*Note this story is in Cebuano

Ang mga pag-antos nga gihatag sa mga linalang kaniadto dili mahanduraw. Bisan karon, madumduman gihapon nako ang mga sugilanon nga gisaysay sa akong lola, mga istorya sa pagpanimalus ug pagkawagtang. Nagapakita sila sa akong mga damgo.

Ug ang tanan nagsugod sa akong lolo.

Desidido siya nga maglampas kaniadto sa usa ka gamay’ng bahin sa bukid, aron iandam alang sa pagtanom. Wala ko masayod nganong  gusto niya mag-uma ngadto sa ibabaw nga bahin sa bukid, layo sa iyang tipo nga lugar. Duol ang maong bukid sa bungtod nga ilang gitawag nga “lamesa”, ang halapad nga bato nga anaa sa ubos.

Gisunog ni Lolo ang kahoy nga anaa adtong lugara, ug niini nagsugod ang tanan nga kalbaryo.

Si Lola ug ang akong inahan miadto kaniya sa payag nianang gabhiuna aron dad-an siya ug panihapon. Didto na usab sila natulog. Ang makusog nga ngulob ug lagutob nga tunob sa kabayo ila pang nadumduman.

Sa padulong na sila matulog, sila gibati sa kahadlok sa maong tingog nga naglibot sa gamay’ng payag.

“Benito, guwa diri! Makig-estorya ako kanimo.” Ang tingog sa akong inahan ug lola samtang gi-imitar ang tingog sa maong linalang matag higayon nga ila isaysay ang istorya, pero matud pa kanila, dili gyud nila masundog ang maong tingog. “Aduna’y kaligutgot sa kasingkasing ang tingog niini,” ingon nila, “labaw pa kini sa among masundog.”

“Hayag kaayo ang buwan niadtong taknaa.” Mao kini ang bahin sa istorya diin gisaysay ni lola ang mahitungod sa linalang. “Tawo sila gikan sa ulo ngadto sa tiyan, apan kabayo sa tiyan paingon sa ilang tiil.” Ug nahinumdom ako sa mga nagkalain-laing istorya sa bisan asang bahin sa kalibutan, diin ang mga linalang nga katunga-tawo ug katunga-kabayo nagatabang sa mga tawo sa dugay nang panahon.

Ingon ni lola nga ang mga espiritu kaniadto dili makatabang sa bisan unsa. Niabot lamang sila para makapanimalos sa mga katawhan.

“Bayari ang imong pagkasumat ug kawalay pagtagad.” Nasuko nga gitudlo sa lider sa mga Kabalan ang akong lolo. Gisaysay niini nga gipatay sa akong lolo ang iyang igsoon dihang gisunog niya ang usa ka kahoy. Nahadlok ang akong lolo ug nagpakilooy sa maong linalang nga dili siya pagpatyon. Wala unta niya masunog ang maong kahoy kung nakahibalo lamang siya nga adunay nagpuyo niini.

Wala panumbalinga sa linalang ang sagmuyo sa akong lolo.

Ug didto nagsugod ang tanang kalbaryo. Nilakaw ang mga linalang niadtong gabhiuna apan ang ilang sumpa nagpabilin. Bisan ang mga doctor wala masayod unsa matuod nga sakit sa akong lolo. Nihunong siya pagkaon kay sa matagtulon niya sa kan-on, muubo ug musuka siya ug dugo. Matud niya, daw mura ba ug masunog sa kainit ang iyang tutunlan kada suka.

Wala nay lain nabuhat si lola, miduol siya sa albularyo, ang among lokal nga mananambal. Gihangyo pag-ayo sa mananambal ang maong linalang. Miingon ang akong lola nianang gabhiuna sa manalagna nga magbuhat og laing ritwal sa sunod nga gabie, apan ang tanan nahimong way pulos.

Ang mga linalang wala manumbaling.

Human mamatay ang akong lolo, naigo sa kilat ang igsoong lalaki sa akong inahan samtang kini nisaka sa lubi kilid sa ilang balay. Milabay pa ang tulo katuig ayha kini nipanaw samtang kini natulog.

Ang pamilya sa akong inahan nawad-an og kadaghanan sa ilang mga kabtangan ug gikapiutan sa kalisod hangtud nga namatay ang akong lola tungod sa kanser.

Ang mga linalang dili kahibaw ug unsay kalooy, para kanila, ang pagpanimalos lamang ang paagi hangtod nga mabayaran ang tanang kasal-anan nga nabuhat pinaagi sa dugo.

=———————=

English Version

The tragedies that these creatures bring are unimaginable to some. I still remember the stories that my lola used to tell, stories of vengeance and loss. They follow me in my nightmares.

It all started with my lolo. He decided to kaingin a small piece of land in the mountains, to prepare it for the planting season. I don’t know why he decided to go further up the mountain, away from his usual spot. It was near the waterfall they called “lamesa”, relating to the flat rock on the bottom.

He burned the tree that was there and that was the start of the troubles.

My lola and mother joined him in the payag (nipa hut) afterwards to bring him dinner and to spend the night with him. They still remember the loud hoofbeats. The feeling of dread when the sound circled their small hut still echoes in their memories before they sleep at night.

“Benito, come out. We need to talk to you.” My mother and lola tried to replicate the voice every time they told the story, but they said they could never get it right. “There was too much anger in the voice,“ they said, “more than we can mimic.”

“The moonlight was bright that night.” This was the part of the story where lola describes the creatures. “They were human from head to trunk, but were horses from their trunk to their feet.” I thought back to myths from a different part of the world, where half-human half-horse beings would help humankind. Lola told me that these spirits weren’t helpful at all. They came seeking vengeance.

“You will pay for such arrogance and disrespect.” The leader of the kabalans pointed to my lolo. It told him that my lolo killed its brother when he burned his tree. My lolo begged for his life. He would not have burned the tree had he known there was something living there.

The creatures didn’t care.

Thus began the tragedy. The creatures left that night but their curse lingered. Doctors were never able to tell what exactly was wrong with my lolo. He stopped eating because every time he ate he would vomit and cough up blood. He said it would burn his throat every time he vomited.

My lola had no other choice, she consulted the manggagamot, our local faith healer. The faith healer tried to reason with the creatures. My lola said that night after night the faith healer would try another ritual, but it was all for naught.

The creatures would not be appeased.

After my lolo died, my mom’s elder brother was struck by lightning while he was at the top of the coconut tree outside their house. After three years he died in his sleep.

My mother’s family lost most of their properties and were trapped in poverty until lola died of cancer.

These creatures don’t know the meaning of mercy, they will seek their vengeance until they are repaid in blood.

Beware the kabalans, for they will not listen to your pleas of forgiveness. And be careful around the trees high up in the mountains, you will never know if one makes its home there, not until it’s too late.

=————————=

*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 Anelyne Ruflo
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Anelyne Ruflo

Adapted from a Story told by Grace Collantes

Kabalan Illustration by Ysa Peñas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonechitect/

*Note this story is in Masbatenyo

Permi na ni Arturo nababatian ina na kinasadtu na isturya na kung paano mapapaanad ina na klasi san hayup na tanan na gusto mu iya sususnod nadaw bagan suruguon.

An dapat mo lang na paga himuon kay makuha na dili nya aram an iya na tuloy na dulae na buhik sa ulo, samtang nakasakay sa iya likod na dli ka makita hasta na mag- udong siya sin kakalukso na bagan maabut na niya an langit kag pakadtu sa kabukidan kag hasta sa kadagatan sa kasakit na iya nababatyagan.

Samok- samok na an iya isip, kay tungod sa kinahanglan niya san kuwartakag an iya nalang nabibilin na aram niya himuon na makabulig saiya kay an tikbalang. Pero aram niya man sa sadiri na may dili man maayu na mangyayari saiya kay kabalyu sani kay an iya na buhay. Magkakaigwa sya san sakit, pero nanu paman ba an iya na kinahanglan na kahadlokan? Dati naman sya may sakit na ina batyag, bilang nalang an iya na nga oras kinahanglan na igwa siya san pagahimuon. Kay sa tungod na habo niya mawara siya sa kalibutan na utang an iya nga maibilin kag problema sa iya nga pamilya.

