*Note this story is in Isnag

“Mahánsing ya’.”

“Akkám kasapúlān mahánsing, inēng. Kuán dayá kaduduwá ya kuán da.”

“Ínna ya má’wa kiyá’?”

“Mawē ta duwá kitú Balísi nga káyu se ibansí taká katúnni. Magtuháw ka kitú tággad nátu káyu se ka nga malá’ ka Kalawahān nayá Lángit se ka Kalawahān nayá Tággad-lúbung.”

“Tánnā?”

“Ta sénu meaná’ ka maním.”

“Natakít tuní?”

“Akkán ku… madámdam. Nabayāg túla yin kitú kínwa ku tu inísiyassyōn. Akkán ka mahánsing, inēng, mangipássingan da kikáw ka barú nga lúbung.”

“Íttu yān ya hapú nga makakáyab ka?”

“Saay, inēng. Túyān se mas adú pakám. Naméyaggān ku yin ya kadállamān nayá bébay se ya unág dayá bagbaggí dayá tólay. Nakaamómān ku yin dayá kaduduwá náddi nga lúbung se ya sumarunú kam. Naméyag ya’ yin kadayá lúglugār nga àwan tólay ya makkássingan maním. Ay nónawān ya’ yin.”

“Atān tan kíddi.”

“Hi’nām dayá kaduduwá. Iturúng da ka ummān kiyá nangiturúng da kitú ngámin bíybiyāg ku.”

“Masingán taká maním?”

“Ummaí nōd kiyá palubúsān dayá kaduduwá. Hará luhúd yin, inēng, ibansí ku yin dayá kapáda ku kikáw.”

“Hará luhúd yin, ínnā.”

Hinuyhúyud nayá ángin tu ababbíng nga babáy madamá nga nakatuháw ka tággad natú Balísi nga káyu. Dayá al-alháw ay nabi’yáng ka manú nga liggú ay akkán gína nagkutkutí. Ámmu palínnin dayá lumiwlíwān nga tólay nga nap-apiyá nga akkán ribuán gína kiyá dálēn na. Kitú niltuwād kámpē yin natú kaúddiyān nga habí ya barú nga págmakāt ay nagsíkād gína se nga himhimmá’ nga nagyáman kidatú kaduduwá. Nasingán kampē yin datú kabarbarú na nga matá tu akkán masingán nga lúbung nga nanglébut kitú dadān na nga biyāg. Akkán na linammát nga makésam.

Atān da úbra na nga masápul má’wa.

note

Glottal stops are represented as an apostrophe. They are required since words may change meaning depending on the presence of a glottal stop.

Long vowels and stresses are represented through diacritics to aid in pronunciation.

=———————=

English Version

“I’m scared.”

“You don’t need to be, child. The sprits will do as they will.”

“What will happen to me?”

“We will both go to the Balete tree and I will leave you there. You will sit underneath the tree and be taken to the Skyworld and the Lower World.”

“Why?”
“To be reborn.”

“Will it hurt?”

“I…. don’t remember. It has been so long since I went through my initiation. Don’t be scared child, they will let you see a new world.”

“Is that why you can fly?”

“Yes, child. That and much more. I have been to the depths of the sea and inside the bodies of humans. I have spoken to the spirits in this world and the next. I have traveled to places that no human will ever see again. And I am tired.”

“We are here.”

“Listen to the spirits. They will guide you as they have guided me all my life.”

“Will I see you again?”
“Who knows what the spirits will allow? Goodbye child, I leave my people to you.”
“Goodbye, Lola.”

The winds buffeted the girl as she sat beneath the Balete tree. The days stretched into weeks and she did not move a single inch. Those that passed by knew better than to interrupt her journey. When the last night finally gave way to a new dawn she stood up and quietly thanked the spirits.

Her new eyes finally saw the invisible world that surrounded her old life.  She did not think to smile.

She had work that needed to be done.

