*Note this story is in Cebuano

Lumsan ka nila sa wala’y pagduha-duha. Ing-ana sila ka mangtas.

Gitakuban ni Marabi ang iyang mga dunggan arun di mabati ang yawyaw sa iyang apohan. Gihunahuna niya ang mga buwak ug kong unsa sila ka-anyag. Ang maong katahum dili makapasakit niya.

Gigunitan sa iyang apohan ang iya mga kamot ug gisultihan siyang maminaw. Sakto na siya sa pangidarun arun masubayan sa sugilanon kabahin sa sapa ug kinahanglan siya’ng maminaw gusto man niya o dili.

Wala’y gisulti si Marabi.

Ni-usab og subay ang iyang apohan sa sugilananon. Ang sapa sa Tanjay lugar kung asa ka makalulinghayaw apan ana-ay rason nganung wala’y gustong magdugay didto kung mo-abot na ang kangit-ngit.

Puno sa pagsupak nga nihangad si Marabi sa iyang apohan. Apan di masukod ang iyang ka-anyag.

Ayaw salig sa katahum. Anha ka niya danihun.

Mura’g na-insulto si Marabi sa pag-am-am kaniya nga mura’g bata. Di ako motu-o nimo.

Nasagmuyo ang nawng sa iyang apohan sa iyang gisulti. Nganung di man ka kasabot nga gibuhat ko kani arun mapanalipdan ka sa katalagman.

Ubos gayud og pagtan-aw ang iyang apohan kang Marabi. Siya nalang ang nahabilin sa iyang kinabuhi sa dihang mamatay ang iyang mga ginakanan. Nangandoy siyang unta ana-a pa’y laing taw sa iyang pamilya.

Gitamay niya siya.

Paminaw, ipasalig mo lang nako nga dili ka mo-adto sa sapa nga mag inusara?

Mao ra? Sige. Isa-ad ko kana.

Nibarog siya ug nilakaw.

Igo na lang gihilot sa iyang apohan ang kilid sa iyong ulo ug nagpanghupaw. Basi’g kining bata-a maoy rason sa kamatayun niya puhon.

Gisugat sa matahum nga talan-awun sa sapa si Marabi. Naa’y mga katawhan nga nag piknik daplin sa sapa.

Nanghupaw siya ug naghuwat sa kahapunon.

Naghuwat siya hangtud sa nanghipos og nanglakaw ang kina-awihang taw.

Naghuwat siya hangtud siya nag inusara.

Ug kong mao man.

Daplin sa sapa, sa repleksyon sa mga bitoon nakita niya siya.

Wala na gipangutana ni Marabi ang iyang pangalan, basin ug wala sad. Ang nahibaw-an lang niya kay siya ang pinakamaanyag nga babaye nga iyang nakit-an.

Niginhawa siya ug lawum ug nitikang og ginagmay padulong kaniya.

Gisinyasan siya sa babaye nga modu-ol. Kumusta matahum kong pinalangga, ginahisgutan ba ko nimo?

Namugnaw si Marabi. Nahibaw siya, siyempre makahibaw siya. Makahibalo ang mga sama niya kung istoryahan sila, mao na ang pulong sa iyang apohan.

Nipahiyom ang babaye. Wala na kana’y bili. Naningkamot sa pagsuway ang imong apohan di ba? Apan kahibalo ta kong unsa gayud ang imong gusto.

Nilakang siya padulong niya ug gihikap ang iyang panit.

Bugnaw ug basa kini apan sa paghikap niya mura kini’g susama sa pinakahumok nga seda nga adunay gamay nga kainit.

Gusto ni Marabi nga mabati kini hangtod sa hangtod.

Ali pinanga ko. Manayaw kita.

Milanog sa iyang utokan ang maong panghunahuna.

Hangtod sa hangtod.

Pahawa diha Idla!

Nikatawa ang batang babaye samtang nag balanse sa iyang kaugalingon sa mga kabatu-an sa sapa.Wala siya makasabot nganung di siya sugtan magduwa, kakapoy ba.

Di ko mosugot nga imo nangbuhaton! Balik nganhi!

Paminaw sa imong inahan.

Hapit madalin-as sa bato si Idla. Nitungha ang usa ka estranghero, usa ka tiguwang. Puwa ug naghubag ang iyang mga mata nga mura siya’g bag-oha’y nga naghilak.

