*Note this story is in Cebuano

Kada urom nalang nako pareho ra jod akong masinatian.

Magsugod sa akong kama. Naa jod kos ospital permaninte. Wala gihapon nahibal-an sa mga doktor kon unsay sakit nako. Moingon sila nga ipa-test na pod ko nila ug mosugot ra pod ko. Maski kahibaw kong sakit apan dili nako sila mabasol kay ginabuhat ra pod nila ilang trabaho.

Ug mi-abot na ang mga dagom. Gitusok ug gikulikot kog pila ka oras. Gipahilona kos mga nurse. Miingon sila nga mahuman ra lagi ni ug mahapsay ra ang tanan. Buhaton nila ang tanan aron walay mahitabo nga dili maayo hangtod sa mahuman, ug ang akong rang kinahanglan  buhaton kay moginhawa.

Ug moabot na pod kos pinakadili nako ganahan nga parte inig mahuman ang tanan. Pagkahuman sa tanang tests ug treatments, nag-inusara ra kos akong kama. Balik sa kon asa ko nagsugod. Ingon nila nga obserbahan kuno ko ug adunay doktor ra motan-aw nako kada oras.

Sa kanang higayona dayon nako siya makita, morag taas ug pula nga gikan sa atop. Wala ko kabalo jod kon unsa siya ug wala pod ko kabalo kon naa siyay gisumpayan, apan mora siyag buhi kay galihok siya. Mi-aksyon siyag hilam kanako apan ako maoy dili kalihok. Nanluya kos tanang tests nga gibuhat nila nako.

Ug mabati-an na nako siya. Sa higayong gunitan ko niya, mora kog midagan og maraton. Ang akong kusog mahanaw hangtod maski’g ako kapoyon na og kahadlok. Ang ako ra jong mahimo kay magtutok kaniya. Bugnaw ang iyang pagkupot kanako ug ang iyang paglihok midagan sa akong kalawasan hangtod tanang parte niini iyang makaptan.

Misulay kog siyagit apan luya kaayo ko. Ka-ngilngig  ang akong nabati-an ug wala koy hanaw kon unsa na kadugay iyang pagkapot kanako. Gusto ra ko matulog og balik.

Ug sa dihang misulod ang nurse. Nawala siyag kalit. Nangutana ang nurse kon okay ra ba ko apan wa koy umoy nga motubag.

“Ayaw kabalaka taod-taod pa ka makatulog tungod sa tambal,” ingon ang nurse.

Gisulayan nakog syagit usab apan walay tingog nga mogawas.

=——————————–=

English Version

Every nightmare I have is the same.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I try to scream again but nothing comes out.

————————–————————–———————–

*The Cebuano language, alternatively called Cebuan and also often colloquially albeit informally referred to by most of its speakers simply as Bisaya (“Visayan”, not to be confused with other Visayan languages nor Brunei Bisaya language), is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 21 million people, mostly in Central Visayas, western parts of Eastern Visayas and most parts of Mindanao, most of whom belong to various Visayan ethnolingusitic groups, mainly the Cebuanos. It is the by far the most widely spoken of the Visayan languages, which are in turn part of wider the Philippine languages. The reference to the language as Bisaya is not encouraged anymore by linguists due to the many languages within the Visayan language group that may be confused with the term.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Cebuano Translation by John
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © John

Inspired by the Mansusopsop legends

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

The post Mansusopsop – Cebuano Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Kapampangan

Keng balen na ning Igbahay, makatuknang ya ing metung mausisang nilalang. Anyang banwa na ning Guino, 1539, linusub de reng tau ing bale na nitang marok a tau na awsang dang Talagman. Keng baleng ayta ikit do reng makapangilabut na bage. Metung kareng peka-aliwang dili itang uwak na ating tukang kasing taram na ning kutsilyu, ating yang apat a makakabang bitis, kuku, ampong tusuk.

Ngeni, sabi da reng memalen, ining nilalang ayni atin yapang kayabeng metung mas marok a nilalang. Keng sobrang karok ng Talagman, kinalat ing sabi-sabi na metung ya kanung Sigbin. Anyang panaun ayta, paniwalan da na ing Sigbin metung yang tau na magdalang sobrang karokan at kasakitan manibatan keng kayang pisalikutang lugar.

