*Note this story is in Tagalog

1. ‘Yung batang babae sa palengke. Hindi maayos ang pagkakabalot niya sa mga gulay.
2. ‘Yung buntis na sumakay sa pinapara kong taxi. Nagkamali ka, pero hindi ibig sabihin noon ay pagbibigyan na kita.
3. ‘Yung tsuper ng dyip na muntikan nang makasagasa sa ‘kin. Hindi siya nararapat na magmaneho.
4. ‘Yung babaeng sumingit sa pila sa tren. Dahil lang mayroon siyang bag na Louis Vuitton, akala niya puwede na niyang gawin ang kahit anong gusto niya.
5. ‘Yung batang lalaking hindi tumitikom ang bibig. Sumakit ang ulo ko sa kakadaldal niya.
6. ‘Yung tinedyer na umubo sa tabi ko. Malay ko ba kung anong mga sakit ang puwedeng dala niya. Dapat siyang turuan ng magandang asal.
7. ‘Yung sekyu sa istasyon ng tren. Silipin mo na lang ang bag ko nang mabilis tayong matapos. Muntikan na akong maiwan ng tren dahil sa kaniya.
8. ‘Yung nagbebenta ng fishball. Sobrang mahal ng presyuhan niya.
9. ‘Yung batang babaeng ‘yon. Akala niya sa kaniya umiikot ang mundo dahil lang maganda siya. Maghintay ka lang. Mamalasin ka rin balang-araw.
10. ‘Yung mga turista. Akala ba nila ay puwede silang mambastos sa bayan ko? Hindi ko ‘yon papayagan. Malalaman nila na kailangan muna nilang magbigay-galang bago sila galangin.

Ibinaba ng matandang babae ang kaniyang panulat at bumuntong-hininga siya. Talagang nakakapagod ang araw na ito. Sobrang daming taong sumubok sa pasensya niya, at, siyempre, nabigo silang lahat. Tumingin siya sa labas ng kaniyang bintana at inisip niya ang lahat ng pinagdaanan niya para lang makauwi. Baka mas maganda ang araw niya bukas.

11. ‘Yung batang lalaking may alagang aso. Hindi niya kayang kontrolin ang alaga niya, nalawayan tuloy ako.
12. ‘Yung mga batang nagtatatalon sa parke. Hinintay kong may mabagok sa kanila pero walang nangyari.
13. ‘Yung tumatakbo na nakabangga sa akin. Dapat niyang tingnan ang dinaraanan niya.
14. ‘Yung tsuper ng taxi na naghatid sa ‘kin pauwi. Ibinaba niya ang bintana at nanutsot ng babaeng dumaraan. Ang kapal!
15. ‘Yung deliveryman. Sabi niya, darating ang package ko nang alas kuwatro ng hapon at naghintay ako hanggang alas singko. Ang pangit ng serbisyo.

Palala na ito nang palala. Labasan lang dapat ng sama ng loob ang listahan kung saan niya maibubunton ang mga kagustuhan niya nang hindi kinakailangang gamitin ang kaniyang salamangka. Ngunit palagi na lang may mga taong nakakaabala sa kaniya. Mga taong walang laman ang mga ulo ngunit kung makaasta ay tila mas magaling sila. Mga tao na kung makaasta ay tila pag-aari nila ang mundo.

Siyempre, kinamumuhian niya silang lahat, maging ang mga taong walang ginawa sa kaniya. Dahil makakasalamuha niya sila ‘di kalaunan at kakailanganin niyang itikom ang kaniyang kamao para masigurong hindi niya maitataas ang kaniyang daliri. Napalayas na siya sa maraming bayan nang malaman ng mga tao kung ano talaga siya.

Hindi na iyon mangyayari muli. Pangako niya iyon sa kaniyang sarili. Daragdagan niya lang nang daragdagan ang laman ng listahan at mawawala rin katagalan ang kaniyang galit. Kailangang mawala iyon.

16. ‘Yung pusa na gumising sa akin. Tuwing umaga na lang, nang-iistorbo siya.
17. ‘Yung mga hangal kong kapitbahay. Ayaw nilang tumigil sa pang-uusisa sa buhay ko. Hindi ba nila puwedeng tantanan ang isang matandang babae?
18. ‘Yung naglalako ng taho. Ayaw niyang tumigil kakasigaw sa umaga. Masahol na nga na palaging dumadalaw ‘yung pusa, problema ko pati siya.
19. ‘Yung mga misyonaryong may dalang Bibliya—————-

Tama na. Tama na ito. Ni hindi niya kayang malampasan ang umaga nang hindi kumukulo ang dugo niya sa poot. Marahil ay isa itong pahiwatig mula sa nasa ibaba. Kailangan niyang ibalik ang dati niyang pagkatao, kumawala sa gumagapos sa kaniya, at ipaalam sa mga tao na mas mababa sila.

Binuksan niya ang pinto at itinaas ang kaniyang kamay nang nakaturo sa kalangitan ang isang daliri.

Magsisimula siya sa pusa hanggang sa matapos niya ang pinakakinamumuhian niya.

=————————————————————-=

English Version

1.The girl at the market. She didn’t pack the vegetables right.

2.The pregnant woman that took the taxi I was hailing. Just because you made a mistake doesn’t mean I have to bow to you.

3.The jeepney driver that almost ran me over. He doesn’t deserve to drive.

4.That woman that cut the line at the train. She thinks that just because she has a Louis Vuitton bag that she can do what she wants.

5.That little boy that wouldn’t stop talking. His incessant yapping gave me a headache.

6.That teenager that coughed beside me. Who knows what kind of diseases he might have. Someone should teach him manners.

