*Note this story is in Tagalog

“Hindi mo ‘to makukuha hangga’t ‘di ka bumabalik sa katinuan,” iyan ang sinabi ni Mimi nang kunin niya ang susi ko.

Pilit kong sinasabi sa kanila na ayos lang ako at kaya kong magmaneho kahit pa nakainom. Isa pa, sampung minuto lang din ang layo ng bahay ko kaya hindi ako maaaksidente. Pero ayaw nilang makinig. May parte sa akin na nagpapasalamat dahil may mga kaibigan akong gaya nila, pero mas naiinis ako ngayon dahil kailangan kong maglakad pauwi sa kalaliman ng gabi.

Nagpresenta sina Jherick at Deng na samahan akong maglakad ilang kanto ang layo sa bahay ko, pero dahil sa kalasingan ay sinabi kong layuan nila ako. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito ako, hindi ko dapat itinataboy ang mga kaibigan ko lalo na ngayon.

Mula nang maghiwalay kami ni Grace, puro paglalasing na ang inaatupag ko at pinagtatabuyan ang sino mang magtatangkang kausapin ako. Hindi nawala ang suporta sa akin ng mga kaibigan ko pero heto ako at sinisira ang pagkakaibigan namin. Hindi ako karapat-dapat sa kanila.

Lalo na kay Mimi, ang pinakamamahal kong si Mimi.

Sa gilid ng mata ko ay nakita ko ulit siya, mukhang hindi ganoon kalakas ang tama ko. Pinagmamasdan ng babaeng nakaitim ang lahat ng kamalasan ko, kakatwang karanasan na sana kung hindi lang sobrang nakakaasar.

“Masaya ka na ba? Natutuwa ka bang makita na miserable ako ngayon?”

Ang multo ay nakatayo lang sa ilalim ng poste ng ilaw, hindi gumagalaw. Hindi na ako umaasang gagalaw siya. Mula nang maghiwalay kami ni Grace ay lagi ko na siyang nakikita tuwing hatinggabi, nakatayo lang sa ilalim ng poste ng ilaw.

Dahil sa kalasingan ay basta-basta na lang akong tumakbo sa kaniya habang umiiyak.

“Bakit kailangan niya akong iwan?”

Hinablot ko ang itim niyang bestida kaya napaatras siya. Iyon ang unang reaksyon na nakita ko sa kaniya. Bigla rin akong napaatras at tila nawala ang kalasingan nang makitang umangat ang dulo ng mahaba niyang buhok.

Ano bang iniisip ko? Kahit anong nilalang pa ito ay siguradong mapanganib ito. Napabalik ako sa katinuan at tumakbo nang mabilis. Malayo-layo na rin ang tinakbo ko nang mapansin kong hindi niya ako sinusundan.

Nakatayo lang siya roon at nakatingin sa akin.

Hindi na mahalaga kung ano pa siya, may mas importanteng bagay akong kailangang isipin. Nakauwi ako at mabilis na nakatulog. Napaginipan ko ang mga babae sa buhay ko.

Si Mimi. Si Grace. Ang babaeng nakaitim.

Lahat sila ay pinipilit kong abutin pero sobrang layo nila.

Ginising ako ng alarm ko at naramdaman kong parang binibiyak ang ulo ko dahil sa hangover. Nagpunta ako sa banyo para maghilamos at biglang naalalang na kay Mimi pa rin ang susi ko.

Ayos na rin, may dahilan ako para kausapin siya.

Lumabas ako ng bahay at halos mapasigaw ako. Napatid ako sa sintas ng sapatos ko kaya bumagsak ako sa lupa.

Nandoon pa rin ang babaeng nakaitim.

Mukhang hindi siya umalis sa puwesto niya. Pagkatapos ng nangyari kagabi, wala na akong balak lapitan siya ulit. Iniwasan ko siyang tignan at sumakay na sa dyip papunta sa bahay ni Mimi.

Pinindot ko ang doorbell ng bahay ni Mimi at nagpalinga-linga. Sinusundan ako ng babaeng nakaitim. Isang kalye ang layo niya sa akin at nakatingin lang sa direksyon ko. Wala akong pakialam kung ano ang gusto niya, may mas mahalagang bagay na kailangan kong harapin.

Kailangang malaman ni Mimi ang nararamdaman ko para sa kaniya.

Bumukas ang pinto at sinalubong ako ng malambot na kamay at matamis na ngiti ni Mimi.

“Mukhang may hindi na lasing, a,” sabi niya. Iligtas ako nawa ng diyos sa mga ngiti niya.

“Mimi, puwede ba tayong mag-usap?”

“Kung tungkol sa susi mo, binigay ko kay Jherick. Pupuntahan ka niya sa bahay mo mamayang tanghali.”

“Hindi iyon. Puwede ba akong pumasok?” Nagsimula nang magpawis ang mga palad ko at nahihirapan akong huminga, pero wala nang atrasan ‘to.

“Oo naman, ano ba ‘yon?” Dinala niya ako sa tahimik na parte ng bahay nila. Doon ay sinabi ko sa kaniya ang lahat.

Kung paanong wala pa akong nakikilalang babae na gaya niya. Kung paanong kahit kami pa noon ni Grace ay hindi ko maiwasang isipin na baka sakaling puwedeng maging kami. At ngayon na pareho kaming single ay baka puwede naming subukan.

Nabigla siya pero mukhang hindi nagulat.

“May boyfriend na ako, Ron.”

Sa sandali ring iyon ay tila gumuho ang mundo ko. Sinabi ko sa kaniya na ayos lang at kalimutan na lang niya ang sinabi ko.

“Sana maging masaya kayong dalawa,” sabi ko sa pagitan ng pag-iyak.

“Si Jherick.”

Parang sinaksak ang puso ko. Hindi pa ba sapat na hindi magiging kami ang babaeng mahal ko, at kailangang best friend ko pa ang mahalin niya? Sobra naman yata ‘yon.

Nagmamadali akong lumabas ng bahay nang hindi lumilingon. Nakarating ako sa isang tahimik na eskinita at hinayaan ang sarili ko na umiyak. Nakita ko ulit siya.

Ang babaeng nakaitim.

Siguro ay napanood niya ang lahat. Sige lang, maglibang lang siya sa panonood. Ito na ang buhay ko ngayon, isa akong wasak na pusong sinusubukang maging tao.

Hindi. Hindi dapat ganito ang kahinatnan ng lahat.

Tumayo ako at inipon ang natitirang lakas ng loob para bumalik at kausapin si Mimi. Baka may puwede akong sabihin para magbago ang isip niya. Baka may paraan para magsama kami.

Nagmamadali akong tumawid sa kalsada papunta sa bahay nila Mimi.

Kung naging mas maingat lang ako ay baka napansin ko ang kotse na papalapit sa akin.

Ang huli kong nakita ay ang babaeng nakaitim, nakangiti ito sa akin.

=———————————-=

English Version

“You’re not going to get these back until you’re sober,” that’s what Mimi said as she took my keys.

I keep telling them I’m okay, I’ve driven under worse conditions anyway, besides my house is just 10 minutes away, there’s no way I could get into an accident. They don’t listen and a small part of me is thankful I have friends like those, but a bigger part of me is annoyed that he has to walk home in the middle of the night.

Jherick and Deng offer to walk me a few blocks to my house but the drunk in me tells them to back off, though in a more explicit way. I don’t know why I’m like this, I shouldn’t be pushing my friends away especially now.

Ever since Grace and I broke up all I’ve been doing is drinking and being a complete ass to anyone that tried to talk to me. Everyone’s been so supportive and they don’t deserve a guy like me fighting off their friendship.

