*Note this story is in Masbatenyo

Permi na ni Arturo nababatian ina na kinasadtu na isturya na kung paano mapapaanad ina na klasi san hayup na tanan na gusto mu iya sususnod nadaw bagan suruguon.

An dapat mo lang na paga himuon kay makuha na dili nya aram an iya na tuloy na dulae na buhik sa ulo, samtang nakasakay sa iya likod na dli ka makita hasta na mag- udong siya sin kakalukso na bagan maabut na niya an langit kag pakadtu sa kabukidan kag hasta sa kadagatan sa kasakit na iya nababatyagan.

Samok- samok na an iya isip, kay tungod sa kinahanglan niya san kuwartakag an iya nalang nabibilin na aram niya himuon na makabulig saiya kay an tikbalang. Pero aram niya man sa sadiri na may dili man maayu na mangyayari saiya kay kabalyu sani kay an iya na buhay. Magkakaigwa sya san sakit, pero nanu paman ba an iya na kinahanglan na kahadlokan? Dati naman sya may sakit na ina batyag, bilang nalang an iya na nga oras kinahanglan na igwa siya san pagahimuon. Kay sa tungod na habo niya mawara siya sa kalibutan na utang an iya nga maibilin kag problema sa iya nga pamilya.

Tumindog si Arturo sa atubang san Puno san danakit kag tinawag niya ini na lumuwas saiya nga balay. Pira man ka oras na nagahulat siya kag iya inparakita didtu sa madulom, napaus nalang siya san kakasiyak. Tapos may bigla nagpakita.

” Hoy buang na tawo, nanu kay adi ka didi,” hunga sani saiya.

“Nagkadi ako para mapapaanad ka nakon.” Sabat man ni Arturo.

Tumawa an tikbalang san grabe sa iya na mga sinabina makaharadlok bation, na miski san-o dili niya pa nabatian sa bilog na buhay niya.

” Damu na san mga tawo an nagtisting na himuon ina saakon pero tanan sinda wara sinewertehan. Kag nanu man an sumulod sa utok mo na naisip mo ako na mapapaanad?”

” Dili na kinahanglan pa na isipon ina kay nanu, Basta kay ako hihimuon ko an akon na gusto.”

“Sige tistengan ta daw an katag mo.”

Linumpatan ni Arturo sa likodan an tikbalang, graben likot sani, kaya nalilisodan siya na makahuyot sa buhok sani. Hapit na makabuhi an mga kamot ni Arturo maayu nalang gani kay nakabalik huyot siya san maayu para dili siya mahulog. Inadumdum niya an iya na pamilya kag aram niya na kinahanglan sya sani. Kaya dili gaud pwede na wara siya san himuon para sainda.

Pira ka sigundo an natapos si Arturo maayus na niya ini na kinabayuhan sa likod samtang inahuyotan an buhok sani sa likod. Binugnot ni Arturo an una na dulae na buhik. Sumiyak-siyak san grabe an tikbalang sa sobra na kasakit, pero dili gihapon umuding si Arturo, dili niya ini inpansin.

“Nanu kay inahimu ninyu ini saakon ha ,tawo?” Kahuna koba mabuot ka.” Nagbilog an boses san tikbalang na makusog-kusog kasabay sani an iya kakalumpat-lumpat.

“Hihimuon ko ini para sa akon na pamilya, Basta dili moko masasabutan.” Ginalaom ni Arturo na mapugongan nya ini hasta sa makuha niya. Kay pagamay- gamay na nagaluya na an iya kusog. Nababatyagan na niya na nagahuros na siya sa likod sani. Kag batyag niya an iya nga dughab na grabe an tulin san pitik sani.

” Nanu aram ninyu na mga tawo sa pamilya? Nasiraan naba kamu san isip.”

“Wara ako pakiaram kung nanu imu paga-isip. Kinahanglan ko na may mahimu ako para sainda ”

“Daw nababahuan kona lapit kana mawara, bilang nala imu nga mga oras didi sa duta. Dili kana madugay, Tama hanu ako?”

Wara magsabay si Arturo. Kay Tama man an isturya san tikbalang, tuna sa tuna may ina dara-dara na siya na sakit, pero Yana dili na ina imporante, an imporante mapaanad niya an tikbalang.