Nganu mang maminaw siya sa mga dagko. Ang ila ra man kay di ko paduwa-on.

Ganahan siya’g kaayuhan alang ka niya .

Unsa-on man nimo pagkahibalo na.

Mao na ang akong gusto para niya.

Nahilom si Idla ug nagkasabot. Mao ni siya, ang apohan sa batang nawagtang.

Pasaylo-a ko, mo adto nako sa akong inahan.

Palihug lakaw. Ug hinudumi, peligroso ang sapa.

Timan-an ko na lolo.

Maayong naglaktaw ang batang babaye taliwala sa mga kabato-an sa sapa, nagpa-ingun sa iyang inahan.

Ug ang apohan nilantaw sa sapa, nag-gunit sa iyang sundang. Karung gabhi-ona humnon niya ang tanan.

Makalisang nga nilabay ang tanan.

Nahinunduman ni Marabi ang puwa nga kolor. Nakita niya ang iyang kaugalingon nga nag sayaw sayaw kauban ang usa ka maanyag nga babaye ilawm sa sapa ug ang palasyo nga ginama sa bulawan. Malipayun siya atung higayona.

Taod-taod, sa kahayag sa adlaw nitin-aw ang tanan. Nahinumduman niya katong naglingkod ug naghuwat siya sa iyang apohan sa ilang balay.

Nakita niya ang babaye sa iyang atubangan, nagsayaw sayaw sa di masuta nga kanta. Ang iyang kamot ana-a sa iyang hawak. Nagtuyok tuyok sila hangtud nga iyang nadungan siya.

Ang tingog sa iyang apohan.

Ni-adtong higayona, naputol ang lamat ug nibutho kong unsa gayud ang naa sa iyang palibot. Nagpabiling maanyag ang babaye apan mangtas siyang tan-aw ilawm sa kahayag sa mga bitoon. Nitag-as ang iyang mga kuko, niha-it ang iyang mga ngipon ug nangkalkag ang iyang buhok tungod sa tubig.

Nisyagit ang babye ug nitudlo padulong sa ibabaw. Sa kahayag sa buwan nakita ni Marabi ang sidlak sa tumoy sa sundang sa iyang apohan, naghapak hapak sa tubig porma’g kuros.

Wala’y laing nadungan si Marabi sa iyang apohon kun dili ang pagbalik balik og pagtawag sa iyang ngalan.

Uli na Marabi.

Balik na.

Sa kalit, iyang gidu-ot palayo ang babaye ug nilangoy padulong sa babaw. Nilantaw siya pagbalik sa kahadlok nga masundan sa babaye.

Apan wala siya maglihok nga sama siya gihiktan sa iyang gikahimutangan. Nakahibalo si Marabi nga binuhatan ni sa iyang apohan apan wala siya masayod og gi-unsa.

Nibutho siya ibabaw sa tubig ug nihangos og hangin.

Buhi ka. Salamat Hesus nga buhi ka.

Paspas ang iyang pag-ginhawa ug nisuway sa pagbarog.

Lolo, palihug, Naa ko sa ilawm sa sapa ug ana-ay babaye didto ug—

Kahibalo ko inday. Ug akong siguraduhon nga dili naka niya mapasakitan pagbalik.

Unsa imong pasabot?

Nidu-ol ang iyang apohan sa sapa ug ni layat.

Nisyagit si Marabi alang sa iyang apohan. Wala na siya’y laing gihandum pa kun dili ang iyang mga gakos.

Apan mao man kini ang kinabuhi.

Dili na mobalik pa ang iyang apohan. Dili sama niya.

Ug sa ubos sa kainit sa adlaw nihilak siya, nangandoy nga unta naminaw siya sa iyang mga sugilanon.

=————————————————–=

English Version

They’ll drown you without a second thought. That’s just the kind of monsters that they are.

Marabi brought her hands to her ears and shuts out the noise from her lolo. She thinks about flowers and how beautiful they are. Something that beautiful could never hurt her.

Her lolo grabs her hands and tells her to listen. She is old enough now to be told the story of the river and he will make her listen whether she wants to or not.

Marabi says nothing.

Her lolo tries again. The Tanjay river might seem like a place to have your fun, but there is a reason no one wants to be left alone in the darkness.

