In the light of the waxing moon a single spirit prepared for his journey.

He bid his home goodbye and wondered where he would voyage.

The stars perhaps? The messengers were busy tonight.

There was also rumbling of a disturbance in the courts of the middle world? He didn’t want to get in the middle of that conflict.

The land of earthquakes and storms? He had just been there his last trip; the serpents would understand some time apart.

He closed his eyes and took a step forward and bathed in creation.

And in a moment, he was gone.

“Hail to you mother-crocodile.”

“Ahhh, the caretaker of the silver light. I have heard your movements through the cosmos. What brings you to me?”

The mountains on the back of Dapu shifted. Ngapal did not know if carrying the world was a big a burden as it seemed, but for now she seemed comfortable with her encumbrance.

“I have traveled now where I have not yet been,” answered Ngapal.

“Ahh, the wonders a journey can give to a soul. You may stay next to me.”

Ngapal floated to the crocodile’s side.

“What do you want of me?” Dapu’s eyes piercing Ngapal’s being.

“I only request a humble conversation.”
“And in return?”

“You will have a new story to tell.”
The crocodile roared a hearty laugh.

“The audacity!”

“It is the only thing I can offer, mother-crocodile.”

“You have made these old bones rattle. Proceed, caretaker, what would you like to know?”

“I have heard tales of your shadow.”
“Ahhh, Lawu,, I have not thought of them in ages.’
“There are many stories of the both of you. I would like to know which one is true.”
“All. Neither. It depends on what shadow the sky casts.”
“That is not an answer.”
“And that is all you will get.”
Ngapal knew better than to push things when dealing with the greater spirits. But he had no other options.

“I meant no disrespect mother-crocodile. I just wanted to know..”
“Because of Sowu.”
“Yes.”
“Lawu is also one of the celestial beings called the moon-eaters.”
“Yes.”

“You insult me, caretaker. You have fought his kind before and were victorious. What else do you seek?”
“Every eclipse the Sowu inches closer to victory. If I am to protect my charge I must know of the others.”

“And how you can defeat them?”
“Yes.”
It was the first time he had said his fears to another, but not was not the time for shame nor pity.
“Please mother-crocodile, tell me your tale.” Ngapal begged.
The giant sighed.

“Very well. There are not many with the gall to go to my domain and ask thus.”
“I am not like them.”

“There is the story of my death.”
“But you are very much alive, great spirit.”
“Hush, let me finish.”
“I apologize.”

“Much has been said about that story. In it, I simply die. No reason or rhyme, all to fuel the rage of the Lawu.”

Dapu let out another laugh causing the world on her back to shift.

“That is one tale. There is another where Lawu is borne of my blood. Seeking retribution on my behalf.”
“And is that the truth, mother-crocodile?”
“Yes. No. Maybe.”

“Is there anything that could help me in my battle?”
“Only this, caretaker. You have an ally in your charge. The light of the night sky is not as helpless as you might think.”
“I will ruminate on those words mother-crocodile. I thank you for your precious time.”

“I must thank you as well. I have remembered much about myself and my shadow. Goodbye, caretaker, I wish you luck on your sojourn.”

And with that Ngapal took another step into the cosmos.

He didn’t get far before a familiar noise beckoned him.

It was the kumbing of his people.

The journey would have to wait.

Now it was time to battle.

=—————————————————————-=

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Story inspired by an interview with Rosie Sula, a Tboli elder.

Illustration by Katrina Escolar-Tan

Enervaugnn https://www.instagram.com/enervaugnn/

The post Sowu appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*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

The post Kedu – Hiligaynon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*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

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The post Kedu – Maguindanaon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

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.

=——————————————————=

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

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

Baconaua Illustration by Benedict Jose Villarante

The post Baconaua appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Pangasinan

Say Lunar Eclipse o duyog so nagagawa tano say bulan et immakual ya binmeneg ed mundo tan nasisindagan to.

