*Note this story is in Kapampangan

“Kailangan tamung magpatuluy,” Pamilitan nakung Manuel a ilabas miya ini oneng kapagal ku na rugung mayap. Pilang oras na kaming magbiyahi ot bala mu ala nang kasigarudwan ing kaligtasan mi bala mu inyang mete ya I Johann.

Mamiliksi ya ing pusu ku, eku balu nung nokarin, pero magmasid ya ini kekatamu. Bala mamyalungan la deng Mantahungal king pamangan da, adadaramdam ming adwang Manuel ing tunug da reng bitis panga susubukan ming magpaynawa.

Matalik neng tatalnan Manuel ing keyang baril, maski makananu yang katni ining bageng ayni, ala yang katumbas king masaleseng pangapwestung bala, pero mas mayap ne ing ligtas kesa king pamagsisi. Likwan nana katang Johann unya ing pamagkamali ay ali na pwedi uli mung king bageng a yan.

Kalibutad nana ning bengi at mitmu ya ing bulan. Mamye yang saup ing sala na at akit miya ing dalan kening kagubatan. Patnubayan na kaming Manuel papunta king baybayin, dakal kuweba king lugar at king metung karin na kami mu magpalipas mangang sumala. Mamagasa ku rugung pagal la deng Mantahungal at munta na la sa jang nokarin.

Akakit ng Manuel nung makananu ku asnang kapagal saka na kami dininang limang minutu para magpaynawa bayu magpatuluy. King puntung ayni, akakit kung makananu ya bababa ing sala ning bulan king gabun siping ning baybayin at migbuntung pangisnawa ku king kaginhawan. Makalwal kaming mabiye keni pangayari ning e gana-gana.

Ene man masakit pantunan ining kuweba. Kayari ning kapitnang oras, king lugud ning sitwasyun mekagawa kaming bala kampu saka kami magpasalamat uling dakal kami pang kagamitan. Mikasundu kaming adwang Manuel na palitan kami king pamagbante, para alertu kami nung sakaling datang lareng Mantahungal at masaguli yamu ing proteksyun.

Yaku ing minunang magbante, asna nang kabayat ining baril karening gamat ku, pero patuluy yamung papatnube I Manuel kekami king kagubatan. Dapat mu kaya ing magpaynawa, magbante ku king palub na ning kuweba, pilan namu namang oras aslag ne din ing aldo, karin mi pa abalu nung makananu na ing gawan.

“Bala mapagal na ka,” pangaramdam ku king metung a babaing menibat king nokarin. Pota a-iisip ke mu ing pakaniti, alang masyadung tau keni, at mapagal nakung mayap para king kalinohan kung misip.

“Ssssh.. oras nana ning pamanudtud,” dimdam kung pasibayu, kakaiba ya ngeni mas maginhawa ya at mulit-mulit ya king kueba.

“Magpaynawa na ka, masalese yamu ing e ganagana,” kanyan, babayat no reng mata ku. Ajang makaramdam kung bage-bage alang pamigkaliwa. Gumising naku mu kaybat.

Sera kuno deng mata ku.

Niting sala ning abak daretsu ya king lupa ku saka ku megising, bala mu masalese naman, ene man meistorbu ing palub saka bala likwan dana kami deng Mantahungal.

Atin metung a problema.

Alayu ne.

=——————-=

English Version

“We need to keep moving,” Manuel tries to encourage me to keep going but I’m too tired. We’ve been running for hours and it doesn’t seem like we’re any safer than when Johann died.

My heart is racing. I don’t know where it is, but I know it’s watching us. The Mantahungal seems to like playing with its food, Manuel and I can hear the sound of its hooves whenever we try to rest.

Manuel holds his shotgun close and no matter how smart this thing is, it won’t be a match for a well-placed bullet, but it’s better to be safe and sorry. We already lost Johann and there’s no way we’re going to make any mistakes with that thing around.

It’s already midnight and the moon is full.  The added light helps us move through the jungle. Manuel’s leading us toward the coast, there are caves in the area and we can stay in one of them for shelter until the morning comes. I hope by then the Mantahungal gets tired and moves on to something else.

Manuel can see how tired I am and he gives us five minutes to rest before we continue. At this point I can see the moonlight settling on the sand at the beach and I breathe a sigh of relief. We’re going to make it out of here alive after all.

The cave wasn’t hard to find. Within half an hour we were able to set up something resembling a camp and thankfully we still had all our supplies. Manuel and I decided on taking turns keeping watch. We would be able to hear the Mantahungal if it entered the cave, making it easier to defend ourselves.