Marabi looks up defiantly at her lolo. But she’s so beautiful.
You mustn’t trust beauty. That’s how she lures you in.
Marabi looks insulted, as if she’s being talked down to because she’s a child. I don’t believe you.

In an instant her lolo’s face is twisted with annoyance. Why can’t you understand that I’m doing this to protect you?
It’s just like her lolo to condescend to Marabi. After her parents died he was all she had left. She wished she had more.
She despises him.

Look, just promise me you won’t go to the river alone?

Is that it? Fine. I promise.

She gets up and leaves.

Her lolo rubs his temples and sighs. Someday that girl will be the death of him.

The winding river greets Marabi with quiet charm. Today there were people out having picnics by the riverside.

She sighed and waited until the sun travelled across the sky.
She waited until the last few people packed up their things and left.

She waited until she was alone.

Or was she?

By the river bank, reflected in the starlight was her.
Marabi never asked what her name was, maybe she didn’t have one. All Marabi knew was that she was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.

She gasped and took a few steps forward.

The woman beckoned Marabi to come closer. Hello there my pretty pet, have you been talking about me?

Marabi felt a lump in her throat. She knew, of course she knew. Her kind would know if they were being talked about, that’s what her lolo told her.

The woman smiled. It’s no matter. Your lolo tries as hard as he can doesn’t he? But we both know where your heart lies.
Marabi took a few steps forward and touched the woman’s skin.

It should have felt cold and damp from the river, but at her touch it was like the smoothest silk with a hint of warmth.
Marabi wished she could feel it forever.

Come now my pet. Let us dance.

The thought echoed in Marabi’s head.

Forever.

Idla! Get away from there.

The young girl laughs as she balances on the river rocks, being extra careful not to fall in. She doesn’t understand why the adults won’t let her play, and such is life.

I won’t have you doing that! Now get back here!

You should listen to your mother.

Idla almost slips off the rock. A stranger appears, an old man. His eyes are red and puffy, as if he had been crying recently.
Why should I listen to the grownups? All they do is tell me not to play.

She only wants what’s best for you.

How do you know that?

It’s what I wanted for her.

In that moment a quiet understanding fell over Idla. This was him, the lolo of the girl that went missing.

I’m sorry, I’ll go to my mother.

Please do. And remember, this river is dangerous.
I will lolo.

The girl gracefully skips among the river rocks, bounding towards her mother.

And the lolo stares at the river, holding his bolo. Tonight it would have to be enough.

It passes in a daze.

Marabi remembers the color red. She sees herself dancing with the beautiful woman in the bottom of the river, in a palace made of gold. She was happy then.

It is only later, in the harsh light of day that things come into focus. Sitting at home waiting for her lolo the recollections come flooding back.

She sees the woman in front of her, dancing to an unknown song. He hands are on Marabi’s waist. They spin around until she hears him.

Her lolo’s voice.

In that moment the spell is broken and she sees things for the way they are. The woman’s beauty remains, but it is cruel in the starlight. Her nails have grown, her teeth have sharpened and her hair coils violently in the water.

The woman screams and points towards the surface. Through the moonlight Marabi can see the glint of her lolo’s bolo cutting the water in a cross shape.

Throughout all of this Marabi hears only her name, over and over.

Come home Marabi.

Come home.

In an instant she pushes away from the woman and swims towards the surface. She is afraid that she will be followed, and she looks behind.

The woman remains unmoved as if chained to her position. Marabi knows that this is her lolo’s doing, but she doesn’t know how.

Marabi breaks the river’s surface and gasps for air.
You’re alive. Thank Jesus you’re alive.

She hungrily devours more life-giving air and she tries to stand.

Lolo! Please, I was underwater and the woman was there and—

I know iha, I know. And I will make sure she never hurts you again.

What do you mean?!

Her lolo goes by the riverside and dives in.

Marabi screams for her lolo. She wants nothing more than to be in his embrace.

But such is the way life is.

Her lolo is not coming back. Not like she did.

And in the harsh light of day she cries, wishing that she had listened to his stories.

*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
Cebuano Translation by Esperanza Bonifacio
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Esperanza Bonifacio

Based on The Mermaid of Tanjay River. Historcal Data of Tanjay, Negros Oriental. in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Illustration by Brylle Infante Patiu
Instagram: @bryllepatiu.dwg

*Note this story is in Tagalog

niya ito, labag man ito sa kaniyang kalooban.

