*Note this story is in Maguindanaon

Uwaaah! Uwaaaah!

“Telen ka den o wata ku. Tulog ka den ka di ka man mangandam.” Bageypun nu babay su tiyan nin, ka endu pakatelen su wata nin.

“Pangeniyn ku sa leka i dala ka magiging sa kani ama nengka, dika milingi i mga mama a dala tapek nin, a bangalap bu sa mapiya, na mengka makuwa nin den na matading den sekanin. Mamagidsan bun man i mga mama banya, dili nilan gapagitong i mga babay a gapasangan mengka pedtagaken nilan.”

Uwaaah! Uwaaaah!

“Katawan ku i mawli den inya a penggulan ku, ugeyd na enggulan ku bun i deyt a enggalbeken ku. Ipailay ku sa mga mama banya dala gatagan nin i dili nilan asalen bu managak i mga babay. Mapasang man i dunya, ugeyd na mas pakapasangan ku i mga mama.”

Uwaaah! Uwaaaah!

“Kagina deyt bun sa kanilan inya. Silan bun i nadsabapan na nanggula ku. Dala pan geyd sabut ku a babay, madakel pan i galinyan ku penggula, ugeyd na saguna na nabinasa aku. Saguna na nabinasa na duwa. Nakalebeng ta duwa endu seketa bun den taman sa taman, ugeyd na semuli ta, kagina kena bu deyt a sekita i gapasangan.

Kuwan ta sa kanilan i bagingatan nilan geyd banan a aden silan. Namba ipedsandag nilan geyd banan a kamama nilan, endu ta gailay i gabpulogo nilan.”

Uwaaah! Uwaaaah!

“Shhh,shhhh. Kena man wata, di ka man kagilek. Nya bun man si ina nengka. Di ko seka padtadeyn sa mga mamba a mga mama endu mga taw. Bibyag ta pun basi u kena sabap sa lekaniyan. Tagapeda ta bun basi a maninideg sa mga taw a dala nakagkapiya nin sa lekita duwa.”

Uwaaah! Uwaaaah!

“Na telen ka den man wata. Na, aden gailay ku a mama a pakauma. Di ka pan a ka san ka den mun. Embalingan aku bun ah, malegan bu geyd. Lenek ka, ka ubeyn ku pan sekanin.”

=————————=

English Version

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Hush little child, close your eyes, don’t worry we will be alright.” The woman holds her belly tight, making sure that her child is safe.

“Please don’t be like your father, don’t be like any of those hideous men, always looking for one thing then leaving when they get it. ‘Boys will be boys’ they always say, but they never realize that girls are always going to be the ones left behind.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“I know it may seem late, but mommy’s going out to do what she has to do. She has to let all those evil men know that you can’t just leave women behind. It’s a cruel world out there and I reserve a special kind of cruelty for them.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Because they deserve it. It was their filth that entered me. I was just an innocent young woman, with her whole life ahead of her, and now here I am. Here we are. We were buried together and we will be together until the end of time, but if I have to be this way, then I will not suffer alone.

I will take what they think is the most important thing that they have. Their precious ‘manhood’ and I will enjoy watching them bleed out.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Shhh, shhh. I didn’t mean to scare you. But it’s okay, mama’s here. She’ll make sure the world is safe from those cruel men. We could have lived you know? If not for them. We could have been together just you and me, against the world that made us what we are.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Now hush! I see a man on his way. Now don’t worry this won’t take long. And afterwards you can play with mama alright? Now stay quiet while I go say hello.”

————————–————————–————————–—

**Maguindanao or Maguindanaon is an Austronesian language spoken by majority of the population of Maguindanao province in the Philippines. It is also spoken by sizable minorities in different parts of Mindanao such as the cities of Zamboanga, Davao, and General Santos, and the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, as well as Metro Manila. This was the language of the historic Sultanate of Maguindanao, which existed before and during the Spanish colonial period from 1500–1888.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Traslation by Norhana Maguid
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Norhana Maguid

Inspired by the Mantiyanak legends from Mindanao

Mantiyanak illustration by Julia Kristen Delos Santos
FB: JKTD

*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Tahan na aki ko, ipirong mo na an saimong mga mata, dae na maghadit, magiging okay kita.” Inaalalayan kan babae an saiyang tulak para siguraduhon na ligtas an saiyang aki.”

