*Note this story is in Masbatenyo

Sa kadugayon, libre na ako. Matawhay na an kamutangan ko…

Sa yana na nagbalyo kami ninda Mamay kag Papay sa harayo hali sadto na maraot na ginhalian namon, nakaturog na ako sin maayo kay wara sin nababatian na ginaparatawhan ako kun gab-i. Malipay-lipay kag nagapasalamat gad ako sadto na alublari… albulary–albularyo kay ginsabihan kami na magbalhin san bag-o na istaran. Mabuot man siya.

Damu-damo an pwede himuon didi. Damo man din an mga naamiguhon ko, amo man akon magurang na lalaki kag ginikanan sa inda mga hilig. Nagin paborito nakon an plasa apiki sa amon balay. Igwan dako na tabyugan na mas dako pa ki sa maski nano na sadto ko nakita dati. Siguro kun itabyon ini bagan makaabot ko an mga bituon. Purburan ko gani ina buwas…

Yana naman, may nakita ako na nagahibi. Igwa sin dyutay na bata na nagatangis kag usad-usad la sa idalom san usad ka puno didto sa plasa. Kay matahom san iya banghoy pero kamundo niya, kaya ginkanaman ko siya hasta mag-abot an iya iloy. Ginhingaw ko sa iya an ngaran nakon: Teleia, kag sumadya an bata. Sige an hagikhik sin katawa sa entiro namon na pag-upod.

Matunod na an adlaw kag nagaparalingo-lingo na an bata kay basi ginahanap an iya ginikanan. Kaya, gin-istoryahan ko siya parte kanda Mamay kag Papay sadto sa dati na gin-istaran namon. Wara magdugay, nag-ayo kag nagkakaigwa na san mehoras si Mamay kag dili na nagakasakit. Aba, ta kay makusog kag kaya na mag-ataman kag magpakaon sa akon dyutay na manghod.

Ugaring san magtuna sadto na nag-istorya ako amo na “pagpakaon”, nag-utro pa sa pagtangis an dyutay na bata. Nagsiniyak kag nagkurag-it ini na bata, pero wara gad ko mahimo o kun nano. Nagapadulom na kaya nag-unabi ako sa bata na hulat-hulat lang anay pa agod tawagon ko si Mamay kay basi mahatagan ta siya sin pagkaon.

Aram na niya an iya himuon.

=————————————————–=

English Version

I’m finally free.

Now that Mama and Papa moved us away from that bad place, I can sleep again. It’s so great to have a night where I don’t hear anyone laughing at me. I’m so glad the Mr. albulari—albulury— Albularyo—man told us to go find another place to live. He was nice.

There’s so much to do in this new place. I have so many new friends and Kuya and Mama and Papa all found new things to do. My favorite place is the new park near my house, there’s a really big swing, bigger than I’ve ever seen before. Maybe I can swing and reach the stars. I’ll try that tomorrow.

Today though, I found someone lonely. There was a little baby crying all alone under a tree in the park. It was so cute and lonely that I decided to play with it until its mommy came. I told it my name, Teleia, and the baby found it so funny. It would just laugh and laugh all the time with me.

The sun was setting and the baby was looking around and I think it was looking for its parents so I told him stories of my Mama and my Papa. Mama was getting better after what happened in our old place and she isn’t even sick anymore. She was even strong enough to feed my baby brother.

When I was talking about feeding the baby started crying a lot. It started screaming and I didn’t know what was happening. It was getting really dark so I told the baby to wait a little bit so that I could call my Mama. Maybe she can give it food.

She’ll know what to do.

=——————————————–=

*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 Gene Patrick Balisi
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Gene Patrick Balisi

Story continued from Aura’s Tale

Story inspired by the Tiyanak legends

Tiyanak Illustration and Watercolor by Yanna Gemora

FB Page: Yannami

*Note this story is in Masbatenyo

“Paghikay na kay malakat na kita bag-o magsirak an adlaw.”