Especially Mimi, sweet, beautiful Mimi.

Out of the corner of my eye I see her again. I guess I’m just that drunk. The lady in black watching over all my misfortune, it would be poetic if it wasn’t so damn annoying.

“Are you happy now?! Do you enjoy watching me suffer?!”
The apparition stands still under the light post, unmoving. I didn’t expect anything more. Ever since my breakup I’ve been seeing her late at night, always under some sort of lamp post.
This time I’m too drunk to care, I run up to her with tears in my eyes.

“Why did she have to leave me?!”

I grab her black dress and she steps back. The first reaction I’ve ever gotten from her. Suddenly her long hair stands on end. I instinctively back away and in that moment I sober up.
What was I thinking? Whatever this is can’t be friendly. I gather my senses and run as far away as I possibly can. I manage to get a running start before I notice that I’m not being followed.

She’s just standing there looking at me.

Whatever she is it doesn’t matter. I have more important things to think about. I head home and fall asleep dreaming of the women in my life.

Mimi. Grace. The Woman in Black.

All of them form into one figure that I try to reach, but she’s so far away.

My alarm rings and my head is splitting from the hangover. I go to the bathroom to wash my face and remember that Mimi still has my keys.

At least I’ll have a reason to talk to her.

I walk outside my house and almost shout. I trip on my own shoelaces and fall to the ground.

The woman in black is still there.

She doesn’t seem to be moving and after last night I don’t think I’ll be confronting her anytime soon. I avoid looking at her and make my way to the jeep to go to Mimi’s house.

I ring Mimi’s doorbell and look around. The lady in black is following me. She’s a street away and staring in my direction. I don’t know what she wants but right now there are more pressing matters.

Mimi needs to know how I feel about her.

She opens the door, her gentle hands and radiant smile greeting me.

“Well it looks like someone finally got up,” she says. God save me from that smile.

“Mimi, can we talk?”

“If it’s about your keys I gave them to Jherick. He’s supposed to drop them by your house at lunch time.”

“No it’s not about that. Can I go in?” My palms start to sweat and it gets hard to breathe, but it’s too late to go back now.
“Of course, what is it?” She leads us to a quiet place in their house and I tell her everything.

How I’ve never met any girl as amazing as her. How even when I was with Grace I would think about her and wonder what if. How now that we’re both single maybe we could give it a chance.

She looks shocked but not surprised.

“Ron, I’m seeing someone.”

And in that moment my universe collapsed. I tell her it’s fine, to just not mention it anymore.

“I hope you two are happy,” I manage to say in between my tears.

“It’s Jherick.”

A shooting pain goes through my heart. It wasn’t enough that the girl I loved couldn’t be with me, but her together with my best friend? It was almost too much.

I rush out of the house without looking back. I find a quiet alleyway to let my tears loose and I see her.

The lady in black.

She was probably watching the whole time. Well she can enjoy the show. This is my life now, a broken heart trying to be a man.

No. This can’t be how it ends.

I stand and muster all the courage I have to go back and talk to Mimi. Maybe I can say something that would change her mind. There has to be a way we could be together.
I rush through the streets to her house.

Maybe if I was more careful I would have seen the car coming towards me.

The last thing I see is the lady in black, smiling.

————————–————————–————————-

*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 Raquel Jacinto Pombo
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Raquel Jacinto Pombo

Inspired by a story told by Harold Juab

Illustration by likhatsining

Deviant Art: https://likhatsining.deviantart.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/likhatsining/

The post Black Lady – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Waray

Magigin maupay an ngatanan.

Nahampak an mga balod ha ulo han parupangisda. Nag-atentar hiya nga umabante ha katubigan kundi gin-ulang hiya han bagyo. Yukut kamilyon nga mga tarahiti an naigo ha waray korte nga kadagatan, kundi bisan sugad, maaram hiya nga maundang liwat ini. Waray hiya dad-a ngadto agud malumos, ngan matapod hiya ha ira tubtub ha iya kamatayon.

Nahinumduman niya an mga luha ha mga mata han iya iroy han ginlabay niya an rosaryo hini. Nahadlok ini para ha iya, kundi dugang nga nabaraka para ha iya kalag. Anak an parupangisda han iya amay ngan padayon nga natuod ha kadaan nga mga pamaagi tungod kay aada an tubig ha iya dugo.

Nakimaluoy an iya iroy nga tumapod hiya ha iya tagatalwas, ha ira tagatalwas. An pirme ginpapahinumdom ha iya samtang ginpapatubo hiya ha gugma ngan lamrag, kundi waray niya mahimo nga mamati ha iya iroy. Waray masabtan han iya iroy an ira kinabuhi ha dagat, an mga bantay nga naprotehir ha ira.

“Aswang han Dagat” – amo an ira tawag ha mga sugad. Sering nira, gin-aagda an mga parupangisda ngadto ha tubig pinaagi han ira mga kanta agud lumuson ngan kaunon hira. Nasosorpresa pa gihapon hiya kun ano kaiha na nga nalastar iton nga buwa ngan kun ano kadamo an mga tawo nga padayon nga natuod didto. Maaram an mga parupangisda kun ano iton nga mga istorya: usa nga pagkilala/paghatag hin kangaranan ha pira kasiglo nga pagrespeto ngan pagdayaw ha mga ispiritu.

Kundi waray na gud hiya mahihimo. Ginbag-o na han mga tuig an ginalalauman han mga tawo ha panahon nga nanginginahanglan hira. Waray na mga halad ha dagat, o mga pangadi ha mga balod. Hiya nala an nasalin. An urhi nga anak han natikamatay nga tuluohan.

Natikaluya na an mga braso han parupangisda. Nadadara na an iya lawas han waray kahumanan nga paghampak han mga balod ngan uran. Ginhinumdom niya an iya iroy ngan nagdig-on ha iya panindugan. Ginluwas niya tikang ha iya im-im an urhi nga dasal antes malumos an iya ulo ha mga balod:

An tubig an magdudul-ong ha akon ha balay

Matapod ako ha imo O ispiritu han bagyo ngan dagat

An kasisidman magigin lamrag

Makalma an mga balod

Magigin kaupod ako han dagat

Magigin maupay an ngatanan.

=—————————————–=

English Version

“They will save me.”

The waves crash over the fisherman’s head. He tries to tread water but the storm will not let up. Thousands upon millions of raindrops batter the ocean’s shapeless form, but he knows they will pass. They did not lead him here to drown and he will trust in them until the end of his days.

He remembers the tears in his mother’s eyes when he tossed her rosary aside. She was scared for him, but more concerned for his soul. The fisherman was his father’s son and carried on believing in the old ways because the water was in his blood.

His mother begged him to trust his savior, their savior. The one she had raised him to remember in love and light, but he couldn’t listen to her. She could never understand the life they had at sea, the guardians that protected them.

“Aswang ng Dagat” – that’s what they called them. They say that the spirits lured fishermen into the water with their songs to drown and eat them. It still surprised him how long that lie had lasted and how many people still believed in it. The fishermen knew those stories for what they were: a brush used to paint over the centuries of respect and admiration of the spirits.

There was nothing he could do though. The years had changed what people turned to in their times of need. There were no more offerings by the sea, or prayers to the waves. What was left was him. The last son of a dying belief.