“Sana dae ka maging arog ni ama mo, dae ka maging maraoton asin makanuson arog kadtong ibang lalaki, perme sanang hanap an bagay na ito tapos mahali kapag nakua na ninda.” An sabi ngani ninda, ‘Boys will be boys’, pero dae ninda nasasabutan na an mga babae an permeng nawawalat.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Aram ko na medyo banggi na pero kaipuhan ni mama magluwas para gibuhon an saiyang dapat gibuhon. Kaipuhan niyang ipahiling sa mga mararaot na lalaki na dae ninda basta-basta winawalat an mga babae. Maraot an mundo sa luwas at may reserba akong kabayolentehan para sa inda. “

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Iyo ta nararapat yan sainda. An saindang ati an naglaog sako. Inosente man sana akong daraga na may kinabukasan pero nguyan uni ako. Uni kita. Pareho kitang nakalubong asin magkaibahan hanggang sa wakas kan panahon, pero kung magiging arog ako kaini, dae ko kaipuhan magsakit nin solo.

Kukuanon ko an pinakaimportanteng bagay na igwa sinda. An saindang pinakahahalagahang pagkalalake asin magiging kaugmahan ko an pagdalan kan saindang pagkaubos nin dugo.

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Shhh, shhh. Dae na matakot. Yaon na si mama. Sisiguraduhun niya na ligtas an mundo sa mga mararaot na lalaki. Aram mo mabubuhay kuta kita kung bako lang dahil sainda. Kuta pwede kita mag-ibahan, ika asin ako, laban sa mundo na naghulma sato.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Tahan na! May nahiling akong lalaki padigdi. Dae na maghadit, dae man ini mahaloy. Pagktapos pwede ka nang makikawat ki mama ah? Dae na magribok ta sasalubungon ko na siya.”

=—————————-=

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Hush little child, close your eyes, don’t worry we will be alright.” The woman holds her belly tight, making sure that her child is safe.

“Please don’t be like your father, don’t be like any of those hideous men, always looking for one thing then leaving when they get it. ‘Boys will be boys’ they always say, but they never realize that girls are always going to be the ones left behind.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“I know it may seem late, but mommy’s going out to do what she has to do. She has to let all those evil men know that you can’t just leave women behind. It’s a cruel world out there and I reserve a special kind of cruelty for them.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Because they deserve it. It was their filth that entered me. I was just an innocent young woman, with her whole life ahead of her, and now here I am. Here we are. We were buried together and we will be together until the end of time, but if I have to be this way, then I will not suffer alone.

I will take what they think is the most important thing that they have. Their precious ‘manhood’ and I will enjoy watching them bleed out.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Shhh, shhh. I didn’t mean to scare you. But it’s okay, mama’s here. She’ll make sure the world is safe from those cruel men. We could have lived you know? If not for them. We could have been together just you and me, against the world that made us what we are.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Now hush! I see a man on his way. Now don’t worry this won’t take long. And afterwards you can play with mama alright? Now stay quiet while I go say hello.”

————————–————————–————————–—

*Central Bicol, commonly called Bicol Naga, is the most-spoken language in the Bicol Region of southern Luzon, Philippines. It is spoken in the northern and western part of Camarines Sur, second congressional district of Camarines Norte, eastern part of Albay, northeastern part of Sorsogon, San Pascual town in Masbate, and southwestern part of Catanduanes. Central Bicol speakers can be found in all provinces of Bicol and it is a majority language in Camarines Sur.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Angela Arnante
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Angela Arnante

Inspired by the Mantiyanak legends from Mindanao

Mantiyanak illustration by Julia Kristen Delos Santos
FB: JKTD

*Note this story is in Ilocano

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Agtalna ka ubing a bassit, irikep mo dagita matam, Haan ka madandannagan ta haan ta maananno”

Nairut nga Inigganan ti babai ti tian na, maisigurado laeng a natalged ti anak na.