Maayo na tani an akon panamgo, guinpukaw pa ako ni Papa. Nagalupad daw ako sa ibabaw san bukid hasta sa nakaabot ako sa kakahuyan na bagan may birtud. Pero bisan an panamgo may katapusan man, yana oras na para atubangon na naman an bag-o na adlaw. Balik naman sa ordinaryo na guinahimo uru-adlaw, mapamahaw kag mapreparar san mga supply para sa adlaw. Nasabod na naman an kamot ko sa lambat, siniyakan ako ni Papa kay kaluya ko daw. Parehas san nangyari kahapon.

“Mapa-rekudo kita nyan.”

Kakaiba man. Permi ginalikayan ninda Papa kag san iba pa na mga gurang na para-isda an rekudo. Sabi ninda delikado dida kay dili matantya an sulog sina na lugar. Pero wara na kami san mahimo. Nagaluya na nagaluya an panguha san isda kag dili namon aram kun makadugay pa kami sa lawod. Siguro mas maayo kun sabihon ko na lang kan Papa na magkadto na lang ako sa syudad para magtrabaho. Mas maayo pa kaysa  magparahandom kun makakuha kami san isda para may makaon.

“Maghimat lang kag maniguro na dili magsunod sa mga ilaw.”

Amu ina an padaan permi san mga paraisda bago maglawod. Dili ko aram kun nano an gusto sabihon pero maayo man sa pamati. Bagan nababati ko na ina tuna pa san nagtungtong ako  sa tama na edad para magsakay sa baruto. Mas magaan an lambat yana, sinyales na nagakusog na ako. Basi makahanap pa ako san trabaho sa mga construction site sa syudad.

“Pagtahob sa iyo mga talinga!”

Makaharadlok an siyak ni Papa. Dili ko aram nano  kay nagatahob siya san iya talinga. Kaguruganda san tugtog. Bagan mga anghel na nagakaranta sa patalibod ko. Baga akon nakalaya, gaan-gaan sa pamatyag. Gusto ko kadtuon kun sin-o man an naghimo sina na maganda na tugtog.

“Ayaw paglusad sa tubig!”

Bagan amu an sabi ni Papa, pero dili ko siya nabati san maayo. Guinbutong niya ako pabalik pero kailangan ko gaud kadtuon an nagakanta sina na maganda na kanta. Permi niya na lang gayud ako guinapugulan, dapat udungan niya na ina. Dili niya aram kun nano pa na kalisod an maabot sa puturo. Wara na gani san nabilin sa amon. DIli kami masususteniran san dagat, dili na gayud. Kahinanglan magkadto kami sa iba na lugar, sa lugar na may pag-asa.

“An ilaw! Ayaw pagsunod sa ilaw!”

Nakikita ko na sinda, kaguruganda. Baga ako’n ginatawag san ilaw sa idarom san dagat. Dili maintindihan ni Papa. Gurang na siya para makita an puturo. Iba man ako. Masunod ako sa ilaw kag masasalbar na kami tanan. Makapundar ako san kwarta para mapakaon ko an akon pamilya. Makikita niya. Makikita ninda.

=———————————————————=

English Version

English Version

“Get ready, we have to leave before sunrise.”

Papa woke me up from a nice dream. I was flying over the mountains and going through the woods like a superhero. But dreams always have to end, now it’s time to face another day. I start my routine, grabbing a meal and preparing all the supplies for the day. My hands got tangled in the nets again and Papa scolded me for being slow. Just like yesterday.

“We’re going by the cove today.”

That was strange. Papa and all the older fishermen would always avoid going near the cove. They say it’s dangerous since the current is unpredictable in that area. But I know we don’t really have much of a choice. The catch of the day has been getting smaller and smaller and I don’t know how long we can live off the ocean. I think I’m going to tell Papa that I should go to the city to find work. It’s better than wondering if we can catch enough fish to feed ourselves.

“Be careful and make sure you don’t follow the lights.”

It’s the warning that we fisherman say before we go out on the water. I don’t know what it’s supposed to mean but it’s always comforting to hear. I think I’ve heard it every day since I was old enough to be on a boat. The nets seem lighter today, a sign that I’m getting stronger. Maybe I can find work in a construction site in the city.

“Cover your ears!”

Papa’s shout scared me. I don’t know why he was covering his ears. The music was so beautiful. It was like a chorus of angels floating all around me. I feel so free, so in touch with the world. I want to go to whatever’s making such a beautiful sound.