7.The security guard at the train station. Just look through my bag and be done with it. Because of him I nearly missed my train.

8.The fishball vendor. His prices were robbery, plain and simple.

9.That girl. Thinking she can own the world because she’s beautiful. Wait and see, one day you’ll get what’s coming to you.

10.Those tourists. Thinking that they can be rude in my town? I will not let that happen. They need to know that respect begets respect.

The old woman put her pen down and sighed. Today was so tiring, there were so many people that tested her patience, and, of course, all of them had failed. She gazed outside her window and imagined all the things that she had to go through just to get back home. Maybe tomorrow would be better.

11.That boy with the dog. He couldn’t keep his animal under control and it slobbered all over me.

12.Those brats that were jumping around at the park. I waited for the moment one of them would crack their skulls but it never came.

13.That jogger that bumped into me. She should look where she’s going.

14.The taxi driver that brought me home. He rolled down the window and catcalled a woman passing by. The nerve of him!

15.The deliveryman. They said my package would arrive at 4pm and I waited until 5. Such shoddy service.

It was getting worse. The list was supposed to be an outlet, one way where she could sublimate her desires and release them without resorting to her magic. But day in and day out there were those that got in her way. Those that thought they knew better even if there wasn’t anything inside their heads, those that thought the world belonged to them.

She hated all of them, of course, even the ones that did nothing to her. Because eventually, they would cross her path and she would have to ball her hand into a fist to make sure she didn’t raise her finger. She had been chased out of many towns when the people found out what she was.

It wouldn’t happen again. That’s what she promised herself. Just keep adding to the list and all the anger would eventually stop. She needed it to stop.

16.That cat that woke me up. Every single morning it’s there.

17.My stupid neighbors. They won’t stop snooping into my life. Can’t they just leave an old woman alone?

18.The taho vendor. He won’t stop shouting in the morning.
Bad enough the cat is there, I have to deal with him too.

19.Those Bible bearing missionaries—————-

Enough. It was enough. She couldn’t even make it though the morning without boiling over in rage. Maybe this was a sign from down below. She needed to be herself again, to let loose and make the humans know their place.

She opened the door and raised her hand, one finger to the sky.

She’d start with the cat and work her way up from there.

=——————————————————————————————=

**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

Inspired by the Tagalog Hukloban legends

Diwata Illustration by Kristienne Amante
FB: Creatorivm

IG: @creatorivm_

*Note this story is in Tagalog

“Sandali lang! ang bilis niyong maglakad!” habol-hiningang sabi ni Reymark sa mga kasamahan. “Akala ko ba simpleng paglalakad-lakad lang ‘to, para kayong kasama sa marathon sa sobrang bilis.”

“Okay, nagrereklamo na yung makupad sa grupo, siguro ibig sabihin lang nuon ay kailangan nating ayusin lahat ang paglalakad.” ganting tugon ni Maria habang nakangisi. “Bakit ka pa ba kasi sumama? Alam mo namang lahat kami dito, mahilig umakyat sa bundok, natural lang na mabilis kami maglakad.”

“Alam ko kung bakit siya sumama,” sabi ni Jori habang sinisiko at binibibigyan ng makahulugan tingin si Reymark.

“Manahimik ka nga” si Reymark, habang sinisiko pabalik ang kaibigan.

“Tama na, huminto na kayong lahat. Sobrang tahimik at nakagagaan sa pakiramdam itong pag-akyat natin sa bundok. Pwede bang panatilihin nalang natin na ganoon?” Tinuro ni Danilyn ang silong ng puno ng Balete sa ‘di kalayuan. “Pwede tayo magpahinga roon.”

Huminto sa pag-aasaran ang grupo at sinundan ang sinabi ng kanilang tumatayong lider. Mahirap at malayo na rin ang kanilang nilakbay, hindi rin biro ang kanilang ginawang pag-akyat kahit pa sabihing sanay na ang karamihan sa kanila. Pumayag ang lahat na umupo at magpahinga muna para uminom ng tubig.

Nag-iipon na ang pawis sa kanilang noo, isabay pa ang init mula sa tirik na araw.

“Mauna na kayo. Susunod nalang ako.” Ani ni Reymark

“Oh, halika na. Malapit naman na tayo. Hindi naman pwedeng lagi ka nalang titigil kapag nahihirapan ka na. Konti nalang, kaya mo yan.” tugon ni Danilyn sa kaibigan at umaasang kahit papano’y magbago pa ang isip nito at tumuloy nalang, ngunit hindi siya nagtagumpay.

“Seryoso ako. Mauna na kayo. Dito muna ako sa lilim at magpapahinga hanggang sa maramdaman ko nang kaya ko na ulit umakyat.”

“Pero Rey, hindi mo makikita yung magandang view.” Sabi ni Jori habang nakaharap sa direksiyon ni Maria, na buti na lamang ay walang malay sa tinutukoy niya.

“Guys, totoo. Mapapabagal ko lang kayo. Pwede tayong magkita kapag natapos na kayong umakyat at pwede rin namang kumain muna ako o maghintay.”

“Sige, sabi mo eh.” Si Danilyn habang kinukuha ang bag at sumipsip ng kaunting tubig. “Guys, mag-ayos na kayo. Tapusin na natin ‘to para makita na natin ang tuktok. Bilisan niyo na.”

Kinuha nang lahat ang kanilang gamit at tinuloy na ulit ang pag-akyat sa matarik na daan. Nagmadali naman si Jori upang masabayan si Danilyn sa paglalakad, ngunit hindi na ito pinansin ni Danilyn tulad ng lagi niyang ginagawa. Nalalapit nanaman ang eleksiyon kung saan may balak tumakbo sa pagka-Presidente si Jori at ipinapakita niya ito sa palihim na pakikipagkumpetensiya sa dalaga.

