*Note this story is in Bicol-Legazpi

Mga gagamiton:

Sundang – Ginagamit ini para maitao an pinal na atake pagkatapos makadakop nin aswang.

Ikòg-pagì – Ini ginagamit tanganing an aswang dai makahiro. Nagdadara ini nin sobrang kulog pag ini nakatama sa sainda.

Suwa – Sarong pangontra tanganing makasigurong dai ka masasaklot. Ini nakapagabat sa sarong tawo.

Abo – Ginagamit para ibudbud sa kabanga kan lawas kan aswang en kaso ini magbanga sa duwa. Sinda dai makakasulit sa kabanga nindang lawas kun ini nabubudbudan na nin abo.

Gabon/Sambong/Bukadkad/Subsob/Lakad-Bulan(Blumea Balsamefera) – Ang tinanom na ini ginagamit man na pangontra sa aswang. Magpudo nin bagong dahon kaini asin ilaag sa saindong mga bulsa.

Bawang – An parong kaini dai kayang tagalon nin mga aswang. Magdara kaini sa gabos na oras.

Asin – An gamit kaini parehas kan paggamit sa abo. Puwede man ining gamiton tanganing proteksyonan an mga lugar na puwedeng tuyuhun o dumanun nin mga aswang.

Mga Pangontra – Mga benditadong gamit, holy water asin mga anting-anting, gabos ini  epektibong pangontra sa mga aswang asin iba pang nilalang nin kadikluman. Marhay na makipaghilingan muna sa padi bago an gabos.

An mga ritwal:

An aswang o asbo pupuwedeng madakop sa pagpakarhay nin tulong dakulang gapo. Ini gibuhun na pabilog arog kan piglulutuan. Pag namati na an ‘kak kak’ kaini, magpangadyi kan Minatubod. Oras na makaabot duman sa parte kan pangadyi kun sain ipinako na sa krus si Kristo, magkua nin saro sa mga gapo asin ini gamiton pamukmok sa sarong pako diretso sa daga. An aswang iyo mabulosok paibaba asin matugdon sa tulong gapo kun sain puwede na ining gadanon.

An sumpa kan pagiging aswang puwedeng mahali sa sarong tawo. Ini sa paagi kan ritwal na kinakaipuhan nin dayap asin tubig. Ini iinomun asin an nag-inom kaipohan bitayon nin pabaliktad tanganing maisùka ninda an garo bayong na nilalang. Pag ini nailuwa na, kaipohan ining gadanon asin piridasohun.

Pagiromdom:

Gamiton an mga pangontra tanganing an mga aswang dai makagamit kan saindang mga orasyon. Gamiton an ikòg-pagì tanganing dai sinda makahiro dangan tigbason an saindang payo gamit an sundang.

Makukumpirma kun an tawo ‘inaswang’ sa paggibo kan ‘ritwal sa bunay’. Sa ritwal na ini, pag nahiling an markang garo mata asin dugo sa bunay iyo an patotoo na pig-aasawang an sarong tawo.

An mga ilusyon sa pagkaun puwedeng mahali kun ini papagaan nin suwa. An isira arog kan sinigang, magiging mangkò na pano nin murò asin dugo nin tawo.

Puwedeng mag-tablada sa aswang an saiyang gibo. Ini kun lalatiguhun o makulugan sa lawas sa anoman na paagi ang saiyang inaswang, siya an makakamati kan kulog kaini.

An listahan na ini bako halaba asin en punto sa kun pano magdakop nin aswang. Kadakul man na iba pang mga ritwal asin pangontra an pupuwedeng gamiton panlaban sa mga nilalang nin kadikluman.

Bantayan man lugod nin Kagurangnan an saimong paglakaw.

Dios Mabalos.

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English Version

Equipment:
Bolo – used to give a final blow after incapacitating the aswang.
Stingray Tail – used to incapacitate the aswang. Causes great pain to them.
Kalamansi – A ward to ensure that the aswang cannot pick you up. It weighs them down.
Ashes – Used to sprinkle on the aswang’s body if they self-segment. Aswang cannot reattach if ashes are scattered on their other half. 
Gabon/Sambong/Bukadkad/Subsob (Blumea Balsamefera) – This plant is used to ward off aswang. Pick it fresh and keep it in your pocket.
Garlic – Aswang cannot stand the smell of garlic. Keep some with you at all times.
Salt – Used in the same way as ashes. Can also be used to ward certain places away from aswang.
Wards – Blessed objects, holy water anting-anting are all useful to keep away the monsters. Make sure to see a priest beforehand.

