*Note this story is in Ilocano

Alikamen:

Buneng – maaramat tapno mauluyan ti aswang kalpasan a maparmek daytoy.

Ipus ti Pagi – maaramat tapno saanen a makakuti ti aswang. Mangted kaniada iti nakaro unay a sakit.

Kalamansi – kalasag tapno saannaka a mapidut ti aswang. Dayta ti mangpadagsen kaniada.

Dapo – Iwaras iti bagi ti aswang no agsina ti bagida. Saanen nga maisubli ti Aswang ti naisina a bagina no naikkan ti dapo daytoy.

Gabon/Sambong/Bukadkad/Subsob (Blumea balsamefera) – Daytoy a mula ket mausar tapno mabugaw ti aswang. Masapul a kapurpuros ken ikabil a kanayon iti bulsa.

Bawang – Saan a maanusan ti aswang ti angot ti bawang. Kanayonen ti mangitugot.

Asin- Maaramat kasmet la iti dapo. Mausar met tapno maiyadayo  ti aswang kadagiti dadduma a lugar.

Ramramit –  Nabendisionan a banbanag, bendita, ken anting-anting a masapul iti panangiyadayo kadagiti nakabutbuteng a parsua.  Masapul a kasarita ti maysa a padi sakbay ti amin.

Dagiti ritos:

Mabalin a matiliw ti aswang babaen ti panangurnos ti tallo a dadakkel a bato iti sirkulo a kasla paglutuan. Inton mapasungadan ti ‘kak kak’ nga awag ti naparsua , baliksen ti Kredo dagiti Apostoles. Inton makadanon iti parte ti Kredo maipapan  iti pannakailansa  ni Cristo iti  krus, mangpidot ti maysa a bato ket ipak-ol ti maysa a lansa iti daga. Agpababanto ti naparsua ket agdisso iti tallo a bato, ket ditoy mabalinen a patayen.

Adda ritos  iti panangikkat ti lunod ti panagbalin ti maysa nga aswang; daytoy ket ti panaginum iti lemon ken danum, pannakaibitin a baliktad tapno maisarwada ti maysa a kasla billit a pinarsua ket daytoy maiwa-iwa iti pedaso.

Dagiti Palagip:

Usaren dagiti ramramit tapno mapasardeng dagiti encantasionda.  Padsuen  ida  babaen iti ut-ot manipud iti ipus ti pagi sa ipungsay ti uloda babaen ti panggibus a tagbat ti buneng.

Dagiti lunod  ti aswang ket mabalin a mapasingkedan babaen ti panangaramid ti ‘ritual ti itlog’ no sadinno a no makita dagiti marka ti mata ken dara iti itlog, kayatna a sawen a ti tao ket ‘inaswang’ (naallilaw).

Mabalin a maikkat dagiti ilusion iti taraon babaen ti panangipis-it iti calamansi kadagita. Dagiti masida a kas iti sinigang ket agbalin  a malukong a napno iti ramay ti tao ken dara.

Dagiti lunod  ti aswang ket mabalin nga agturong  iti  agsumbangir a dalan,  isu a no ti biktima ket masapsaplitan wenno masugatan iti aniaman a pisikal a wagas, ti aswang ti makarikna iti dayta.

Saan a nalawa daytoy a listaan ​​dagiti wagas iti panangtiliw iti naparsua. Adu pay dagiti ritual ken ramramit a maus-usar a manglaban kadagitoy a nakabutbuteng a parsua. .

Iwanwan koma ti Apo ti dalanmo.

Bendisyonannaka  ti Dios.