Say taloran klase na Lunar Eclipse et apasakey la sikato moy talos ton amin may Total Lunar Eclipse Say sanka bali-balian ton nia aya so nagagawa no say entero lay bulan ya undadalan et napasimaran na “UMBRAL” ed mundo.  Walay 35% o trentay sinko porsyento ed samay eclipse so magmaliw lan Total Lunar Eclipse Saray Lunar Eclipse et nagagawaed maminpiga ed sakey taon kada walay.

Total Lunar Eclipse so nayarin makasabi so daiset ya liwawa na agew ed bulan. Say liwawa’y agew et kaokolan ni ya ononan ondalan Earth’s athmosphere o dino kaliber-liber na mundo tan piano nasagap toy kolor ya asul ya liwawa’y mangititilak ya puron kulay na ambalanga o dino kasileng na kahel .  Say amabalangan liwawa so onloob ed Earth’s athmosphere tan manpapakislap ed bulan. Lapud dia kanian aya so Total Lunar Eclipse ya ingngaran day ‘Blood Moon’.

Kuanda…

Ipaway moy telescope mo kapagno walay ‘Blood Moon’ piano nanengneng na duaran matam.  Sikato yay kuanda Nanenengneng  mon singa ongagalaw ya manarawi ray bituwen no wala yay eclipse .Say igagalaw na liwawa singa mankislap tan manandi no walay  nakena.

No maswerte ka nayarin naneng-neng moy angkekelag a pirason kolor na kahel tan duyaw na liwawa ya ongagalaw ya singa baleg ya tanda  nagnenengneng mon singa napipildit ed (zigzag) manliko-likon pattern ya asingger la ed bulan.

No ongapo la eclipse nanenengneng moy tanda na liwawa ya ontonda ya aga ongagalaw legan na walay eclipse.  Nane-nenneng moy ambalangan liwawa ya pabaleg lan pabaleg anggad agono la nayarian ya pa-arawin neng-nengen makakalikna ya singa kay “de javu” maminpiga-pigan beses mon apalabas.

Mankelaw kan nataktakot tan nanonotan mo aya so makapalek ya liknaan lapud eclipse labat tan

=—————————————————–=

English Version

A lunar eclipse can only occur at full moon and only if the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow.

Of the three kinds of lunar eclipses a total lunar eclipse is the most striking. Supposedly it is when the whole moon passes through Earth’s umbral shadow. Only 35% of eclipses are total lunar eclipses. Lunar eclipses occur a few times per year.

During a total lunar eclipse indirect sunlight can still reach the moon. That sunlight has to first pass the Earth’s atmosphere which filters out most blue colored light leaving a bright red or orange glow. This red light refracts through Earth’s atmosphere and illuminates the moon. This is why a total lunar eclipse is sometimes referred to as a ‘Blood Moon’

Or so they say.

Take a telescope out during a Blood Moon and see for yourself. See how the stars seem to move out of the way when the eclipse occurs. How the movement of the light seems to flicker and fade almost as if there’s something else that the light is reflecting on.

If you’re lucky you might see the small bits of orange and yellow light move around in big dots. You’ll see them twist in a zig-zag pattern toward the moon. When the eclipse starts you might see the light dots stop and stay stationary for the whole duration of the eclipse. You’ll see the red light grow deeper and deeper and you won’t be able to look away.

There will be a feeling of déjà vu. Like you’ve seen this moment happen a hundred times before. You’ll feel a deep chill in your spine and for some reason you’ll be scared. You’ll think that’s ridiculous, it’s only an eclipse.

But be careful not to point your telescope directly above the Blood Moon.

You might see something looking back.

=————————————————=

*Pangasinan (Salitan Pangasinan) – sometimes called Pangasinense is one of the major languages of the Philippines. It is the language spoken in the province of Pangasinan, on the west-central seaboard of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf, the northern portion of Tarlac and southwestern La Union, most of whom belong to the Pangasinan ethnic group. Pangasinan is also understood in some municipalities in Benguet, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, and by the Aeta or Aeta of Zambales.

