*Note this story is in Tagalog – Marinduqe

Kinausap na naman ako ng anino ko.

Ito ‘yung oras na nagahanda ako ng tanghalian. Nagahanda ako ng chop suey at ang sabi baya sa akin ay akuhain ko daw ‘yung kutsilyo at asaksakin ko daw ang waitress na makuha ng kasunod na order. Bumulong ang anino ng masasamang bagay tungkol sa kanya, kung paanong kung anu-ano ang inasabi n’yan kapag nakatalikod ako; kung paanong naga-un ‘yang ako ay puhang kaya ako’y iniwanan ng katipan ko; naga-un pa ‘yang walang mai-ibig sa kagaya kong puhang.

Sabi ko sa boss ko ay may sakit ako ngay-on kaya pauwiin na laang n’ya ako. Ang byahe ko pabalik sa inatirhan ko ay parang impyerno sa hirap. Nagkamali ako na pumwesto doon sa may bintana at ‘yung mga tao ay nakatunganga nang isang oras. Nakatingin sila lagpas sa akin, ako naman ay nakayuko laang. Ayoko baya nang ako ay apagpapansinin ng mga tao.

Napuno na ako, nag-impake ako at bumili ng tiket papuntang Iloilo. Isang oras lang ang byahe ng eroplano at sumakay ako sa unang bus pauwi sa amin. Sabi ko sa sarili ko na “puhang na ata ako sa ginawa kong ito, inasubukan kong labanan ang halimaw sa pamamagitan ng isa pang halimaw” pero ‘yang bahaging ‘yan ay napatahimik agad.

Nagsalita na naman ang anino.

Ang sabi sa akin ay madali laang manding pumunta sa drayber at pwersahing banggain ng bus ang isa pang nadaang sasakyan, o ‘di kaya ay ibangga ito sa isang gusali na malapit. ‘Yung mga bulong ay nalakas nang nalakas pero pinupwersa ko silang umalis. Nakakatakot na baya. At dapat naman akong matakot talaga.

Gabi na nang makarating ako sa bayan namin. Malapit nang maghating-gabi pero hindi na dapat ako magsayang ng oras. Tumakbo ako sa parang. Alam kong andu’n pa rin s’ya kagaya nu’ng gabing pinatay n’ya ang kapatid kong babae. Ang sabi sa akin ng kapatid ko ay tumakbo na ako pero ayaw ko siyang iwanan, akala ko ay matutulungan ko s’ya. Lagi kong maaalaala ang sigaw n’ya nu’ung kagatin ng halimaw ang anino ng aking kapatid.

‘Yung mga bulong sa tainga ko ay naging sigaw na. Galit na baya ang anino at hindi na ako makapaghintay. Kinuha ko ang flashlight sa bag ko at pinailaw sa harap ko. Matapos ang ilang minuto ay naamoy ko na ito. Ang amoy ng nasusunog na laman at sunog na balat. Ang amoy na magliligtas sa akin.

Ang sigbin ay mabangis. Ipinakita n’ya ang kanyang mga ngipin at tumakbo palagpas sa akin at matapos ang ilang segundo ay naramdaman ko ang tunay na kapayapaan. Nangyari na, sa wakas ay malaya na ako.

Matapos ang ilang minuto ay naramdaman kong may mali baya. Nu’ng napagtanto ko ang nangyari ay naghabol ako ng hininga.

Mali ang aninong kinagat n’ya.

=———————=

English Version

My shadow spoke to me again.

This time it was during lunch. I was preparing the chop suey and it told me to take the knife and stab the waitress who was going to pick up the next order. It whispered terrible things about her, how she talked behind my back; how she told people I was insane and that’s why my boyfriend left me; how no one would ever love a freak like me.

I told my boss that I was feeling sick today and he let me go home. The commute back to the apartment was hell. I made the mistake of standing by the window and people stared for an hour. They looked right across me and I just kept my head down. I didn’t want the attention.

Enough is enough, I packed my bags and booked a flight back to Iloilo.  The flight only lasted an hour and I took the first bus back home. A big part of me thinks I’m crazy for doing this, trying to fight back a monster with another one, but that part is quickly silenced.

The shadow spoke again.

It told me how easy it would be to go up to the driver and force the bus to hit a passing car, or better yet a building. The whispers were getting stronger but I force them away. It’s getting scared. It should be.

I reach the town late. It’s close to midnight, but I can’t waste any more time. I run towards the field. I know it will be there, just like it was when it killed my sister. She told me to run, but I didn’t want to leave her, I thought I could help her. I’ll always remember her scream when it bit her shadow.

The whispers in my ears turn into shouts. The shadow’s angry and I can’t wait. I take the flashlight from my bag and set it in front of me. A few minutes later I smell it. The smell of rotting flesh and burnt skin. The smell of my salvation.

The sigbin is vicious. It bares its teeth and rushes past me and for a second I know true peace. It’s happened, I am finally free.

A moment later I feel something wrong. The sudden realization leaves me gasping for air.

It bit the wrong shadow.

=————————–=

*The version of Tagalog spoken in Marinduque, known as the Marinduque Tagalog, has been described as “the root from which modern national forms of speech have sprung,” where remnants of archaic Tagalog could be found, spoken in a lilting manner by its inhabitants.

Written by Karl Gaverza

Translation by Hazel Rodelas
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Hazel Rodelas

Inspired by the Sigbin entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971., Myth Museum. Medina. 2015. and 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Samar. 2015

Sigbin Illustration and Watercolor by Nightmaresyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Bahasa Sug

Iyutukan manuk-manuk yadtu.

Daran mag-urul kaku’ sakahaba’ aku mag-uwi’ dayn ha hinang dūm-dum.  Di’ ku pagkakitaan sa’ kaingatan ku yaun duun. Pagkarungugan ku sadja in katingug niya makahilu. Tik-tik-tik. Ugh. Marayaw tuud nakabī aku bagu headphones para aku di’ na masasat. Agun aku marupang sabab dūm dum yaun ha guwa’ sin tandawan ku. Amu in di’ ku hikatug marayaw pasal nanamun ku awn jimajaga kaku’. Kaingatan ku sattuwa sadja yaun sa’ awn tuud waktu di’ ku na katahanan.