=——————————-=

Engilsh version

Equipment:
Bolo – used to give a final blow after incapacitating the aswang.
Stingray Tail – used to incapacitate the aswang. Causes great pain to them.
Kalamansi – A ward to ensure that the aswang cannot pick you up. It weighs them down.
Ashes – Used to sprinkle on the aswang’s body if they self-segment. Aswang cannot reattach if ashes are scattered on their other half.
Gabon/Sambong/Bukadkad/Subsob (Blumea Balsamefera) – This plant is used to ward off aswang. Pick it fresh and keep it in your pocket.
Garlic – Aswang cannot stand the smell of garlic. Keep some with you at all times.
Salt – Used in the same way as ashes. Can also be used to ward certain places away from aswang.
Wards – Blessed objects, holy water anting-anting are all useful to keep away the monsters. Make sure to see a priest beforehand.

*Note this story is in Bicol-Legazpi

Mga gagamiton:

Sundang – Ginagamit ini para maitao an pinal na atake pagkatapos makadakop nin aswang.

Ikòg-pagì – Ini ginagamit tanganing an aswang dai makahiro. Nagdadara ini nin sobrang kulog pag ini nakatama sa sainda.

Suwa – Sarong pangontra tanganing makasigurong dai ka masasaklot. Ini nakapagabat sa sarong tawo.

Abo – Ginagamit para ibudbud sa kabanga kan lawas kan aswang en kaso ini magbanga sa duwa. Sinda dai makakasulit sa kabanga nindang lawas kun ini nabubudbudan na nin abo.

Gabon/Sambong/Bukadkad/Subsob/Lakad-Bulan(Blumea Balsamefera) – Ang tinanom na ini ginagamit man na pangontra sa aswang. Magpudo nin bagong dahon kaini asin ilaag sa saindong mga bulsa.

Bawang – An parong kaini dai kayang tagalon nin mga aswang. Magdara kaini sa gabos na oras.

Asin – An gamit kaini parehas kan paggamit sa abo. Puwede man ining gamiton tanganing proteksyonan an mga lugar na puwedeng tuyuhun o dumanun nin mga aswang.

Mga Pangontra – Mga benditadong gamit, holy water asin mga anting-anting, gabos ini  epektibong pangontra sa mga aswang asin iba pang nilalang nin kadikluman. Marhay na makipaghilingan muna sa padi bago an gabos.

An mga ritwal:

An aswang o asbo pupuwedeng madakop sa pagpakarhay nin tulong dakulang gapo. Ini gibuhun na pabilog arog kan piglulutuan. Pag namati na an ‘kak kak’ kaini, magpangadyi kan Minatubod. Oras na makaabot duman sa parte kan pangadyi kun sain ipinako na sa krus si Kristo, magkua nin saro sa mga gapo asin ini gamiton pamukmok sa sarong pako diretso sa daga. An aswang iyo mabulosok paibaba asin matugdon sa tulong gapo kun sain puwede na ining gadanon.

An sumpa kan pagiging aswang puwedeng mahali sa sarong tawo. Ini sa paagi kan ritwal na kinakaipuhan nin dayap asin tubig. Ini iinomun asin an nag-inom kaipohan bitayon nin pabaliktad tanganing maisùka ninda an garo bayong na nilalang. Pag ini nailuwa na, kaipohan ining gadanon asin piridasohun.

Pagiromdom:

Gamiton an mga pangontra tanganing an mga aswang dai makagamit kan saindang mga orasyon. Gamiton an ikòg-pagì tanganing dai sinda makahiro dangan tigbason an saindang payo gamit an sundang.

Makukumpirma kun an tawo ‘inaswang’ sa paggibo kan ‘ritwal sa bunay’. Sa ritwal na ini, pag nahiling an markang garo mata asin dugo sa bunay iyo an patotoo na pig-aasawang an sarong tawo.

An mga ilusyon sa pagkaun puwedeng mahali kun ini papagaan nin suwa. An isira arog kan sinigang, magiging mangkò na pano nin murò asin dugo nin tawo.

Puwedeng mag-tablada sa aswang an saiyang gibo. Ini kun lalatiguhun o makulugan sa lawas sa anoman na paagi ang saiyang inaswang, siya an makakamati kan kulog kaini.

An listahan na ini bako halaba asin en punto sa kun pano magdakop nin aswang. Kadakul man na iba pang mga ritwal asin pangontra an pupuwedeng gamiton panlaban sa mga nilalang nin kadikluman.