“Don’t go in the water!”

I think that’s what papa said, but I didn’t hear him so well. He tried to pull me back by the arm but I need to go find the singer of this wonderful song. He needs to stop doing that, always holding me back. He doesn’t know how hard it’s going to be in the future. We don’t have anything left here. The sea isn’t going to keep giving us fish, not anymore. We need to go somewhere else somewhere where we can hope.

“The lights! Don’t follow the lights!”

I can see them now, they’re so beautiful. The glow under the water is calling me. Papa doesn’t understand. He’s too old to see the future. Not like I can. I’ll follow the light and it will save us all. I can make enough money to feed our family. He’ll see. They will all see.

=———————————————–=

*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 Trixie Espiel-Dela Cruz
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Trixie Espiel-Dela Cruz

Story inspired by Kataw/Catao entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Kataw Illustration by Leandro Genisto from Aklat ng mga Anito
FB: That Guy With A Pen

Watercolor by Mykie Concepcion
Tumblr: http://mykieconcepcion.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is is Masbatenyo – Ticaoeño

Sa paglampas sa langit kag dampog, ginpapamatian san mga bituon an aton pangadyi.

Nagpapangamuyo lang sinda kag nagsasaksi sa pagligad san kinaagi, pero maski sinda kaipuhan maghigad ‘pag an Ginoo na an nagpapakita san kusog.

Dili man nakiaram an mga bituon. Ada na sinda san bata pa an kinab-an, kag san an katawuhan gindamgo pa lamang san Ginoo.

Nagtetenir an mga bituon kag nagdudugay.

An aton sigulanon nagtutuna sa usad na dili nasabat na pangadyi.

Gutom gayudon an naga. Dili siya nagpapakita sin kaluoy sa katawuhan na nag-iistar sa iya teritoryo. Sa iya mga mata naghahali an nagkakalayo na harigi para manirab san iya biktima.

Tulo na kalag na lang an nabilin san maurit siya na linalang — usad na iloy, usad na ama, kag usad na bata nga lalake.

Kag an inda pangadyi amo an ginbabati san mga bituon.

“Ginoo iharayo mo kami sa maburut-on nga naga. Ikaw lang an may kagahuman na magpaudong sa iya,” Pagmamakaluoy san ama.

An inda pangadyi kay ginpamati, pero dili san Ginoo.

Ginmasdan san mga bituon an pagtama san ikog san maburut-on na naga sa mag-asawa. Nakita ninda kun pan-o mangudog sa kahadlok an mga kabukidan unong sa kagahuman san naga. Aram ninda na dili siya matugot nga buhayon ang mag-asawa.

Ginpapalibutan sin dabdab kag kalayo an pamilya, maski an kalibutan nagatangis sa sakit na namamatyagan. Sa pag-agi san naga, nagsasabay an pagsapay kag pag-iwat. An mga lasog-lasog na lawas san mga biktima niya nagkaralat sa iya agihan, hasta sa masayudan niya an iya urhi na biktima.

“Kun amo na gayod ini Ginoo, sige na lang,” Pangamuyo san iloy. Ginkup-an niya an iya pamilya sin hugot, an tanda san nabibilin niya na pagpalangga.

Lumayog an naga sa kalangitan kag binuka an iya dako nga baba.

Piniyong na lamang san pamilya an inda mata kag ginhulat an inda katapusan, hasta sa mabati san Ginoo an inda pangamuyo kag ginpakita an iya pagpalangga.

Naglayog an naga pakadto sa iya kaunon pero dili niya nakuha. Naglayog pa siya lampas sa dampog kag kahitaasan hasta maabot niya an mga bituon, dagko na kalayo kag aso an iya gindara.

Kag san umabot siya sa pinakahataas na kaya niya abuton, umudong siya, nadakop siya san mga bituon kag nakulong sa iya sadiri na kalayo.

Nagpasalamat an pamilya sa Ginoo ka sa iya gahom. Ginhandum ninda hasta na lang an Iya pagsalba sa inda sa katapusan.

Kag nano man an nangyari sa mga bituon?

