*Note this story is in Ilocano

Kumitkita kaniak ti tagtagainep babaen ti sangagasut a matana ket agtalinaedak a nagyelo iti pagiddaak.

Diak ammo no ania ti kayatna, ngem diak pagarupen nga adda kaipapanan dayta a pannakadangran. Magna ti parsua nga umasideg kaniak ket bayat a kitkitaek ti agkir-in a bagina, maawatakon kamaudiananna. Saan lang nga tagtagainep iti tagtagainep. Maysa dayta a pakdaar.

Ti daligmata (diak ammo no kasano nga ammok ti naganna, nagtubo laeng iti ulok) ket padpadasenna nga ibaga kaniak a kasapulak a pasardengen ti pannakapasamak ti ginggined.

“Kasano nga aramidek dayta?” sinaludsodko kadagiti daligmata. Nagtungtung-ed manen kaniak, ket ammok. Masapul a mapanak iti lugar a nakaipasngayan dagiti ginggined. Masapul a kiddawek kadakuada nga agtalinaedda a sitatalna. “Apay a siak? Dimteng ti sungbat iti saludsodko iti layus dagiti pampanunot. Agbibiag ti daligmata kadagiti tagtagainep, ket mabalinna laeng ti aggaraw iti dayta a sakup.

Saanna a pulos a makapan iti pisikal a lubong, uray pay ti pagtaengan dagiti ginggined ken bagyo no awan ti agar-arapaap iti sibayna.

Ket maysa nga agar-arapaap ti adda kenkuana.

Saan a kas iti napeggad ti panagdaliasat a kas iti impagarupko. Adda iti panunotko ti daligmata a mangibagbaga a kasapulak laeng ti agarapaap nga addaak sadiay ket nasayaat ti panangiturongna kaniak. Imbagana kaniak nga arapaapko ti lubong, ngem saan a kas iti ammok. Nagsao dayta maipapan iti horizon, ti pannakabingay ti daga ken ti lubong dagiti natay ken dagiti ngiwat dagiti parsua nga agnanaed sadiay. Dagiti ladawan dagiti uleg a nabalkot iti intero a lubong, nga iggem ti naindaklan a dios a ni Magbabaya, ti nagpusipos iti ulok. Natagtagainepko ti horizon, dagiti uleg, ti Magbabaya. Inar-arapaapko ti lugar a nakaipasngayan dagiti ginggined. Inar-arapaapko ti daga dagiti angin ken bagyo.

Ket iti apagbiit, addanak sadiay.

“Hello mortal.” Maysa a babai a timek ti nangkablaaw kaniak. “Tunggal makitami ti naasiyo a Mangilala gagangay nga adda pakainaiganna iti dayta.”  Simmungbat ti timek ti lalaki. Naamirisko a kitkitaek ti ulo ti dua a higante nga uleg, a tunggal maysa ket dakdakkel ngem iti skyscraper. Mabutengak koma, ngem ti kinadayag dagitoy a dua ti mangparikna kaniak iti kasta unay a panagsiddaaw. Natalged ti riknak iti imatangda.

Induronnak ti daligmata manipud iti likudak ket nalagipko no apay nga addaak sadiay. “Dakkel nga Uleg…” Diak ammo no kasano a tamingen ida, ngem impagarupko a saan a makadangran ti panangipakita iti panagraem. Imbagak kadakuada ti maipapan iti bang-arko, ti higante a ginggined a nangrisut iti siudadko ken nangburak iti pagtaengak.

“Daytoy ti pagtaengan dagiti ginggined, bassit a tao.” Simmungbat ti timek ti lalaki. “Mapataud dagiti panagkintayeg no aggarawtay”. Insungbat ti timek ti babai. “Dagiti garawmi pagtalinaedenda a naigalut ti lubong.”Kinuna ti timek ti lalaki. “Ania ti serserbitayo no awanen ti lubong?” sinaludsod ti timek ti babai.