I take the first shift, the shotgun feels heavy in my hands, but Manuel’s been leading us through the jungle for hours. He deserves a break. I take position by the cave entrance and wait. Sunrise should be in a few hours anyway and we can figure out what we’re going to do then.

“You seem tired.” I hear a woman’s voice from somewhere. I’m probably hearing things. This whole are is supposed to be uninhabited. I’m too tired to think clearly anyway.

“Sssshh. It’s time to go to sleep.” I hear the voice again. This time it sounds a lot calmer. I can hear it echoing through the cave.

“Go rest, everything’s all right.” I can feel my eyelids getting heavier. Even if I am hearing things a few minutes won’t make a difference. I’ll just wake up right after.

I close my eyes.

The morning sun hits my face and wakes me up. Everything seems to be okay, the entrance is undisturbed and looks like the Mantahungal left us alone. I decide to wake Manuel up and plan our next move.

There’s only one problem.

He’s gone.

=———————————=

*Note this story is in Kapampangan

Pasisibayu ne namang medisoras ing asawa na, siningal ne naman ing lalaki.

Menagkas ya keng angin ing malating lalaki. Mengisnawa yang marimlang angin bat keng ilug at siningal yang pasibayu. Dadala no ning angin deng pamanuksu at sitsit da reng aliwang maglalage. Lulsut la keng siwang ning bale dang kwayan anggang milagpas ya kareng bulung at linuksu keng ilug.

Kening ilug ne minunang ikit ing babai.

Makapadurut keng lalaki ing danum, makalbug ya at anti ya mong makaulas mabasa. Taimik keni, asnang katunud. Aganaka ne itang aldong akilala ne ing kayang asawa. Asne kasala  ing aldo at mikapalyan ya keng kakewan, pepalbug no deng bitis na keng ilug kaybat megpiyak ya. Kanita ne minunang dimdam magkanta ing babai. Linub ya ing kanta keng balugbug ning lalaki kaybat sikmal ne ing puso na. Masaya la pa kanita.

Siyempre kontra ya ing pamilya ning babai. Aliwa la deng maglalage ning ilug kareng maglalage ning kakewan. “Ali ya map ing sirena kareng kalupa mu.” Mesukal ya lub ing lalaki kaybat da sinabi ita deng kapatad ning babai. Ali da kasi aintindian ing panamdaman na.

Ali naman dapat makanini. Ali dapat makanini kasakit ing kasal. Balu na at balu na rin ning asawa na ating bage na ali da akontrol. Ali la malyaring mikayanak maski na kasal la. Balu ning lalaki na makanta yang makuswelu ing asawa na, kaya pin paburen na nemu keng pamanintun na.

Miras ne keng lalam ning ilug at kinawe ya papunta keng lukib. Mengaligkig ya keng bawu da reng mete. Pegmasdan na lang deng mangalating butul, patung-patung at dikit-dikit la. Atin na naman kanyang bayung butul na matambak keni. Balu nang ali na dapat makaying isipan ing keinan da reng tau. Balu nang ali na no man talaga aintindian uling ali neman tau, pero aliwa ya talaga panamdaman patse akakit no deng butul.

Piniling ya kaybat kinawe ne pabalik keng pangpang. Sasabyan na keng sarili na makanini yang magkuswelu ing asawa na, na malati yang bage ini. Kabang maglakad ya pabalik keng kakewan, daramdaman nong magindredus deng aliwang maglalage. Ali na no pansin uling daramdaman na neng magkanta ing babai keng malawut.

Ing timan ning babai ing maulaga kaya.

Medisoras ne na naman ing babai at manaya ya.

===============

English Version

Again, she is late and again, her husband sighs.

The small man curses in the wind. He breathes in the cool river air and sighs for the third time. The taunts and whispers of the other sprits are thick on the wind.  They breach the sanctuary of his bamboo home until he rushes past the leaves and jumps into the river.

The river where he first met her.

The water surrounds his body, submerging him in a blanket of liquid. There is silence here, there is peace. He thinks back to the day he met his bride. There was too much sun and he was uncomfortable in his grove, he dipped his feet in the side of the river and closed his eyes. That was the first time he heard her song. It filled his ears and stole his heart. Those were happy times.

Her family never approved, of course. The spirits of the river and the spirits of the grove lived in two different worlds. “A sirena is not meant for the likes of you.” Those words from her sisters cut deep. They would never understand what he felt.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Marriage wasn’t supposed to be this hard. There were things they couldn’t control, and she knew as well as he did. Their kind could never have children, at least not together. He knew being a mother was the only thing that could make her happy, so when she started her search he could only say yes.