Walang sinabi si Marabi.

Sinubukan ulit ng matanda na isalaysay ang kuwento. Mukhang magandang magsaya sa ilog ng Tanjay, ngunit mayroong dahilan kung bakit walang gustong maiwan nang mag-isa sa piling ng kadiliman.

Tumingin si Marabi sa kaniyang lolo nang may panghahamon sa kaniyang mukha. Pero napakaganda niya.

Hindi ka dapat magtiwala sa kagandahan. Iyon ang ginagamit niya para akitin ka.

Tila nainsulto si Marabi, na para bang minamaliit siya dahil isa siyang bata. Hindi ako naniniwala sa inyo.

Mabilis na nainis ang kaniyang lolo at kitang-kita ito sa mukha ng matanda. Bakit hindi mo maintindihan na ginagawa ko ito para protektahan ka?

Hindi na bagong maliitin si Marabi ng kaniyang lolo. Noong namatay ang mga magulang niya, ang lolo na lamang niya ang natitira niyang kadugo. Sana ay mas marami pa siyang kamag-anak.

Kinasusuklaman niya ang kaniyang lolo.

Puwede bang ipangako mo na lang sa akin na hindi ka pupunta sa ilog nang mag-isa?

‘Yun lang ba? Sige. Pangako.

Tumayo siya at umalis.

Hinilot ng matanda ang kaniyang sentido. Napabuntong-hininga siya. Mamamatay siya dahil sa batang iyon.

Mapayapa at nakakahalina ang ilog na palikaw-likaw na sumalubong kay Marabi. May mga tao ngayon na nagkakainan sa tabing-ilog.

Napabuntong-hininga siya at naghintay hanggang lumipat ng puwesto ang araw sa kalangitan.

Naghintay siya hanggang magligpit at umalis ang mga nalalabing tao.

Naghintay siya hanggang mag-isa na lamang siya.

Nga ba?

Malapit sa pampang ng ilog, naroon ang babae. Naaaninagan siya ng liwanag na mula sa mga bituin.

Hindi kailanman hiningi ni Marabi ang kaniyang pangalan. Marahil ay wala siya nito. Ang alam lang ni Marabi ay siya ang pinakamagandang babaeng nakita niya.

Napasinghap siya at lumapit nang ilang hakbang.

Sumenyas ang babae kay Marabi na mas lumapit pa. Aking magandang alaga, pinag-uusapan n’yo ba ako?

Nanikip ang lalamunan ni Marabi. Alam niya ‘yon, siyempre. Malalaman ng uri niya kung pinag-uusapan sila, iyon ang sabi sa kaniya ng lolo niya.

Ngumiti ang babae. Ayos lang iyon. Sinubukan ng lolo mo ang lahat ng makakaya niya, hindi ba? Ngunit alam nating dalawa ang kagustuhan ng puso mo.

Naglakad papalapit si Marabi at hinawakan niya ang balat ng babae.

Dapat ay malamig at basa ito dahil nasa ilog siya, ngunit tila ito ang pinakamakinis na sutla, na may kaunting init.

Ibig ni Marabi na maramdaman ito habambuhay.

Halika, aking alaga. Magsayaw tayo.

Paulit-ulit itong naisip ni Marabi.

Habambuhay.

Idla! Lumayo ka riyan.

Tumawa ang batang babae habang nagbabalanse siya sa mga bato sa ilog, nang lubhang nag-iingat para hindi mahulog. Hindi niya naiintindihan kung bakit hindi siya pinapayagang maglaro ng matatanda, at kung bakit ganoon ang buhay.

Hindi ‘yan puwede! Bumalik ka rito ngayon din!

Makinig ka sa nanay mo.

Muntikan nang madulas sa bato si Idla. May dumating na matandang lalaki na hindi niya kilala. Mapula at maga ang kaniyang mga mata, na para bang kani-kanina lamang ay umiiyak siya.

Bakit ko po ba kailangang makinig sa matatanda? Palagi lamang nila akong pinagbabawalang maglaro.

Gusto niya lamang ang makabubuti para sa iyo.

Paano po ninyo iyon nalaman?

Ang makabubuti lang din para sa kaniya ang hinangad ko.

