*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

The post Inongok – Kapampangan Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*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

The post Ikugan – Kapampangan Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Kapampangan

“Alberto, matudtud naka!”, anang Neni anyang linawe ni i Alberto king kwartu na. Mebigla ya makakera ne pala.

Apansin na medyu matamle ya. Pigaganakan na pota ali na ne na naman matudtud masalese.

“Opu!.Matudtud naku pu!” Pakibat nang Albertu a makaulas na.

Yapin na ita. Pete na neng Neni ing sulu kaybat neng sebyanang matudtud ne i Alberto.

“Bukas munta tamu park, ne?” Anang Neni kalwal nang pasbul.

“Matudtud ta na puuuuu!” Pakibat nang Alberto.

———————————————————————————————————————————– “Manuyab ya pa i Alberto kabang makasake ya king kabayu nang de pakpak susulapo kareng ulap. Balamu mo napun mu milyari itang anyang minsang mekisabi ya itang metung prinsesa ning Kahangian a ali na ne pa ituluy itang metung pamaglusub na.

Balu nang Alberto, ali ya makaali patse ating pamipagsapalaran.

Oneng ngeni, buri nang Alberto, mayari na ing pamipagsapalaran a ita.Balamu malabug nang manyabut king alang aggang pamaglusub da reng ayup.

Ali la ordinaryung ayup deni. Balamu payung lang susula-sulapo kareng ulang ning Kahangian. Ana ning prisesa kang Alberto, madalas ali no man bubulad ampong manablas deng ayup oneng ngeni sinapak nala. Pigaganakan na ning prinsesa, ini pa ing umpisa ning mas madagul a pamaglusub king kaarian da.

Pilang domingu nala ding tatabi Alberto, kayabe ning kabayu na, deng ayup palawut king kaarian. Agyang buri na ning prinsesa a gumamit yang puersa i Alberto, ena la agyung panasakitan deng  ayup.

Kayari na ning pekatawling kumpul ning ayup, pepaawus ne ning prinsesa i Alberto king kwartu na.

Kailangan na neng yarian Alberto ini. Sayang king oras ing gagawan nang Albertong pamanabi kareng ayup nung magbalik la din naman. Dininan neng kaun i Alberto at sebyanan neng munta king ari da reng ayup para paten ne.

Biklat neng Alberto ing kaun at mebigla ya anyang akit na na espada ya ing makalage a makaukit ing keyang lagyu. Mabayat yang lub linawe king prinsesa saka ya miniling.

Ali na agyu ing pagawa na. Ali solusyun ing pamanasakit para kaya. Likwan ne ing kaun king kwartu na ning prinsesa saka ya sinake kabayu na.

Mituknang mu ing egana-ganang ini nung masunud yamu buri i Alberto.

———————————————————————————————————————————–Tiniman ya ing kabayu nang Alberto. Uling kabayu ne mu, mesane neng ali sasabing pilubluban na oneng ngeni, ali ne mekabata.

Masaya iya na ustu ya ing desisyun nang Alberto. Ali no man manakit deng ayup. Istorbu la deng ayup king kaarian ning prinsesa oneng angga mu karin.

Sinulagpo lang adwa ning kabayu na kareng ulap angga king agyu na ning kabayu na. Nung nanu ya kagaling ing kabayu na king pamanlundag, makanita neman kapalpak kareng pakpak na. Pabusbus a  sinugud kareng ayup, mekapangan ya pang pipilang bulbul ayup i Alberto, agga king atupan de ing ari da reng ayup.

Dinuku ya ing kabayu nang Alberto. Agyang kabayu ya, atin ya pa din dayang ayup at kailangan nang tuki kareng aliwang batus-ayup bangkanita ali de kamuan deng aliwang ayup.

Asneng karagul ing ari da reng ayup. King kadagul na, mitatakpan ne alus ing aldo king katawan na. Linawe ne ning ari da reng ayup i Alberto ampo ing kabayu na saka na sinabi, “Ninu ikayu? Ampong nanung gagawan yu keni?”

Makaduku ya pa din ing kabayu anyang dimdam neng mekibat i Alberto.

“Bakit ye pu lulusuban ing kaarian?”, anang Alberto.

“Nanung buri mung sabyan?! Ala kung lulusuban! Panikwanan ku mung misubli ya ing kakung pibandian!”

Melukut ya kanuan i Alberto king pangalitu na.

