*Note this story is in Ilocano

“Mama, padengan nak man ti maysa a namayat a sarsarita ket haan nak makaturog.”

“Sige, umuna agidda kan garod sadiay pagiddaam, balong.
Insaritak ba kanyamon diay istorya dagiti aanghel ti Sitti Maryam?”

“Haan pay, mama.”

“Ket isu, agdenngeg ka ngarod a nalaing.

Idi naibati a agmaymaysa ni Sitti Maryam sadiay kabakiran tapno padakkelen na daytoy nagasat ket napili a propeta a Nabi’ Isa, haan met taltalga imbati iti Diyos isuna a agmaymaysa. Iti Diyos ket nagipatulod ti pitopulo ket pito (77) a babbai a angheles tapno maiyadayo daytoy a propeta iti dakes ken danes, ken diay lider ket addaan ti nagan a Tuwan Putli. Isuna ket maysa a napintas a anghel nga addaan to met ti nakapinpintas a pay-yak. Is-isunan to met laeng ti makasarsarita ken Sitti Maryam ta ibaga na dagiti ubraen to dagiti aanghel.

Imbaga na nga tumalaw to iti pito pulo a anghel no dumteng to ti ika-siyete a aldaw malpas maiyanak ni Nabi’ Isa, ket ninto Tuwan Putli ken innem a kakadwa na ket mangkita ken Nabi’ Isa iti uppat a pulo ket uppat a aldaw sadanto agpangato sadiay ti langit. Ni Tuwan Putli ket nasimpet ken nasiyaat, ken haan nanto pulos kayat a adda ti madi a mangyari kenni Nabi’Isa.

Dagiti aangheles ken ni Sitti Maryam ket addaan sadiay kabakiran ti maysa a isla ken addaan ti mangsirsirpat kanyada a kinadakes, manipud dagiti nauuyong nga animales ingana kadayti saytan nga aggigyan sadiay kaykayo kada batbato. Dagiti aangheles ket addaan latta ti grasya ken silaw nga mang-protektar kanyada nga agina. Nagaramid pay isudan ti pagyanan tay ubing ket silsilawan da latta ti pagpagnaan da sadinno da man mapan.

Dimtengen iti makauppat a pulo ket uppat a aldaw, kinasaritan ni Tuwan Putli ni Siiti Maryam nga kasapulan dan ti tumalawen. Dagiti pito a aanghel ket nagpakadan ken jay ubing ken jay ina na, ngem ammo da metten nga nalpas ti ubra dan. Maysa ken maysa, nagna dan mapan sadiay bullalayaw a mangitudo dalan mapan langit.

Nabatin ni Sitti Maryam a agmaymaysa kadwa na tay ubing ngem isuna met ket nabatiyan iti adal, sirib ken pammagbaga nga ni Apo Diyos ket addaan ti namaymayat a plano paran to kanyada.

Binitbit na ket inarakop na tay ubing ket nakita na jay sumangbay a mapasamak kanyada. Kimmararag a naulimet isuna kadagiti pito pulo a aangheles nga timmul-tulong kanyana kadagiti amin a nadadakes ken nasisipnget a oras na ken imbaga na met a naidumduma unay ni Tuwan Putli’. Ammo ni Sitti Maryam sadiay kauunegan a parte puso na nga dagiti aangheles ket addaan latta sadiay langit a mangbuybuya kanyada manipud palang idi.”

“…………………………………..”

“La ngarod iturog mon, bassit a anghel ko. Addidog pay ti al-aldaw a sumangbay para kanyata.” Ϫ

English Version

“Mama, tell me a story. I can’t sleep.”

“Alright, let me take you to bed now, child.

Have I ever told you the story of Sitti Maryam’s* angels?”

“Not yet, mama.”

“Well listen closely,

When Sitti Maryam was left alone in the wilderness to raise the great prophet Nabi’ Isa, God did not leave her alone. He sent 77 female angels to help keep the child out of danger, and their leader was none other than Tuwan Putli’. She was a beautiful angel with great wings. She was also the only one who spoke to Sitti Maryam to tell what the angels would do.