*Note this story is in Bicol-Legazpi

Daing nakamidbid saimo arog kan pagkamidbid ko saimo

Midbid taka na bago ka pa man pinangaki. An saimong ina, sarong magayon na babayi.  Siya pirming nagduduman sa may salog, hinihiling an pagbulos kan tubig pasiring sa sunlupan. Niyaon ako kan an saimong ama, an maginoo, nag-atang nin kasal. Ginibo niya ito harani sa kahoy na an.

Kan ika sadit pang aki, muyahonun mong magkawat sa may tubigan. Pirmi mong pigmamasdan an pagdalagan kaini, an saimong mga bantay dai ka pigbabayaan nganing masiguro ninda dai ika maaano. Dai man sindang dapat ikahadit, ta sagkod niyaon ako warang makakulog sa saimo.

Nagdakula ika na an salog harani saimong boot. Sa edad na anom, ika makaraw na aki. Saimong kinakarawan an mga gurang na kapadian asin ika minadulag pasiring sa salog kung sain dai ka ninda madadakop. Saro kang matibay na paralangoy. Wara saimong mga kakawat an kayang magsabay sa saimong kaskas. Na-oogmang maray an sakong puso na an tubig saimong namomotan.

Niyaon ako kan ang saimong puso inot na nakulogan. Marhay kang lalaki para sa babaying ito. Naromdoman ko na ika nagparaisip kung nata arog kaito ang nangyari. Ang bilog na bulan nagsisirdang sa kamatangaan nin banggi kan ika pighanap kan saimong mga bantay. Haloy ka nindang pighanap pero dai ka ninda nakua ta niyaon ako, sinisiguro na igwa kang oras para saimong sadiri. Kinaagahan, nagimata ka na maray an kamugtakan, tulos man na ika nag-uli sa saimong mga magurang.

Nagdakula ka na sarong marhay na lalaki, makusog an boot asin may itsura. Niyaon ika pirmi sa may salog, duman sinusurat mo an saimong mga tula asin sa piling mga okasyon ini saimong binabasa. Ang saimong boses kalmado asin mayumhok sa pamati. Ini ang sakong pampakaturog sa kada banggi na minaagi.

Duwang bulan na an nakaagi kan makusog mong pigtula ang saro sa saimong mga gibo. Ini patungkol sa buhay, kun pano ini nakalugad nin hararom sa kalag nin kada sarong tawo. “Arog kan sarong kutsilyong nakatusok sa kalag”, iyan an saro sa mga linya kan saimong tula. An salog nagliko asin padagos na nagbulos sa pagsabay sa saimo. Sa mga oras na ini, aram ko na kun ano an dapat kong gibohun.

Kan an satuyang mga mata nagsabatan, bako namatian mo man? Kun panong kitang duwa an dapat na magibahan. Dai ka nakahiro sa saimong tinitindugan, an satong mga mata dai ta mahali sa kada saro mientras na ang salog nagkakanta. Ini naglangkaw, naglangkaw sagkod maabot an saimong mga mata asin  nahiling mo  kun ano ako.

Siyempre, nakigkig ka. Gabos man na tawo pag nahiling ninda an totoo kong itsura. Dai tulos nag-laog sa isip mo na kaya ako nakasul-ot nin bugkos nin uhot asin sapad nin mga batag tanganing maitago ko an kabanga kan sakong lawas. Nadara ka kan sakong gayon asin ako sa imo man. Nahihiling ko an pungaw sa saimong kalag. Dai na bale na an sakuyang kulit itom asin abo an kolor o ini pano nin tunok. Muya mo ako, iyo ang importante.

Sagkod sa aldaw na ini, isinusumpa ko an saimong bantay. Pano naaraman nin sarong tawo na magkua nin sundang asin tigbason an tubig sa korteng krus? An kaaraman na ini dapat itinatago  sa mga tawo.

