Ever since Ida was young, she hated her birthright.

The earliest incident that she could remember was when she was five years old. Her tito was babysitting her and they were playing out in the grass. It was a game of hide and seek. Ida thought that she had found the best spot to hide in, her tito couldn’t find her at all. When it was sundown she knew something was wrong.

She didn’t have to look far. Her tito’s body was facedown by the tree where he was counting down.

At the funeral they said there was something wrong with his heart. Ida listened to the older members of her family and found out he wasn’t the only one.

Tito Boy dead at age 45.

Lolo Abe dead at age 65.

Cousin Layla dead at age 26.

And those were the ones that her family was willing to talk about.

When she was twelve her parents sat her down to talk about their family’s history.

Her mother explained that heart problems were common on her side with a lot of her relatives having something called ‘a weak heart’. Ida didn’t understand the specifics but her mother just told her to be careful and if Ida experienced any symptoms, she should tell her immediately.

And every time Ida would be out of breath or have short palpitations, she would remember her mother saying, “It’s always better to go to the doctor. You don’t want to end up like your tito.”

Her father’s side had a different set of problems. There were many in his family that were obese and suffered from Type 2 diabetes. It explained why he would push Ida to do sports and eat healthy.

And so the years passed, bringing her to more reunions.

More heart attacks.

More strokes.

And even a suicide (That one hurt the most).

Through all this Ida endured.

She woke up every morning determined to live another day.

Her routine gave her a sense of purpose: Take her medications, work out, have a protein shake, eat a breakfast of fruits and oats, and monitor everything. Count calories, no sweets, no saturated fats, avoid energy drinks, no smoking, no drinking were only a few of the things she would keep in mind.

That was her life and she was at peace with it.

Until she woke up in the hospital, of course.

It was a normal day, she had just finished a meeting with her associates and sat down to have lunch. She took a few bites and started to feel dizzy, crumpling to the floor and vomiting blood.

Thankfully someone had called an ambulance and rushed her to the emergency room.

What followed were days of uncertainty and fear.

The doctors said whatever Ida had wasn’t related to her hereditary issues. It looked like something had been ripping through her esophagus and organs.

Her pillow was soaked with tears. It wasn’t fair.

She had done everything right, denying herself even the smallest bit of pleasure just so she would know that she could see the next sunrise.

Why was this happening to her?

That evening, as the light of the full moon washed over her sleeping form, a small centipede with a gossamer thread crawled out of Ida’s mouth.

It made its way out the window towards its master, who, after seeing that the thread was red with her blood knew that his pet had done its duty.

Ida had spent her entire life with the shadow of death looming above her that she didn’t take the time to notice what was happening around her.

Not the friends by her side.

Or the enemies she had made.

The centipede’s master pocketed his pet and walked to the car where he would receive his payment. A fat roll of bills greeted him, double what they had agreed on. He took his spoils and left the hospital.

He wondered though what would anger a person so much that they would need his services?

A jilted lover?

A jealous workmate?

To settle a score?

Whatever it was, it paid well.

Hopefully word would spread.

He needed more clients.

Written by Karl Gaverza

Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Mambabarang legends from Siquijor

Mambabarang Illustration by Megel Ramiterre

FB: https://www.facebook.com/the.scribbler.meg/

IG: @_megel

*Note this story is in Ilocano

“Maysa manen nga abal-abal, kasla maikasangapulon.” Agkatawa koma isuna no saan la nasakit unay. Kadaytoy ket rimmuar iti kanawan nga abagana. “Imbag la ketdi ta saan man a daytoy rupakon.” Agyaman isuna iti Apo Dios gapu iti babassit a banag ngem ti panagkunana, saan a dumneg Isuna.
Dina ammo no ania ti inaramidna tapno kastoy ti
mapasamakna.

Dina ammo no asino ti nakiginnuraanna a mangilunod kenkuana. Kastoy ngata ti panagbiagnan, inaldaw nga agkudkudkod ti aniaman a paset ti bagina, inaldaw a makasarak ti baro a kiteb nga agkarayam a rumuar iti kudilna.
Saan a kastoy idi. Sumagmamano a bulan iti napalabas, nalaing nga estudiante isuna nga adda nasalun-at a masangwananna. Ti ammona ket agbalin isuna nga accountant.

Dina pay napadasan agsigarilio, agsao ti dakes, ken agsarita ti saan a nasayaat maipapan iti sabali a tattao. Agingga iti maysa nga aldaw, isu ti napasamak, nabuntog idi damdamo, idi kua kimmaro.

