“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 Waray

Nahimo nga mas mapulaay an katunod han adlaw tikang 2019.

Ngan maaram ako kun kay-ano.

Kitaa, may-ada mga puno nga naabot ha langit.

Kinahanglan nga malimpyuhan hira.

Aw, anay kay naguuna-una ako.

Balik kita ha butang kun diin may aram an tanan.

Waray may gipasaylo an pandemiya, tanan nga kwarto han emergency puno,

nagtikang liwat an lockdown nga naghatag han damulaay nga pagkamatay nga

mahihinumduman han mga tawo ha susunod pa nga mga tuig.

Nahihinumduman ko pa an una nga gipadara ako ha Covid ward. Amo adto an panahon nga pamati nakon waray ako kusog, puno ako hin luya ngan kasakit.

Pero nakatalwas ako. Usa ha na swerte.

Waray gud an makakaandam han kawara han pagsim-ot ngan panrasa.

Kumaon pa ngani ako han krayola para la matisting kun mabalik an akon panrasa.

Waray gud bumalik.

Pasayloa ako, nawawara na lat ako ha akon sinisiring.

Hinay-hinay nga umupay an mga kaso han pandemic, tikang han napulo ka libo pakadto han libo nala. Mga kaso ngan numero nga kahuna nakon diri mahihitabo. Mga kaso ngan numero nga kahuna nakon ha mga salida la gin papatan-aw.

An mga kalagsan an duro nga naigo.

Pira kabuok nga mga apoy an diri na makikit-an an ira mga apo?

Damo la kaupay.

Yana balik kita ha katunod han adlaw.

May-ada mga buhi nga an ngaran kay salakap.

Iton mga panulay nga nagdadara han kasakit ha kalibutan.

Naguurugpud hira nga nasakaya ha dako nga adiyung ngan naglalayag upod han norte-este nga hangin pamaagi han taas nga mga rehiyon ngan pabalik ha tuna han Kiyabusan—ha lugar kun hain damo an namatay tungod han hangga, pag uro-uro, hiranat, ngan damo la nga mga nakakatapon nga kasakit.

Ngan diri hira sugad ka okupado han umabot an pandemiya.

Labaw na nga may-ada balita han monkey pox, magdadara nalat hira han mas damo pa nga kalag ha Kiyabusan.

Yana, ano man an kalabotan hini han katunod han adlaw?

Utruhon ko nga mabalik kita ha mga kapunoan.

An mga kapunuan nga naabot ha langit.

Kitaa, an mga salakap may-ada lider.

An ngaran niya kay Tumangkuyun.

Ngan iya ito buruhaton nga gapos ha iya dugo.

Diri la gindadara han mga salakap an mga kalag nga namatay han pandemiya ha Kiyabusan, gikukuha liwat an mga dugo nira.

Kinahanglan nga malimpyo an mga puno.

Nakakasabot ka ha akon?

Gin lilimpyuhan nira an mga puno gamit han mga dugo han patay.

An katunod han adlaw kay waray na bumalik han dati.

Ngan diri na magdudugay.

Bag-o mapinturahan an langit.

Han makaharadlok nga lamrag.

=—————————=

English Version

The sunsets seem redder since 2019.

And I know why.

See, there are trees that hold up the sky.

And they must be cleansed.

Oh, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Let’s head back to what everyone knows.

The pandemic spared no one, completely filling emergency rooms, starting lockdowns and releasing a wave of death that will ripple many years in the future.

I still remember the first time I was stuck in a Covid ward. I had never felt so powerless, so filled with despair and anguish.

But I survived. I was one of the lucky ones.

No one can really prepare for the loss of smell and taste. I actually ate crayons to try to test if my senses would come back. Safe to say they didn’t.

I’m off topic again, I’m sorry.

The pandemic’s numbers steadily rose, from tens to hundreds to thousands. Numbers that I thought weren’t possible. Numbers that I thought were only real in movies.

It targeted the elderly the most.

How many grandparents would never see their grandchildren again?

Too much.

And we head back to the sunsets.

There are creatures called the salakap.

Those that bring epidemic sickness to earth.

They travel in a huge outrigger (adiyung) and sail with the northeast winds through the high regions and carry back to the realm of Kiyabusan those that have died from smallpox, dysentery, flu and other epidemic diseases.

And they were never as busy as they were when the pandemic hit.

Now with the news of monkey pox they will bring more souls to Kiyabusan.

Now what does that have to do with sunsets?

Again we go back to the trees.

The ones that hold up the sky.

See, the salakap have a leader.

Their name is Tumangkuyun.

And it is their duty bound by blood.

The salakap not only bring the souls of those that have died in epidemics to Kiyabusan, they also collect the blood from those that died.

The trees must be kept clean.

Do you follow me?

They clean the trees with that blood.

The sunsets have never been the same since.

And it might not be long.

Before the skies are painted.

A foreboding scarlet.

=———————————=

Inspired by the Tumangkuyun description in Tagbanuwa Religion and Society. Fox. 1982.