Atin lapang istorya reng memalen na metung kanung aldo atin masikan a lalaking menakit kang Talagman na kasalungsungang gagawang marok a bage anya itang lalaking ayta pinutut ne balugbug i Talagman. Ngeni, kanitang aldong ayta megi neng tradisyun kareng memalen na ning Igbahay, detang taung awsang dang Ibajaos, deng lalaki sadya dong paputut reng karelang kailing balugbug. Ing panyaptang dang ayni paniwalang dang makalakong bisa ketang kasunduwan na nitang Sigbin ampo nitang Espiritu na awsang dang Oag. Ining Oag ayni metung yang nilalang na mamyeng laru na makapamyeng sikanan keng metung a tau para magi yang Sigbin.

Makanita ya karok i Talagman, na mangaman ngeni, reng tau pane dang istorya da nung makananung ing kayang lawe malyari yang makapamyeng kasakitan kareng menakit. Pane de muring istorya nung makananung deng akakit I Talagmang deng karelang kanunuhan na kukwang basyu at didinan neng laru ing kayang katawan. Sinulapo ya keng angin at melakwan ya ing kapitna na ning kayang katawan keng bale.

Ing karokan at katsurang ugali ng Talagman pante ya ketang awsan ng Uac-Uac, ing kayang kaluguran. Ining uwak ah mamyeng disgrasya ayni panwalan de muring mamateng biktima pauli na ning pamanyaksak keng karelang gulut gamit ing mataram ng tuka kabang kukutkut ne ing kayang kuku keng laman na ning tau. Pauli na ning sobrang tula keng pamamanyeng kasakitan kareng tau, sadya lang susulapo kayabe na ning kayang among Sigbin para manintung laman na ning taung karelang pikutkutang kuku.

Ining istoryang ayni dinalan a banwa ne ing milabas, oneng magpanggang ngeni mapali ya parin keng panimanman da reng tau. Patye ikit me ing uac-uac a apat a bitis, mingat ka uling paniguradung kayabe ne at atyu yamu nung lokarin ing kayang amu.

=——————————–=

English Version

In the town of Igbahay, there exists a curious creature. In the year of the Lord, 1539, the people of the town raided the house of an evil man called Talagman. In his house they found many horrors. One most strange was a black crow with a beak as sharp as a knife, four long feet and claws and spines.

Now, it was said by the townsfolk that this creature was the companion of something more malicious. The evil of Talagman was so great that the people of the town whispered that he was a sigbin. In those days, a sigbin was a man who caused great evil and harm from his hiding place.

The townsfolk even tell a story of one day when a strong man caught Talagman in the middle of an evil act and the strong man cut off Talagman’s ear. Now, in those days there was a tradition in the town of Igbahay, whose people are called the Ibajaos, where certain men would have their left ear cut off. This practice was to break the pact that sigben would have with the spirit called oag, the creature that gives the oil which would make a man become a sigben.

Such was the evil of Talagman that, to this day, people would tell stories of how his glance alone would cause harm. They still say of stories where their great-great-great grandparents would see Talagman take a small flask, anoint his body with oil and fly through the air leaving half of his body in his house.

The cruelty and malice of Talagman had his match in the uac-uac, his companion. The misshapen crow would stab victims with its sharp beak and take great pleasure in raking its claws against the flesh of humans. So great was its love of torture that it would fly with its sigben master to find fresh meat that it could dig its claws in.

This story is of hundreds of years past, but always be warned. If you see the uac-uac and its four legs, know that its master will not be far behind.

————————–————————–————————–

Inspired by “The Legend of the Sigbin.” Pavon (1838-1839) in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Uac-uac Illustration by NightmareSyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

The post Uac-uac – Kapampangan Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Noong 1539, sa bayan ng Igbahay, mayroong namataang isang kakaibang nilalang kaya’t nilusob ng mga tao ang pinanggalingang bahay nito. Mula sa pinagtataguang bahay na ito ay may nakita silang maraming kakilakilabot. Napag-alaman nilang tirahan ito ng isang masamang tao na kilala sa tawag  na Talagman. Ang kakaibang nilalang na kasama nito sa bahay ay isang uwak na may tuka na kasingtulis ng kutsilyo, may apat na mahahabang mga paa at mga matutulis na kuko na puno ng mga tinik.