“No mapasamak ti bang-arko, awanen ti lubongko. Mabalin a bassit a paset dayta ti intero a daga, ngem dayta a bassit a paset ti intero a lubongko. Dayta a siudad ket napateg kaniak a kas iti kinapateg dagiti kontinente kenka.” Ti kadi sungbatko.

“Naturedka.” Kinuna ti timek ti babai. “Awan pay ti mortal a nakasarita kadakami buyogen ti kasta a kinaprangka.” Insungbat ti timek ti lalaki. “Kaaduan a mortal ikagkagumaandatayo nga allilawen dagiti kabusorda.” Simmungbat ti timek ti babai. “Maawaten daytoy a panagbalbaliw.” Insungbat ti timek ti lalaki. “Naikkankami iti annongen a mangtaginayon iti lubong iti lugarna.” Kinuna ti timek ti babai. “Tapno saan a matnag ti daga.” Insungbat ti timek ti lalaki. “Ngem ania ti pagimbagan dayta no madadael ti maysa a lubong iti uneg ti lubong?” sinaludsod ti timek ti babai.

“Aramidenmi ti kiddawenyo. Agtalinaedkami a natalna tapno agtalinaed a nasayaat ti lubongmo.” Nagkaykaysa a simmungbat dagiti Intumbangol. “Inka itan, mortal. Ti pagtaengan dagiti ginggined ket saan a lugar a pagnaedan ti kitayo.”

Inkagumaak ti agyaman kadakuada, ngem nangrugin nga agtaytayab ti napigsa nga angin. Pinidutnak ket dandani diak makaanges. Naranggas unay dagiti bagyo isu nga impagarupko a mapigpisiak.  Nagpukkawak.

Kalpasanna, nariingak.

Naguni ti alarmko. Alas 7 ti bigatin. Ammok a maladawak iti klase no diak agdardaras. Nakaam-amak koma ti trapiko ita, kas iti inaldaw. Nagngangaak ket inkagumaak a lagipen dagiti tagtagainepko. Panagkunak adda uleg ken maysa a bunggoy dagiti mata a mangmatmatmat kaniak, ngem diak malagip ti adu a napalabas dayta.

Napigpigsa pay ti panaguni ti backup alarm-ko ngem iti immuna. Ipasimudaagna ti panangrugi ti talaga nga atiddog ​​nga aldaw.

Sapay koma ta ad-adu pay dagiti makapagagar nga inaramidko.

=————————-=

English Version

The dream stares at me with its hundred eyes and I stay frozen on my bed.

I don’t know what it wants, but I don’t think it means any harm. The creature walks over to me and as I stare at its blinking body, I finally understand. The nightmare wasn’t a nightmare at all. It was a warning. The daligmata (I don’t know how I know its name, it just popped in my head) was trying to tell me I needed to stop the earthquake from happening.

“How do I do that?” I asked the daligmata. It stared at me again, and I knew. I had to go to the place where earthquakes were born. I had to ask them to stay still. “Why me?” The answer to my question came in a flood of thoughts. The daligmata lives in dreams, and it can only move in that realm. It could never go in the physical world, much less the home of earthquakes and storms if it didn’t have a dreamer by its side.

And a dreamer it had.

The journey wasn’t as perilous as I imagined it to be. The daligmata was in my thoughts saying I only need to dream to be there and it guided me well. It told me to dream of the world, but not as I knew it. It spoke of the horizon, the split between the earth and the underworld and the mouths of the creatures that lived there. Images of the snakes wrapped around the world, held up by the great god Magbabaya, swirled in my head. I dreamt of the horizon, of the snakes, of Magbabaya. I dreamt of the place where earthquakes were born. I dreamt of the land of the winds and storms.

And in a flash, I was there.