He is at the bottom of the river now, and he swims to the cave. The smell of death sent shivers down his spine. He stared at all the small bones, stacked neatly, side by side. Soon, there would be another set to join them. He knew better than to succumb to human frailties. After all, he was not human enough to understand them, but the sight of the bones made him feel something strange.

He shook his head and swam back up the river. He told himself that this was the only thing that would make her happy, and it was a small price to pay. As he walks to his grove, the gossip of the other spirits reaches his ears. It doesn’t bother him, because he hears her song in the distance.

The only thing that matters to him is her smile.

She is late and he is waiting.

=——————=

Story inspired by Litao description in El Folk-lore Filipino written by Isabelo de los Reyes, translation by Dizon and Peralta-Imson. 1994. (Original Spanish Manuscript Printed 1889)

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

Colors by Alexa Garde
Website: Lexa.us

*Note this story is in Kapampangan

Dening mensaheru daratang la bala deng batwin.

Makalukluk ku kening lele balun kaybat panayan kulang datang. Balu ko reng alamat, ing malating babai, deng mensaheru, lumwal la at miye lang sulu ning landas papunta king karelang panimanman. Atin lang bwak a bala mung api kaybat susulapo anti mo ning batwin.

Ing apung kung babai ing sasabyan nana kanaku unyang anak ku pa, nung makananu la mamyeng mensahi kareng aliwaliwang diwata. Ngana, ajang nokarin do idala deng karelang mensahi, karin la mu munta, uling ita mu ing balu dang katungkulan da.

King kabila ning eganagana, ya mu kabud ing atsu king isip ku, nung makananu ing kesantingan ning biye na a mesira uling kareng malelyari. Nung makanu naku gewang pakiramdam na alang mikigawang aliwa, o magyapang kanita pa. Peburen ke mu ing pamagsisi a balutan naku anti mo ning ulas, magpakapali kanaku king marimlang bengi ngening kaleldo.

Tutulu lamu deng luwa ku, king bawat patak ay aliwaliwa la reng alaala ku kaya. Nung makananu yang lumawe, nung makananu yang kumayli, deng pamanyisip na tungkul king hinaharap. Mangayna naku mu rugu, bala kagigisanan nakumu.

Bala da reng kaluguran ku mamumurit ku kareng pamangawan ku. Pero ala nakung balung gawan, eku man dugu asabi kaya inyang mabiye yapa, oras na inyang eke buring paniwalan. Pero alipa oras para sabyan tamu na kaluguran tala deng lulugaran tamu.

Ayni ngeni, makalukluk ku kasiping ning balun, panayan ko reng mensaheru na bala mu deng bulalacao, mamagasa ku rugung sana dingin de ing kanakung iling.

Menakit kung sala king lub na ning balun tinuknang ya kabut ing pusu ku, tambing yang atsu keni ing malating babai. Pamiklawen keng mayap metung yamu palang alitaptap.

Mebalbal ya ing sarili ku, pero manindigan kupa mu rin. Manenaya ku magyapang kapilan man, datang la sa deng mensaheru.

Pamikaisipan kung mayap king sarili ku na ining bageng gagawan ku ay malati yamung bage na agawa ku para king metung taung luluguran ku.

=——————-=

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.

=———————-

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

*Note this story is in Kapampangan

Buong bie ku panayan kung damdaman ko keka deng salitang aren. Balu ku kabolangan ing maging matula, ing kabud namu magnasang damdaman deng salita, pero nang akarapat ku? Talagang buong bie kung manayang damdaman la deta.

Aganaka ku detang milabas a aldo na magkulung ku keng kwartu, makasubsub mamasang libru bang akalingwan ke ing tampalasang yatu ayni, pero ngeni balu ku na na aku at aliwa ing yatu ing tune tampalasan.

Pagmasdan ke ing ilug ngeni. Ali makaying mangye patse makanining oras ning bengi. Ing bulan singlagu de reng mamagus na kyapu. Aganaka mu pa niyang minuna meng ikit ing ilug ayni? Kitnan mu ku nan la dening tanaman at kinwentu ke keka i Larina.

Kalwat na na nita. Mapali ya pa kanta ing api. Mapapaltos ta balat keng aping alang kasingpali. Sinilab na ing eganaganang itamu, kingwa no deng panaung milabas ampon deng paninap at ala yang tinagan, uling ala nang aliwa nung ali ining mamaping lugud.

Ali naku magpanggap. Buri daka sanang akit magkasakit. Anti ku mong i Larina na mandakap talubang kaybat sisipit ko keng bwak ku bang akit ku lang manasakit. Nanu ngan gewa ku bang akit ku ing sakit kareng mata mu, bang akit ku keng lupa mu ing sakit na akakit ku keng salamin aldo-aldo.