Sa isang banda, nasa kaniyang sariling mundo si Maria. Suot ang earphones, nagsimula na rin siyang umakyat. Sinadya pa niyang ilakas ang kantang pinakikinggan upang hindi siya magambala. Wala siyang pakialam sa mga posisyon o kahit anuman sa mga mataas na katungkulan. Sumama lang siya upang makapagpahinga at makalanghap ng sariwang hangin, malayo sa magulong pamumuhay sa siyudad.

Naiwan si Mark sa silong ng puno ng Balete. Normal na ang paghinga niya at waring nasa mas mabini ang tibok ng kaniyang puso kumpara kanina. Ngunit nagnakaw ulit siya ng tingin sa papalayong pigura ni Maria kaya naman bigla ulit itong bahagyang bumilis.

“Kainis naman oh, ‘wag ngayon.” Tila inuutusan ang kaniyang puso na balewalain ang tunay na nararamdaman para sa dalaga. Ngunit agad din siyang bumigay. Siguro ngay oras na upang magtapat ukol sa inililihim niyang pagtingin sa dalaga.

“Ano bang masamang pwede mangyari?”, pagsasa-boses niya ng naiisip.

“Marahil hindi siya ang para sa’yo.”, sumbat ng isang maganda ngunit hindi pamilyar na tinig.

Nagpalinga-linga si Reymark subalit wala siyang nakitang ibang tao sa paligid. Nahaharangan ng mga sanga ng punong Balete ang sinag ng araw at natitiyak din niyang siya lang ang naiwan doon kasama ang nasabing puno.

“Ngayon naman, kung anu-ano na naririnig ko.” Ginusot-gusot ni Reymark ang mga mata at humikab. Masyado ata siyang napagod sa pag-akyat. Napagdesisyunan niyang umupo sa isang malaking bato at isandal ang likod sa puno.

“Hindi ka niya mamahalin.” Narinig niyang muli ang boses. Sa pagkakataong ito, mas malakas at may diin na, tila ba’y sadya itong itinapat sa tenga niya.

“Jori? Naku, kung isa nanaman ‘to sa mga pakulo mo, tumigil ka na. Hindi na nakakatawa!” Naghintay siya ng sagot? Naiinis na siya sa mga pang-aasar ni Jori nitong mga nakaraang araw kaya naman oras na rin siguro upang pagsabihan niya ito.

“Hindi ka niya mamahalin. Gaya ng pagmamahal ko sa’yo.” Galing ang boses sa kaniyang likuran. Nilingon niya ang pinanggagalingan ng boses at nakita niya ang pinakamgandang babaeng nasilayan niya sa buong buhay niya. Ang mukha niya’y tila nililok mula sa pinakamahal at makinis na marmol. Ang kaniyang buhok ay mahaba na tila isang bumabagsak na tubig mula sa mataas na talon.

Napukol siya sa titig ng maganda babae. Ang kaniyang mga mata ay malalim at itim na itim na tila nakikita ang kaibuturan ng kaniyang pagkatao habang tumatagal.

“Bakit mo siya mahal?” tanung sa kaniya ng magandang babae.

“Matalino at maganda siya,” sagot ni Reymark.

“Hindi lang ‘yon. Meron ka pang gusto na mas malalim pa.” Ang kaniyang mapanuring pagtingin ang sumira sa mga pag-aalinlangan ni Reymark.

“Siya ay—” sinubukan niyang sumagot ngunit naputol ang kaniyang sasabihin nang ipinatong ng babae ang kamay nito sa kaniyang dibdib.

“Hindi mo maitatago ang katotohanan. Kahit pa sa sarili mo” Tumingin siya sa mga mata nito gamit ang halos mapanglaw na pagtingin. “At kahit pa gustuhin mo.”

“Siya lang ang laging tumatawa.” Tila ba napakadali lamang sabihin ang totoo niyang nararamdaman. “Sa tuwing magbibiro ako, lahat sila lagging sinasabi ang korni daw, ako pa pinagtatawanan. Pero iba siya. Lagi siyang tumatawa sa mga biro ko. Lagi siyang ngumingiti sa tuwing makikita ako kaya inakala kong gusto niya rin ako ngunit hindi ko pa rin alam. Hindi ko naman sinabi.”

“Na mahal mo siya?”

“Siya lang ang babaeng inaasam ko. Gagawin ko ang lahat para lang makasama siya”

“Isang mapanganib na damdamin.” Umupo ang babae sa batong katapat ni Reymark. “Ang ganiyang klase ng pagmamahal ay madalas hindi nauuwi sa maganda.”

“Ano ang ibig mong sabihin?”

“Ang maalab na ningas ng apoy ay mabilis matupok.”

Tinitigan ni Reymark ang babae. Maganda man ito, nararamdaman niya ang kalungkutan sa likod ng kalmado nitong ekspresiyon. Hinawakan ng babae ang puno sa likod niya at may kinuhang bungo.

Napaatras siya sa gulat sa nakitang hawak ng babae.

“Ito ang aking unang minahal.” Tumitig ang babae sa bungo at lumambot ang kaniyang tinig. “Iniisip nating atin ang mundo upang sakupin,” nilagay niya ito sa paanan ng puno. “ngunit mali tayo.”

Naramdaman niyang gumalaw ang lupa sa kaniyang paanan. Nagmistulang bumubukas ang puno ng balete, ang mga sanga at dahon nito’y naging kakila-kilabot sa paningin. Makikita ang nakahilerang anim na kalansay sa ilalim ng nasabing puno. Napakalinis ng mga kalansay, na tila kumikinang sa sinag ng araw.