Nangrugi a kasla bung-or. Pagarupna ket alerji laeng isu intumaranna ti agas. Simmaruno dagidiay letteg. Madi ammo dagiti doktor no ania sakitna. Awan pakaaramatan ti aniaman nga ipatomarda kenkuana agingga nagbalinda amin a tableta a napunno ti mangallilaw a kari.

Dayti umuna a kiteb ket kulalanti. Kasla tagtagainep. Dina maibturan ti gatel. Limmusiaw dagiti pingpingna, idi kua, adda nagparang a lawag ti unegna. Nagkudkod a nagkudkod ket kalpasanna, limmabbaga dagiti kukona ken nawayaan ti kulalanti. Napintas koma a buyaen no saan la unay ti ut-otna.
Kastoy ti panagbiagnan, dina ammo no kasano dimmanon ditoy, ngem ammona nga adda pay la pagimbaganna.

Barbareng maysa nga aldaw ket agsardeng lattan. Maysa nga aldaw, awanto masarakanna a agkutkuti iti unegna, maysa nga aldaw nga awan agtayab a rumuar iti kudilna.

Agingga iti dayta nga aldaw, agtarigagay ken agkararag a malpas ti panagrigrigatna.

Sapay koma adda makanggeg ti kararagna.

————————–————————–————————–——

English Version

“Another beetle, I guess that makes ten,” He almost laughs this time, and he would if it didn’t hurt so much. This time the thing came out of his right shoulder, “At least it wasn’t my face again,” he thanks God for small favors, but he doesn’t think He’s listening.

He didn’t know what he did to deserve this, he didn’t know who he pissed off enough that he would be cursed this way, but maybe this was his life now, every day scratching some part of his body, and every day finding some new bug that crawls out of his skin.

It wasn’t always like this. Months ago he was a promising student with a great future. He thought he was going to be an accountant; he never smoked, never swore and never said a bad thing about anyone. Then one day it happened, slowly at first, then it progressed.

It started with slight swelling. He thought it was just an allergy attack and took some antihistamines, then came the boils. The doctors couldn’t tell what was wrong with him. Each medicine they gave became more and more useless until they were just pills full of false hope.

The first bug was a firefly. It was almost like a dream. The itching became almost unbearable, blood was being drawn from his cheeks, and then a light came from inside him. He scratched and he scratched until his nails were red, and then the insect was released. It would have been beautiful if it wasn’t so damn painful.

But this was his life now, he didn’t know how he got here, but he knew he still had hope. Maybe one day it would end. One day, where he wouldn’t find something skittering inside of him, one day when something wouldn’t fly out of him.

Until that day, he would hope and pray for his torment to be over.

He hoped someone would hear his prayer.
————————–————————–———————

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Tagalog translation by Jenina Danielle Melchor
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jenina Danielle Melchor

Inspired by the Mambabarang description in 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Samar. 2015 and Myth Museum. Medina. 2015.

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

Color by Alexa Garde
Website: Lexa.us

*Note this story is in Tagalog

“Isa na namang salagubang, siguro sampu na iyon.” Halos natawa siya sa pagkakataong iyon, at tatawa talaga siya, kung hindi lang talaga sobrang sakit. Sa pagkakataong iyon, lumabas ito sa kanyang kanang balikat, “Buti na lang hindi ulit sa mukha.” Nagpapasalamat siya sa Diyos para sa maliliit na pabor, ngunit sa tingin niya ay hindi Siya nakikinig.

Hindi niya alam kung ano ang nagawa niya para danasin ito, hindi niya alam kung sino ang ininis niya, sapat para magdusa nang ganito, pero ito na siguro ang buhay niya ngayon, araw-araw nagkakamot ng ilang parte ng kanyang katawan, at araw-araw makakahanap ng panibagong kulisap na lalabas sa balat niya.

Hindi naman palaging ganito. Noong mga nakaraang buwan ay isa siyang mag-aaral na may magandang hinaharap. Ang akala niya ay magiging isa siyang accountant; hindi siya nanigarilyo, hindi nagmura, at hindi rin nagsabi ng masamang bagay sa kahit kanino. Pero isang araw, nangyari na lang, mabagal sa una, tapos ay nagpatuloy.