Bulung bulungan ng mga taong-bayan na si Talagman ay isang di pangkaraniwang nilalang at may taglay na kasamaan.  Diumano siya ay isang  sigbin o isang aswang na noong mga panahong iyon ay sanhi ng malaking kasamaan at pinsala  sa kanilang bayan.

Ilang kwento pa ng mga taga-bayan noon ay  nahuli ng isang malakas na lalaki si Talagman sa gitna ng isang masamang gawain at pinutol ng malakas na lalaki ang tenga nito. Isang nakaugalian ng mga Ibajao sa  bayan ng Igbahay ang pagpuputol ng kaliwang tainga ng ilang piling tao. Ang tradisyon na ito ay upang sirain ang kasunduan na magkakaroon  sa espiritung tinatawag na oag. Ang Oag ang nilalang na nagbibigay ng langis para maging sigbin o aswang ang isang tao.

Ayon din sa maga taong bayan, Ang  mga mata ni Talagman ay may kakaibang kapangyarihan na nakapagdudulot ng kapahamakan sa taong tititigan nito. Nagpasalin salin din ang kwento mula pa sa mga  ninuno na  itong si Talagman raw ay nakitang kumuha ng maliit na prasko, pinahiran ng langis ang kanyang katawan at lumipad habang ang kalahati ng kanyang katawan ay naiwan sa kanyang bahay

At hindi nga nag-iisa sa kalupitan at kasamaan si Talagman. Palagi nitong kasama sa kanyang paglipad at paghahanap ng sariwang karne ang walang kasing itim na Uac-uac.  Sinasaksak ng Uac-uac ang kanyang mabibiktima gamit ng kanyang matalas na tuka at ganun din ang  matataliim na kuko sa pagdagit ng laman ng mga ito.  Labis ang pagkalugod nito sa ginagawang kasamaan kasama ang amo nitong sigbin.

Ang kwentong ito ay daan-daang taon na ang nakalilipas na laging nagpapaalala o nagbibigay babala. Kung makikita mo ang Uac-uac at ang apat na paa nito, hindi malayong nasa paligid din lamang ang amo nitong si Talagman.

=————————=

English Version

In the town of Igbahay, there exists a curious creature. In the year of the Lord, 1539, the people of the town raided the house of an evil man called Talagman. In his house they found many horrors. One most strange was a black crow with a beak as sharp as a knife, four long feet and claws and spines.

Now, it was said by the townsfolk that this creature was the companion of something more malicious. The evil of Talagman was so great that the people of the town whispered that he was a sigbin. In those days, a sigbin was a man who caused great evil and harm from his hiding place.

The townsfolk even tell a story of one day when a strong man caught Talagman in the middle of an evil act and the strong man cut off Talagman’s ear. Now, in those days there was a tradition in the town of Igbahay, whose people are called the Ibajaos, where certain men would have their left ear cut off. This practice was to break the pact that sigben would have with the spirit called oag, the creature that gives the oil which would make a man become a sigben.

Such was the evil of Talagman that, to this day, people would tell stories of how his glance alone would cause harm. They still say of stories where their great-great-great grandparents would see Talagman take a small flask, anoint his body with oil and fly through the air leaving half of his body in his house.

The cruelty and malice of Talagman had his match in the uac-uac, his companion. The misshapen crow would stab victims with its sharp beak and take great pleasure in raking its claws against the flesh of humans. So great was its love of torture that it would fly with its sigben master to find fresh meat that it could dig its claws in.

This story is of hundreds of years past, but always be warned. If you see the uac-uac and its four legs, know that its master will not be far behind.

————————–————————–————————–

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

Written by Karl Gaverza

Translation by Rhodora Garcia-Medina
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Rhodora Garcia-Medina

Inspired by “The Legend of the Sigbin.” Pavon (1838-1839) in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Uac-uac Illustration by NightmareSyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/

The post Uac-uac – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Waray

Ak urom kada gab-e kay pareho la pirme.