“Pangaasim haan mo tultulladen ti Ama’m, haan mo tultulladen ti madi nga aramid na, masapul a sirigem ti mesmessa laeng ngem masapul nga adaywam nu naala dan. “Ti lalaki ket lalakin to latta” isut pagsasao da, ngem haan da maamiris nga ti babbai ket kanayun nga isuda ti maibati”

WHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

“Ammuk nga kaslang maudin,rimwar ni Nana ta mapan na kan ubraen ti kaykayyat na. Baybayaan na dagitay agkakadakes nga lallaki nga agibatbatti kadagiti babbai.

“Uray kasanot ulpit ti lubong, nangisaganaak iti naisangsangayan a kita ti kinaranggas kadakuada”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAAH!

“ Gapu ta maiparbeng kadakuada. Dagiti rugit da nga simrek kanyak. Maysaak  a nadalus a babai, ti kabibiag na nga nangat-ngato ngem siyak, kitaen nak itan. Addaak ditoyen. Maitanem tanto a dua agingga a mapugsat ti anges ta, ngem nu mapasamak man ita, saanak nga agsagaba a mesmessa. Ubraek a panunuten dagiti banag a nasken kadakuada. Dagiti kinabaknang ti ‘kinalalaki’ ket naragsakakto nga mangbuybuyya ti panagdardarra da.

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAA!

“Shhh, shhh. Haan ko nga gandat nga butngen ka. Adda ditoy ti Ina’m. Maipasigurado a natalged ti anak na kadagiti agkakadakes a lallaki. Inno ti mabalin tayo nga pagnaedan? Nu saan nga isuda. Agkukuyug tayo ngarud, siyak, ken sika, mangpaksiyat ti lubong nga nangpabalin kadatayo.

WAAAAH! WAAAAAH!

“Agtalna ka! Adda makitkittak a mesa a lalaki. Haan ka madandannagan ta apagkanito lang detoy. Kalpasan na, mabalin kayton nga agayayam ken Imam’ wen? Haan nga makadanag ta innak mangkablaaw”

=————————————————-=

English Version

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Hush little child, close your eyes, don’t worry we will be alright.” The woman holds her belly tight, making sure that her child is safe.

“Please don’t be like your father, don’t be like any of those hideous men, always looking for one thing then leaving when they get it. ‘Boys will be boys’ they always say, but they never realize that girls are always going to be the ones left behind.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“I know it may seem late, but mommy’s going out to do what she has to do. She has to let all those evil men know that you can’t just leave women behind. It’s a cruel world out there and I reserve a special kind of cruelty for them.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Because they deserve it. It was their filth that entered me. I was just an innocent young woman, with her whole life ahead of her, and now here I am. Here we are. We were buried together and we will be together until the end of time, but if I have to be this way, then I will not suffer alone.

I will take what they think is the most important thing that they have. Their precious ‘manhood’ and I will enjoy watching them bleed out.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Shhh, shhh. I didn’t mean to scare you. But it’s okay, mama’s here. She’ll make sure the world is safe from those cruel men. We could have lived you know? If not for them. We could have been together just you and me, against the world that made us what we are.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Now hush! I see a man on his way. Now don’t worry this won’t take long. And afterwards you can play with mama alright? Now stay quiet while I go say hello.”

=————————————————-=

*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 JC Flores
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © JC Flores

Inspired by the Mantiyanak legends from Mindanao

Mantiyanak illustration by Julia Kristen Delos Santos
FB: JKTD

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Hipos lang langga, kipota imo mga mata, indi ka magkabalaka.” Ginkapyotan sang babaye ang iya nga tiyan sang mahugot, ginasigurado niya na wala may matabo sa iya nga bata.