Nagpaubaya sinda sa Ginoo kag gin-akseptar an bag-o na lugar san naga sa inda kalangitan.

Pero maski sinda, aram ninda na dili ina madugay.

Kay ginpapamatian ninda an paghingaw san naga. Ginhuhulat ninda an katapusan san mga adlaw na malusad gihapon an naga sa duta, kag uubuson an kinab-an kag lalapaon an tanan na maraot an kasta kag dili nagsusunod sa Ginoo.

Kun kaya matimtim na ginhuhulat san mga bituon an adlaw na sa inda na lang gihapon an kalangitan.

=————————————

English Version

Over the sky and in the firmament, the stars hear your prayers.

They stay as silent witnesses to the unfolding of history, but even they must stand aside when the Almighty displays His power.

The stars do not mind. They have prevailed since the world was young and humanity was but a glimmer in the Almighty’s eye.

The stars remain and they endure.

Our story begins with an answered prayer.

The naga was ravenous. It did not show mercy to the humans living in its territory. From its eyes shot pillars of flame, incinerating all those that it considered prey. The poison flowing from its nine forked tongue spread through its victims without pity.

There were only three souls left after the monster had devoured the wicked, a mother, a father and a son.

And it was their prayer that the stars overheard.

“Almighty deliver us from this great naga, only you have the power to stop it,” the father implored.

Their prayer was answered but not by the Almighty.

The stars watched as the great naga swung its tail and sent a terrible gale towards the couple. They saw the mountains shiver in fear at the beast’s power. It would not allow the humans to survive, the naga’s cruelty would not allow it.

Fury and flames surrounded the family, even the earth seemed to cry out in pain. In the naga’s path trailed misery and suffering, the broken bodies of its victims littered the monster’s passage until the great beast came face to face with its final prey.

“If this is the Almighty’s will then let it be so,” the mother sobbed. She held tight her family, the only comfort left in their plight.

The naga leapt into the sky and opened its titanic maw.
The family closed their eyes and waited for the inevitable, but the Almighty heard their pleas and showed his benevolence.

The dragon leapt, but it did not meet its target. It rose high into the heavens, past the clouds and into the realm of the stars, gigantic gouts of flame and smoke trailing in its wake.

When it seemed the naga could not go higher it stopped, suspended between the stars and surrounded by its blaze.

The family thanked the Almighty for His mercy, forever remembering the day they were saved from the savagery of the beast.

And what of the stars?

They surrendered to the will of the Almighty, accepting the naga’s new place betwixt their realm.

But even they know it will not last.

For the stars hear the naga’s whispers. They await the end of days when the dragon will sweep towards the earth and devour all those wicked souls that do not obey the Almighty.

And so the stars remain patiently until the heavens are theirs once again.

————————–————————–————————

• In Samal myth the milky way is seen as a gigantic trapped dragon.

*Masbateño, Masbatenyo 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

Translation by M.A.C. Villamor

Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © M.A.C. Villamor

Adapted from ‘The Dragon’ in Sulu Studies 2. Rixhon ed. 1973.

The Imprisoned Naga Illustration by Julius Arboleda

*This story is in Masbatenyo – Ticaoeño

Usad na gab-i, nagtambo an bukaw sa iya buho sa puno. Nagluluya na an uran hasta sa tire-tire na lang.

Gutom, ginbuka niya an iya mga pako kag naglupad sa lugar kun diin siya makahanap sin karaunon.

Gindamgo niya an iya una na pagkaon sana na gab-i, kag kun pan-o niya dudugmukon an iya kaunon. Ina na pag-imahinar an nagpahiyaw sa iya.

San maglupad siya sa istaran san mga tawo, nakabati siya san pamilyar na tunog.

Dili siya magkakamali kun diin hali an ‘kik kik kik’.

Dili kunta niya aangayon idto, pero gusto niya makita. Usad pa, nagtuda gihapon an uran.

An sabi sa sigulanon san mga gurang na bukaw, dili man daw naglalabot sa inda ina na linalang, kay tawo manlang an gusto sana. Gin-istorya ninda an halaba na dila sana na linalang kag an paglumpat niya sa atop san kabalayan san mga tawo.