Bantayan man lugod nin Kagurangnan an saimong paglakaw.

Dios Mabalos.

=——————————————————=

English Version

Equipment:
Bolo – used to give a final blow after incapacitating the aswang.
Stingray Tail – used to incapacitate the aswang. Causes great pain to them.
Kalamansi – A ward to ensure that the aswang cannot pick you up. It weighs them down.
Ashes – Used to sprinkle on the aswang’s body if they self-segment. Aswang cannot reattach if ashes are scattered on their other half. 
Gabon/Sambong/Bukadkad/Subsob (Blumea Balsamefera) – This plant is used to ward off aswang. Pick it fresh and keep it in your pocket.
Garlic – Aswang cannot stand the smell of garlic. Keep some with you at all times.
Salt – Used in the same way as ashes. Can also be used to ward certain places away from aswang.
Wards – Blessed objects, holy water anting-anting are all useful to keep away the monsters. Make sure to see a priest beforehand.

*Note this story is in Kinaray-a / Karay-a

Sangkap:

Binangon- ginagamit sa paglabo para tapuson ang aswang

Ikog ka Pagi- ginagamit para lupigun ang aswang. Nagatuga dya kang tuman nga kasakit.

Kalamansi- panagang para masiguro nga indi madagit ka aswang. Nagapabug-at dya para indi makalupad ang aswang.

Abo- ginaburibud sa utod nga lawas ka aswang para indi run magbalik.

Alibhon- ang dya nga dahon ginagamit para tabugon ang aswang. Mapuksi ka preska nga dahon kag ibutang sa imo nga bulsa.

Ahos – Indi ka agwanta ang aswang ka dapug na kadya. Magbalon pirmi.

Asin – Pareho man kang abo ang gamit. Pwede man magamit buribod sa mga lugar para tabugon ang mga kadu ti ginhawa.

Panagang ukon Panaming – Mga bagay nga nabenditahan, holy water kag anting-anting, makabulig gid sa pagtabog kang mga kadu ti ginhawa. Siguraduhon nga magpamangkot sa pari antes dya gamitun.

Pag-obra:

Madakup ang aswang paagi sa pagbutang kang tatlo ka bahul nga bato, pareho kon nagahimo kang sig-ang. Kon magtiktik run gani, isambita ka tudo ang Apostle’s creed. Kon rugto run ikaw sa bahin kang paglansang sa krus, puruta ang sangka bato kag ilubong ang sangka lansang sa lupa. Ang aswang mahulog kag magtupa sa mga bato kag rugto tana pagapatyun.

May ritwal ukon paobra para madura ang sumpa kang pagkaaswang. Dya amo ang pagpainum ka lemon kag tubig kag pagbitay nga suli  agud isuka ang rimo (daw buto ka pispis) sa anang busong. Dayon tuktukun ka pino ang rimo agud indi run mabuhi.

Padumdum:

Maggamit ka panagang para indi madutlan ka usog ukon indi maudum.  Dayon balbalun ka ikog ka pagi agud mangluya ang aswang kag amo ang paglabo ka binangon para tigbasun ang ulo.

Ang pag-usog ka aswang mapat-ud paagi sa pagpalimot (egg ritual). Kon makita ang mata kag dugo sa itlog buut hambalun, inaswang tana. Ginrimoan ukon gin-usog.

Ang pangontra sa pinalakad amo ang pagpaturo ka kalamasi sa pagkaun. Ang panuruk mo nga sinabawan nga isda kon paturuan ka kalamansi mangin tudlo kag dugo ka tawo.

Kon balbalun ukon silutan ang biktima, ang aswang nga nanghalit amo ang nagabatyag kang kasakit.

Pira lang dya sa mga pamaagi sa pagtapna kag pagdakup kang aswang. Duro pa nga mga ritwal ukon pag-obra ang ginagamit sa pagkontra ka dya nga mga tinuga.

