*Note this story is in Ilocano

Maysa a rabii, nagkintayeg ti langit. Maysa a dakkel nga espiritu ti natinnag iti daga ken naparmek.

Nagkamang daytoy  iti kabanbantayan, nga ammona a napasamaken  iti naminsangagasut – saan, maminribo a daras iti napalabas.

Ti kayatna laeng nga aramiden ket ti aginana agingga ti idadateng ti sumaruno a bulan.

Ngem adda sabali a banag nga ipasimudaag dayta a rabii.

Nagkukot daytoy nga espiritu iti abay ti maysa a kueba, ket inkidemna, mangnamnama iti makapnek a pannaturog.

Maalana koman ti turognan no di nariing ti maysa a timek.

“Dumalannak man?”

Binirok ti espiritu iti aglawlaw ti naggapuan ti boses. Saan a sanay nga agbirok ti banbanag a basbassit ngem ti bulan.

Nagpukkaw, “Sino ka? Agpakita ka!’

“Saanmo a masapul ti agpukkaw. Addaak ditoy.”

Timmalliaw ti espiritu. Iti ruangan ti kweba, adda maysa a napintas a lalaki.

Nagsennaay ti espiritu. Maysa kaniada.

Awan ti dakes a panggep ti espiritu kadagiti napipintas gapu ta addada iti babaenna, literal man wenno metapora. Ammoda a saan a nasayaat ti makipulapol kadagiti espiritu, ta mabalin a mariknada ti pungtot daytoy.

“Maserraaam ti kuebak, ” kuna ti napintas.

” Bilbilinennak kadi  a pumanaw?” nairita ti dakkel nga espiritu.

“Idawdawatko ti ipapanmo iti sabali a lugar, makadanonka iti law-ang kas kalaka ti maysa a billit. Pangngaasim ta saanmo a serraan ti kwebak.”

“Ket apay koma a mapanak iti sabali a lugar? Apay a mapanunot ti maysa a gagangay nga espiritu  a kas kenka nga adda karbengam a mangidiktar kenni Kedu ti papananna?”

“Pangngaasim, kayatko koma ti agmaymaysa.”

“Saan kadi a dayta ti kayat tayo amin?

“Ket, umaliska kadi?”

“Saan, diak mapanunot dayta.”

Nagsennaay ti napintas nga espiritu. Ammona nga awan ti pamuspusanna  tapno mangabak. Nasdaaw pay ta  pinagsarita isuna ni Kedu iti nabayag. Iti imetna a bileg, apagbiitna laeng a dadaelen ti napintas nga espiritu. Awan met ti aniaman a mapukaw para iti napintas nga espiritu isu a nagtugaw iti maysa a bato  ket nakipatpatang iti dakkel nga espiritu.

“Apay a napilim  daytoy a lugar a paginanaan?”

“Nakitak manipud iti ngato ket kasla nakanamnam-ay, isu nga apay a mapanak pay laeng iti sabali a disso?”

“Kasla nabannogka la unay.”

“Wen, nabannogak.

“Ania kadi ti napasamak?”

“Kas iti dati. Natiliwko ti bulan ngem diak matengngel daytoy.”

“Apay a saan mo a kaya?”

“Ania koma ti pagdumaanna?”

“Kayatko la a maamuan.”

“Nagsennay ni Kedu ket nalagipna nga saanna a naestorya daytoy iti sumagmamanon a bulan. Natured unay ti napitas nga espiritu nga agsaludsud, isu a pagang-awanan na laengen.”

“Nangrugi iti oras sakbay dagiti tiempo. Idi pagturayan dagiti espiritu nga daddadakkel ngem siak wenno sika dagiti amin a banbanag iti naglabas, ita, ken iti umadani.”

“Kayatmo a sawen, saanka a taga ditoy a daga.?

“Saan, bassit nga espiritu. Saanak a taga ditoy.”

Nasdaaaw ti napintas nga espiritu. Iti sakupda, awan banag dagiti nagtaudan. Maipagarup nga uray ania kaman a klase nga espiritu ket gagangay a pasetka daytoy a daga. Nagargari ti panagusiusona ken adu pay ti kayatna a maammuan.

Intuloy ni Kedu. ” Adu ti didiosen idi kasta met dagiti demonyo. Nakabutbuteng dagiti ginnubatda ket adu ti dara a nagsayasay. Ngem awan met latta ti nagsayaatanna uray idi kayatda ti agtitinnulong. Mapanpanunotko met no ania ngata ti napasamak no sabali dagiti desisyonko. Baka agingga ita ket sibubukelak pay laeng.”

“Sibubukel?”

“Ilugarmo ti bagim. Bay-annak nga mangisarita ti estoryak.”

“Dispensarennak, dakkel nga espiritu. Mabalin nga ituloymo.”

Naguyugoykami ti kari ti kina-immortal. Dakami ket naloko gapu iti panangpati kadagiti kinaulbod da. Nagtakder kami iti igid ti taaw, ket impallangatokmi dagiti dalluyon iti kapigsaan a maabot ti bilegmi. Limmabas dagiti kinaagnanayon agingga a rimsua manipud iti kaunegan ti premyomi. Ti Amrita.”

“Amrita?”

“Ti diro ti kina-immortal. Dayta laeng ti rason no apay a makitinnulong kami kadakauda.”

“Ania ngarud ti napasamak idin?”

“Impaidamda ti bingaymi. Nagayus ti pungtot kadagiti ur-uratmi bayat ti panagplanomi iti panagibales. Ngem nangpiliak idi sabali a plano.”

Binalkot ti ulimek dagiti espiritu kas iti panagdisso ti linnaaw kadagiti bulbulong.

“Siak -” Nagkatawa ni Kedu. “Diak pay malagip no ania idin ti naganko.”

“Ania ti kayatmo a sawen?”

” Awan ti kaes-eskan dagiti nagnagan. Sabali ti panawen idi. Sibubukelnak idi. Kabayatan nga agplanplano dagiti kadduak, nagkuti akon. Nagpammarangnak a kas maysa kaniada ket innalak dagiti diro ken naaramidko ti panggepko.”

“Nagbalinka nga immortal.”

“No aniaman ti pagsayaatan a naitedna.  Nakita dagiti dua ti panangallilawko ket binallaaganda ti kabilegan kaniada.

“Dagiti dua?”

“Ti init ket ti bulan, syempre.”

Nagtung-ed ti napintas nga espiritu. Impagarupna nga ni Kedu ken ti bulan ket mangisarming iti lubong, maysa a saan a maungpot a sala iti balkot ti law-ang. Nakakasdaaw a maammuan a daytoy ket personal.

Intuloy ni Kedu, ” Ania pay ti maibagak? Naputulan ti ulok ket ita, siak ita daytoy, maysa a bagi nga saan a kompleto.”

“Ket apay nga immayka ditoy a daga?”

Sursurotek ti init ket ti bulan sadinnoman  ti pangiturunganda iti raniagda. Iti dadduma a daga, ti ulok iti mangbirok iti bulan; iti sabali, ti nabati a bagi ti mangkamat kadagiti manglokloko. Ngem saanmi ida a matengngel, naigup met  dagiti dua ti diro. Siguro naited a gasatmi ti agnanayon a mangaramid kadaytoy nga ay-ayam.”

“Agyamanak iti estoriam, dakkel nga espiritu. Mapagasatanak a nakangngeg iti daytoy.”

” Nasyaat, ket ngarud matay ka a sidadayaw.”

Iti apagdarikmat, naitupa ti dakkel nga ipus ni Kedu iti bagi ti napintas nga espiritu.

Iti isasangbay ti ulimek, nagkukot ni Kedu iti sango ti kueba ket naalana met laeng ti kinalkalikagumanna nga inana.

=————-=

English Version

One night, the heavens churned. A great spirit fell to the ground and was defeated.

It retreated to the mountains, keenly aware that this had happened a hundred—no, a thousand times before.

All it wanted to do was rest until the next moon would come.

But that night had something else in store.

The spirit huddled beside a cave and closed its eyes, hoping for the sweet tranquility of sleep.

And it would have succeeded if not for a voice that jolted it awake.

“Excuse me?”

The spirit looked around for the source of the noise. It was not accustomed to looking for things smaller than the moon.

It bellowed, “Who is there?! Show yourself!”

“You don’t need to shout. I am right here.”

The spirit tuned its head and at the entrance of the cave was a beautiful man.

Sigh, the spirit thought. One of them.

The spirit had nothing against the beautiful ones, they were beneath him, both literally and metaphorically. They also knew better than to engage with the spirit, lest they suffer its wrath.

“You’re blocking my cave,” the beautiful one said.

“Are you demanding that I leave?” the great spirit eyed this inconvenience.

“I’m asking you to go somewhere else, you can move through the sky as easily as a bird. Please do not block my cave.”

“And why would I go elsewhere? What makes you think that an insignificant spirit such as yourself has any right to tell Kedu where to go.”

“Please, I would just like to be left alone.”

“Don’t we all.”

“So, will you move?”

“No, I don’t think I will.”

The beautiful spirit sighed. He knew there was no way he could win. He was also surprised that Kedu let him speak this long. With its enormous power it could destroy the beautiful spirit in an instant. There was nothing left to lose for the beautiful spirit anyway so he decided to sit on a nearby rock and have a conversation with the great spirit.

“Why did you choose this place to rest?”

“I saw it from above and it looked comfortable, why else would I go here?”