Written by Karl Gaverza

Translation by poypoypalaboy
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © poypoypalaboy

Story inspired by Laho description in The Soul Book. Demetrio & Cordero-Fernando 1991.

Laho Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
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Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
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*Annotation

=—————————————————————-=

*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.

**Baybayin (Tagalog pronunciation: [baɪbaˈjɪn]; also incorrectly known as alibata) is a Philippine script. It is an alphasyllabary belonging to the family of the Brahmic scripts. It was widely used in Luzon and other parts of the Philippines prior to and during the 16th and 17th centuries before being supplanted by the Latin alphabet during the period of Spanish colonization.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation and Transcription by Rosella S Moya-Torrecampo
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation and Transcription Copyright © Rosella S Moya-Torrecampo

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/

The post Bakunawa – Baybayin Transcription appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

“Ang gutom ay maaaring mag-udyok sa sinoman na gumawa ng mga ‘di magagandang bagay.” Lumalakas ang apoy habang hinahanda ni lolo ang aming pagkain.

Hindi ko kailanman nagustuhan ang labas, pero mapilit si lolo na turuan ang kanyang mga apo ng mga kasanayan sa pamumuhay na alam niya. Ngayong araw, ako na, at ang pangangaso para may makain ang kailangan naming gawin.

Sinisiguro lagi ni lolo na tatratuhin niya nang may respeto ang pagkain namin. Nakahuli siya ng usa at pinakita niya sa akin kung paano ito gilitan ng leeg sa paraang hindi magtatagal ang paghihirap ng hayop.

“Hindi dapat tayo kumuha nang sobra,” ang sabi ni lolo habang niluluto niya ang usa sa apoy. “Ang usang ito ay isa sa mga matatanda, at ang mga bata naman ay maaaring magparami sa susunod na panahon.

“Nakikita mo ba iyon?” Tumuro si lolo sa langit. “Alam ng mga bituin ang mga pasakit ng gutom.”

“Nagugutom ba ang mga bituin, lolo?”

“Hindi, pero maraming mga bagay ang nasa langit bukod sa mga bituin. Nabanggit ko na ba sa’yo ang tungkol sa gutom na alakdan?

“…….”

“Kapag bilog ang buwan at nakalabas ang mga butuin, saka iyon nanghuhuli. Walang nakakaalam kung saan iyon nanggaling o kung bakit nito sinusubaybayan nang palihim ang gabing kalangitan, pero hindi na iyon mahalaga. Dinudurog ng mga binti nito ang mga bituin sa ilalim niya para makapunta sa kanyang biktima.

“Ano ang hinuhuli niya, lolo?”

“Lagi itong ginagabayan ng liwanag ng buwan papunta sa biktima nito. May ibang gabi na nahuhuli nito ang buwan, unti-unting nilalamon sa malalaki nitong mga panga, pero kahit gano’n may ilan pa rin namang nananatiling mapagbantay.

Alam ng mga tao na hindi dapat kumuha nang sobra o wala nang matitira sa hinaharap, pero ang mga halimaw gaya ng gutom na alakdan ay tanging pansariling gutom lamang ang alam. Kung sakali mang mabusog ito sa buwan, ang mundo ay malulubog sa kadiliman, at ang alakdan, pagkatapos nitong mapagtanto na nakain na niya ang tangi nitong pagkain, ay magugutom ulit.”

“At ano ang kanyang kakainin, lolo?”

Kinuha ni Lolo ang mga lutong piraso ng usa at inilagay sa harapan ko.

“Kung ano ang natira,” sagot ni lolo.

=————————————————————————————–=

English Version

“Hunger can make one do terrible things.” The fire was getting stronger as Lolo started to prepare our meal.

I never liked the outdoors, but Lolo was adamant that he teach his grandchildren the survival skills he knew. Today was my turn and hunting for food was on the agenda.