Nagpiyong siya kag ginhanap an ginhahalian san tunog.

Makaligad an pira kamomento, kumpiyansado siya na nahanap niya an ginpapaghalian.

Kaya nagkadto siya sa bintana san balay kag nagsaksi sa pangyari.

May tulo katawo na dururog — usad na bata, usad na babaye nga budos, kag usad na lalaki.

Maski makusog an tunog san uran, nakita san bukaw kun pan-o mahulog an likido sa tiyan san budos. Nagtindog an babaye, ginbutang an tabo sa iya dati na ginhigdaan kag naglipat. Pero nabati gihapon san bukaw an pagturo san likido sa tiyan san budos.

Kag napamatian niya.

Ada na naman. ‘kik kik kik’

Bagan man lang an hingaw-hingaw, na bagan hali pa sa harayo antes ninda mabatian.

Kinulbaan an bukaw.

Nakamata an lalaki kag an bata, kag ginkuha dayon san lalaki an iya bolo kag dali-dali na lumuwas.

Lumupad an kuwago pakadto sa atubangan san balay para makita an hihimuon san lalaki.

Nabati niya an kurahaw san lalaki, “Kun dili mo uudungan an akon pamilya, kakadtuon ta ikaw sa imo balay buwas!” Kag ginwaya-waya san lalaki an iya bolo sa luwas.

Kag sadto mismo na momento, nag-udong ang linalang kag humali. Dili niya nakuha an iya panigab-ihan kag aram san bukaw na dili makakaon an linalang sadto na gab-i.

San maglupad ang bukaw para maghanap san iya makakaon, hinunga niya an iya sadiri kun aram man gayod san lalaki kun hain an balay san tiktik.

English Version

One night, an owl poked its head out of its tree hole. The rain was weakening into a manageable shower.

Hungry as it was, it stretched its wings and flew to the perches where it could find prey.

It imagined its first meal of the night, how it couldn’t wait to crush their prey and swallow it whole. The thought made it positively giddy.

Now the owl had a very good sense of hearing, in fact it was adept at listening for even the slightest hints of movement to catch their quarry.

As it flew over a human village it heard a familiar sound.

The unmistakable cadence of ‘kik kik kik’.

The owl would have ignored it as it always had, but it was curious and the rain was starting to get stronger. The elder owls told the young that these creatures are harmless to their kind, only targeting humans. They described in detail the long tongue, perching on the roofs of human houses and their confusing sound.

Closing its eyes, the owl concentrated to find the source of the sound, remembering what it should be looking for.

After a few moments it was confident that it located where the creature would be.

So, it stayed by the window and watched the events unfold.

There were three humans sleeping side by side. One child, a woman that was clearly pregnant and a man.

Even through the noise of the raindrops the owl could clearly hear the sound of some liquid dropping on the stomach of the woman. The owl saw her stand up and put a dipper where she was. The woman moved and found another place to sleep, but again the owl could hear the same sound of droplets hitting her stomach in a familiar tempo.

And then the owl’s ears piqued.

There it was. ‘kik kik kik’

It was almost like a whisper, as if the sound traveled great distances to settle on their ears.

The owl’s blood ran cold.

The man and the child both woke up to the sound and almost through instinct the man grabbed a bolo and rushed outside.

The owl flew to the front of the house to see what the man would do.

The man shouted “If you don’t leave my family, I will go to your house tomorrow!” All the while swinging his bolo through the rain.

And in an instant, it stopped, the owl could only hear the pitter-patter of the drizzle as it washed over the midnight moon.

The creature left, unable to get its meal, and the owl scoffed and told itself that wasn’t going to happen to it tonight.

As the owl flew to its hunting grounds it wondered.

Did the man really know where the tiktik’s house was?

Written by Karl Gaverza

Translation by M.A.C. Villamor

Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © M.A.C. Villamor

Story inspired by a story told by Gil Geolingo

Tiktik Illustration by Gil Geolingo

*Note this story is in Masbatenyo

“Nahadlok ako.”

“Ayaw kahadlok, anak. Hihimuon san mga kalag an pagbuot ninda.”

“Nano an mangyayari sa akon?”