Nabugnot na niya an panduha na dulae na buhik kag amu niya pala napansun wara na gali sinda sa umahan banda na kung Hain an danakit. Dili niya aram kung na sinda banda san kabukidan na indarhan sani san tikbalang, nabigla siya sa tanan na nangyayari dara nalang pod san iya na pagtaka.

” Anna! Reymark! Julia!”

” Naga ayu kaba san bulig sainda?”

“Dili! Nadumduman kolang kung kasin-o ko ini inahimu!”

” Miski sin- o dili ko gaud kamu na tawo maabutan.”

Kag didto medyu nagkunay-kunay an tikbalang san kakalukso kag kakalukot pero dili man ini nagdugay. Napansun ni Arturo na may asu didtu banda sa may danakit.

” Balay ko ina, pero san nag abut kamu,” nababatyagan ni Arturo na may kaurit ini basi sa boses sani. “An gusto ko manla tani pabay- an ninda ako mag-usad, pero nanu inda inhimu pati an balay ko inda pa ginlabutan. Pati an akon pamilya.”

May usad pa na bibilin na dulae na buhik. An pagahuyot nya sa buhok san tikbalang kay inbalhin nya sa may liog banda kay dili sya masyado nakakapugong maayu.

” Pamilya ko yana an mas importante,”

Nadumduman ni Arturo na an inda balay nakabaligya na kay para nakabayad sa mga  bulong kag gasto sa pagkaospital niya, kag paano si Reymark kag Julia nagbalhin san eskwelahan dahil man saiya.

Inpiyung niya an iya nga mata kag nanghuyot san maayu sa tikbalang.

Hanalapit na mag maaga, nagapakita na gamay an sikat san adlaw kag dili makatuod siya na nakadugay siya sa likod san tikbalang. Nagaluya naman ini sa kakapoy, naghinat na an iya napagahiwag kag dili na gaud malikot-likot parehu sa una.

San pawa na gaud an adlaw napaingkod ini tungod sakakapoy sa atubang san danakit. Kinita sani si Arturo, na huyot na sani an tulo na dulae na buhik

“Nahimu mo,”

Napahuyot si Arturo sa iya nga dughab, nababatyagan niya naga piot ini sa kasakit hasta iya likod pakadtu sa iya nga liog. Nagatulin an iya napaga ginhawa pati iya nga ulo naga Gaan na.

Nagkuot siya sa iya nga bulsa kag inluwas niya an isad na piktyur.

“Luwasa sinda”

” Sige akon Ikaw pagasunodon.”

Tungod sana bigla na nawara an tikbalang.  Naabutan na san sirak san adlaw si Arturo. Kag makikita mo man saiya nga bayhun na malipayun na siya tungod sa nahimu na niya an iya na handom.

“Salamat”.

=————————–=

Arturo had heard the stories before. How the creatures could be tamed to become your loyal servants.

All he had to do was snatch the three golden hairs at the top of its head and then stay on its back until it was done jumping into the sky and going over the mountains and seas, easier said than done.

He was desperate, he needed money and he knew that the tikbalang could help him. He also knew that they would not forget him if he failed. They brought sickness, but what did he need to fear? He was already sick, time was slipping away from him and he needed something to hold on to. He didn’t want to leave his family behind with debt and regret.

Arturo stood in front of the Balete tree and called the creature out. It had been hours staring in the dark, his throat almost raw from shouting, but then he saw a figure.

“Foolish human, why have you come here,” the figure said.

“I am here to tame you,” was Arturo’s reply.

A wild laughter erupted from the creature, like nothing Arturo had ever heard before.

“Many humans have tried and failed. What makes you think you will be the one to tame me?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think, only what I will do.”

“Very well then.”

Arturo launched himself at the tikbalang, its chaotic movement challenging his grip. Arturo arms seemed to be failing him, but he held on. He thought about his family and how they needed him. He would not let them down.

Arturo managed to position himself holding the creature by the mane.

He picked the first golden hair. The tikblang screamed in pain, but Arturo didn’t mind it.

“Why are you doing this, human? I thought we were forgotten by your kind.” The creature’s wild movements matched the tone of its voice.