“Nagkamali tayong lahat.”

Kahit ang hangin ay tila sumang-ayon sa mga nangyayari sa paligid. Nanatiling tahimik si Reymark, ang kaniyang hininga’y nagsilbing palatandaan sa naturang sitwasyon niya. Tumayo sa kaniyang harapan ang babae, na tila’y lingo sa sariling isip.

“Alam mo ba ang nangyayari sa tuwing nagmahal ng isang tao ang mga katulad namin?” wika ng babae habang naglalakad papunta sa mga kalansay. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ng isa sa mga ito at sinabing, “Ito ang mangyayari.”

“Ang pag-ibig ay sayaw sa nakamamatay na ritmo. Naiwawala mo ang ilan sa mga parte ng pagkatao mong hindi mo inakalang meron ka. Hanggang sa matauhan ka. Lahat ng ito’y dahil sa pag-ibig. Ang sanhi at puno’t dulo ng walang katapusang panganib. Ang katapusan at simula.”

Aninag ang liwanag sa kaniyang mga luha.

“Hindi ka niya mamahalin. Gaya ng pagmamahal ko sa’yo.”

Naramdaman ni Reymark ang panghihina ng kaniyang mga binti, kumakalat sa buo niyang katawan. Nagmistulang tumutubo sa paligid niya ang puno ng Balete, ang mga sanga’y binabalot ang kaniyang binti.

Humilig palapit sa kaniya ang babae at hinalikan siya.

“Mahal kita.”

Tuluyan nang niyakap ng puno si Reymark. Hindi niya maigalaw ang katawan kahit anong subok nito. Nilamon na siya ng puno hanggang sa walang ni isang bakas niya ang matira.

“Mahal kita.”

=———————————————————–=

English Version

“Wait up! You’re walking too fast!” Reymark tries to catch up to the rest of the tour group. “I thought this was supposed to be a stroll, you guys act like you’re in a marathon.”

“Ok everyone, the slowpoke’s complaining, I guess that means everyone else has to adjust.” Maria hit back with her trademark smirk. “Why did you even come with us? You knew that you’d be in the group with experienced mountaineers.”

“I know why he’s with us.” Jori elbowed Reymark and gave a knowing glance.

“Shut up.” Reymark elbowed back.

“Enough, all of you. This is a nice, relaxing trek. Let’s keep it that way, alright?” Danylyn pointed towards the base of a balete tree. “We can rest over there.”

The group stopped their bickering and surrendered to their leader’s wishes. It had been a rough trek, even by their standards. The mountaineers welcomed a chance to catch their breath and rehydrate.

Sweat was collecting on their foreheads, the sun was especially merciless today.

“You guys go ahead, I can catch up,” Reymark said.

“Oh come on, we’re less than halfway there. You can’t keep taking breaks when things get hard. Soldier on.” Danylyn tried to boost her friend’s morale, but there was little success.

“I mean it, go ahead without me. I can stay here by the shade and catch up when I have my energy back.”

“But Rey, you’ll miss the great view.” Jori nudged his head in Maria’s direction and she was thankfully oblivious to the gesture’s meaning.

“Guys, seriously. I’ll just slow you down. We can meet up after you guys finish the trek and I can have lunch or something.”

“If you say so.” Danylyn picked up her backpack and took a final sip of water. “Alright guys, gear up, let’s get this hike finished and see the top of this mountain, time to hustle.”

The rest of the group took their gear and headed up the steep incline. Jori sped up to match Danylyn’s stride and Danylyn ignored him as she always did. Elections were coming up and Jori wanted to be the president, he tried to show his capabilities by attempting to overshadow Danylyn.

Maria was in her own little world. She put her earphones on and set the volume to maximum. She didn’t care about petty things like positions. She came to the mountain to unwind and leave the burdens of the city behind.

And that left Reymark underneath the balete tree. His heartbeat had stopped its rapid crescendo and normalized into a smooth aria. He caught one last glimpse of Maria before she caught up with the rest of the group and his heart started up again.

“Dammit, not now.” He ordered his heart to ignore the truth he so desperately tried to hide. Reymark gave a sigh of surrender. Maybe it was finally time to roll the dice and tell Maria what he felt.

“What’s the worst that could happen? “ He thought out loud.

“Maybe she isn’t the one for you.” A beautiful, almost melodic voice replied.

Reymark looked around, there was no one there with him. The shade of the balete tree shielded him from the overbearing sun, and he was certain that only the tree and himself were the only living beings around.

“Now I’m hearing things.” Reymark rubbed his eyes and yawned. The trek must have taken more out of him than he thought. He sat on a flat rock and leaned his back against the tree.

“She will never love you.” He heard the voice again. This time it was loud and crisp, almost as if the voice spoke directly to his ear.

“Hello? Jori if this is another one of your pranks it’s not funny!” Reymark waited for a reply. Jori’s incessant teasing was getting on his nerves and it was about time he gave the pest a piece of his mind.

“She will never love you. Not like I do.” The voice came from behind him. Reymark turned around and faced the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her features seemed to be carved from the most expensive marble, her hair cascaded down her shoulders like a jet-black waterfall.

It was her eyes that he couldn’t escape from. They were deep set and seemed to pierce into his soul the longer she looked at him.

“Why do you love her?” The strange woman asked.

“She’s smart and beautiful,” Reymark answered.

“No, that’s not it, is it? There’s something more.” Her penetrating gaze shed the layers of doubt that normally filled Reymark.

“She—“ Reymark tried to answer again but he woman put her hand on his chest.