“Makadto kita na duwa sa puno san Dalakit kag ibilin ta ikaw didto. Magaingkod ka sa sirong san puno kag dadarahon ka sa Kahitaasan kag sa Kahidaluman.”

“Kay nano?”

“Para ipanganak utro.”

“Masakit ba ina?”

“Dili ko madumduman. Dugay na pano na panahon tuna san pagsulod ko. Ayaw kahadlok, anak. Ipapakita ninda sa imo an usad na bago na kinab`an.”

“Amo ba ina an rason kun nan okay nakalupad ka?”

“Oo, anak. Amo ina kag damopa. Hali na ako sa kahidaluman san dagat kag sa sulod san lawas san mga tawo. Nakaistorya ko na an mga kalag sani na kinaban kag san maabot pa. Nakakadto na ako sa mga lugar na wara’n sin`o man na tawo an makakita utro. Kag ako ginakapoy naman.”

“Adi na kita.”

“Mamati ka sa mga kalag. Gigiyahan ka ninda pareho san paggiya ninda sa akon sa bilog na buhay ko.”

“Magakita ba kita utro?”

“Malay naton basi magtugot an mga kalag. Paaram, anak. Ginabilin ko sa imo an akon mga tawo.”

“Paaram, Lola.”

Ginparasuntok san mga hangin an babayi san magingkod siya sa sirong san Dalakit. Nagligad an mga adlaw, inabutan san mga semana, kag wara siya’n hiwag-hiwag. An mga nagralabad mas nakaaram na dili dapat pugungan an iya paglakaton. Pagkaaga san lain na gabi, nagtindog siya kag puyo na nagpasalamat sa mga kalag.

Nasayudan san bago niya na mga mata an dili nakikitan na kinab`an na nakapalibot sa iya kagurangon. Wara siya makaisip maghiyom.

May hirimuon siya na kinahanglan tapuson.

————————–————————–————————–—-

English Version

“I’m scared.”

“You don’t need to be, child. The spirits will do as they will.”

“What will happen to me?”

“We will both go to the Balete tree and I will leave you there. You will sit underneath the tree and be taken to the Skyworld and the Lower World.”

“Why?”

“To be reborn.”

“Will it hurt?”

“I…. don’t remember. It has been so long since I went through my initiation. Don’t be scared child, they will let you see a new world.”

“Is that why you can fly?”

“Yes, child. That and much more. I have been to the depths of the sea and inside the bodies of humans. I have spoken to the spirits in this world and the next. I have traveled to places that no human will ever see again. And I am tired.”

“We are here.”

“Listen to the spirits. They will guide you as they have guided me all my life.”

“Will I see you again?”

“Who knows what the spirits will allow? Goodbye child, I leave my people to you.”

“Goodbye, Lola.”

The winds buffeted the girl as she sat beneath the Balete tree. The days stretched into weeks and she did not move a single inch. Those that passed by knew better than to interrupt her journey. When the last night finally gave way to a new dawn she stood up and quietly thanked the spirits.

Her new eyes finally saw the invisible world that surrounded her old life. She did not think to smile.

She had work that needed to be done.

————————–————————–————-

*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 Sherwin Balbuena
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Sherwin Balbuena

Inspired by the Baylan initiation ritual as described in The Soul Book. Demetrio & Cordero-Fernando 1991.

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

Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
FB: Wildling Child
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildlingchild/

*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

*Note this story is in Masbatenyo

Igwa`n pito na bulan, kag an bakunawa nagpalangga san pito na beses.

Gintanaw na may pagkangawa kag kaila an kada igmanghod na babayi kada labad ninda sa langit kun gabi.

San primero na gab`i, baga’n magadulom hasta na lang an langit kay gindagit san bakunawa an usad sa magmaranghod gamit an iya dako na panga kag ini iya gintulon.

Nagligad an mga adlaw kag an bulan na gintulon san bakunawa natunaw.

Dili makukuntento an bakunawa kun dili siya makaangkon san usad na bulan, kaya ginpurbaran niya utro. Pero amo gihapon, an bulan natunaw.

Si Bathala, sa iya trono sa langit, natino na dili na mapawa an mga gabi. Dili niya aram kun nano an nangyari sa inda, pero usad na gab`i nakamata siya sa siyak kag tambor san mga tawo.