“Hello mortal.” A feminine voice greeted me. “Whenever we see your kind Mangilala* usually has something to do with it.” A male voice answered back. I realized I was staring at the heads of two gigantic snakes, each bigger than a skyscraper. I would have been scared, but the majesty of the two was making me feel so much awe. I felt safe in their presence.

The daligmata nudged me from behind and I remembered why I was there. “Great Serpents…” I didn’t know how to address them, but I figured showing respect wouldn’t hurt. I told them about the nightmare I had, the giant earthquake that ripped through my city and shattered my home.

“This is the home of earthquakes, little human.” The male voice answered. “The shakes are caused when we move.” The female voice replied. “Our movements keep the world tethered.” Said the male voice. “What use are we if the world is gone?” The female voice asked.

“If my nightmare happens, my world would be gone. It may be a small part of the entire earth, but that tiny bit is my whole world. That city is as important to me as the continents are to you.” Was my answer.

“You are brave.” The female voice said. “No mortal has ever spoken to us with such candor.” The male voice replied. “Most mortals try to trick us into destroying their enemies.” The female voice answered. “This is a welcome change.” The male voice replied. “We are tasked to keep the world in place.” The female voice said. “To keep the earth from falling away.” The male voice replied. “But what good is that if a world within the world is broken?” The female voice asked.

“We will do as you ask. We will stay still so your world may be kept intact.” The Intumbangol replied in unison. “Go now, mortal. The home of earthquakes is no place for your kind to be.”

I tried to thank them, but a strong wind started blowing. It picked me up and I almost couldn’t breathe. The gusts were so violent I thought I was being ripped apart. I screamed.

Then I woke up.

My alarm was going off. It was 7 AM. I knew I would be late for class if I didn’t hurry. The traffic would be terrible today, like every day. I yawned and tried to remember the dreams I had. I think there was a snake and a bunch of eyes looking at me, but I couldn’t recall much past that.

My backup alarm rang even louder than the first one. It signaled the start of a really long day.

I wish I did more exciting things.

————————–————————–———————–

*The Bukidnon god of temptation

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Ilocano translation by Princess Jaselle
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Princess Jaselle

Inspired by the Intumbangol description in The Soul Book. Demetrio, Cordero-Fernando &Zialcita 1991. And the Daligmata descriptions in Songs and Gifts at the Frontier : Person and Exchange in the Agusan Manobo Possession Ritual. Buenconsejo. 2002. & 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Samar. 2015.

Intumbangol Illustration by Nadine Cabe
Tumblr: http://nadinecabe.tumblr.com/

Watercolor by Alexa Garde
Website: www.Lexa.us

*Note this story is in Ilocano

Naminsan adda makapungtot a balasang nga awan ti papanan na. Maysa  a sakit ti nangbalkot iti daga, ket awan ti maaramidan dagiti tattao iti probinsiana no di ti mangiserra iti bagbagida tapno maliklikan ti panagsaknapna.

Daytoy a lugar ket saan a pagtaenganna, adda pamiliana sadiay, pudno, ngem il-iliwenna dagiti higante a girder a dumanon kadagiti ulep, ti naariwawa a baybay dagiti tattao a kasla pulos a di agpatingga, dagiti atiddog ​​a rabii a nabusbos kadagiti gagayyemna iti rabaw ti maysa a baso nga arak.

Ket bayat ti panaglabas dagiti aldaw iti sumagmamano a lawas, dimmakkel laeng ti panagmaymaysana.

Awan ti pamay-an a rummuar iti balayna, ta amangan no matiliw dagiti opisial.

Napukawna koma ti bagina kadagiti libro, ngem nabasana amin dagita. Inkagumaanna ti aglibas kadagiti naraniag nga iskrin nga inyegna manipud pagtaengan, ngem saan a napartak ti panagtrabahoda a kas iti kayatna. Inkagumaanna ti agaramid iti musika, ngem awan ti muse-na.

Awan ti adda kenkuana iti biagna.

Saan nga adda uray la.