The fisherman’s arms are getting weak now. His body is finally surrendering to the endless onslaught of the waves and the rain. He thinks back to his mother and stays firm in his conviction. His lips release one final prayer before his head goes beneath the waves:

The water will lead me home
I will trust in you
O spirits of storm and sea
The darkness will turn into light
The waves will calm
I will be with the sea

————————–————————–————————–—

*Waray is the fifth-most-spoken native regional language of the Philippines, native to Eastern Visayas. It is the native language of the Waray people and second language of the Abaknon people of Capul, Northern Samar and some Cebuano-speaking peoples of eastern and southern parts of Leyte island. It is the third most spoken language among the Visayan languages, only behind Hiligaynon and Cebuano.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Waray translation by Joan Sebastian
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Joan Sebastian

Inspired by the Magindara entry in Bikol Beliefs and Folkways: A Showcase of Tradition. Nasayao 2010.

Magindara Illustration by emirajuju
IG: https://www.instagram.com/emirajuju/

Watercolor by Mykie Concepcion
Tumblr: http://mykieconcepcion.tumblr.com/

The post Magindara – Waray Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

Batyagan ko mangud ya pagdúot kang maramig nga sundang sa pánit ko.

Nagsugod ja kayang hapon kang alas singko y medya. Natapos bai timprano ya sipal namon mu karan nga si Nanay gina pa-uli’ du ko tulad. Apang samtang ga panaw ko pa-uli’, may nabati-an ko nga daw urangol pai hinay. Gin lisó ko ya ulo ko sa tu’ú kag kang nakita ko ya púno ka Santol, man’an ko run kung ano agtong nabatían ko.

“Wak.. wak.. wak….”

Gatagring nga huní sa taringa ko. Pai naaligmatan takón kang madumduman ko ya gin kuon kanakon kang mga katigulangan kauna. “Kung ya huní kang Wakwak matúnog, marayo day’á kanimo. Pai halong timo kung maghinay ana huní kai marapit du ran tana..”

Sa huná-huná ko samtang ga parang lápsi’on takón pasulod sa balay.

Ya sanga kang Santol nmon ga latay sa atup kang kwarto dai Nanay, muran makita ko gilayún kung may wakwak mangud o wara. Kang nakita ko ya gamabdos ko nga iloy garantaw ti TV, man’an ko run ano ana kinutuyó. Daw ma supúkay gid kami kara.

Dayon ko daragan pa kamalig kag bul’on ya sundang. Man’an ko run ya buhaton ko mu ja guro du kamag’an tana ti bit-biton. Tinago ko ya sundang sa bulsa ko kag nagpungko íngud kay Nanay samtang gahurat ka mga tini-ón nga magpakita ana marabog nga díla’.

Naghurat ko…

Kag naghurat…

Tungá’ dun sa oras nagdayon, tinak’an du ko kahurat mura nag panaw ko paagto sa puno kang Santol kag namati kung bati’on pa ti limog na.

Nadura dun ya huní na..

Asta tulad, gina binag-binag ko nga basi man’an ka wakwak nga batu-an ko gid tana kung biktímahun ya si Nanay. Pai di ko japon maributay kag gaparindog balahibu ko kada turok ko sa puno ka Santol. Inang bisán san’o, basí makabatí du man ko mahinay nga huní ka…

“Wak..wak..wak..”

=——————————————=

English Version

I could feel the cold steel of the knife pressing against my skin.

It started at 5:30 pm. The basketball game didn’t take too long and my mom wanted me home early so I rushed home as soon as I could. The sound was faint, but very distinct. I looked towards my right and when I saw the santol tree I knew exactly what it was.

“Wak….wak…..wak….”

The sound rang in my ears and suddenly I was hit with my grandparents voices, “If the wakwak sound is loud then that means the creature is far, but be careful if the voice is soft, for that means it is very near.” My blood ran cold the moment I entered the house.

The santol tree was right above the bedroom of my parents, so I knew I had to see if there was anything there that the wakwak might want. When I saw my pregnant mother watching TV, that’s when I knew. The fight had begun.

I raced to the kitchen to get a knife, it felt light in my hand,
probably because I was sure of what I had to do. I hid the knife in my shorts, and sat next to my mother, waiting for the moment the monster would let loose its red tongue.

I waited.

I waited.

It was 30 minutes that I stayed on guard. 30 minutes until I ventured outside to the santol tree to hear if the voice persisted.

I waited and it was gone.

To this day, I’d like to think the creature sensed that I was ready for a fight and that my mother wouldn’t be easy prey. But there are still shivers down my spine every time I look at that santol tree, half expecting to hear a soft falsetto of

“Wak…..wak…..wak….”

=——————————————=

*The Karay-a language, or Kinaray-a is an Austronesian regional language spoken by the Karay-a people, mainly in Antique in the Philippines, Iloilo and other provinces on the island of Panay, as well as portions of the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. It is one of the Visayan languages, mainly along with Aklanon/Malaynon, Capiznon and Hiligaynon. As of 2015, there is an estimated 1,200,000 speakers of Kinaray-a with almost half of them are from Antique and Iloilo provinces.

Written by Karl Gaverza

Translation by Arj Horlador

Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Arj Horlador

Inspired by a story told by Ian Quirante

Wak-wak Illustration by Ian Quirante
FB: Ian Quirante Illustrations

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

The post Wak-wak (Cagayan de Oro) – Kinaray-a Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Bahasa Sug

In tagainüp nangdüngdüngi kākü’ sin giyatusan mata niya ampa in aku amura in kapamanhüd ku ha kulangan ku.

Di’ ku kaingatan bang unu in kabaya’an niya, malayngkan di’ ku mapikil manga awn maksud niya kamudāratan. In mahaluk timikang harap mawn kākü’ iban sā’bu ku diyürüngdüngan in baran niya magpillaw-pillaw, kiyahātihan ku ra mayan. In pangdamat bükün mattan pangdamat. Hambuuk sadja pamānda’. In daligmata (Di’ ku kaingatan bang biya’ diin in kaingat ku sin ngān, simaygpat sadja pa lawm-uw ku) simusulay namayta’ kākü’ kalagihan ku pa’gangan in pagdatüng sin linug.

“Biya’ diin in kaagi ha yan?” Iyasubu ku in daligmata. Diyüngdüngan aku nagbalik, ampa kiyaingatan ku. Kalagihan ku madtu pa pag-aawnan ha manga linug. Subay ku sila kabayta’an manattapi wayruun kuhibal. “Mahi ta’ aku?” In sambung ha pangasubu ku dimatüng biya’ sahubbu ha pikilan ku. In daligmata himühüla’ ha lawm tagainüp, ampa makakuhibal sadja bang duun ha lawm hüla’-pārkawasahan. Wayrapat niya makakadtu pa kadunyahan sin manga baranan, labi wayrapat pa duruunan sin manga linug iban manga hunus bang  niya ri’ maparuun ha kīd niya in hambuuk mananagainüp.

Ampa nakakawa’ siya hambuuk mananagainüp.

In pagkadtu bükün sibu’ in anib iban sin ha napasandung ku. In daligmata, ha pikilan ku, nagpamayta’ sadja amura kalagihan ku in managainüp supāya aku makakadtu, ampa kiyahidāyatan aku marayaw. Biyayta’an aku papanagainüpün sin dunya, sagawa’ bükün biya’ sin kiyaingatan ku. Nagbissara siya pasal  siring-langit, in pagbü’lak sin dunya iban sin nārka’ iban sin manga simud sin manga mahaluk  himühüla’ didtu. Salupa sin manga hās nanglilibüri ha dunya, tiyatayak sin sangat-lagkü’ tuhan Magbabaya, nanglīgütan ha lawm uw ku. Tiyagainüp ku in siring-langit iban manga hās ni Magbabaya. Tiyagainüp ku in hüla’  amu in piyagpaawnan ha manga linug. Tiyagainüp ku in lupa’ sin manga hangin iban sin manga hunus.

Iban hangka küdjap da, didtu na aku.