Nagsimula sa bahagyang pamamaga. Inakala niyang allergy attack lang ito at ininuman niya ng antihistamine, at dumating ang mga pigsa. Hindi masabi ng mga doktor kung ano ang mali sa kanya. Ang bawat gamot na ibinibigay nila ay unti-unting nawawalan ng bisa hanggang sa maging mga butil na lang sila ng huwad na pag-asa.

Ang unang kulisap ay isang gamu-gamo. Ito ay parang isang panaginip. Ang pangangati ay halos hindi na maikakaila, ang dugo ay nakuha mula sa kanyang mga pisngi, at may ilaw na nagmula sa loob niya. Nagkamot siya nang nagkamot hanggang sa mamula ang kanyang mga kuko at lumabas ang insekto. Maganda sana ito kung hindi lang napakasakit.

Subalit ito na ang buhay niya ngayon, hindi niya alam kung paano siya napunta rito, pero alam niya na may pag-asa pa siya. Siguro isang araw, matatapos din ito. Isang araw, kung saan hindi siya makakahanap ng anumang gumagalaw sa loob niya. Isang araw, kung saan walang lilipad mula sa balat niya.
Hanggang sa araw na iyon, aasa siya at magdadasal na matapos na ang kanyang pagdurusa.

Umaasa siyang may makakarinig ng dasal niya.

————————–————————–————————–—

English Version

“Another beetle, I guess that makes ten,” He almost laughs this time, and he would if it didn’t hurt so much. This time the thing came out of his right shoulder, “At least it wasn’t my face again,” he thanks God for small favors, but he doesn’t think He’s listening.

He didn’t know what he did to deserve this, he didn’t know who he pissed off enough that he would be cursed this way, but maybe this was his life now, every day scratching some part of his body, and every day finding some new bug that crawls out of his skin.

It wasn’t always like this. Months ago he was a promising student with a great future. He thought he was going to be an accountant; he never smoked, never swore and never said a bad thing about anyone. Then one day it happened, slowly at first, then it progressed.

It started with slight swelling. He thought it was just an allergy attack and took some antihistamines, then came the boils. The doctors couldn’t tell what was wrong with him. Each medicine they gave became more and more useless until they were just pills full of false hope.

The first bug was a firefly. It was almost like a dream. The itching became almost unbearable, blood was being drawn from his cheeks, and then a light came from inside him. He scratched and he scratched until his nails were red, and then the insect was released. It would have been beautiful if it wasn’t so damn painful.

But this was his life now, he didn’t know how he got here, but he knew he still had hope. Maybe one day it would end. One day, where he wouldn’t find something skittering inside of him, one day when something wouldn’t fly out of him.

Until that day, he would hope and pray for his torment to be over.

He hoped someone would hear his prayer.
————————–————————–————————–—-

Written by Karl Gaverza
Filipino translation by Catherine Britania
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Catherine Britania

Inspired by the Mambabarang description in 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Samar. 2015 and Myth Museum. Medina. 2015.

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

Color by Alexa Garde
Website: Lexa.us

*Note this story is in Masbatenyo

“Usad pa na bangag, napulo na siguro.” Dyutay pa siya magtawa sani na bis. Matawa kuntani siya kun dili la masakit-sakit gayud. Sa tuo na abaga niya naglabas sugad. “Maayo gani kay dili sa pamayhon ko otro,” nagpasalamat siya sa Ginoo sa tigdyutay na pabor pero bagan dili siya nagatuod na nagapamati Siya.

Wara siya sin aram kun nano ang ginhimo niya para mangyari ini sa iya, wara siya sin aram kun sin-o an naurit sa iya para barangon siya pero basi amo na ini an iya kinabuhi sugad. Kada adlaw, ginakarot an parte san iya lawas kag kada adlaw, may nakikita siya na bag-o na insekto na nagalabas sa iya panit.

Dili man ini irog sani pirmi. Sadto, usad siya na maayo na estudyante na may maayo na puturo. An huna niya magigin accountant siya; wara siya nagbisyo, wara nagmuda kag wara siya sin ginsabi na maski nano na malain sa iba na tawo. Usad ka adlaw, amo na ini an nangyari, hinay-hinay san primero hasta sa naglain na sa kadugayan.

Nagtuna sa paghubag. An huna niya gin-allergy la siya, kag nag-inom siya san bulong (antihistamines), tapos nagkaigwa siya sin tubig-tubig. Dili masabi san mga doktor kun nano an mali sa iya. Nawar-an na sin pulos an kada bulong na ginahatag ninda sa iya.