Tumindog si Arturo sa atubang san Puno san danakit kag tinawag niya ini na lumuwas saiya nga balay. Pira man ka oras na nagahulat siya kag iya inparakita didtu sa madulom, napaus nalang siya san kakasiyak. Tapos may bigla nagpakita.

” Hoy buang na tawo, nanu kay adi ka didi,” hunga sani saiya.

“Nagkadi ako para mapapaanad ka nakon.” Sabat man ni Arturo.

Tumawa an tikbalang san grabe sa iya na mga sinabina makaharadlok bation, na miski san-o dili niya pa nabatian sa bilog na buhay niya.

” Damu na san mga tawo an nagtisting na himuon ina saakon pero tanan sinda wara sinewertehan. Kag nanu man an sumulod sa utok mo na naisip mo ako na mapapaanad?”

” Dili na kinahanglan pa na isipon ina kay nanu, Basta kay ako hihimuon ko an akon na gusto.”

“Sige tistengan ta daw an katag mo.”

Linumpatan ni Arturo sa likodan an tikbalang, graben likot sani, kaya nalilisodan siya na makahuyot sa buhok sani. Hapit na makabuhi an mga kamot ni Arturo maayu nalang gani kay nakabalik huyot siya san maayu para dili siya mahulog. Inadumdum niya an iya na pamilya kag aram niya na kinahanglan sya sani. Kaya dili gaud pwede na wara siya san himuon para sainda.

Pira ka sigundo an natapos si Arturo maayus na niya ini na kinabayuhan sa likod samtang inahuyotan an buhok sani sa likod. Binugnot ni Arturo an una na dulae na buhik. Sumiyak-siyak san grabe an tikbalang sa sobra na kasakit, pero dili gihapon umuding si Arturo, dili niya ini inpansin.

“Nanu kay inahimu ninyu ini saakon ha ,tawo?” Kahuna koba mabuot ka.” Nagbilog an boses san tikbalang na makusog-kusog kasabay sani an iya kakalumpat-lumpat.

“Hihimuon ko ini para sa akon na pamilya, Basta dili moko masasabutan.” Ginalaom ni Arturo na mapugongan nya ini hasta sa makuha niya. Kay pagamay- gamay na nagaluya na an iya kusog. Nababatyagan na niya na nagahuros na siya sa likod sani. Kag batyag niya an iya nga dughab na grabe an tulin san pitik sani.

” Nanu aram ninyu na mga tawo sa pamilya? Nasiraan naba kamu san isip.”

“Wara ako pakiaram kung nanu imu paga-isip. Kinahanglan ko na may mahimu ako para sainda ”

“Daw nababahuan kona lapit kana mawara, bilang nala imu nga mga oras didi sa duta. Dili kana madugay, Tama hanu ako?”

Wara magsabay si Arturo. Kay Tama man an isturya san tikbalang, tuna sa tuna may ina dara-dara na siya na sakit, pero Yana dili na ina imporante, an imporante mapaanad niya an tikbalang.

Nabugnot na niya an panduha na dulae na buhik kag amu niya pala napansun wara na gali sinda sa umahan banda na kung Hain an danakit. Dili niya aram kung na sinda banda san kabukidan na indarhan sani san tikbalang, nabigla siya sa tanan na nangyayari dara nalang pod san iya na pagtaka.

” Anna! Reymark! Julia!”

” Naga ayu kaba san bulig sainda?”

“Dili! Nadumduman kolang kung kasin-o ko ini inahimu!”

” Miski sin- o dili ko gaud kamu na tawo maabutan.”

Kag didto medyu nagkunay-kunay an tikbalang san kakalukso kag kakalukot pero dili man ini nagdugay. Napansun ni Arturo na may asu didtu banda sa may danakit.

” Balay ko ina, pero san nag abut kamu,” nababatyagan ni Arturo na may kaurit ini basi sa boses sani. “An gusto ko manla tani pabay- an ninda ako mag-usad, pero nanu inda inhimu pati an balay ko inda pa ginlabutan. Pati an akon pamilya.”

May usad pa na bibilin na dulae na buhik. An pagahuyot nya sa buhok san tikbalang kay inbalhin nya sa may liog banda kay dili sya masyado nakakapugong maayu.

” Pamilya ko yana an mas importante,”

Nadumduman ni Arturo na an inda balay nakabaligya na kay para nakabayad sa mga  bulong kag gasto sa pagkaospital niya, kag paano si Reymark kag Julia nagbalhin san eskwelahan dahil man saiya.

Inpiyung niya an iya nga mata kag nanghuyot san maayu sa tikbalang.

Hanalapit na mag maaga, nagapakita na gamay an sikat san adlaw kag dili makatuod siya na nakadugay siya sa likod san tikbalang. Nagaluya naman ini sa kakapoy, naghinat na an iya napagahiwag kag dili na gaud malikot-likot parehu sa una.

San pawa na gaud an adlaw napaingkod ini tungod sakakapoy sa atubang san danakit. Kinita sani si Arturo, na huyot na sani an tulo na dulae na buhik

“Nahimu mo,”

Napahuyot si Arturo sa iya nga dughab, nababatyagan niya naga piot ini sa kasakit hasta iya likod pakadtu sa iya nga liog. Nagatulin an iya napaga ginhawa pati iya nga ulo naga Gaan na.

Nagkuot siya sa iya nga bulsa kag inluwas niya an isad na piktyur.

“Luwasa sinda”

” Sige akon Ikaw pagasunodon.”

Tungod sana bigla na nawara an tikbalang.  Naabutan na san sirak san adlaw si Arturo. Kag makikita mo man saiya nga bayhun na malipayun na siya tungod sa nahimu na niya an iya na handom.

“Salamat”.

=————————–=

Arturo had heard the stories before. How the creatures could be tamed to become your loyal servants.

All he had to do was snatch the three golden hairs at the top of its head and then stay on its back until it was done jumping into the sky and going over the mountains and seas, easier said than done.

He was desperate, he needed money and he knew that the tikbalang could help him. He also knew that they would not forget him if he failed. They brought sickness, but what did he need to fear? He was already sick, time was slipping away from him and he needed something to hold on to. He didn’t want to leave his family behind with debt and regret.

Arturo stood in front of the Balete tree and called the creature out. It had been hours staring in the dark, his throat almost raw from shouting, but then he saw a figure.

“Foolish human, why have you come here,” the figure said.

“I am here to tame you,” was Arturo’s reply.

A wild laughter erupted from the creature, like nothing Arturo had ever heard before.

“Many humans have tried and failed. What makes you think you will be the one to tame me?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think, only what I will do.”

“Very well then.”

Arturo launched himself at the tikbalang, its chaotic movement challenging his grip. Arturo arms seemed to be failing him, but he held on. He thought about his family and how they needed him. He would not let them down.

Arturo managed to position himself holding the creature by the mane.

He picked the first golden hair. The tikblang screamed in pain, but Arturo didn’t mind it.

“Why are you doing this, human? I thought we were forgotten by your kind.” The creature’s wild movements matched the tone of its voice.

“I’m doing this for my family, something you will never understand.” Arturo hoped his strength would last, already he felt like he was slipping. He could feel his heart beating through his chest.

“What do humans know of family? All your kind does is destroy.”

“I don’t care what you think. I have to leave something behind for them.”

“I thought I smelled the stench of death upon you. You don’t have long do you, human?”

Arturo didn’t answer. Since the diagnosis, his whole life was defined by his sickness, today that didn’t matter. Nothing did except taming the tikbalang.

He picked the second hair and saw that they weren’t in the field with the Balete tree anymore. He didn’t recognize the mountain that the creature had taken them to, and he shook off the curiosity.

“Anna! Reymark! Julia!”

“Asking for help, human?”