“You cannot hide the truth, not even from yourself.” She looked him in the eyes, with an almost melancholy expression. “Even if you wanted to.”

“She was the only one that laughed.” The truth seemed to flow out of him. “Whenever I tell jokes, everyone says how corny they are and they make fun of me, but not her. Maria was the only one who would laugh at my jokes. She would always smirk when I was around and I thought that meant she liked me too but I’m not sure. I never told her.”

“That you loved her?”

“She is the only girl I dream about. I would do anything to be with her.”

“A dangerous sentiment.” The woman sat on a flat rock in front of Reymark. “Love like that never has a good ending.”

“What do you mean?”

“A fire that burns that bright only lasts half as long.”

Reymark stared at the woman. Beautiful as she was, he could sense sadness behind her placid exterior. She stood up and touched the tree behind him and pulled out a skull.

He stepped back, startled by the object the woman was holding.

“This was my first love.” The woman stared into the skull and her voice softened. “We thought the world was ours to take.” She set it on the foot of the tree. “We were wrong.”

Reymark felt the ground rumble. The balete tree looked as if it was opening up, the vines and leaves revealing a macabre sight. Six skeletons were lined up beneath the tree. The bones were in immaculate condition, shining bright in the afternoon sun.

“We were all wrong.”

Even the wind respected the stillness of the scene. Reymark stood silent, his breathing a reminder of the reality of the situation. The woman just stood in front of him, lost in her own thoughts.

“Do you know what happens when one of my kind falls in love with a human?” She walked to the rightmost set of bones and held its hand. “This happens.”

“Love is dance to a deadly rhythm. You lose parts of yourself you didn’t realize you had. Then, it finally hits you. It was love all along. The cause and crisis, the ever-present menace. The end and the beginning. “

The light reflected on the tears flowing down her face.
“She will never love you. Not like I do.”

Reymark felt his legs buckle, weakness spreading over his body. The balete tree seemed to be growing around him, the vines wrapping about his limbs.

The woman leaned in close and kissed Reymark.

“I love you.”

The tree embraced him, he tried to move his arms but his body would not cooperate. The balete tree engulfed Reymark until not a single trace was left.

“I love you.”

=——————————————————————=

*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 Marel Melendez
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Marel Melendez

Inspired by ‘The Enchanted Tree of Parang.’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Engkantada Illustration by Kurt Prieto
Behance: https://www.behance.net/KurtPrieto

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Bumibilis ang pagtibok ng kaniyang puso habang nakatingin sa isang babae sa bar. Ngumiti ba siya kay Sam?

Nag-iisip siya ng maaari niyang gawin: Ang pinakaposibleng mangyari ay hindi siya pansinin kapag niyaya niya itong makipag-usap. Kapag naman tumagal ang usapan, kinatatakutan niya na hindi maging interesado ang babae dahil wala siya gaanong maikukuwento. Palaisipan naman sa kakayahan niya na makausap at makuha ang numero nito dahil nangangailangan ng lakas ng loob para magawa iyon.

Lumugok si Sam ng alak para magkaroon siya ng tapang at hinahanda ang sarili sa mga sasabihin: “Gaano ka kadalas dito?” Pangit, gamitin na. “Naglalaro ka ba ng soccer? Nasalo mo kasi ang puso ko.” Masyadong korni, baka iwanan ako bago ko pa matapos. Paano kaya kung, “Ang hirap hindi mapansin ang iyong kagandahan mula sa aking kinauupuan.” Tuwid ang gustong ipaalam, baka gumana.

Naglalakad siya papunta sa babae hanggang sa nakalimutan niya ang kaniyang sasabihin. Naantig siya sa kagandahan nito sa malapitan. Nauutal si Sam at nagmamadali kung ano ang sasabihin, at naisipan niya na lang na magpakilala “Kumusta, ako si Sam.”

Ngumiti ang babae sa kaniya at tumawa, “Nakakatawa ka, ayos lang naman ako, ako pala si Samantha.”

“Ibang klase, Sam din ang pangalan mo?” Sabay siyang naguguluhan sa kung ano ang pag-uusapan nila at napapaisip dahil sa ganda ng boses ni Samantha.

“Gusto mo ba akong samahan? Kikitain ko dapat yung mga kaibigan ko pero hindi sila makakapunta, kaya nandito lang ako mag-isa. Ngumiti ulit si Samantha at nahuli niya si Sam sa kaniyang pakay.

“…sige, walang problema!” Nilakasan ni Sam ang kaniyang loob at nagtanong, “Gaano ka kadalas dito?”

“Hindi gaano, hindi talaga ako mahilig sa lugar na ito. Gusto ko ng lugar na puwedeng sumayaw. Nandito lang talaga ako dahil sa mga kaibigan ko.”

“Ano yung nangyari sa kanila?”

“Bigla silang kinailangan sa mga bahay nila, ngayon nakabihis na ako at hindi alam ang gagawin.”

“Alam ko naman na makakahanap tayo ng lugar na magugustuhan mo.” Ngumiti si Sam, pero sa totoo lang nagdarasal na sana gumana ang kaniyang linyahan.

“Ano ang gusto mong gawin?” Tanong ni Samantha.

“Mayroon akong alam na lugar na matitipuhan mo. Malaki ang sayawan, at magaling din ang DJ magsama-sama ng mga kanta. Kung papayag ka na kasama mo ako.

“Ayos lang sa akin. Para naman hindi sayang yung lakad.” Inabot niya ang kamay ni Sam, habang siya naman ay tuwang-tuwa dahil napapayag niya si Samantha.

Hindi inaasahan ang mga pangyayari sa gabing iyon.

Paano napunta si Sam doon?