Magtitikang pirme sa ak higdaan. Dire maaram an mga paragbulong kun nano an nahitabo sa ak. Pirme sira nagsusugad nga yaon na lat sira sasarihan nga paagi mao nga pirme ko sira ginpapatawa. Maaram ak nga magigin masuol tanan para sa ak, pero dire ko mabasol an mga doctor kay ginhihimo manla nira an kanra trabaho.

Inabot na an dagom. Gintusok tusok ak ngan ginsarihan sa pira ka oras. Ginsisiguro man ak sa mga nars. Sige an kanra sugad nga magigin maupay ngan mahuhuman gihapon an tanan. Di sira naghihimo mga butang nga maaram sira makakadugang sa kakuri mao nga wara ak iba nga mahimo kundi an humangos nala abot sa mahuman.

An pinakamakuri sa tanan kay an kahuman sa ngatanan. Kahuman sa ngatanan nga pagsari ngan pagbulong, ako nala magsasayuan sa ak higdaan sa hospital. Mao gihapon kun diin nagtikang an tanan. Masugad sira nga ira ak oobserbahan ngan yaon mga doctor nga mag iimod saak kada pira ka oras.

Didto ko iton maiimdan, baga ngan halaba nga tikang sa atop. Dire ak maaram kun nano iton siya ngan kun nakadugtong iton siya sa sayo nga butang, pero nakilwag siya nga mali may kinabuhi. Dire ak makakilwag. Sa kadamo sa ginhimo saak, maluya ak ura-ura para dire ak labtan sa kun nano man iton.

Didto ko iton nakaptan. Sa oras nga ginlabtan ak siton nga baga nga butang, grabe ak dalagan nga mali nakirumbaanay. Tanan nga ak kusog kay ginawas hangtod sap agal na ak ura-ura para magin hadok. An pagtukod nala siton nga baga nga butang an ak nahimo. Mapinit siya kun kaptan ngan sige an kilwag abot sa naabat na niya an tanan nga parte sa ak lawas.

Ginsarihan ko nga gumasod pero pagal na ak ura-ura. An malain nga pamati kay naabat ko na saak bug-os nga kalawasan pero dire ak maaram kun gaanano na kaiha. Karuyag ko la makabalik saak pag katurog.

Tigda may sinulod nga nars. Tigda liwat nawara an baga nga butang sa ak pangimod. Ginapangutan-an ak niya kun okay la ak pero wara ak kusog para makasugad manla nga dire.

“Ay kabahala kay ine nga bulong pamamatahon ka la dali tapos makaka-katurog ka na gihapon,” mao an kanya bagaw.

Naruyag ak gumasod pero wara nagawas.

=———————————————————=

English Version

Every nightmare I have is the same.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I try to scream again but nothing comes out.

=——————————————————-=

*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 Jmee Juanerio
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jmee Juanerio

Inspired by the Mansusopsop legends

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

The post Mansusopsop – Waray Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Cebuano

Sa makausa pa, nakig istorya kanako ang akong anino. Paniudto kadto, ug samtang nagluto ‘ko sa kusina, iya ‘kong gisuguan nga kuhaon ang kutsilyo, dayon dunggabon ang sirbidora nga mao’y mudawat sa order. Daghang pagpang-daot ang gihunghong sa akong anino bahin sa serbidora — nga sige kuno sya’g manglibak nga ako nabuang na, nga mao kini’y hinungdan nga gibiyaan ko sa akong trato, ug nga imposibleng naa’y mahigugma sa sama nako.

Nagpasidaan ko sa akong amo nga mouli na lang ko tungod kay naglain akong gibati. Inig kaabot sa apartment, kadiyot kong ning duaw sa bintana. Paminaw nako, tanang tawong miagi, tabis kaayong nagtan-aw sa ako. Wa na ko makaantos, nag impake ko aron mouli na lang sa Iloilo. Nabuang na ba kaha ko, sa pagtuong mapildi nako ang usa ka halimaw sa usa pa?

Sulod sa bus nga akong gisakyan pauli, ming sulti na usab ang anino — nga sayon ra kaayong lubaon ang drayber, dayon ibangga ang bus sa katagbong sakyanan. Wa nako tagda ang mga hunghong. Akong namatikdang nahadlok kini sa umaabot. Angay lang nga mahadlok kini.

