“Aadi nalat hira.” Ginrabot ni Tanya an saya han iya bugto nga babaye. “Paundangon naton hira.”

“Ayaw kabaraka, waray hira nasasakitan. Gawas pa, pirmi gisisiring ni apoy nga diri hira nakuha nga sobra han ira kinahanglan.” Gikaway hi Layla ha mga gamay nga buhi. “Diba? Buotan hira ngan masangkayon basta tagaan mo hira hit higayon.”

“Diri la gihap ako natuod nga maupay na pabay-on la naton nga kumuha hira han bugas,” siring ni Tanya. Ginrabot niya an usa ngan gi-tutok ha iya nawong. “Kay ano nga kinahanglan nira hin bugas? Gikakaon ba adto nira?”

“Tanya! Buhi-i nagud.” Ginrabot ni Layla an manikaon nga butang tikang ha iya bugto nga babaye. “Pangaro hin pasaylo ha ira.”

“Ngano man nga mangangaro ako hin pasaylo? Hira an nakawat han bugas naton bisan aadi kita,” siring ni Tanya.

“Gusto gud nimo makit-an kun diin nira gidadara an mga bugas?”

Gikita ni Layla an iya bugto nga may seryoso nga nawong.

Gikulba hi Tanya. Yana la niya nakit-an an iya bugto nga sugad kaseryoso, pero nan labaw an iya kuryusudad. “Oo lagi,” baton ni Tanya.

Gisundan han magbugto an mga ugaw ha kagurangan ngan bukid. Kinahanglan nira nga lumakat han malaksi, gamay la an mga ugaw, pero maabtik. Gi-pwersa ni Tanya an iya kalugaringon nga diri pumiyong kay nahadlok hiya nga mawara nala nira hin upay ha iya pagkita. Aadto la hi Layla ha luyo ni Tanya ngan diri nagdadali.

Umundang an mga ugaw ha sementeryo nga diri la hirayo ha bungto. Gitan-aw ni Tanya an mga ugaw nga gipatong an mga butil han bugas ha atbang han usa ka lungon kutob nga matapos hira. Ngan pagkatapos, usa-usa nga lumakat an mga ugaw pakadto ha kagurangan.

Gikita ni Tanya an iya bugto bag-o niya mahunahuna kun hain hiya. “Amo ini an lungon ni apoy,” siring niya pagkatapos han pira ka minuto han paghilom.

“Sangkay hira ni apoy,” hiyom ni Layla.

=————————–=

English Version

“They’re at it again.” Tanya grabbed her sister’s dress. “We should stop them.”

“Don’t worry about it, they’re not hurting anyone. Besides, lola always said these ones never take more than they need.” Layla waved as the small creatures walked by. “See? They can be friendly if you give them a chance.”

“I still don’t think it’s a good idea to just let them take the rice,” Tanya said. She grabbed one of the things and held it to her face. “What do they even need the rice for? Do they eat it?”

“Tanya! Put it down.” Layla grabbed the doll-like being from her sister’s hands. “I’m sorry, she’s young.” Layla turned to her sister. “Apologize to them.”

“Why should I? They’re stealing our rice right in front of us,” Tanya said adamantly.

“Do you really want to see where these things take the rice?” Layla looked at her sister sternly.

Tanya was scared. She had never seen her sister look that way, but her curiosity got the better of her. “Yes” was Tanya’s reply.

The sisters followed the group of ugaw through the forest and up the hills. They had to walk fast, the ugaw were small, but they were also swift. Tanya forced herself to not blink because she was afraid that they might disappear. Layla did not rush, she stayed a few steps behind her sister.

The ugaw ended their journey at the cemetery, which wasn’t far from the town. Tanya watched them set each grain of rice in front of a grave until they were all finished. Then, each ugaw walked away, heading towards the forest.

Tanya looked at her sister, it took her a moment before she realized where she was. “That’s lola’s grave,” she managed to say after a few minutes of silence.

