga utta, puru-puro enna kompleto y tagguk na. Y ngagan na e Panigotlo. Ngem, y makakkasta enna makabannay nga ngaral naw e ginattah nat tadday nga pana./spear.

Egga gari y tadday nga ili nga awattu pappilyan na. Y nappannuan nav vulan enna y tannug ni Panigotlo ay senyales nan napia nga ammula tak kommanan na. Ngem y gawagawayyan enna gaggrasya nat totolay ira e nagimmang turi ta nasingadda y umara-aranni nga forma nga naggafu tat tangabbagan nab bannak. Di Dagasanan, tadde nga minangnganuh, e egga y kinattu na ta abaga na, yari y baggi nat taron nga ayam ni Gamhanan. Ari makapikah y totolay ira ta ammu ra nga kuruga dakal nga liwah yaw kani Gamhanan. Yatutta inah da ngamin y armas da enna pinate ra si Dagasanan enna y yama na.

Egga gari y tadde nga espiritu nga kuruga karagatan na y mangibaloh. Tari ta natayan ni Dagasanan nga lugar, egga y nattugu nga kayu na inyam. Apiddu y alino na inyam ; tari nga lugar y nangibalattan tan nakaliwatan.Y amang nam minangnganuh e ari makemammoh. Mawak tu tadday nga abbing tari ta ili y mappaga ta liwah nad darakal na. Kada ragun, tadde nga abbing y matay tape ipatagenoh nari na ispiritu nu kunnasi y takih na nepatallikuk nak kakkofun na sa.

Egga gari y abbing nga lalaki nga ari manguruk ta istorya ira na amang. Netubbu-tubbah nak kakkofun na yayya nga mattafuk ta bikoh na kayu na inyam. Negalo-galoh na laman ira. Tarkuh kanu ira ta manguruk ira ta amang ira nga istorya na kakoh enna kakay da ira. Ammu na tu neeruma yayya, tu yayya y kuruga masikan y nonoh na nira ngamin. Nepasingan na nira e nallattu yayya ta danum.

Egga paga y parte nab bannak ta Aklan nga nengagan kani Dagasanan. Y kagiadda, yari y nasikan nga tannug nga maggafu tari tak kabatwan e y ispiritu ni Dagasanan nga maddagin tat takih na enna magalek ta tumunuk nga pabbenggansan na.

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English Version

There was once a hunter who made a terrible mistake. He searched for his quarry in the shadow of Mount Daeogdog, where the gods of his people lived. The most powerful of all the gods was Gamhanan, and he had a special pet. This favored creature of the great god was called the Panigotlo, a pristine, white deer with full antlers. One spear was all it took to silence the majestic sound of this enchanted creature.

There was once a village that had no choice. A full moon and the bleating of the Panigotlo signaled an abundant day for planting the next morning. The festivities and merriment suddenly stopped when they saw a figure approaching across the river. The hunter, Dagasanan, had on his shoulders the carcass of Gamhanan’s pet. They all knew that they could not abide by this sacrilege of the great god. The villagers took their spears and swords and slew Dagasanan by the river and his father in their home.

There was once a spirit that thirsted for vengeance. On the spot where Dagasanan was killed, an inyam tree grew. The hunter’s ghost would not know rest. The tree cast a shadow and on that spot his hunger for revenge would be sated. One child of the village would pay for what their ancestors had done. A child every year until the villagers would know the pain that he felt when his friends betrayed him.

There was once a boy who didn’t believe in ghost stories. His friends dared him to swim by the inyam tree and all he did was laugh. The boy called his friends cowards for believing in the stories that their lolos and lolas told them. He knew he was different and the bravest of their group, so he took the challenge and jumped in the water.

There is still a part of a river in Aklan named after the hunter, Dagasanan and an inyam tree that people avoid. They say that the loud noises that come from the rocks are his spirit crying in pain, looking for his next victim.

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• The Ibanag language (also Ybanag or Ibanak) is spoken by up to 500,000 speakers, most particularly by the Ibanag people, in the Philippines, in the northeastern provinces of Isabela and Cagayan, especially in Tuguegarao, Solana, Abulug, Cabagan, and Ilagan and with overseas immigrants in countries located in the Middle East, United Kingdom and the United States. Most of the speakers can also speak Ilocano, the lingua franca of northern Luzon island. The name Ibanag comes from the prefix “I” which means “people of”, and “bannag”, meaning river. It is closely related to Gaddang, Itawis, Agta, Atta, Yogad, Isneg, and Malaweg.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Edna Sabino
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Edna Sabino

Blogsite: https://ednaremembers.wordpress.com/

Story Adapted from ‘Legend of Aklan’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Dagasanan Illustration and Watercolor by Robert Rañosa Del Prado