*Note this poem is in Tagalog

Ang mga mata niya’y tila kumikinang na impyerno

At nang ang dila niya’y magsalita, nabalot ito ng 30 pirasong pilak

Sinulasok ng usok ang aking sentido

Nakita ko ang usok sa kung ano ito

Nararapat lamang akong magpaalam

Nararapat lamang akong magalit

At ang aking panghihinayang

O Diyos, sana ibinigay ko na lang noon iyon

Ang mga yabag niya’y unti-unting nilisan ang pinto

Ito na kaya ang sagot na hinahanap ko?

Upang sumayaw ang mga salita ko sa pahina

Upang maibigay ang buong puso ko sa bawat letra

Ang silid ay umalingawngaw sa sigaw

Habang ibinibigay ko ang sagot ko

Masyadong mataas ang presyo

At hindi ko matatanggap ito

“Oo”
Dahil ang pahina ay ang aking buhay

Ang tinta ng aking dugo

Ang mga salita ng aking kaluluwa

At dito ako nagsusulat

Sa gitna ng takipsilim

Naghihintay na kalampagin ang kampana

Aangkinin nito ang premyo

Para lang mahanap

Ang wala

Dahil ang pahina ang aking canvas

Ang tinta ang aking dugo

At ang mga titik

Ang aking kaluluwa

Sa tuwing magniniig ang panulat at papel

Ibinibigay ko ang kapiraso ng aking sarili

Na alam kong hindi ko na mababawi

Ibinibigay ko ito nang libre

Sa mga matang naghahanap

Bilang isang sulyap sa aking pagkatao

Ibinibigay ko ito nang libre

Sa mga may nais

Upang ihiwalay ang tabing ng buhay

Hindi na nito makukuha ang premyo

Dahil nakuha mo na

— Ang huling akda ng makatang si “Jillian”

=————————–=

English Version

Its eyes were a glistening inferno
And its tongue spoke, covered with 30 pieces of silver
The smoke choked my senses
The smoke made me see it for what it was

It deserved my goodbye
It deserved my anger
And my regret
I wish to God I gave it then

Its footsteps nearly left the door
Could this be the answer I was looking for
To make my words dance on the page
To make my heart pour into every letter

The room rang with screams
As I gave my answer
The price was too high
The price was unacceptable

“Yes”
For the page was my life
The ink my blood
The words my spirit

And here I write
In my twilight hours
Waiting to strike the bell

It would claim its prize
Only to find
Nothing

For the page is my canvas
And the ink my blood
And the letters
My soul

Each time the pen touched paper
I give a small part of myself
That I will never get back

I give it freely
To the eyes that seek
A glimpse into my being

I give it freely
To those that wish
To part the veil of life

It will never claim its prize
For you already have

-The last work of the poet “Jillian”

————————–————————–———————

*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 Gabriela Baron
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Gabriela Baron

Inspired by ‘Landas de Diablo’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

The Devil (The Bargainer) Illustration by Jam Trinidad
FB: Jam-core

Watercolor by Yanna Gemora
FB: Yannami

*Note this story is in Tagalog

“Hindi mo siya kilala tulad ng pagkakakilala ko sa kaniya!”

“Pakiusap, tigilan mo na ang mga cliche na linya. Ikaw ang hindi nakaaalam ng ginagawa niya. Ano ba ang alam mo sa lalaki na ‘yan? Sino siya at ano ang mga ginagawa niya?!”

“Hindi na mahalaga ‘yun! Mahal ko siya at wala kang kahit na ano mang pwedeng sabihin na makapagpapabago ng isip ko!”

“Hindi mo naiintindihan! Hindi siya tulad ng inaakala mo!”

“Tigilan mo na nga ang pagtatangkang protektahan ako! Malaki na ko, kaya ko na ang sarili ko. Pagkatiwalaan mo lang ako. Alam kong halos kakikilala ko pa lang sa kaniya, pero pinaramdam niya sa aking mahalaga ako. Alam mo naman na ngayon lang ito nangyari sa akin. Hindi ko man sigurado kung saan ako dadalhin ng damdamin ko, pero sigurado akong ito ang kailangan ko. Alam kong nag-aalala ka sa akin, pero ayos lang ako. Kaya ko ito.”

“Siya ay isang diablo.”

“Ano? Ang babaw mo naman.”

“Makinig ka nga sa akin! Nakilala mo siya sa Punta de Diablo, ang sirang tulay na parang papunta sa Talim Island, hindi ba? Nagre-research ako. Ni wala ngang nakarinig sa kaniya sa lugar na ‘yun at kung siya man ay isang turista o tagalabas, malalaman ‘yun ng mga tagaroon. Walang angkop na naglalarawan sa kanya na nakatira sa Binangonan at tiyak malalaman ‘yun ng mga tagaroon kung meron.