“I’m remembering who I’m doing this for!”

“I will never understand creatures like you.” The creature calmed down just a bit, long enough for Arturo to look at the burnt husk of what he thought was a balete tree.

“That used to be my home, that is, until your kind came along” Arturo could sense the disgust in the tikbalang’s voice “All I wanted was to be left alone, but they took my home. My family.”

There was still one more hair left. The tikblanag’s mane didn’t give him a lot of traction, and he held tight against the creature’s neck.

“My family is all that matters.” Arturo remembered how they had to sell their house to pay for the medical bills, how Reymark and Julia had to transfer school because of him. He closed his eyes and gripped against the tikbalang.

The rising sun was visible in the distance and Arturo was surprised he lasted hours on the tikbalang’s back. The creature was getting tired, its movements slower and less erratic.

As the sun rose the tikbalang fell exhausted in front of its Balete tree. It looked at Arturo, now holding its three golden hairs.

“You have won.”

Arturo clutched at his chest; he could feel the pressure building up in his heart, spreading to his back and neck. His breaths were rapid, and his head felt light.

He reached into his pocket and took out a photo.

“….save them.”

“I will obey.”

With that, the tikbalang disappeared. Sunlight rested on Arturo, his face showing a look of contentment. He allowed himself one last smile.

“Thank you.”

=———————=

*Masbateño or Minasbate is a Bicol-Visayan language spoken by more than 600,000 people, primarily in the province of Masbate in the Philippines. It is very close to Capiznon, Hiligaynon/Ilonggo and Waray-Waray, all three spoken in Visayas. It is considered a Bisakol language, meaning a language intermediate between Visayan languages and Bicolano languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Masbatenyo Translation by Angel Papilosa
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Angel Papilosa

Inspired by the Tikbalang description in  Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Tikbalang Illustration by Ysa Penas

*Note this story is in Maguindanaon

“Kaka, mapakay a idual engka i sabun a nan?”

“Uway mambu.”

Di ku katawan entertain i pedtindeg a nan a babay sa sangulan ku, ugaid katawan ku a benal a kena i nan i suled ku a babay. Tu pan i kinailay ku sa lekanin sa pangagian sa nakalepas a kutika endu di manggula i magagan a benal i kinambalingan nin. Wagib a katantu ku a di ku sekanin mapaangel a benal, entain i pakakataw sa ngin a balangan na manginggilek i makasulut sa palas na katiwalayan ku.

“Pina, enduken ka sangat i kalimeng engka? Masu kena den benal a pedtalu.”

“Padtaday ka den, pagitungen ku bu i pantag sa nganin-nganin.”

“Na uway pabila pidtalu nengka.”

Da madakel a kapamilian a kana laki sia. Masu katawan ku ngin inia. Tatap a pedtaluan kami ni tua babay sa manga tudtulan na encanto sa dalem a kayu na Bantungon. Napagitung ku na su mapamili ku bu na i kaawa.

“Balapantag ku den a lemu.”

“Tantu ka Pina? Wagi a labi ta embitiala, Ka masu di ta den pakadtanggunuta dua.”

“Labi a madakel i penggulan ku sa walay.”

“Pedsanggilan aku nengka.”

Su engkanto minebpun a midtulik sa buntal nin endu sa manga buk sa taligkudan ku na midtindeg. Midsambi bun su suara nin endu di den sekanin pamamantag sa kapagakal nin sa laki. Inawan ku den i pamipian sa lagilayan endu midtalaguy sa malengkas sampay sa walay.

Masu di aku nin pedtundugen, a mapia a tanda i nan. Midtulik aku sa langit endu magan den i kapedsedep nu senang, Ya temu da ku den pamamantag i kutika a lu pan sa engkanto.

“Kaka, kaka mebpun aku den keman saguna?”

Kimapet aku sa laleb ku, ugaid na napagitung ku na sa kutika na kauma na suled ku a babay. Su tidtu ku a suled a babay. Mingginawa aku endu mingemen-gemen. Napasad den su batalu.

“Oh Uping, di aku nengka palityalan sa ngin i nanggula.”

“Ngin i nanggula kaka?”

“Lu aku sa lagilayan endu aden nailay ku a kabuntal engka”

“Katawan ku.”

“….Ngin?”

“Di mapia i kaawa sa da pagetaw nin.”

=——————-=

English Version

“Ate, could you hand me the soap please?”

“Sure.”

I don’t know who the woman standing in front of me is, but I sure as hell know it isn’t my sister. I just saw her off to school a few hours ago and there’s no way she could have come back this fast. I have to make sure that I don’t upset her too much, who knows what kind of monster can wear the guise of my family.

“Pina, why are you so serious? You don’t seem to be talking much.”

“It’s fine, just thinking about things.”

“Okay if you say so.”

There aren’t many choices for me here. I think I know what this is. Lola always told us stories of encanto in the woods of Bantungon. I think that the only choice I have is to leave.

“I think I need to go.”

“Are you sure Pina? We should talk more, I don’t think we spend enough time together.”

“There are more errands that I have to do at home.”

“Are you trying to avoid me.”

The engkanto starts to get a look on her face and the hairs on my back stand on end. Her voice changes as well and I don’t think she’s concerned about tricking me anymore. I leave the laundry by the brook and run as fast as I can back home.

She doesn’t seem to be following me, which is a good sign. I look up and it’s almost sunset, I must not have paid attention to the time while with the engkanto.

“Ate, ate should I start with dinner now?”

I clutch my chest, but then I remember it’s around the time my sister comes home. My real sister. I breathe and smile. The ordeal is finally over.

“Oh Uping, you won’t believe what happened to me.”

“What’s wrong ate?”

“I was by the brook and I saw someone that looked exactly like you”

“I know.”

“….What?”

“It isn’t nice to leave without saying goodbye.”

=-===================—-

**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 Encanto at Baguntod” in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Engkantada Illustration by Ysa Peñas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonechitect/

*Note this story is in Tagalog

Isang araw nang dapuan ng sakit ang matanda at hindi makapanhik sa bundok upang mag-ani.

Kaya naman, isang walong taong gulang na babae at isa sa pinakabata sa kanilang pamilya ang nagkusang sumama sa kanyang ate at tiyuhin sa matarik na paglalakbay tungo sa dalisdis kung saan sila naggagapas ng mga pananim.

Buo ang kanyang puso’t kaluluwa sa pakikipagsapalaran subalit napipigilan ng tungkulin sa pamilya. Mula nang pumanaw ang kanyang ama at kuya, sa murang edad ay kinailangan na niyang alalayan ang ina. Ngunit hindi pa rin nito nahadlangan ang kanyang matinding pagnanais para sa pambihirang karanasan.

Tomboy ang tukso sa kanya ng mga taganayon. Kaiba sa ikinikilos ng mga ka edad na batang babae. Habang abala sila sa paglalaro ng manika at bahay-bahayan, siya naman ay lumulundag nang patiwarik sa malalalim na ilog, umaakyat sa kabundukan nang mag-isa, at hinahamon sa mga larong pisikalan at pustahan ang mga batang lalaki.

Hanggang sa dumating ang araw, kinailangan na niyang tumulong sa pamilya. Bumuhos ang malakas na ulan sa bubong ng kanilang payag (bahay-kubo) maraming oras ang inantay niya kasama ang ate at tiyuhin para magpatila. Hapon na nang huminahon ang mga ulap kaya nagmadaling tumungo ang tatlo sa lupang taniman na nasa itaas ng bundok, ayaw nilang palampasin ang huling sinag ng araw.

Sumilip na ang liwanag ng buwan sa kalangitan nang matapos ang pag-aani, mapanganib kung tatawid pa sa ilog na nasa paanan ng bundok kaya’t napagpasyahan nilang magpalipas ng gabi sa payag hanggang sa sila’y nahimbing sa daigdig ng panaginip.