Maysa nga aldaw ti panagmaymaysa ti nangburak kenkuana. Dina maibturan ti uppat a diding ti maysa a siled nga awan kaipapanan kenkuana.

Inurayna agingga a nakaturog ti pamiliana (ken sapay koma ta dagiti guardia met) ket nagtaray kadagiti kalsada a kasla nauyong a babai.

No mabalinna koma nagpukkaw kadagiti langit, kamaudiananna addaan iti bassit a wayawaya.

Ket umdasen dayta, iti di kumurang a maysa a rabii.

Nagbalin daytoy a rutinana, nga ikagkagumaanna nga iyunnat ti bagina ken iduronna dagiti beddeng ti mabalinna nga aramiden.

Agingga iti maysa a gasat a rabii.

Napukawna ti bagina iti angin a dandani dina nadlaw ti flashlight nga agturong kenkuana. Pinadasna ti agtaray, ngem daytoy a paset ti ili ket saan nga ammona ken naan-anay a namnamaenna a matiliw.

“Psssssssssst. ditoy. “

Iti kasipngetan, mangngegna laeng a naggapu ti uni iti kayo ti Galawin. Nalagipna dagiti estoria nga isalaysay ti lola-na, maipapan kadagiti espiritu a parsua nga agnanaed kadagiti kayo.

Napanunotna a kaykayatna nga alaen dagiti gundawayna iti kayo ngem ti matiliw ket bay-anna a ti sipnget ti mangala kenkuana.

Maysa a bassit a lawag ti nangsilnag (ti impagarupna) iti uneg ti kayo.

Nakatugaw iti sanguananna ti maysa a parsua, tao ti pormana, a naabbungotan iti patpatgen ti fungus ken lumot.

Isu ti immuna a nangburak iti kinaulimek.

“Hello.”

Simmungbat ti parsua a nabara nga isem.

“Hello, ania ti naganmo?”

“Siak ni Julie, mayat a maam-ammoka.”

“Nagsayaat met a maam-ammoka.”

“Dispensarennak, ngem, ania ti ka?”

“Sapay koma ta ammok ti bagik. Talaga kadi nga ammotayo no aniatayo?”

Sinabat ni Julie daytoy a sasao buyogen ti nariribuk a kinaulimek.

“HAHAHA, agang-angawak laeng. Dakayo a tattao ket kasta unay ti pannakasagidyo no maipapan kadagiti angaw.”

“Ladingitek, diak la nairuam—”

“Makitam ti espiritu? Kaaduan a tattao ti kasta, adda rason no apay a maibilangtayo kas sarsarita nga us-usaren dagiti tattao tapno magun-odda ti kayatda.”

“Gapuna,” kinita ni Julie ti parsua, “ania ti kayatmo?”

“Kayatko laeng ti tumulong,” insungbat ti parsua buyogen ti kasla ngipen nga isem.

“Ania ti kayatmo a saoen?”

“Napanunotko a mabalinko nga ipangato ti sumagmamano nga espiritu,” (naamiris ni Julie idi agangay maysa daytoy nga angaw)

Nagsennaay ni Julie, “Diak makapagnaed ditoy, saan nga ditoy nga ili, saanen. Sapay koma ta agtuboak lattan kadagiti payak ket agtayabak nga agsubli iti pagtaengan.”

“Panagkunam, sumayaat kadi ti riknam dayta? Mangmangngegko a medyo empty met sadiay.”

“Agtaeng latta dayta.”

Nagtung-ed ti parsua, “Iti panawen ti panagsusupiat awanen ti ad-adda a komportable ngem ti kaadda a mabalinmo a pagruaran ti pusom.”

“Wen, makitam a maawatan. Saan a kas iti dadduma a kameng ti pamiliak.”

“Siguradoak a ti laeng kasayaatan para kenka ti kayatda.”