Sani na oras ginapurbaran san bakunawa na tunlon an pangpito na bulan.

Nagsiyak an katawuhan agud makiaram na an ginoo, sa kahadlok na an gab`i makawat san dulom hasta na lang.
Nabatian san bakunawa an mga tambor kag siyak, kag ini dali-dali na bumalik sa iya lungga.

Napaisip san grabe an ginoo. Nano daw kun purbaran utro san bakunawa pagtulon an pangpito na bulan? Agud dili utro mangyari ini na makaharadlok na bagay, gintanuman niya san kawayan an bulan. An kawayan makikita gihapon na bagan mga balat sa iya bayhon kun siya nagalabad sa langit kun gabi.

Dili mapadaog an bakunawa. Damo na beses na sani ginpurbaran tunlon an pangpito na mannghod kag damo na beses naman ini nabigo tungod sa himo san katawuhan. An mga siyak kag mga tambor nagapatunay sa gahom san nagapamahala san kadagatan, kag siya umatras pakadto sa iya lungga agud maghulat sa masunod na tsansa.

May mga kagurangnan na nagasabi na myintras an kawayan nagatindog sa bulan, dili matutuman an gusto san bakunawa, pero an katawuhan nagabantay sa bakunawa.

Myintras gusto san bakunawa na makuha an iya premyo, pirme mababatian an nakabungol na mga tunog san tutunlan kag kamot san katawuhan.

————————–————————–————————–————

English Version

Seven Moons there were, and seven times the great serpent fell in love.

Each sister was looked at with wonder and admiration as they passed along the night sky. The serpent thought that he must acquire these lovely beings, and sought to swallow them whole.

It was in that first night that the sky would forever be a little less brilliant, for the serpent took one of the sisters in his gaping jaws and swallowed her.

Months passed and the moon which the serpent had swallowed had melted away.

The serpent would not be satisfied unless he possessed a moon, so he tried again, but again, the moon had melted away. Six times the serpent had tried, and six times the moons melted away.

Bathala, in his throne in the skies, had noticed that the nights had lost their light. He did not know what had happened to them, but one night the screams and drums of man roused him from his sleep.

It was at that moment that the serpent was trying to swallow the seventh moon.

Humanity shouted at the great god to intercede, lest the night would forever be stolen by darkness.

The serpent heard the drums and the shouts, and retreated back to his cavern with great haste.

The great god thought hard. What if the serpent tried to swallow up the seventh moon again? To prevent this terrible thing from happening he planted a bamboo tree on the face of the moon. The tree can still be seen as a dark spot on her face when she soars through the night sky.

The serpent would not rest in defeat. Countless times has it tried to swallow up the seventh sister and countless times has it failed due to the machinations of man. The shouts and the drums prove too much for the ruler of the seas, and he retreats back to his caver, waiting on his next chance.

There are those elders that say that as long as the bamboo tree stays solid on the face of the moon the serpent will never succeed, but still mankind watches out for the serpent.

As long as the serpent seeks his prize, the deafening sounds from the throats and hands of man will be heard.

————————–————————–————————–—-
*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 Sherwin Balbuena
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Sherwin Balbuena

Adapted from The Moon and the Bacunawa in Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths. Eugenio. 2001.

Watercolor by Tara Singson
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tarabell93/

*Note this story is in Masbatenyo

“Sa tulo ka adlaw bag-o an otro na pagkabuhay, mahimô san paagi an demonyo para makuha an boot san tawo. Maghímat kamo sa mga lugar na kakadtuón niyo kag sa mga bagay na masusugat niyo.”

Ginapiraw pa ako habang nagapamati sa sermon san padî. Habo kuntani ako magsimba pero ginguyod ako ni Lola didi sa simbahan. Mas gusto ko pa na mag-uli sa balay kag magcomputer. Pwede pa kuntani ako magkanam san computer games bag-o an sunod na misa.

