*Note this story is in Ilocano
“Mama, padengan nak man ti maysa a namayat a sarsarita ket haan nak makaturog.”
“Sige, umuna agidda kan garod sadiay pagiddaam, balong.
Insaritak ba kanyamon diay istorya dagiti aanghel ti Sitti Maryam?”
“Haan pay, mama.”
“Ket isu, agdenngeg ka ngarod a nalaing.
Idi naibati a agmaymaysa ni Sitti Maryam sadiay kabakiran tapno padakkelen na daytoy nagasat ket napili a propeta a Nabi’ Isa, haan met taltalga imbati iti Diyos isuna a agmaymaysa. Iti Diyos ket nagipatulod ti pitopulo ket pito (77) a babbai a angheles tapno maiyadayo daytoy a propeta iti dakes ken danes, ken diay lider ket addaan ti nagan a Tuwan Putli. Isuna ket maysa a napintas a anghel nga addaan to met ti nakapinpintas a pay-yak. Is-isunan to met laeng ti makasarsarita ken Sitti Maryam ta ibaga na dagiti ubraen to dagiti aanghel.
Imbaga na nga tumalaw to iti pito pulo a anghel no dumteng to ti ika-siyete a aldaw malpas maiyanak ni Nabi’ Isa, ket ninto Tuwan Putli ken innem a kakadwa na ket mangkita ken Nabi’ Isa iti uppat a pulo ket uppat a aldaw sadanto agpangato sadiay ti langit. Ni Tuwan Putli ket nasimpet ken nasiyaat, ken haan nanto pulos kayat a adda ti madi a mangyari kenni Nabi’Isa.
Dagiti aangheles ken ni Sitti Maryam ket addaan sadiay kabakiran ti maysa a isla ken addaan ti mangsirsirpat kanyada a kinadakes, manipud dagiti nauuyong nga animales ingana kadayti saytan nga aggigyan sadiay kaykayo kada batbato. Dagiti aangheles ket addaan latta ti grasya ken silaw nga mang-protektar kanyada nga agina. Nagaramid pay isudan ti pagyanan tay ubing ket silsilawan da latta ti pagpagnaan da sadinno da man mapan.
Dimtengen iti makauppat a pulo ket uppat a aldaw, kinasaritan ni Tuwan Putli ni Siiti Maryam nga kasapulan dan ti tumalawen. Dagiti pito a aanghel ket nagpakadan ken jay ubing ken jay ina na, ngem ammo da metten nga nalpas ti ubra dan. Maysa ken maysa, nagna dan mapan sadiay bullalayaw a mangitudo dalan mapan langit.
Nabatin ni Sitti Maryam a agmaymaysa kadwa na tay ubing ngem isuna met ket nabatiyan iti adal, sirib ken pammagbaga nga ni Apo Diyos ket addaan ti namaymayat a plano paran to kanyada.
Binitbit na ket inarakop na tay ubing ket nakita na jay sumangbay a mapasamak kanyada. Kimmararag a naulimet isuna kadagiti pito pulo a aangheles nga timmul-tulong kanyana kadagiti amin a nadadakes ken nasisipnget a oras na ken imbaga na met a naidumduma unay ni Tuwan Putli’. Ammo ni Sitti Maryam sadiay kauunegan a parte puso na nga dagiti aangheles ket addaan latta sadiay langit a mangbuybuya kanyada manipud palang idi.”
“…………………………………..”
“La ngarod iturog mon, bassit a anghel ko. Addidog pay ti al-aldaw a sumangbay para kanyata.” Ϫ
▪
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 also 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.”
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*Sitti Maryam and Nabi’ Isa are the Tausug names for Mama Mary and Jesus Christ
*Ilocano is the third most-spoken local language of the Philippines.An Austronesian language, it is related to such languages as Malay (Indonesian and Malaysian), Tetum, Chamorro, Fijian, Maori, Hawaiian, Samoan, Tahitian, Paiwan and Malagasy. It is closely related to some of the other Austronesian languages of Northern Luzon, and has slight mutual intelligibility with the Balangao language and the eastern dialects of the Bontoc language.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Ilocano translation by Jerald James G. Montgomery
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Jerald James G. Montgomery
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
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Watercolor by Catherine Chiu
FB: Wildling Child
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