Aninipot an primero na insekto. Baga idton damgo. Wara na siya nakatios san katol, nagdugo na an iya pamayhon kag may ilaw na naghali sa sulod niya. Sige siya sin karot hasta magpula na an iya kuko kag makabuhi na an insekto. Matahom kuntani idto kun dili la idto sakit-sakit.

Pero amo na ini an iya buhay sugad. Dili niya aram kun pan-o siya nakaabot sani na kamutangan, pero nagalaom gihapon siya. Na basi usad ka adlaw, matatapos man ini. Usad ka adlaw, wara na siya sin makikita na nagakamang-kamang sa sulod san iya lawas. Usad ka adlaw, wara na sin kun maski nano na nagalabas sa iya panit.

Hasta sana na adlaw, magalaom siya kag magapangadyi na matapos na an iya pagtios.

Naglaom siya na may makabati san iya pangadyi.

————————–————————–————————–—

English Version

“Another beetle, I guess that makes ten,” He almost laughs this time, and he would if it didn’t hurt so much. This time the thing came out of his right shoulder, “At least it wasn’t my face again,” he thanks God for small favors, but he doesn’t think He’s listening.

He didn’t know what he did to deserve this, he didn’t know who he pissed off enough that he would be cursed this way, but maybe this was his life now, every day scratching some part of his body, and every day finding some new bug that crawls out of his skin.

It wasn’t always like this. Months ago he was a promising student with a great future. He thought he was going to be an accountant; he never smoked, never swore and never said a bad thing about anyone. Then one day it happened, slowly at first, then it progressed.

It started with slight swelling. He thought it was just an allergy attack and took some antihistamines, then came the boils. The doctors couldn’t tell what was wrong with him. Each medicine they gave became more and more useless until they were just pills full of false hope.

The first bug was a firefly. It was almost like a dream. The itching became almost unbearable, blood was being drawn from his cheeks, and then a light came from inside him. He scratched and he scratched until his nails were red, and then the insect was released. It would have been beautiful if it wasn’t so damn painful.

But this was his life now, he didn’t know how he got here, but he knew he still had hope. Maybe one day it would end. One day, where he wouldn’t find something skittering inside of him, one day when something wouldn’t fly out of him.

Until that day, he would hope and pray for his torment to be over.

He hoped someone would hear his prayer.
————————–————————–————————–—-

*Masbateño or Minasbate is a Bicol-Visayan language spoken by more than 600,000 people, primarily in the province of Masbate in the Philippines. It is very close to Capiznon, Hiligaynon/Ilonggo and Waray-Waray, all three spoken in Visayas. It is considered a Bisakol language, meaning a language intermediate between Visayan languages and Bicolano languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Masbatenyo translation by Michael Wilson Rosero
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Michael Wilson Rosero

Inspired by the Mambabarang description in 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Samar. 2015 and Myth Museum. Medina. 2015.

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

Color by Alexa Garde
Website: Lexa.us

“Another beetle, I guess that makes ten.” He almost laughs this time, and he would if it didn’t hurt so much. This time the thing came out of his right shoulder, “At least it wasn’t my face again.” He thanks God for small favors, but he doesn’t think He’s listening.

He didn’t know what he did to deserve this, he didn’t know who he pissed off enough that he would be cursed this way, but maybe this was his life now, every day scratching some part of his body, and every day finding some new bug that crawls out of his skin.

It wasn’t always like this. Months ago he was a promising student with a great future. He thought he was going to be an accountant; he never smoked, never swore and never said a bad thing about anyone. Then one day it happened, slowly at first, then it progressed.

It started with slight swelling. He thought it was just an allergy attack and took some antihistamines, then came the boils. The doctors couldn’t tell what was wrong with him. Each medicine they gave became more and more useless until they were just pills full of false hope.

The first bug was a firefly. It was almost like a dream. The itching became almost unbearable, blood was being drawn from his cheeks, and then a light came from inside him. He scratched and he scratched until his nails were red, and then the insect was released. It would have been beautiful if it wasn’t so damn painful.

But this was his life now, he didn’t know how he got here, but he knew he still had hope. Maybe one day it would end. One day, where he wouldn’t find something skittering inside of him, one day when something wouldn’t fly out of him.

Until that day, he would hope and pray for his torment to be over.
He hoped someone would hear his prayer.

————————–————————–————————-

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Mambabarang description in 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Samar. 2015 and Myth Museum. Medina. 2015.

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

Color by Alexa Garde

Website: Lexa.us