Sa ilang sandali’y biglang nagising ang batang babae dahil ito sa kakaibang tunog galing sa labas ng payag. Akala niya’y bumuhos na naman ang ulan ngunit maaliwalas naman ang kalangitan. Natunugan niya ang matamis na himig ay musikang naglalakbay mula sa mga dahon at sanga ng kagubatan.

“Wala namang mga taong nakatira rito!” wika niya sa sarili. Tinangay siya ng kaniyang pagkamausisa at sinundan ang musika hanggang makarating sa pampang ng Talon ng La Mesa. Batay sa mga kuwento ang talon ay tahanan ng mga engkanto. Inisip dati ng batang babae na kathang-isip lamang ang mga ito, subalit ngayon ay hindi na siya sigurado.

May isang patag na bato sa ibaba ng talon kung saan hinango ang pangalan nito. Naglaho na ito sa halip ay isang tuyong liwasan na puno ng mga taong may magagarang kasuotan, lalaki, babae, mga bata, at mga kabayo.

Umalingawngaw ang musika sa hangin at ang mga tao’y nagsasayawan sa saliw ng matamis na himig. Puno ng pagkain ang hapag sa handaan. Labis na nabighani ang batang babae sa tagpong iyon at nalimutang siya ay nasa kagubatan.

Hindi na maalis sa isipan ng batang babae ang gabing iyon, sapagkat ito ang pinakamagandang tanawin na kanyang nasaksihan. Ang kanilang makikinis na balat, matatangos na ilong at mapupungay na mga mata ang bumabalik sa kanyang haraya tuwing iniisip ang kagandahan.

Pinanood niya ang mga ito hanggang sa oras na para bumalik sa payag. Iningatan ng batang babae sa kanyang sarili ang mga lihim hanggang sa makarating sa malayong hinaharap nang maikuwento na niya sa kanyang mga anak ang tungkol sa mga engkanto na naninirahan sa Talon ng La Mesa.

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English Version

It was a day just like any other when lola got sick and could not go up the mountain to harvest crops. One of the youngest, a girl of eight volunteered to go with her uncle and eldest sister up the steep trek to the slopes where they gathered crops.

The girl had a soul for adventure, but that was tempered by filial duty. Her father and eldest brother had passed on and at that young age she knew that she had to assist her mother. That didn’t stop her curiosity or her love of exploration.

The villagers called her a tomboy. She behaved unlike the other girls her age. While they were preoccupied with dolls and playing “bahay bahayan” the girl would jump headfirst into deep streams, hike the mountains alone and challenge the boys to games of skill and chance.

Today she had to do her duty for her family. The hard rains struck the roof of their payag (nipa hut) and the girl and her older sister and uncle were waiting for hours. It was late in the afternoon when the clouds broke and the three rushed to their plots high up in the mountains, they did not want to let the last lights of the day slip away.

The harvest was finished when the moon was bright in the sky and the three agreed that it would be too dangerous to cross the river at the foot of the mountain at night. They decided to spend the night in the payag and the three drifted into the land of dreams.

That is, until something awoke the little girl. It was a strange sound coming from outside the payag. She thought it might be the rain coming back for another shower, but the night sky was dry. She realized that the sweet sound was music making its way through the leaves and branches of the forest.

“There aren’t any people that live here!” She thought to herself. Curiosity overtook the young girl and she followed the music to the banks of Lamesa falls. There were stories that the falls were the home of enchanted beings. The girl used to think that those stories were just make believe, but now she wasn’t so sure.

In the waterfall there was a flat rock at the bottom from where the falls derived there name. It was gone then and in its place was a dry plaza filled with expensively dressed men, women, children and horses. Music was thick in the air and the people were moving to the sweet sounds. There was a banquet filled with food and the whole scene enthralled the girl so much that she forgot she was in a forest.

The girl would never forget that night, for it was the most beautiful sight that she had ever seen. Their fair skin, aquiline noses and expressive eyes would flash into her mind whenever she thought of beauty.

She watched them until it was time for her to return to the payag. The girl kept their secrets to herself until sometime in the far future when she would tell her own children about the engkanto that lived in Lamesa falls.

=———————=

Adapted from a Story told by Grace Collantes

The Engkanto of Lamesa Falls Illustration by Ysa Peñas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonechitect/

*Note this story is in Waray

Nagkamayda ka na ba sangkay nga may duha nga kinabuhi?

Mayda mga sikreto nga gintatago ang mga tawo, may iba nga diri mo ginlalauman ngan kun mahibaruan mo, kinahanglan mo pumili.

Mayda ba akos bag-uhon an sikreto?

Waray ko pa gihapon nabaton an sugad nga pakiana. Han mahibaruan ko kun ano hiya… diri na kapareho han naglabay an mga butang ha giutan namon. Yana baga hin diri ko gud hiya nakilala.

Nadiskubre ko samtang tiuli kami. Lahos na ha katutnga han gab-i ngan han makaabot kami ha baybayon han salog, nahibaro kami nga waray paragbugsay nga magdudul-ong ha amon ngadto ha tabok.

Karuyag ko hadto nga bumalik ha baryo, magbiling hin lugar kun diin poyde magpalipas han gab-i, kundi nag-insister an akon sangkay nga tumabok kami ha salog.

Han magpakiana ako kun tiunan-o, nagsering la hiya nga “Bubuhaton ko ikaw.”

Tumawa ako. Kahuna ko, nag-iintrimis la hiya.

Pero hiya diri, ngan an sunod nga nahitabo, nalupad na kami nga baga hin padis han mga tamsi. May parte ha akon hunahuna nga nahahadlok, samtang nalilipay an usa parte ha katalwasan nga makukuha la ha paglupad.

Ubos la kami mahulog tikang ha kahanginan tungod kay mayda mga limon ha akon bursa. An sering han kalagsan ha akon, epektibo nga armas ini kontra ha mga sugad ha ira. Baga hin magbug-at nga darad-on an mga limon para ha ira.

Usa nga aswang an akon sangkay.

Ginpabay-an ko nga mahulog an mga limon ngan ginbaba niya ako ha tabok han salog. Waray pa kami makag-istorya tikang hiton, kundi maaram ako nga sadang an iya pagtapod han akon agud igtago an iya sikreto.

Nagdesisyon ako nga diri igsumat bisan kanay, nakuha niya an akon pagtapod ha pagigin akon sangkay ngan diri ko iton tatrayduron.

Kundi danay, diri ak nahingangaturog ngan napapapinsar.

Tinuod ba hiya nga sangkay o ako an sunod niya nga pagkaon?

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English Version

Did you ever have a friend that lived a double life?

There are secrets that people hide, some you would never expect and when you find out you have to make a choice.

Does the secret change anything?

I still can’t answer that question. When I found out what he was… well things haven’t really been the same between us. Now I don’t think I ever knew him.

I found out while we were on our way home. It was past midnight and when we reached the shore of the river we found that there was no boatman to bring us across.

I wanted to go back to the barrio, find someplace to stay the night, but my friend insisted that we cross the river.

When I asked how he just said “I’ll carry you.”

I laughed. I thought he was joking.

But he wasn’t and before I knew it we were flying through the air like a pair of birds. Part of me was scared out of my mind, while another enjoyed the freedom that only soaring through the winds could give.

We almost fell out of the sky because I had lemons in my pocket. The elders told me that they were an effective weapon against their kind. The lemons would feel like heavy weights to them.

My friend is an aswang.

I let the lemons fall and he dropped me off on the other side of the river. We haven’t spoken since, but I know my friend trusted me enough to keep his secret.

I decided not to tell anyone, he had earned my trust by being my friend and  won’t betray that for anything.

But sometimes I lie awake at night and wonder.

Am I really his friend or his next meal?

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*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

Based on “The Aswang of Baco’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Aswang (Tagalog) Illustration by Ysa Peñas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonechitect/

*Note this story is in Tagalog

“Sa gitna ng isla, may mga kakaibang nilalang na gumagawa ng mga nakakakilabot na bagay.  Malalaman mo kung ano sila kahit mukhang tao sila, dahil ang itim na bilog ng kanilang mga mata ay hindi tulad ng karaniwang tao, kundi mga makitid na hiwa, tulad sa mga pusa.  Kumikislap din ang kanilang mga mata na parang may sumasayaw na apoy sa loob.