Napuspus na tuud aku paranan ku tīlu’ sin batu kahapun. Di’ ra isab aku mabaya’ pasakitan yaun, bang man sadja muga’ iban makatūg aku misan dakuman hangka rūm wayruun sasaw, sa’ maray’ hati ku way sayu. Salta’ limagundak na pasal kiyuddanan ku ha bayhu’. In bunnal niya, bukun aku mapasu’ tau. Imus-us aku madtu supaya kitaun bang naunu sa’ di’ na misan maghibal.

Ampa aku nakakita’ biya’ sin manuk-manuk yaun pasal bukun siya biya’ sin kaibanan. Mangi’ tuud lupa niya. Di’ ku kaingatan bang biya’ diin papatahun. Biya’ sapantun manuk-manuk jiyahulaka’ sin tau. In mga mata niya… di’ ku misan maatud pasal sin pula dakuman—makagituk-gituk.

In makainu-inu tuud amu in liug sin manuk-manuk, pasal giyagallangan madtu. Hisiyu baha’ in dupang dupang magipat manuk manuk biya’ ha ini. “Aswang” in nakasulat, iban biya’ jimatu isab in ngān ha lupa ragbus sin manuk manuk yaun. Wayruun misan umbul atawa ngān sin lugal atawa misan unu na, hangkan na biyutang ku na sadja in manuk-manuk bang hain di’ siya masasaw.

Nasusa aku hangkan sulayan ku lawagun in tagdapu kaniya, iban mangayu’ aku kamaapan. Sa’ mahunit tuud pasal di’ ku misan kaingatan bang dayn diin aku magtagna’. Maray’ kaingatan sin tagdapu bang magpakain in ipatan niya sin mga limabay dūm ini.

Piyangayu’ ngayu’ ku tuud bang man kabatukan niya ra aku.

=———————–=

English Version

That damn bird.

It’s always following me every night on my walk back form work. I can’t always see it but I know it’s there. I can hear its annoying call. Tik-Tik-Tik. Ugh. I’m glad I bought new headphones to help me deal with that. Every night it’s outside my window and it’s driving me insane. I can’t sleep knowing that it’s there watching me. I know it’s just some dumb animal but there’s a point where I just can’t stand it.

I finally had enough and I threw a rock at it yesterday. I didn’t want to hurt it, just scare it enough so I could have one night without being bothered, but I guess it was slow. I hit it right in its face and it came crashing down. I’m not a violent person, I swear. I rushed to see if it was okay and it wasn’t even moving.

It wasn’t like any kind of bird I’ve ever seen before. It was ugly, really ugly. I don’t even know how to describe it. It was as if someone took a regular bird and distorted it. The eyes were… I couldn’t even look at the eyes, they were red and gave me the chills.

The strangest part was the bird’s neck. It had a collar on it. What kind of crazy person has a pet bird like this. It read “Aswang” and I guess that’s an appropriate name for a bird as ugly as this. There wasn’t a number or a return address or anything like that so I put the bird’s body somewhere it wouldn’t be bothered.

I feel bad so I’m going to try to find its owner and apologize. But it’s going to be hard, I don’t even know where to start. Maybe the owner knows where his pet has been going all these nights.

Hopefully he’ll be able to find me.

=—————————=

*Bahasa Sug or Tausug is an Austronesian language spoken in the province of Sulu in the Philippines and in the eastern area of the state of Sabah, Malaysia, by the Tausūg people. It is widely spoken in the Sulu Archipelago (Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Basilan), the Zamboanga Peninsula (Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga City), southern Palawan, and Malaysia (eastern Sabah).

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bahasa Sug translation by Nurtimhar Shahaji
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Nurtimhar Shahaji

Story inspired by the Tiktik description in Bikol Beliefs and Folkways: A Showcase of Tradition. Nasayao. 2010.

Tiktik Illustration and Watercolor by Nightmaresyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Masbatenyo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

=———————————-=

English Version

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

=———————————–=

*Pomelo fruit

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Masbatenyo Translation by Angel Papilosa
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Angel Papilosa

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

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

*Note this story is in Cuyonon

“Pwidi kaw ag silip sa idalém ang kama?” Maroya ang bosis i Jess téngéd sa anang masakit. Akasanayan na rén kada gabi ang binoatang dia ompisa ang tana ma-ospital. Aparét tana na mi bagay sa idalém anang kama na rason sa anang padayon nga pagmasakit.

Tatlo ka bolang pagpabulong piro ara pa ra éngéd ititinglo anang pamati. Naélaman ko na ang kabui békén patas, man lang si Jess ay aném ka dagon pa lamang na bata. Ig dapat ara bata na adlaw-adlaw asasakitan téngéd sa tingway ig mga tubo na ingpapasék sa anang lawas, piro ara pa ra éngéd i ayad. Békén patas ang kabui.

Ag ngirit ako ig ing arékan ko anang dai. “Ara mga padlék sa idalém ang kama, pagpanari rén. Mi mga check-up ka pa aroman, ministir mo imong késég, ayos?” Ag ngirit balés si Jess ig loay-loay akakatorog. Akabibilib ang tibay ang léba ang mga bata, piro basipa na makaya na pa ra ag padayon na mabui sa madarason nga adlaw.

Piro ara natabo. Apatay si Jess ang gabi rang dato. Akakaturog ako sa anang tépad, ig nasintian ko ron lamang na agadaragoyon ig agaorogiaw ang mga doktor ig nars. Ing kapétan ako ang isara sa mga nars mintras agarégés ako na séléngén kung anono ang atatabo.

Inggoyod ako ang nars sa puertan, ig doto ko nakita. Akéng kaysip isara lamang sa mga tubo na akakabit sa lawas ni Jess, piro midiang békén i normal. Masyadong mabael ang bagay na dato para sa tubo, o anumang bagay na pariho sa tubo, na ag alin sa idalém ang kama.

Dato akéng natandan ang gabing dato, ig maraké pang mga makabébéréng na mga bagay ang naynabo pagkatapos. Nadora ang lawas ni Jess mintras ing dadara sa punirarya, ara ra kuno problima sa pag-byahi, piro ara kuno kaabot ang lawas doto.

Ing bubuat ko ang tanan na maélaman kung anono ang atabo. Makon ang nars ing takawan kuno ang 3^rd floor ang ospital ang aglébas nga bolan, siguro koniktado dato sa pagkadora ang lawas ni Jess.