She bade 70 angels to leave the seventh day after Nabi’ Isa was born and she and six other angels stayed for 44 more days before ascending into heaven. Tuwan Putli’ was kind and gentle, and would always seek to make sure the baby was unharmed.

The angels and Sitti Maryam were in the wilderness of the island and there were many dangers lurking around, from wild animals to the saytan living in the trees and rocks. The angels protected their charge with grace and light. They made him a cradle and guided the light towards them.

On the forty fourth day, Tuwan Putli’ told Sitti Maryam that the angels had to go. All seven angels gave a sad farewell to the baby and his mother, but they knew that their work was done. Each angel stepped onto a rainbow that guided them to heaven.

Sitti Maryam was left with her baby and also with the wisdom that God had a greater plan for her that was still to come.

She cradled her child in her arms and saw a future for them. She said a silent prayer to all the 77 angels that helped her through her darkest times and she said a special one for Tuwan Putli’. Sitti Maryam knew in her heart of hearts that the angels would be watching over her from that day on.”

“………………..”

“Sleep well my little angel. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

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*Sitti Maryam and Nabi’ Isa are the Tausug names for Mama Mary and Jesus Christ

*Ilocano is the third most-spoken local language of the Philippines.An Austronesian language, it is related to such languages as Malay (Indonesian and Malaysian), Tetum, Chamorro, Fijian, Maori, Hawaiian, Samoan, Tahitian, Paiwan and Malagasy. It is closely related to some of the other Austronesian languages of Northern Luzon, and has slight mutual intelligibility with the Balangao language and the eastern dialects of the Bontoc language.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Ilocano translation by Jerald James G. Montgomery
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jerald James G. Montgomery

Inspired by “Sitti Maryam. Lady Mary.” in Voices from Sulu A Collection of Tausug Oral Traditions. Rixhon. 2010. and Aida Gaverza

Tuwan Putli’ 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 Ilocano

Ado a sarsaritan ti nangnangeg ni Arturo’n. Maysa kadagitoy ket no kasano a paamwen daytoy a di-matatao ket agbalin a natulnog a katulungan.

Ti ubraen na laeng ket mangabut ti tallo nga balitok a bu-ok sadiay ngato ti ulo na ken dapat isuna keta addan to lang diay likudan toy tikbalang ingana lumagton to daytoy iti nakangatngato ket makalabes banbantay ken kabaybayan. Nalaka nga ibaga ngem narigat a maubra.

Ni Arturo ket desperadon. Kasapulan na ti kwartan ken ammo na met nga dakkel a tulong ti maysa a tikbalang kanyana. Ammo nanto met a haan to suna malipatan diay tikbalang no isuna ket maabak. Dagitoy ket mangteted ti saksakit, ngem ana kadi ti kabutbuteng na nga unay? Isunan ket masakiten, diay oras na ket tumartaray ket masaysayang laeng ken kasapulan na ti mamati. Haan na met ngarod kayat nga panawan pamilya na nga addaan to ti dakkel a utang, problema weno saksakiten nakem.

Timmakder ni Arturo sadiay sango ti dakkel a kayo iti Balete and nagpukkaw suna a mangay-ayab kadagiti di-matatao. Mano oras sunan a mang-mulmulagaten kadetoy a lugar a napunwan sipnget, awan pay boses nan a rumwar gapo ti kapupukkaw, nem dikwan adda nakita nan.

“Sika a muttaleng a tao, ana ti kaaddam ditoy,” imbaga diay makitkita na.

“Adda nak ditoy tapno amluyen ka,” sungbat ni Arturo.
Napunwan ti nakabutbuteng a katawa ti inwar daytoy a di-matatao, maysa a di pay pulos nangeg ni Arturo.
“Adon ti pimmadasen ket napaay da. Anan to koma met ti adda ta panunot mo a gapo a sika ti makapa-amo kanyak?”
“Awan bibyang mon kadaytoy panpanunotek, kitam no ana ti maarimadak.”

