*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga.

Mayong tawo na nakaka-bisto simo na arog ko.

Midbid ta ka na bago ka pa namundag.  Ang saimong ina magayon na babaye.  Sa pangpang siya nagpapalampas nin oras, dinadalan ang sulog paduman sa kurit kan langit asin daga.  Yaon ako kan si ama mo nagpamalaye.  D’yan mismo sa kahoy na iyan.

Mooton mong mag-kawat sa may salog kan sadit ka pa. Ang saimong mga para-aling nakabarantay sinisigurong libre ka sa peligro. Nungka sinda maghadit ta pagyaon ako mayo simong makaka-kulog.

Nagdakula ka na kaakbay ang salog.   Ano nang pilyo mo kan anom na taon ka. Pigpararingawan mo ang manga gurang na Padre. Tapos nagdalagan ka sa salog ta aram mo na dae ka makukua duman niisay man. Matibayon ka kayang maglangoy.  Mayo sa mga kakawat mo na kaya ang paspas mong paglangoy.  Nalobo sa orgulyo ang sakong puso ta himate na galamay mong marhay ang tubig-salog.

Yaon man ako kan mangyari ang enot mong problema sa pagka-moot. Ay, marhay-marhayon ka para sa babaeng eto.  Romdom ko pa ang pagparaisip mo kung ano ang manga nangyari.  Bilogon an bulan asin matanga na kan nagharanap ang manga nag-aataman saimo.  Haloy sinda naghanap pero dae ka naheling.  Iyo, ta oya ako siniguro s’imong pagsolo-solo. Pagmata pagka-aga mayo ka ning maski sarong guris sa hawak, asin nag-puli ka sa manga magurang mo.

Duminakula kang areglado, binatilyong ma-gulat asin guapo.  Pirmi ka diyan sa may pangpang, poesia sinusurat, binabalagtas minsan.  Ang saimong boses kalmado asin malumbay.  Iyan ang manga kantang naduyan sako sa pagkaturog.

Sinayod mo saro sa saimong berso duwa nang bulan ang naka-agi.  Na ang buhay kan tawo hararom ang gurot sa kalag.  Isinurat mo, “Garo sarong daga sa kalag.” Ang sulog kan salog nagbiko, nagtaliling, asin nagduko ta naki-iba sa pagtula mo.  Huli kaiyan, nagimadmad ako kun ano ang dapat kong gibohon.

Kan nagtuparan ang satong manga mata may namatian ka, ano?  Talaga kitang duwa saro sana.  Nakatindog kang solido sa daga kan nagserado ang satong manga hiling asin nagkantada ang salog.  Ang tubig luminangkaw sagkod na uminabot sa saimong mata asin naheling mo ang totoong ako.

Siempre, nangalas ka.  Arog ka’yan ang modo kan kadaklan pagnahiling ang tunay kong porma.  Dae mo nabatid na nakasulot ako kaning pungpong na uhot asin binurogpos na batag para itago ang hibaba kan sakong hawak. Nawili ka sa sakong gayon asin ako, siring man s’imo. Nahihiling ko ang pungaw asin pagmawot kan kalag mo.  Dae bale na ang kublit ko itom asin abuhon o kaya ine nasusuklob nin tarom, basta ang importante gusto mo ako.

Hasta ngonyan sinusumpa ko pa ang mga katambay mo. Pano ninda naaraman gamiton ang daga na itaga pa-kurus sa tubig?

Ay, habo kong maaraman mo ang sakong kaluyahan, padaba.

Dae mahaloy magkakasaro kita.  Sagkod na may sulog ang salog, puso ko pagsasadire mo

Madanay sagkod pa man.

=——————————————-=

English Version

Nobody knows you like I do.

I’ve known you since before you were born. Your mother was such a beautiful woman. She would spend time by the river, watching it run into the horizon. I was there when your father, the gentleman, proposed. He did it right by that tree.

When you were a little baby you loved to play by the water. You’d always be watched of course, your guardians would hover around you to make sure you were alright. They didn’t need to worry, as long as I was there nothing would be able to harm you.

You grew up with the river by your side. At six years old you were a mischievous little boy. You would play tricks on the old priests and run away to the river where they couldn’t catch you. You were a great swimmer. None of your playmates could match your speed. It made my heart swell with pride knowing that you took to the water so well.

I was there during your first heartbreak. You were too good for that girl anyway. I remember you trying to find sense in what had happened. It was midnight and the moon full in the sky when your guardians came to look for you. Try as they might they couldn’t find you, of course, I was there to make sure you had your privacy. You woke up the next day, not a scratch on you, and went back home to your parents.

You grew into a fine young man, so dashing and handsome. You would stay by the riverside and write your poems, even orating them on some occasions. Your voice was so soothing and calm. It was my lullaby every night.

Two moons ago you spoke one of your poems out loud. It was about life, how it cuts deep into the soul of every person. “Like a knife through the soul”, that was one of the lines from your poem. The river bent and flowed to match your oration. It was then I knew what I had to do.