Ang kanilang pangunahing pagkain ay lamang-loob ng mga bangkay, hindi kinakailangang sariwa. Nakita ko itong mga nilalang na pinunit ang tiyan ng sariwang bangkay at mabangis na kinagat at pinunit ang laman, tulad ng mga hayop na labis ang gutom.

Kapag mababa ang suplay ng mga bangkay, doon pinakamapanganib ang mga nilalang. Pupunta sila sa talahiban at magta-trance, pagkatapos, ang kanilang astral na katawan ay lilipad palayo. Itong kakaibang mahika ay wala sa anumang nakita ko noon, kahit sa lahat ng paglalakbay ko.

Ang astral na anyo nitong mga nilalang ay pumapasok sa mga bahay ng walang kamalay-malay na mga biktima at biglang sasalakay sa kanila. Tinatanggal ang kanilang lamang-loob na tulad ng bagong aning bangkay, pinapawi ang kanilang gutom para sa laman ng buhay.  Maririnig sila, ang tunog ay tulad ng pag-ungol ng tao, at mas malakas ito kapag mas malayo sila sa kanilang biktima.

Napansin ko ang pagwisik ng katas ng kalamansi sa mga kamamatay lang, na ang sabi sa akin ay para pigilan ang mga nilalang sa pagpasok sa mga libingan.

Binalaan ako na kapag marinig ko ang pag-ungol, o makita ang pagkislap ng kanilang mga mata, kailangan kong kumaripas ng takbo papalayo, ang alternatibo ay labanan sila at ang tanging sandata na sinabi sa akin na mabisa ay isang kris na pinahiran ng katas ng kalamansi.

Itong nilalang ay tulad ng iba pang hayop sa mga isla, kumakain ng lamang-loob ng mga bangkay at lumilipad sa gilid ng kanilang mga biktima. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mangyayari kapag nakita ko ang isa sa personal, bagaman umaasa ako para sa kapakanan ng aking pananaliksik, ang aking mga maikling talaan ay mapapanatili.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ginagawa ko ito, kung bakit patuloy kong inilalagay ang aking sarili sa harapan ng panganib upang maitala itong mga kakaibang nilalang. Batid ko ang hindi pagsang-ayon ng aking pamilya sa parehong pamamaraan at pagsasaliksik ko, ngunit kinakailangang malaman ang mga bagay na ito. Dapat mayroong paraan para balaan ang mga tao tungkol sa mga panganib nitong mga isla, kahit maging kapalit ang aking kaluluwa.”

—- Mula sa mga maikling talaan ni Mari Bas

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English Version

In the center of the island, strange creatures go about their horrible ways. You can tell what they are even if they look human, as their pupils are not round like regular folk, but are narrow slits, much like those of felines. Their eyes also flash as if dancing flames can be seen inside them.

Their main diet consists of the entrails of corpses, not necessarily fresh. I have seen these creatures rip apart the stomach of a fresh corpse and savagely bite and tear through the flesh like ravenous scavengers.

When the supply of corpses is low, that is when these beings are the most dangerous. They will go into the tall grass and fall into a trance, then, their astral bodies fly away. This strange magic is nothing like I’ve ever seen before, even in all of my travels.

These creatures’ astral forms would go into the houses of unsuspecting victims and pounce on them. Gutting their entrails like a newly harvested corpse, satiating their hunger for living flesh. They can be heard, the sound is like human moaning, it is louder the farther they are from their victim.
I have noticed that lime juice is sprinkled on the newly dead, which I have been told is a ward against the creatures from entering the graves.

I have been warned if I hear the moaning, or see the flickering of their eyes, I must run away with much haste, the alternative would be to fight them off and the only weapon that I have been told is effective is a kris rubbed with lime juice.

This creature is much like the other scavengers of the islands, feasting on the innards of corpses and flying to the side of their victims. I do not know what will happen when I find one in person, though I hope for the sake of my research, my notes survive.

I do not know why I do this, why I keep putting myself in harm’s way to record these strange beings. I have noted my family’s disapproval of both my methods and my research, but these things have to see the light of day. There must be something to warn the people of the dangers of these islands, even if it may cost me my very soul.

—- From the notes of Mari Bas

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Inspired by the Berbalang legends from Cagayan Sulu.

Berbalang Illustration by Ysa Peñas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonechitect/

*Note this story is in Bantayanon

Istorya ini bahin sa usa ka minatoud nga gugma kag sang usa ka gwapa nga engkantada. Kag gianu sang kasina sang tawo pag-guba ang tanan.

Sa dugay na nga panahon, may nagpuyo nga magtiayon nga may tulo ka anak. Gamay da sila sang kabtangan pero malipayon sila kung nanu ang ara sa ila. Ang bana gingadlan sang Andoy kag ang asawa gitawag nga Regi.

Kalingawan ni Andoy ang  pagpanakop sang mga naglibud-libud nga mga manok ilawum sa kahoy nga balete kag iya ini tiruhun. Usa ka adlaw, usa ka gwapa nga babaye nga may dya nga latigo ang mitungha ilawm  sa kahoy. Gipangita sa engkanto ang nawala niya nga mga manok kag sa kalit nangayu sang pasaylo si Andoy sa iya gihimo.

Nabag-o ang pagtan-aw sang engkantada. Kag imbes nga  iya  silutan si Andoy, gipakita sa engkantada sa iya ang iya nindot nga byay kag gihatagan sya sang mga pagkaun kag kwarta.

Milipas ang panahon hangtud nga naila ang engkantada kang Andoy.  Gisultihan niya si Andoy nga siya muhatag sa iya pamilya kung siya mosugot nga mopuyo kaupod ang engkantada. Misugot si Andoy.

Pero nanu naman lang ang asawa? Nag-istoryahanay gayud si Regi kag ang Engkantada kag nahimo sila nga soud nga mag-amiga bisan pa nga wa gyud makita ni Regi ang nawong sa Engkantada.

Si Regi, Andoy kag ang ila tulo ka mga anak nagpuyo nga malinawon kag nakatagamtam sang kaharuhay tungod sang bahandi nga gihatag sang Engkantada. Pero tungod lat sini nga pabor nga miisyud ang kalagut o kasuya, kag ang mga tawo sa palibut nga mga suyaun gusto nga makasiguro nga si Regi kag ang iya pamilya dili makaganansya gikan sa mga gihatag sa Engkanto.

Usa ka paryente ang nikumbinsir kang Regi para mahibaw-an ang nawong sa Engkantada. Gihangyo ni Regi ang Engkantada nga didto matug sa ila byay. Misugot ang Engkantada, pero sa kondisyon nga way suga nga pasigaun sa tibouk gab-i.

Ang kasadya kag selebrasyon milanat sa tibuok gab-i. Sang nakatyug na ang Engkantada, nikuha si si Regi sang posporo kag gibutang ini sa atubangan sa nawong sa Engkantada. Nagdali paggawas sa pwertahan ang diwata kag misunod sa iya si Andoy. Ang tangis sa engkantada mabatian sa tibouk byay.

Ang engkantada mobawus sa ila. Gidya niya Si Andoy kag wan a sila nakit-an sukad-sukad.

Gibyaan si Regi kag ang iya tulo ka anak nga way bahandi nga gikan sa Engkantada. Nanginabuhi sila nga pobre kag nag-antus sa kasakit hangtud sa katapusan.

English Version

This is a story about a faithful love and a beautiful fairy. And how jealousy destroys all.

In times long past there lived a couple with three children. They had little but were happy with what they had. The husband’s name was Andoy and the wife’s name was Regi.

Andoy would amuse himself by luring wild hens and roosters under a nearby Balete tree and shooting them. One day, a beautiful woman with a whip appeared under the tree. The fairy was looking for her lost hens and roosters and immediately Andoy apologized for what he had done.