“Magpamatî kamó. Saní na panahon, magalakat sa dutâ an mga anak san demonyo. Magabag-o sinda san hitsura para tintaran kamo na buligan sinda. Magatago sinda sa taklob san pagkainosente kag hihimuon na malain an mabuot. An produkto san pakig-usad sa demonyo agadara lâ san pasakit kag pagtios.”

Bagan naílâ gayud an padî mag-inistorya. Ginaisip ko pa gihapon kun pan-o ako makahali sani na lugar. Matig-a an ingkudan, sirâ an aircon kag pare-pareho lâ an hitsura san kada usad: matuninong pero nakapamatî gihapon.

“Dumdumá niyo ini na padaan. Saní na tulo ka adlaw, mákadi an mga kampon san demonyo. Nadumduman ko pa an istorya na kun diin an usad na demonyo nakig-usad sa usad na halimaw. Ini na anak san dulom naiila magkaon san unod san tawo kag nagakurahaw sa pagkaila.”

Nagabag-o na an boses san padî. Bagan hidalom na ini sugad. Dili ko aram kun nano na an ginaparaistorya niya pero bagan naapektuhan gayud siya.

“Usad sa mga biktima an akon iloy. Minsan, malisod agwantahon an kabalyo san salâ san usad na tawo. Pero dili ipapadara san Ginoo an mga kampon san demonyo para himuon an iya obra. Magapatawad an Ginoo, dili magapansira. Dumdumá niyo na an ilaw san pagkamuot mapapasaiyo tanan.”

Nagahibi na an padî sugad. Kuntani nagpamati la ako san tuna pa san iya sermon. Baga na siyan nagadamgo.

“Hihimuon san demonyo na matálang kamo kag dili man iba an iya anak. Magtuod kamo pirmi sa Ginoo. Kay sa iya la niyo mahahanap an tunay na kaligtasan.”

Didâ nagtapos an sermon san padî. Ginangarat pa gihapon ako sa pagbag-o san padî habang ginasabi niya idto. Nag-agi anay ako sa parke kun diin may kakaiba ako na nakita.

Usad na bata. Bagan ginbayaan idto na bata, kaluluoy. Nag-apíki ako para kitaon kun makabulig ako sa paghanap san ginikanan sadto na bata. Nagaalingawngaw pa an istorya san padî sa talinga ko pero wara ko na gin-intyindi.

Dili ako masasakitan san usad na bata.

English Version

“In the three days before the resurrection, the devil will make his way into the hearts of man. Be careful of the places you go and the things that you meet.”

I’m half asleep as I listen to the sermon. Mass hasn’t been the most exciting thing I’ve done today, but lola dragged me here. I wish I was back home in front of my computer doing something interesting. I could squeeze in a few games before the next mass I have to go to.

“The children of the devil walk the earth at this time, make no mistake, they will take forms that will entice you to help them. They hide under the shroud of innocence and they pervert what will be good. The product of a union with the devil will only bring pain and misery.”

The priest seems to really like talking. I’m still drifting in and out, thinking about anything else that will get me out of this place. The pews are hard, the aircon’s broken and everyone has the same look on their face: placid, but still listening.

“Remember this warning. In these three days the agents of the devil will come. I am reminded of a story where the devil had a union with another monster. This child of darkness seeks to devour the flesh of man and it screams will create more like it.”

This is strange. The priest is changing his voice. It seems a lot deeper now. I don’t know what he’s been talking about but it really seems to be affecting him.

“My mother was one of its victims. The price of one’s sin is sometimes too much to bear. But the Lord would never send agents of the Devil to do his work. The Lord will forgive, not destroy. Remember the light of love will be with you all.”

The priest is softly crying now. I wish I had paid more attention to the earlier part of the sermon. He seemed to be caught in a trance.

“The devil will seek to lead you astray and his child is no different. Always put your trust in the Lord. For only in Him will you find true salvation.”

The sermon ends with that. I’m still a bit shaken from the change that the priest had while he was saying it. I take a small detour to the park where I notice something strange.

It’s a baby. It seems to have been left alone, the poor thing. I go near it to see if I can help it find its parents. The words of the priest still echo in my ears, but I ignore them.

A baby can’t hurt me.

*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 Patiyanak entry in Bikol Beliefs and Folkways: A Showcase of Tradition. Nasayao 2010.

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