Mag-isip ka nga. Bughaw ang kaniyang mga mata, para siyang ‘yung paborito mong mang-aawit, katakatakang alam niya ang lahat ng tungkol sa iyo kahit bago pa lang kayo magkakilala. Napakaraming coincidences.

Alam mo ba kung bakit iniiwasan ng mga tao ang Punta de Diablo?! Kada ilang taon, may isang babae ang nilulunod ang sarili niya sa pagtalon sa tulay. Ang mga babaeng ‘yun daw ay sinasabing kailangan nilang samahan ang kanilang mga asawa. Hindi na natuloy gawin ang tulay dahil ayon sa mga kwento, napamahal ang isang diablo sa isang babae, at ang tanging paraan para makapagpakasal sila ay gumawa ng tulay papuntang Talim Island. Malapit na sanag maitayo ng diablo ang tulay ngunit isang mangingisda ang nakakita nito, pinatunog ang kampana ng simbahan para pigilan ang pagkakatayo ng tulay!”

“Para kang baliw, aalis na ako.”

“Alam kong iniisip mong mahal mo siya, pero hindi ito maaari. Hindi niya kayang suklian ang nararamdaman mo. Kinuha niya ang tiwala mo at pinaniwala ka niyang hindi siya katulad ng ibang lalaki diyan, at tama nga naman. Mas masahol pa siya.

Alam niya kung ano ang ginagawa niya at alam niya kung paano ka sasaktan. Pakiusap, wag mo naman hayaang mangyari ‘yun sayo.”

“Paalam. Kung hindi mo kayang maging masaya para sa akin, doon na lang ako sa magpaparamdam sa akin ng pagmamahal.”

=———————=

English Version

“You don’t know him like I do!”

“Please, spare me the cliché lines. You’re the one that doesn’t know what she’s doing. Do you know anything about this guy? Who he is and what he’s done?!”

“It doesn’t matter! I love him and there’s nothing you can say that can change my mind!”

“You don’t understand! He’s not what you think he is.”

“Stop trying to protect me! I can take care of myself. I’m old enough to handle this. Please, just trust me. I know it hasn’t been long since I met him, but he makes me feel like I matter. You know as well as I do that hasn’t happened in a long time. I don’t know where this will take me, but I know this is something I need. I know you care about me, but I’ll be okay. I know I can handle this.”

“He’s the devil.”

“What? Now you’re just being petty.”

“Listen to me! You met him at the Punta de Diablo, that broken bridge that looks like it’s going to Talim island right? I’ve been doing my research. No one’s ever heard of him in this area and if he were a tourist or an outsider, people would know. There’s no one fitting his description that lives anywhere in Binangonan and people would know if he did.

Think about it. He has blue eyes, he sounds like your favorite singer, he knows “surprisingly” knows everything about you even before you guys met. There are too many coincidences to count.

Do you know why people stay away from the Punta de Diablo?! Every few years a girl drowns herself by that bridge. The girls say that they have to join their husband. That bridge is unfinished because the legend goes the Devil fell in love with a girl and the only way she would accept her hand in marriage was to build a bridge to Talim island, he was about to finish but a fisherman saw it and rang the church bells to stop the bridge!”

“You sound crazy, I’m leaving.”

“I know you think that you’re in love with him but you can’t keep doing this. You fell in love and he’s not going to be there to catch you. He made you trust him, made you think that he wasn’t like all the other guys, and he was right. He’s worse.

He knows what he’s doing and he knows he’s going to hurt you. Please. Don’t let it happen.”

“Goodbye. If you can’t be happy for me then I’ll go somewhere I’ll be loved!”

————————–————————–————————

*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 Gabriela Baron
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Gabriela Baron

Inspired by ‘Punta de Diablo’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

The Devil (The Handsome Stranger) Illustration and Watercolor by Marc Magpantay
Tumblr: Glassy-draws.tumblr.com

*Note this story is in Cebuano

“Wala ka maka-ila niya sama nako!”

“Palihug, ayaw ako padunga anang imong pangatarungan. Ikaw ang wala masayod kong unsa na ang imong ginabuhat. Aduna ka ba’y bisag gamay lang nga nahibaw-an bahin anang lakiha? Kinsa siya ug unsa ang iyang mga binuhatan?!”

“Wala ko maghuna huna ana. Gihugma ko siya ug wala’y makapa-usab sa akong gibati bisag unsa pa man ang imong isulti!”