“You seem very tired.”

“I am.”

“What happened?”

“The same as always. I caught the moon but could not hold it.”

“Why couldn’t you?”

“What difference does it make?”

“I would like to know.”

Kedu sighed and realized he had not told that story for many moons. The beautiful spirit was brash enough to ask, might as well humor it.

“It started in the time before times. Where spirits greater than you or I held dominion over everything that was, is, and will be.”

“You mean that you were not from this land?”

“No, small spirit, I was not.”

The beautiful spirit was surprised. In their realms origins did not matter. It was assumed that, whatever spirit you are, you had always been a part of this land. His curiosity was piqued and he wanted to know more.

Kedu continued, “There were many gods then as well as demons. Their battles were fierce and much blood was spilt. Though it was not any better when they decided to work together. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I had made different choices. Maybe then I would still be complete.”

“Complete?”

“Know your place. Let me tell my story.”

“I apologize great spirit, please continue.”

“We were enticed by the promise of immortality. And fools we were for believing their lies. By the great ocean we stood, tossing the waves as violent as our powers allowed. The eternities passed by, until our prize rose from the depths. The Amrita.”

“Amrita?”

“The nectar of immortality. The only reason why we would ever work with them.”

“What happened then?”

“They denied us of our share. Anger flowed through our veins as we planned our revenge. Though I chose a different ploy.”

Silence blanketed the spirits like dew settling on leaves.

“Great spirit? Is there something wrong?”

“I—” Kedu let out a chuckle. “I don’t even remember what my name was.”

“What do you mean?”

“Names do not matter. It was a different time. I was complete then. While others of my kind planned, I set out into action. I disguised myself as one of them, taking in the nectar and achieving my goal.”

“You became immortal.”

“For whatever good that did. The two had seen through my ruse and warned the most powerful of their kind.”

“The two?”

“The sun and the moon, of course.”

The beautiful spirit nodded. He had always assumed that the Kedu and the moon were reflections of nature, an endless dance in the cloak of the sky. It was surprising to find out it was so personal.

Kedu carried on, “What else is there to say? My head was severed and now I am what I am, a body left incomplete.”

“And why did you come to this land?”

“I follow the sun and moon wherever they shine their light. In some lands it is my head that hunts the moon, in others what is left of our body pursues those fools. But we cannot hold them, the two had also imbibed the nectar. Maybe we are forever destined to carry out this charade.”

“Thank you for your story, great spirit. I feel honored to have heard it.”

“Good, then you will die with that honor.”

In a split second Kedu’s massive tail crashed onto the beautiful spirit’s form.

In the silence that followed Kedu curled up in front of the cave, finally able to get the rest that he sought.

=———————-=

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Ilocano translation by Maria Jesusa Villaruz
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Maria Jesusa Villaruz

Inspired by the Ketu/ Kedu descriptions in Tagalog Borrowings and Cognates by Jean Paul Potet (2016) and Diccionario mitológico de Filipinas in
by Ferdinand Blumentritt ed Jordan Clark

Kedu Illustration by Yuriko Yoshida
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*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Ang gab-i indi masyado madulom. Indi samtang ang bulan kag ang mga bituon nagasilak sang ila kapawa. May mga nagahulat sang matuod nga kadulom nga mag-abot, yadtong wala sing iban nga ginapangita sa kabuhi bangod ang kapawa nagpakita sa ila sang mga butang nga indi nila luyag makita, ang mga nagahandum sang paghidait sang mga patay, sa isa ka matugnaw, walay katapusan nga kalibutan.

Ini nga mga tawo nagapuyo sa higad sang dagat, nagahulat sang ila butig nga dios, nga nagapangamuyo sing malinong agod tapuson ang kapawa sang bulan. Ginalikawan nila ang gahod kag nagapabilin nga mahipos tubtob sa ila masarangan, nahadlok sa bisan ano nga tunog nga mahimo magdul-ong sa ila manluluwas gikan sa padya sini. Ang ila ebanghelyo sang wala katapusan nga kagab-ihon nagalanog sa ila mga hunahuna.

Sin-o sila? Ang nadula, ang nalipatan, ang nahadlok. Pareho gid sa ila dios. Tigulang na ini, mas tigulang sangsa duta nga ginaagyan sang iya mga sumilimba, mas tigulang sangsa dagat nga ginatawag sini nga iya puluy-an, kag mas tigulang sangsa mga manug-agaw nga lamunon sini sa isa ka adlaw. Ginadumdom sini ang mga kalibutan antes sang pag-abot sang kapawa kag madumduman sini ang tion nga ang kapawa bug-os nga nalaglag, kon ang kadulom magahari.

Magapabilin sila sa higad sang dagat tubtob mag-abot ang katapusan nga mga adlaw sang kapawa sa kalibutan. Kon ang ila agalon magabangon gikan sa kadadalman sang dagat kag magalupad padulong sa kapawa sang adlaw kag sa kapawa sang kagab-ihon. Nagahulat sila sa tion nga ang mga apapangig sang ila butig nga dios magalibot sa mga manug-agaw.

Kon ang tanan makahibalo sang matuod nga paghidait sang kadulom.

=——————–=

English Version

The night is not truly dark. Not while the moon and the stars shine their light. There are those that wait for the true darkness to come, those that seek nothing else in life because the light has shown them things they did not wish to see, those that wish for the peace of the dead, in a cold, eternal world.

These people live by the sea, awaiting their false god, saying quiet prayers to end the moonlight. They shun noise and stay as silent as they can, fearing any sound that may lead their savior from its prize. Their gospel of endless night echoes in their minds.

Who are they? The lost, the forgotten, the afraid. Much like their god. It is old, far older than the land that its worshippers walk on, far older than the sea that it calls its home, and far older than the usurpers it will one day devour. It remembers the worlds before the coming of the light and it will remember a time when the light has been fully decimated, when darkness will reign.

They will stay by the seashore until the last days of light are upon the world. When their lord will rise up from the depths of the sea and fly towards the light of the day and the light of night. They wait for the moment when their false god’s jaws encircle the usurpers.

When all will know the true peace of darkness.

=————————-=

*The Hiligaynon language, also colloquially referred often by most of its speakers simply as Ilonggo, is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 9.1 million people, mainly in Western Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN, most of whom belong to the Visayan ethnic group, mainly the Hiligaynons. It is the second-most widely spoken language and a member of the so-named Visayan language family and is more distantly related to other Philippine languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Edwin P. Belgera
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Edwin P. Belgera

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

Baconaua Illustration by Leandro Geniston fromAklat ng mga Anito
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Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
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*Note this story is in Waray

Pito nga bulan an umagi ngan pito man guihapon kahigayon nahigugma an dako nga serpente. Ha paglabay han kalangitan kada gab-i, nakikit-an an kaanyag ngan kahusay han magburugto na kun diin mas pursigido an serpente nga mahadakpan para makaunan niya ine hin bug-os.

Ha siyahan nga gab-i, nasipatan an langit nga madalumdom ngan diri malamrag ngan nahakaunan han serpente an usa nga bulan han magburugto.

Lumabay an pira kabulan, an bulan nga nahilamunan han serpente hin nawara ha iya tiyan. Tungod han iya pagkadiskuntento, namiling hiya hin maaangkon nga usa pa liwat nga bulan ngan gintestingan niya ini. Sugad man han una, nawara guihap an bulan.

Kun iihapon, unom nga bulan an iya nabiktima nga ha kada may nawawara, duroy nga nagtitikasirom an langit.

Hi Bathala, usa nga hadi ngan may trono han kalangitan hin napapausa kun kay-ano nga nawawara na an lamrag han langit kada gab’i. Diri hiya maaram kun ano an nahihitabo. Han usa kagab-i, usa nga alagad an dumaop han iya pagpahuway. Hito la nga higayon ngan orasa, gintetesting paglamoy han serpente an ikapito nga bulan. Suminggaak an mga katawhan kan Bathala nga depensaran ngan umato agud diri mawara an lamrag ha kadayunan. Agi han kahadlok han aringasa han mga tawo, kumarikas dayon an serpente.

Tungod han panhitabo, nagpinanmurubuot hin hul-os an makagarahum han hadi. “Paanan-o kun lamuyon han serpente an ikapito nga bulan?”. Agud malikayan ini nga panhitabo, nagtanom hiya hin kawayan ha nawong han bulan para maging senyales. Diri napapugong an serpente, makadamo ka-beses niya gintetestingan nga mahikaunan an ikapito nga bulan ha magburugto. Ha kadamo nga pagtesting han serpente, makadamo guihap hiya madismayo. Ha mga singgit ngan aringasa han drum, nakalagiw dayon ngan naghuhulat nala an serpente han iya swerte para han iya intensyon.

Siring pa han kalagsan, hasta na aada an kawayan ha nawong han bulan, diri makukuha han serpente an iya karuyag mahitabo ngan diri man liwat magtatapod an mga katawhan. Hasta nga an serpente namimiling han iya premyo, an marisaw nga aringasa tikang han mga singgit han mga lalaki ngan babaye hin pirmi mababatian.

=———————————=

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 through the night sky. The serpent decided that

he must possess these lovely beings and seek to swallow them whole.

On that first night, 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 disappeared into his stomach. The serpent would not be satisfied unless he possessed another moon, so he tried again. But just like the last time, the moon melted away. Six moons were his victims; with each one lost, the night sky dimmed further.