“I’m doing this for my family, something you will never understand.” Arturo hoped his strength would last, already he felt like he was slipping. He could feel his heart beating through his chest.

“What do humans know of family? All your kind does is destroy.”

“I don’t care what you think. I have to leave something behind for them.”

“I thought I smelled the stench of death upon you. You don’t have long do you, human?”

Arturo didn’t answer. Since the diagnosis, his whole life was defined by his sickness, today that didn’t matter. Nothing did except taming the tikbalang.

He picked the second hair and saw that they weren’t in the field with the Balete tree anymore. He didn’t recognize the mountain that the creature had taken them to, and he shook off the curiosity.

“Anna! Reymark! Julia!”

“Asking for help, human?”

“I’m remembering who I’m doing this for!”

“I will never understand creatures like you.” The creature calmed down just a bit, long enough for Arturo to look at the burnt husk of what he thought was a balete tree.

“That used to be my home, that is, until your kind came along” Arturo could sense the disgust in the tikbalang’s voice “All I wanted was to be left alone, but they took my home. My family.”

There was still one more hair left. The tikblanag’s mane didn’t give him a lot of traction, and he held tight against the creature’s neck.

“My family is all that matters.” Arturo remembered how they had to sell their house to pay for the medical bills, how Reymark and Julia had to transfer school because of him. He closed his eyes and gripped against the tikbalang.

The rising sun was visible in the distance and Arturo was surprised he lasted hours on the tikbalang’s back. The creature was getting tired, its movements slower and less erratic.

As the sun rose the tikbalang fell exhausted in front of its Balete tree. It looked at Arturo, now holding its three golden hairs.

“You have won.”

Arturo clutched at his chest; he could feel the pressure building up in his heart, spreading to his back and neck. His breaths were rapid, and his head felt light.

He reached into his pocket and took out a photo.

“….save them.”

“I will obey.”

With that, the tikbalang disappeared. Sunlight rested on Arturo, his face showing a look of contentment. He allowed himself one last smile.

“Thank you.”

=———————=

*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 Angel Papilosa
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Angel Papilosa

Inspired by the Tikbalang description in  Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Tikbalang Illustration by Ysa Penas

*Note this story is in Masbatenyo

” An buhay san isad ka midwife kay dili gaud madali laki,” isturya ni Carina sa iya nasadiri. Bibisitahun niya an iya nga upat na pasyente yana na simana. An isad nya na pasyente kay babaye na naga edad nan dise- nuwebe kag naga preparar na ini para sa iya pagaanak sa panganay niya. Gina para isturyahan ni Carina an babaye para mapakalma niya ini kag magkunay kunay gamay an iya inabatyag na sakit. Basta gani una na anak malisod gaud an pagabudos hasta sa pag-anak sani, samu san dapat na ikabalaka, damu man pod san naiisip nakung nanu-nanu, pero ini si Carina aram niya gaud an dapat na pagahimuon. Halos pira na kadekada na naga serbisyu bilang isad ka midwife. Kag makikita mo man gani sa iya sadiri dayun na ekpersyado na klasi san midwife. ” Ayaw mahandal, kay adi man ako. Magiging ayus an tanan.”

Ginkuha ni Carina an malabaab na tuwalya kag ginbutang sa idalum san likod san babaye. “Ibutang ko ini ha kay agud dili ka matugnawan, samtang nagahulat kita sa imu pagbata.” Amu ini an sabi ni Carina sa iya nga pasyente. ” Kay nanu dli paba nakon ini e iri?” Hunga san babaye sa iya na napahiyum nala si Carina. ” Ayaw anay. Kinahanglan natun gihapon na hulatun na ansakto na kung san- o niya gusto na maglabas. Kay dili pa niya oras. Sige samtang nanagahulat kita mag uru isturyahan anay kita, kwento kadaw tungkol sa imu nga asawa.”