“Isu a, kitan ta.”

Simyag ket dinarop ni Arturo tay Tikbalang. Nagaraw daytoy a Tikbalang ket marigrigatan a makakapet ni Arturo. Diay ima ni Arturo ket kaslang awan serbi na kanyana, ngem itul-ituloy na latta. Napigsa iti patinaken na ket pinanunot na iti pamilya na ken no kasano da agdedepende kanyana. Haan nan to met kayat paayen isuda.

Ginabot na diay umuna a bu-ok. Kasta unay ti iryag na tay tikbalang gapo iti nakaro a sakit, ngem awan bibyang na ni Arturo. Ginabot na tay akadwa ket nakita nan nga adayo dan sadiay ayan ti Balete. Haan na ammon ti ayan dan a bantay a nangidandanunan tay di-matatao, ngem awan latta bibyang na.
Maysa laeng nga bu-oken ti kasapulan nan. Medyo nagalis ket haan na maiggaman nalaing tay bu-ok ti tikbalang isunga nga inkarkaro na ti panagbekkel na kadetoy a tikbalang ta haan to met suna matinnag.

Makitkita nan a sumingsingising ni Apo Init sadiay adayo ket napanunot nan a ado nga oras gayam ti naglabasen a adda isuna sadiay likod tay tikbalang. Mabanbannogen tay tikbalang, bumaybayag gargaraw nan ket umadado iti kamali nan.
Pumangpangaton ni Apo Initen ket ammon jay tikbalang nga isunan ket nabanbannoken ket natnag sadiay sango ti duduugan a kayo iti Balete. Kimmita isuna ken Arturo a nakaiggemen ti tallo a balitok a bu-ok na.

“Nangabak kan.”

————————–————————–————————–

English Version

Arturo had heard the stories before. How the creatures could be tamed to become your loyal servants.

All he had to do was snatch the three golden hairs at the top of its head and then stay on its back until it was done jumping into the sky and going over the mountains and seas, easier said than done.

He was desperate, he needed money and he knew that the tikbalang could help him. He also knew that they would not forget him if he failed. They brought sickness, but what did he need to fear? He was already sick, time was slipping away from him and he needed something to hold on to. He didn’t want to leave his family behind with debt and regret.

Arturo stood in front of the Balete tree and called the creature out. It had been hours staring in the dark, his throat almost raw from shouting, but then he saw a figure.

“Foolish human, why have you come here,” the figure said.
“I am here to tame you,” was Arturo’s reply.

A wild laughter erupted from the creature, like nothing Arturo had ever heard before.

“Many humans have tried and failed. What makes you think you will be the one to tame me?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think, only what I will do.”
“Very well then.”

Arturo launched himself at the tikbalang, its chaotic movement challenging his grip. Arturo arms seemed to be failing him, but he held on. He thought about his family and how they always relied on him. He would not let them down.

He picked the first golden hair. The tikblang screamed in pain, but Arturo didn’t mind it. He picked the second and saw that they weren’t in the field with the Balete tree anymore. He didn’t recognize the mountain that the creature had taken them to, and he shook off the curiosity.

There was still one more hair left. The tikblanag’s mane didn’t give him a lot of traction, and he held tight against the creature’s neck.

The rising sun was visible in the distance and Arturo was surprised he lasted hours on the tikbalang’s back. The creature was getting tired, its movements slower and less erratic.
As the sun rose in the distance the tikbalang fell exhausted in front of its Balete tree. It looked at Arturo, now holding its three golden hairs.

“You have won.”

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*Ilocano is the third most-spoken local language of the Philippines.An Austronesian language, it is related to such languages as Malay (Indonesian and Malaysian), Tetum, Chamorro, Fijian, Maori, Hawaiian, Samoan, Tahitian, Paiwan and Malagasy. It is closely related to some of the other Austronesian languages of Northern Luzon, and has slight mutual intelligibility with the Balangao language and the eastern dialects of the Bontoc language.

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

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

Tikbalang Illustration by Leandro Geniston