Lolo always made it a point that he would treat our food with respect. He had caught a deer and showed me how to slit its throat in a way that would minimize the animal’s suffering.

“We must never take too much.” Lolo said as he cooked the deer on the fire. “This deer is one of the older ones, and the young can breed for the next season.”

“Do you see that?” Lolo pointed towards the sky. “The stars know the terrible burdens of hunger.”

“Do the stars get hungry lolo?”

“No, but there more things in the sky than just the stars. Have I ever told you about the hungry scorpion?”

“…….”

“When the moon is full and the stars are out, that is when it hunts. No one knows where it came from or why it stalks the night sky, but it doesn’t matter. Its legs crush the stars beneath it to get to its prey.”

“What does it hunt, Lolo?”

“The moonlight always leads it to its victim. Some nights it can catch the moon, slowly engulfing it in its massive jaws, but even then there are those that remain vigilant.

Humans know that you should never take too much or there won’t be any left for the future, but beasts like the hungry scorpion only know their hunger. If it ever fills its belly with the moon, then the world will be plunged into darkness, and the scorpion, after realizing it had eaten its only meal, will hunger again.”

“And then what will it eat Lolo?”

Lolo took the cooked pieces of deer and set them in front of me.

“Whatever’s left.” Lolo answered.

=————————————————————-=

*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
Tagalog translation by Catherine Britania
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Catherine Britania

Story inspired by Tambanakaua (Manobo) myth in Garvan, John M. (1931) The Manobos of Mindanao. Memoirs of the National Academy of Science, vol. 23, 1st Memoir. Washington: Government Printing Office

Tambanakaua (Manobo) Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
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Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
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Long ago, as the elders have said, there lived a monster in the North. This great beast was said to be a winged serpent that flew above the clouds. When it moved a huge shadow was cast on the earth giving warning to the people below that danger was looming. 

Nothing could hurt the dragon. Its scales could not be pierced by human weapons and only the very foolish, or the very brave would even think of challenging the beast. 

Time passed and the beast was seen less and less by the people of the North. It was only through the tales told by the fading generations that its story was kept alive. 

No one knew what became of the dragon, and there were even those that whispered that some brave hero had slain it, though it could never be proven. 

And so, time passed and people moved on. Centuries brought much change and upheaval to the North. A new faith brought with it temples of stone. Works of steel and wires crisscrossed the land. People grew and multiplied.
Through all of this the dragon remained silent. 

Until shocks rocked the North destroying buildings, damaging towns and splitting the earth. Many casualties were reported and it was a tragedy that would stay in people’s minds for years to come. 

In the aftermath there were those that believed this event was a warning from the Almighty. A place of worship was shattered and its penitents wrote letters to their Lord begging for forgiveness. 

One of these was a young man named Mariano. He stared at the rubble before him and prayed the rosary as he set down a handwritten note pleading for intercession in these trying times. 

As he said his 20th Hail Mary, he was startled by a hand that rested on is shoulder. It was that of an old woman that he did not know.

“Hello lola, can I help you?” Mariano asked.

The woman just stared blankly at him.

“Are you lost? Are you here with your family? I can help you look for them.”

Just then the old woman grabbed Mariano’s arm and stared into his eyes.

“It is back,” she said.

“What is back?” Mariano was confused, he didn’t understand anything the old woman was saying.

“The great phantom. The giant spirit. The terror.”

The old woman crumpled into Mariano’s arms. Her breathing was shallow, and her pulse was weak. 

Mariano shouted for help and an ambulance was called.
As he listened for her breath, she managed to let out a whisper, “Olimaw.” 

The paramedics ushered the old woman into the ambulance and Mariano breathed a sigh of relief. At least it was over. 

He grasped his rosary and continued on with his vigil. 