An pakikipag-isturyahan an permi na nakakapakalma gaud sa mga iloy kag dida man si Carina matibay makiupod kag bilang usad na taga pamati. An babaye kag an iya nga asawa nga lalaki nagtaban lang gali ini hali sa inda nga lugar, kay dili intugutan san inda mga guinikanan na mag- upod bilang usad namag- asawa. An asawa man nalalaki naga paningkamot gaud, halos pira nagani kabulan na wara uli- uli kay nagtrabahu sa syudad. Naghinulat an asawa nababaye na makauli ini siya kay mauli kuno ini sa yana nasimana kaso wara paman naga abut pa. Dili niya maattendiran an pagluwas san inda na panganay na anak. ” Aram mo, miski sino man gaud ginalaom gaud natun na dapat ada gaud atun asawa kay miski sina lang napamaagi makabulig manla atun asawa”, sabay tawa ni Carina kag amu man an babaye. Tungod sana midyu nawara na an hadlok.

Aram ni Carina na dili magiging madali an pagaanak sani kag mas madudugayan pa dili parehu san iba. ” Mas maayus na Lang gani kay preparado na nakon an tanan na kinahanglanon,” isip niya. Dapat permi gaud handa sa miski nanu na mangyayari.

Pero bigla nalang na may natakdag saiya nga abaga banda ni Carina, kag didto na bagan bigla nakaudong siya sa pagginhawa kalit kay kinalasan siya. Pero nagtawa nala siya. Kay kinahanglan na dili siya makitaan san kahadlok kag luya san iya nga pasyente, lalo na nakikita nya na nalilisodan ini sa iya nga pag- anak.

Tapos napamuda nala bigla si Carina san maduduman niya na an iya lemon kay nabilin sa trysikle san naga byahi siya. ” Cge lang, maisip nala ako iba pana pamaagi na pwede magamit.” Sabi ni Carina sa sadiri. Igwa paman pano siya san kawayan na matarom sa iya bag. Mas maayu na inan preparado sa nanu man na mangyari.

” Sige tistengan natun ini, pikit mo imu nga mata ha!” Kag ayaw gaud pag imuklat samtang dili kopa nainasabi ha?” Kusog na tingog na sugo niya sa babaye. Miski sa nanu na bagay makikita mo gihapon na bagan may kung nanu siya na inasabi. ” Kay nanu, may problema ba ?” Hunga san babaye na may kahadlok.

” Ah wara man, kinahanglan kolang na tangkason an pesti ,” sabat ni Carina sabay tahub san mga bata sani. Pasalamat nalang gaud kay adtu si Carina. Amu an iya nga kaupod sadtu na gab-e.

” Sa yana, ipadayun mona imu paga kwento tungkol sa imu nga asawa. Kay daw dugay pa bago mag-aga.”

=———————————-=

English Version

“The life of a midwife isn’t so hard,” Carina reflects. She’s seeing her 4^th patient this week. The woman is only 19 years old and preparing for the birth of her first child. Carina speaks calmly and reassures the woman. It’s always difficult for first timers, so many fears going through their heads, but Carina knows what she’s doing. She’s been a midwife for more than a decade and she speaks with a voice sharpened by experience, “It’s going to be okay, I’m here.”

She grabs the warm towels and puts them underneath the woman’s back. “This should keep you comfortable while we wait for the baby,” Carina reassures her patient. “Should I push now?” the woman is calmer now, Carina smiles, “Not yet, we still have to wait. Why don’t you tell me about you husband?”

Talking always helps the mothers calm down and Carina is a good listener. The young woman and her husband eloped to this part of the country, their parents didn’t approve of their marriage. The husband had been trying to find work for months and went to the city to see if there was anything there. He was expected back next week and the woman is disappointed he won’t be here for the birth of their child. “Oh you can always expect that from husbands,” Carina laughs. The woman laughs as well, humor wins over fear most of the time.

Carina knows this is going to be a hard labor, and it will take a few hours before the actual work will happen. “It’s a good thing I prepared everything,” she thinks to herself. It always paid to be prepared.

Something wet suddenly falls on Carina’s shoulder and her breath stops for a moment. She smiles. Carina can’t let the woman see any hint of fear, childbirth is already hard enough without worrying about something like this.

Carina silently curses under her breath for forgetting about the suha. She must have left it in the tricycle on her way here. “No use worrying about that now,” she thinks. There’s still the sharpened piece of bamboo in her bag. It always paid to be prepared.