The fairy, had a change of heart and instead of punishing Andoy, showed him her beautiful home and gave him some food and money.

Time passed and the fairy fell in love with Andoy. She told him that she would provide for his family if he consented to live with her once in a while. Andoy agreed.

But what of the wife? Regi and the fairy actually had conversations and became close friends, though Regi was never able to see the face of the fairy for the fairy would not allow it.

Regi, Andoy and their three children lived with riches and peace because of the fairy. But with riches come resentment, and jealous people from all around wanted to make sure Regi and her family would not profit from the fairy’s riches.

One relative managed to convince Regi to find out the face of the fairy with a bright light. It was then that Regi asked the fairy to sleep in their house, the fairy consented but under the condition that there would be no light throughout the whole night.

The merriment and celebration lasted through the night, when the fairy was finally asleep, Regi took a match and put it in front of the fairy’s face. The fairy rushed out the door and Andoy followed her. The tears of the fairy could be heard all throughout the house.

The fairy would get her revenge. She took Andoy and they were never seen again.

Regi was left with her three children, without the riches that the fairy provided. She lived a life of misery and pain until the end.

=————————————————————-=

*The Bantayanon language is the regional language of the Bantayan islands in the Philippines. It is a part of the Bisayan language family and is closely related to Waray and Hiligaynon. There are three dialects of Bantayanon, based in the three municipalities that comprise the island group: Binantayanun (in Bantayan), Linawisanun (in Madridejos), and Sinantapihanun (in Santa Fe), the most idiosyncratic of the three. There are also significant dialectal differences between the speech patterns of those that live in the town centers and those that live outside of the more rural areas of the islands.

Retold from “Andoy and the Beautiful Lady.” in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.

Engkantada illustration by Ysa Peñas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonechitect/

Watercolor by Yanna Gemora
FB: Yannam

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Indi mapinsaran sang iban ang mga trahedya nga dala sang mga tinuga nga ini. Nagakadumduman ko sa gihapon ang mga sugilanon nga ginasugid sadto ni lola, mga sugilanon sang pagtimalos kag kapirdihan. Ginasundan nila ako sa akon mga hupa.

Nag-umpisa ang tanan sa akon nga lolo. Nagdesisyon sia nga magkaingin sa gamay nga bahin sang duta sa kabukiran agud ihanda ini para sa tigtalanum. Wala ko nahibaluan kon ngaa ginpili nia magkado sa malayo nga bahin sang bukid, mas malayo sa masami nia nga ginaplastaran. Malapit ato sa busay nga ginatawag nila nga “lamesa,” tungod sa tapan nga bato sa idalum.

Ginsunog nia ang kahoy nga ara didto kag amo ato ang umpisa sang mga ginamo.

Pagkatapos, ginkadtuan sia sang akon lola kag nanay sa payag agud dal-an sia sang panyapon kag updan sia sa gab-i. Nagakadumduman kuno nila gihapon ang mabaskog nga mga tunog sang mga tiil sang kabayo. Nagalanog sa ila nga memorya ang pamatyag sang kakulba sang ginpalibutan sila sang amo to nga mga tunog bag-o sila magtulog kon gab-i.

“Benito, gwa! Kinahanglan ka namon estoryahon!” Ginatinguhaan ni lola kag nanay nga ilugon ang tingug kada isugid nila ang sugilanon, apang indi nila ini mahimo sang husto. “Grabe ang kaakig nga ara sa tingug,” siling nila, “sobra pa sa amon sarang mailog.”

“Masanag ang bulan sadto nga gab-i.” Sa bahin nga ini ginalaragway ni lola ang mga tinuga. “Tawo sila halin ulo tubtob sa hawak, apang kabayo halin sa hawak tubtob sa ila mga tiil.” Ginpanumdom ko ang mga mito nga naggikan sa lain-lain nga bahin sang kalibutan, kon sa diin may mga tinuga nga tunga-tunga nga kabayo kag tawo nga nagabulig sa katawhan. Siling sa akon ni lola indi gid mabinuligon ang mga espiritu nga ini. Nagkari sila agud magtimalos.

“Gabaan ka gid sang imo pagkamatinaastaason kag indi pagtahod.” Gintudlo sang manugmando sang mga kabalan si lolo. Ginhambalan sia sini nga napatay ang iya utod sang ginsunog ni lolo ang kahoy nia. Nagpakitluoy ang lolo ko para sa iya nga kabuhi. Indi man nia kon tani pagsunugon ang kahoy kon nahibaluan nia nga may taglugar ini.

Wala sang labot ang mga tinuga.

Sa amo nag-umpisa ang trahedya.  Naghalin ang mga tinuga sadto nga gab-i, apang nagpabilin ang ila nga sumpa. Indi mahambal sang mga doctor kon ano gid man ang masakit sang akon nga lolo. Nag-untat sia kaon tungod kada magkaon sia nagaubo sia kag nagasuks sang dugo. Nagakasunog kuno ang tutunlan nia kon nagasuka sia.

Wala sang mahimo ang akon nga lola, nagpakonsulta sila sa manog bulong, sa amon lokal nga faith healer. Gintinguhaan sang manog bulong nga dal-on sa estoryahanay ang mga tinuga. Hambal ni lola kada gab-i nagagamit ang manog bulong sang lain-lain nga ritwal, apang wala sang pulos ang mga ini.

Indi gid mauloulohan ang mga tinuga.

Matapos napatay si lolo, naigo sang kilat ang magulang nga lalaki ni mama samtang ara sia sa ibabaw sang puno sang lubi sa gwa sang ila balay. Matapos ang tatlo ka tuig na patay sia sa iya katulugon.

Nadula ang kalabanan sa mga pagkabutang sang pamilya ni nanay kag nagpabilin sila nga pigado tubtob napatay si lola tungod sa cancer.

Wala nakabalo ang mga tinuga nga ini kon ano ang buot silingon sang kaluoy, mangita sila sang balos tubtob nabayaran sila paagi sa dugo.

Maghalong sa mga kabalan, kay indi sila mamati sa inyo pagpangayo sang kapatawaran. Kag maghalong sa palibot sang mga kahoy sa babaw sang kabukiran, indi mo lang mabal-an kon may taglugar dira, indi tubtob ulihi na.

=———————=

English Version

The tragedies that these creatures bring are unimaginable to some. I still remember the stories that my lola used to tell, stories of vengeance and loss. They follow me in my nightmares.

It all started with my lolo. He decided to kaingin a small piece of land in the mountains, to prepare it for the planting season. I don’t know why he decided to go further up the mountain, away from his usual spot. It was near the waterfall they called “lamesa”, relating to the flat rock on the bottom.

He burned the tree that was there and that was the start of the troubles.

My lola and mother joined him in the payag (nipa hut) afterwards to bring him dinner and to spend the night with him. They still remember the loud hoofbeats. The feeling of dread when the sound circled their small hut still echoes in their memories before they sleep at night.

“Benito, come out. We need to talk to you.” My mother and lola tried to replicate the voice every time they told the story, but they said they could never get it right. “There was too much anger in the voice,“ they said, “more than we can mimic.”

“The moonlight was bright that night.” This was the part of the story where lola describes the creatures. “They were human from head to trunk, but were horses from their trunk to their feet.” I thought back to myths from a different part of the world, where half-human half-horse beings would help humankind. Lola told me that these spirits weren’t helpful at all. They came seeking vengeance.

“You will pay for such arrogance and disrespect.” The leader of the kabalans pointed to my lolo. It told him that my lolo killed its brother when he burned his tree. My lolo begged for his life. He would not have burned the tree had he known there was something living there.

The creatures didn’t care.

Thus began the tragedy. The creatures left that night but their curse lingered. Doctors were never able to tell what exactly was wrong with my lolo. He stopped eating because every time he ate he would vomit and cough up blood. He said it would burn his throat every time he vomited.

My lola had no other choice, she consulted the manggagamot, our local faith healer. The faith healer tried to reason with the creatures. My lola said that night after night the faith healer would try another ritual, but it was all for naught.