“Uwya’ mānusiya’ magkamatay”. Nangasip kākü’ in tingüg babai. “Makakita’-makakita’ kami sin  pihak mu awn sadja pārsugpatan niya pa kahinangan ni Mangilala.” Hambuuk tingüg üsüg in simambung. Kiyahantapan ku sin imaatud aku ha manga uw sin duwa hās kalap-lagkü’, kaniya-kaniya labi malagkü’ dayng ha gibayan-dakula’ sangat-taas. Apit sa yadtu ku muga’, sagawa’ in kabassaran sin duwa nagpanananam kākü’ katahammulan labi-labihan.  Nimanam aku kasalamatan ha panghādiri nila.

Sīkmu’ aku sin daligmata dayng ha ulihan hangkan kiyatümtüman ku mahi aku miyadtu. “Manga Hās Salaggü’-laggü’…” Wala’ ku kiyaingatan bang biya’ diin in panawag kanila, sagawa’ nakira ku in pagpakita’ pag-addat di’  makamula. Biyayta’an ku sila sin pangdamat ku, in linug landu’ küsüg nangjuljana’ ha dāira ku iban nanglarak ha bāy ku.

“Amu ini in hüla’an sin manga linug, mānusiya’ asibi’,” Simambung in tingüg üsüg. “In pagjügjüg maawn bang kami humibal.”  In tingüg babai simambung. “In panghibal-hibal namü makahüküt ha dunya.” Laung sin tingüg üsüg. “Unu in kapunnyahan namü’ bang in dunya matigallam na?” Nangasubu in tingüg babai.

“Bang in pangdamat ku dumatüng, in dunya ku malawa’ na. Kalu baha’ tibahagi’an asibi’ da sin katiluagan dunya, sagawa’ in tibahagi’an manahut yadtu amu in kalunlunan dunya ku. In dāira yadtu hangka sibu’ in hālga’ kākü’ iban sin hālga’ sin manga ginlupa’an-langkus kaniyu.” Amu yadtu in sambung ku.

“Maisüg kaw.” Laung sin tingüg babai. “Wayruun pa mānusiya’ nakabissara kāmü’ iban katulusan.” Simambung in tingüg üsüg. “Kamataüran sin mānusiya’ pagsulayan kami dupangün hipalanggana’ in manga banta nila.” Namissara in tingüg babai. “Hambuuk ini  pamindahi  tatayma’ün.” Simambung in tingüg üsüg. “Naraak kami magpatütüg sin dunya ha kiyabübütangan.” Naglapal in tingüg babai. “Pa’gahan in pagtigallam sin dunya.” Simambung in tingüg üsüg. “Sagawa’ unu in hikarayaw bang matüpük in hambuuk dunya ha lawm sin dunya?” Nangasubu in tingüg babai.

“Hinangün namü’ biya’ sin piyangayu’ niyu. Tumattap kami wayruun hibal supāya in dunya niyu  kumakkal tibuuk.” In manga Intumbangul nagdüra’  simambung. “Kadtu na kaw, mānusiya’. In hüla’an sin manga linug bükün duruunan sin biya’ sin kajinis  mu.”

Simulay aku magsukul kanila, sagawa’ timagna’ na in hangin maküsüg dimüpüy. Diyā aku ampa itungan di’ aku makanapas.  In düpüy landu’ makajuljana’ pangannal ku biya’ aku sin pīrīt.  Nakapamahit aku.

Sakali nakabati’ aku.

In jāman-magbabanda’ ku kimatingüg. Lisag pitu na sin mahinaat.  Kiyaingatan ku makaikul aku pa iskul bang aku wala’ imüws. In pagsūkbanyul sin sasakatan adlaw ini makabuga’, biya’ sin dayng angay adlaw. Nangiyaban aku iban siyulayan ku tiyümtüm in panagainüp ku. Ha kira ku mataüd hās iban tiyumpukan mata imaatud kākü’, sagawa’ di’ ku na katümtüman puas ha yadtu.

In hambuuk pa jāman-babanda’ ku hikaruwa miyagting labi pa matanug dayng sin nakauna. Siminyal na sin panagna’an sin adlaw mataud ligap.

Naangan-angan ku bang aku nakahinang labi mataüd barāpa makaraüg-küwg.

=————————–=

English Version

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

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

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

And a dreamer it had.

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

And in a flash, I was there.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then I woke up.

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

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

I wish I did more exciting things.

=—————————————–=

*Bahasa Sug or Tausug is an Austronesian language spoken in the province of Sulu in the Philippines and in the eastern area of the state of Sabah, Malaysia, by the Tausūg people. It is widely spoken in the Sulu Archipelago (Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Basilan), the Zamboanga Peninsula (Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga City), southern Palawan, and Malaysia (eastern Sabah).

Written by Karl Gaverza
Bahasa Sug translation by Benj Bangahan
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Benj Bangahan

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

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

Watercolor by Alexa Garde
Website: www.Lexa.us

The post Intumbangol – Bahasa Sug Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Maguindanaon.

Tatap a kalinian ku i kapedtulik kanu ulan-ulan. Aden su rahasia sa entain sekanin. Papedsigay nin bu su palitan nin sabap sa baraguna? Pembaba i pagedan a kuda nin kanu dunya? Abadi sekanin?

Da den kutika ku a pendalmet a ped su manga kaped a wata, tatap a aden sakit atawa kaped pan a sabapan na di ku kapeliyu. Di ku den mambalasa su mayaw a sigay nu senang, ugaid sa magabi, sa pageletan nu sahaya nu bitun endu su sambel a malemek, su ulan-ulan bu i pakat ku.

Su manga kalukesan na pedtudtul silan sa pabila su ulan-ulan na temelen sa kapagkaaden sa langit, inia nin mana na pembangkit su dunya. Midtatawa aku kanu manga tudtul, ka panun i kapedtelen na ulan-ulan kanu abadi a libet nin? Sekanin su taginep a naaden kanu kabenalan, su panudtul a sampurna sa palitan.

Nan intu, sampay sa mailay ku su singa.

Pembedtuan sekanin sa Arimaonga nu manga kalukesan. Di ku katawan i madtalu ku su badan ku na napenu na gilek. Labi a masela intu pan kanu katig ku a binatang. Endu pegkapetan nin su papedtayan ku a ulan-ulan.

Su waktu na midtegas den, Pidtulikan ku i isa-isa ku a pakat na sinepa nu binatang. Kanu kaped a lalan, su singa na pendalmet sa dalmetan, da katawi a tu den i sabapan na   kabinasa tanu langun.

Labi a nagilekan pan sekanin sa laki. Kagedam ku su penggiginawan nin a mana da den arap kanu kapegkapet lun sa pageletan na baka nu singa. Minebpun aku mulyang sa intu kutika.

“Singa butawani ka su ulan-ulan atawa embangkit su dunya!”

Di ku katawan enduken a minebpun aku edtalu sa intu ugaid na mana sipat ku den, a mana pedtalun.

“Singa butawani ka su ulan-ulan atawa embangkit su dunya!”

Su kaped a manga maginged na minebpun mamung sa laki sa sengal. Su manga kalukesan na pidtanggit nilan su manga tagungu endu manga agung nilan endu su ingel na makasampay sa surga.

“SINGA BUTAWANI KA SU ULAN-ULAN ATAWA EMBANGKIT SU DUNYA!”

Su manga bakelengan nami na linegawan, magan kami den di makaginawa ugaid da kami telen. Di ku sekanin tagaken kanu singa, inia inged na di bun pedtagak sa lekanin.

Kanu kutika a binutawan nu singa su ulan-ulan na su nakalepas a nanggula na mana abadi. Kinapetan nin su takilidan nin endu midsaluman sekanin sa penggulan sa kanu surga.