Hapit na sa tungang gabi-i sa among pagkaabot sa munisipyo. Kinahanglang magdali. Ning dagan ko padulong sa basakan. Sigurado kong didto nako maabtan ang sigbin, kung asa niya gipatay ang akong igsoong babae. Saksi ‘ko sa pagpaak niya sa anino sa akong igsson adtong higayuna.

Nagka-dako ang hunghong sa akong anino samtang nagpaduol kami sa lugar. Nag-alingasa na kini; di na ko kahulat. Akong gigawas ang flashlight, dayon tutok sa akong  atbang. Sa wa pa magdugay, ako nang nasimhutan ang sigbin — sa nagsagol nga baho sa nadunot nga unod ug napaig nga panit. Kini ang baho sa akong kalingkawasan.

Arang kabangis sa sigbin. Gi-angil niya ang iyang mga pangil, dayon pa-dasmag nga ninglabay sa akong kiliran. Lingkawas na gyud ko!

Apan dili kini mahitabo; naa’y nasayop. Ug didto na nako naamguhan. Lahi nga anino ang gipaak sa sigbin.

=—————————————————————-=

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 Cebuano language, alternatively called Cebuan and also often colloquially albeit informally referred to by most of its speakers simply as Bisaya (“Visayan”, not to be confused with other Visayan languages nor Brunei Bisaya language), is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 21 million people, mostly in Central Visayas, western parts of Eastern Visayas and most parts of Mindanao, most of whom belong to various Visayan ethnolingusitic groups, mainly the Cebuanos. It is the by far the most widely spoken of the Visayan languages, which are in turn part of wider the Philippine languages. The reference to the language as Bisaya is not encouraged anymore by linguists due to the many languages within the Visayan language group that may be confused with the term. The Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino, the official regulating body of Philippine languages, spells the name of the language as Sebwano.

Written by Karl Gaverza
CebuanoTranslation by Winston
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Winston

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/

The post Sigbin – Cebuano Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Pare-parehas ang aking masamang panaginip.

Nagsisimula ito sa aking higaan. Palagi na lang akong nasa ospital at hindi malaman ng mga doktor ang aking karamdaman. Lagi nilang inuulit ang pagsusuri sa akin, habang idinadaan ko lang sa biro ang lahat. Alam kong magpapatuloy ang sakit na nararanasan ko, pero hindi ko sila kayang sisihin dahil ginagawa lamang nila ang kanilang tungkulin.

Dumating na ang karayom at tumagal ng ilang oras ang pagtuturok nila sa akin. Pinapagaan ng nars ang aking pakiramdam, at sinabi niya na hindi magtatagal magiging maayos din ako. Napanatag ang aking kalooban dahil nasa mabuting kamay ang buhay ko, kaya ang kailangan kong gawin sa ngayon ay magtiwala sa kanila hanggang sa ako ay gumaling.

Hindi pa tapos ang hirap dahil kapag nagwakas na ang panggagamot nila sa akin, mararamdaman ko naman ang kalungkutan dala ng pagiging mapag-isa sa aking kuwarto. Naalala ko noong una akong dinala sa ospital, binabantayan lamang nila ako at may bumibista sa aking doktor bawat oras para kumustahin ang aking kalagayan.

Doon ko biglang nakita ang mahabang nilalang na may bahid na pula sa bubungan. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang aking nakikita at kung nakadikit siya sa kung saan, pero nagmumukha itong buhay dahil gumagalaw ito. Gusto kong kumilos para makaiwas sa kaniya, pero mahina ang aking katawan dulot na rin ng mga gamutang pinagdaanan ko.

Dumating ang puntong dumikit sa akin ang dila niya at bigla kong nakaramdam ang sobrang pagod. Hinihigop niya ang bawat lakas ko hanggang sa pagod na rin akong matakot. Titig lang ang kaya kong gawin sa mga oras na iyon. Ang lamig na humaplos sa aking balat ay kumalat sa aking buong katawan.