Sasagiapén ko tana.

Maski diyang ilélébéng ko tana rén lamang.

=—————–=

English Version

“Can you check under my bed?”  Jess’ voice was weak from the treatments. It had been her routine every night since we moved to the hospital, she was convinced there was something under her bed that kept making her sick.

Three months of tests and medicine and she still hasn’t gotten any better. I know life’s not supposed to be fair but Jess is only six years old. No child should have to go through days of needles and tubes and still not getting any answers. It wasn’t fair.

I smile and I kiss her forehead. “There aren’t any monsters under your bed, now go get some rest. You need your strength for the tests tomorrow, alright?” Jess smiles at me and drifts off to sleep. The resilience of youth never failed to impress me, but I hoped that it would be enough to get her through one more day.

It wasn’t. Jess died that night. I had fallen asleep next to her and the next thing I knew doctors and nurses were rushing in and shouting. One of the nurses had to restrain me because I kept trying to see what was happening.

The nurse lead me to the door and I that was when I saw it. At first I thought it was one of the tubes that was attached to Jess, but there was something off about it. It was too big to be a wire or anything like that and it ended at the bottom of the bed.

That’s all I remember from that night and there were too many strange things that happened after. Jess’ body was “lost” en route to the funeral home, the morgue says there was nothing wrong with the transport, but the body never got there.

I’m doing all I can now to find out what happened to Jess. The nurses said that there was a break-in a month ago on the third floor of the hospital, maybe that’s connected to Jess’ disappearance.

I will get her back.

If only to bury her.

=——————————=

*Cuyonon is a regional Visayan language spoken on the coast of Palawan, and the Cuyo Islands in the Philippines.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Cuyonon Translation provided by Arlan P. Belen & Agnes A. Factor

Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Arlan P. Belen & Agnes A. Factor

Story inspired by the Balbal description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Balbal Illustration and Watercolor by Nightmaresyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Waray

“Poyde mo ba bistahon an ilarum han akon katre?” Maluya na an tingog ni Jess tungod ha mga tambal. Parte na ini han iya kahiaraan kada gab-i tikang han pagkanhi namon ha ospital, tungod kay kumbinsido hiya nga mayda butang ha ilarum han iya katre nga hinungdan han iya pagin masakitnon.

Ha luyo han tulo kabulan nga mga test ngan medisina, waray la gihapon mag-upay iya kamutangan. Maaram ak nga diri man gud patas an kinabuhi kundi unom katuig la hi Jess. Waray unta bata nga angay umagi ha inadlaw nga pagtusok han dagom ngan tubo nga waray gihap bisan ano nga kabatunan. Diri ini patas.

Ngumisi ako ngan ginharukan ko an iya agtang. “Waray aswang ha ilarum han imo katre, pahuyaw na. Kinahanglan mo han kusog para ha mga test buwas.” Ngumisi si Jess ha akon ngan hinay-hinay nga kumaturog. Nakakabilib gud an kamadig-on han kabataan, ha luyo hini nalaum ako nga masadang ini agud malapayan niya an usa pa kaadlaw.

Waray iton sumadang. Namatay hi Jess hiton nga gab-i. Nakaturog ako ha sapit niya, nagmata ako nga adi na an mga doktor ngan nars, nagdadagmit ngan naguliat. Kinahanglan ako pugngan han usa ha mga nars tungod kay ginpipirit ko makit-an kun ano an nahitatabo.

Gindara ako han nars ngadto ha purtahan ngan didto ko na nakita. Ha syahan, kahuna ko usa iton ha mga tubo nga nakabutang kan Jess, kundi may diri asya didto. Dako iton ura-ura agud magin kable o anuman nga kapareho hiton, ngan nautod ha katapusan han katre.

Amo la an akon nahinumduman tikang hiton nga gab-i ngan damo pa kaupay an nahitabo nga diri ordinaryo kahuman hiton. “Nawara” an patay nga lawas ni Jess samtang ginbabyahe ngadto ha punenarya, an sering ha morge waray man kuno problema ha pagbyahe, kundi waray makaabot didto an patay nga lawas.

Ginhihimo ko yana an ngatanan agud mahibaruan kun ano gud an nahitabo kan Jess. An sering han mga nars, mayda kuno pakawat nga sumulod ha ikatulo nga balitang han ospital ha naglabay nga bulan, bangin konektado iton ha pagkawara ni Jess.

Babawion ko hiya.

Bisan kun iglulubong ko nala hiya.

=———————————=

English Version

“Can you check under my bed?”  Jess’ voice was weak from the treatments. It had been her routine every night since we moved to the hospital, she was convinced there was something under her bed that kept making her sick.

Three months of tests and medicine and she still hasn’t gotten any better. I know life’s not supposed to be fair but Jess is only six years old. No child should have to go through days of needles and tubes and still not getting any answers. It wasn’t fair.

I smile and I kiss her forehead. “There aren’t any monsters under your bed, now go get some rest. You need your strength for the tests tomorrow, alright?” Jess smiles at me and drifts off to sleep. The resilience of youth never failed to impress me, but I hoped that it would be enough to get her through one more day.

It wasn’t. Jess died that night. I had fallen asleep next to her and the next thing I knew doctors and nurses were rushing in and shouting. One of the nurses had to restrain me because I kept trying to see what was happening.

The nurse lead me to the door and I that was when I saw it. At first I thought it was one of the tubes that was attached to Jess, but there was something off about it. It was too big to be a wire or anything like that and it ended at the bottom of the bed.

That’s all I remember from that night and there were too many strange things that happened after. Jess’ body was “lost” en route to the funeral home, the morgue says there was nothing wrong with the transport, but the body never got there.

I’m doing all I can now to find out what happened to Jess. The nurses said that there was a break-in a month ago on the third floor of the hospital, maybe that’s connected to Jess’ disappearance.

I will get her back.

If only to bury her.