Endu saki, mapagumbaba a wata pedsukur-sukur kanu Kadenan sabap su isa-isa ku a pakat na kurma bun.

=——————————=

English Version

I have always liked staring at the moon. There’s just the mystery of what she is. Does she shine her light only on the worthy? Is she dressed by the stars? Is she eternal?

There was never a chance for me to play with the other children, there was always some sickness or another that kept me indoors. I could never appreciate the sun’s harsh rays, but in the night, among the starlight and the gentle breeze, my only friend was the moon.

The elders tell stories that if the moon were to cease being in the sky, the world would end. I laughed at those stories once upon a time, for how could the moon ever stop her perpetual cycle? She was the dream made into reality, the perfect harbinger of light.

That is, until I saw the lion.

It was called the Arimaonga by the elders. I didn’t know how to react as terror filled my entire body. It was larger than I thought any animal could ever be. And it was clutching my beloved moon.

Time froze then, I stared helplessly as my only friend was being devoured by the beast. In some perverse way, the lion was playing a game, not knowing that it may just be the doom of us all.

She was more scared than I was. I could feel her hopelessness as she was clutched between the jaws of the lion. I started crying then.

“Lion release the moon or the world will come to an end!”

I don’t know why I started saying those words but it felt natural, like they needed to be said.

“Lion release the moon or the world will come to an end!”

The other villagers stared joining me in the chant. The elders brought out their drums and gongs to make the noises reach the heavens.

“LION RELEASE THE MOON OR THE WORLD WILL COME TO AN END!”

Our throats were hoarse, our breath almost gone but we did not stop. I will not abandon her to the lion, this village will not abandon her.

The lion finally released the moon after what seemed like an eternity. She clutched her sides and resumed her track along the heavens.

And I, a humble child thanked the gods that my only friend was safe.

————————–————————–————————-

**Maguindanao or Maguindanaon is an Austronesian language spoken by majority of the population of Maguindanao province in the Philippines. It is also spoken by sizable minorities in different parts of Mindanao such as the cities of Zamboanga, Davao, and General Santos, and the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, as well as Metro Manila. This was the language of the historic Sultanate of Maguindanao, which existed before and during the Spanish colonial period from 1500–1888.

*This story is not “word for word” or “translated literally” since there are English words that has no exact equivalent in Maguindanaon language. It was translated as to how an old Maguindanaon would re-tell the story. But nonetheless, the content and dialogue in the original and the translated version are all the same.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Traslation by Datu Hashim
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Datu Hashim

Inspired by the Arimaonga description in Philippine Folk Literature: The Myths. Eugenio. 2001.

Arimaonga illustration by Lou Pineda
IG: https://www.instagram.com/blacknivalis/

The post Arimaonga – Maguindanaon Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Nagsimula ang mundo sa wala.

Naghari ang lumbay sa lupang tubig lamang ang nanatiling matatag sa paglipas ng panahon.

Sa gitna ng mundo ay mayroong hukay na kung saan narito ang higanteng alimango na si Gaki. Siya ang tagapangasiwa ng Dakilang Diyos na si Lumawig. Dito umaagos ang tubig patungo kay Gaki.

Mayroong mga nilalang noon na nag-iiwan ng marka sa mukha ng mundo. Naglakbay sila sa mundo upang maghanap ng mga hayop. Dahil walang katangian ang kanilang kapaligiran, nawala sila sa direksyon ng kanilang paligid sapagkat walang mga marka ang gumagabay sa kanila.

Nagdulot ito ng kanilang pagsigaw at ito’y nakagambala sa tulog ni Lumawig.

Hindi ito maaari.

Nagalit si Lumawig sa ingay ng mga nilalang. Para sa kaniyang mga mata, hindi sila nababagay sa mundo. Nanaginip siya ng panibagong mga nilalang, isang henerasyon na magmamana ng mas magandang mundo.

Dahil dito, tinawag niya si Gaki. Inutusan niya ang higanteng alimango na saksakin ang hukay gamit ang kaniyang katawan. Nais ni Lumawig na linisin ang mundo sa pamamagitan ng baha.

At mula sa baha, dalawang bundok ang lumitaw: Polis at Calawitan.

Mabilis ang pagbaha, walang tao ang nakaligtas sa delubyong ito. Mula sa pagbaha, dalawang katawan ang binuhat ni Lumawig, isang lalaki na nagngangalang Gatan, na kung saan siya’y inilagay sa taas ng Bundok Polis at ang babae na si Bangan, na kung saan inilagay naman siya sa taas ng Bundok Calawitan.

Kinagabihan, nagising si Gatan at nahanap niya ang sarili sa hindi pamilyar na lugar. Sinubukan niyang alalaahanin kung paano siya napunta sa sitwasyong ito, ngunit kahit anong gawin niya, lahat ng kaniyang alaala ay nawala. Nakatuon lamang siya sa kumikislap na ilaw sa daan, isang senyales na mayroon pang nilalang ang narito.

Naghintay siya hanggang madaling araw.

Habang naghahanap ng pagkain si Gatan, nakakita siya ng lumulutang na balsa. Sa kanang bahagi nito’y mayroong aso, samantalang sa kaliwang bahagi naman nito ay mayroong tandang.

Para kay Gatan, ito’y senyales mula sa mga Diyos kaya’t siya’y tumungo sa daan ng ilaw na kaniyang nakita.

Mahalagang tulong ang kaniyang mga kasamang hayop. Kapag masyadong tumagilid ang balsa sa kanang direksyon, tatahol ang aso upang maayos ni Gatan ang kanilang direksyon. Kapag tumagilid naman ang balsa sa kaliwang bahagi, titilaok ang tandang at aaysuin muli ni Gatan ang kanilang direksyon.

Hindi niya alam na ang kaniyang mga kasama ay mga biyaya ng Diyos na si Lumawig at kahit hindi niya alam, hindi na ito mahalaga.

Nakarating si Gatan sa baybayin ng Bundok Calawitan.

Nakita niya na mayroong hukay na nagbabaga. Sa tabi ng hukay na ito ay mayroong sinturon at palda ng isang babae. Hinanap ni Gatan ang babae at noong makita niya siya, nagdulot ito ng kaniyang pagka-dismaya. Muling bumalik ang kaniyang mga alaala.

Siya ang kaniyang babaeng kapatid, si Bangan.

Tumingin sila sa isa’t isa at hindi nila alam ang gagawin. Siguradong hindi sila maaaring magtalik dahil sila’y magkapatid.

Ngunit binigay ng Diyos na si Lumawig ang biyaya. Silang dalawa lamang ang natitirang mga nilalang sa mundo at responsibilidad nilang lumikha ng panibagong henerasyon upang patuloy na umunlad ang mundo.

Inutusan ni Lumawig si Gaki na lumabas mula sa hukay at tanggaling ang butas nito. Sa pag-urong ng mga tubig ay lumitaw ang mundo ng mga burol, lambak, bundok, at mga ilog. Hindi na namayani ang lumbay ‘pagkat ito’y bagong simula.

Bilang biyaya sa mga bagong nilalang ng mundo, kumuha ng buhol na balbas si Lumawig mula sa kaniyang mukha at ikinalat ito sa buong mundo. Mula rito, lumikha ito ng mga halaman na laganap sa ating mundo.

At ito na ang mundong kilala natin sa kasalukuyan.

=————————————————=

English Version

The earth began with nothing.

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

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

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

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

That would not do.

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

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

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

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

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

He waited until dawn.

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

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

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

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

Gatan landed on the shore of Mount Calawitan.