Napatahimik si Idla. Naiintindihan na niya ang nangyayari. Ito ang lolo ng nawawalang batang babae.

Pasensya na po, pupuntahan ko na po ang nanay ko.

Mabuti pa nga. At tandaan mo, mapanganib ang ilog na ito.

Opo, lolo.

Maliksing nagtatalon ang batang babae sa mga bato sa ilog, papunta sa kaniyang ina.

Tumitig ang lolo sa ilog hawak ang kaniyang bolo. Sapat na dapat ito para ngayong gabi.

Malabo ang mga pangyayari.

Kulay pula, iyon ang naaalala ni Marabi. Tanda rin niyang sumasayaw siya kasama ang magandang babae sa ilalim ng ilog, sa isang palasyong yari sa ginto. Masaya siya noon.

‘Di katagalan, sa kaniyang pagsisisi, nahimasmasan siya. Nakaupo siya sa bahay habang hinihintay ang kaniyang lolo, nang mabilis na bumalik ang mga alaala.

Nakita niya ang babae sa harap niya na sumasayaw sa himig ng awiting doon niya lamang napakinggan. Nakahawak ang babae sa baywang ni Marabi. Nagpaikot-ikot sila hanggang marinig niya iyon.

Ang boses ng kaniyang lolo.

Dagliang bumalik ang ulirat niya at namulat siya sa katotohanan. May taglay pa ring kagandahan ang babae, ngunit mabagsik ito sa ilalim ng liwanag ng mga bituin. Mahaba ang kaniyang mga kuko, matulis ang kaniyang mga ngipin at nagsisipulupot sa tubig ang kaniyang buhok.

Suminghal ang babae at tumuro paitaas. Maliwanag ang buwan at naaninag ni Marabi ang bolo ng lolo niya na inihahampas sa tubig para bumuo ng krus.

Habang nangyayari ito, ang naririnig lamang ni Marabi ay ang paulit-ulit na pagtawag sa kaniyang pangalan.

Umuwi ka na, Marabi.

Umuwi ka na.

Agad siyang lumayo sa babae at lumangoy paahon ng ilog. Sa pangambang baka siya ay sundan nito, lumingon siya sa likod.

Hindi makakilos ang babae, wari ba’y nakagapos siya. Batid ni Marabi na dahil ito sa ginawa ng kaniyang lolo, ngunit kung paano iyon nagawa ay hindi niya alam.

Nakalabas at nakaahon si Marabi sa ilog. Suminghap siya sa hangin.

Buhay ka. Salamat sa Diyos at buhay ka.

Binawi niya ang naubos na hangin at sinubukan niyang tumayo.

Lolo! Nasa ilalim ako ng ilog at naroon ang babae at—

Alam ko, iha, alam ko. At sisiguraduhin kong hindi ka na niya muling masasaktan.

Ano po’ng ibig ninyong sabihin?!

Pumunta sa pampang ng ilog ang lolo niya at lumusong sa tubig.

Pasigaw na tinawag ni Marabi ang kaniyang lolo. Wala siyang ibang gusto kundi ang mayakap siya.

Ngunit ganoon ang buhay.

Hindi na babalik ang lolo niya. Hindi katulad ng nangyari sa kaniya.

Sa kaniyang pagsisisi, umiyak siya, habang iniisip na sana ay nakinig siya sa mga kuwento ng kaniyang lolo.

=—————————————————=

English version

They’ll drown you without a second thought. That’s just the kind of monsters that they are.

Marabi brought her hands to her ears and shuts out the noise from her lolo. She thinks about flowers and how beautiful they are. Something that beautiful could never hurt her.

Her lolo grabs her hands and tells her to listen. She is old enough now to be told the story of the river and he will make her listen whether she wants to or not.

Marabi says nothing.

Her lolo tries again. The Tanjay river might seem like a place to have your fun, but there is a reason no one wants to be left alone in the darkness.

Marabi looks up defiantly at her lolo. But she’s so beautiful.
You mustn’t trust beauty. That’s how she lures you in.
Marabi looks insulted, as if she’s being talked down to because she’s a child. I don’t believe you.

In an instant her lolo’s face is twisted with annoyance. Why can’t you understand that I’m doing this to protect you?
It’s just like her lolo to condescend to Marabi. After her parents died he was all she had left. She wished she had more.
She despises him.