When our eyes met you could feel it couldn’t you? How we were meant to be together. You stood there, solid on the ground as we locked our gaze and the river sang. It rose higher until it reached your eyes and you saw me for what I was.

You were surprised, of course. Most humans are when they see my true form. You didn’t realize that I wore the bundle of rice straws and cluster of bananas to hide my lower half. You were enthralled by my beauty and I, by you. I could see the longing in your soul. It didn’t matter that my skin was black and grey or that it was covered with spines, you wanted me and that was all that mattered.

To this day I still curse your guardian. How did a human know to get a bolo and slash at the water with a cross? That knowledge should have been hidden from humans.

Ah but I should not show weakness in front of you, my love.

We will be together soon enough. As long as the river flows, my heart will belong to you.

Always and forever.

=———————————————————=

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bicol Translation by Patricia P. SanJose
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Patricia P. SanJose

Adapted from a story from Abra, Calaba River told by Guillermo Guillen Crisologo

Berberoka Illustration by Guillermo Guillen Crisologo

*Note this story is in Bicol-Legazpi

Daing nakamidbid saimo arog kan pagkamidbid ko saimo

Midbid taka na bago ka pa man pinangaki. An saimong ina, sarong magayon na babayi.  Siya pirming nagduduman sa may salog, hinihiling an pagbulos kan tubig pasiring sa sunlupan. Niyaon ako kan an saimong ama, an maginoo, nag-atang nin kasal. Ginibo niya ito harani sa kahoy na an.

Kan ika sadit pang aki, muyahonun mong magkawat sa may tubigan. Pirmi mong pigmamasdan an pagdalagan kaini, an saimong mga bantay dai ka pigbabayaan nganing masiguro ninda dai ika maaano. Dai man sindang dapat ikahadit, ta sagkod niyaon ako warang makakulog sa saimo.

Nagdakula ika na an salog harani saimong boot. Sa edad na anom, ika makaraw na aki. Saimong kinakarawan an mga gurang na kapadian asin ika minadulag pasiring sa salog kung sain dai ka ninda madadakop. Saro kang matibay na paralangoy. Wara saimong mga kakawat an kayang magsabay sa saimong kaskas. Na-oogmang maray an sakong puso na an tubig saimong namomotan.

Niyaon ako kan ang saimong puso inot na nakulogan. Marhay kang lalaki para sa babaying ito. Naromdoman ko na ika nagparaisip kung nata arog kaito ang nangyari. Ang bilog na bulan nagsisirdang sa kamatangaan nin banggi kan ika pighanap kan saimong mga bantay. Haloy ka nindang pighanap pero dai ka ninda nakua ta niyaon ako, sinisiguro na igwa kang oras para saimong sadiri. Kinaagahan, nagimata ka na maray an kamugtakan, tulos man na ika nag-uli sa saimong mga magurang.

Nagdakula ka na sarong marhay na lalaki, makusog an boot asin may itsura. Niyaon ika pirmi sa may salog, duman sinusurat mo an saimong mga tula asin sa piling mga okasyon ini saimong binabasa. Ang saimong boses kalmado asin mayumhok sa pamati. Ini ang sakong pampakaturog sa kada banggi na minaagi.

Duwang bulan na an nakaagi kan makusog mong pigtula ang saro sa saimong mga gibo. Ini patungkol sa buhay, kun pano ini nakalugad nin hararom sa kalag nin kada sarong tawo. “Arog kan sarong kutsilyong nakatusok sa kalag”, iyan an saro sa mga linya kan saimong tula. An salog nagliko asin padagos na nagbulos sa pagsabay sa saimo. Sa mga oras na ini, aram ko na kun ano an dapat kong gibohun.

Kan an satuyang mga mata nagsabatan, bako namatian mo man? Kun panong kitang duwa an dapat na magibahan. Dai ka nakahiro sa saimong tinitindugan, an satong mga mata dai ta mahali sa kada saro mientras na ang salog nagkakanta. Ini naglangkaw, naglangkaw sagkod maabot an saimong mga mata asin  nahiling mo  kun ano ako.

Siyempre, nakigkig ka. Gabos man na tawo pag nahiling ninda an totoo kong itsura. Dai tulos nag-laog sa isip mo na kaya ako nakasul-ot nin bugkos nin uhot asin sapad nin mga batag tanganing maitago ko an kabanga kan sakong lawas. Nadara ka kan sakong gayon asin ako sa imo man. Nahihiling ko an pungaw sa saimong kalag. Dai na bale na an sakuyang kulit itom asin abo an kolor o ini pano nin tunok. Muya mo ako, iyo ang importante.

Sagkod sa aldaw na ini, isinusumpa ko an saimong bantay. Pano naaraman nin sarong tawo na magkua nin sundang asin tigbason an tubig sa korteng krus? An kaaraman na ini dapat itinatago  sa mga tawo.

Ah, pero dai dapat ako magpahiling nin kaluyahan saimong hampang, sakong namomotan.

Diit na panahon na sana, kitang duwa magiibahan na. Sagkod an salog nagbubulos, an sakong puso saimo sana.

Ngonyan asin sagkod pa man.

=—————————————————–=

English Version

Nobody knows you like I do.