Sinubukan kong sumigaw pero hindi ko kaya dahil sa sobrang kapaguran. Umiikot ang kakaibang pakiramdam sa aking katawan at ngayon, hindi ko alam kung gaano na ito katagal. Gusto ko lang namang makatulog ulit.

Biglang pumasok ang nars sa kuwarto ko at kusang naglaho ang nilalang sa aking harapan. Kinukumusta niya ako kung maayos lang aking kalagayan. Nahihirapan akong sumagot na “hindi” dahil sa kalagayan ng aking katawan.

“Matagal kang gising ngayon dahil sa gamot, pero makakatulog ka rin.” sabi sa akin ng nars.

Gusto kong sumigaw, ngunit walang boses na lumalabas.

=———————————————————————–=

English Version

Every nightmare I have is the same.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I try to scream again but nothing comes out.

=——————————————————————————–=

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Emman Bernardino
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Emman Bernardino

Inspired by the Mansusopsop legends

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

IG: @NightmareSyrup

The post Mansusopsop – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Sa banwa sng Igbahay, may nagakabuhi na makatilingahan nga tinuga. Sa tuig sang makaako, 1539, ginsulong sng mga pumuluyo sang ina nga banwa ang malaut nga tawo nga nagahingalan kay Talagman. Sa iya nga puluy-an may nanarisari nga makahulugmat na mga butang nga nadiskobrehan ang mga pumuluyo. Ang isa sa pinaka makatilingalahan amo ang uwak nga may tuk-tok o tuka nga syado katalum kaparehos sang sundang ang katalun sini, apat ka mga mga maligwis nga tiil kag mga kuko kg mga karubkub.

Ginapatihan sang mga pumuluyo na ini klase na tinuga kahuptanan sng malain klase mn nga tinuga o ang ginatawag nga malain ginhawa. Ang pagkapanulay ni Talagman syado gd kalain nga sya ginahambal nga isa ka sigbin. Sa yadto nga panahon, ginapatuhan nga ang isa ka sigbin nagahatag katalagman sa lugar nga iya ginapanaguan.

May istorya nga naghalin sa mga pumuluyo nga may isa ka tawo nga makusog nga naaktuhan si Talagman nga nagahimu sng malain nya nga hilimuon, gin utod sang makusog nga tawo ang dulunggan ni Talagman. Sadto nga panahon ginapatihan sng mga pumuluyo sng Igbahay, nga ila ginatawag Igbajaos nga kng utdun mo ang nawala nga parti sng dulunggan sang ini nga mga tawo mautod mo mn ang koneksyon sng sigbin sa ispirito sng oag nga ginapatihan nagahatag sang langis agud maging isa ka sigbin ang isa ka tawo.

Ginapatihan nga grabe gid ang kamala-ut ni Talagman na sa pagtulok niya pa lng sa isa ka tawo grabe na ang halit nga mahatag niya sini. May mga istorya pa asta subung nga ang ila pa mga kalololohan ang nakasaksi nga nakita nila si Talagman nga ginkuha nga gamay nga botelya, ginhisuan ang lawas niya sang langis kag maglupad nga katunga lang ang lawas samtang ang katunga nabilin sa iya nga puluy-an.

Ang kapintas kg pagkamala-ut ni Talagman maiangay mo sa iya hinuptanan nga uac-uac. Ang ini nga makahaladlok nga uwak, nagakalipay gid magdusak kag maglaslas sang lawas sang iya biktima. Syado gid ang kalipay sini nga uwak samtang nagahatag sang kasakit sa iya biktima nga maga upod pa gid ini sa iya amu nga sigbin sa pagpangita nmn sang bag o na biktima nga kng sa diin ila naman pagapatyun.

—————————————–===

English Version

In the town of Igbahay, there exists a curious creature. In the year of the Lord, 1539, the people of the town raided the house of an evil man called Talagman. In his house they found many horrors. One most strange was a black crow with a beak as sharp as a knife, four long feet and claws and spines.

Now, it was said by the townsfolk that this creature was the companion of something more malicious. The evil of Talagman was so great that the people of the town whispered that he was a sigbin. In those days, a sigbin was a man who caused great evil and harm from his hiding place.