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

It was his sister, Bangan.

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

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

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

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

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

*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 Christine Autor
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Christine Autor

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

Gaki Illustration by Daniel Decena
Instagram: @thepenslinger

Color by Patricia Pria
Instagram: @meowtricia_

The post Gaki – Tagalog Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Cebuano

Ang bulan, nahadlok musilak sa iyang kahayag, misibog luyo sa panganod.

Hingpit. Hunahuna ni Sonja. Unta wala pa sila magsugod nga wala ko.

Ang mga yuring tingog sulod sa baluyot nagkakusog, apan wala’y dili masulbad sa usa ka lasking patid.

Nasayod siya nga aduna’y panglamat nga iyang magamit pagpakatulog kanila, gibatokan ugaling kini niya. Kanunayng nagtuo si Sonja nga ang ginagmayng kahadlok makahimo’g mga katingalahan sa panglasa.

Ang alabtanan anaa sa usa ka kakahoyan sa hilit-hilit sa dakbayan. Sukad pa sa mga adlaw sa mga karaang gingharian magkitaay sila ug mag-inambitay sa bangaw. Usa kadto ka makapahimuot nga kasulian nga ang bangaw atol sa adlawng natawhan sa anak sa ulay.

Giguyod ni Sonja ang baluyot ngadto sa suloran sa kakahoyan. Buntagay ang bangaw ug dili siya buot murisgo. Iyang ibilin iyang mga bitiis sulod sa kakahoyan ug magasaulog tibuok gabii.

Ang nagabantay karon sa kakahoyan usa ka mangingilaw, “Layo man ka sa pinuy-anan,” ingon si Sonja.

“Muadto ko’g asa ko sangpita,” tubag niya.

“Unsa’y imong dala?” Giitsa ni Sonja ang baluyot sa tiilan sa higanti.

“Lab-ason.”

“Alang-alang, mao na’y ampay sa imong matang. Naulhi ba ko?”

“Dayon, manananggal, wala pa mi kasugod.”

Nangagho si Sonja sa kahumpay. Ang sinugdanang panumanan mao’y labing maanindot. Iyang gibilin iyang mga bitiis sa haduol nga kahoy ug miusbong paibabaw.

Didto mitipon siya sa panon, nagatulutuliyok ibabaw sa mga kahoy.

Di-maihap nga mga alibadut, abat, kubot, alan, bannog, magkukutud, kalibadut ug uban pang mga kahadlokang manglupad ang nanagpanglihok nga nanag-abay. Sa kawalad-on sa bulanong kahayag aduna lamang sila’y ilang panimuot nga mugabay kanila sa ilang daotanhong sayaw.

Uban niini ang magahob nga hugyaw sa mga yutan-ong dumuduaw sa gabii. Ang bungisngis, kiwig, ug kulukupap, pipila sa daghan, ang nanagpaulos sa ilang mga tingog alang sa kasaulogan.

Ang panumanan natapos samtang ang hari sa mangkukulam mipahaluna sa truno sa mga bukog ug dugo.

Natingala si Sonja kon unsa ka hapsay ang tanan, matag pundok aduna’y kaugalingong luna sa kakahoyan sa pagtigom og unod alang sa bangaw.

Buot siyang musulay sa lainlaing mga halad ug wala mahibalo og asa mag-una. Ang alimyon sa dugo gikan sa suok sa mga mandurugo nakapalaway kaniya, ang tinagingting sa kulon sa mga pirotso nagtimaila og lab-as nga kabataan, atua’y hugpong sa mga ulo sa saga-ih nga gangkap sa bug-os unod.

Aduna usab ing ‘kinabag-ong’ pag-isip sa mga kinadan-an: Kagumkumong dinuguan nga may pinirito’g ayo nga tinai, tudlo ug kalimutaw ug mga nagauros-uros nga kasingkasing nga may sinalsang utok.

Nagkagutom si Sonja sa matag gutlo ug gipili niya ang dapit tupad kaniya diin ang tigabulak nagbarog. Nagatindog kini atubangan sa talad nga aduna’y dakong tadtaran ug kutsilyo. Mga singgit sa tabang ang nagaaningal sa baluyot likod kaniya nga nakapasadya kang Sonja. Kining unorang pagkalab-as nga hinikay sa tigabulak makaon-kaon gayod unya, gipapili pa ngani niya si Sonja og haing bataa ang iya.

Samtang mitudlo si Sonja sa gamayng babayi, mga lima ka tuig, usa ka kaguliyang ang nagdalugdog duol kaniya.

Ang tigabulak, tataw nga naitok, miingon, “Kinsa’y nagdapit ‘ana dinhi?”

Milupad si Sonja aron tan-awon kon unsa’y nahitabo ug iya dayong nailhan ang mamam, nagasampak sa iyang dalan latas sa bangaw.

Sukad-sukad sa panghitabo mga pila ka bulan niadto, tanan sa mga kahadlokan ang mihanayak pagtago sa bangaw gikan sa mamam, tingali unya og ang kasaulogan mahimong katalagman.

Ang ubang mga higanti ingon sa mangingilaw ug timu-timu namugong-pugong niini, apan ang binuhat di-mapugngan og pagkaon na’y ibayang atubang niini. Dili ngani kini muundang batok sa isigkasapat.

Makita ni Sonja nga isigpangikyas na ang kadaghanan, dala ang ilang bahin sa bangaw uban kanila. Miudyong pa ngani ang usa ka alan labay kaniya, dala ang usa ka gamayng bata.

Kinabuot mao’y nagsugyot kang Sonja nga angay siyang mudalagan og halayo ug madagmit, apan dili niya mapalagiw iyang mata gikan sa talan-awon.

Usa na ka takna sukad ang mamam nagsugod sa iyang pangdagmal. Ang dugoang mga patay nga lawas sa mga bungisngis ug ogro nagdayandayan sa pagpamatay. Kadtong mga nanagpabilin aron bantayan ilang pagkaon nakig-away sa usa ka pildihonong gubat.

Ang mamam wala’y nailhang pag-unong gawas sa kagusla.

Aswang o tawo, gikaon niya kining tanan.

Makita ni Sonja nga aduna’y mga utokang tawo ang nanagpahimulos sa kagubot ug nanagpanalagan alang sa ilang kinabuhi. May mabdos pang babayi ang nakasuot ngadto sa kalasangan samtang nalingag iyang tigdakop nga wakwak.

Wala’y kusog ni panglamat ang makapaundang niini. Ang hari sa mangkukulam nagsugo sa iyang mga babaylan nga manulay pagpahamtang og kasakit sa maong binuhat apan nakapasamot lamang kini sa iyang kagutom. Duha ka mangkukulam ang nahadangat sa ilang kataposan sa dihang gilamoy sila sa mamam og tibuok.

Sa hinagdawan ang mamam mibarog. Wala’y minatay, wala’y bukog aron sa pagtimaan sa agi sa iyang paglabay.

Gipanguha ni Sonja ang mga pinamatay ug mikalagiw ngadto sa iyang mga bitiis, ang iyang tiyan haw-ang sa gabii sa bangaw.

=———————————–=

English Version

The moon, afraid to shine its light, retreated behind the clouds.

Perfect. Sonja thought. I hope they didn’t start without me.

The muffled voices inside the bag were starting to get louder, but nothing a swift kick wouldn’t fix. She knew there was magic that she could use to put them to sleep, she decided against it though. Sonja always thought that a little fear did wonders for flavor.

The meeting spot was in a grove in the outskirts of the city. Since the days of the old kingdoms they would meet and share in the feast. It was an amusing irony that the feast was on the same day as the birth of the virgin’s child.