“Kasano? Ti napalabas a sumagmamano a lawas ad-adda a nadadaelko. Diak makagaraw, diak makapanunot. Diak pay ketdi makasarita dagiti gagayyemko ta nakalkaldaang ti signal ditoy.”

“Ket kasta met kenka.”

“Wen.” Nagtugaw ni Julie ket intabonna ti ulona kadagiti imana.

“Napanunotmo kadi a mabalin a saan a maipapan kenka dayta?”

“Kasla kala dagijai arajai balita.”

“Dimo pagarupen nga adda puntoda?”

“Ipagarup ko, ammom ti mapaspasamak.”

“No adda mapaspasamak a kas kadakkel daytoy, agannayas dagiti espiritu a makisarita iti maysa ken maysa.”

“Sadino ti nangngegam?”

“Iti angin, ngem saan a napateg daytan.”

“No kasta, apay nga addaka pay laeng ditoy? Apay a dika tumulong a mangikkat iti dayta?”

“Dayta ket nalablabes ngem iti pannakabalinko.”

“Apay pay ketdi a katkatungtungen niak?”

“Ngamin no diak matarimaan ti dakdakkel a problema ket uray la mabalinko—”

“Atarimaannak?”

“Mabalinko a padasen.”

“Apay ag pakarigat kapay? Marunaw nak tumitang  iajai kuartok, ikagkagumaak a panunoten no ania ti maaramidak sakbay a mangrugin nga agserra dagiti pader.”

“Kaykayatmo kadi dayta ngem—”

“Ngem ti panagbalin a natay?”

“……”

“Saanak a maag, ammok dagiti peggad. No saannak a patayen ti quarantine basta mabalin. Mariknak ti bagik nga in-inut nga umadayo.”

“Naka amammo ak ti kasta idin. napasnek. natured. Dagidiay sidadaan a mangpuor iti bagbagida tapno laeng mariknada a sibibiagda.”

“Kitaem—ammom—”

“Kin dagidiay saan a maseknan kadagiti lua nga ibatida kadagiti tugotda.”

“……”

“Mano a nadunor a puso ti nabatim? Mano nga espiritu ti naburakmo gapu laeng ta nauma kan ken kayatmo ti baro?”

“Saan a patas dayta.”

“Ti kinapudno ket manmano.”

Naulimek a nagtugaw ni Julie a kadua ti parsua.

“Awandan.”

Idin a nalagip ni Julie nga tartarayan na  gayam dagiti guardia.

Kinita ni Julie ti parsua ket nagyaman iti oras na. Sakbay a pimmanaw nagturong iti dayta ket dinamagna, “Mabalin kadi ti agsubli inton bigat? akayat ka pay nga makatungtong”.

“Saan a kasapulan a mapanka ditoy. Agdenggeg kala ti angin iti rabii”.

Ket idi makita ti Dawinde nga agtartaray nga agsubli iti balayna immisem dayta.

No awanen ti sabalin,

Nasayaat ngarod.

=———————————=

English Version

Once there was an angry girl with nowhere to go. A great sickness enveloped the land, and the people in her province had no choice but to close themselves off to avoid its spread.

This place was not her home, she had family there, true, but she longed for the giant girders that reached the clouds, the bustling sea of people that never seemed to end, the long nights spent with friends over a glass of wine.

And as the days passed into weeks, her loneliness only grew.

There was no way she could leave her house, lest she get caught by the officials.

She would have lost herself in books, but she had read them all. She tried to escape into the bright screens she had brought from home, but they didn’t work as fast as she had wanted them to. She tried to make music, but she had no muse.

She had nothing in her life.

Not there at least.

One day the loneliness broke her. She couldn’t stand the four walls of a room that had no meaning to her.

She waited until her family fell asleep (and hopefully the guards as well) and ran through the streets like a madwoman.

If she could she would have screamed at the heavens, finally she had a small bit of freedom.

And that was enough, for at least one night.

This became her routine, trying to stretch her body and pushing the boundaries of what she could do.