Bathala, on 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, a cacophony roused him from his rest. At that moment, the serpent was trying to swallow the seventh moon. Humanity shouted to the great god to intercede, lest the night be forever stolen by darkness. Frightened, the serpent fled from the noise.

The great god thought hard. What if the serpent tried to swallow the seventh moon again? To prevent this terrible thing from happening, he planted a bamboo tree on the face of the moon as a warning sign.

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

Elders say that as long as the bamboo tree stays solid on the face of the moon, the serpent will never succeed. Yet, mankind remains vigilant. For as long as the serpent seeks his prize, the deafening sounds from the throats and hands of men and women will be heard.*

=——————————–=

*Visayan (Bisaya or Binisaya) is a group of languages of the Philippines that are related to Tagalog and Bikol, all three of which are part of the Central Philippine languages. Most Visayan languages are spoken in the whole Visayas section of the country, but they are also spoken in the Bicol Region (particularly in Masbate), islands south of Luzon, such as those that make up Romblon, most of the areas of Mindanao and the province of Sulu located southwest of Mindanao. Some residents of Metro Manila also speak Visayan.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Yunie Dela Cruz Dador
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Yunie Dela Cruz Dador

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

Watercolor by Tara Singson
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*Note this story is in Aklanon

Naila gid ako magtinueok sa buean. May ana gid nga misteryo kon ano gid man imaw. Ana baea nga kahayag nga iwag hay para eamang sa mga dapat makakita? Imaw baea hay paadto iya sa kalibutan? Imaw baea hay owa’t katapusan?

Owa gid ako it tyansa nga makahampang sa ibang mga inonga, ginamasakit gid permi o kon amat hay may rason gid nga sa sueod eang ako. Indi ko man madayaw ro kanami it pagbutlak iit adlaw, pero kon sa gabii, sa mga bituon ag sa maeamig nga tiempo, ro buean man lang ro akon amiga. (she)

May istorya ro mga magueang nga kon ro buean kuno hay maduea sa kaeangitan, katapusan eon kuno it kalibutan. Natagbueo ngani ako sa mga istroya ngara kato, nga haman ro buean hay magpundo sa anang owat pundong paghueag? Imaw hay isaeang panamgo nga naging kamatuoran, nga perpektong manugdaea it kahayag.

Ruyon kato, asta sa kahit-an ko ro liyon.

Ginatawag ra nga Arimaonga it mga magueang. Owa ako kasayud kon ano ro akong mangin reaksiyon sa kahadlok nga iya gid sa akong eawas. Mas mabahoe gid ra sa ginapinu-ino ko nga alinman nga sapat. Ag ginabuoe nana ro akon nga nailing buean.

Nagpundo rayon do oras, ginatueok ko nga owa gid it tsansang makabulig sa akong amigang ginakaon it kaeagkong sapat. Pero sa sapat ngara, ro liyon ngara hay nakahampang-hampang eang, owa kasayud nga raya hay maeain ag katapusan eon namon tanan. Sobra god ro kahadlok it buean ngara kaysa sa akon. Batyag ko ro anang kahimtangan nga kaeoeooy samtang sa baba it liyon. Nag-umpisa rayun ako it tangis.

“Buhian it liyon ro buean o kon mangin katapusan eon it kalibutan!”

“Liyon, buhii ro buean o mangin katapusan eon it kalibutan!”

Owa ako kasayud haman nag umpisa ako it hambae ko mga haeambaeon ngato pero nabatyagan kong sakto man, nga kinahang ean gid nga hamabeon.

“Buhian it liyon ro buean o kon mangin katapusan eon it kalibutan!”

Ro iba nga mga kasimanwa ko hay nagsunod man kakon it singgit. Ro mga magueang hay nagpaguwa eon it mga tamboe ag gangsa agud makaabot sa eangit ro sangag.

“Buhian it liyon ro buean o kon mangin katapusan eon it kalibutan!”

Among tutunlan hay sagaesae eon, among ginhawa hay haeos maduea eon pero owa gid kami nagpundo. Indi ko imaw pag-aywanan sa liyon, ro mga tawo iya indi imaw pag-aywanan.

Sa katapusan, binuhian man ko liyon ro buean bangud madya owa gid it katapusan ro gakinatabo. Binuhian imaw ag nagbalik eon sa kaeangitan. Ag ako, isaeang ka but-anon nga onga hay nagpasaeamat sa ginuo bangud ro akon nga amiga hay maeayo eon sa kaeainan.

=———————————=

English Version

I have always liked staring at the moon. There’s just the mystery of what she is. Does she shine her light only on the worthy? Is she dressed by the stars? Is she eternal?

There was never a chance for me to play with the other children, there was always some sickness or another that kept me indoors. I could never appreciate the sun’s harsh rays, but in the night, among the starlight and the gentle breeze, my only friend was the moon.

The elders tell stories that if the moon were to cease being in the sky, the world would end. I laughed at those stories once upon a time, for how could the moon ever stop her perpetual cycle? She was the dream made into reality, the perfect harbinger of light.

That is, until I saw the lion.

It was called the Arimaonga by the elders. I didn’t know how to react as terror filled my entire body. It was larger than I thought any animal could ever be. And it was clutching my beloved moon.

Time froze then, I stared helplessly as my only friend was being devoured by the beast. In some perverse way, the lion was playing a game, not knowing that it may just be the doom of us all.

She was more scared than I was. I could feel her hopelessness as she was clutched between the jaws of the lion. I started crying then.

“Lion release the moon or the world will come to an end!”

I don’t know why I started saying those words but it felt natural, like they needed to be said.

“Lion release the moon or the world will come to an end!”

The other villagers stared joining me in the chant. The elders brought out their drums and gongs to make the noises reach the heavens.

“LION RELEASE THE MOON OR THE WORLD WILL COME TO AN END!”

Our throats were hoarse, our breath almost gone but we did not stop. I will not abandon her to the lion, this village will not abandon her.

The lion finally released the moon after what seemed like an eternity. She clutched her sides and resumed her track along the heavens.

And I, a humble child thanked the gods that my only friend was safe.

————————–————————–————————-

*Aklanon (Akeanon), also known as Bisaya/Binisaya nga Aklanon/Inaklanon or simply Aklan, is an Austronesian language of the Bisayan subgroup spoken by the Aklanon people in the province of Aklan on the island of Panay in the Philippines. Its unique feature among other Bisayan languages is the close-mid back unrounded vowel [ɤ] occurring as part of diphthongs and traditionally written with the letter ⟨Ee⟩ such as in the autonyms Akean and Akeanon. However, this phoneme is also present in other but geographically scattered and distant Philippine languages, namely Itbayat, Isneg, Manobo, Samal and Sagada.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Aklanon Translation by Lari Sabangan
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Lari Sabangan

Inspired by the Arimaonga description in  Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths. Eugenio. 2001.

Arimaonga illustration by Lou Pineda
IG: https://www.instagram.com/blacknivalis/

*Note this story is in Ilocano

Pito dagiti bulan idi, ken naminpito met a daras a nagayat ti dakkel nga uleg.

Kada kabsat a babai ket buyaenna a sisiddaaw ken napnuan panagraem kabayatan a lumabasda iti langit ti rabii. Napanunot ti uleg nga tagikuaen dagitoy a napipintas a parsua, ket ginandatna nga alimonen ida a sibubukel.

Dayta ti umuna a rabii nga saan unay a naraniag, gapu ta innala ti uleg ti maysa kadagiti agkakabsat  babaen iti nakanganga a pangana sana inalimon daytoy.

Naglabas dagiti bulan ket narunawen ti inalun-on ti uleg a bulan.

Saan a pulos a mapnek ti uleg no saanna a makatagikua ti bulan, isu a pinadasna manen, ngem narunaw latta ti bulan. Innem a daras a ginandat ti uleg, ken innem a daras met a narunaw dagiti bulan.

Ni Bathala, nakatugaw iti tronona iti langit, ket nadlawna a mapukpukaw ti raniag dagiti rabii. Saanna nga ammo no ania ti napasamak kadagitoy, ngem iti naminsan a rabii, nariing isuna babaen kadagiti ikkis ken tambor ti tao.

Dayta ti kanito a padpadasen ti uleg nga alimonen ti maika-pito a bulan.

Pinukkawan dagiti tatto ti natan-ok a dios a bumiang, ta dinto ket ti rabii ket agnanayonen a matakaw ti kinasipnget.

Nangngeg ti uleg dagiti tambor ken pukkaw ket dinardarasna ti nagsubli iti kwebana.

Nagpanunot ti nauneg ti nabileg a Dios.  Kasano no gandaten manen ti uleg nga alimonen ti maikapito a bulan? Tapno malapdan ti pannakaaramid manen daytoy a nakabutbuteng a pagteng, nangimula iti kawayan iti rupa ti bulan. Daytoy a kayo ket makita a kas maysa a nangisit a banag iti rupa daytoy no agpangato iti langit ti rabii

Saan a kayat ti uleg ti agpaabak. Di mabilangen ti pananggandatna nga alimonen ti bulan ken di metten mabilang ti pannakapaayna gapu iti pannakibiang ti tao. Dagiti ikkis ken tambor  ket nakaro unay para iti dios dagiti baybay, isu a nagsanud  iti kwebana nga aguray iti sumaruno a gundaway.

Adda dagiti panglakayen a mangibaga nga agingga nga adda ti kawayan iti rupa ti bulan, saanto a pulos nga agballigi ti uleg, ngem banbantayan latta dagiti tattao ti uleg.