The townsfolk even tell a story of one day when a strong man caught Talagman in the middle of an evil act and the strong man cut off Talagman’s ear. Now, in those days there was a tradition in the town of Igbahay, whose people are called the Ibajaos, where certain men would have their left ear cut off. This practice was to break the pact that sigben would have with the spirit called oag, the creature that gives the oil which would make a man become a sigben.

Such was the evil of Talagman that, to this day, people would tell stories of how his glance alone would cause harm. They still say of stories where their great-great-great grandparents would see Talagman take a small flask, anoint his body with oil and fly through the air leaving half of his body in his house.

The cruelty and malice of Talagman had his match in the uac-uac, his companion. The misshapen crow would stab victims with its sharp beak and take great pleasure in raking its claws against the flesh of humans. So great was its love of torture that it would fly with its sigben master to find fresh meat that it could dig its claws in.

This story is of hundreds of years past, but always be warned. If you see the uac-uac and its four legs, know that its master will not be far behind.

-=-=———————————————

*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
Translation by Lindsay Gonzales
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Lindsay Gonzales

Inspired by “The Legend of the Sigbin.” Pavon (1838-1839) in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Uac-uac Illustration by NightmareSyrup
IG: @NightmareSyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/ 

The post Uac-uac – Hiligaynon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

The post Wak-wak (Surigao) – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*This story is in Masbatenyo – Ticaoeño

Pararehas lang an damgo ko ‘pag gindadamag ako.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

English Version

Every nightmare I have is the same.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I try to scream again but nothing comes out.

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

Written by Karl Gaverza

Translation by M.A.C. Villamor

Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © M.A.C. Villamor

Inspired by the Mansusopsop legends

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

The post Mansusopsop – Masbatenyo – Ticaoeño Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

“Pwede mo ma lantaw ang idalom sang katre ko?” Nagluya ang tingog ni Jess tungod sang mga bulong. Amo ina ang iya gina himu kada gab-e sugod sang nagsaylo kami sa hospital, nagapati siya nga may ara ang sa idalom sang iya katre nga gapamasakit sa iya.

Tatlo ka bulan nga pagsulay kag bulong kag wala man siya gihapon naga-ayu. Kabalo ko nga ang kabuhi indi dapat patas pero sais-anyos palang si Jess. Dapat wala bata nga magaagi sa mga inadlaw sang mga dagum kag tubo, kag indi gihapun makabaton sang bisan ano nga sabat. Indi gid patas.

Nagyuhum ako kag ginhalukan iya agtang. “Wala halimaw sa idalom sang imo katre, magpahuway ka na. Kinahanglan mo ang imo kakusog para sa “test” mo buas, sige?” Nagyuhum si Jess sa akon kag nagtulog. Ang kalig-on sang mga kabata-an, gapabilib guid sa akun, pero nagala-um ako nga maka-igo ina para makasalbar pa siya isa ka adlaw.

Wala guid. Napatay si Jess sa ina nga gab-e. Natulugan ako sa tupad ya kag ang sunod ko nalang nabal-an ang mga doktor kag nars nagadinalidali kag nagashinagit. Ginpunggan ako sang isa ka nars kay gusto ko guid makita ang gakatabo.

Gindul-ong ko sang nars sa may pertahan kag didto ko una nga nakita. Sa una sa hunahuna ko isa lang sa mga tubo nga nagatakod kay Jess, pero daw may indi insakto sa ina nga tubo. Kadako gid to para maging tubo ukon ano man gid kag nagatapos ina sa ubos sang katre.

Amo lang to ang nadumduman ko sa ina nga gab-e kag kadamo sang mga malain nga bagay nga nagkalatabo pagkatapos to. Ang lawas ni Jess “nadula” sang pakadto na sa pulenarya, hambal sang morque nga wala man lain nga matabo sa transportasyon, pero ang bangkay wala to nag-abot.

Ginahimo ko ang tanan nga makaya ko para mabal-an kun ano natabo kay Jess. Ang hambal ka mga nars nga may nagsulod sang isa ka bulan sa ikatlo nga palapag sang hospital, basi konektado to sa pagkadula ni Jess.

Ibalik ko siya.

Basta malubong lang 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 led 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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