Ang naaalala niya sumasayaw lang sila. Baka sumobra siya ng inom at iniwan niya lang ang kaniyang sasakyan sa labas ng bar dulot ng sobrang kalasingan, at ngayon…

Nasa bahay siya kasama ang isang magandang babae. Nasa sahig ang kanilang mga damit at magkadikit ang kanilang mga labi.

Hindi siya makapaniwala na totoo ang nangyayari. Pumunta lang siya ng bar, para makalimutan ang kaniyang lungkot dahil nawalan siya ng trabaho, hindi niya inaasahan mapupunta siya sa kalagayan niya ngayon. Inisantabi niya muna ang lungkot at pinili niyang magsaya kapiling ni Samantha.

Ayaw muna niyang pansinin ang mga pagdududa sa kadahilanan na hindi ito kailangan sa ngayon.

Nararamdaman ni Sam ang init ng balat at hininga ni Samantha sa kaniyang leeg. Gusto niyang hawakan ang buong katawan nito. Kumapit siya sa likuran ni Sam, kaso nasugatan niya ito. Mukha itong masakit pero hindi niya nararamdaman dahil parehas silang nasasabik sa isa’t isa.

Tumingin siya sa mga mata ni Samantha at nagtanong, Ano iyon? Kinalimutan niya ang kaniyang napansin at nagpatuloy na lamang sa kaniyang ginagawa.

Nagpakasakop siya sa kagandahan ni Samantha. Pinaulit-ulit niya sa kaniyang sarili, “Totoo itong nararanasan ko. Ito ang mahalaga sa ngayon.”

Kung pinagtuonan lang niya ng pansin, makikita niya na humaba ang kuko at patalim nang patalim ang mga ngipin ni Samantha.

=—————————–=

Nagbihis na siya dahil tapos na ang kaniyang hapunan.

Kailangan ulit maglinis ngayon gabi, pero ang mahalaga sulit ang kaniyang pagkain.

Hindi siya makapaniwala na gumagana pa rin ang kaniyang galawan.

Tunay na kapang-kapa niya ang mga lalaki.

=————————-———=

English Version

Sam stares at her from across the bar and his heart skips a beat. Did she really smile at him?

His mind tries to go through all the possibilities: He talks to her and she turns him down, that was the most likely scenario. He talks to her and she finds out how boring he is, that was what he was afraid of, he was never the best conversationalist. He talks to her and he gets her number, that would be incredibly unlikely but fortune favors the bold.

Sam downs his liquid courage and prepares himself. “Do you come here often?” No, that was too cliché. “Do you play soccer, ‘cause you’re a keeper?” Too corny, she would probably walk away before he finished. “I can’t help but notice how beautiful you were from across the room.” Direct and straight to the point, maybe that will work.

He walks towards her and his mind draws a blank. She’s even lovelier up close. Sam stutters and his mind races to find words of any kind to start with, finally it settles with “Hello, I’m Sam.”

She smiles back and giggles. “That’s funny, my name’s Samantha. It’s nice to meet you.”

“You’re name’s also Sam? What a coincidence.” The inside of his head is a mess alternating between finding topics to talk about and thinking about how melodic her voice is.

“Do you mind keeping me company? I was supposed to meet my friends here but they aren’t coming so I’m just here all alone.” She smiles again and Sam is caught offguard.

“…sure, that’s no problem.” He gulps and hopes that he can do this. “Do you come here often?”

“Not really, I’m not into bars like this. I like any place with a dance floor. I was just here for a friend.”

“What happened to them?”

“Some emergency at home, now I’m all dressed up with nothing to do.”

“I’m sure we can find something you’re interested in.” Sam smiled, but in his head he was praying that line would work.

“What do you have in mind?” She asked.

“I know a place that you might be interested in. The dance floor’s pretty big and the DJ’s supposed to be amazing. I mean, if you don’t mind going with me.”

“Why not? Might as well salvage this night.” She takes his hand and his mind is filled with fireworks.

Tonight was a welcome surprise.

=————————-———————–=

How did he end up here?

They went dancing, that much he knew. Maybe had one too many drinks. He remembered leaving his car at the club because he was too tipsy to drink, and now…

Now he was with a beautiful girl in her apartment. Their clothes were on the floor and their lips were locked.

He couldn’t believe this was happening to someone like him. He was at the bar to drown his sorrows after losing his job, he never expected to end up like this. Sadness could wait, now was his time to enjoy.

Sam pushed away all the doubts that usually plagued his mind, they were unwelcome in this moment.

He can feel the heat from her skin, and the warmth of her breath on his neck. He wanted to caress every crevice of her body. She dug her nails on his back, it may have hurt but there was too much adrenaline between them for him to notice.

He looked into her eyes and saw something, what was it? His mind brushed that thought away, he wanted to focus on what was happening.

He leaned back and basked in her beauty. This was real. This was the moment. This was all that mattered.

If he paid attention he would have noticed when her nails grew longer and her teeth became sharper.

=————————-————-=

Sam finished her midnight meal and put on her clothes.

It was another night of cleaning up, but at least she had a good meal out of it.

She still couldn’t believe her game still worked.

Men were so predictable.

=————————-————=

*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 Emman Bernardino
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Emman Bernardino

Inspired by the Mandarangkal aswang legends

Mandarangkal Illustration by Julius Arboleda

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Case #MGKJ88891

Tinawag ang mga barangay tanod dahil sa sunod-sunod na reklamo sa mabangis na hayop na umaaligid at umaatake sa mga taong nasa paligid. Tumagal ng dalawang linggo ang mga pag-atake, buong gabi, at parami nang parami ang nabibiktima. Ang limang insidente ay ang mga sumusunod:

Martes, Marso 2, 1976 — Naglalakad si Ma. Mapeso pauwi mula sa kaniyang paaralan nang makarinig siya na may lumilipad sa itaas. Inilarawan ng bata ang nilalang na may mahabang pakpak katulad sa paniki, nagawan niya ng paraan para siya ay makatakas, pero nagtamo siya ng mga gasgas at sugat.