“Wala ka makasabot! Sayop ang imong pagka-ila niya”

“Hunong na gud! Kahibalo man ko mag amping sa akong kaugalingon. Tiguwang naku, nasayod ko kung unsa akong gibuhat. Saligi lang ako. O kahibalo ko nga di padugay sa dihang nagka-ila kami, apan  gipabati niya nga importante ako. Dugay nakong wala makasinati ani ug kahibalo ka ana. Wala ako nasayud kong asa man ako dalhun ni-ini, apan mao ni ang akong gusto. Salamat sa imong paghuna-huna sa akong ka-ayuhan apan ako pa? Kaya ni naku ui.”

“Siya ang diablo”

“Unsa? Binuang mana imo.”

“Paminawa gud ko! Naka-ila nimo siya sa Punta de Diablo, katong guba-on nga taytayan nga mura’g agi-anan padulong sa isla sa Talim diba? Nangutana ako. Wala’y bisag kinsang naka-ila niya didtong lugara, makahibalo man ang mga katawhan kong turista ba o taga laing lugar siya. Wala’y taga Binangonan nga angay sa iyang hulagway ug kung naa man gani makahibalo unta sila.”

Huna-huna-a gud. Bughaw ang iyang mga mata, ang iyang tingog parehas sa kinaham nimong mangantahay, kahibalo siya “katingalahan” nga kahibalo siya tanan bahin nimo bisag wala pa kamo magkaila. Daghan kaayong mga maihap nga sulagma.

Kahibalo ka ba nganung ginalikayan sa katawhan ang Punta de Diablo?! Kada pila ka-tuig anaay babaye nga maglumos sa iyang kaugalingon didtong taytayana. Sumala pa nila ilang adtoon ang ilang bana. Wala mahuman katong taytayan kay matud pa sa mga sugilanon, ang diablo nahigugma sa usa ka dalaga og aron tugotan siyang mapakaslan iyang gibuhat ang maong taytayan padulong sa isla sa Talim, ug sa dihang hapit na unta niya kini mahuman, nakit-an siya sa usa ka mananagat ug gipatinggog ang kampana sa simbahan arun mahunong nag pagtukod.

“Mura man ka’g buang paminawun tawn ui, adto nako”

“Nagtu-o ka lang nga nahigugma ka niya apan di na nimo angay ipadayun. Wala siya nahigugma nimo. Gipasalig ka lang niya, gipatu-o ka nga di siya sama sa ubang laki, og sakto kana kay mas grabe man siya kompara sa tanan.”

Kahibalo na siya kung unsa iyang gibuhat ug nasayod siyang pasakitan ka lang niya. Palihug intawn ayaw kana tuguti nga mahitabo.

Manamilit naku nimo. Kung dili ka magmalipayun alang kanako mo adto na lang ko’g dapit nga higugmaon ako.

=—————————————————————=

English Version

“You don’t know him like I do!”

“Please, spare me the cliché lines. You’re the one that doesn’t know what she’s doing. Do you know anything about this guy? Who he is and what he’s done?!”

“It doesn’t matter! I love him and there’s nothing you can say that can change my mind!”

“You don’t understand! He’s not what you think he is.”

“Stop trying to protect me! I can take care of myself. I’m old enough to handle this. Please, just trust me. I know it hasn’t been long since I met him, but he makes me feel like I matter. You know as well as I do that hasn’t happened in a long time. I don’t know where this will take me, but I know this is something I need. I know you care about me, but I’ll be okay. I know I can handle this.”

“He’s the devil.”

“What? Now you’re just being petty.”

“Listen to me! You met him at the Punta de Diablo, that broken bridge that looks like it’s going to Talim island right? I’ve been doing my research. No one’s ever heard of him in this area and if he were a tourist or an outsider, people would know. There’s no one fitting his description that lives anywhere in Binangonan and people would know if he did.

Think about it. He has blue eyes, he sounds like your favorite singer, he knows “surprisingly” knows everything about you even before you guys met. There are too many coincidences to count.

Do you know why people stay away from the Punta de Diablo?! Every few years a girl drowns herself by that bridge. The girls say that they have to join their husband. That bridge is unfinished because the legend goes the Devil fell in love with a girl and the only way she would accept her hand in marriage was to build a bridge to Talim island, he was about to finish but a fisherman saw it and rang the church bells to stop the bridge!”

“You sound crazy, I’m leaving.”

“I know you think that you’re in love with him but you can’t keep doing this. You fell in love and he’s not going to be there to catch you. He made you trust him, made you think that he wasn’t like all the other guys, and he was right. He’s worse.

He knows what he’s doing and he knows he’s going to hurt you. Please. Don’t let it happen.”

“Goodbye. If you can’t be happy for me then I’ll go somewhere I’ll be loved!”

=—————————————————————————–=

*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

Inspired by ‘Punta de Diablo’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

The Devil (The Handsome Stranger) Illustration and Watercolor by Marc Magpantay
Tumblr: Glassy-draws.tumblr.com