Oneng ing kwentu ku meyari ya ring kalupa ning kang Larina. Mesumpa kung kalupa na nitang babayi na mekulung keng lalam ning lauk, aldo-aldong manyukle keng bwak na bang milako la deng kyapu. Abalu da, ababalu da talaga deng kalupa na. Deng anggang kalaraman ku, deng penako ku.

Eku agyung maging maganaka keka kaybat ning gewa mu oneng eku rin agyung maging marok keka kaybat ning gewa ku. Ing kanung lugud makatakut ya ampong mayap ya, mabangis ya ampong maamu ya, at masakit ngan itang intindian. Oneng ngeni balu ku nang tutu ngan ita.

Eku balu nung apatawad mu ku, pero eme sisisyan ing sarili mu keng dapat kung gawan. Nung atin man dapat mate kekatamu, aku namung atin lasun keng pusu.

Ume na ku.

=———————–=

English Version

I waited all my life to hear those words from you. I knew it was crazy for me to be happy, to be so desperate to hear those words that I blocked out everything else, but what could I do? I really was waiting all my life to hear them.

I remember spending all those days locked away in my room, drugging myself with books so that I could forget the cruelty of the world, but now I know that the world wasn’t the cruel one, it was always me.

I’m staring at the river now. There isn’t much noise at this time of night. The moon’s as lovely as the water lilies making their way down the current. Remember when you first saw the river? You asked my what the plants were and I told you about Larina.

That was a lifetime ago. When the fire was still warm. It seared through our skin, hotter than anything we’ve ever felt. It burned through everything we were, taking our pasts and our dreams and left nothing, because there was nothing outside this burning passion that was there.

I won’t pretend. I wanted to see you suffer. I was like Larina, taking those butterflies and pinning them to her hair just to see them in agony. I did everything I could to see the hurt in your eyes, to see in your face what I saw in my mirror every day.

But I guess my story ends like Larina’s. I’m as cursed as the woman trapped underneath the bay, spending her days combing the water lilies out of her hair. They found out, their kind always does. How I lied about everything, what I stole.

I couldn’t be kind to you after what you did, but I couldn’t be cruel after what I had done. They said that love was terrifying and tender, wild and sweet and none of that made any sense. But now I know every word of that is true.

I don’t know if you will ever be able to forgive me, but don’t blame yourself for what I need to do. If one of us had to die, it might as well be the one with poison in her heart.

Goodbye

=————————————=

Inspired by ‘Mangita and Larina’ in Philippine Folklore Stories. Miller. 1904

Illustration by Joncel Guevarra

*Note this story is in Kapampangan

“Keni na, malapit na!” Pupulayi ya I Jason king burul. King panamdaman ng Nick maybug ya rugung makbung ing keyang pusu. Alya kasi itang atletikung anak, at ena buring payalala da kaya ing katutwan nayta, oneng kaluguran ne I Jason, pane yang malelyari ita at kadwa na ne king biye ing pamagsubuk ka reng panibayung bage.

Memagkasakit ya rugu I Nick king pamanukyat na kaybat tambing ne mung miragsa karas na king babo. Atsu ne man pane I Jason king siping na, kukutnan ne nung ayus ya mu, kanyan, ene makapaninaya king tula ng ipakit kaya ing itsura king lalam ning burul, “Nanung ke astigan na niting pepaglakaran mu ku kareng burul burul a reni kaybat —–” Saka na ikit Nick.

Libingan ya pala, pero alya itang karaniwan a sukuan. Atsu king dosi, bala dina-dinalang butul ning damulag ing makalatag king paligid ning kabitisan ning burul. “O siya, istu ka pin, astig ya pin ini,” bulung ng Nick. “Akuna keka e,” ngana namang Jason, “Pero ali me pa akakit ing pekamabias a parti.”

Etad nong Jason king gubat a butul. Apansinan ng Nick na ela kumpletu deng butul, ating mangadagul a pirasung mababating, lalu na king gulut. Ena iisipan na masanting yang pamikiran ini, pero atsu ne man ing pamagtiwala na kang Jason, at pane naman masale, maralas.

“E tamu masigla, atsu keni,” pangabulung ng Jason. “Siryosu?” Lalawen neng Nick ing pamaglupa ning batu a buri ng ukyatang Jason. “E ta masigla akuna, eme buring migising ini” tekap neng Jason ing gamat na king asbuk ng Nick. “Siryosu kung mayap.”