Until one fateful night.

She had lost herself in the breeze that she almost didn’t notice the flashlight moving towards her. She tried to run, but this part of the town was unknown to her and she fully expected to get caught.

“Psssssssssst. Over here.”

In the darkness, she could only hear that the sound came from the Galawin tree. She remembered the stories that her lola would tell, about spirit beings that inhabited the trees.

She figured that she’d rather take her chances in the tree than get caught and let the darkness take her.

A small light illuminated (what she assumed was) the interior of the tree.

Sitting in front of her was a creature, human in form, covered with a patchwork of fungus and moss.

She was the first to break the silence.
“Hello.”

The creature replied back with a warm smile.

“Hello, what is your name?”

“I’m Julie, it’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too.”

“Excuse me, but, what ARE you?”

“I wish I knew myself. Do we really know what we are?”

Julie met this statement with a confused silence.
“HAHAHA, I’m just kidding. You humans are so touchy when it comes to jokes.”

“I’m sorry, I’m just not used to—”

“Seeing a spirit? Most humans are, there’s a reason why we’re regarded as legends used by people to get what they want.”

“So,” Julie looked at the creature, “what DO you want?”

“I just want to help,” the creature replied with a toothy grin.

“What do you mean?”

“I figured I could lift some spirits,” (Julie later realized this was a joke)

Julie sighed, “I can’t stay here, not in this town, not anymore. I wish I could just grow wings and fly back home.”

“Do you think that would make you feel better? I hear it’s pretty empty there as well.”

“It would still be home.”

The creature nodded, “In times of strife nothing is more comfortable than being where  you can let your heart out.”

“Yes, see you understand. Not like the rest of my family.”

“I’m sure they only want what’s best for you.”

“How? The past few weeks I’ve gotten more broken. I can’t move, I can’t think. I can’t even talk to my friends because the signal here is miserable.”

“And so are you.”

“Yes.” Julie sat down and buried her head in her hands.

“Did you ever think it might not be about you?”

“You sound like everyone on the news.”
“You don’t think they have a point?”

“So, you know what’s going on.”

“When something as big as this is happening, the spirits tend to talk to one another.”

“Where did you hear it from?”

“A travelling breeze, but that doesn’t matter.”

“Then why are you still here? Why don’t you help get rid of it?”

“That is beyond my powers.”

“Why are you even talking to me?”

“Because if I can’t fix the bigger problem then at least I can—”

“Fix me?”

“I can try.”

“Why bother? I’ll probably just melt into my room, trying to figure out what I can do before the walls start to close in.”

“Would you rather that than—”

“Than being dead?”

“……”

“I’m not stupid, I know the risks. If it doesn’t kill me the quarantine just might. I can feel myself slowly slipping away.”

“I’ve met your kind before. The passionate. The brave. The ones willing to set themselves on fire just to feel alive.”

“See—you know—”

“And those that don’t care about the tears they leave in their tracks.”

“……”

“How many broken hearts have you left behind? How many spirits have you shattered just because you became bored and wanted something new?”

“That’s not fair.”

“The truth seldom is.”

Julie sat in silence with the creature.

“They’re gone now.”

It was then that Julie remembered that she was actually running away from the guards.

Julie looked at the creature and thanked it for its time. Before she left she turned to it and asked, “Can I come back tomorrow? I’d still like to talk to you.”

“You don’t have to go all the way here. Just listen to the night air”

And as the Dawinde saw her running back to her house it smiled.

If nothing else,

It would be kind.

——————————————————————-===

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Ilocano translation by Princess Jaselle
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Princess Jaselle

Inspired by the story “How Dauin got its Name” in Negros Oriental and Siquijor Island Legends, Beliefs and Folkways. Aldecoa-Rodriguez. 2000.

Dawinde illustration by Marko Mikhal Gomez Deposoy

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Markoriginals/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/mark0riginals

*Note this story is in Ilocano

Nangrugi ti daga nga awan ti aniaman.