Look, just promise me you won’t go to the river alone?

Is that it? Fine. I promise.

She gets up and leaves.

Her lolo rubs his temples and sighs. Someday that girl will be the death of him.

The winding river greets Marabi with quiet charm. Today there were people out having picnics by the riverside.

She sighed and waited until the sun travelled across the sky.
She waited until the last few people packed up their things and left.

She waited until she was alone.

Or was she?

By the river bank, reflected in the starlight was her.
Marabi never asked what her name was, maybe she didn’t have one. All Marabi knew was that she was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.

She gasped and took a few steps forward.

The woman beckoned Marabi to come closer. Hello there my pretty pet, have you been talking about me?

Marabi felt a lump in her throat. She knew, of course she knew. Her kind would know if they were being talked about, that’s what her lolo told her.

The woman smiled. It’s no matter. Your lolo tries as hard as he can doesn’t he? But we both know where your heart lies.
Marabi took a few steps forward and touched the woman’s skin.

It should have felt cold and damp from the river, but at her touch it was like the smoothest silk with a hint of warmth.
Marabi wished she could feel it forever.

Come now my pet. Let us dance.

The thought echoed in Marabi’s head.

Forever.

Idla! Get away from there.

The young girl laughs as she balances on the river rocks, being extra careful not to fall in. She doesn’t understand why the adults won’t let her play, and such is life.

I won’t have you doing that! Now get back here!

You should listen to your mother.

Idla almost slips off the rock. A stranger appears, an old man. His eyes are red and puffy, as if he had been crying recently.
Why should I listen to the grownups? All they do is tell me not to play.

She only wants what’s best for you.

How do you know that?

It’s what I wanted for her.

In that moment a quiet understanding fell over Idla. This was him, the lolo of the girl that went missing.

I’m sorry, I’ll go to my mother.

Please do. And remember, this river is dangerous.
I will lolo.

The girl gracefully skips among the river rocks, bounding towards her mother.

And the lolo stares at the river, holding his bolo. Tonight it would have to be enough.

It passes in a daze.

Marabi remembers the color red. She sees herself dancing with the beautiful woman in the bottom of the river, in a palace made of gold. She was happy then.

It is only later, in the harsh light of day that things come into focus. Sitting at home waiting for her lolo the recollections come flooding back.

She sees the woman in front of her, dancing to an unknown song. He hands are on Marabi’s waist. They spin around until she hears him.

Her lolo’s voice.

In that moment the spell is broken and she sees things for the way they are. The woman’s beauty remains, but it is cruel in the starlight. Her nails have grown, her teeth have sharpened and her hair coils violently in the water.

The woman screams and points towards the surface. Through the moonlight Marabi can see the glint of her lolo’s bolo cutting the water in a cross shape.

Throughout all of this Marabi hears only her name, over and over.

Come home Marabi.

Come home.

In an instant she pushes away from the woman and swims towards the surface. She is afraid that she will be followed, and she looks behind.

The woman remains unmoved as if chained to her position. Marabi knows that this is her lolo’s doing, but she doesn’t know how.

Marabi breaks the river’s surface and gasps for air.
You’re alive. Thank Jesus you’re alive.

She hungrily devours more life-giving air and she tries to stand.

Lolo! Please, I was underwater and the woman was there and—

I know iha, I know. And I will make sure she never hurts you again.

What do you mean?!

Her lolo goes by the riverside and dives in.

Marabi screams for her lolo. She wants nothing more than to be in his embrace.

But such is the way life is.

Her lolo is not coming back. Not like she did.

And in the harsh light of day she cries, wishing that she had listened to his stories.

*Tanjay River is located in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental

**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 Maui Felix
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Maui Felix

Based on The Mermaid of Tanjay River. Historcal Data of Tanjay, Negros Oriental. in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Illustration by Brylle Infante Patiu
Instagram: @bryllepatiu.dwg

They’ll drown you without a second thought. That’s just the kind of monsters that they are.

Marabi brought her hands to her ears and shuts out the noise from her lolo. She thinks about flowers and how beautiful they are. Something that beautiful could never hurt her.

Her lolo grabs her hands and tells her to listen. She is old enough now to be told the story of the river and he will make her listen whether she wants to or not.

Marabi says nothing.