“They were her friends.” Layla smiled.

=——————-=

*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 Xavier Navarro
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Xavier Navarro

Story inspired by Ugaw description in Myth Museum. Medina. 2015.

Watercolor by Tara Singson
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tarabell93/

*Note this story is in Bantoanon (Asi)

“Hina ray sinra.” Naghudot si Tanya sa bestida it ida hali. “Dapat nato sinrang tungnon.”

“Aya’g kalibog, waya ra sinra gipapanghapros. Ag pirmi rang siling ni lola nak wayang gador sinra gibabaoy it yabaw sa inra kinahangyan.” Nagkaway si Layla miyentras nagrayan kag mga maisot nak di kabuhi. “Kita? Kabuot ra sinra kung taw-an yang nimo it tsansa.” “Indi pa gihapon ako gipati nak maadong pabad-an yang sinra nak bay-on kag bugas,” Siling ni Tanya. Ingkuha nida kag usa sa inra ag ingpayungot kali sa ida uda. “Aunhon aboy ninra kag bugas? Inakaon baga ninra kato?”

“Tanya! Bab-an kina.” Inghakbot ni Layla kag nilalang nak nupay munyeka sa damot it ida hali. “Pasensya, bata pa sida.” Nagsauli si Layla sa ida hali. “Gihagar it patawar.”

“Ay asi? Sa atubangan nak gador nato sinra gipapangnakaw it ato bugas,” Matugas nak siling ni Tanya.

“Gustong gador baga nimo nak makita kung riin ninra inaraya kag bugas?” Ingpamidungan ni Layla kag ida hali.

Nahadlok si Tanya. Ngasing yang nida nakitang tuyar kag ida hali, pero naraog sida it ida kausyosohan. “Imaw.” kag sabat ni Tanya.

Ingsunran it maghali kag grupo it mga ugaw sa kayhasan ag patukar sa mga baguntor. Nagrali sinra it baktas, maisot ka mga ugaw, pero katulin ra gihapon sinra. Ingpiga ni Tanya kag ida sarili nak indi magpisok dahil hadlok sida nak sabaling sinra ay mawagit. Waya girali si Layla, nasunor yang sida sa likor it ida hali nak nauuna it pilang tikang.

Nag-abotey kag mga ugaw sa sementeryo, nak buko ra masyarong mayado sa baryo. Ingmuyatan ni Tanya sinra nak magplastar it kada busoy it bugas sa atubangan it yubnganan hastang nataposey sinrang tanan. Pagkatapos, naghaliney kag mga ugaw, papagto sa kayhasan.

Nagmuyat si Tanya sa ida hali, ag malagat-lagat bag-o nida nahantop kung riiney sida. “Kina kag yubnganan ni lola,” nasambit nida matapos it pilang minutos it him-ong.

“Mga amigo nida sinra.” Naghidom si Layla.

=———————–=

English Version

“They’re at it again.” Tanya grabbed her sister’s dress. “We should stop them.”

“Don’t worry about it, they’re not hurting anyone. Besides, lola always said these ones never take more than they need.” Layla waved as the small creatures walked by. “See? They can be friendly if you give them a chance.”

“I still don’t think it’s a good idea to just let them take the rice,” Tanya said. She grabbed one of the things and held it to her face. “What do they even need the rice for? Do they eat it?”

“Tanya! Put it down.” Layla grabbed the doll-like being from her sister’s hands. “I’m sorry, she’s young.” Layla turned to her sister. “Apologize to them.”

“Why should I? They’re stealing our rice right in front of us,” Tanya said adamantly.

“Do you really want to see where these things take the rice?” Layla looked at her sister sternly.

Tanya was scared. She had never seen her sister look that way, but her curiosity got the better of her. “Yes” was Tanya’s reply.