Agingga a ti  uleg ket birukenna ti gunggunana, ti makatitileng nga un-uni nga aggapu iti karabukob ken im-ima dagiti babbai ken lallaki ket kanayonto a mangngeg.

=—————————–=

English Version

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.

————————–————————–————————–—-

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Ilocano translation by Maria Jesusa Villaruz
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Maria Jesusa Villaruz

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 Cebuano

Ang dagat misidlak sama sa usa ka baol nga napuno sa nadugmok nga mga diamante nga nagpabanaag sa malumo nga kahayag sa mga bituon.

Karong gabhiona, sama sa tanang gabii, mao ang iyang ritwal. Lawom na ang gabii, takna diin ang mga damgo naglupad-lupad sa mga alimpatakan sa uban, ug mao kining panahon nga iyang matigom ang iyang mga hunahuna.

Diyotay na lang ang nahibilin alang kaniya niining iya untang puluy-anan. Gisaysayan siya sa iyang inahan matod sa panahon nga ang ilang katigulangan mobalhin-balhin sama sa mga tiglalin sa tibuok nga isla, apan kana nahitabo sa dugay na nga panahon. Mitan-aw siya sa baybayon nga karon napuno sa mga turista nga buot makalingkawas sa kahago sa kinabuhi sa siyudad. Kaniadto, kining dapita usa ka paraisong puluy-anan alang sa iyang mga katigulangan; karon, sama na kini sa usa ka haw-ang nga kabhang kon itandi sa iyang kanhing kaugalingon, nahimong huyang human sa pagkonsumo sa tawo.

Usa ka malumo nga luha ang midagayday sa iyang aping, ug ang iyang kasubo miabot sa kinapungkayan niini. Giunsa kini pagkahitabo, kini ba gayod ang kapalaran sa iyang katawhan? Hangtod sa hangtod nang nawala, hangtod sa hangtod nga maglatagaw alang sa ilang luna sa kalibotan?

Gipiyong niya ang iyang mga mata ug gihanggab ang hangin sa kagabhion. Iyang gipahiluna ang iyang ulo sa humok nga balas, gipasagdan ang mga hunahuna nga molupad sa iyang alimpatakan hangtod nga siya napuno sa kangitngit.

Nahigmata siya, nakapahulay ug andam na, apan dunay dili husto.

Ang mga bituon wala makita sa dagat, dili niya mabati ang mainitong silaw sa kahayag sa bulan.

Nahibalo dayon siya.

Sayo na sa buntag, panahon nga ang iyang katawhan mo-atiman sa mga uma ug sa mga gimbuhaton aron mabuhi, apan dili, iyang gisultihan ang iyang kaugalingon nga ang mga karaan nga pamaagi nahanaw na.

Mibalik siya sa iyang balay ug sa iyang pamilya nga napandol sa kangitngit. Wala hinuon ni makahasol niya, gani nagsunod ni niya sa tibuok niyang kinabuhi.

Ang kangitngit mipuno sa iyang panan-aw hangtod nga wala nay nahibilin.

Hangtod nga natabonan sa semento ang mga baybayon.

Hangtod nga nalumos ang kalasangan sa mga minahan.

Hangtod nga ang iyang pamilya kinahanglan nga modangop sa pagpakilimos.

Nahibal-an niya nga kinahanglan siyang mosinggit, aron ang adlaw makigbatok sa pagkabiktima niini. Anaa kini sa iyang dugo, ang dugo sa iyang katawhan.

Apan naghari ang kahilom.

“Pasagdi nga ang bitin motukob sa adlaw.” Nagluhod siya ug ang iyang mga luha ningdagayday sa kangitngit.

=———————–=

English Version

The sea glistened like a field of crushed diamonds, reflecting the soft light of the stars.

Tonight, as in all nights, was her ritual. It was late, the time when dreams fluttered in the minds of others, and it was this time that she could collect her thoughts.

There was little left for her in what should have been her home. Her mother had told her stories of when her people would move as nomads all over the island, but those times were long past. She looked at the beach, now filled with tourists escaping the drudgery of city life. This place was once a paradise for her people to live, now it was a hollow shell of its former self, chipped away at the ends by the consumption of man.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Sa kaibuturan ito’y naghihintay.

Hindi lahat ay alam ang kaniyang kuwento, ngunit marami ang nakaaalam kung anong klase ito.

Ang moon-eaters.

Ang mga celestial na halimaw.

Ang leon. Ang alimango. Ang higante. Ang ibon. Ang ahas.

Ang dragon.

Lahat sila ay dumaan sa pating, at ibinaba ito sa kalaliman na tinatawag nitong tahanan.

Mayroon bang isang kuwentong dapat sabihin?

O lagi lang itong nandiyan?

Maaaring gutom ang nagtutulak sa hayop, tulad ng halimaw, tulad ng alakdan. Ano pa ang magiging biktima ng pating kundi ang init ng isang buwan?

Maaari rin itong paglaruan, tulad ng leon. Ang buwan ay isang higanteng orb na pumupukaw sa atensyon ng halimaw. Ano pang elemento ang maaaring makaakit sa pating?

Maaaring ito ay galit, tulad ng alimango. Ang pating

ba ay supling ng araw at buwan? Nangangahulugan ba ito ng kabayaran laban sa mana mula sa mga magulang nito na hindi nito alam?

Maaaring ito ay paghihiganti, tulad ng higante. Ang pating ba ay isang mortal na nilalang? Nagdulot ba ito ng galit sa mga diyos? Ano ang nangyari dito na inilipat ito sa kalaliman ng dagat?

Maaaring ito ay kadiliman, tulad ng ibon. Kapag nakumpleto ng pating ang kaniyang gawain at ang mundo ay nahulog sa anino, ano na ang susunod na kakainin nito?

Maaaring bahagi ito ng nature niya, tulad ng ahas. Sa pag-iral ng mundo, bahagi ba ito ng pag-ikot?

At nariyan ang kuwento ng dragon.

Bawat nilalang ay alam ang kuwento nito.

Ang pitong buwan. Ang diyos Bathala.

Ang gahaman na dragon.

Ang pating ay naghihintay, hanggang sa iba ay mamatay, sa mga tunog ng sangkatauhan.

May isang kuwento sa pinaniniwalaan kong totoo.

Ang mga celestial na nilalang, na tinatawag na moon eaters, ay bahagi lahat ng mundo. Bawat isa ay may kanya-kanyang dahilan para kainin ang buwan o ang mga buwan.

At doon nakatira ang pating.

Ang pinakamahinang nilalang, bigo itong makuha ang midnight orb.

Ulit.

Ulit.

At ulit.

Alam na nito ang kabiguan at hindi na susubok muli, hanggang sa malaman nitong matagumpay niyang makukuha at premyo.

Sa tahanan nito sa kalaliman ay nagkukunwari. Alam nitong hindi magiging kasinglakas ng iba, hindi kasing galit, hindi kasing gahaman.

Ang poot nito ay mas tumindi, hindi poot sa iba, kung di poot sa sarili nito.

Bakit pa ito inilagay sa mundo kung magiging hindi siya kasinglakas ng iba?

Sa tubig ikinukubli nito ang kaniyang mga luha.

At naghihintay.

Hanggang sa gumabi.

=——————————=

English Version

In the depths it waits.

Not many know its story, though others may know of its kind.

The moon-eaters.

The celestial beasts.

The lion. The scorpion. The crab. The giant. The bird. The snake.

The dragon.

They all pass over the shark, relegating it to the depths it calls home.

Is there a tale to tell?

Or has it always been there?

It may be hunger that drives the beast, like the scorpion. What other prey will the shark have if not the warmth of the waning moon?

It may also be for play, like the lion. The moon is a giant orb that catches the beast’s attention, captivating it. What other element could enthrall the shark?

It may be anger, like the crab. Is the shark the offspring of the sun and moon. Does it mean retribution against the inheritance from the parents it never knew?

It may be revenge, like the giant. Was the shark ever a mortal being? Did it incur the wrath of the gods? What happened to it that relegated it to the watery abyss?

It may be darkness, like the bird. When the shark completes its task and the world is plunged into shadow, what will it eat next?

It may be a part of nature, like the snake. In the machinations of the natural world, is it part of the cycle?

Then there is the tale of the dragon.

Every being knows its story.

The 7 moons. The god Bathala.

The greedy dragon.

The shark lies in wait, until the others have fallen, to the sounds of humanity.

There is one tale which I believe to be true.

The celestial beings, called the moon eaters, are all part of the world. Each having their own reason to capture the moon, or moons to be more precise.

And it was there that the shark resided.

The weakest of the pack, it failed to capture the midnight orb.

Again.

Again.

And again.

It had known failure and would not try again, not until it knew it could successfully take its prize.

In its home in the deep it connives. It knows it will never be as strong as the others, not as angry, not as hungry.

Its hatred multiplies, not against the other beings, but against itself.

Why was it put on this earth if only to be last place?

The water hides its tears.

And it waits.

Until the night.

=——————————————————=

*Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a quarter of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by the majority. Its standardized form, officially named Filipino, is the national language of the Philippines, and is one of two official languages alongside English.

Written by Karl Gaverza

Translation by Gabriela Baron
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Gabriela Baron

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

Baconaua Illustration by Benedict Jose Villarante

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Isa ka gab-I, galinagumba ang kalangitan. Isa ka dako nga espiritu ang nahulog sa duta kag napierde.