Sinaguli kanyan, ginalo ya ing gabun kaybat pingwa neng Jason ing gamat ng Nick saka ne binili king lalam na ning punu, “Nanu ita!?” Manganerbyusan ne rugu ing Nick. Saka neng tirung Jason ing babo at ikit neng Nick ing rasun. Makatakut yang tutu, mas maragul ya pa ka reng punu saka ya mangulisak bala mung kulug.

“Enaka ta akit king lalam ning punung ayni, keni tana manaya manga man king mibalik ya king pamanudtud na.” Nganang Jason. “Magdala kung pamangan.”

Migbuntung pangisnawa ne I Nick, makanini talaga ing malelyari patse kayabe ne I Jason.

=————————=
English Version

“Come on it’s over here!” Jason was running over the hill. Nick felt his heart almost burst. He wasn’t the most athletic child and he didn’t like being reminded of that fact, but this was always how it went and Jason was his best friend so being pushed to do new things was a fact of life.

Nick struggled up the last few steps of the hill and he dropped as soon as he reached the top. Jason was by his side as always, asking if he was okay, but this time he was more exited to get Nick to look below the hill. “What could be so cool that you made me walk through a bunch of hills and—–“ Then Nick saw it.

It was a graveyard, but not by any normal standards. Dozens, maybe hundreds of carabao skeletons were scattered around the foot of the hill. “Okay, you were right, this is really cool,” Nick whispered. “Told you so,” Jason replied, “But you haven’t seen the coolest part.”

Jason led them though the skeletal forest. Nick noticed that the bones were never complete, there were giant chunks of them missing, mostly from the back, he didn’t think this was a good idea, but he trusted Jason and that always worked out fine. Mostly.

“Be very quiet. It’s through here,” Jason whispered. “Seriously?” Nick was looking at the rock face Jason wanted them to climb. “I said be quiet, you don’t want to wake it up.” Jason clamped his hand over Nick’s mouth. “I’m dead serious.”

Suddenly the ground shook. Jason grabbed Nick’s arm and he dragged him under a nearby tree. “What was that?!” Nick was starting to get frantic. Jason pointed upwards and Nick saw the cause. It was terrifying. It towered over the trees and it roared with a voice like thunder.

“It won’t see us from under this tree, we should wait until it goes back to sleep again,” Jason said. “I brought food.”

Nick sighed. Stuff like this always happened with Jason.

=—————————-=

Inspired by the Bungisngis entry in  Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971. and in 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Samar. 2015

Bungisngis Illustration by Leandro Geniston fromAklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

*Note this story is in Kapampangan

Tatakut ku.

Melakwan ya pa murin I tatang ku ka rin kayabe ne itang alimaw. Sibukan kung tapangan ing sarili ku tsaka kula panagalan pero ala kung agawa. Malati kupang anak at pane na yaku ing panibatan ning kasiran dang biye da reng tau. Ala kung agawang masanting.

Masyadu yang madalumdung ing gubat kanaku, unya makapirmi ku mu keng metung a lugar. Sambit ng koyang ku dati, nung makapirmi kumu king metung a pwestu, masagli da ku mung apantun deng tau. Ala kung agawa nung ali gumaga namu. Kaybat na ing milyari kang Aura, nung makananung apanasakit ning bingut I ima, at nung makananu ya mebating I koyang, ngeni naman I tatang ku makitagalan ya king alimaw, eku balu nung nanu ing mali kanaku.

Yaku I Teleia, malati ku mung anak at ali makapamye panatag king kanakung pamilya, ‘Kumpletu’ ing buri ng sabyan ning lagyung Teleia. Makanita ing binye ng lagyung ima ku kanaku, uling inyang oras a mibait ku kaya, kumpletu ya ing pamilya ku. Pero para kanaku, yaku ing sanhi ning pangabalbal na niti. King sobrang mua ku, kinangwa kung batu saka ke belugse.

Disuldit, atin kung dimdam masikan a gulisak, kaybat kabud nemung nilwal ining makatakut ayni menibat ya ka reng punu. Anti mu yang anak, kayanti ke naman, pero gamat ing gagamitan na king pamaglakad na. Katuling na mayap, bala mung aninu ya mu. Sibukan kung pulayi mu naman, oneng kasakit dang mayap deng tud ku, asna nong kasakit.

E ko bitasang agamit deng bitis ku, unya ginamit ku nala mu rin deng gamat ku. Mipakirut na ku mung mayap uling kasaguli namu palang gawan. E ku man bitasang makapagtambling kanita! Oneng ngeni makapulayi ku king pamamagitan da reng gamat ku, kabilis a kabilis. Kalaut kuna king makatakut a bageng ngayta.