A few minutes in he noticed something was different. His fingers felt a different texture. Mariano looked at his rosary and noticed that the smooth beads had been changed to rough, almost rock-like ones. He stared at the rosary and wondered how that could have happened. 

In that moment a shadow was cast over him. He looked towards the sky and saw nothing but a group of clouds temporarily blocking the sun. 

He wondered about the old woman and what she said. 

It took him back to his childhood when his grandparents brought him to the lighthouse at Cape Bojeador. 

The sky was a tapestry weaved out of starlight. Mariano had never seen anything like it before. He pointed towards the different constellations and his lolo would tell each of their stories. 

At the end of their visit, when it was getting far too late for a six-year-old to stay awake, Mariano pointed towards the moon and asked his lolo to tell him a story. 
His lolo obliged and put Mariano on his lap. It was then that Mariano first heard of the word ‘Olimaw’ and as he drifted to sleep, his lolo told him that no one had seen the serpent in centuries. The moon and the people of the North were safe from its jaws.

That was then. 

In the weeks that followed the night sky seemed to grow darker. It was as if the very stars were hiding from an unseen predator. The moon’s light was left unfelt by those that had come to expect its cooling rays. 

And through it all the words of the old woman ringed in Mariano’s ears. 

“Olimaw.”

In the wake of the earthquake a giant fissure opened near Paoay Church. Thankfully the church was spared the damage that had befallen so many other structures, and Mariano took the time to go there to pray.

It was said that the church was specifically made to adapt to the seismic conditions of the Philippines. This was obvious with the striking buttresses around the church.

At any other time, Mariano would have marveled at the architecture, but this time he was here for a reason. 
He approached the gigantic fissure with care, not knowing what he was going to find. Officials called the area a safety hazard and had told the public to stay away, though this was not strongly enforced. There were no people around when Mariano went on with his reconnaissance. 

50 meters in he found what he was looking for. A large black scale the size of his torso. There was a shine to it when the sunlight hit. Mariano gasped and took out his rosary. He prayed to calm his nerves and he was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t realize his palms were bleeding.

As the droplets of blood fell to the ground a tremor went through the fissure. Mariano stopped his prayers, knelt down and covered his head. He closed his eyes and hoped that this was just a small aftershock. 

The tremor didn’t last long and when he opened his eyes a soft glow filled his vision. 

Before him was what seemed to be a man, though he was covered in light. He pointed towards the scale.
“What are you?” Mariano asked.

The man smiled and pointed to Mariano’s rosary. “I am one of many,” he said. 

“What do you mean?”

“In times long past, I would have been called a great spirit, or even—“

“A god.”

The man smiled and nodded. 

“Was the Olimaw a god too?”

“To some.”

“It was here wasn’t it? Trapped? Can it be trapped again?”

The man looked towards the sky. “Maybe,” he said. 

“It won’t stop will it?”

The man shook his head.

“What must I do?”

“What you have already done.” The man pointed to the rosary again.

“Pray?”

“Go to where the clouds roll by and do as you have done.”

“Wait! What does that mean—-”

And in an instant the man vanished.

Mariano stared at the rosary, stained with his blood. He knew where he had to go, but not what he had to do. 

The next afternoon Mariano stood at the edge of the Gilbert bridge. The Laoag river reflected the dark orange of the impending sunset. From here he could see the Apayao mountain range and the sea of clouds that floated between the peaks. 

He waited for dusk to settle in, when the serpent would burst through the clouds and make the night just that much darker. 

Mariano’s fingers quivered has they tried to grasp his rosary. 

As the sun nestled itself below the mountains, it emerged. It had a certain sense of majesty about it, a regal dragon swooping across the night sky, dancing in between the clouds. 

It was time. 

Mariano started with an ‘Our Father’ hoping that it might do something. The sharp stones of his rosary were digging into his palms as he clenched his fists. 

Still the dragon danced. 

Mariano fell on his knees. What good was prayer here? There was no way to stop the serpent. Not when he was alone. 