“Oneng sabi na pu ning prinsesa kaku, ikayu pu ining linusub!”

“Iya ing minuna aliwa yaku! Penako ne ing kakung korona! Kaya kula papuntalan deng kakung alagad bangkanita akwa ke ita!”

“Oneng ana pu ning prinsesa –”

Dirutan ne ning ari da reng ayup i Alberto saka ne lege ing tuktuk na king lupa na.

“Abalitan da naka. Ika ampo ning kabayu mung de pakpak. Malwat da na kayung daramdaman kening kaarian a ini. Ngeni, makisabi kung mayap, isubli ye ing kakung korona. Patse milyari ita, metung mung amanu ku, tuknang na la reng alagad ku.”

Linawe ya ing Alberto king kabayu na at sabe lang tinangu.

———————————————————————————————————————————–Makalawe ya ing prinsesa king salamin kabang susuklen de reng alagad ing buak na. Ali na isip-isipang tanggian ne ning metung tawu ing keyang regalu. Siguru king susunud, ditak pang lua, ala nang makatanggi king regalu na.

Sebyanan na lang lumwal deng keyang alagad. Linub ya king metung sikretung pasbul. Keng kilub ning kwartu, metung a baul. At king kilub ning baul, metung a premyu a pakiingatan na.

Pekamasanting yang korona king buung Kahangian. Atin yang bala makaburdang batuin ibat king langit. Gintung inaseru nang Ginton. Atin yan kasantingan a bage king pekamalagung prinsesa kareng ulap.

“Malaram!”, Gulisak nang Alberto king kwartu na ning prinsesa.

Memigsu yang menakbag ing korona king bigla na. Ali na isipan a mibalik ya agad ing tawung tinubud na.

“Malaram ka!”, anang ginulisak pasibayu.

“Katnamu atyu naka! Atyu la deng ayup nandin keni buri deng kunan ing korona kaku!”, ana ning prinsesa sabe atin ginilid lua king mata na. Ali mu minsang ginana ya ing makanining palusut na ning prinsesa. Nung ginana ya dati, gumana ya din ngeni.

“Ali me bandi yan!”, Anang Alberto kabang linapit la ning abayu na king prinsesa.

“Ali ya kaku pero ken yang tatang ku ini! Maiinggit lamu deng ayup kanaku kaya buri deng kuanan kanaku ini. Ali mu naman paburen ita, ali? Saupan mu ku,” Ngeni, manulu na ing lua king pisngi na kabang lalen ne i Alberto king mata.

“Malaram!”, anang Alberto kaybat neng dinaklut ing korona saka sinake kabayu na.

“Dakpan ye yan!”, Ana ning prinsesa ka reng guardya na.

Sibukan de pang tagalan i Alberto oneng mekalagpas nala kareng susulapong ubingan a makabante king puntud nang Ulilangkalulua. Patse milagpas naka karin, mengari nakang pagong a ali milako king bale mu.

“Ali naka makabalik keni kapilan man!”, gulisak na ning prinsesa kareng ulap. “Pantunan daka tandanan mu yan!”

“Dinumug de reng ayup di Alberto ampo ning kabayu na. Metula lang mayap a tatalnan neng Alberto ing korona ning ari da.”

“Kapate na naka ning kaarian ning prinsesa mu,” Ana ning ari da reng ayup.

“Wa pin pu.”

“Salamat keka. Manibat ngeni asaan mung saupan naka ning kaarian da reng ayup nung sakaling kailangan mu.”

“Salamat pu.”

Makatiman yang linaweng i Alberto king kabayu na. Kinawul neng Alberto ing kabayu na at saka neman mekibat ing kabayu na. Balu da na ustu ya ing desisyun a gewa da agyang ngening atin nalang kapate madagul.

“Atsing Neni, mapagal naku pu!”

“Oh, sige, Alberto. Miglip naka pa. Ligpit mula deng kinalat mung crayola, ne?”

“Opu.”

Ngening aldo, maranun yang tinikdo i Alberto ampong mig-almusal. Migaganaka ya pa din i Neni na eya mekatudtud masalese i Alberto oneng balu na na makabawi neman king tudtud nung miglip ya.

Sinopan neng ligpit deng Crayola nang Alberto. Magtaka ya mu pin nung bakit payung ing pane nang do-drawing.

“Atsing Neni, ayup, oh!” anang Alberto kabang papakit ne ing ayup a dinrowing na lupang payung. Mas maragul yamu pin kareng aliwang payung.