Ti pannakalangalang ti nangituray iti daga nga awan sabali no di dagiti danum a nagtakder a pammaneknek iti panaglabas ti panawen.

Iti tengnga ti lubong adda maysa nga abut a nagnaedan ti higante nga alimbubuyog a ni Gaki, a manangaywan iti naindaklan a dios a ni Lumawig.

Adda dagiti tattao idi a nangtuldok iti rabaw ti daga. Dagiti agakar-akar gapu iti nakaparsuaanda, nagdaliasatda iti aglawlaw ti nalukneng a rabaw ti daga, nga aganup kadagiti animal. Gapu ta awan ti tampok ti aglawlawda, mapukawda ti pannakasurotda iti aglawlawda, nga agbalinda a mayaw-awan gapu ta awan dagiti pagilasinan a mangiwanwan kadakuada.

Nagpannurayda iti panagpukkaw, ket dayta ti nangriribuk iti pannaturog ni Lumawig.

Saan koma a makatulong dayta.

Nagpungtot ni Lumawig kadagiti naariwawa a tattao, iti imatangna saanda a maikari iti lubong. Inar-arapaapna dagiti baro a tattao, maysa a kaputotan a mangtawid iti napimpintas a lubong.

Iti dayta a panggep inayabanna ni Gaki. Binilinna ti higante nga alimbubuyog a saksaknapan ti abut babaen ti bagina. Kayat ni Lumawig a dalusan ti daga babaen ti simmaruno a layus.

Ket manipud iti layus, timmaud ti dua a bantay: Polis ken Calawitan.

Napartak ti layus, awan ti tao a nakalasat iti layus. Manipud iti danum ti layus inngato ni Lumawig ti dua a bangkay, maysa a kalakian nga agnagan iti Gatan, nga inkabilna iti tuktok ti bantay Polis ken maysa a kabaian, ti Bangan, nga inkabilna iti tuktok ti Bantay Calawitan.

Ti lamiis iti rabii ti nangriing ken ni Gatan ket nasarakan ti bagina iti di pamiliar nga aglawlaw. Padasenna uray kasano dina malagip ti napasamak kenkuana, amin a lagip ket napunas iti panunotna. Mabalinna laeng nga ipamaysa ti agkir-in a lawag nga agkir-in iti adayo, maysa a sigurado a pagilasinan nga adda sabali a sibibiag a parsua.

Naguray agingga iti parbangon.

Bayat nga agsapsapul ni Gatan iti taraon, nakasarak iti maysa a balsa nga agtaytayab. Iti kannawan a sikigan ti balsa adda aso idinto nga iti kannigid adda manok.

Innala ni Gatan daytoy a kas pagilasinan manipud kadagiti didiosen ket nagturong iti direksion ti lawag a nakitana.

Nakatulong unay dagiti kakaduana nga animal. Tunggal nalabes ti panagturong ti balsa iti kannawan agtaul ti aso ket ilinteg ni Gatan ti kursoda ket no agwalis ti balsa iti kannigid agkarayam ti manok ket i-chart manen ni Gatan ti kursoda.

Dina ammo a dagiti kakaduana ket sagut ti dios a ni Lumawig, ket uray no ammona, saan koma a napateg dayta.

Nagdisso ni Gatan iti igid ti Bantay Calawitan.

Nakitana nga adda abut a napno kadagiti sibibiag nga ember. Kadagiti sarukod iti abay ti abut adda sinturon ken palda ti babai. Sinukimat ni Gatan ti lugar tapno birokenna ti babai ket idi makitana ket naupay. Immay a naglayus dagiti lagip.

Ni Bangan ti kabsatna a babai.

Nagkandado dagiti matada ket dida ammo ti aramidenda. Sigurado a dida mabalin ti makidenna ta agkabsatda.