Tumangkuyun Illustration by Race De Villa

IG: @corvus_blanc

*Note this story is in Waray

“Nay, taga-i ako hit istorya. Diri ako makaturog.”

“Sigi, dad-on ta anay ikaw ha imo higdaan.”

“Nasiring ko na ba ha imo an istorya tungod han mga anghel ni Sitti Maryam?”

“Waray pa.”

“Pamati han upay.”

“Han lumakat nga magusaan hi Sitti Maryam ha kagurangan para i-abot hi propeta Nabi’ Isa, waray hiya pabay-i han Ginoo. Nagpadara an Ginoo han setenta y siete nga babaye nga anghel para diri mapeligro an iya bata. An lider han mga anghel kay an darayawon nga hi Tuwan Putli’. Mahusay hiya nga anghel nga may-ada dako nga mga pako. Hiya lat an naguusaan ng anghel nga nakakaistorya ni Sitti Maryam para suguon kun ano an bubuhaton han uban nga mga anghel.

Gin sugoan niya an sitenta nga angel nga lumakat pagkahuman maianak hi Nabi’ Isa. Nagpuyo hi Sitti Maryam ngan an unom nga anghel hin kwarenta y kwatro nga adlaw bag’o sumaka ha langit. Buotan ngan maaghopon hi Tuwan Putli, iya lat pirmi ginsisuguro nga maupay an kabutangan han bata.

An mga anghel ngan hi Sitti Maryam kay aadto ha kagurangan han isla, pero damo han mga peligro ha kalibutan. Tikang han mga magbangis nga hayop pakadto ha saytan nga naukoy ha mga puno ngan bato. Gi-protektahan hira han mga anghel han ira pawa ngan grasya. Gin himuan nira hiya han duyan ngan giniyahan hiya han kapawa pakadto ha ira.

Han ika-upat nga adlaw, gisigngan ni Tuwan Putli’ hi Sitti Maryam nga kinahangalan na lumakat han mga anghel. Sanglit, nanarit hira paglakaw ha bata ngan an iya iroy, maaram hira nga tapos na an ira buruhaton. Sugad pa man, tig usa hira nga tumamak ha balangaw pakadto ha langit.

Nabayaan hi Sitti Maryam ngan an iya anak kauban han kaaraman nga mayda mas dako nga plano an Ginoo para ha ira.

Gikugos niya an iya bata ha iya mga kamot ngan nahunaan nga may-ada paglaom ha ira nga duha. Nagyakan hiya han mahilom nga pangadi ha setenta y siete nga anghel tungod kay ginbuligan hiya hit iya pinakamakuri nga takna, katapos iya gintagaan han mas espesyal nga pangadi hi Tuwan Putli’. Maaram hi Sitti Maryam kutob ha pinakadapit han iya kasing-kasing nga ginbabantayan hiya nira tikang hadto.

“……………”

“Katurog na akon anghel. Halaba pa an aton adlaw buwas.”

=—————————-=

English Version

“Mama, tell me a story. I can’t sleep.”

“Alright, let me take you to bed now, child.

Have I ever told you the story of Sitti Maryam’s angels?”

“Not yet, mama.”

“Well listen closely,

When Sitti Maryam was left alone in the wilderness to raise the great prophet Nabi’ Isa, God did not leave her alone. He sent 77 female angels to help keep the child out of danger, and their leader was none other than Tuwan Putli’. She was a beautiful angel with great wings. She was also the only one who spoke to Sitti Maryam to tell what the angels would do.

She bade 70 angels to leave the seventh day after Nabi’ Isa was born and she and six other angels stayed for 44 more days before ascending into heaven. Tuwan Putli’ was kind and gentle, and would always seek to make sure the baby was unharmed.

The angels and Sitti Maryam were in the wilderness of the island and there were many dangers lurking around, from wild animals to the saytan living in the trees and rocks. The angels protected their charge with grace and light. They made him a cradle and guided the light towards them.

On the forty fourth day, Tuwan Putli’ told Sitti Maryam that the angels had to go. All seven angels gave a sad farewell to the baby and his mother, but they knew that their work was done. Each angel stepped onto a rainbow that guided them to heaven.

Sitti Maryam was left with her baby and she was left with the wisdom that God had a greater plan for her that was still to come.

She cradled her child in her arms and saw a future for them. She said a silent prayer to all the 77 angels that helped her through her darkest times and she said a special one for Tuwan Putli’. Sitti Maryam knew in her heart of hearts that the angels would be watching over her from that day on.”

“………………..”

“Sleep well my little angel. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

=——————————–=

*Sitti Maryam and Nabi’ Isa are the Tausug names for Mama Mary and Jesus Christ

*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

Inspired by “Sitti Maryam. Lady Mary.” in Voices from Sulu A Collection of Tausug Oral Traditions. Rixhon. 2010. and Aida Gaverza

Tuwan Putli’ Illustration by emirajuju
IG: https://www.instagram.com/emirajuju/

Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
FB: Wildling Child
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wildlingchild/