Nanagu ini sa kabukiran, blan sini nga ini natabu na maka sien — indi, pila ka libo ka beses na sang una.

Ang gusto lang sini magpahuway asta maga gwa naman ang sunod nga bulan.

Pero sina nga gab-I daw may lain gid nga nakatago.

Ang espiritu nagbarikutot sa tupad sang kuweba kag ginpiyong ang mga mata sini, nagalaum sang mahamuok nga tulog.

Kuntani madayun na ini kung indi tungod sa isa ka tingog nga nagpukaw sini.

“Ano atu?”

Ginpangita sang espiritu sa iya palibot kung diin naghalin ang gahod. Wala ini naanad mangita sang mga butang nga mas gamay pa sang sa bulan.

Ini nag singgit, ” Sino ina? Magpakita ka!”

“Indi mo kinahanglan magsinggit.  Ari ako diri.”

Ginlisu sang espiritu ang iya ulo kag sa entrada sang kuweba may isa ka matahum nga tawo.

Nanghayhay, kag sa panumduman sang espiritu. Isa sa ila.

Ang espiritu wala sang pagbatok sa mga matahum nga tinuga, mas nubo sila sa iya, literal man ukon metapora. Nahibaluan man nila mabudlay sapakon ang mga espiritu, kay sila gid maukpan sang kaakig sini.

“Ginabalabagan mo ang akon nga kuweba,” siling sang matahum nga tinuga.

“Ginamandar mo bala nga mahalin ako?” siling sang daku nga espiritu sa pang istorbo sini.

“Ginahingyo ko lang nga sa iban ka lang tani, hapos ka lang makalupad sa kalangitan nga daw pispis. Palihog indi pagbalabagi ang akon kuweba.”

“Kag ngaa masaylo ako bi sa iban? Sin-o ka sa pamatyagan mo para hambalan si Kedu kung diin makadto.”

“Palihog, gusto ko mag-isahanon.”

“Indi bala tanan man kita.”

“Teh mahalin ka na?”

“No gid, sa pamatyag ko.”

Nagpanghayhay ang matahum nga tinuga. Nahibalu-an niya nga wala sang paagi nga magdaug siya. Nakibot man siya nga ginpahambal siya ni Kedu sang amu sini kalawig. Sa kakusog sang gahum sini, makahalit ini sang matahum nga tinuga sa isa ka pitik. Wala man sang may madula sa matahum nga tinuga, amu nga ini nagdesider nga magpungko sa malapit nga bato kag nag istorya sa daku nga espiritu.

“Ngaa ginpili mo magpahuway diri?”

“Nakita ko ini halin sa babaw kag daw komportable, ngaa abi makadto ako di?”

“Daw sa nakapoy gid ikaw.”

“Nakapoy gid.”

“Ano natabo?”

“Pareho lang permi. Nadakpan ko ang bulan, apang indi ko ini makaptan.”

“Ano kinalain niya subong?”

“Gusto ko mahibaluan.”

Nanghayhay si Kedu kag narealisar nga wala na niya masalaysay ang ini nga istorya sa pila na ka bulan. Ang matahum nga tinuga arisgado para mamangkot, kundi pasugtan na lang.

“Nagsugod ini sang sinauna pa nga tiyempo. Kung sa diin mga espiritu nga mas makusog pa sa imo kag sa akon, naga dominar sang tanan nga butang, ang nagligad, ang subong kag ang mangin pa lang.”

“Bu-ot mo silingon, nga indi ikaw halin diri sa duta?”

“Indi, gamay nga espiritu, indi ako diri naghalin.”

Nakibot ang matahum nga espiritu. Sa ila kalibutan, ang ginhalinan indi importante. Ginhuna-huna lang sini nga maski ano ka klase nga espiritu, parti ka na gid sang kadutaan. Napukaw ang iya interes kag madamo pa gusto mahibaluan.

Nagpadayun si Kedu, “Madamo sang mga diyos sang una kaangay man sang mga demonyo. Ang ila giyera tama ka baris kag madugo. Pero wala man nagmayo sang sila nag apinay. Kis-a napinsar niya man kung ano natabo kung lain ang ginpili nya nga desisyon. Basi kumpleto pa ako.”

“Kumpleto?”

“Hibalu-a ang imo lebel. Pasugira ako sang akon istorya.”

“Pasensyaha ako, daku nga espiritu, palihog padayon.”

“Kami gin-engganyo sang promisa sang immortalidad. Kag naintu-an kami s apagpati sa ila mga binutig. Sa daku nga dagat kami nagtindug, bayolente nga ginbaliskad ang mga balud sa masarangan sang amon gahum. Naglipas ang walay katubtuban, asta ang amon premyo nagbangon halin sa kaidalman. Ang Amrita.”

“Amrita?”

“Ang duga sang immortalidad. Ang solo nga rason ngaa kami nag-ubra para sa ila.”

“Ano natabo sa ila?”

“Ginpanginwala nila ang amon nga parte. Nag-ilig ang kaakig sa amon mga ugat samtang nagplano sang pagbalos. Maski lain nga plano ang akon nga ginpili.”

Nag-agi ang katinong sa mga espiritu nga daw angay sa mga tun-og sa mga dahon.

“Daku nga espiritu? May mala-in bala?”

“Ako –” nagpalatik si Kedu. “Wala ko na gani madumduman kung ano ang akon ngalan.”

“Ano buot mo silingon?”

“Indi importante ang mga ngalan. Lain atu nga panahon. Kumpleto pa ako sadto. Samtang ang iban nga kapareho ko nagaplano, ako nag-giho na ya. Nag kuno-kuno ako nga isa sa ila, ginkuha ko ang duga kag nalab-ot ang akon nga handum.”

“Nangin immortal ikaw.”

“Kung ano man ang maayo nga gindulot sina. Ang duwa nakita ang akon taktika kag ginpaandaman ang pinakakusog nga sahi nila.”

“Ang duwa?”

“Ang adlaw kag ang bulan, siyempre.”

Naglungo ang matahum nga espiritu. Abi gid niya nga ang Kedu kag ang bulan repleksyon sang kalikasan, ang walay katapusan nga saot sa kunop sang kalangitan. Makakilibot nga ini tama ka personal.

Nagpadayon si Kedu, ” Ano pa abi ang akon mahambal? Nasamaran ang akon ulo kag subong amu na sini ako, lawas nga indi kompleto.

“Kag ngaa nagkadto ikaw sa sini nga kadutaan?”

“Ginasundan ko ang adlaw kag ang bulan, maski diin sila nagapasanag. Sa iban nga kadutaan, ang akon ulo ang nagalagas sang bulan, sa iban kung ano ang bilin sang akon lawas amo ang magalagas sa mga tunto nga ina. Pero indi ta sila makaptan, ang duwa nag inum man sang duga. Basi mientras tanto atun kapalaran nga padayunon ang ini nga pagkuno-kuno.

“Salamat sa imo salaysay, daku nga espiritu. Dungug gid sa akon nga ini mabati-an.”

“Maayo, kay ikaw mapatay upod sina nga nga dungug.”

Sa isa ka pitik ang higante nga ikug ni Kedu naghampas sa porma sang matahum nga espiritu.

Kag sa kalinungan nga nagsunod, nagbarikutot si Kedu sa atubang sang kuweba, katapusan, makuha na gid niya ang gusto nga pauway.

=—————————–=

English Version

One night, the heavens churned. A great spirit fell to the ground and was defeated.

It retreated to the mountains, keenly aware that this had happened a hundred—no, a thousand times before.

All it wanted to do was rest until the next moon would come.

But that night had something else in store.

The spirit huddled beside a cave and closed its eyes, hoping for the sweet tranquility of sleep.

And it would have succeeded if not for a voice that jolted it awake.

“Excuse me?”

The spirit looked around for the source of the noise. It was not accustomed to looking for things smaller than the moon.

It bellowed, “Who is there?! Show yourself!”

“You don’t need to shout. I am right here.”

The spirit tuned its head and at the entrance of the cave was a beautiful man.

Sigh, the spirit thought. One of them.

The spirit had nothing against the beautiful ones, they were beneath him, both literally and metaphorically. They also knew better than to engage with the spirit, lest they suffer its wrath.

“You’re blocking my cave,” the beautiful one said.

“Are you demanding that I leave?” the great spirit eyed this inconvenience.

“I’m asking you to go somewhere else, you can move through the sky as easily as a bird. Please do not block my cave.”

“And why would I go elsewhere? What makes you think that an insignificant spirit such as yourself has any right to tell Kedu where to go.”

“Please, I would just like to be left alone.”

“Don’t we all.”

“So, will you move?”

“No, I don’t think I will.”

The beautiful spirit sighed. He knew there was no way he could win. He was also surprised that Kedu let him speak this long. With its enormous power it could destroy the beautiful spirit in an instant. There was nothing left to lose for the beautiful spirit anyway so he decided to sit on a nearby rock and have a conversation with the great spirit.

“Why did you choose this place to rest?”

“I saw it from above and it looked comfortable, why else would I go here?”

“You seem very tired.”

“I am.”

“What happened?”

“The same as always. I caught the moon but could not hold it.”

“Why couldn’t you?”

“What difference does it make?”

“I would like to know.”

Kedu sighed and realized he had not told that story for many moons. The beautiful spirit was brash enough to ask, might as well humor it.