“Ay! Kasanting na naman niyaaaaan! Oh, tara na, ne? Magligpit ta na saka naka matudtud, ne?”

“Opu!”

English Version

“Alberto it’s time for bed!” Neni shouted from the hallway. She checked Alberto’s bedroom and was surprised to find him already under the covers.

She had noticed that he was less energetic than usual and she was worried that he wasn’t sleeping well.

“Neni I’m going to sleep!” Alberto said from under his blanket.
There wasn’t much she could do. Neni switched the lights off and told Alberto to have good dreams.

“I’ll see you in the morning. We’ll go to the park tomorrow okay?” She said as she walked out of his room.

“Neni! Time to sleep!” was Alberto’s reply.

Alberto yawned as he rode his winged steed through the clouds. It felt like only yesterday when one of the princesses of Kahangian*asked Alberto and his horse to stave off an invasion.

Alberto knew he couldn’t say no. When adventure calls he only had one answer.

But Alberto wished this adventure would end soon. Victory seemed out of reach as the endless onslaught of birds came wave after wave.

These were no ordinary birds. They flew like umbrellas along the clouds of Kahangian. The princess told Alberto that the birds would usually keep to themselves, but something must have happened to rile them up. She was afraid that this was only the beginning of a larger assault on her realm.

Alberto and his horse spent the last few weeks rerouting the birds away from the kingdom. As much as the princess wanted him to use force, Alberto could not bring himself to harm the birds.

After redirecting the latest wave of birds Alberto was summoned to the princess’ chambers.

She told him that it was time to end this. Redirecting the birds was a waste of time if they just kept coming back. She gave Alberto a box and told him to go to the king of the birds and slay him.

Alberto opened the box and was surprised to find a sword with his name engraved on it. It felt heavy in his hands and he looked at the princess and shook his head.

He would not do as she asked. Violence wasn’t the answer, at least not to him. He left the box in the princess’ chambers and went to his horse.

This would end, but on his terms.

Alberto’s horse smiled. As a horse he was used to keeping his opinions to himself but today he couldn’t help it.
He was proud that he made the right choice in Alberto. The birds weren’t violent, at most they were a nuisance to the princess’ kingdom.

They flew through the clouds with as much grace as the horse could muster. As adept as he was with galloping, the horse was clumsy with his wings. They barreled through the surge of birds ahead of them, Alberto had to spit out a few feathers, but eventually they came upon the roost of the king of birds.

Alberto’s horse bowed his head. As much as he was a horse, he was also part bird, and there were certain rules that you had to follow to make sure the other birds wouldn’t get mad at you.
The king of birds was enormous, his large frame almost blacking out the sun. He took one look at Alberto and his horse and said, “Who are you and why are you here?!”

Alberto’s horse was still looking at the ground when he heard Alberto answer.

“Why you attack the kingdom?”

“Strange human, I attack nothing. I am just trying to get back what belongs to me.”

Alberto’s brow creased in confusion.

“But princess said you attack!”

“The princess was the one that started this. She and her kingdom stole my crown! I’ve been sending my birds to her kingdom to get it back.”

“But princess said—-“

The king of birds whirled around and put his beak up to Alberto’s face.

“I’ve heard of you, human. You and your bentohangin have made quite a name for yourselves in this realm. And I am asking you, please, get my crown back and I will tell my birds to stop.”

Alberto looked at his horse and they nodded in unison.

The princess stared at her mirror as her servants brushed her hair. She had not calculated that the human would reject her gift, but no matter. A few bats of her eyelashes and some tears would certainly do the job the next time.

She bade her servants to leave her alone and walked to a hidden door in her chambers. In it was a chest and in that chest was her prize.

It was the most beautiful headpiece in all of Kahangian, inlaid with fallen stars and made from gold straight from Ginton’s forges. Such beauty should only belong to her, the fairest princess in the clouds.

“L—-I—-A—-R!” Alberto’s voice rang through the princess’ chambers.

The princess managed to catch the crown as it fell through her fingers. She had not expected the human to be back so soon.
“You’re a liar!” Alberto shouted again.

“I’m so glad you’re here! The birds have been trying to steal from me!” It was time for the tears. The princess was familiar with this tactic, many heroes had fallen for her charms and this one would be no different.

“That’s not your crown!” Alberto and his horse moved towards the princess.