Sonja dragged the sack to the entrance of the grove. The feast would take all night and she didn’t want to take any risks. She would leave her legs inside the grove and celebrate throughout the night.

Guarding the grove this time was a mangingilaw. “You’re far from home,” Sonja said.
“I go where I am invited,” he replied.

“What did you bring?” Sonja tossed the bag to the giant’s feet.

“Something raw.”

“Of course, that’s what your kind likes. Am I late?”

“Enter, mananaggal, we have not yet started.”

Sonja sighed with relief. The opening ceremony was the best part. She left her legs by a nearby tree and soared upwards.

There she joined the flock, swirling above the trees.

Countless alibadut, abat, kubot, alan, bannog, magkukutud, kalibadut and other flying horrors moved in tandem. Without moonlight they only had their intuition to guide their sinister dance.

Accompanying this was the raucous roar of the terrestrial guests of the night. The bungisngis, kiwig and kulukupap, among many others, lent their voices to the celebration.

The ceremony ended as the king of the mangkukulam took his place on the throne of bones and blood.

Sonja was surprised how orderly everything was, each group had their own space in the grove to gather meat for the feast.

She wanted to try the different offerings and didn’t know where to start. The scent of blood from the mandurugo corner made her salivate, the clang from the pirotso’s pot signaled fresh children, there was a collection of heads by the saga-ih complete with the flesh intact.

There were also more ‘modern’ takes on the classics: Crispy dinuguan with deep fried lamang-loob, finger and eyeball bulalo and sizzling hearts with brain sauce.

Sonja was getting hungrier by the minute and she chose the spot beside her where a tigabulak stood. He was standing in front of a table with a large cutting board and a cleaver. Cries of help were echoing from the sack behind him, filling Sonja with glee. Such fresh meat prepared by a tigabulak would be quite a delicacy, he even let Sonja choose which child.

As Sonja was pointing to a small girl, about five years old, a commotion was thundering near her.

The tigabulak, visibly annoyed, said, “Who invited that here?”

Sonja flew up to see what was happening and she immediately recognized the mamam, pushing its way through the feast.

Ever since the incident many moons ago, all of the horrors decided to hide the feast from the mamam, lest the celebration turn into disaster.

The other giants like the mangingilaw and timu-timu were trying to hold it off, but the creature was unstoppable once food was placed in front of him. It would not even stop against a fellow halimaw.

Sonja could see that most were already trying to escape, taking their share of the feast with them. An alan even darted past her, carrying a small child.

Instinct told Sonja that she should run far and run fast, but she couldn’t take her eyes away from the spectacle.

It had been an hour since the mamam started its rampage. The bloodied corpses of the bungisngis and ogro decorating the slaughter. Those that stayed to guard their food were fighting a losing battle.

The mamam knew no allegiance apart from hunger.

Aswang or human, it ate them all the same.

Sonja could see clever humans taking advantage of the chaos and running for their lives. A pregnant woman even managed to slip into the forest while her wak-wak captor was distracted.

No might or magic could stop it. The king of the mangkukulam had his witches try inflicting pain on the creature but that only seemed to make it even hungrier. Two mangkukulam met their end when the mamam swallowed them whole.

In the aftermath the mamam stood. No corpses, no bones to mark the trail of its passing.

Sonja took in the carnage and fled to her legs, her stomach empty on the night of the feast.

*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.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Cebuano Translation by Francis Triexl Kyle Gobi
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Francis Triexl Kyle Gobi

Inspired by the Mamam description in Bikol Beliefs and Folkways: A Showcase of Tradition. Nasayao 2010.

Mamam Illustration by Jesus Miguel Ofalsa

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

The post Mamam – Cebuano Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Pangasinan

Diad kaaralman et manaalagar itan.

Aliwan amin so makaamta ed istorya to, anggaman nayarin amta itan na arum.

Saray manag-aka’y bulan .

Saray ayep ed tawen.

Say leon. Say alakdan. Say alama. Say higante. Say manok. Say uleg.

Say dragon.

Dadalanan dan amin so pating, ipepelag da ya ed kaaralman na dayat ya tatawagin ton abung.

Wala kasi’y istoryan naibaga?

Odino wala la itan ed gapo?

Nayarin say eras so mamapakiwas ed sayan ayep, a singa say alakdan. Anto ni so arum a naakan na pating noag say petang na onlelereg a bulán ?

Nayarin para met itan ed galaw a singa say leon. Say bulán et sakey a balbaleg a globo a makapatenyeg ed imano na ayep, a mamapalikdo ed sikato. Anto ni ray arum ya elementon makapabilib ed pating?

Nayarin pasnok itan, a singa say alama. Kasin say pating anak na agew tan bulán ? Kasin mankabaliksan itan na panamales ed tawir na atateng ya agton balot akabat?

Ompan sikatoy ombawi, a singa samay higante. Kasin say pating datin sakey ya mortal? Naala to kasi so pasnok na saray dios? Anto so agawa to a sengegan na inkapelag to ed madanum a kaaralman?

Nayarin kabilungetan itan, a singa say manok. No asumpal la na pating so kimey to tan say mundo so nalner la, anto so ontumbok a kanen to?

Nayarin kabiangan itan na kalikasan, a singa say uleg. Diad kagagawa na mundo na palsa, kasin kabiangan itan na sikulo?

Insan wala met so istorya nipaakar ed dragon.

Amta na kada pinalsa so istorya to.

Say pitoran bulán . Say dios a si Bathala.

Say maagum a dragon.

Say pating manaalagar, anggad saray arum natumba la, ed saray boses na katooan.

Wala so sakey ya istorya a panisiaan kon tua.

Saray pinalsa ed tawen, a tatawagen a manag-aka’y bulan, amin kabiangan na mundo. Balang sakey et walaan na mismon rason no akin irelen toy bulán , odino saray bulán pian magmaliw a mas susto.

Tan ditan so panaayaman na pating.

Say sankakapuyan ed grupo et ag-akaerel na orbita ed pegley-labi.

Lamet.

Lamet.

Tan lamet.

Amta to so impakatalo tan agto la salien lamet, anggad amta to a sikatoy matalongaring a mangala ed premyo to.

Diad ayaman to ed kaaralem na dayat, sikatoy manseseet. Amta to a sikatoy agbalot magmaliw a mabiskeg a singa saray arum, aliwan masibeg, aliwan narasan a kapara da.

Say pambubusol to so ombabaleg, aliwan sumpad arum a pinalsa, noagta kontra ed gawa to’n díli .

Akin a niletneg itan ed sayan dalin pian magmaliw labat a unor a pasen?

Iyaamot na danum iray lua to.

Tan manalagar itan.

Anggad sayan labi.

=————————————-=

English Version

In the depths it waits.

Not many know its story, though others may know of its kind.

The moon-eaters.

The celestial beasts.

The lion. The scorpion. The crab. The giant. The bird. The snake.

The dragon.

They all pass over the shark, relegating it to the depths it calls home.

Is there a tale to tell?

Or has it always been there?

It may be hunger that drives the beast, like the scorpion. What other prey will the shark have if not the warmth of the waning moon?

It may also be for play, like the lion. The moon is a giant orb that catches the beast’s attention, captivating it. What other element could enthrall the shark?

It may be anger, like the crab. Is the shark the offspring of the sun and moon. Does it mean retribution against the inheritance from the parents it never knew?

It may be revenge, like the giant. Was the shark ever a mortal being? Did it incur the wrath of the gods? What happened to it that relegated it to the watery abyss?

It may be darkness, like the bird. When the shark completes its task and the world is plunged into shadow, what will it eat next?

It may be a part of nature, like the snake. In the machinations of the natural world, is it part of the cycle?