Huwebes, Marso 11, 1976 — Lasing si Jun Tesero pagkatapos niyang manggaling sa isang pagdiriwang. Namataan siya sa gilid ng puno malapit-lapit sa bahay ng kaniyang kapatid na si Monica. Hindi maalala ng biktima kung ano ang sumalakay sa kaniya, pero mayroong mahahabang itim na buhok na natagpuan sa kaniyang buong katawan.

Lunes, Marso 15, 1976 — Hindi nakita ni Boy Calizo ang hayop na umatake sa kaniya dahil madilim ang daan. Nagreklamo ang biktima dahil sa mga kagat niya sa balikat at kaliwang braso.

Miyerkules, Marso 17, 1976 — Narinig ang sigaw ni Melody Refol sa buong daan nang may sumugod sa kaniya. Ayon sa mga nakakita, ang hayop ay may kalakihan at nagtataglay ng itim na balahibo. Sa kabutihang-palad nailigtas siya ng mga nakasaksi hanggang sa lumipad papalayo ang nilalang.

Huwebes, Marso 18, 1976 — Ang biktima ay si Roberto Diangson, malaki ang natamo niyang sugat mula sa pagkakalusob sa kaniya. Naglalakad siya nang ika-9 ng gabi. Nakarinig ang biktima ng kakaibang tunog, natakot, at nakita niyang lumilipad ang hayop. Kahawig nito ang isang malaking paniki. Sinabi niya na sinugod siya ng nilalang na ito at tinumba siya sa lupa. Paulit-ulit na sinusubukan ng biktima na harangan ang mga kalmot, pero mahaba ang mga kuko nito na bumabaon sa kaniyang balat. Umabot kinabukasan ang sugat niya sa leeg dahil sinubukan siyang sakalin nito. Sumigaw si Roberto sa susunod na bahay at nang lumabas ang mga naninirahan dito, nawala bigla ang hayop.

Nagkakaisa ang pahayag ng mga biktima sa nakita nilang nilalang at si Melody Refol lang ang may saksi na nagpapalakas sa kaniyang kuwento.Ang iba pang mga kaso ay maaaring maipaliwanag ng isang malaking paniki, pero hindi ito sinang-ayunan ng mga biktima. Ang kanilang katwiran ay walang kakayahan ang isang paniki na kumilos ng ganoon.

May mga balita pa ng mga pag-atake sa lugar na iyon, na may parehas na paglalarawan sa hayop sa mga taong 1977, 1979, 1981, at 1983.

=—————————————————————————-=

Case # MGKJ88891

The barangay police were called in after a series of complaints of a wild animal appearing in the area and attacking bystanders. The attacks all happened within the span of two weeks, all at nighttime, and with increasing frequency. All in all five incidents were reported as follows.

Tuesday, March 2, 1976 – Ma. Mapeso was walking home from school when she heard something flyingoverhead. The girl described the creature as having long wings like those of a bat, she managed to run away from it, but not without sustaining minor cuts and bruises.

Thursday, March 11, 1976 – After coming back from a party Jun Tesoro was inebriated. He was found beside a tree very close to his home by his sister, Monica. The victim could not remember what it was that attacked him, but long, black hairs were found all over his body.

Monday, March 15, 1976 – Boy Calizo was not able to see the animal attack him, as he said it was very dark along the street. The victim complained of bite marks all over his shoulder area and left arm.

Wednesday, March 17, 1976 – Melody Refol’s screams were heard by most of the street when she was being attacked. Eyewitness accounts say that the animal was large and had black fur. Fortunately bystanders were able to assist her and the animal flew away .

Thursday, March 18, 1976 – The victim, Roberto Diangson, had the most extensive account of his attack. He was taking a walk at 9 o clock in the evening. The victim heard a strange sound and was frightened, he saw the animal hover. It resembled a giant bat. He said that the creature then attacked him and wrestled him to the ground. The victim repeatedly tried to fend off the attack, but the animal’s long nails kept digging into his skin. The animal had tried choking him and the marks were still visible on his neck the following morning. He shouted for help at a nearby house and when the occupants arrived, the animal had disappeared.

All victims had similar versions of the creature that attacked them and only Melody Refol had eyewitnesses to corroborate her story. The other cases could be explained by a larger than normal bat, but the victims disagree with that theory. They said that no bat would be able to attack them in that manner.

Subsequent attacks have been reported in the same area, with similar descriptions of the animal in 1977, 1979, 1981 and 1983.

=————————————————————————=

*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 Emman Bernardino
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Emman Bernardino

Inspired by ‘Encounter with a Wakwak.’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Wak-wak (Aklan) Illustration by Ysa Peñas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonechitect/

*Note this story is in Ibanag

Kinovovuk mangana sakan na aninu’.

Sangaw, ta pangumma mabi gapa. Ta paddaguk-ku nga pallutu turi ta chapsuy, nekagi na niakan nga ekku kanu apan yuri ila anna ekku duddugan yuri weytres nga mangalawa turi ta tumunuk nga order. Neana-anabik na ta talinga’ yuri marakay nga gannu-gannug nga meannung turi ta babay, nu kunnasi kanu yayya nga maguvovuk ta likuk ku; nu kunnasi na kanu nga nekagi ta totolay nga ulapa nga’ kanu yatun ta pinanawan sakan na nobyo’; nu ngatta kanu awan tu magiddu ta kagitta’ kanu nga palla.