The sisters followed the group of ugaw through the forest and up the hills. They had to walk fast, the ugaw were small, but they were also swift. Tanya forced herself to not blink because she was afraid that they might disappear. Layla did not rush, she stayed a few steps behind her sister.

The ugaw ended their journey at the cemetery, which wasn’t far from the town. Tanya watched them set each grain of rice in front of a grave until they were all finished. Then, each ugaw walked away, heading towards the forest.

Tanya looked at her sister, it took her a moment before she realized where she was. “That’s lola’s grave,” she managed to say after a few minutes of silence.

“They were her friends.” Layla smiled.

=————————-=

Bantoanon or Asi is a regional Bisayan language spoken, along with Romblomanon and Onhan, in the province of Romblon, Philippines. Asi originated in the island of Banton, Romblon and spread to the neighboring islands of Sibale, Simara, and the towns of Odiongan, San Andres and Calatrava on Tablas Island. The Asi spoken in Odiongan is called Odionganon, Calatravanhon in Calatrava, Sibalenhon in Concepcion, Simaranhon in Corcuera, and Bantoanon in Banton. The Asi language is closer to Western Visayan language like Karay-a than to Cebuano and Waray

Written by Karl Gaverza

Story inspired by Ugaw description in Myth Museum. Medina. 2015.

Watercolor by Tara Singson
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tarabell93/

*Note this story is in Kapamapangan

“Aren no nanaman.” Dimput ng Tanya ing malan na ning kaputul ng babai. “Dapat talang patuknangan.”

“Eka migaganaka, ela man mangayi ren. Metung pa, sabi da ng apu ela kanu kukwang labis keng karelang kailangan.” Kinawe yang gamat i Layla anyang ating dinalang malating nilalang keng kayang harapan. “Oh, lawen muna, sabi kuna keka puwede mulang akaluguran nung dinan mong pagkakataon.”

“keng kakung palage, e parin masanting na paburen talang kukunan dala reng kekatamung abias.” ing amanu ng Tanya. Dinamput yang metung at tepat ne ini keng kayang lupa. “nanan de wari inga bias? Mamangan la wari mu nmn?”

“Tanya! Baba mo ren!” Simsam ng Layla itang balamu manikang nilalang ketang gamat na ning kayang kaputul. “ Pagpasensyan yune, anak yapa kasi” Linawe ya I Layla keng kayang kaputul. “Manyad kang Upaya.”

“Ot manyad kung Upaya? Bara-bara deng kukunan ing kekatamung abias,” mimwang sabi ng Tanya.”

“Buri muba talagang akit nung nokarin do talaga dadala denga bias?” Seryoso ya lawe I Layla keng kayang kapatad. Makeramdam yang ditak a karug I Tanya. Yapin ing mumunang beses na ikit ne ing kayang Atyi na seryoso. Manggaman, menaig parin kaya ing kaburyan ng abalu ing katututwan. “Sige” ing amanu na. Tikyan de deng mikapatad reng ugaw ketang masukal gubat at paakyat a bunduk. Kailangan dang lumakad a mabilis uling hanggang mangalati la reng ugaw, mabilis noman.

Eya talaga kinurap i Tanya uling tatakut ya na milako la keng karelang panimanman ing karelang tutukyan. Bagya-bagya lang nilakad I Layla kabang atyu ya keng kayang kagulutan ing kayang kapatad.  Keng e malawut a semeteryo, Karin la tinuknang meglakad deng ugaw. Pekalawen nalang Tanya nung makananu dong pekasamasan deng ugaw retang abias keng tapat na ning pilibingan hangang mayari la.  Metung metung lang meko reng ugaw tyaka la minta keng direksyon na ning gubat. Linawe ya I Tanya keng kayang atyi.

Anyang mumuna ala yang kabalubalu tapos apagtantu nung nokaring lugar ya atyu. “Saguli, libingan neng apu ini ah” Bagya yang metahimik. “Kaluguran tala” Minayli ya I Layla.