Kabay pa ubayan ikaw kang Makaako sa imo nga dalanun.

Padayon.

=————————————————————–=

English Version

Equipment:
Bolo – used to give a final blow after incapacitating the aswang.
Stingray Tail – used to incapacitate the aswang. Causes great pain to them.
Kalamansi – A ward to ensure that the aswang cannot pick you up. It weighs them down.
Ashes – Used to sprinkle on the aswang’s body if they self-segment. Aswang cannot reattach if ashes are scattered on their other half.
Gabon/Sambong/Bukadkad/Subsob (Blumea Balsamefera) – This plant is used to ward off aswang. Pick it fresh and keep it in your pocket.
Garlic – Aswang cannot stand the smell of garlic. Keep some with you at all times.
Salt – Used in the same way as ashes. Can also be used to ward certain places away from aswang.
Wards – Blessed objects, holy water anting-anting are all useful to keep away the monsters. Make sure to see a priest beforehand.

=————————————————————–=

*The Karay-a language, or Kinaray-a is an Austronesian regional language spoken by the Karay-a people, mainly in Antique in the Philippines, Iloilo and other provinces on the island of Panay, as well as portions of the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. It is one of the Visayan languages, mainly along with Aklanon/Malaynon, Capiznon and Hiligaynon. As of 2015, there is an estimated 1,200,000 speakers of Kinaray-a with almost half of them are from Antique and Iloilo provinces.

Written by Karl Gaverza

Translation by Maaram

Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Maaram

Inspired by various Aswang legends

Aswang Illustration by Patricia Ramos
FB: The Art of Patricia Ramos

Kasangkapan:

Palang- gagamitan yang panauling balas kayaring asambut ing awsang

Iquing Pagi- gagamitan yang pangontra karing aswang. Makapag pasakit karela.

Kalamunding- anti yang aguimat para e raka akwang  asulapo babo reng awsang. Mabayat ya iti para karela.

Abu- bububud ya king kapitna nang katawan a melakwan ning aswang. Eya magsilbing mipakat pasibayu ing kaputut nang katawan ustung atin yang abu ing kapitna na.

Sambung- magagamit ya ining tanaman a iti pangontrang aswang. Masanting a managtal kaniti at ibili king kekang bulsa

Bawang- e ra apibata reng aswang ing bawu ning bawang. Masanting nung atin kang pane darala.

Asin- gagamitan yang anti king abu. Malyari ya namang ibiling pangontra karing miyaliwang lugal.

Aguimat- banal a bage. Maragul la saup reng agua bendita ampong anting-anting pangontra karing engkantu. Mangutang pamu karing pari bayu gumamit.

Ritwal:

Marakap ya ing aswang king pamanyamas  atlung(3) batung maragul a makapadurut, balamu pipaglutwan. Panga inawus na ne ning “kak kak” ing aswang, pangadyan ing pangadi da reng apostol.ustung miras na ing dakeng pangapaku nang Cristo king kurus, pulutan ing metung kareng batu at mipakung metung a paku king gabun. Datang ya ing awsang at mapun karing atlung batu. Malyari ne iting patayan.

Ating metung a ritwal nung nokarin malyari yang mayangu ing sumpa ning panga aswang, king pamaninum ning danum a miki kalamunding at ibitin yang makatiwarik. King paralang ayni sumuka lang anti mong ayup a lalang a kailangan pamiraswan.

Paganaka:

Gamitan ing agimat pangontra karing karelang banis. Pamaguran ye king iquing pagi ing aswang angga king mangayna ya, saka ye pututan buntuk king palang.

Malyari yang mabalu ing kulam ning aswang king awsan dang “egg ritual” king norakin ustung menakit lang mata ampong daya king ebun, buring sabyan meyaswang ya ing metung a tau.

Mabalu ya ing ilusyun king pamangan ustung mipusutan yang kalamunding. Malyaring ing sigang magi yang taliri ning tau ampong daya.