“This is my father’s! The birds are jealous of its beauty and keep trying to take it from me, but you won’t let them will you? Please help me!” Tears were flowing down her cheeks as she looked into Alberto’s eyes.

“L—–I—–A—–R!” Alberto grabbed the crown from the princess and ran towards his horse.

“Guards! Get them!”

Alberto and his horse were experts and running away. The guards tried to catch up to the pair but once you’ve escaped from the flying serpents guarding Ulilankalulua’s grave everything seems like a turtle in comparison.

“You are not welcome here!” The princess shouted through the clouds, “We will hunt you down!”

The birds flocked Alberto and his horse. They were overjoyed at the sight of the crown and accompanied them to their king’s throne.

“You have made yourself an enemy of the princess’ kingdom.” The king of birds said to Alberto.

“Yes.”

“Thank you, know that the kingdom of birds will help you, whenever you will need it.”

“Yes.”

Alberto looked at his horse and smiled. Alberto’s horse hugged his companion and neighed. They knew they made the right choice, even if it meant making a powerful enemy.

“Neni! I’m tired!”

“Okay Alberto, you can take a nap soon. Let’s clean up your crayons okay?”

“Okay.”

Today Alberto woke up early and even got ready for breakfast in time. Neni was still worried that he wasn’t getting enough sleep but that was nothing a good nap couldn’t fix.

She helped him clear his crayons and wondered why he kept drawing umbrellas.

“Neni! Bird!” He showed a drawing that was like the other umbrellas but bigger than the rest.

“It looks great Alberto! Let’s clean up and you can take a nap, okay?”

“Okay!”

Continued from the Bentohangin’s tale

*Kahangian is the fifth layer of the universe

Inspired by the Hubot description in The Soul Book. Demetrio & Cordero-Fernando 1991.

Hubot Illustration by Edrian Paolo T. Baydo

Color by Alexa Garde
Website: Lexa.us

The post Hubot – Kapampangan Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Kapampangan

Apansin nang Anselmo a mangalgal la deng gamat na anyang binaldug ne ing mumunang bini. Balu na kasi na labag king lub na ning ari ning bunduk ing keyang gagawan at balu na din malyari yang miparusan. Oneng  agyang makanita, balu na din na mas igit pa ing akwa nang kapalit.

Nung dakal mu sanang ortilanung maglakas lub a sumubuk, mas dakal pa sanang apatubung Tobacco king babo bunduk.

Megambul ne ing gabun, metanam na la deng bini.

Anyang benging ita, apaninap ne ing ari. Atiu la kanu king gubat kabang miarapan la. Timpa ne ning ari ing gabun maka-atlung besis at saka anti mong linwal a taung mangalati. Atin yang sinambit ing ari oneng ali na masiadung dimdam Anselmo saka la pinulayi deng tawu palwal kung gubat.

Melakwan ya i Anselmo ampo ing ari. Mangatakutan ne i Anselmo oneng mengaring ali ne aakit ning ari. Tinampa ne pa ning ari ing gabun maka-atlu pang besis at kalupa na ning milyari nandin, dakal na namang tawung sinibul keng gabun. Ngeni, migtaka ne i Anselmo kaya tikyan na na la deng tawung mangalati nung nokarin la mumunta.

Anyang mekaratang ne king dulu ning gubat, mengapasingap iya king ikit na. Asnang kalawak ing pananam a Tobacco mamangga king dulu ning panakit na ning mata. Kanita ya mu menakit kadakal a Tobacco. Detang taung malati pala deng mananam. Dina-dinalan (o baka libu!) a tawung mangalati ing mananam ampong manarul king asikan.

Dikma ne ing metung a taung malati saka ne kitnangan nung nanu ing gagawan na. “Para king ari ini. Siempre kailangan na ning ari ing Tobacco para atin iyang isindi.” Saka ne ginulut in taung malati saka ya  mengapakaili king kutang nang Anselmo a balamu mulala yamu ing mangutang king kitang na.

Meyari ne ing paninap na anyang meyari no din menanam Tobacco. Dudugdug ya pusu i Anselmo. Aganaka na ing bining tenam na napun. Mipaisip ya nung nanung kaparusan na nita.

Eya mipaindatun pilang aldo. Mipapaisip ya nung bawian ne ba ing tenam nang bini. Angga king bulan na ing milabas a aiisip na ini.