=——————–=

*Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu is Ilokano for “You there please go away.” (Kayo-kayo, malayo kayo)

*Isnag (also called Isneg) is a language spoken by around 40,000 Isnag people of Apayao Province in the Cordillera Administrative Region in the northern Philippines. Around 85% of Isnag are capable of reading the Isnag language. Many Isnag speakers also speak Ilocano.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Isnag Translation by Johnwel Khim Enciso
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Johnwel Khim Enciso

Inspired by the Baylan initiation ritual as described in The Soul Book. Demetrio & Cordero-Fernando 1991.

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

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

*Note this story is in Isneg

“Ikayu- ikayu, umadayu kayu.”

“Kidi ngin, ibaga tan.”

“Ikayu- ikayu, umadayu kayu.”

“Napya. Kidi ngin, peyyeng ta damdaman nu manalan ta kidi.”

“Kawas pe nu magkaged ta kidi uy ina?”

“Bo, napya ta nadamdam mu. Nanot ya ana ku a!”

“Ngem antam kad ta unuden ta pakam ya kagkagyen da ina?
Kagyo man nu baley tada di?”

“Ibo, uwa tada amin di, amin nga kokowa ngem gan gapu simikadan ya baley tada?”

“….ginat?”

“Kuhug! Ta ya ginat, ammin nga awad ki lubung, di tida uwa.”
“Kagyo man nu dab-bun tida di? Di kad nga payew tida di?Di kad nga idi tu pag-bangbanga-a?”

“Ibo, bo, uwa tida di, awad ya mepasingen ti da nga papel na gem singawan ya maki-uwa kidi kitun. Awan tida pakam, awn kam daya toley nga ngpasikad ki babaley da kidi.”

“Antam di tida ba nga mabalin su’tan kagida?”

“Awad daya di magatang piha. Dab-bun da di panda nu awan tidan. Kasapulan ta nga amu nga makikabulun agida.”

“E nu madi? Kawas da pahnang. Nu di tida nga ibaga yan, nu mgpakapya tida ki baley, magsakit tida, kasanu nga ustu la tuni?”

“Kasanu nga ustu la nga nebingey da ya baley da kitada?”

“Kawas kuhug kitada amin di ngem kasapulan nga napya ka ki daduma. Nu napya ka kagida, napya da pe kitada.”

“Kidingin, gan manin tu ibaga ta?”

“Ikayu-ikayu, umadayu kayu.”

“Mayat, nangkiyan ana ku.”

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English Version

“Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu.”

“Now say it with me.”

“Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu.”

“Good. Now remember, we always have to say that whenever we pass this place.”

“We also can’t sweep here right mama?”

“Yes, it’s good you remembered. I have such a smart boy!”

“But why do we have to follow these rules mama? I thought this was our house?”

“It is, it’s our place with all our things, but what is the house on?”

“….the ground?”

“Good job! Now the ground and all the earth, doesn’t belong to us.”

“But I thought this was our land? Isn’t this our farm? And isn’t this where I play?”

“Yes, yes, we bought this land, and we have all the papers to prove it, but then it gets complicated. See the land belonged to some other… people, long before we came here, before any humans started a town in this area.”

“But can’t we just buy it from those people?”

“There are just some things you can’t buy with money. This place is their home and always will be, long after you and I are gone. We have to learn to live with them.”

“What if I don’t want to? They seem mean. If we don’t say these things and if we just clean around our house we get sick. How is that fair?”

“How is it fair that they have to share their home with us?”

“…”

“It isn’t an ideal situation for either of us, but we have to learn to be kind to one another. If we are kind to them, they will be kind to us. Now what do we say?”

“Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu.”

“Good boy.”

————————–————————–————————

*Kayu-kayu, madayu kayu is Ilokano for “You there please go away.” (Kayo-kayo, malayo kayo)

*Isnag (also called Isneg) is a language spoken by around 40,000 Isnag people of Apayao Province in the Cordillera Administrative Region in the northern Philippines. Around 85% of Isnag are capable of reading the Isnag language. Many Isnag speakers also speak Ilocano.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Isneg Translation by Kristine Joy Rillera
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Kristine Joy Rillera

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

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

*Note this story is in Isneg

Syam nga algow

Baga da ya la’lakey, syam nga algow bit sikuha nga di madamdam ya di masingen; tuni tida dan itamen ya wagi nga babey. Adeddu pa ya syam nga algow ngem kasapulan koo kagina di.