“Okay, we’re going to try something, so just close your eyes okay? And don’t open them until I say so,” Carina’s voice is sterner now, but the edge of experience still shines through. “Is something wrong?” The woman voice has a hint of fear.

“Oh no, nothing wrong. I just need to take care of a pest.” Carina closes the woman’s eyelids, thankfully she was looking at Carina the whole night. “Now just keep telling me about that husband of yours. We have a long night ahead of us.”

=———————————–=

*Pomelo fruit

*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 Angel Papilosa
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Angel Papilosa

Inspired by the Wak-wak entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Wak-wak (Surigao) Illustration and Watercolor by Nightmaresyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Masbatenyo

Batyag ko an matugnaw na bakal na nakadikit saakon na panit.

” Nagtuna an tanan mga alas singko san kagab- ehun. Dili man gayod madugay an naging kanam sa bakestbolan kaya naka uli man dayun ako san atab lalo na kay nagtugon si mama na mag- uli gaud san atab. Kaya nag dali- Dali man ako Pauli. Miski maghinay lang an boses nababatian ko gihapon ini kag aram ko na adi lang gaud sa halapit an nagatunog. Naglingi- lingi ako, paglingi ko sa tuo nakita ko an puno san santol kag didtu ko naaraman na didtu gaud nagahali an nagatunog kag adtu siya.

” Wak …wak….wak..”

Makaburungol na sa talinga an boses san aswang kag bigla nalang ako nakabalik saakon nga sadiri san nabatian ko naan boses ninda lola kag Lolo. ” Pag an huni gani san aswang graben tuda big sabihun sana huruharayo ina siya saimu pero maghimat ka kung an huni naman sana kay graben hinay kay ada lang ina sa halapit.” Nanugnaw na ako gaud sadtu sa sobra na kahadlok san pagsulod ko sa balay.

Nagdali- Dali ako dalagan pakadtu sa kusina para magkuha san kutsilyo, na magaan lang sa kamot paggamiton kay aram ko na gaud kung nanu an dapat pagahimuon sa mga oras na ini. In tago ko sa akon short an kutsilyu, kag umingkod ako sa katakin ni mama samtang nagahulat na magpakita an aswang na may huruhalaba na dila.

Naghinulat ako pira ka oras.

Nahuman an tryanta minutos sa pagabantay ko. Tryanta minutos ma. An in about bago ako magkadtu sa labas kag inkita didtu banda sa may santol kung adtu gihapon siya

Pero nawara na gali.

=——————————=

English Version

I could feel the cold steel of the knife pressing against my skin.

It started at 5:30 pm. The basketball game didn’t take too long and my mom wanted me home early so I rushed home as soon as I could. The sound was faint, but very distinct. I looked towards my right and when I saw the santol tree I knew exactly what it was.

“Wak….wak…..wak….”

The sound rang in my ears and suddenly I was hit with my grandparents voices, “If the wakwak sound is loud then that means the creature is far, but be careful if the voice is soft, for that means it is very near.” My blood ran cold the moment I entered the house.

The santol tree was right above the bedroom of my parents, so I knew I had to see if there was anything there that the wakwak might want. When I saw my pregnant mother watching TV, that’s when I knew. The fight had begun.

I raced to the kitchen to get a knife, it felt light in my hand, probably because I was sure of what I had to do. I hid the knife in my shorts, and sat next to my mother, waiting for the moment the monster would let loose its red tongue.

I waited.

I waited.

It was 30 minutes that I stayed on guard. 30 minutes until I ventured outside to the santol tree to hear if the voice persisted.

I waited and it was gone.

To this day, I’d like to think the creature sensed that I was ready for a fight and that my mother wouldn’t be easy prey. But there are still shivers down my spine every time I look at that santol tree, half expecting to hear a soft falsetto of

“Wak…..wak…..wak….”

=———————=

*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 Angel Papilosa
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Angel Papilosa

Inspired by a story told by Ian Quirante

Wak-wak Illustration by Ian Quirante
FB: Ian Quirante Illustrations

*Note this story is in Masbatenyo

Wara San miski sin- o an naga kusog buot na labutan o miski kuhaon an umang. Kay gin taga san inda agaron na magkaigwa san gahum na pangunahan kami.