Then there is the tale of the dragon.

Every being knows its story.

The 7 moons. The god Bathala.

The greedy dragon.

The shark lies in wait, until the others have fallen, to the sounds of humanity.

There is one tale which I believe to be true.

The celestial beings, called the moon eaters, are all part of the world. Each having their own reason to capture the moon, or moons to be more precise.

And it was there that the shark resided.

The weakest of the pack, it failed to capture the midnight orb.

Again.

Again.

And again.

It had known failure and would not try again, not until it knew it could successfully take its prize.

In its home in the deep it connives. It knows it will never be as strong as the others, not as angry, not as hungry.

Its hatred multiplies, not against the other beings, but against itself.

Why was it put on this earth if only to be last place?

The water hides its tears.

And it waits.

Until the night.

=——————————————————=

*Pangasinan (Salitan Pangasinan) – sometimes called Pangasinense is one of the major languages of the Philippines. It is the language spoken in the province of Pangasinan, on the west-central seaboard of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf, the northern portion of Tarlac and southwestern La Union, most of whom belong to the Pangasinan ethnic group. Pangasinan is also understood in some municipalities in Benguet, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, and by the Aeta or Aeta of Zambales.

Written by Karl Gaverza

Translation by Carlo Rivera
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright ©Carlo Rivera

Edited by Lennox Martinez Licuanan

Story inspired by Baconaua entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Baconaua Illustration by Benedict Jose Villarante

Instagram: @bentoillus
Twitter: @bentoillus
Facebook Page: Bento Illustrations (Bento Illustrations)

The post Baconaua 2 – Pangasinan Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Ilocano

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

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

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

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

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

Ket maysa nga agar-arapaap ti adda kenkuana.

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

Ket iti apagbiit, addanak sadiay.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kalpasanna, nariingak.

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

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

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

=————————-=

English Version

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

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

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

And a dreamer it had.

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

And in a flash, I was there.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Then I woke up.

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

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

I wish I did more exciting things.

————————–————————–———————–

*The Bukidnon god of temptation

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

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

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

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

Watercolor by Alexa Garde
Website: www.Lexa.us

The post Intumbangol – Ilocano Translation appeared first on Philippine Spirits.

*Note this story is in Cebuano

Abi sa tanan istorya-istorya ra sa kalibotan ang mahitungod sa biraddali. Mabinantayon ra gyud mi aron dili makit-an. Apan sa usa ka higayon, naay usa sa amoa ang wala nagbantay. Kaming pito nga mag-igsoon gidala ang bangaw sa kalibotan unya gihubo amoang plata’ng pako aron makapagpahulay ug maligo sa preskong tubod sa bukid.

Usa ka adlaw, nakita sa usa ka tawo amoang pako sa yuta ug gihadlok mi na himuong iyang asawa. Kaming unom nga magulang sa mag-igsoon utokan na maong gitak-op na namo amoang pako pagduol niya. Pagkahuman, gisul-ob amoang pako ug nilupad sa langit. Layo ang gitaguan sa pako sa kinamanghuran ug nakawat kini sa tawo.

Ang biraddali dili motalaw. Nahimong bitin ang kinamanghuran. Nidakin-as siya apan mangangayam ang lalaki ug nabitik ang bitin sa hawla. Sunod nahimong banayaw ang kinamanghuran. Nagtago siya sa yuta sa lasang apan tin-aw ang panan-aw sa lalaki maong nakita siyang nagkapakapa. Nahimong aluhipan ang kinamanghuran. Nisaka siya sa mga sanga sa kahoy aron makaikyas apan paspas ang lalaki. Nasakpan ang aluhipan sa sanga. Sa kataposan, wala na’y mabuhat ang kinamanghuran. Kung wala ang pako sa biraddali mapus-aw ilahang gahom.

Ang kinamanghuran sanong na maasawa sa lalaki ug nipuyo siya kauban sa lalaki. Naghulat siya sa adlaw na makuha niya og balik iyang plata’ng pako aron makalupad sa bangaw padulong sa langit. Kaming iyang mga igsoon dili motugot na mabilin ang kinamanghuran sa kalibotan kauban sa lalaki.

Dili namo irisgo na masikop amoang pako sa lalaki. Mata’g usa sa amoa nahadlok na maputol amoang pako maong gidala namo ang amoang hunghong sa hangin. Nanghinaot na ang usa moabot sa amoang natanggong na igsoon.

Nihunghong mi sa lasang ug sa mga kahoy. Giingon namo na gilubong sa lalaki iyang plata’ng pako sa ilalom sa kahoy tapad sa suba. Nihunghong mi sa kagawasan ug paglaum. Nihunghong mi na gimingaw mi sa iya.

Ug usa ka adlaw, nadungog mi. Ang kinamanghuran niikyas sa balay sa lalaki samtang wala kini ug nikabad siya padulong sa lasang. Wala na’y mas paspas pa na biraddali ug wala pa’y anghel na mas nakasabot sa kahulogan sa kagawasan.

Huna-huna sa tanan istorya-istorya ra ang biraddali kay kabalo mi sa kamangtas sa tawo. Dili na makawat ang amoang mga pako. Dili na mahibaloan sa isa sa amoa ang kahadlok na matanggong sa kalibotan. Dili na mahibaloan sa tanan ang kaalaotan sa amoang pagkadili kompleto.

Magpabilin mi’ng istorya-istorya lang sa katawhan ug sa kaanyag sa bangaw. Karon ug sa kahangtoran.

=——————————=

English Version

Everyone thinks the biraddali are myths on earth, we’re just too careful to let ourselves be seen. Except for one occasion, one time when one of us let our guard down. You see, us seven sisters take the rainbow down to earth to remove our silver wings and relax and bathe in the fresh mountain springs.

One day, a human saw our wings on the ground and threatened to make us his wives. We eldest sixsisters were wise enough to keep our wings close and when he got near, we put on our wings and flew back to the heavens. But the youngest sister kept her wings further away and the man stole them from her.

A biraddali will not back down. The youngest sister changed into a snake at first, slithering away, but the man was a hunter and trapped the snake in a cage. The youngest then changed into a scorpion and hid amongst the forest floor, but the man’s vision was great, so he saw her scuttling away. The youngest then changed into a centipede, going up the tree branches to escape his advances, but the man was quick, he stopped the centipede at a branch. Finally, the youngest had no choice, without her wings the biraddali’s power was fading.

The youngest acquiesced to being the man’s wife, and she stayed with him, waiting for the day she could get her silver wings and fly back on the rainbow towards the heavens. We elder sisters would not let the youngest remain on earth with the man.

We did not want to risk getting captured by the man ourselves, and each one of us was scared of getting our wings clipped, so we carried our whispers on the winds, hoping that one would reach our trapped sister.

We whispered of the forest and of the trees, telling her that the man buried her silver wings under a tree beside the river. We whispered of freedom and hope. We whispered that we missed her.

And one day, we were heard. The youngest sister escaped the man’s house while he was away and dashed towards the forest. Never had there been a swifter biraddali, and never had any angel knew what freedom had meant.

Everyone will think the biraddali are myths, for we know the cruelty that man can possess. Our wings will never be taken from us. Never again will one of us know the fear of being shackled to the earth. Never again will the rest know the misery of knowing that we are not complete.

We will remain alive in the myths of men and in the beauty of the rainbow. For now, and forever.

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*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.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Cebuano Translation by Sarah Masiba
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Sarah Masiba

Inspired by “The Seven Angels.” in Sulu Studies 2. Rixhon ed. 1973.

The Seven Biraddali Sisters Illustration and Colors by Elise Mendoza.

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