He looked to the moon and saw that darkness was covering it. Soon there would be nothing left, only a canvas of black. 

And then he remembered. 

The Olimaw was not the only being in his lolo’s stories. 

He shouted at the top of his lungs, “Amman! Saguday! Cabuyaran! Revenador! Anianihan! Bulan!”

“Please, hear me!”

A soft white glow started to appear around him. After a few moments a woman appeared in front of him and grasped his hands. As soon as she did his bloody palms healed. 

In that instant he knew he was in the presence of the gods. 

He saw them fly towards the dragon and use the soft glow of the moon to envelop it. A fierce gust of wind and peals of thunder led the serpent to release its grip on the moon. 

The serpent fell towards the earth and the land shook. Mariano held his ground and waited until he was sure it was over. 

Moonlight filled the sky and settled on Mariano’s grateful face. 

“Thank you,” he said to the sky.

He picked himself back up and shrugged the weight of the past few weeks off his shoulders. Mariano couldn’t find his rosary and for once it didn’t matter. 

He knew now how to pray. 

——————————————————

*Anianihan is the god of the harvest, Cabuyaran is the goddess of healing, Saguday is the god of wind, Revenador is the god of thunder and lightning, Amman is the god of the sun (the sun is his eye) and Bulan is the god of peace. 

Written by Karl Gaverza 
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Story inspired by the Oilmaw description in 
Gelade, George P. I993. Ilokano-English dictionary. Quezon City, Philippines: CICM Missionaries, Inc.

Olimaw Illustration by Manuel Liwanag
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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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Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

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

Bakunawa Illustration by Felix Pabalinski
IG: @Elironpabalinas

The post Bakunawa appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

Every night the bakunawas come.

It started a month ago. Our village was no stranger to the moon serpents, and we readied our gongs and our chants to safeguard the lunar light against the beasts. We rejoiced then, not knowing the hardship we would face. I think back to those happy times and weep.

We were not ready for this.

First, they came alone. The night after the first serpent came, another took its place. It was not unknown to our people that there would be multiple bakunawas in a month following each other. Their kind thought of the moon as a plaything, greedily swallowing it up when they could.

Our people knew of two kinds of moon serpent, differentiated by their bellies. One with a transparent stomach that, when it swallowed the moon, would cause a partial eclipse, and another with a thick-walled stomach that would cause the sky to darken completely.

After the first week we were exhausted. We forced ourselves to push through the pain, and there were even times when the serpents would slip past and gorge on the moon. We chanted twice as hard until we spat blood.

But they did not stop.

We consulted the spirit-talkers among us for answers. They sat beneath their Balete trees and communed with the spirits of sea and sky.

I still remember that night. The spirit talkers cried tears of blood and spoke in a voice of darkness. They told us that this was only the beginning. The bakunawas would come, until the world was completely drenched in midnight.

And there was nothing we could do about it.

I didn’t want to believe the spirit talkers. Maybe something was wrong with their visions. I know that something had to be done to rid our village, and the world of the moon serpents, at least long enough that our village could rest.

But I don’t know what to think now that it has been a month. Our village is tired and we pray to the sun that it would rid us of these loathsome beasts, yet no reprieve comes.
‘The serpents will come as harbingers of the dark. They will take everything from us and lead us into the end,’ the possessed spirit talker’s words echo in my head.

I will not take this lying down. There must be something I can do to stop the moon serpents. I gather my things, my kris, my lucky amulet and some provisions.

As children, we were warned not to stray in too far into the bamboo forest, for there are beings there that are not what they seem. Among these are the muwa, old men and women in one of their forms, and large, hairy creatures once they set aside their illusions.

The answer must lie with them, for if the spirits will not help us, maybe the monsters will.

The wind whistles through the bamboo forest and I am still.
Here is where I find them, the monsters that hold the answers. The spirit talkers in my village cannot help, they are blinded by the serpent’s power and their spirit guides do not reply.

Something must be done.