Dili parehas san mga kupo na medyu hapit na makaitsura namon. Idto na mga bugo, dili ninda aram pagsinda nadakpan kakaonon gaud sinda san mga tawo. Kita mo ina? Gin buying lang bigla Hali sa lapukan, parehu san permi ninda na inahimu. Nabatian ko man pod gali sa mga tawo na inalabay man gani ninda an iba na kupo balik sa tubig pero iba na naklasi san tubing.

Tubig na graben init na makakapatay na sainda nga buhay. Dili man sinda dayun na matitiwas tama lang namakasiyak pa samtang inabutang sa tubig na mainit. Kag paghuman sana , kaunon san tawo an inda na mga unod kag pati na an mga guramoy. Makaharadlok gaud.

An mga kupo maburulag- bulag na sainda lawas. Pero dili lang ina dida matatapos an himu san tawo na makaharadlok. Sige pa ninda kakalabay san kung nanu-nanu sa suba. An iba maayus man namakabulig pa saamon paghimu balay kag dekorasyon samtang an iba makapatay na kay saka luod kag makakarigma kitaon.

Kag kung minsan amu pa ini an naga pabaho kag makarigma san lasa san tubig. Sa pira ka simana naga iba na dayun an itsura san suba tungod sa sobra kaati. Minsan gani nagatambak sinda san pagamay- gamay na ati hasta nalang na magdamu ini na daw bukid nakadako sa kakatambak san ati hali sani na mga tawo. Ati, bagan amu ina tawag ninda sa bagay na habo naninda gamiton o kung nanu. Amu ina an batian ko hali sa mga isturya san isda.

Kaya gani kami namga umang in hatag namon an amon nga duta sa mga engkanto. Kay aram ninda kung pa anhunun ninda an pag atu sa mga tawo naini kag matagaan ninda kami san gahum na makabalos man miski sa pamaagi san pagahatag san sakit na indababatyagon. Kaya dili gaud sinda nagakusog buot na disturbuhon amun na mga luho san balay.

=-=———————————-=

English Version

No one would ever dare touch a tulayhang. We are blessed by our masters with some power over our domain.

Not like those mud crabs we look like. Those idiots don’t even know when they’re being caught to be eaten by the humans. See that one? Just grabbed from the mud, just like their kind always are. I’ve heard that humans throw crabs back into the water, but not regular water.

The water’s so hot it kills them. Not instantly though, there’s enough time to scream. Then the humans eat the muscle and the claws off. Terrible.

The mud crab will come back in pieces, but that’s not the only thing the humans will throw. Oh they throw so many things back into the river some are nice and you can decorate your home with them, but others are just nasty.

Sometimes they smell and taste disgusting and the water just feels different for weeks on end, other times they just pile up what they throw until we’re all living on a gigantic mountain of human trash. Trash, I think that’s what they call the things they don’t want to have anymore, I heard it from some fish.

That’s why we tulayhang threw our lot in with the enkantos. They know what it’s like to have to deal with the humans and so gave us the power to give illness to any human that dares disturb us in our holes.

Now don’t look at me like that! The humans deserve it for aggravating the natural order, always throwing their trash around like it’s not going to bother anyone. I heard that way out in the ocean even the siyokoys are suffocating on their garbage. That’s another word for trash. Humans have so much of it that they need more than one word to describe it.

I guess that’s the lesson. Humans are just terrible beings that we have to watch out for. Never be afraid to use the powers your master gave you to defend yourself, because you never know when the humans will think you’re a mud crab.Then you’ll be swimming in pieces in the water, wondering why you didn’t listen to the wise old tulayhang.

=—————–=

*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 Angel Papilosa
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Angel Papilosa

Inspired by the Tulayhang myths from Central Panay

Tulayhang illustration by Harold Juab
FB: ArTwisted mind of Juabexuz
IG: https://www.instagram.com/juabex/

*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

Pararehas lang an damgo ko ‘pag gindadamag ako.

Nagtutuna an tanan sa akon higdaan. Kaya nagtenir na ako sa hospital. Pero dili pa gihapon aram san mga doktor an mali sa akon. An sabi ninda,  kukuhaan pa ninda ako sin iba na medical tests. Gintitiawan ko na lang sinda. Aram ko na magiging masakit para sa akon, pero dili ko sinda ginbabasol kay ginhihimo man lang ninda an inda trabaho.