Nekagi’ ta boss ku nga marakay i gawa-gawayyak-ku yatun ta pinalabbe na sakan. Infiyernu yuri biyahe’ nga palabbe ta apartment ku. Kunnud, liwa gabba yuri pinaggiak-ku ta biko na bentana. Gafu turi, dinul-dulangan sakan na totolay ta patangoras. Inni-innad-da sakan, ngem nakkummak nga’ laman. Manaki ku garay ta agini-iningan onu atensyon na totolay.

Kustu ngana. Ta olang ku, nagempake nga’ anna giminatang nga’ ta tiket na eroplano nga mattoli ta Iloilo. Patangoras laman yuri biyahe, kunnud, nattakay nga’ gapa turi ta olu-olu nga bus nga mallabbe ta giam-mi. Dakal nga billay na baggi’ i makkag-kagi niakan tu maguyoyung nga’ megafu taw ta kiningwa’ nga makipabbakal ta tadday a ari-masingan. Ngem, yaw nga nesimmu ay mabi nga naimammo.

Naguvovuk mangana yuri aninu.

Kinagi na niakan nu kunnasi i kalogon na nga fuwersan yuri drayver na bus nga dompian i kadafung mi nga kotche, onu mas nakasta paga, madompi i tadday nga balay. Mas nassika-sikan anna naggalla-gallu yuri ana-anabik ira ngem finuwersa’ nga wawanan. Makanassing ngana yayya. Mepangngo nga makanassing yayya.

Aranni ngana nga mattangnga-gabi ta paddattal ku ta ili. Kengak-ku ngana i oras ku. Enna’ nappalaju turi ta tana. Ammu’ nga egga yayya turi, kagitta na gari kustu enna pinatay yuri wagi’ nga babay. Nekagi na wagi’ nga mappalaju nga’ ta arayyu, ngem, manaki ku yayya nga ibattang, abbo ku gapa nu mauffunak-ku yayya. Ari ku makattamman yuri kulle na wagi’ kustu nakaga yuri aninu na.

Yuri ana-anabik ta talinga’ ay nabbalin tu kulle-kulle. Napporay ngana yuri aninu anna ari nga’ gapa ngana makennak. Ekku ina yuri flashlayt ku anna nessibo ku ta arubang ku. Nappasa i piga nga minuto, ay naguk ku ngana yayya. Maguk ku i nalabbak nga pattak anna natuggi nga tabbi. Maguk ku i pakapaliag ku.

Naguyoyung yuri sigbin. Nepasingan na yuri ngipa-ngipan na anna mabi na nga tinalebaran sakan, kunnud, ta patangasegundo, ay nammuak-ku i imammo. Nesimmu ngana, mattalimoray nga’ ngana.

Mangananwan, marakay i natageno ku. Ganganalaman, gavva tu ari nga’ makenango’.

Tanakwan nga aninu i enna kinaga.

English Version

My shadow spoke to me again.

This time it was during lunch. I was preparing the chop suey and it told me to take the knife and stab the waitress who was going to pick up the next order. It whispered terrible things about her, how she talked behind my back; how she told people I was insane and that’s why my boyfriend left me; how no one would ever love a freak like me.

I told my boss that I was feeling sick today and he let me go home. The commute back to the apartment was hell. I made the mistake of standing by the window and people stared for an hour. They looked right across me and I just kept my head down. I didn’t want the attention.

Enough is enough, I packed my bags and booked a flight back to Iloilo. The flight only lasted an hour and I took the first bus back home. A big part of me thinks I’m crazy for doing this, trying to fight back a monster with another one, but that part is quickly silenced.

The shadow spoke again.

It told me how easy it would be to go up to the driver and force the bus to hit a passing car, or better yet a building. The whispers were getting stronger but I force them away. It’s getting scared. It should be.

I reach the town late. It’s close to midnight, but I can’t waste any more time. I run towards the field. I know it will be there, just like it was when it killed my sister. She told me to run, but I didn’t want to leave her, I thought I could help her. I’ll always remember her scream when it bit her shadow.

The whispers in my ears turn into shouts. The shadow’s angry and I can’t wait. I take the flashlight from my bag and set it in front of me. A few minutes later I smell it. The smell of rotting flesh and burnt skin. The smell of my salvation.

The sigbin is vicious. It bares its teeth and rushes past me and for a second I know true peace. It’s happened, I am finally free.

A moment later I feel something wrong. The sudden realization leaves me gasping for air.

It bit the wrong shadow.

————————–————————–————————–—

*The Ibanag language (also Ybanag or Ibanak) is spoken by up to 500,000 speakers, most particularly by the Ibanag people, in the Philippines, in the northeastern provinces of Isabela and Cagayan, especially in Tuguegarao, Solana, Abulug, Cabagan, and Ilagan and with overseas immigrants in countries located in the Middle East, United Kingdom and the United States. Most of the speakers can also speak Ilocano, the lingua franca of northern Luzon island. The name Ibanag comes from the prefix “I” which means “people of”, and “bannag”, meaning river. It is closely related to Gaddang, Itawis, Agta, Atta, Yogad, Isneg, and Malaweg.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Jake Calubāquib Coballes
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jake Calubāquib Coballes

Inspired by the Sigbin entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971., Myth Museum. Medina. 2015. and 101 Kagila-gilalas na Nilalang. Samar. 2015

Sigbin Illustration and Watercolor by Nightmaresyrup
Tumblr: http://nightmaresyrup.tumblr.com/