Ah, pero dai dapat ako magpahiling nin kaluyahan saimong hampang, sakong namomotan.

Diit na panahon na sana, kitang duwa magiibahan na. Sagkod an salog nagbubulos, an sakong puso saimo sana.

Ngonyan asin sagkod pa man.

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English Version

Nobody knows you like I do.

I’ve known you since before you were born. Your mother was such a beautiful woman. She would spend time by the river, watching it run into the horizon. I was there when your father, the gentleman, proposed. He did it right by that tree.

When you were a little baby you loved to play by the water. You’d always be watched of course, your guardians would hover around you to make sure you were alright. They didn’t need to worry, as long as I was there nothing would be able to harm you.

You grew up with the river by your side. At six years old you were a mischievous little boy. You would play tricks on the old priests and run away to the river where they couldn’t catch you. You were a great swimmer. None of your playmates could match your speed. It made my heart swell with pride knowing that you took to the water so well.

I was there during your first heartbreak. You were too good for that girl anyway. I remember you trying to find sense in what had happened. It was midnight and the moon full in the sky when your guardians came to look for you. Try as they might they couldn’t find you, of course, I was there to make sure you had your privacy. You woke up the next day, not a scratch on you, and went back home to your parents.

You grew into a fine young man, so dashing and handsome. You would stay by the riverside and write your poems, even orating them on some occasions. Your voice was so soothing and calm. It was my lullaby every night.

Two moons ago you spoke one of your poems out loud. It was about life, how it cuts deep into the soul of every person. “Like a knife through the soul”, that was one of the lines from your poem. The river bent and flowed to match your oration. It was then I knew what I had to do.

When our eyes met you could feel it couldn’t you? How we were meant to be together. You stood there, solid on the ground as we locked our gaze and the river sang. It rose higher until it reached your eyes and you saw me for what I was.

You were surprised, of course. Most humans are when they see my true form. You didn’t realize that I wore the bundle of rice straws and cluster of bananas to hide my lower half. You were enthralled by my beauty and I, by you. I could see the longing in your soul. It didn’t matter that my skin was black and grey or that it was covered with spines, you wanted me and that was all that mattered.

To this day I still curse your guardian. How did a human know to get a bolo and slash at the water with a cross? That knowledge should have been hidden from humans.

Ah but I should not show weakness in front of you, my love.

We will be together soon enough. As long as the river flows, my heart will belong to you.

Always and forever.

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The Bikol languages or Bicolano languages are a group of Central Philippine languages spoken mostly in the Bicol Peninsula in the island of Luzon, the neighboring island province of Catanduanes and the island of Burias in Masbate. There is a dialect continuum between the Visayan languages and the Bikol languages; the two together are called the Bisakol languages.

The Tabaco-Legazpi-Sorsogon (TLS) dialect is spoken in the eastern coast of Albay and the northeastern part of Sorsogon. TLS is the dialect that has been most influenced by the Inland Bikol languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Wella Guianan
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Wella Guianan

Adapted from a story from Abra, Calaba River told by Guillermo Guillen Crisologo

Berberoka Illustration by Guillermo Guillen Crisologo

*Note this story is in Bicol-Legazpi

Sa inot na beses, siya napagal

Halaba ang saiyang naging aldaw. Panù ang saiyang utak kan mga suriyaw asin iriwal, kan mga kadakul na gibuhun na dai na niya puwedeng palampason. Ang saiyang mga ulunan ina-agda  siya na mag-iba sa inda. Mag-iba sa saindang paglakaw-lakaw pasiring sa mga lugar na dai siya ma-aabot, dai siya ma-aapudan kan saiyang amo. Kung sain sa wakas, makakakua siya nin katuninungan. Ang hudyan na bagay na saiyang nahiling iyo ang ilaw kan sa iyang telepono na nagluway-luway ng magdiklom.

Sa pangaduwang beses, siya nakadangog nin tugtog.