I hear rustling from a nearby bush and I jump to investigate.
I come face to face with an old woman. She graciously bows to me, but I do not respond. I know what she is.

“Get up, I have no time for your tricks,” I say. The old woman laughs, a loud, guttural sound that sends jolts down my spine. But there is no time for fear. It is almost sundown and the bakunawas will come again. I have to do this, for my people.
“Here he is. Who is that fearless one? Who is so brave that he seeks out the people of the forest?” The old woman’s illusion disappears. She is now a creature of the forest, covered in hair and magic.

“I am Adlaw, and I seek you for answers.”

Again, the muwa laughs, echoing through the bamboo. I notice that more of their kind is watching us.

“The child of the sun. Many have heard about him. He takes his weapons. Charges into the forest. And for what? A quick death maybe?”

“I am not here to fight,” I say as I lay down my kris. “I need to know about the bakunawas.”

“The serpents they come. To play with the moon. The lunar orb. They come all nights. And do not tire.”

“Yes, they seek the moon. Every night my village ring the gongs and shout to make the serpents spit out the sun. But we grow weary. Soon we will not be able to hold them off, and the night will be plunged into darkness.”

“The hubris of humans. Thinking that the duty belongs solely to them. We muwa. We bayi-bayi. Know of the moon serpents. And we do not want to see the nights lose their light.”

“Will you help me then? Please tell me what I should do,” I say falling to my knees. My heart skips a beat, rejoicing that I may have finally found the answer.

“It will come at a cost. There is payment to be done,” the muwa approaches me and looks into my eyes. Her hairy face and monstrous visage make me take a step back.

“I will pay whatever price you require,” I say.

“It is not to us that you will pay,” the muwa says. Her face contorts into a macabre grin. “It is to the serpents.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“To stop them from taking the brightness of night. You must go to the cliffs. The serpents will see you. And they will make a choice.”

“What choice?”

“They will decide if your sacrifice is suitable. If it is acceptable to the serpents. They will stop playing with the orb. If you give them your life.”

Her words strike me deep the moment I realize what she is asking of me. I ask her if there is another way and she replies with a blunt “You must choose between yourself and your village, and all other villages.

The muwa picks up my kris and hands it to me.

“Go, child of the sun. Son of the human tribes. It is up to you to stop the serpents. To stop the endless night.”

I take the kris and exhale.

I know what I must do.

I am here at the cliffside, waiting for the sun to set.

On any other day I would have just sat here and enjoyed the view, the pink-orange haze across the horizon is beautiful.
But this was not that day.

The sun sinks below the sea and I prepare myself. The serpents will be here soon.

I think of happier times. I think of my friends. I think of futures I wish I had and pasts I no longer regret.

The village has come with the gongs and I can hear them prepare in the distance.

I chose to do this alone, not telling any soul. I did not want to be a martyr. It is not for my name that I do this. It is for every child that will grow to be a warrior. It is for every family that will now stay together. It is for my mother, that she will live a full life.

It is for them that I do this.

In my final minutes I shout to the skies and goad the serpents towards me.

They fly to me and I smile.

My sacrifice was enough.

In the bamboo forest, a laugh is heard echoing through the branches.

An old woman looks to the sky and basks in the moonlinght. She says to herself, “The child of the sun. Too foolish for his own good. Heeding words he does not know are true. His sacrifice will be remembered. Not by those he saved. But by those he believed.”

*In Kinaray-a folklore there are two kinds of bakunawas, one that has a transparent belly, blamed for partial lunar eclipses and one with an opaque belly, blamed for total lunar eclipses

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

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

Bakunawa (Kinaray-a) Illustration by Julius Arboleda
Online Portfolio: https://juliusarbo.weebly.com/

Inspired by the Muwa legends from Panay

Muwa Illustration by Billy Joe Pana Fragata
Instagram: @kuy_beige

The post Appeasing the Moon Serpents appeared first on Philippine Spirits.