Ala. Ala naman milyari. Milabas ing pilang aldo at bulan. Pilang tilauk na ing manuk ing milabas, tinubu la pa rin deng Tobacco king palibut ning Kanlaon kalupa ning dati.

Ali linwat, aulata da reng tau a lagpas ne king gulus ing tanam nang Anselmo. King inggit a atin kapalit a gintu ing panananam Tobacco, tinanam nala naman nung nokarin ya naman menanam i Anselmo.

Ikwa nang sinapak Tobacco ning Kanlaon oneng ala din namang milyari.

Atin din naman sinabi kareng ortilanu. “Tandanan yu nung nanu ing sinabi ning ari. Nung tanam tamu keni baka pang-uanan nala mu ning ari ing Tobacco saka no ngan isindi!”

Alang pinansin king sinabi da. Agyang ding simpleng tau, mabubulag murin karas king pera.

Patye bengi, magkumpulan la deng aliwa keng dapug saka magkwentu tungkul king ari ning bunduk. Sabi da, ing ari mu ing tune makapangyarian king yatu oneng  mas pinili nang lumakad kayabe tamu kesa king sakupan naka tamu.

Aganaka da nung makananung e na buri ning ari a mananam lagpas king gulis a gewa da reng taung mangalati pabilug king babo bunduk. Melungkut la deng tawu king utus ning ari anyang meko ya.

Anapaya ning ari, “Makisabi kung mayap kekayu, ekayu tatanam lagpas king gulis. Nung gawan yu yan, kunan ku ngan ing Tobacco at alang tumubu metung man anggat ali ku ngan agigisan isindi ing egana-gana.” Mibuklat ya ing gabun kaybat neng tinampa ning ari saka ne meko.

Tinupad no man deng tau… angga king depat nang Anselmo.

Kapabibatan na nita, menanam ya pa din Tobacco i Anselmo. Aganaka ne ing apaninap na… sana  kasingdakal na nitang apaninap na ing tanam na king keyang asikan.

Pilang banua na ing milabas, akalingwan de rin deng tau ing ari ning bunduk kayabe ning pangaku da kaya.

Sinapak ya ing Kanlaon Tobacco. Deng tawu naman mikwalta la keng karelang pupul.

Dakal taung mekyabe king karelang fiesta. Ala napin sigurung makapigil king karelang pamagsaya ampong keng karelang pamikwalta.

Angga king binuklat ya ing gabun at mibalik ya ing ari ning bunduk.

Minuna neng pinulayi i Anselmo. Mangatug ya butul uling balu na ini na ing aldo ning pamag-atul. Ali ne linawe pagulut king pamamulayi na king lalam ning bunduk.

At milyari na pin ing katatakutan na. Ing dating sapak Tobacco, ngeni, ala neng laman ing Kanlaon. Ali la makapaniwala deng ortilanu na mewala lang bigla deng tanam da. Akalingwan da na tune makapangyarian ya pin ing ari.

Menaimik ngan ing egana-gana uling balu da na ing malyari. Disuldit, sinabug ya ing bunduk at mekulkul ya iti saka sinapak api ampong asuk.

Agyang deng pekamatapang, mengatakutan. Misalbag la deng tau king takut da king mua na ning ari.

Pangabenging ita, meninap ya I Anselmo… ating makapal a asuk a linto king arap na. Menguku ya anggang ikit ne ing ari sisinding Tobacco.

Siniklod ya ampong menyad tawad.

Pasibayu, ali na ne na naman apasin ning ari i Anselmo. Tinampa ne ing gabun maka-atlung besis saka la linto deng mangalating tau.

Mamagdala lang Tobacco deng mangalating tau para isindi ning ari.

Sinapak yang asuk ing bunduk. King sobrang kapal, balamu makbung ne salu i Anselmo.

Anggang mipagising ya.

Milabas ing pilang banwa, atin memagbalik king bunduk. Menalakad lang baryu king gilid bunduk oneng ala nang sinubuk mananam Tobacco.

Alang mikabalu nung nanung milyari kang Anselmo. Atin sasabi, dinukut ne ning ari. Ing aliwa naman sasabyan da, tinakas ya kanu.

Nanu pa man, balu da reng tawu a kasabwat la king depat na. King makabang panaun, alang makatanam king Kanlaon.

Anggat sisindi ya pang Tobacco ing ari.

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English Version

Anselmo felt his hands quiver as he planted the first seed. He knew what he was doing was against the wishes of the king of the mountain, and he was fearful of the price. Yet, there was so much to gain. Tobacco plants could stretch until the mountaintop if only the farmers had enough backbone to take the leap.