=————————————-=

English Version

“They’re at it again.” Tanya grabbed her sister’s dress. “We should stop them.”

“Don’t worry about it, they’re not hurting anyone. Besides, lola always said these ones never take more than they need.” Layla waved as the small creatures walked by. “See? They can be friendly if you give them a chance.”

“I still don’t think it’s a good idea to just let them take the rice,” Tanya said. She grabbed one of the things and held it to her face. “What do they even need the rice for? Do they eat it?”

“Tanya! Put it down.” Layla grabbed the doll-like being from her sister’s hands. “I’m sorry, she’s young.” Layla turned to her sister. “Apologize to them.”

“Why should I? They’re stealing our rice right in front of us,” Tanya said adamantly.

“Do you really want to see where these things take the rice?” Layla looked at her sister sternly.

Tanya was scared. She had never seen her sister look that way, but her curiosity got the better of her. “Yes” was Tanya’s reply.

The sisters followed the group of ugaw through the forest and up the hills. They had to walk fast, the ugaw were small, but they were also swift. Tanya forced herself to not blink because she was afraid that they might disappear. Layla did not rush, she stayed a few steps behind her sister.

The ugaw ended their journey at the cemetery, which wasn’t far from the town. Tanya watched them set each grain of rice in front of a grave until they were all finished. Then, each ugaw walked away, heading towards the forest.

Tanya looked at her sister, it took her a moment before she realized where she was. “That’s lola’s grave,” she managed to say after a few minutes of silence.

“They were her friends.” Layla smiled.

————————–————————–————————–—

Story inspired by Ugaw description in Myth Museum. Medina. 2015.

Watercolor by Tara Singson
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tarabell93/

*Note this story is in Bicol-Naga

“Uyan na naman sinda.” Binutong ni Tanya an bado kan saiyang Ate. “Dapat tang papunduhon sinda.”

“Dae mo problemahon yan, mayo man sindang kinukulugan na dawa sisay. Tsaka pirming sinasabi ni Lola na ang mga yan dae nagkukua ning mas dakol sa kaipuhan ninda.” Nagkaway si Layla sa pag agi kan mga saradit na nilalang. “Nahiling mo na? Pwede mo man sinda maging barkada kung tataan mo lang sinda ning pagkakataon.”

“Dae ko man giraray naiisip na tamang ideya an bayaan sinda na magkua ning bagas,” sabi ni Tanya. Pighakbot nya ang saro sa mga ini asin itinungod sa mukha kan Ate nya. “Ano bagang pangangaipo ninda sa bagas? Pigkakakan ba ninda yan?”

“Tanya, ibaba mo yan.” Hinablot ni Layla ang garo manikang nilalang hali sa kamot kang saiyang tugang. “Pasensya na po, aki pa po kaya sya.” Nagtungod si Layla sa saiyang tugang. “Maghagad kang dispensa sainda.”

“Tano ko gigibuhon yan? Nagiikit sindang bagas ta sa tungod ta pa,” madunong na taram ni Tanya.

“Gusto mo talagang mahiling sain ninda pigdadara yang mga bagas?” seryosong nakahiling si Layla sa saiyang tugang.

Natakot si Tanya. Dae nya pa nahiling ang Ate nya na naghiling saiya ning arog kaidto, pero mas nangibabaw saiya ang pagkamausisa.

“Iyo,” simbag ni Tanya.

Nagsunod ang magtugang sa grupo ning mga ugaw pasiring sa kagubatan asin pasakat sa bulod. Kaipuhan nindang mglakaw ning kaskas, saradit ang mga ugaw pero maririkas sinda. Pinirit ni Tanya na dae magkimat ta naghahandal siyang baad sinda mawara. Dae ngsisibot si Layla, yaon lang siya pirang metro sa likod kan tugang nya.