=————————————-=

*Waray is the fifth-most-spoken native regional language of the Philippines, native to Eastern Visayas. It is the native language of the Waray people and second language of the Abaknon people of Capul, Northern Samar and some Cebuano-speaking peoples of eastern and southern parts of Leyte island. It is the third most spoken language among the Visayan languages, only behind Hiligaynon and Cebuano.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Waray translation by Joan Sebastian
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Joan Sebastian

Story inspired by the Balbal description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Balbal Illustration and Watercolor by Nightmaresyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Pangasinan

“Grrrah,”  Inmakis so buwaya.

“Mampainawa ka la, magano lan onsabi so naakan, pian walay naakan tayon dua.” Maaron inkuan na aswang ed alaga to.

Mairap so mananap na ayep ed sarayan agew, amta na totoo a sayan pasen ed katakelan so pasen a panaganen na aswang tan say ayayep to, balet ag-itan makapangigapo ed sikato a mananap na naakan.

“Kaukolan tayo labat so onasingger ed baryo, tan mas onaligwas so amin a bengatla,” Say buwaya so nanngulngul lamet tan pinaseguroan na aswang.  “Amtak, makalmo kami na pigaran ugugaw, amtak ya labalabay yo so panangan na saratan.”

Malikeliket ya inmawet so ikol na buwaya; pigay bulan to lan ag-agawa itan.

On, onasingger itayo ed baryo tan manggawa na patit. Naerel tayo iramay manlangoy ed gilig na ilog! Akiulop si aswang ed ayep to diad gilig na ilog.

Sikatoy narasan, tan ontan met so alaga to. Lapud panag-alwar na totoo, mairap so pananap na tagano. Say unor a panangan da et sakey a managsigay a dinmalan ed kaarawi na katakelan. Sikatoy mabisbiskeg tan maruksa, ya ag-itan labalabay na balang sakey ed sikara.

Say aswang et amin a imis balet. Amta to a dakdakel so naala ton ayep. Sikatoy lawas nanmatalek ed biskeg na ayayep to pian narel so tagano ra, agto singa arum ya aswang a mantikyab ed kaliberliber na baryo pian manaktakot ed saray totoo.

Sikatoy sakey ya agalon hayopan, sakey a klase na aswang a mamapabaleg ed saray buwaya pian mananap ya nabuwag da. Mabetbet a babalawen tan tatawagen na arum ya aswang a mangiras iray kapara ran totoo, balet agda amta so irap a kaukolan na sakey pian napabaleg labat so sakey a buwaya manlapud sakey ya iknol.

Nampalner lamet so alaga to tan inmelek. Pigay taon iran nankakasakey tan pinabaleg to iyan buwaya manlapu la’d inkaugaw to. Amta to iray ugali tan ugali to a singa met ed sikato. Sikara so agnibiig. Amta to a no walay kanen to, magmaliw lan mangiras.

“Wadia kami la,” so aswang tan say alaga to so akaalagey ed gilig na ilog.

“Panaon la pian mangala na naakan.”

“Grrrah,” so ebat na alaga to.

=—————————–=

English Version

“Grrrah,” The crocodile groaned.

“Hush now, the food will come by soon, then we will both have something to eat.” The aswang said lovingly to her pet.

Prey was hard to come by these days, the humans knew that this place in the swamp was the hunting ground for the aswang and her pet, but that wasn’t about to stop her from finding a meal.

“We just have to go closer to the village, and then everything will be better,” The crocodile grunted again and the aswang reassured him. “I know, we’ll find some children, I know how much you like the taste of those.”

The crocodile wagged its tail with joy; it had not had that treat in many months.

“Yes, let’s go nearer to the village and set a trap. We can catch the ones swimming by the river!” The aswang walked alongside her pet to the riverbank.

She was hungry, and so was her pet. Due to the human’s caution, food was hard to find. The last meal they both had was a fisherman that strayed too far into the swamp. He was stringy and tough, not a dinner that either of them savored.

The aswang was all smiles though. She knew that prey would be plentiful. She had always relied on the strength of her pet to catch their meals, she was not like the other aswang who would fly around the village terrorizing the humans.

She was an agalon hayopan, a kind of aswang that would raise crocodiles to hunt their prey for them. The other aswang would often jeer and call their kind lazy, but they would never know the hardship one would take just to raise a single crocodile from an egg.

Her pet grumbled again and she laughed. They spent years together and she had raised this one ever since he was a hatchling. She knew his quirks and quips just as well as he knew hers. They were inseparable. She knew that once he had something to eat, he would change back to his lazy self.

“We’re here,” The aswang and her pet stood by the river.

“Time to get some food.”

“Grrrah,” replied her pet.

=——————–=

*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 Nelmar A. Mallari, MDC
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Nelmar A. Mallari, MDC

Inspired by the Agalon Hayopan legend from Bicol: Filipinas Volume 12, Page 53, Filipinas Pub., 2003

Agalon Hayopan Illustration by NightmareSyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga

“Hilingon mo daw an irarom kan higdaan ko?” an maluyang tingog ni Jess epekto kan saiyang pagpapabolong. Iyo ini an gibo niya barubanggi puon kan pagdigdi ninda ospital, kumbinsido siya na igwang kun ano sa irarom kan saiyang higdaan na dahilan kan saiyang paghilang.

Tulong bulan an mga tests asin burulongan asin sya dai marahay-rahay. Aram ko na dapat magin masurípot an buhay alagad anom na taon sana man si Jess. Mayong aki na dapat mag-agi sa mga dagum asin tubo sa aroaldaw na mayo man sanang nakukuang kasimbagan. Dai ini masurípot(fair).

Nagngirit lang ako asin hinadokan an saiyang noo. “Mayo man nin mampák(monster) sa irarum kan saimong higdaan, kaya magpahingalo ka na. Kaipuhan dapat may kusog ka para sa mga tests saaga, sige na?” Nagngirit man si Jess sakuya asin nagturog na. An katatagan talaga kan mga hubenes dai man nanggad palyadong nagpaugma sako, alagad naglalaom ako na lugod magin husto ini para sa saro pa niyang aldaw.

Dai nanigo. Nagadan si Jess kan bangging idto. Nakaturog ako sa kataid niya asin katakod kaini an mga doktor asin mga nars naghihiridali asin nagkukururahaw. Saro sa mga nars pinugulan ako ta pinipirit kong mahiling kun ano an nangyayari.