The earth was parted and the seed buried.

That night he dreamt of the king. They were in a forest facing each other. The king tapped the ground three times and small men sprang from the earth. The king said something Anselmo couldn’t hear and the small men ran towards the edges of the forest.

Anselmo and the king were left alone, but it seemed that the king couldn’t see the scared man. The king tapped the ground three more times and even more small men appeared. Alfonso was curious so this time he followed the small men to see what they were doing.

As he reached the end of the forest he gasped at the sight, rows of tobacco plants that extended towards the horizon. He had never seen so many tobacco plants. The small men were busy planting even more tobacco. Anselmo counted hundreds, no thousands of small men toiling in the fields.

He grabbed one of the small men and asked what they were doing. “Why this is for the king, of course,” said the small man, “the king needs his tobacco to smoke.” The small man then turned his back on Anselmo snickering at such a stupid question.

The dream ended there, with the small man and the tobacco plant. Anselmo’s heart was pounding, it was yesterday when he planted the first seed and he wondered what his punishment would be.

He agonized for days, wondering if he should take back the seed he planted. His mind raced for months about what his punishment would be.

Still, nothing happened. The sun still rose and the moon faded into the night. The roosters crowed at the same time every day and the tobacco plants grew around Kanlaon as they always have.

Soon, others noticed that Anselmo was planting above the line. Their eyes grew greedy with the promise of gold and they too took tobacco seeds and planted where Anselmo did.
And again, nothing happened. Kanlaon was filled to the brim with tobacco.

There were those that tried to warn the farmers. “Remember what the king said! If we plant here then he would carry all the tobacco away and smoke it all!”

Their cries fell on deaf ears. Money blinds even the most humble of men.

In the night there would be those that huddled around campfires and told the story of the king of the mountain. How he had absolute power over the earth, but sought to live alongside humans rather than rule over them.

They recounted how he had asked the people not to plant above a certain line that he had ordered his small men to draw around the mountain near the top. They told of the day when the king left. How the people shed tears at the kings pronouncement.

“I only ask that you will not plant above the line, if you do I will take all the tobacco away and no more shall grow along the mountainside until I have smoked it all.” The king tapped the ground and opened the earth, disappearing into the mountain.
The people kept their promise until Anselmo, of course.

Throughout all this he planted more tobacco. He remembered the dream, how he wished that his fields would look like the king’s, stretching until the horizon.

Years passed and the people forgot about the king of the mountain and their promise to him.

The mountain of Kanlaon was covered entirely by tobacco plants and the people grew rich and fat from their harvests.
Even the most humble of the people joined in the lavish fiestas that were held. It seemed like nothing could stop their celebrations of the people’s newfound wealth.

That is, until the earth opened and the king of the mountain returned.

Anselmo was the first to flee. He could feel the rumble in his bones and he knew the day of reckoning had come. He didn’t even look back as made a dash for the foot of the mountain.
It was a terrible sight to behold. Once filled with tobacco, Kanlaon was now bare. The farmers could not believe that their crops had disappeared so easily, but they had forgotten the true power of the king.

There was silence among the people, as if they knew what was about to happen. Suddenly the mountaintop exploded into the air, creating a crater filled with smoke and fire.

This was too much for even the bravest of them. The people fled in all directions, fearful of the king’s wrath.

That night Anselmo dreamed.

A thick cloud of smoke appeared before Anselmo. He coughed until he saw the king smoking tobacco. He went down on his knees and asked for forgiveness.

Again, the king did not notice his presence. He tapped the ground three times and small men appeared. The small men then brought more tobacco for the king to smoke.

Smoke filled the mountain, filling each crevice. It was an oppressive force. Anselmo felt his chest about to explode from inhaling so much smoke.

Then he awoke.

Years passed by and there were those that returned to the mountain. They set up their villages along the sides, but no one was brave or foolish enough to grow tobacco on the mountain.

No one knows what became of Anselmo, some say the king stole him away for special punishment. Others say that he moved far away, trying to escape the king’s wrath.

It does not matter, for the people know they are complicit in his crime. Nothing will be planted on Kanlaon for generations.

Not until the king is done smoking his tobacco.

Story adapted from THE TOBACCO OF HARISABOQUED http://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/pfs/pfs03.htm

Hari sa Bukid Illustration by Camille Chua
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