Ay katula kung mayap, balu kuna ing gawan ku. Ing gubat masanting ya karas ning bengi. Pwedi kung salikut maski nokarin! Kailangan ku mung lumakad gamit da reng gamat ku uling masakit la pa mu rin deng bitis ku. Masakit, pero ayus mu, uling ini na ing bayung yaku.

Magi yang masanting ini, salese ya ing pamilya ku maski ala ku. Apagtantu ku na pwedi kung makipagkaluguran. Kailangan ke mung lawen ing bayu kung kakyalung, at manasakit la mu rin deng karelang bitis! Saka la lumakad gamit da reng gamat da, anti kanaku!

Dakal ku pweding maging abayung kaluguran.

Kailangan ku mung makapantung dakal anak na akayabe ku.

=—————–=

English Version

I’m so scared.

Papa’s still back there with the monster. I tried to be brave and run after them, but there was nothing I could do. I’m just a little girl who keeps ruining people’s lives. I can’t do anything right.

The forest is too dark for me to walk through, so I just stayed in one place. Kuya told me before that if I stay in one place then people can find me. All I could do was cry. After what happened with Aura, how the baby hurt Mama, how Kuya disappeared and now Papa’s running away from a monster, I just don’t know what’s wrong with me.

I’m just Teleia, the little girl that can’t keep her family safe. Teleia means ‘complete’. My Mama named me that because she said that when I was born it made our family complete, but I think I just tore it apart. I was so angry I took a rock and I threw it!

I heard a loud scream and I something scary came out of the trees. It was like child, like me, but it was walking on its hands. It was also very, very dark, like it was made of the shadows. I tried to run away, but my knees started to hurt. It was so painful.

I couldn’t move my legs, so I just started using my hands. I was really surprised when it was so easy. I couldn’t even do wheel-carti-cartwheels before! But now I was walking on my hands, really, really fast. I was so fast that I was away from the scary thing in no time!

I was so happy. I think I know what to do now. The forest is so nice when it’s night. You can hide anywhere! I just need to keep walking on my hands because my legs still really hurt. It’s really painful if I try to walk normal but it’s ok. This is how I’m gonna be now!

It’s going to be great. My family’s going to be fine without me. I found out I can make new friends. I just need to look at a new playmate and their legs will hurt too! And they’ll walk on their hands just like me!

I can make so many new friends.

I just need to find more kids to play with.

=—————–=

Story continued from the Harimodon’s Tale

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

Bugsok illustration by Nia Cortezano
Tumblr: http://niakawa.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Kapampangan

Anti ya mong istoryador i apu ku. Inyang migretiru ne minuli ya king balen mi king Siargao, pane yang atiu munisipyu mangalkal mamasang lumang libru. Gewa na ini angga king mete ya inyang milabas a bulan.

Ala kung makaying agaganaka kang apu ku. Marayu kami tuknangan anya mikikit kami mu patse atin okasyun, pero asno pangasanting ding istorya na. Ing pane kung agaganaka itang istorya ning kampanario ning Busay.

“Oryana ring pirata.” Antimo keng dimdam bosis. Yapin ita ing pekaburi ku king istorya na. Asne kabiasnan mamagbayung bosis i Apu anya makule ing pamag-istorya na. “Mimingat ka karing pirata.” Ing tauli nang linya king pamagkuentu. E ku buring pane lang manyambut ding marok king istorya na dapot ing kapupusan e ne man pin siguru mas maulaga king milyari libutad.

Ala kung obra pilang aldo anya migbiayi ku pa-Dinagat Islands, makanta ya pa mu rin, taimik, matunud, manyaman mimisip. Patse miglakad-lakad ka, amanan me ing kasalesayan. Makayawa ya.

Migdesisyun kung munta Busay para akit itang bito king istorya ng apu ku. Malati ya mu pala, dapot pane namang aliwa ing imahinasyun king katutuan. Kakwa kung retratu aganaka ke i apu ku. Ring mata nang kikinang patse inumpisan neng ikuentu itang pamanako dang kampana ring pirata bayu de inugse king bito, ampo ing alang pakalulu dang pamamate karing Dinagatnon. Ngeni ku mu apiunab ing lungkut  ning istorya.

Mengadi ku lele ning bito bayu ku meko, para king apu ku ampo karing tau king istorya na. Kaluat nang migbante karing tau ning kampana. Magnasang king lalam nitang Bito, mipainawa neng masalese.

=—————–=

English Version

My lola is a historian of sorts. After her retirement she went back to our small town in Surigao and spent her days going through the old books in the town hall. She did this until she passed away a month ago.