An nars tig-ibanan ako pasiring sa pinto asin duman ko man nanggad nahiling. Kan inot nagmamawot ako na huli ini sa tubong nakaturuhok kay Jess, alagad garo may sala digdi. Dakula ini bakong arog kan mga wire o ano man hasta ini hanggan sa irarum asin puro kan higdaan.

Iyo sana iyan an narurumduman ko kan bangging idto asin dakol pang mga dai makatubod na mga bagay an nangyari. Nawara an hawak ni Jess kan pasiring na ini sa punerarya, saysay kan morge na mayo man nangyaring maraot kan pagpasiring ninda duman, alagad nawawara an láwas (body).

Ginigibo ko ngunyan an gabos maaraman lang kung anong nangyari ki Jess. Sabi kan mga nars na nagkaigwa nin pagrangka(break-in) kan nakaaging bulan sa ikatulong palapag kan ospital, baad ini katakod sa pagkawara ni Jess.

Babawion ko siya.

Dawa mailubong sana siya.

=————————————=

English Version

“Can you check under my bed?”  Jess’ voice was weak from the treatments. It had been her routine every night since we moved to the hospital, she was convinced there was something under her bed that kept making her sick.

Three months of tests and medicine and she still hasn’t gotten any better. I know life’s not supposed to be fair but Jess is only six years old. No child should have to go through days of needles and tubes and still not getting any answers. It wasn’t fair.

I smile and I kiss her forehead. “There aren’t any monsters under your bed, now go get some rest. You need your strength for the tests tomorrow, alright?” Jess smiles at me and drifts off to sleep. The resilience of youth never failed to impress me, but I hoped that it would be enough to get her through one more day.

It wasn’t. Jess died that night. I had fallen asleep next to her and the next thing I knew doctors and nurses were rushing in and shouting. One of the nurses had to restrain me because I kept trying to see what was happening.

The nurse lead me to the door and I that was when I saw it. At first I thought it was one of the tubes that was attached to Jess, but there was something off about it. It was too big to be a wire or anything like that and it ended at the bottom of the bed.

That’s all I remember from that night and there were too many strange things that happened after. Jess’ body was “lost” en route to the funeral home, the morgue says there was nothing wrong with the transport, but the body never got there.

I’m doing all I can now to find out what happened to Jess. The nurses said that there was a break-in a month ago on the third floor of the hospital, maybe that’s connected to Jess’ disappearance.

I will get her back.

If only to bury her.

“Can you check under my bed?”  Jess’ voice was weak from the treatments. It had been her routine every night since we moved to the hospital, she was convinced there was something under her bed that kept making her sick.

Three months of tests and medicine and she still hasn’t gotten any better. I know life’s not supposed to be fair but Jess is only six years old. No child should have to go through days of needles and tubes and still not getting any answers. It wasn’t fair.

I smile and I kiss her forehead. “There aren’t any monsters under your bed, now go get some rest. You need your strength for the tests tomorrow, alright?” Jess smiles at me and drifts off to sleep. The resilience of youth never failed to impress me, but I hoped that it would be enough to get her through one more day.

It wasn’t. Jess died that night. I had fallen asleep next to her and the next thing I knew doctors and nurses were rushing in and shouting. One of the nurses had to restrain me because I kept trying to see what was happening.

The nurse lead me to the door and I that was when I saw it. At first I thought it was one of the tubes that was attached to Jess, but there was something off about it. It was too big to be a wire or anything like that and it ended at the bottom of the bed.

That’s all I remember from that night and there were too many strange things that happened after. Jess’ body was “lost” en route to the funeral home, the morgue says there was nothing wrong with the transport, but the body never got there.

I’m doing all I can now to find out what happened to Jess. The nurses said that there was a break-in a month ago on the third floor of the hospital, maybe that’s connected to Jess’ disappearance.

I will get her back.

If only to bury her.

=——————————–=

*Central Bicol, commonly called Bicol  Naga, is the most-spoken language in the Bicol Region of southern Luzon, Philippines. It is spoken in the northern and western part of Camarines Sur, second congressional district of Camarines Norte, eastern part of Albay, northeastern part of Sorsogon, San Pascual town in Masbate, and southwestern part of Catanduanes. Central Bicol speakers can be found in all provinces of Bicol and it is a majority language in Camarines Sur.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Adrian Bulalacao
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Adrian Bulalacao

Story inspired by the Balbal description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Balbal Illustration and Watercolor by Nightmaresyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga

Tolong paraayam an yaon duman, paharani na sa saindang bibiktimahon.

An enot na paraayam nagsabi, “Magtingag kamo sa itaas, mga kapwa ko paraayam, ta an satong biktima yaon nakatugdon dyan sa mga kahoy.”

An ikaduwang paraayam nagsimbag, “Iyo, amigo ko. An mga hayop na ini na pakpakan dai na makakapamerwisyo sa satong baryo.”

An ikatolong paraayam nagsabi man, “An satong mga sundang dapat na matarom huli ta an kublit kan mga iyan makunot pa sa anit nin damulag.”

Tiniripon kan tolong paraayam an saindang mga tarum asin nagbaklay pasiring sa kabukidan.

Pirang taon na an nakaagi poon kan mag-abot an enot na aswang sa saindang baryo. Idto an pinakamamundong aldaw sa buhay ninda ta mayo nin sarong lalaki o babae na nagkakakusog-boot na magluwas sa saindang mga harong huli sa takot na tibaad dai na makabalik pa giraray.

Dakul na ang sinaklot kan aswang sa baryo, kadakol na kalalakihan asin kababaehan. Sobra kadakol na man na kaakian.

Aram kan mga paraayam na kaipuhan na nindang tapuson an paghade na ini nin takot sa paagi nin pagpabulos nin dugo. Mayo nang ibang pwedeng gibuhon.

Sa tahaw kan kakahoyan nagtukaw an tolong paraayam asin nag-andam sa pagkakan.

“Dai ka mag-gatong nin kalayo,” an sabi kan enot na paraayam, “huli ta an mga linalang sa diklom na ini mamamataan kita.”

“Paano ta lulutuon an satong kakanon kun mayo kitang kalayo?” sabi kan ikaduwang paraayam.

“Kaipuhan tang kakanon na hilaw an satong kakanon,” an sabi kan ikatolong paraayam.

Asin kinua ninda an saindang mga balon asin nagkarakan na.