Ngem inted ti dios a ni Lumawig ti bendisionna. Isuda laeng ti dua a tattao a nabati ditoy daga ken addaan iti responsabilidad a mangparnuay iti baro a kaputotan a rumang-ay kadagiti daga.

Binilin ni Lumawig ni Gaki nga agkarayam a rummuar iti abut ket isaksakna ti saksakan ti abut. Ti bumasbassit a danum ti nangpataud iti lubong dagiti turod ken ginget, bantay ken karayan. Awanen ti nagturay ti pannakalangalang, ta baro a pangrugian daytoy.

Kas sagut kadagiti baro a tattao iti daga innalana ni Lumawig iti rupana ti maysa a galunggong ti barbas ket inwarasna iti intero a daga. Nagbalbaliw daytoy a silo a nagbalin a mula itan, a nangpunno iti daga.

Ket isu ti kasta a timmaud ti lubong kas ammotayo.

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English Version

The earth began with nothing.

Desolation ruled the land with only the waters that stood testament to the passing of time.

In the center of the world was a pit where the giant crab Gaki stayed, overseer of the great god Lumawig. The flowing waters raced here, draining towards Gaki.

There were people then that dotted the face of the earth. Nomads by nature, they traveled around the concave surface of the earth, hunting animals. Because their environment was featureless, they would lose track of their surroundings, becoming lost for there were no landmarks to guide them.

They resorted to shouting, and that disturbed Lumawig’s slumber.

That would not do.

Lumawig became angry at the noisy humans, in his eyes they were unfit for the world. He dreamed of new humans, a generation that would inherit a more beautiful world.

To that end he called upon Gaki. He ordered the giant crab to plug the pit with its body. Lumawig wanted to purify the earth with the ensuing flood.

And out of the flood, two mountains rose: Polis and Calawitan.

The flooding was swift, no human had survived the deluge. From the flood waters Lumawig lifted two bodies, a male named Gatan, which he placed on top of mount Polis and a female, Bangan, which he placed on top of Mount Calawitan.

The night chill awakened Gatan and he found himself in unfamiliar surroundings. Try as he might he could not remember what had happened to him, all memory wiped from his mind. He could only focus on a flickering light that twinkled in the distance, a sure sign that there was another living being.

He waited until dawn.

While Gatan was searching for food, he found a raft floating. On the right side of the raft was a dog while on the left was a rooster.

Gatan took this as a sign from the gods and headed towards the direction of the light that he saw.

His animal companions were of invaluable help. Whenever the raft went too much to the right the dog barked and Gatan corrected their course and when the raft swept to the left the rooster would crow and Gatan again charted their course.

He did not know that his companions were gifts of the god, Lumawig, and even if he did know, it wouldn’t have mattered.

Gatan landed on the shore of Mount Calawitan.

He saw that there was a pit filled with live embers. On sticks beside the pit were a belt and a woman’s skirt. Gatan searched the area to find the woman and when he saw her he was dismayed. Memories came flooding back.

It was his sister, Bangan.

They locked eyes and did not know what to do. Surely they could not copulate as they were brother and sister.

But the god Lumawig gave his blessing. They were the only two humans left on earth and had the responsibility of creating a new generation to flourish among the lands.

Lumawig ordered Gaki to crawl out of the pit and unplug the hole. The receding waters gave rise to a world of hills and valleys, mountains and rivers. No more did desolation reign, for this was a new beginning.

As a gift to the new peoples of the earth Lumawig took from his face a knot of beard and scattered it throughout the earth. This knot transformed into what are now plants, populating the earth.

And it was thus the world as we know it came into being.

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Ilocano translation by Princess Jaselle
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Princess Jaselle

Adapted from the legend of Gaki and Lumawig from the Bontok Igorot found in The Soul Book. Demetrio & Cordero-Fernando 1991.

Gaki Illustration by Daniel Decena
Instagram: @thepenslinger

Color by Patricia Pria
Instagram: @meowtricia_