“It started in the time before times. Where spirits greater than you or I held dominion over everything that was, is, and will be.”

“You mean that you were not from this land?”

“No, small spirit, I was not.”

The beautiful spirit was surprised. In their realms origins did not matter. It was assumed that, whatever spirit you are, you had always been a part of this land. His curiosity was piqued and he wanted to know more.

Kedu continued, “There were many gods then as well as demons. Their battles were fierce and much blood was spilt. Though it was not any better when they decided to work together. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I had made different choices. Maybe then I would still be complete.”

“Complete?”

“Know your place. Let me tell my story.”

“I apologize great spirit, please continue.”

“We were enticed by the promise of immortality. And fools we were for believing their lies. By the great ocean we stood, tossing the waves as violent as our powers allowed. The eternities passed by, until our prize rose from the depths. The Amrita.”

“Amrita?”

“The nectar of immortality. The only reason why we would ever work with them.”

“What happened then?”

“They denied us of our share. Anger flowed through our veins as we planned our revenge. Though I chose a different ploy.”

Silence blanketed the spirits like dew settling on leaves.

“Great spirit? Is there something wrong?”

“I—” Kedu let out a chuckle. “I don’t even remember what my name was.”

“What do you mean?”

“Names do not matter. It was a different time. I was complete then. While others of my kind planned, I set out into action. I disguised myself as one of them, taking in the nectar and achieving my goal.”

“You became immortal.”

“For whatever good that did. The two had seen through my ruse and warned the most powerful of their kind.”

“The two?”

“The sun and the moon, of course.”

The beautiful spirit nodded. He had always assumed that the Kedu and the moon were reflections of nature, an endless dance in the cloak of the sky. It was surprising to find out it was so personal.

Kedu carried on, “What else is there to say? My head was severed and now I am what I am, a body left incomplete.”

“And why did you come to this land?”

“I follow the sun and moon wherever they shine their light. In some lands it is my head that hunts the moon, in others what is left of our body pursues those fools. But we cannot hold them, the two had also imbibed the nectar. Maybe we are forever destined to carry out this charade.”

“Thank you for your story, great spirit. I feel honored to have heard it.”

“Good, then you will die with that honor.”

In a split second Kedu’s massive tail crashed onto the beautiful spirit’s form.

In the silence that followed Kedu curled up in front of the cave, finally able to get the rest that he sought.

*The Hiligaynon language, also colloquially referred often by most of its speakers simply as Ilonggo, is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 9.1 million people, mainly in Western Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN, most of whom belong to the Visayan ethnic group, mainly the Hiligaynons. It is the second-most widely spoken language and a member of the so-named Visayan language family and is more distantly related to other Philippine languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Pauline Brooks Dalisay
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Pauline Brooks Dalisay

Inspired by the Ketu/ Kedu descriptions in Tagalog Borrowings and Cognates by Jean Paul Potet (2016) and Diccionario mitológico de Filipinas in
Volume 2 of Retana, W.E. Archivo del bibliófilo filipino by Ferdinand Blumentritt, trans Marcaida D. (2019)

Kedu Illustration by Yuriko Yoshida
IG: @yumiro45

FB: Yumiro45

*Note this story is in Maguindanaon

Isa a magabi, midtabed su surga. Aden ru a maha i naulug sa lupa endu natabanan.

Minendud intu sa kapalawan, katawan den a nanggula intu nakamagatus kali-di, nakasangibu kali paganay.

Kalinian nin bu na kapendegka sampay sa kapeguma nu tundug a ulan-ulan.

Ugaid sa tu a magabi na aden salakaw a nakatagu.

Kimekep su ru kanu ubay nu isa a takub endu mibpipideng sekanin, pedsinganin su mamis a katana nu tulug.

Endu mapasad den intu pabila kena bu sabap sa suara na napagedam.

“Ampun aku?”

Su ru na midtulik sa kaligidan ka pinangilay nin su ebpunan na ingel. Da malayam sa kapangingilay sa nganin-nganin a labi lawan i kadidu nin sa ulan-ulan.

Kimisek intu, “Entain i san?! Pailay ka!”

“Kena den wagib i kapegkisek. Sia aku bun.”

Su ru na limengi kanu bungawan nu takub aden manisan a mama.
Mabagel a ginawa, napikir nu ru. Isa sa kanilan.

Su ru na da atu nin ebpun kanu manga manisan, sa didalem nin silan, . Katawan pan nilan labi lawan sa kapembitiala kanu ru, basi malasay silan su mulka nin.

“Pendalungan nengka su takub,” pedtalu nu manisan.

“Pengenin nengka a mawa aku?” su ru a maha pedtulik sa kalasayan.

“Pengenin ku a mangay ka sa kaped, mapakay a mukit ka sa langit mana papanuk. Di ka pendalungi i takub ku.”

“Bali enduken mangay aku sa apia endaw? Ngin i sabapan a napikir nengka a da guna nin a ru mana ginawa nengka i aden hak nin a edtalu sa endaw ebpawang i Kedu”.

“Mapakay bu, Kiyugan ku a tagak aku engka sa isa bu.”

“Kena sekitanu bun langun.”

“Bali, mangay tanu den?”

“Di, di aku pelu”

Mimbagel sa ginawa su manisan a ru. Natawan nin i da den lalan a makataban sekanin. Nakakedu sekanin sa pinadtaday ni Kedu sekanin edtalu sa mauget. Sa aden basal a bagel na mapakay a makabinasa sa manisan a ru sa magagan. Da bun mambu masama sa matading kanu manisan a ruh bali naatul nin a mayan sa ubay a watu endu mimbitiala sekanin kaped su ru a maha.

“Enduken napili nengka inia a inged sa kapendegka?”

“Nailay ku sa ebpun sa pulu and nailay ku a mapia, ngin pan i ped a sabapan ku a kaangay sia?”

“Masu sangat a kalugat.”

“Saki”

“Ngin i nanggula?”

“Pagidsan sa tatap. Kasigkem ku su ulan-ulan ugaid na di ku kakapetan.”

“Enduken engka di?”

“Ngin i bida a kaaden nin?”

“Kiugan ku a matawan”

Mimbagel sa ginawa su Kedu endu napikir nin a da nin madtalu i manga tudtul kana madakel a manga ulan-ulan. Su manisan a ru na nawan na kaya midsa, mindamangias bun sekanin.

“Minebpun sa kutika sa unan pan na manga waktu. Sa manga ru a labi lawan i kamaha nin sa leka atawa laki a aden kamal nin sa langun-langun paganay, saguna endu tundug pan.”

“Mana nengka na kena ka ganat sa inia inged?”

“Di kena, madidu a ru, kena saki.”

“Su manisan a ru na nakakedu. Sa manga kadatuan nilan kena den baraguna su ebpunan. Pibpikir intu, apia ngin a ru ka, tatap a bad ka na inia inged. Su kaitungan nin na nagedam endu kiyugan nin pan matawan.

Initalus ni Kedu, “Madakel i manga diwa bali su manga saitan bun. Su manga bunua nilan na mawalaw endu labi madakel a dara i naudud. Kena intu labi mapia kanu kutika a migatul silan a egkaisa. Aden kutika a napikir ku ngin den i manggulan pabila ped bu a atul i naumbal ku. Basi saguna na maganap aku pan.”

“Maganap?”

“Katawi ka su tampat nengka. Padtalu aku nengka sa tudtul.”

“Ampun aku ru a maha, mapakay a talus ka.”

“Napianan kami sa talad a kaabadian. Endu sekami manga babal sa mibparityaya kami sa dalebut nilan. Sa maha kaludan a pedtindegan nami, pegidtung su manga bagel sa mabagel a papeliyu na kabagal tanu. Su kaabadi na nakalepas den, sampay su hadia tanu mimbangun ebpun sa kadaleman. Su Amrita.”

“Amrita?”

“Su unga teneb nu kaabadian. Su sabapan bu a enggalbek tanu sa kaped silan.”

“Bali ngin i nanggula?”

“Da nilan enggi su bagi nami. Timuga su lipunget ku sa manga ugat dara tanu a mana su mambitialan a kasuli. Apia bida a lalan i napili ku.”

Tinangguban nu katana su manga ru a mana su namug a kaaden sa laun.

“Ru a maha? Aden san mawag a kanggula?”

“I—” Midtatawa si Kedu. “Di ku bun katanudan ngin i ngala ku.”

“Ngin i mana nengka?”

“Su manga ngala na den baraguna nin. Bida intu sa waktu. Maganap aku paganay. Su ped menem sa lekami na mibpasad, Minebpun aku enggalbek. Mibpakilala ku su ginawa ku a isa sa kanilan, kemua sa unga teneb endu masampay su kahanda ku.”

“Mabaluy ka a abadi.”

“Sa apia ngin a  mapia a pinggula. Su dua na nailay nilan su kinadtalimbut ku endu pinatuntay nilan su sangat a mabagel sa kanilan. ”

“Su dua?”

“Su senang endu su ulan-ulan, mambu.”

Su manisan a ru na mindangu-dangu. Tatap a napikir nin na su Kedu endu su ulan-ulan na alung-alung nu dunya, da kapupusan nin a sagayan a malung nu langit. Makakedu intu pabila matawan tatap nin a napikir na si Kedu endu su ulan-ulan na alung-alung nu kasipatan, taman-taman a kapedsagayan sa malung nu langit. Makakedu ka pabila katawan na sangat a kena mapakay matawan.