An ikatolong paraayam binare an katoninongan sa paagi nin paghapot, “Nadangog mo na kun paano sinda naggigibo nin mga aki?”

An ikaduwang paraayam nagsimbag, “Sarong nakakapungot na sistema. Nadangog ko na nagkukua sinda nin dugo sa mga nakuanan asin pinoporma iyan tanganing magin sarong omboy.”

An enot na paraayam nagsabi, “Mga makasusuyang mga linalang. Magigin marahay an kamugtakan kan buhay ta kun sinda gabos garadan na.”

Asin nagkauruyon digdi an tolong paraayam.

An enot na paraayam iyo an nagbantay sa saindang kampo.

“Hahanapon mi sinda sa aga, kun sinda paragal na,” an sabi nya.

“Uyon ako, mas madali nang hanapon sinda sa liwanag kan aldaw,” sabi kan ikaduwang paraayam.

“Asin madali ta sindang madakop na mayong anuman na problema,” an sabi kan ikatolong paraayam.

“Mag-likay ka, tugang, dai ta dapat pagmenuson an mga linalang na ini,” an simbag kan enot na paraayam.

“Totoo iyan. Nadangog ko na sinda nakabitin na nakabaliktad sa mga sanga kan mga kahoy asin naghahalat na an saindang biktima mag-agi sa irarom ninda, na inaagaw an sarong pobreng linalang na mayong ligtas na makadulag,” an ikaduwang paraayam nagsabi man.

“Saludo ako sa saindong kadonongan, mga tugang. Magpahingalo na kita para sa bangging ini, asin ipadagos an satong pangangayam sa aga,” an sabi kan ikatolong paraayam.

Kaya, an mga paraayam nagsurusalida sa pagbantay kan saindang kampo. Sa kada pagribay kan turno ninda nagigin sindang mas marigmat sa saindang pagbantay, naghahangos sa mga agihan sa kakahoyan. An banggi nag-lihis na mayong nangyari asin an mga paraayam nagpadagos kan saindang halawig na pagbaklay sa irarom kan mga kahoy.

“Kaipuhan kong magbuyboy,” an sabi kan ikatolong paraayam.

“Ano iyan, tugang?” simbag man kan ikaduwang paraayam.

“Dai ko aram kun ano an itsura kan mga linalang na ini,” an pag-ako nya.

“Kun siring, magdangog ka nin marhay, tugang. An mga linalang na ini mga depormadong linalang na nag-tatago sa pinakamadiklom na parte kan kakahoyan. Arog sinda kadakula saimo, o sako, alagad igwa sinda nin mga pakpak na minaabot sa lakbang kan mga sanga kan mga kahoy. An saindang mga muro sa bitis asin mga moro sa kamot nakatukdo pabalik hale sa saindang mga ngalungaloan. Siguradong mayo nang ibang linalang na urog kamakanos, o arog kamaraot ki kan aswang,” an simbag kan enot na paraayam.

“Asin sinda maringis. Dai sinda naheherak sa siisay man sa saindang mga biktima, dawa sa pinakasadit,” sabi kan ikaduwang paraayam.

Asin biglang nagtoninong an mga paraayam.

Aram ninda kun pira na an kinua kan aswang sa saindang baryo.

Hinuruhod kan mga paraayam an saindang mga payo asin nag-padara sa sulog nin pagromdom.

Narumdoman kan enot na paraayam an saiyang agom asin kun ano an ipinamati niya saiya. Dai mailadawan sa mga tataramon an kahungkagan kan saiyang puso.

Narumdoman kan ikaduwang paraayam an ngirit kan saiyang tugang. Magkambal sinda asin an pagkadayupot ninda sa lambang saro mayo nin ibang tawo an makakasabot.

An ikatolong paraayam nagigirumdoman an sarong puting tamong na kun saen napapatos an saiyang aki. Pirang semana pa sana an edad kaini kan sinaklot siya kan aswang.

Nakapagdesisyon sinda na tama na asin nagkasararo tanganing labanan an mga demonyong ini.

Asin ngonyan nakaabot na sinda digdi.

Pinalibotan kn tolong paraayam an sarong dakulang kahoy na balete. Nahihiling ninda an mga lawi kan mga linalang na nakadungaw sa mga dahon.

Inandam ninda an saindang mga sundang asin naghoma nang magtagâ.

Nagkatararaka an mga linalang asin mayo na sinda nin oras tanganing makabalos. Igwa nin limang linalang asin dawa ngani napaboran sinda alagad an mga hayop garo baga nagkatararaka, na nagtatao sa mga paraayam nin maninigong panahon tanganing na sinda.

An nagsunod iyo an pagkuriyat nin mga tari asin batbat. Sarong aswang an nakasaklot sa ikaduwang paraayam asin ilinayog sya kaini paitaas. Alagad sa saiyang marikas na pag-isip sana na nagibo niyang tigbason an bitis kan aswang asin luminigid sa daga.

An enot na paraayam solong nakipaglaban sa tolo kan mga aswang. Tinigbas asin tinagpas niya an saindang mahibog na mga kublit, na inilagan an saindang mga kamrot asin inaprobetsaran an saindang pagkaribong.

Nagpanuntok an ikatulong paraayam kan mahiling niya kun ano an dara kan aswang na saiyang nakaatubang.

Idto an saiyang aki, na napapatos nin puting tamong.

An ikatolong paraayam ihinulog an saiyang sundang asin naglakaw pasiring sa aswang na may nagdara kan saiyang aki. Dai nakalaban an aswang asin itinao an aking lalaki sa saiyang ama.

Naghibi an paraayam mantang pigkukugos niya an omboy. Sa gabos nindang kaisugan, an aswang dai na nakapamerwisyo sa mga aki pagkatapos kaini gabos.

Bago pa man makasimbag an paraayam, naglayog na an aswang. An ibang mga paraayam tinambudan an saindang mga lugad asin ngkururahaw sa kaogmahan.

Alagad an ikatolong paraayam mayong ibang naisip kundi an saiyang aki, na ngonian tininong sa saiyang pagkakarga.

Nagpadagos an duwang paraayam pasiring sa laog kan kakahoyan, naghahanap nin iba pang mga aswang tanganing dakupon, mantang an ikatolong para-ayam kurokarga an saiyang aki tanganing pumuli na sa saiyang baryo.