The creatures would not be appeased.

After my lolo died, my mom’s elder brother was struck by lightning while he was at the top of the coconut tree outside their house. After three years he died in his sleep.
My mother’s family lost most of their properties and were trapped in poverty until lola died of cancer.

These creatures don’t know the meaning of mercy, they will seek their vengeance until they are repaid in blood

Beware the kabalans, for they will not listen to your pleas of forgiveness. And be careful around the trees high up in the mountains, you will never know if one makes its home there, not until it’s too late.

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*The Hiligaynon language, also colloquially referred often by most of its speakers simply as Ilonggo, is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 9.1 million people, mainly in Western Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN, most of whom belong to the Visayan ethnic group, mainly the Hiligaynons. It is the second-most widely spoken language and a member of the so-named Visayan language family and is more distantly related to other Philippine languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Paul Aries Valera
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Paul Aries Valera

Adapted from a Story told by Grace Collantes

Kabalan Illustration by Ysa Peñas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonechitect/

*Note this story is in Hiligaynon

Mga adlaw nga pareho sang ligad ang adlaw nga ini sang nagmasakit si Lola kag hindi makabangon para magkadto sa bukid kag mag pang-ani. Isa sa mga pinakabata nga babahe nga nagapang-edadon sang walo katuig ang nag bulontaryo nga mag upod sa iya tiyo kag sa iya magulang nga bahi para mag saka sa mataas nga banglid kung diin sila naga-ani.

Tungod sa responsibilidad niya sa iya ginikanan nag dako siya nga may batasan nga mabaskog makisimpalad. Sa bata palang niya nga edad na muklat na siya sa kamatuoran nga kinahanglan niya mag bulig sa iya Nanay tungod patay  na ang iya Tatay kag magulang nga lalaki. Kag wala ina nagpugong sa iya nga kuryusidad kag gusto usisaon ang mga misteryoso sa palibot.

Lain ang panggawi niya sa mga bata nga kaedad niya. Samtang ang mag kaedad niya nagahampang sang munyika kag “balay-balay” siya naman mas gina pili mag himo sang mga bagay nga hindi para sa iya nga edad, pareho sang pag saka sa mga mataas nga bukid nga siya lang kag pang angkat sa mga lalaki mag sugal. Tungod sina gina tawag siya nga tomboy sang iya mga kabaryo.

Kag sa tini’on nga ini kinahanglan niya tindogan ang responsibilidad niya sa iya pamilya. Kasisidmun sang nag tupa ang mabaskog nga ulan nga mabatian sa  atop sang ila payag, inoras na ang paghulat sang bata upod ang iya magulang nga bahi kag tiyo sa paghulaw sang ulan. Wala naging balabag ang madamol nga ulan para untatan ang ila ubra tungod  hindi nila gusto uyangan ang oras  kag adlaw.

Masanag na ang bulan sang natapos nila ang pag-ani kag na pagkasugtanan nila nga magpaligad sang gab’i sa ila payag tungod delikado na mag tabok sa madulom nga suba. Pagkatapos nila mag desisyon gilayon sila nagpahuway.

Sa tunga sang manami nga pagtulog sang bata, na ka bugtaw siya sa isa ka stranghero nga huni  halin sa sagwa sang ila payag. Gina lauman niya nga ang huni amo ang naga padulong nga ulan  naman, pero ang mga bituon masanag na kag wala sang patimaan nga magaulan liwat . Na talupangdan niya nalang nga ang manami nga huni ang nagahalin sa kakahoyan sang talon.

“Wala sang may nagaistar diri!” Sa isip-isip sang bata. Gin hakos siya sang iya kuryusidad kag gin sunod ang sonata  pakadto sa pang-pang sang Lamesa falls. May mga sugilanon nga ilistaran ina sang mga misteryoso nga nilalang. Ang pagla’um sang bata nga ang mga sugilanon nga to ang isa lamang ka ubra-ubra naislan subong sang pagduha-duha.

Sa ibabaw sang busay may isa kamatapan nga bato kung diin gin kuha ang pangalan sang busay. Pero malain ang itsura sini subong sa atubang sang bata. Ang lugar napuno sang malahalon nga mga nagabisti nga mga lalaki, babahe, bata kag kabayo nga naga kinang sa palibot. Naga indak ang mga taho sa manami nga sonata nga nagapuno sa palibot. Ang mga manamit nga pagkaon ang nagatumpok sa mga lamesa nga may magarbo nga desinyo ang nagpalipat sa bata kung diin siya.

Hindi malipatan sang bata ang gab’i nga ato, isa sa pinakamanami nga lalantahon ang iya nakita. Maputi nga panit, mataas nga ilong kag ekspresibo nga mga mata ang naga balik-balik sa iya huna-huna kung paminsaron niya ang kanami sang lugar.

Gina lantaw niya ang mga ini asta nga nag abot ang oras nga magbalik na siya sa ila payag. Gin sekreto sang bata ang iya nga nakita kag gusto istorya sa iya mga kabataan pagabot sang tion ang parte sa mga engkanto nga naga istar sa Lamesa falls.

=———————————=

English Version

It was a day just like any other when lola got sick and could not go up the mountain to harvest crops. One of the youngest, a girl of eight volunteered to go with her uncle and eldest sister up the steep trek to the slopes where they gathered crops.

The girl had a soul for adventure, but that was tempered by filial duty. Her father and eldest brother had passed on and at that young age she knew that she had to assist her mother. That didn’t stop her curiosity or her love of exploration.

The villagers called her a tomboy. She behaved unlike the other girls her age. While they were preoccupied with dolls and playing “bahay bahayan” the girl would jump headfirst into deep streams, hike the mountains alone and challenge the boys to games of skill and chance.

Today she had to do her duty for her family. The hard rains struck the roof of their payag (nipa hut) and the girl and her older sister and uncle were waiting for hours. It was late in the afternoon when the clouds broke and the three rushed to their plots high up in the mountains, they did not want to let the last lights of the day slip away.

The harvest was finished when the moon was bright in the sky and the three agreed that it would be too dangerous to cross the river at the foot of the mountain at night. They decided to spend the night in the payag and the three drifted into the land of dreams.

That is, until something awoke the little girl. It was a strange sound coming from outside the payag. She thought it might be the rain coming back for another shower, but the night sky was dry. She realized that the sweet sound was music making its way through the leaves and branches of the forest.

“There aren’t any people that live here!” She thought to herself. Curiosity overtook the young girl and she followed the music to the banks of Lamesa falls. There were stories that the falls were the home of enchanted beings. The girl used to think that those stories were just make believe, but now she wasn’t so sure.

In the waterfall there was a flat rock at the bottom from where the falls derived there name. It was gone then and in its place was a dry plaza filled with expensively dressed men, women, children and horses. Music was thick in the air and the people were moving to the sweet sounds. There was a banquet filled with food and the whole scene enthralled the girl so much that she forgot she was in a forest.

The girl would never forget that night, for it was the most beautiful sight that she had ever seen. Their fair skin, aquiline noses and expressive eyes would flash into her mind whenever she thought of beauty.

She watched them until it was time for her to return to the payag and kept their secrets to herself until sometime in the far future when she would tell her own children about the engkanto that lived in the forest along bodies of water.

————————–————————–————————–——–

*The Hiligaynon language, also colloquially referred often by most of its speakers simply as Ilonggo, is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 9.1 million people, mainly in Western Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN, most of whom belong to the Visayan ethnic group, mainly the Hiligaynons. It is the second-most widely spoken language and a member of the so-named Visayan language family and is more distantly related to other Philippine languages.

Written by Karl Gaverza
Hiligaynon translation by Joy Nuñal
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Joy Nuñal

Adapted from a Story told by Grace Collantes

The Engkanto of Lamesa Falls Illustration by Ysa Peñas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonechitect/

*Note this is in Marinduque Tagalog

Isang amakapangkaraniwang araw laang mandin yuon nu’ng nagkasakit si lola at siyang hindi man makapar’on sa kala’an para mamuti. Si ining na amakawalong taong gulang pa, isa sa kabunsuan ay kundi nagpasyang sumama sa kanyang tiyuhin at atihin para gumulapay sa matatarik at padahilig na hayhayin, na kanilang agaputihan.