Kag umabot na an mga dagom. Gin-iniksyunan ako kag gintusok hasta magdesbilo. Kaya gintestingan san mga nurse na pakusugon an buot ko. Sabi ninda magiging maayo man an tanan kag apiki na ini matapos. Kag aram ko man na dili sinda mahimo san ikakaraot ko, kaya mahangos na lang ako sin halarom hanggang matapos ini.

Pagkatapos san tanan, umabot an pinakamaraot na punto. Bumalik ako kun diin ako nagtuna. Pagkatapos san tests kag pagbulong sa akon, mag-usad na gihapon ako, nakahigda sa akon katre sa hospital. Sabi sa akon oobserbaran pa daw ako. May mga doktor lang na magbuburubisita sa akon oras-oras.

Kag didto ko na nakita an kun anano na linalang. San una, may halaba kag pula na naghahali sa atop. Dili ko aram kun nano idto kag dili ko aram kun parte idto sin usad na linalang, pero naghihiwag idto na baga man lang an buhay. Ako man, nanluluya pa sa pinag-agihan ko na tests kaya dili na ako nakaato. Dili ko na idto maudong sa paglabot kag paghikap sa akon.

Kag namatyagan ko idto sa akon lawas. San maghikap na sa akon an pula na linalang, bagan ako an nagraspada sa maraton. Lumuwas sa akon lawas an tanan na nabibilin na kusog hasta sa punto na sa sobra na panluya, nawara na pati an akon kahadlok. An kaya ko na lang himuon an magtitig sadto na pula na linalang. Matugnaw idto ‘pag nagtatama sa akon panit kag naghihiwag kag naghihikap sa kada parte san akon lawas.

Nagtesting ako magguriyak pero masyado na ako kapoy kag maluya. Iba an pagmatyag ko sa akon kalawasan. Ni dili ko aram kun gaano kadugay an pangyari. Nakaturog na lamang ako.

Hasta na may sumulod na nurse. Nawara idto na pula na kun anano. Ginhunga ako san nurse kun matiano ako. Ako man wara na sin kusog para magsumat na dili maayo an akon pagmatyag.

“Ayaw kahandal, nakamata ka lang anay kay may gintumar ka na bulong hasta na makakaturog ka,” Sabi niya.

Nagtesting gihapon ako magsiyak kag magguriyak pero waran nagluluwas sa akon.

English Version

Every nightmare I have is the same.

It all starts in my bed. I’m in the hospital, as always. The doctors still don’t know what’s wrong with me. They say that they’re going to try another test and I humor them. I know it’s going to be painful for me, but I don’t blame the doctors, they’re just trying to do their jobs.

Then the needles arrive. I get poked and prodded for hours. The nurses try to reassure me. They tell me that everything’s going to be fine and it will all be over soon. They wouldn’t do anything that would make things worse so all I have to do is breathe, just until it’s over.

The worst part comes when it’s all over. After the tests and the treatments, I’m alone in my hospital bed. Back where I started. They tell me I’ll be put on observation and there will be a doctor checking on me every few hours.

That’s when I see it, something long and red coming from the roof. I don’t know what it is and I don’t know if it’s attached to anything, but it moves like it was alive. I can’t move. I’m too weak from all the tests to stop it from touching me.

Then I feel it. The moment the red thing touches me, it’s like I ran a marathon. The energy flows out of me until I’m too tired to even be afraid. All I do is stare at the red thing. It feels cold to the touch and it moves around until it touches every part of my body.

I try to scream but I’m too tired. The strange sensation is all over my body now and I don’t know how long it’s been. I just want to go back to sleep.

Then suddenly, a nurse walks in. The red thing disappears from my sight. She asks me if I’m okay and I can’t muster the strength to say no.

“Don’t worry the medicine will only keep you awake for a little while longer then you can sleep,” she says.

I try to scream again but nothing comes out.

*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

Inspired by the Mansusopsop legends

Mansusopsop Illustration by NightmareSyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

*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.

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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.

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*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
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Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
FB: Wildling Child
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