I’ve known you since before you were born. Your mother was such a beautiful woman. She would spend time by the river, watching it run into the horizon. I was there when your father, the gentleman, proposed. He did it right by that tree.

When you were a little baby you loved to play by the water. You’d always be watched of course, your guardians would hover around you to make sure you were alright. They didn’t need to worry, as long as I was there nothing would be able to harm you.

You grew up with the river by your side. At six years old you were a mischievous little boy. You would play tricks on the old priests and run away to the river where they couldn’t catch you. You were a great swimmer. None of your playmates could match your speed. It made my heart swell with pride knowing that you took to the water so well.

I was there during your first heartbreak. You were too good for that girl anyway. I remember you trying to find sense in what had happened. It was midnight and the moon full in the sky when your guardians came to look for you. Try as they might they couldn’t find you, of course, I was there to make sure you had your privacy. You woke up the next day, not a scratch on you, and went back home to your parents.

You grew into a fine young man, so dashing and handsome. You would stay by the riverside and write your poems, even orating them on some occasions. Your voice was so soothing and calm. It was my lullaby every night.

Two moons ago you spoke one of your poems out loud. It was about life, how it cuts deep into the soul of every person. “Like a knife through the soul”, that was one of the lines from your poem. The river bent and flowed to match your oration. It was then I knew what I had to do.

When our eyes met you could feel it couldn’t you? How we were meant to be together. You stood there, solid on the ground as we locked our gaze and the river sang. It rose higher until it reached your eyes and you saw me for what I was.

You were surprised, of course. Most humans are when they see my true form. You didn’t realize that I wore the bundle of rice straws and cluster of bananas to hide my lower half. You were enthralled by my beauty and I, by you. I could see the longing in your soul. It didn’t matter that my skin was black and grey or that it was covered with spines, you wanted me and that was all that mattered.

To this day I still curse your guardian. How did a human know to get a bolo and slash at the water with a cross? That knowledge should have been hidden from humans.

Ah but I should not show weakness in front of you, my love.

We will be together soon enough. As long as the river flows, my heart will belong to you.

Always and forever.

=—————————————————————————-=

The Bikol languages or Bicolano languages are a group of Central Philippine languages spoken mostly in the Bicol Peninsula in the island of Luzon, the neighboring island province of Catanduanes and the island of Burias in Masbate. There is a dialect continuum between the Visayan languages and the Bikol languages; the two together are called the Bisakol languages.

The Tabaco-Legazpi-Sorsogon (TLS) dialect is spoken in the eastern coast of Albay and the northeastern part of Sorsogon. TLS is the dialect that has been most influenced by the Inland Bikol languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Wella Guianan
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Wella Guianan

Adapted from a story from Abra, Calaba River told by Guillermo Guillen Crisologo

Berberoka Illustration by Guillermo Guillen Crisologo

Nobody knows you like I do.

I’ve known you since before you were born. Your mother was such a beautiful woman. She would spend time by the river, watching it run into the horizon. I was there when your father, the gentleman, proposed. He did it right by that tree.

When you were a little baby you loved to play by the water. You’d always be watched of course, your guardians would hover around you to make sure you were alright. They didn’t need to worry, as long as I was there nothing would be able to harm you.

You grew up with the river by your side. At six years old you were a mischievous little boy. You would play tricks on the old priests and run away to the river where they couldn’t catch you. You were a great swimmer. None of your playmates could match your speed. It made my heart swell with pride knowing that you took to the water so well.

I was there during your first heartbreak. You were too good for that girl anyway. I remember you trying to find sense in what had happened. It was midnight and the moon full in the sky when your guardians came to look for you. Try as they might they couldn’t find you, of course, I was there to make sure you had your privacy. You woke up the next day, not a scratch on you, and went back home to your parents.

You grew into a fine young man, so dashing and handsome. You would stay by the riverside and write your poems, even orating them on some occasions. Your voice was so soothing and calm. It was my lullaby every night.

Two moons ago you spoke one of your poems out loud. It was about life, how it cuts deep into the soul of every person. “Like a knife through the soul”, that was one of the lines from your poem. The river bent and flowed to match your oration. It was then I knew what I had to do.

When our eyes met you could feel it couldn’t you? How we were meant to be together. You stood there, solid on the ground as we locked our gaze and the river sang. It rose higher until it reached your eyes and you saw me for what I was.

You were surprised, of course. Most humans are when they see my true form. You didn’t realize that I wore the bundle of rice straws and cluster of bananas to hide my lower half. You were enthralled by my beauty and I, by you. I could see the longing in your soul. It didn’t matter that my skin was black and grey or that it was covered with spines, you wanted me and that was all that mattered.

To this day I still curse your guardian. How did a human know to get a bolo and slash at the water with a cross? That knowledge should have been hidden from humans.

Ah but I should not show weakness in front of you, my love.

We will be together soon enough. As long as the river flows, my heart will belong to you.

Always and forever.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Adapted from a story from Abra, Calaba River told by Guillermo Guillen Crisologo

Berberoka Illustration by Guillermo Guillen Crisologo