Ing kulam ning aswang malyari yang ibalik kaya anti mong iya ing manasakit ustung penasakitan ya ing taung kayang kinulam.

Ring mekalap a kapabaluang a reti la mangabaldugan king king ustung pamandakap awsang, dakal pa miwawaliwang paralan ampo riwal laban kareng kaniting lalang.

Makyabe ya sa keka ing agape ning Guinu.

Luid tamu ngan.

English Version

Equipment:
Bolo – used to give a final blow after incapacitating the aswang.
Stingray Tail – used to incapacitate the aswang. Causes great pain to them.
Kalamansi – A ward to ensure that the aswang cannot pick you up. It weighs them down.
Ashes – Used to sprinkle on the aswang’s body if they self-segment. Aswang cannot reattach if ashes are scattered on their other half. 
Gabon/Sambong/Bukadkad/Subsob (Blumea Balsamefera) – This plant is used to ward off aswang. Pick it fresh and keep it in your pocket.
Garlic – Aswang cannot stand the smell of garlic. Keep some with you at all times.
Salt – Used in the same way as ashes. Can also be used to ward certain places away from aswang.
Wards – Blessed objects, holy water anting-anting are all useful to keep away the monsters. Make sure to see a priest beforehand.

Equipment:
Bolo – used to give a final blow after incapacitating the aswang.
Stingray Tail – used to incapacitate the aswang. Causes great pain to them.
Kalamansi – A ward to ensure that the aswang cannot pick you up. It weighs them down.
Ashes – Used to sprinkle on the aswang’s body if they self-segment. Aswang cannot reattach if ashes are scattered on their other half.
Gabon/Sambong/Bukadkad/Subsob (Blumea Balsamefera) – This plant is used to ward off aswang. Pick it fresh and keep it in your pocket.
Garlic – Aswang cannot stand the smell of garlic. Keep some with you at all times.
Salt – Used in the same way as ashes. Can also be used to ward certain places away from aswang.
Wards – Blessed objects, holy water anting-anting are all useful to keep away the monsters. Make sure to see a priest beforehand.

Tonight, Regina was a queen. She held her court in the flowery isles and stood before her subjects with her crown and scepter.

“O queen of the flowery isles, please regale us with your wisdom,” said her handmaiden.

“What do you ask of me?”

“The queen of the clouds has taken this subject’s daughter,” the handmaiden pointed to an old woman kneeling nearby “she said that the queen of the clouds had heard a rumor of the daughter’s great beauty and took her so that she would be the loveliest in all the islands.”

“That cannot stand!” Regina rose from her throne.

“Handmaiden send my for my chariot, I will handle this personally.”

Her handmaiden fetched the queen’s golden chariot. The chariot itself was a grand sight, the wheels studded with diamonds, the gold shining brilliantly in the sun and it was drawn by five winged horses, the bentohangin of kahangian.

Regina was accompanied by her handmaiden and flew towards the castle of the queen of clouds. The guards knelt at her approach. Everyone had known who the queen of the flowery isles was, known for her wisdom and strength. She was quickly rushed to the chamber of the queen of clouds to hold a private audience.

“Well, we meet again.” The queen of clouds reclined on her throne. She was lovely, in her own way. Jet black hair cascaded down her shoulders and her face almost seemed like it was made to catch the sunset, though this was marred by her demeanor. For all her beauty, the queen of clouds had a perpetually cruel look on her face.

Regina would not be intimidated. She had come here to rescue her subject’s daughter and she reminded herself that was what needed to be done.

“What have you done with the girl?” Regina asked in a dignified but assertive tone.

“Now what are you talking about my dear? “ The queen of clouds almost looked bored.

“You know very well what I am talking about. Release the girl immediately, the court of the clouds has no control over the subjects of the flowery isles.”

“I have no idea what you mean, you must be tired from your trip dear, let me get you some refreshments,” the queen of the clouds clapped her hands, “Guards! Fetch the queen some wine.”