Mayo nang nadangog dapit sa sainda, lagad an duwa minidbid bilang mga heroes a saindang baryo. Danay na naroromdoman an duwang maisog na mga paraayam na nakipaglaban sa mga aswang na nagpahamak sa saindang pagkabuhay.

An ikatolong paraayam asin an saiyang aki huminale sa baryo tanganing maghanap nin sarong bagong buhay na harayo sa peligro na dolot kan mga aswang.

==============================-

Three hunters there were, closing in on their prey.

The first hunter said, “Look to the skies my fellow hunters, our prey stays in the trees.”

The second hunter replied, “Yes, my friend. These winged beasts will not harm our village anymore.”

The third hunter said, “Our blades must be sharp for its skin is as tough as a carabao’s hide.”

The three hunters gathered their weapons and trekked through the mountains.

It had been years since the first alan arrived in their village. Those were dark days when no man or woman would be brave enough to leave their homes for fear of never returning.

The alan took many away from the village, too many brothers and sisters. Too many children.

The hunters knew that they had to end this reign of terror through blood. Nothing else would do.

In the middle of the forest the three hunters sat and prepared a meal.

“Do not make a fire,” the first hunter said, “for the creatures of the night will be able to find us.”

“How will we cook our meal if we don’t have a fire?” said the second hunter.

“We will have to eat our food raw,” said the third hunter.

And they took out their provisions and ate.

The third hunter broke the silence by asking, “Have you heard how they make children?”

The second hunter replied, “A nasty business. I heard they take blood from miscarriages and mold it to become a child.”

The first hunter said, “Disgusting creatures. We’ll all be better off once they’re all dead.”

And to this all the hunters agreed.

The first hunter took watch over their camp.

“We will hunt them in the morning, when they are tired,” he said.

“I agree, it will be much easier to find them with the light of day,” said the second hunter.

“And we will be able to cut them down without any trouble,” said the third hunter.

“Be careful, brother, we must not underestimate these creatures,” replied the first hunter.

“That is true. I’ve heard they hang upside down from the limbs of trees and wait for their prey to pass under them, snatching up the poor soul with no chance of escape,” the second hunter intoned.

“I bow to your wisdom, brothers. Let us rest for the night and resume our hunt in the morning,” the third hunter said.

And so, the hunters took turns watching over their camp. With each rotation they became more aware of their surroundings, breathing in the paths of the forest. The night passed without incident and the hunters resumed their long trek through the underbrush.

“I must make a confession,” said the third hunter.

“What is it, brother?” replied the second hunter.

“I do not know what these creatures look like,” he admitted.

“Then listen close, brother. These creatures are deformed beings that lurk in the darkest parts of the forest. They are as large as you or I but they have wings that span the breadth of the limbs of trees. Their toes and fingers point backwards from their joints. Surely there is no other creature as ugly or as misshapen as the alan,” the first hunter replied.

“And they are vicious. They spare no mercy for any of their victims, not even the smallest ones,” said the second hunter.

And with this silence overtook the hunters.

They knew what the alan took from their village.

The hunters bowed their heads and drifted off to the realm of memory.

The first hunter remembered his wife and how she made him feel. Words could not describe the emptiness that filled his heart.

The second hunter remembered his brother’s laugh. They were twins and shared a bond no other could understand.

The third hunter remembered a white blanket in which laid his son. He was only a few weeks old when the alan took him.

They had decided enough was enough and banded together to fight these demons.

And now it came to this.

The three hunters circled a large balete tree. They could see the feathers of the creatures poking through the leaves.

They readied their blades and prepared to strike.

The creatures were caught by surprise and did not have enough time to retaliate. There were five creatures and though the odds were in their favor the beasts seemed to be caught unawares, giving the hunters ample time to cut them down.

What followed was a stream of talons and steel. An alan grabbed the second hunter and began to fly upward. It was only with his quick thinking that he managed to chop of the foot of the alan and rolled to the ground.

The first hunter fought three of the alan by himself. He hacked and slashed through their thick hides, dodging their blows and taking advantage of their confusion.

The third hunter stopped when he saw what the alan he faced was carrying.

It was his son, wrapped in a white blanket.

The third hunter dropped his sword and walked towards the alan that held his son. The creature did not attack and handed over the boy to his father.

The hunter wept as he cradled the baby in his arms. For all their viciousness the alan had not harmed children after all.

Before the hunter could respond the alan had flown away. The other hunters bandaged their wounds and screamed a cry of triumph.

But the third hunter could only think of his son, now safe in his embrace.

The two hunters continued on deeper in the forest, looking for more alan to hunt while the third hunter took his son and returned to the village.

They were never heard from again, though the pair were hailed as heroes by the village. Forever would the people remember the two brave hunters that stood against the monsters that threatened their way of life.

The third hunter and his son left the village to find a new life, far away from the chaos of the alan.

=——————————=

*Central Bicol, commonly called Bicol  Naga, is the most-spoken language in the Bicol Region of southern Luzon, Philippines. It is spoken in the northern and western part of Camarines Sur, second congressional district of Camarines Norte, eastern part of Albay, northeastern part of Sorsogon, San Pascual town in Masbate, and southwestern part of Catanduanes. Central Bicol speakers can be found in all provinces of Bicol and it is a majority language in Camarines Sur.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Dominador N. Marcaida Jr.
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Dominador N. Marcaida Jr.

Inspired by the Alan entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Alan Illustration and Watercolor by Nightmaresyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Kapampangan

Anti ya mong istoryador i apu ku. Inyang migretiru ne minuli ya king balen mi king Siargao, pane yang atiu munisipyu mangalkal mamasang lumang libru. Gewa na ini angga king mete ya inyang milabas a bulan.

Ala kung makaying agaganaka kang apu ku. Marayu kami tuknangan anya mikikit kami mu patse atin okasyun, pero asno pangasanting ding istorya na. Ing pane kung agaganaka itang istorya ning kampanario ning Busay.

“Oryana ring pirata.” Antimo keng dimdam bosis. Yapin ita ing pekaburi ku king istorya na. Asne kabiasnan mamagbayung bosis i Apu anya makule ing pamag-istorya na. “Mimingat ka karing pirata.” Ing tauli nang linya king pamagkuentu. E ku buring pane lang manyambut ding marok king istorya na dapot ing kapupusan e ne man pin siguru mas maulaga king milyari libutad.