Her lolo tries again. The Tanjay river might seem like a place to have your fun, but there is a reason no one wants to be left alone in the darkness.

Marabi looks up defiantly at her lolo. But she’s so beautiful.
You mustn’t trust beauty. That’s how she lures you in.
Marabi looks insulted, as if she’s being talked down to because she’s a child. I don’t believe you.

In an instant her lolo’s face is twisted with annoyance. Why can’t you understand that I’m doing this to protect you?
It’s just like her lolo to condescend to Marabi. After her parents died he was all she had left. She wished she had more.
She despises him.

Look, just promise me you won’t go to the river alone?

Is that it? Fine. I promise.

She gets up and leaves.

Her lolo rubs his temples and sighs. Someday that girl will be the death of him.

The winding river greets Marabi with quiet charm. Today there were people out having picnics by the riverside.

She sighed and waited until the sun travelled across the sky.
She waited until the last few people packed up their things and left.

She waited until she was alone.

Or was she?

By the river bank, reflected in the starlight was her.
Marabi never asked what her name was, maybe she didn’t have one. All Marabi knew was that she was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.

She gasped and took a few steps forward.

The woman beckoned Marabi to come closer. Hello there my pretty pet, have you been talking about me?

Marabi felt a lump in her throat. She knew, of course she knew. Her kind would know if they were being talked about, that’s what her lolo told her.

The woman smiled. It’s no matter. Your lolo tries as hard as he can doesn’t he? But we both know where your heart lies.
Marabi took a few steps forward and touched the woman’s skin.

It should have felt cold and damp from the river, but at her touch it was like the smoothest silk with a hint of warmth.
Marabi wished she could feel it forever.

Come now my pet. Let us dance.

The thought echoed in Marabi’s head.

Forever.

Idla! Get away from there.

The young girl laughs as she balances on the river rocks, being extra careful not to fall in. She doesn’t understand why the adults won’t let her play, and such is life.

I won’t have you doing that! Now get back here!

You should listen to your mother.

Idla almost slips off the rock. A stranger appears, an old man. His eyes are red and puffy, as if he had been crying recently.
Why should I listen to the grownups? All they do is tell me not to play.

She only wants what’s best for you.

How do you know that?

It’s what I wanted for her.

In that moment a quiet understanding fell over Idla. This was him, the lolo of the girl that went missing.

I’m sorry, I’ll go to my mother.

Please do. And remember, this river is dangerous.
I will lolo.

The girl gracefully skips among the river rocks, bounding towards her mother.

And the lolo stares at the river, holding his bolo. Tonight it would have to be enough.

It passes in a daze.

Marabi remembers the color red. She sees herself dancing with the beautiful woman in the bottom of the river, in a palace made of gold. She was happy then.

It is only later, in the harsh light of day that things come into focus. Sitting at home waiting for her lolo the recollections come flooding back.

She sees the woman in front of her, dancing to an unknown song. He hands are on Marabi’s waist. They spin around until she hears him.

Her lolo’s voice.

In that moment the spell is broken and she sees things for the way they are. The woman’s beauty remains, but it is cruel in the starlight. Her nails have grown, her teeth have sharpened and her hair coils violently in the water.

The woman screams and points towards the surface. Through the moonlight Marabi can see the glint of her lolo’s bolo cutting the water in a cross shape.

Throughout all of this Marabi hears only her name, over and over.

Come home Marabi.

Come home.

In an instant she pushes away from the woman and swims towards the surface. She is afraid that she will be followed, and she looks behind.

The woman remains unmoved as if chained to her position. Marabi knows that this is her lolo’s doing, but she doesn’t know how.

Marabi breaks the river’s surface and gasps for air.
You’re alive. Thank Jesus you’re alive.

She hungrily devours more life-giving air and she tries to stand.

Lolo! Please, I was underwater and the woman was there and—

I know iha, I know. And I will make sure she never hurts you again.

What do you mean?!

Her lolo goes by the riverside and dives in.

Marabi screams for her lolo. She wants nothing more than to be in his embrace.

But such is the way life is.

Her lolo is not coming back. Not like she did.

And in the harsh light of day she cries, wishing that she had listened to his stories.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Based on The Mermaid of Tanjay River. Historcal Data of Tanjay, Negros Oriental. in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Illustration by Brylle Infante Patiu
Instagram: @bryllepatiu.dwg