I don’t remember much about my lola. We lived so far away that I would only see her on the holidays, but she would always have the best stories. The one I would always remember was about the bell of Busay.

“The pirates are coming.” I could almost hear her say. That was the best part about the story. Lola had the talent of being able to change her voice when it suited her and this made her storytelling much more vibrant. “Be careful of pirates.” Was the last line from her story sessions.  I never liked that the bad guys won in her story but I guess the ending wasn’t as important as the middle.

I had a few days off work so I took the trip back to Dinagat island and it was the same as it always was, quiet and tranquil, the perfect place to think. Walking around the area, you could feel the sense of history around you. It was almost infectious.

I decided to go to Busay and see the bito from my lola’s story. It was smaller than I imagined, but that’s always what happens when imagination meets reality. I take a picture and I think about my lola. About how her eyes would light up when she started on the part where the pirates stole the bell of the chapel and tossed it down this bito, and how they mercilessly slaughtered the Dinagatnons after. I never realized how dark that story was until now.

I say a little prayer by the bito before I leave, partly for my lola and partly for the people in her story. The bell spent so many years protecting people. Hopefully, at the bottom of that Bito, it can finally rest in peace.

=—————-=

*A bito is a natural well

Story inspired by “The Bell of Busay” in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Magbalantay sa Linggaya sa Busay Illustration and Watercolor by Nightmaresyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Kapampangan

Metung benging alang bulan anyang ikit ke

Itang lalaking tinangis api

Lepitan ke saka ke kitnangan bakit

Lua la bang lungkut den?

O lua lang mua mu?

E ya mekibat

Kontorung mengutang ku

Mas menulu ing api kareng mata na

Karin ku mipaisip

Aisip na kaya nung mengatakutan ko?

Miglawa nang malutu

Dinalumdum ne ing langit

Oneng ali ya pa din mekibat

Bagkus, tinapus naku pa palawut

Oneng kailangan kung abalu

Na ating miyayaliwang lungkut

Na ating miyayaliwang mua

Ampong sigurung miyayaliwang saya

Linawe naku kareng matuling nang mata

A manuling api king gabun

Menangis yang pilang alang anggang panaun

Anggang minaslag ya ing sulu king panakit ku king malawut

King metung iglap, mewala ne

Miglakwan yang malutung lawa

Katunayan na linabas ya

Pangabukas milbalik ku

Ampo keng benging kayari na ning bukas bengi

Bangkanita akutnan ke itang lalaki

Nung bakit ya manangis

=————————————-=

English Version

It was a moonless night when I saw him

The man who cried fire

I went up to him and asked why

Were they tears of sadness?

Or anger?

He did not reply

The more I asked

The more fire fell from his eyes

And I began to wonder

Does he think I am frightened?

By the pool of glittering red

By the darkness of the night sky

He would not give me an answer

And sought to push me away

But I needed to know

There were different kinds of sadness

Different kinds of anger

And maybe even different kinds of joy

He looked at me with his jet black eyes

Pouring flames onto the ground

He wept for several eternities

Until the light broke from the horizon

And in an instant he was gone

With only a puddle of red

As evidence of his passing

Tomorrow I will return

And the night after that

To ask the crying man

What is behind his tears

————————–————————–——————–

Inongok Illustration by Joshua Hamangal
IG: https://www.instagram.com/ishart1228

*Note this story is in Kapampangan

Keng balen na ning Igbahay, makatuknang ya ing metung mausisang nilalang. Anyang banwa na ning Guino, 1539, linusub de reng tau ing bale na nitang marok a tau na awsang dang Talagman. Keng baleng ayta ikit do reng makapangilabut na bage. Metung kareng peka-aliwang dili itang uwak na ating tukang kasing taram na ning kutsilyu, ating yang apat a makakabang bitis, kuku, ampong tusuk.

Ngeni, sabi da reng memalen, ining nilalang ayni atin yapang kayabeng metung mas marok a nilalang. Keng sobrang karok ng Talagman, kinalat ing sabi-sabi na metung ya kanung Sigbin. Anyang panaun ayta, paniwalan da na ing Sigbin metung yang tau na magdalang sobrang karokan at kasakitan manibatan keng kayang pisalikutang lugar.