Si Kedu na timalus, “Ngin pan san i mapakay a edtalun? Natebped su ulu ku endu na inia aku saguna, badan a maganap. “Enduken minangay ka sa inia inged?”

“Tinundug ku su senang endu su ulan-ulan sa endaw silan pedsigay sa palitan nilan. Su kaped a manga inged su ulu ku i pedtundug sa ulan-ulan, kaped na pabila ngin i kasama kanu badan na temundug sa mga babal. Ugaid di tanu makapetan silan, su dua na sinusup nilan su unga teneb. Basi taman-taman a nakambagi a enggulalan sa kapembuntal-buntal.”

“Sukran sa tudtul nengka, ru a maha. Kakedam ku i kabarabangsa sa kapegkakineg lun.”

“Mapia, bali matay ka a kaped i kabarabangsa.”

Sa paidu a kutika, su masela ikug nu Kedu na naulug sa lupa nu manisan a ru.

Sa timundug a katana kani Kedu na migkulut sa hadapan na takub, sa katamatan na nasampay nin bun su kapendegka a pengilayn nin.

=———————-=

English Version

One night, the heavens churned. A great spirit fell to the ground and was defeated.

It retreated to the mountains, keenly aware that this had happened a hundred—no, a thousand times before.

All it wanted to do was rest until the next moon would come.

But that night had something else in store.

The spirit huddled beside a cave and closed its eyes, hoping for the sweet tranquility of sleep.

And it would have succeeded if not for a voice that jolted it awake.

“Excuse me?”

The spirit looked around for the source of the noise. It was not accustomed to looking for things smaller than the moon.

It bellowed, “Who is there?! Show yourself!”

“You don’t need to shout. I am right here.”

The spirit tuned its head and at the entrance of the cave was a beautiful man.

Sigh, the spirit thought. One of them.

The spirit had nothing against the beautiful ones, they were beneath him, both literally and metaphorically. They also knew better than to engage with the spirit, lest they suffer its wrath.

“You’re blocking my cave,” the beautiful one said.

“Are you demanding that I leave?” the great spirit eyed this inconvenience.

“I’m asking you to go somewhere else, you can move through the sky as easily as a bird. Please do not block my cave.”

“And why would I go elsewhere? What makes you think that an insignificant spirit such as yourself has any right to tell Kedu where to go.”

“Please, I would just like to be left alone.”

“Don’t we all.”

“So, will you move?”

“No, I don’t think I will.”

The beautiful spirit sighed. He knew there was no way he could win. He was also surprised that Kedu let him speak this long. With its enormous power it could destroy the beautiful spirit in an instant. There was nothing left to lose for the beautiful spirit anyway so he decided to sit on a nearby rock and have a conversation with the great spirit.

“Why did you choose this place to rest?”

“I saw it from above and it looked comfortable, why else would I go here?”

“You seem very tired.”

“I am.”

“What happened?”

“The same as always. I caught the moon but could not hold it.”

“Why couldn’t you?”

“What difference does it make?”

“I would like to know.”

Kedu sighed and realized he had not told that story for many moons. The beautiful spirit was brash enough to ask, might as well humor it.

“It started in the time before times. Where spirits greater than you or I held dominion over everything that was, is, and will be.”

“You mean that you were not from this land?”

“No, small spirit, I was not.”

The beautiful spirit was surprised. In their realms origins did not matter. It was assumed that, whatever spirit you are, you had always been a part of this land. His curiosity was piqued and he wanted to know more.

Kedu continued, “There were many gods then as well as demons. Their battles were fierce and much blood was spilt. Though it was not any better when they decided to work together. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I had made different choices. Maybe then I would still be complete.”

“Complete?”

“Know your place. Let me tell my story.”

“I apologize great spirit, please continue.”

“We were enticed by the promise of immortality. And fools we were for believing their lies. By the great ocean we stood, tossing the waves as violent as our powers allowed. The eternities passed by, until our prize rose from the depths. The Amrita.”

“Amrita?”

“The nectar of immortality. The only reason why we would ever work with them.”

“What happened then?”

“They denied us of our share. Anger flowed through our veins as we planned our revenge. Though I chose a different ploy.”

Silence blanketed the spirits like dew settling on leaves.

“Great spirit? Is there something wrong?”

“I—” Kedu let out a chuckle. “I don’t even remember what my name was.”

“What do you mean?”

“Names do not matter. It was a different time. I was complete then. While others of my kind planned, I set out into action. I disguised myself as one of them, taking in the nectar and achieving my goal.”

“You became immortal.”

“For whatever good that did. The two had seen through my ruse and warned the most powerful of their kind.”

“The two?”

“The sun and the moon, of course.”

The beautiful spirit nodded. He had always assumed that the Kedu and the moon were reflections of nature, an endless dance in the cloak of the sky. It was surprising to find out it was so personal.

Kedu carried on, “What else is there to say? My head was severed and now I am what I am, a body left incomplete.”

“And why did you come to this land?”

“I follow the sun and moon wherever they shine their light. In some lands it is my head that hunts the moon, in others what is left of our body pursues those fools. But we cannot hold them, the two had also imbibed the nectar. Maybe we are forever destined to carry out this charade.”

“Thank you for your story, great spirit. I feel honored to have heard it.”

“Good, then you will die with that honor.”

In a split second Kedu’s massive tail crashed onto the beautiful spirit’s form.

In the silence that followed Kedu curled up in front of the cave, finally able to get the rest that he sought.

**Maguindanao or Maguindanaon is an Austronesian language spoken by majority of the population of Maguindanao province in the Philippines. It is also spoken by sizable minorities in different parts of Mindanao such as the cities of Zamboanga, Davao, and General Santos, and the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, as well as Metro Manila. This was the language of the historic Sultanate of Maguindanao, which existed before and during the Spanish colonial period from 1500–1888.

*This story is not “word for word” or “translated literally” since there are English words that has no exact equivalent in Maguindanaon language. It was translated as to how an old Maguindanaon would re-tell the story. But nonetheless, the content and dialogue in the original and the translated version are all the same.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Traslation by Datu Hashim
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Datu Hashim

Inspired by the Ketu/ Kedu descriptions in Tagalog Borrowings and Cognates by Jean Paul Potet (2016) and Diccionario mitológico de Filipinas in
Volume 2 of Retana, W.E. Archivo del bibliófilo filipino by Ferdinand Blumentritt, Ed Jordan Clark Aswang Project. (2021)

Kedu Illustration by Yuriko Yoshida
IG: @yumiro45

FB: Yumiro45

*Note this story is in Bantayanon

Ang mga puya, naghinagawhaway samtang nag-istoryahay bahin sa bakunawa.

Gikalisangan nila ang pagsawp sa adlaw, kay amo ini ang takna nga mogawas sya para maghampang.

Ang tanan puya, mobiya kag mosyud ig-abot sang gab-i, kag dili na mobalik pa.

Pero nanu man ining makalisang nga dragon sa kalangitan? Nanu ang iya matoud nga istorya?

Sulti sang iban, sang una nga panahon, may pito ka buwan nga nagdan-ag sa kilumkilom. Sa usa sini nga mga gab-e, may grupo sa mga tawo ang way kukaluoy, mipatay sa utod nga babaye sang bakunawa-ang pawikan. Ang mga naghimo sini nga salaut, wa mobatyag nga sayup ang ila gihimo, kay sa ila pagtuo kung dili nila patyon ang utod nga babaye sang bakunawa nan ang ila isla malunupan,hangtod ini mapapas,  mosidsid sa kaladman sang dagat.

Ang bakunawa dili pa dragon sang hitsura sang una. Hinoun, usa ini ka gwapa kag makadani nga kataw o sirena. Pero sa iya nag-uros-uros nga kalagot nga gusto gayud makabawos, iya giutro ang iya hitsura, kag nahimo siya nga dragon.  Tagsa-tagsa niya nga gipawng ang mga suga sa kagabhion. Unom ka buwan ang nasyud sa iya tyan, pero, nauntat sya sa ikapito.

May mga huhungihong nga nagsiling nga usa ka nagmaskara nga dyosa ang nitardar sa gihimo sang Bakunawa.

Ang nagmaskara nga dyosa kag ang iyang mga sumusunod nagpalanug sang makabungoy nga kasaba nga miabot sa langit. Tungod sa kalanug kag kaalingogngog sini, sa kalit ang bakunawa nakabatyag sang kahadlok. Diin gikan ini nga tingog, ini natingaa.

Sa iya kalisang, ang bakunawa misawom balik sa dagat kag misway sa pag-utro sang iya hitsura, pero alaut lang kay ini dili na mahimo. Siya nagpabilin sa hitsura susama sa dragon, hangtod nga mautro ang iya kinaiya kag moundang na sya sa pagpangita sa buwan. Pero, wa ini mahitabo. Sa pinakauyokan  sa iya kasingkasing, ang bakunawa, nagpanikad gayud nga makabawos. Kag matag gab-e nga makit-an niya ang katapusan nga buwan, moabri ini sa iya higante nga tyan kag motilaw sa tam-is nga kadaugan. Ini padayon niya nga himoun hangtod nga ang mga tawo mismo makaamgo sa ila sayup nga gihimo.

Usa lang ini sa maanindot nga istorya sa higante nga dragon nga aton gitawag nga bakunawa.

Ara’y iban nga mahitungod sa gugma kag pagbiya, pero sa katapusan, nakasentro sa pagpanimawos.