“Palihog indi ka magparehos sa imo nga tatay, indi ka magparehos sa mga makakululba-an nga mga lalaki, pirme lang ginapangita ang gusto nila pero baya-an ka kung nakuha na nila. ‘Mga lalaki, lalaki gid na’ pirme lang amo na ginahambal nila pero ang wala nila ginapanumdom na ang mga babaye ang pirme kagabaya-an.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Kabalo ko nga medyo ulihi na, pero himu-on ni mommy tanan ang dapat niya himu-on. Kailangan niya pahibalo-on sa mga demonyo nga mga lalaki nga indi lang basta-basta ginabaya-an ang mga babaye. Kapintas sang kalibutan kag may ara ako ginreserba nga espesyal nga kapintason para sa ila.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Mangindapat na para sa ila. Ila ini garuk nga nagsulod sa akon. Isa lang ako ka inosente nga dalaga kung sa diin madamo ako sang handom para sa akon kabuhi, kag sa subong amo na ko ni. Amo na ni kita. Gindungan kita lubong kag mag-ulopdanay kita liwat sa katapusan pero kung kailangan nga maging amo ko ni, indi lang ako ang dapat mag-agwanta.

Kuha-on ko ang pinaka-importante nga bagay nga ara sa ila. Ang ila nga ginahigugma nga pagkalalaki kag malingaw ako samtang ginalantaw ko sila gadululugo.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Shhh, shhh. Wala ko gintuyo nga hadlukon ta ka. Pero sige lang, ari lang diri si mama. Siguraduhon niya nga hilway ang kalibutan nga wala sila.  Kabalo ka buhi pa tani kita? Kung indi lang ni tunggod sa ila. Tani ulopdanay pa kita duwa, kita indis sa kalibutan nga kung sin-o nag amo ni sa aton.

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Hipos anay! May nakita ko nga lalaki nga gapadulong. Indi magkabalaka, indi ni magdugay. Pagkatapos ni makahampang ka liwat upod kay mama ha? Sa subong paghipos lang anay kay kadtu-an ko siya.”

=—————————————————————=

English Version

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Hush little child, close your eyes, don’t worry we will be alright.” The woman holds her belly tight, making sure that her child is safe.

“Please don’t be like your father, don’t be like any of those hideous men, always looking for one thing then leaving when they get it. ‘Boys will be boys’ they always say, but they never realize that girls are always going to be the ones left behind.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“I know it may seem late, but mommy’s going out to do what she has to do. She has to let all those evil men know that you can’t just leave women behind. It’s a cruel world out there and I reserve a special kind of cruelty for them.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Because they deserve it. It was their filth that entered me. I was just an innocent young woman, with her whole life ahead of her, and now here I am. Here we are. We were buried together and we will be together until the end of time, but if I have to be this way, then I will not suffer alone.

I will take what they think is the most important thing that they have. Their precious ‘manhood’ and I will enjoy watching them bleed out.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Shhh, shhh. I didn’t mean to scare you. But it’s okay, mama’s here. She’ll make sure the world is safe from those cruel men. We could have lived you know? If not for them. We could have been together just you and me, against the world that made us what we are.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Now hush! I see a man on his way. Now don’t worry this won’t take long. And afterwards you can play with mama alright? Now stay quiet while I go say hello.”

=————————————————————————-=

*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 Seyrah

Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Seyrah

Inspired by the Mantiyanak legends from Mindanao

Mantiyanak illustration by Julia Kristen Delos Santos
FB: JKTD

*Note this story is in Cebuano

Uhaaaa! Uhaaaa!

“Ayaw nag hilak anak, piyunga imong mga mata, ayaw nag kabalaka kay maayo rani tanan.” Ang babayi mi hikap sa iyang tiyan, ug gi sigurado nga nahimutang iyang anak.

“Hinaut nga di ka ma sama sa imong amahan, ayaw intawon sunda ang mga ngil-ad nga mga lalaki, kanunay mag pangita sa usa ka butang apan mu biya ug kalit inig makuha na nila. ‘Ana jud nang mga lalaki’ ang pinulungan sa mga tao, apan wa nila huna-hunaa nga ang bayi gayud ang alakansi.”