Natapos ang lakaw ning mga ugaw sa may sementeryo na dae karayuan sa bayan. Pigmasdan ni Tanya habang piglalaag ninda ang kada pidaso ning bagas sa tungod ning puntod hanggang sinda matapos. Tapos, kada sarong ugaw naglakaw parayo, pasiring sa kagubatan.

Naghiling si Tanya sa saiyang tugang, pirang minuto bago nya narealisar kung haen siya. “Puntod baga iyan ni Lola,” ang nasabi nya pakatapos ang pirang minutong katrangkiluhan.

“Kabarkada ni Lola sinda.” Nakangirit na sabi ni Layla.

=—————————————=

English Version

“They’re at it again.” Tanya grabbed her sister’s dress. “We should stop them.”

“Don’t worry about it, they’re not hurting anyone. Besides, lola always said these ones never take more than they need.” Layla waved as the small creatures walked by. “See? They can be friendly if you give them a chance.”

“I still don’t think it’s a good idea to just let them take the rice,” Tanya said. She grabbed one of the things and held it to her face. “What do they even need the rice for? Do they eat it?”

“Tanya! Put it down.” Layla grabbed the doll-like being from her sister’s hands. “I’m sorry, she’s young.” Layla turned to her sister. “Apologize to them.”

“Why should I? They’re stealing our rice right in front of us,” Tanya said adamantly.

“Do you really want to see where these things take the rice?” Layla looked at her sister sternly.

Tanya was scared. She had never seen her sister look that way, but her curiosity got the better of her. “Yes” was Tanya’s reply.

The sisters followed the group of ugaw through the forest and up the hills. They had to walk fast, the ugaw were small, but they were also swift. Tanya forced herself to not blink because she was afraid that they might disappear. Layla did not rush, she stayed a few steps behind her sister.

The ugaw ended their journey at the cemetery, which wasn’t far from the town. Tanya watched them set each grain of rice in front of a grave until they were all finished. Then, each ugaw walked away, heading towards the forest.

Tanya looked at her sister, it took her a moment before she realized where she was. “That’s lola’s grave,” she managed to say after a few minutes of silence.

“They were her friends.” Layla smiled.

————————–————————–————————–—

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

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Monmon Nietes
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Monmon Nietes

Story inspired by Ugaw description in Myth Museum. Medina. 2015.

Watercolor by Tara Singson
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tarabell93/

“They’re at it again.” Tanya grabbed her sister’s dress. “We should stop them.”

“Don’t worry about it, they’re not hurting anyone. Besides, lola always said these ones never take more than they need.” Layla waved as the small creatures walked by. “See? They can be friendly if you give them a chance.”

“I still don’t think it’s a good idea to just let them take the rice,” Tanya said. She grabbed one of the things and held it to her face. “What do they even need the rice for? Do they eat it?”

“Tanya! Put it down.” Layla grabbed the doll-like being from her sister’s hands. “I’m sorry, she’s young.” Layla turned to her sister. “Apologize to them.”

“Why should I? They’re stealing our rice right in front of us,” Tanya said adamantly.

“Do you really want to see where these things take the rice?” Layla looked at her sister sternly.

Tanya was scared. She had never seen her sister look that way, but her curiosity got the better of her. “Yes” was Tanya’s reply.

The sisters followed the group of ugaw through the forest and up the hills. They had to walk fast, the ugaw were small, but they were also swift. Tanya forced herself to not blink because she was afraid that they might disappear. Layla did not rush, she stayed a few steps behind her sister.

The ugaw ended their journey at the cemetery, which wasn’t far from the town. Tanya watched them set each grain of rice in front of a grave until they were all finished. Then, each ugaw walked away, heading towards the forest.

Tanya looked at her sister, it took her a moment before she realized where she was. “That’s lola’s grave,” she managed to say after a few minutes of silence.

“They were her friends.” Layla smiled.

————————–————————–————————–—

Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Story inspired by Ugaw description in Myth Museum. Medina. 2015.

Watercolor by Tara Singson
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tarabell93/