*Note this story is in Bisaya

Moabót ang mgá tigsugílon susáma sa mgá bitúon.

Naglíngkod kó sa tábay nagpaábot níla. Nasáyod kó sa sáysay, kiníng gamayóng mgá babáyë mgá tigsugílon tanán mag-íwag sa ílang agiánan. Murá og diláab ang ílang buhók úg maglupád siláng daw bulákaw.

Sa báta pa kó kádtong uyoán kóng babáyë misúgid náko nga mopadángat ní silá sa igsusúmbong kó ngádto sa nagkadaíyang diwáta. Bísan únsa kunóng igsusúmbong ílang isúgid, ipadángat sánglit maó may búgtong nílang táhas.

Luyó níng tanán siyá ráy nahúnàhúnà kó, ang matahóm níyang kinabúhì gipúong sa panghitabô. Ngánong nákò siyá lámang úg walâ nay láin. Gitugótan kóng mokúpò nákong mgá pagmãhay ingón bukòt níng matúgnaw nga gabíi níng ting-inít.
Nangalígdig ang mgá lúhà, matág usá níla handománan níya. Ang íyang tinan-awán, ang íyang pinahiyomán, ang íyang mgá pangindáhay, tanán nákò mituhóp, gihímo kóng húyang úg háw-ang.

Naaláan kóng búang sa ákong mgá kaíla níng ákong gibúhat, apán waláy láing paági. Dílì kó kasúlti sa búhì pa siyá, úg dílì kó modáwat nga ulahí nang tanán. Dílì mahitabóng ulahí nang tanán sa pag-ángkong mahál mo ang usá ka táwö. Nán, nía kó rón naglíngkod níng tábay, nag-atáng mgá tigsugílon nga mopakítà ingón mgá bulákaw miláom tugótan níng ihángyò.

May síga kóng nalántaw sulód sa tábay, namilók ang ákong kásingkásing, nía na ang mgá gamáyong babáyë. Úg sa gianínaw kó aninípot lámang diáy kádto.

Makapalúya, apán nagmalíg-on ko. Magpaábot kó hángtod úg táman usá niadtóng mgá tigsugílon mopakítà.

Nakapanghupáw kó, bísan kiní na lámang mabúhat kó álang sa ákong gihigúgma.

English Version

The messengers come like the stars.

I sit by the well and I wait for them to come. I know the legends, how the small women, messengers all would come forth and light the path to their destination. They had hair like a flame and would fly like a shooting star.

Lola told me about them when I was young, how they would deliver messages from and to the different diwatas. She said that no matter where their message would take them, they would go, for that was the only duty that they knew.

Through it all I can only think of her, how her beautiful life was cut short by circumstance. How she made me feel like no one else ever could, or ever has since. I let regret envelop me like a blanket, warming me through this chill summer night.

My tears flow, each drop a different memory I have of her. The way she looked, the way she smiled, the ideas she would have about the future, all draining out of me, leaving me feeling weak and empty.

My friends think I’m crazy for doing this, but there’s no other way. I could never tell her when she was alive, and I refuse to believe that it’s too late. It will never be too late to tell someone you love them.

So here I sit, next to the well, waiting for the messengers to come like shooting stars, hoping they will grant my one request.

I see a light from inside the well and my heart stops, the small women are finally here. Until I look closer and see that it’s only a firefly.

I feel crushed, but I keep my resolve. I will wait as long as I have to until one of the messengers shows herself.

I breathe and think to myself it’s the least I could do for someone I love.

*Visayan (Bisaya or Binisaya) is a group of languages of the Philippines that are related to Tagalog and Bikol, all three of which are part of the Central Philippine languages. Most Visayan languages are spoken in the whole Visayas section of the country, but they are also spoken in the Bicol Region (particularly in Masbate), islands south of Luzon, such as those that make up Romblon, most of the areas of Mindanao and the province of Sulu located southwest of Mindanao. Some residents of Metro Manila also speak Visayan.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bisaya Translation by Joseph Vincent (Josefwintzent) M. Libot
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Joseph Vincent (Josefwintzent) M. Libot

Inspired by the Burulakaw myths from Central Panay. Described in Sta. Cruz Serag, Sebastian. (1997). The remnants of the great Ilonggo nation. Quezon City: Rex Book Store, Inc., p. 61. and Tagbanuwa Religion and Society. Fox. 1982

Burulakaw Illustration by Maku Felix
FB: Art of Maku Felix

Watercolor by Yanna Gemora
FB: Yannami