Uhaaaa! Uhaaaa!

“Kabalo ko nga awahi na tanan, apan akong buhaton ang gikinahanglan. Kingnanlan nako pahibawon tanan nga mga ngil-ad nga mga lalaki nga di nila mahimong duwa-duwaan lang ang mga babayi. Pait kaayo ning kalibutana ug aduna koy gi lahi nga kalagot alang kanila.”

Uhaaaa! Uhaaaa!

“Kay mao man ang angay kanila. Ilang gi pugos ang ilang gusto kanako. Kaniadto kay putli pa kaayo kong bayhana, ug hayag pa ang kaugmaon, apan karon ani-a ko ngari. Mao ni atong kahimtang. Ani-a ta gi lubong ug ari ta hangtod sa kahangturan, apan gikinahanglan ko mag inani, kinahanglan sila maka tilaw sa akong kasakit.”

“Akong kuhaon ang butang nga ilang gi amping-apingan. Akong kuhaon ang ilang pagka lalaki ug tanawun nako sila hangtod mahurot ang ilang dugo.”

Uhaaaa! Uhaaaa!

“Shhh, shhh. Ayaw ug kahadlok. Naa ra imong inahan. Akong siguraduon nga ang kalibutan ma luwas aning mga salbahis nga mga lalaki. Buhi pa unta ta karon. Kung dili tungod nila. Buhi pa unta kitang duha sa pait nga kalibutan nga maoy nag gama kanato.”

UHAAAA! UHAAA!

“Ayaw nag langas! Aduna koy nakitang laki. Padulong siya ngari. Ayaw ug kabalaka kay kadiyot rako. Ganahan ka nga inig human ni mama mag duwa ta? Ayaw ug langas kay ako siyang duolon.”

————————–————————–————————–——-

English Version

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Hush little child, close your eyes, don’t worry we will be alright.” The woman holds her belly tight, making sure that her child is safe.

“Please don’t be like your father, don’t be like any of those hideous men, always looking for one thing then leaving when they get it. ‘Boys will be boys’ they always say, but they never realize that girls are always going to be the ones left behind.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“I know it may seem late, but mommy’s going out to do what she has to do. She has to let all those evil men know that you can’t just leave women behind. It’s a cruel world out there and I reserve a special kind of cruelty for them.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Because they deserve it. It was their filth that entered me. I was just an innocent young woman, with her whole life ahead of her, and now here I am. Here we are. We were buried together and we will be together until the end of time, but if I have to be this way, then I will not suffer alone.

I will take what they think is the most important thing that they have. Their precious ‘manhood’ and I will enjoy watching them bleed out.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Shhh, shhh. I didn’t mean to scare you. But it’s okay, mama’s here. She’ll make sure the world is safe from those cruel men. We could have lived you know? If not for them. We could have been together just you and me, against the world that made us what we are.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Now hush! I see a man on his way. Now don’t worry this won’t take long. And afterwards you can play with mama alright? Now stay quiet while I go say hello.”

————————–————————–————————–—

*The Cebuano language, alternatively called Cebuan and also often colloquially albeit informally referred to by most of its speakers simply as Bisaya (“Visayan”, not to be confused with other Visayan languages nor Brunei Bisaya language), is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 21 million people, mostly in Central Visayas, western parts of Eastern Visayas and most parts of Mindanao, most of whom belong to various Visayan ethnolingusitic groups, mainly the Cebuanos. It is the by far the most widely spoken of the Visayan languages, which are in turn part of wider the Philippine languages. The reference to the language as Bisaya is not encouraged anymore by linguists due to the many languages within the Visayan language group that may be confused with the term. The Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino, the official regulating body of Philippine languages, spells the name of the language as Sebwano.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Cebuano Translation by Kuan Carlo
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Kuan Carlo

Inspired by the Mantiyanak legends from Mindanao

Mantiyanak illustration by Julia Kristen Delos Santos
FB: JKTD

“Anything less than a hundred percent isn’t good enough.” That mantra followed him throughout Stephan’s life.