Sang una nga panahon, ang bakunawa nahigugma sa tawhanon nga babaye sa usa sa mga tribu nga nawaa na sara nga anyo. Ang ila paghiusa, napuno sang kasakit, kay wa nauyonon sa mga sakop sa tribu ang ila relasyon. Ang Bakunawa kag ang babaye, sama sa normal nga managtrato, nigahin sang panahon nga magkaupod, sa sini, nilawum pa ang ila gugma sa matag-usa.

Hangtod nga ini nga balita, nahibaw-an sa lider sang tribu.

Ang iya tubag paspas kag makahadlok. Ang byay kag ang kinabuhi nga gipanday sang Bakunawa kag sang babaye nahimong abo. Misinggit ang bakunawa sa langit, nagping-it sa kasakit. Sa nanu nga paagi nga ang tawo nahimo man nga sama sini ka pintas?

Ang bakuna nahagit sa nahitabo, nibukal sa kalagot ang iya dugo kag siya nilupad pasingadto sa langit. Kaonon niya ang pito ka buwan isip bawos sa tanan nga nagpasakit sa ila. Ang una nga unom ka buwan gidali-dali niya, gituyo paglamoy. Pero naurong sya pag-abot sa ikapito nga buwan.

Iya nasugata ang dakung dios nga si Bathala.

Dili takus nga tupngan niya ang gahum sa dakong dios, pero sa gihapon sya nakig-away sa ngan sa panimawos. Sa katapusan, napildi ang Bakunawa, wa siya nilampus sa pagkaon sa ikapito nga buwan. Kag labaw sa tanan, isip silot, gihinginlan siya ni Bathala.

Sara, sa matag eklipse sang buwan ang Bakunawa makadumdum sa iya naagian kaupod ang babaye nga iya gihigugma kag ang kinabuhi nga saw-an unta nila nga duha. Sa matag-gutlo nga iya ini madumduman, sangko sa langit ang iya kaalingit kag ang kagustuhan nga makabawos, pero ara lat, nagtago sa iya kasingkasing ang usa ka pangandoy nga unta mobalik sa mga panahon nga ini malipayon pa.

Istorya ini sang Dyos sang Kamatayan kag sang Lyake nga Buwan.

Gikan sa tumoy sa taas nga bukid sang Sidapa, ang Dyos sang Kamatayon nagtan-aw sa kaanindot sa pito ka buwan. Ang kaanindot sini nga mga binuhat nakadani lat sa iban nga dyos. Ang Dyosa sa Syug modalit sang kanta sa mga Dyos, kag ang Dyos sa Kamatayon nakahibaw nga iya ini kinahanglan tupngan.

Ang Dyos sa Kamatayon nagpakilouy sa mga langgam kag kataw dya ang mga buwak kag aninipot. Misyon nila nga ipaabot ang mensahe sa Dyos sa Kamatayan ngadto sa mga buwan.

Hangtud nga may usay gayud nga nitubag.

Ang batan-on nga buwan nga lyake, interesado kung nanu ang ikadalit sang Dyos sang Kamatayon, nanaug gikan sa langit kag gisugat sya sa damu nga mga gasa  kag mga kanta. Dako ang kalipay sa Dyos sang Kamatayon nga ara gayud sang usa ka Buwan nga nitagad sa iya.

Pero, may nagpahipi nga hulga tungod sa usa ka Bakunawa nga napuyo sa kahiladman sa kadagatan. Ini nga bakunawa sama sa dyos, gamhanan kag kusgan. Nangandoy lat ini nga makaangkon sa Buwan para sa iya kaugalingon nga interes. Pagkanaug sa Batang-Buwan gikan sa langit, gikuha dayun ini nga higayon sang Bakunawa para agawon siya gikan sa Dyos sang Kamatayon. Mituyhakaw ini gikan sa iya gipuy-an ilawom sa dagat kag mikaligaw para lamyum ang Lyake nga Buwan.

Dili ini tugutan sang Dyos sang Kamatayon. Nilupad sya pasingadto sa langit kag gikawhat ang Buwan gikan sa naghuwat nga baba sang Bakunawa.

Pero di gayud magpalupig ang Bakunawa, bisan hangtud sara kay wa pa niya maangkon ang iya gihinamhinaman nga premyo. Sa katapusan, and Dyos sang Kamatayon kag ang Buwan niistar na lang sa igbaw sang bukid nga gitawang nga Madjaas.

Ini usa lang lat sa mga istorya nga gisugilon sa niagi nga katuigan, ang ila gigikanan dili na matugkad tungod sa pagdyagan sang panahon.

Pero aton dumduman:

Kung makakita ka sang Bakunawa nga nipalapit sa iya giapas nga premyo nga Buwan, Singgit! Paghimo sang way makatupong nga kasaba, pun-a ang kalangitan kag ang kagabhion sang sama sa dawdug nga kalanog nga saba kag singgana ang Bakunawa nga dili na gayud niya makuha pa ang iya gihamhinaman nga premyo.

Kay bisan pa man nanu nga panimawos ang iya himoun, dili gayud itugot sang tawo nga  maangkon sang Bakunawa ang katapusan nga Buwan.

=———————————=

English Version

The children speak in hushed tones when they talk of the dragon.

They fear the setting sun for it is then it comes out to play.
And all those children left behind after dark, well… They never return.

But what is the dragon in the night sky? What is its true story?

Some say that once, there were seven moons that lit the twilight. It was on one of these evenings that a group of humans slaughtered the dragon’s sister, the sea turtle. They did not feel at fault, for if they did not kill the dragon’s sister then their island would succumb to the watery depths.

The dragon was not a dragon then, instead it was a beautiful mermaid. For her revenge, she transformed into a dragon and one by one snuffed out the lights in the night. Six moons fell prey to its maw, but the dragon was stopped at the seventh.

Stories say that the masked goddess intervened. The masked goddess and her human followers caused a raucous sound which reached the heavens and it was then the dragon felt fear. Where had this sound come from, it wondered.

The dragon dived into the sea and tried to change its shape to her beautiful form, but alas, it was not to be. The dragon would remain a dragon until it would reach into its better nature and stop its quest for the moons. But that has not come to pass. With every inch of its being the dragon lusts for revenge and each night it sees the last moon in the sky it will open its gigantic maw and taste sweet victory. That is, until the humans do something about it.

That is but one tale of the great dragon. There is another of love and loss, but ultimately of vengeance.

The dragon once fell in love with a human woman of one of the tribes now lost to time. Their union was not without difficulty, as the people of the tribe did not approve of them. The dragon and the woman spent time together, falling deeper in love with each passing moment.
Until the head of the tribe found out.

His response was fast and brutal. The house and the life that the dragon and the woman had built would be reduced to ask. The dragon screamed in pain towards the sky. How could humans be this cruel?

The dragon responded in kind, his anger boiled over and he flew towards the sky. It would eat all the seven moons as vengeance upon all humans. The first six moons he swallowed with dire purpose, but the dragon was stopped when it reached the seventh moon.

In his way was the great god, Bathala.

The dragon could not hope to match the power of the great god, but it fought for its revenge. In the end the dragon did not succeed in eating the last moon and was banished by Bathala.

And in each eclipse of the moon the dragon remembers the life it once led, with the woman that it loved and the home that it built. Vengeance fills it, but there is also a deep longing to return to the times it had been happy.
And yet other stories abound.

There is the tale of the god of death and his husband.
From his mountain top Sidapa, the god of death admired from afar the beauty of the seven moons. The beauty of these lunar beings infatuated the other gods as well. The goddess of tides would sing to the bright gods and the god of death knew he had to match them.

The god of death pleaded with the birds and mermaids, with the flowers and the fireflies. Each would send word of the god of death’s message to the moons.

Until one responded.

The young boy-moon, Bulan, curious about what the god of death could offer, came down from the heavens and was met with a shower of gifts and songs. The god of death rejoiced that one of the moons had come down.
But there was the danger of the dragon. The dragon was a god of the deep and wanted to take the moons for itself. Once the boy-moon descended from the heavens the dragon saw its chance. It lifted itself up from its ocean dwelling and flew towards Bulan with the intent to devour the boy-moon.

The death god would not allow this and flew towards the boy-moon and snatched him from the dragon’s jaws.
The dragon would not have its prize, not then at least. And the death god and the boy-moon lived together at the top of the mountain Madjaas.

This is a tale told too often and is said to be fevered ramblings, their source lost to time.

These are but some of the stories of the dragon, and there are many more that are scattered throughout the islands.
But remember:

When you see the dragon close to its prize, scream. Make noise like there never was before, fill the night sky with man-made thunder and tell the dragon it will not get its prize.

For no matter what revenge it seeks, humanity will never surrender the final moon to the dragon.

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*The Bantayanon language is the regional language of the Bantayan islands in the Philippines. It is a part of the Bisayan language family and is closely related to Waray and Hiligaynon. There are three dialects of Bantayanon, based in the three municipalities that comprise the island group: Binantayanun (in Bantayan), Linawisanun (in Madridejos), and Sinantapihanun (in Santa Fe), the most idiosyncratic of the three. There are also significant dialectal differences between the speech patterns of those that live in the town centers and those that live outside of the more rural areas of the islands.

Inspired by the different Bakunawa myths https://www.aswangproject.com/bakunawa/

Bakunawa Illustration by Felix Pabalinski
IG: @Elironpabalinas