Atin lapang istorya reng memalen na metung kanung aldo atin masikan a lalaking menakit kang Talagman na kasalungsungang gagawang marok a bage anya itang lalaking ayta pinutut ne balugbug i Talagman. Ngeni, kanitang aldong ayta megi neng tradisyun kareng memalen na ning Igbahay, detang taung awsang dang Ibajaos, deng lalaki sadya dong paputut reng karelang kailing balugbug. Ing panyaptang dang ayni paniwalang dang makalakong bisa ketang kasunduwan na nitang Sigbin ampo nitang Espiritu na awsang dang Oag. Ining Oag ayni metung yang nilalang na mamyeng laru na makapamyeng sikanan keng metung a tau para magi yang Sigbin.

Makanita ya karok i Talagman, na mangaman ngeni, reng tau pane dang istorya da nung makananung ing kayang lawe malyari yang makapamyeng kasakitan kareng menakit. Pane de muring istorya nung makananung deng akakit I Talagmang deng karelang kanunuhan na kukwang basyu at didinan neng laru ing kayang katawan. Sinulapo ya keng angin at melakwan ya ing kapitna na ning kayang katawan keng bale.

Ing karokan at katsurang ugali ng Talagman pante ya ketang awsan ng Uac-Uac, ing kayang kaluguran. Ining uwak ah mamyeng disgrasya ayni panwalan de muring mamateng biktima pauli na ning pamanyaksak keng karelang gulut gamit ing mataram ng tuka kabang kukutkut ne ing kayang kuku keng laman na ning tau. Pauli na ning sobrang tula keng pamamanyeng kasakitan kareng tau, sadya lang susulapo kayabe na ning kayang among Sigbin para manintung laman na ning taung karelang pikutkutang kuku.

Ining istoryang ayni dinalan a banwa ne ing milabas, oneng magpanggang ngeni mapali ya parin keng panimanman da reng tau. Patye ikit me ing uac-uac a apat a bitis, mingat ka uling paniguradung kayabe ne at atyu yamu nung lokarin ing kayang amu.

=——————————–=

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.

————————–————————–————————–

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 Kapampangan

Case # KGMJ4852

Ating mengabating a anak anyang July 17, 1961, ala una na ning ugtu. Miglawe la reng Rangers king Orang National Park oneng pilang oras na ing milabas bayu da abalu nung nanu ing milyari karela.

Dapat normal a field trip yamu naman ita. Pipilang gradeschool titser ampong estudyante a papuntang park para gawang paper tungkul king park. Atin lang abeng atlung bante detang anak.

Itang mumunang bangke, metung ya karetang titser. Balamu mete ya king sakal. E pa balu nung nanu ing kemate na oneng ating pruebang mete ya dail king “violent compression on the neck as well as presence of bruising.” Balamu pilan mung minutu ing kemate na oneng ala naman meg-aliwa king itsura na o king katawan.

Detang mitagan, ikit dala ketang metung tanaman. Ketang “rainbow eucalyptus grove”. Balang metung, atin lang pasa kalupa na nitang minunang bangke a atin pasa a balamu sekal. Atin din buak-buak a ikit da king batal da. Linto naman king post-mortem, atin lang balamu pile o “fracture” detang anak. Sabi king Autopsy, pilang minute mu, mete la agad deng biktima.

Suma total, disisyete la deng mete. Siyam anak a lalaki, limang anak a babai, ampong atlung babaing titser.

Ni-lock-down de ing park saka dala ininspeksyun deng egana-ganang kotse a lulwal oneng ala lang ikit na magpatune na atin ginamit ”murder weapon”. Alang migtugma a buak kareng bangke saka kareng “visitors” a linub king park.

Angga ngeni, ali ya pa din “solved” in kasu.

=—————————————–=

English Version

Case # KGMJ4852

The children went missing July 17, 1961 at about 1pm. Rangers searched the Orang National Park for hours before they discovered what had happened to them.

It was supposed to be a routine field trip, a bunch of grade schoolers and their teachers going through a park and making papers about it after. The children were lead by 3 chaperons.

The first body was of one of the teachers, she looked like she had died from strangulation. The cause was unknown, but there was evidence of violent compression on the neck as well as presence of bruising. It seemed that death was within minutes with no disfiguring physical findings. Strands of soft hair were found on the victims neck, mirroring later findings.

The rest of the victims were found all in the same place, a rainbow eucalyptus grove. Each victim had the same marks as the first body and all showing signs of strangulation, with the presence of the hair on their necks. The child victims show fractures and bruising that were found to be postmortem. Autopsy showed the times of death of all the victims were within minutes of each other.

In total there were 17 victims. 9 boys, 5 girls and 3 female teachers.

The park was put on lockdown and all exiting vehicles were searched but nothing was ever found that would match the presumed murder weapon. No hairs that matched the ones found were present on any of the other park visitors.

The case remains unsolved to this day.

————————–————————–———————

Story inspired by Ikugan entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

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