Walo nga algow

Di nga kawas ya nonna algow na ngem kasapulan Kandela; toley ki lebut ya natey senu di makaadani ya di masingen. Iyow la ya nakakahu nga ammu.

Pitu nga algow

Awad la ki sagged nga magin-indeg. Mangsing-singen ki natey.
Anem nga algow

Magin-indeg pakam.

Lima nga algow

Bayuy! Nakatudug na lugud langin. Awan la pe nakasingenin gaages nala ya wagi. Di ngin nga maunsi tuni. Appat la nga algow ya nebtangin.

Appat nga algow

Di masingen ki sagged ngin. Di na kid madamdam ngin.

Tal-lu nga algow

Kawas pa ya dilag ki gyan nateyan. Nagiddep ammin dilag ki piga nga oras. Nammat na din la adu Kandela tunin. Awanin ya di masingen, ngem amu nga awad la agina kiyan magin-indeg magiddep ya Kandela senu mala na ya wagi ngem di na ma’wa tuni.

Duwa nga algow

Nagawi ya dilag. Nakadiyat na ki piga algowin gapu ki kape; redbull. Di na makakendeg ngin nga matudug. Magimmang din yanin nga di masingen.

Nona/Esa nga algow

Pakawanen na Sarah, ammu nga di na nga kakapyaan nga manung mu kitu nabiag ka kam ngem kuma ta idi nga kokoo e mepasingo ya awad ki un-uneg ku. Mawe taka dan sinsinen ki gyan mu. Nebaga manung.

Nawe ya syam algow nan, ustu ya nebaga da ya la’lakey. Di madamdam ngin ya di masingen. Kuma ta ya isarunu na e di da kalepanan magsibet Kandela. Kararag ku yan nga kaduduwa, ngem ustu la ta din nga iya.

————————–————————–————————–—
English Version

Nine Days

The elders say it will only take nine days for the creature to lose interest and then we can bury my sister. That’s nine days too long but I have to do it. For her.

Eight Days

The first day went without incident, as long as there are candles and people around for the wake the monster doesn’t seem to be able to get close. This may be easier than I thought.

Seven Days

It just waits outside. Staring at the wake.

Six Days

It’s still waiting.

Five Days

Damn it. I fell asleep. No one covered for me and the creature almost got to my sister. It won’t happen again. I only have four days left.

Four Days

I haven’t seen it outside lately. Maybe it already lost interest.

Three Days

There was a problem with the electricity in the funeral home. All the lights went out for a few hours. Damn it! I should have bought more candles. I can’t see the creature, but I know it’s somewhere here, just biding its time until the candles go out. But it won’t get her. I won’t let it.

Two Days

The power’s finally back on. I’ve been surviving the past week on nothing but coffee and red bull to make sure that I stay awake. I can’t wait until I finally get some sleep and to put the monster to rest.

One Day

I’m sorry Sarah, I know that I wasn’t the best brother when you were alive, but I hope that my vigil for you showed you how much I love you. I promise to visit you every day and make sure that nothing bad will happen to you. Kuya promises.

Nine days have passed and it was as the elders said. The creature just lost interest. I hope that whoever it stalks next knows to light a candle and keep it at bay. I pray for that poor soul, but I’m glad it isn’t me anymore.

————————–————————–————————––
*Isnag (also called Isneg) is a language spoken by around 40,000 Isnag people of Apayao Province in the Cordillera Administrative Region in the northern Philippines. Around 85% of Isnag are capable of reading the Isnag language. Many Isnag speakers also speak Ilocano.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Isneg Translation by Kristine Joy Rillera
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Kristine Joy Rillera

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

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