Ala kung obra pilang aldo anya migbiayi ku pa-Dinagat Islands, makanta ya pa mu rin, taimik, matunud, manyaman mimisip. Patse miglakad-lakad ka, amanan me ing kasalesayan. Makayawa ya.

Migdesisyun kung munta Busay para akit itang bito king istorya ng apu ku. Malati ya mu pala, dapot pane namang aliwa ing imahinasyun king katutuan. Kakwa kung retratu aganaka ke i apu ku. Ring mata nang kikinang patse inumpisan neng ikuentu itang pamanako dang kampana ring pirata bayu de inugse king bito, ampo ing alang pakalulu dang pamamate karing Dinagatnon. Ngeni ku mu apiunab ing lungkut  ning istorya.

Mengadi ku lele ning bito bayu ku meko, para king apu ku ampo karing tau king istorya na. Kaluat nang migbante karing tau ning kampana. Magnasang king lalam nitang Bito, mipainawa neng masalese.

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English Version

My lola is a historian of sorts. After her retirement she went back to our small town in Surigao and spent her days going through the old books in the town hall. She did this until she passed away a month ago.

I don’t remember much about my lola. We lived so far away that I would only see her on the holidays, but she would always have the best stories. The one I would always remember was about the bell of Busay.

“The pirates are coming.” I could almost hear her say. That was the best part about the story. Lola had the talent of being able to change her voice when it suited her and this made her storytelling much more vibrant. “Be careful of pirates.” Was the last line from her story sessions.  I never liked that the bad guys won in her story but I guess the ending wasn’t as important as the middle.

I had a few days off work so I took the trip back to Dinagat island and it was the same as it always was, quiet and tranquil, the perfect place to think. Walking around the area, you could feel the sense of history around you. It was almost infectious.

I decided to go to Busay and see the bito from my lola’s story. It was smaller than I imagined, but that’s always what happens when imagination meets reality. I take a picture and I think about my lola. About how her eyes would light up when she started on the part where the pirates stole the bell of the chapel and tossed it down this bito, and how they mercilessly slaughtered the Dinagatnons after. I never realized how dark that story was until now.

I say a little prayer by the bito before I leave, partly for my lola and partly for the people in her story. The bell spent so many years protecting people. Hopefully, at the bottom of that Bito, it can finally rest in peace.

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*A bito is a natural well

Story inspired by “The Bell of Busay” in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Magbalantay sa Linggaya sa Busay Illustration and Watercolor by Nightmaresyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

*Note this story is in Ibanag

“Wiyyang innang i gukag na kama?” Mahina dang i boses ni Jess ta mippiga ngana itinubbo
tannisa. Megafu ta neyali kami tu ospital, kada gabi na ngana lamang iyavu nu egga i mayan na
gukag na kama na tu mappataki nisa. Tallu vulang tu tests, duwa na medisina ngana i naddalang,
amme na pa rin, adde sangawe, mammapya.

Ammu tu akkang tu balanse i pattolay ngyem sais pala i
dagunni Jess para ta kunne. Awang tu abbing ta mundo i dapat makaramdam tu piga nga aggaw tu
matubbo na dagung duwa na tube tapus awang pa rin tu mala tu sagut. Amme na wiyya.

Inumokkakku quiray na. “Awang tu banig ta gukag na kamang, magibannag ka dang.
Mawag mu i sikan para ta exam mu sonumma, di ba?” Nawawwang i assinni Jess. Babbayag
nekatrugang. Magaling i abbing ta kunne nga ira situacion, kaya ipaddasal ku na lang tu mabalinna
yawe i zigaziga na pattolay.

Ngyem, amme na nabaling. Natay si Jess ta gabi. Nekatrugang nga, ta biko na. I sunud ku
nala tu nakannamwang ay maginna ira nars duwa na doktor tu mappabibibi, makkule. Egga paga
tadday tu nars tu mappigil nyo para masingang nu anni i mesimmu. Vinulunganna ta pwerta at tari
ku nasingang ngaming. Abatakku yari normal tu tube tu masingakku la kada aggaw kani Jess i
nakaipay nisa, ngyem akkang. Duma yari. Dakal tu nagadde ngana ta gukag na kama. Yari la maalala
ta kagabi, tas nesimmu ngana i duma-duma tu bagay ira.

Nawawwang i baggi ni Jess paangay ta morgue. Tabbag na morgue, awang tu mali ta takay,
ngyem amme na nagadde na baggi tannira. Kwakku ngaming i kaya para kani Jess. Egga bi nabida
na nars, tu egga siminallung dati ta third floor na ospital. Baka egga kinalaman na ta
pakkawawwang ni Jess.

Panolikku yayya.

Mapya la metanang.

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English Version

“Can you check under my bed?”  Jess’ voice was weak from the treatments. It had been her routine every night since we moved to the hospital, she was convinced there was something under her bed that kept making her sick.

Three months of tests and medicine and she still hasn’t gotten any better. I know life’s not supposed to be fair but Jess is only six years old. No child should have to go through days of needles and tubes and still not getting any answers. It wasn’t fair.

I smile and I kiss her forehead. “There aren’t any monsters under your bed, now go get some rest. You need your strength for the tests tomorrow, alright?” Jess smiles at me and drifts off to sleep. The resilience of youth never failed to impress me, but I hoped that it would be enough to get her through one more day.

It wasn’t. Jess died that night. I had fallen asleep next to her and the next thing I knew doctors and nurses were rushing in and shouting. One of the nurses had to restrain me because I kept trying to see what was happening.

The nurse lead me to the door and I that was when I saw it. At first I thought it was one of the tubes that was attached to Jess, but there was something off about it. It was too big to be a wire or anything like that and it ended at the bottom of the bed.

That’s all I remember from that night and there were too many strange things that happened after. Jess’ body was “lost” en route to the funeral home, the morgue says there was nothing wrong with the transport, but the body never got there.

I’m doing all I can now to find out what happened to Jess. The nurses said that there was a break-in a month ago on the third floor of the hospital, maybe that’s connected to Jess’ disappearance.

I will get her back.

If only to bury her.

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