His parents always expected the best from him. They said they didn’t want him to waste his potential, and he knew he had a lot to spare. Stephan would always get the highest marks in class, win all the trophies in competitions. He honed his mind and body to near perfection.

But it wasn’t enough.

He would always compare himself to those he thought were doing better in life. There was always someone smarter, someone stronger. He would not rest on his laurels, he drive would not let him stay still.

That’s why he was here.

Stephan followed the old man’s advice and went through the forest at night. He kept his ears open for the sound of the creature and his eyes were set on the glint of its pendant.
He finally found the monster in a clearing littered with the bodies of those that tried to take its prize.

“They weren’t good enough, not like me.” He thought. Years of planning and preparation came to this. He thought back to when this journey started, over five years ago.

He had failed to get first place in a powerlifting event and threw his medal in the trash. Stephan was approached by an old man that said, “Not the kind of pendant that you wanted, was it?” Stephan’s anger reached its peak, no one would make fun of him for getting second place. He raised his arms in fury and punched the old man, but Stephan passed right through him. The old man laughed and said, “There are more things on this earth than you know.”

Stephan wasn’t scared. The old man stayed and told him a story. One of a creature that holds one of the most prized amulets in the world. If you defeat it and claim the pendant, you will have the strength of ten men.

“Tell me how to get to the creature!” Stephen demanded, but the old man’s reply was: “You are not ready.”

So it came to pass that with every triumph and failure that Stephan had, the old man would appear. Every time Stephan would say, “I am ready.” But the old man would shake his head and reply, “Not yet.”

That lasted for five years. Five years of the most grueling training that Stephan had ever experienced. He pushed his body to the limits, breaking bones, building muscle. Days that started before the sun rose and nights that ended after everyone had left.

He would not fail to get that pendant, it was the only thing that mattered.

And now he had his chance. He stared at the creature and was surprised at how human it seemed, its tamaraw head snorting in disapproval of Stephan’s intrusion.

Stephen raised his hands and gestured a challenge to the creature. It stepped over the skeletons of the challengers that failed to claim its prize.

“I will be good enough.” Was Stephan’s last thought before he rushed the creature.

————————–————————–————————–—

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Sarangay desctiption in Myth Museum. Medina. 2015. (Full text can be accessed at http://mythmuseum.weebly.com/list-of-philippine-mythical-creatures.html)

Mantiyanak illustration by Julia Kristen Delos Santos
FB: JKTD

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Hush little child, close your eyes, don’t worry we will be alright.” The woman holds her belly tight, making sure that her child is safe.

“Please don’t be like your father, don’t be like any of those hideous men, always looking for one thing then leaving when they get it. ‘Boys will be boys’ they always say, but they never realize that girls are always going to be the ones left behind.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“I know it may seem late, but mommy’s going out to do what she has to do. She has to let all those evil men know that you can’t just leave women behind. It’s a cruel world out there and I reserve a special kind of cruelty for them.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Because they deserve it. It was their filth that entered me. I was just an innocent young woman, with her whole life ahead of her, and now here I am. Here we are. We were buried together and we will be together until the end of time, but if I have to be this way, then I will not suffer alone.

I will take what they think is the most important thing that they have. Their precious ‘manhood’ and I will enjoy watching them bleed out.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Shhh, shhh. I didn’t mean to scare you. But it’s okay, mama’s here. She’ll make sure the world is safe from those cruel men. We could have lived you know? If not for them. We could have been together just you and me, against the world that made us what we are.”

WAAAAH! WAAAAAAH!

“Now hush! I see a man on his way. Now don’t worry this won’t take long. And afterwards you can play with mama alright? Now stay quiet while I go say hello.”

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Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Mantiyanak legends from Mindanao

Mantiyanak illustration by Julia Kristen Delos Santos
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