“I am not thirsty,” Regina said. “I am sovereign of my lands as you are yours. I do not want unnecessary bloodshed to happen because of this.”

“Well then what do you propose?” The queen of the clouds stared haughtily.

“I have heard that you have an interest in games, my fellow queen. Perhaps we should settle this matter through that?”
“You would risk the lives of one of your subjects in a game?”

“No, I would risk my own. If I lose then you shall have me in place of the girl.” The queen’s handmaiden gasped.

“Well, well. This day just became a lot more interesting,” the queen of the clouds smiled wryly, “I accept your terms. What game shall we play?”

“The oldest one, my fellow queen.”

The handmaiden had heard of this game before. There were only two players; each would ask a question that the other would have to answer with another question. One would lose if they could not think of a question to answer with.

“I shall start,” The queen of the clouds said, “What pierces the heavens with her loveliness?”

“What is only beautiful on the exterior?” Regina knew what the queen of clouds was trying to do, and she would not give her opponent the satisfaction.

“What is beauty but the reflection of the soul?” The queen of the clouds had a brief look of resentment on her face, but she would not allow herself to be distracted either.

“Will beauty matter when all is lost?” Regina looked the queen dead in the eye.

“Will all be lost when beauty endures?” The queen of the clouds shot back with a tense stare.

“Will beauty not fade with the passing of the suns?” Regina was trying a new tactic, getting the queen to lower her guard.

“If beauty will fade then is that not more reason to preserve it?” The queen of the clouds was sweating now, trying her best to keep up.

“How will beauty be known when there is no one left to know it?” This was no longer a mere game to Regina, she knew she had to prove something to her opponent.

“Will not beauty be all that is left?” The queen of the clouds was trembling on her throne.

“What about love?”

Regina stared at the tears streaming down her opponent’s cheeks. Even in sadness, her loveliness shined through.
“Take the girl and never enter my court again,” The queen of the clouds covered her face with her arms, “Everyone leave me be!” she shouted as the guards raced away from the throne room.

“It is never easy to lose someone you love,” said Regina
“How did you know?” The queen of the clouds said through her tears.

“The tales of your beauty were not exaggerated, neither were the tales of your kindness,” Regina walked towards the queen. “The queen of the clouds was always known to me as a beautiful face, and a beautiful soul.”

Regina sat next to the queen and said “No one is ever ready to lose someone they love, but trying to hold on to what we can’t control is never the way to live a life. One day your beauty will fade, as will mine, as will the girl’s. Time will take everything we have from us if we let it.”

“Everything?” The queen of the clouds stared into Regina’s eyes.

“Don’t let it take love away from you.” Regina smiled.

Regina stood up and left the throne room. The girl was sitting by her handmaiden on her chariot, ready to leave.

“What did you tell her my queen?” Her handmaiden asked.

“What she needed to hear,” Regina commanded the five bentohangin to fly to her palace as they were chased away by the last rays of sunset.
————————–————————–————————–————

Today, Regina had to wake up early for her chemotherapy treatment. She stared into her mirror and tried to brush what was left of her hair.

She stared at the strands of hair that was left on her brush and sighed. It was time. It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but she just couldn’t ignore what was happening in front of her.

She borrowed her brother’s electric shaver and did the deed herself. Regina stared at the girl in the mirror and repeated the mantra her mother taught her. Her mother always said that she had a guardian angel watching over her, but Regina thought that that was something mothers tell all of their daughters.

As she walked into the hospital, she bumped into a woman rushing to walk outside. The woman apologized before walking away.

Regina couldn’t help but have a faint feeling of familiarity from the woman. She was sure she had seen that face before. Maybe as a handmaiden? Or a guard? Or a Queen?

She shrugged and continued on towards her therapy. Regina breathed in and hoped that everything would turn out okay.

————————–————————–————————–——

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Diwata Illustration by Patricia Ramos
FB: The Art of Patricia Ramos

Color by Yanna Gemora
FB: Yannami

Inspired by the Diwata myths.