Maigi bayang malaog si ining, ngani laang at iri’y gawa nang kanyang gampanin. Pay ang kanyang tatayin at kuyahin ay pumanaw na, alam niyang amakaisa na siyang nagaasikaso kay nanay niya. Gayunpaman, hindi man iri naging hadlang sa kanyang pagiging masaliksikin at palalaugin.

Inagaunan siyang “tomboy” ng kanyang mga karatigan. Bukod siyang magi-os sa iba niyang kapwa babae. Habang ang iba’y nanganganlaro ng manika at bahay-bahayan, siya’y kundi nayon sa busay at nagasusugbo, minsa’y nangangalaan mag-isa, at nagahamon pa nganing patagisan ng kakayahan at sayawan sa mga kalalakihan.

Ngay-on, kinailangan niyang magbanat para sa kanyang pamilya. Bumagsak ang malakas na ulan sa sulirap ng kanilang dampa (payag), siya kang iring si ining na kasama ang kanyang atihin at tiyuhin ay kundi kanghihintay nang malaon. Mahapon na nuon nang humulaw ang ulan, didaling nangalakyat muli ang tatlo patagudtud. dangan nang masagintawan pa ang huling liwanag ng salimsim.

Nakayari na sila sa kanilang putihin nang ang buwan ay nagtuig, at ang tatlo ngani’y nagpasyang lumusong sa nagaragasang ilog malapit sa paanan ng bundok nuong gabi ring yuon. Nagpalipas na laang sila ng magdamag sa dampa nang bigla na lang silang napadpad sa malapanaginip na lupain.

Nuon ay hanggang sa may pumukaw kay ining. Bukod na tunog ang kanyang naririnig mula sa labas ng dampa. Akala niya’y ampay panibagong bugsok na naman wari iri ng ulan, ngunit ya’ng hawan naman ng panganurin nang kanya iring maaninaw. Katanto pa niya na ang tunog na kanyang naririnig ay kundi nanggagaling sa laguslos ng mga dahon at sangang nagamula sa kala’an.

“Makawala manding taong naninirahan dini!” nagaon siya sa kanyang sarili. Nanaig ang palaisipan kay ining. Nanaig ang kanyang paghuna at siya niyang sinundan iring himig patungo sa ulungan ng busay ng Lamesa. Nagaon daw na iri nganing busay ay inagaliklikan ng mga bukod na nilalang. Inapakaisip pa ngani ni ining na ang kwentong yuon ay sabi-sabi lamang, ngunit ngayon, siya na’y nabibilingan.

Sa inagaong busay, mayroon daw iring malapad na bato sa libtong, na kung saan dini pala hinalaw ang dangain. Nawala iri at kundi sa inakatayuan ay napaltan iri ng kahawanang may naggagandahang suot ng kalalakihan, kababaihan, kabataan at durong kakakabayo. Gulping samok na awitin ang napalibot sa mga taong nangangangpakinig sa himig niri. Nayon din ang punsyunang makapuno ng pagkain at inumin, siyang nakapabighaning maigi kay ining, sura nang nalimutang siya’y nasa kala’an pa rin.

Makahindi malilimutan ni ining ang karanasang yuon, pay siya ang kaigihang sagintawin na humambiyad sa kanyang paningin. Ang malulumoy na kutis, katangusang ilong, at malalamlam na mata ang naalimbukad sa kanyang isip bagay kanyang aalalahanin.

Inapangtanghuran niya iri hanggang sa pagkakataong siya ay mabalik na sa kanilang dampa. Pinakalihim niya iri alang-alang sa mga masunod niyang apugan na kanyang aistorya patungkol sa mga engkantong naninirahan sa busay ng Lamesa.

=———————————————————=

English Version

It was a day just like any other when lola got sick and could not go up the mountain to harvest crops. One of the youngest, a girl of eight volunteered to go with her uncle and eldest sister up the steep trek to the slopes where they gathered crops.

The girl had a soul for adventure, but that was tempered by filial duty. Her father and eldest brother had passed on and at that young age she knew that she had to assist her mother. That didn’t stop her curiosity or her love of exploration.

The villagers called her a tomboy. She behaved unlike the other girls her age. While they were preoccupied with dolls and playing “bahay bahayan” the girl would jump headfirst into deep streams, hike the mountains alone and challenge the boys to games of skill and chance.

Today she had to do her duty for her family. The hard rains struck the roof of their payag (nipa hut) and the girl and her older sister and uncle were waiting for hours. It was late in the afternoon when the clouds broke and the three rushed to their plots high up in the mountains, they did not want to let the last lights of the day slip away.

The harvest was finished when the moon was bright in the sky and the three agreed that it would be too dangerous to cross the river at the foot of the mountain at night. They decided to spend the night in the payag and the three drifted into the land of dreams.

That is, until something awoke the little girl. It was a strange sound coming from outside the payag. She thought it might be the rain coming back for another shower, but the night sky was dry. She realized that the sweet sound was music making its way through the leaves and branches of the forest.

“There aren’t any people that live here!” She thought to herself. Curiosity overtook the young girl and she followed the music to the banks of Lamesa falls. There were stories that the falls were the home of enchanted beings. The girl used to think that those stories were just make believe, but now she wasn’t so sure.

In the waterfall there was a flat rock at the bottom from where the falls derived there name. It was gone then and in its place was a dry plaza filled with expensively dressed men, women, children and horses. Music was thick in the air and the people were moving to the sweet sounds. There was a banquet filled with food and the whole scene enthralled the girl so much that she forgot she was in a forest.

The girl would never forget that night, for it was the most beautiful sight that she had ever seen. Their fair skin, aquiline noses and expressive eyes would flash into her mind whenever she thought of beauty.

She watched them until it was time for her to return to the payag and kept their secrets to herself until sometime in the far future when she would tell her own children about the engkanto that lived in the forest along bodies of water.

————————–————————–————————–——–

*The version of Tagalog spoken in Marinduque, known as the Marinduque Tagalog, has been described as “the root from which modern national forms of speech have sprung,” where remnants of archaic Tagalog could be found, spoken in a lilting manner by its inhabitants.

Written by Karl Gaverza

Translation by Kahlil Phillip Murillo
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Translation Copyright © Kahlil Phillip Murillo

Adapted from a Story told by Grace Collantes

The Engkanto of Lamesa Falls Illustration by Ysa Peñas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theonechitect/

Vocabularies Used (For Reference)

1. Kala’an (n.) – woods, forest, pusod ng kagubatan, kakahuyan
2. Gulapay (v.) – to trek
3. Dahilig (adj.) – steep
4. Hayhay (n.) – way, path, landas
5. Laog – to go adventure, gumala
6. Pay – because
7. Karatig – neighbor
8. Gi-os – galaw, kilos, movement, liksi
9. Busay – waterfalls, falls
10. Sugbo – to dive
11. Sulirap – nipa leaves
12. Dampa – (payag)
13. Hulaw – tila ng ulan
14. Tagudtud – mountain, mountain range, hill, mountainous area
15. Dangan – to hope
16. Sagintaw – silayan
17. Salimsim – dusk
18. Tuig – supernatural phenomena, full moon phenomena
19. Bukod – different
20. Ampay – like as, as if
21. Bugsok – buhos ng ulan
22. Hawan – spacious
23. Panganurin – clouds
24. Laguslos – chime
25. Huna – hypothesis
26. Ulong – base of waterfalls
27. Liklik – pugad, headquarters
28. Biling – confused
29. Libtong – deep part of any water forms
30. Danga – bansag, nickname
31. Samok – noise
32. Hambiyad – tambad, center of attention
33. Lumoy – smooth
34. Alimbukad – springforth
35. Apugan – grandchildren, next generations