Natatakot siya sa maraut na pangaturog, pero ang saiyang kapagalan iyo ang nanginutan. Sa iyang namatian ang gabat kan kinaban, padagos siyang tinutuklang pasiring sa kairaruman asin kinakalot ang sa iyang lubungan.  ‘Ang bang-gi na ini magiging lain kaysa sa mga naka-agi’ ang huring niya sa saiyang ulunan. Makakapahingalo man giraray siya sa wakas. Sa pagwara-wara kan saiyang huwisyo, siya nag-ngalas kung nata nagpapa-tugtog nin makusog ang saiyang mga kataraning. Sa iyang imahinasyon, nahiling niya ang sadiri na nag-reklamo kina-agahan.

Sa pangatulong beses, may mga anino.

Tulòng aldaw na ang naka-agi na dai niya magibong mag-katurog. Dai niya kayang magbalik sa lugar kung sain siya nag-duduman pag nakapiyong ang saiyang mga mata. Sa lugar kung sain dai dai nakahiro ang saiyang bilog na lawas. Sa lugar kung sain wara siyang kontrol. Napahiling siya sa gilid kan saiyang higdaan, sa salug na may mga mantsa asin tinag-duan nin kape, sa mga gumok na pakete nin asukar. ‘Magiging marhay ang gabos.’ Ini ang sinabi niya sa saiyang sadiri. Ipinapangadyi niya na magiging marhay ang gabos.

Sa ika-apat na beses, siya nag-ngarakngak

Nag-uulok ang gurang na babayi habang pighihiling ang sa iyang gibo, sarong kalag na naman ang saiyang makukua. Sa pag-muklat ninda, naglalaug tulos sa saindang mga isip na tapos na ang maraut na pangaturog, pero sa giraray na pagpikit kan saindang mga mata, niyaun siya. Magsisirbing ulang sa saindang agihan. Nagtindog ang gurang na babayi, dara ang saiyang magabat na lawas siya naglakaw, tapos na ang saiyang trabaho. Inagihan niya ang iba pang ispirito na naglalagaw-lagaw sa mundo nin pangaturogan. Sarong daligmata ang makaskas na uminagi asin diit pang makadasmag sa saiya, sa uyam niya, minuda niya kada saro kan kadakul kaining mata. Halaba nang maray ang bang-gi na ini, kaipuhan na niyang mag-pahingalo.

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English Version

The first time, she was tired.

The day had been too long. Too many memories of shouting and fights, too many deadlines she couldn’t ignore. It had been pure joy when she finally saw her bed. The pillows invited her to journey with them to places where her boss couldn’t call her, somewhere she could finally be at peace. The last thing she saw was the light from her phone gently going dark.

The second time, she heard music.

She was afraid of the nightmare, but exhaustion overtook her senses. The weight of the world felt like it was pushing her down and digging a grave for her. Tonight would be different, she told her pillow. She would finally be able to rest. As she drifted off, she wondered why her neighbors were playing such loud music. In her head, she imagined complaining the next day.

The third time, there were shadows.

It was three days and still she did not sleep. She could not bring herself to go to the place she had been when her eyes were closed. It was a place where she couldn’t move her body. It was a place where she had no control. She looked at her bedside, at the coffee stained floor and the crumpled packets of sugar and she told herself she would be okay. She prayed she would be okay.

The fourth time, she laughed.

The old woman smiled at her handiwork, another soul for her to claim. They would always wake up and think that the nightmare has passed, but once they close their eyes, she would be there to block the door. She hauled her corpulent frame, and passed the other spirits roaming through the dream world. A daligmata rushed through, nearly ran into her and she cursed each eye on the beast. This night had gone on for too long, she needed some rest.

=————————————————————————–=

The Bikol languages or Bicolano languages are a group of Central Philippine languages spoken mostly in the Bicol Peninsula in the island of Luzon, the neighboring island province of Catanduanes and the island of Burias in Masbate. There is a dialect continuum between the Visayan languages and the Bikol languages; the two together are called the Bisakol languages.

The Tabaco-Legazpi-Sorsogon (TLS) dialect is spoken in the eastern coast of Albay and the northeastern part of Sorsogon. TLS is the dialect that has been most influenced by the Inland Bikol languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Wella Guianan
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Wella Guianan

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

Batibat Illustration by Leandro Geniston
FB page: That Guy With A Pen

Watercolor by Alexa Garde
Website: www.Lexa.us