*Note this story is in Bantoanon (Asi)
“Hina ray sinra.” Naghudot si Tanya sa bestida it ida hali. “Dapat nato sinrang tungnon.”
“Aya’g kalibog, waya ra sinra gipapanghapros. Ag pirmi rang siling ni lola nak wayang gador sinra gibabaoy it yabaw sa inra kinahangyan.” Nagkaway si Layla miyentras nagrayan kag mga maisot nak di kabuhi. “Kita? Kabuot ra sinra kung taw-an yang nimo it tsansa.” “Indi pa gihapon ako gipati nak maadong pabad-an yang sinra nak bay-on kag bugas,” Siling ni Tanya. Ingkuha nida kag usa sa inra ag ingpayungot kali sa ida uda. “Aunhon aboy ninra kag bugas? Inakaon baga ninra kato?”
“Tanya! Bab-an kina.” Inghakbot ni Layla kag nilalang nak nupay munyeka sa damot it ida hali. “Pasensya, bata pa sida.” Nagsauli si Layla sa ida hali. “Gihagar it patawar.”
“Ay asi? Sa atubangan nak gador nato sinra gipapangnakaw it ato bugas,” Matugas nak siling ni Tanya.
“Gustong gador baga nimo nak makita kung riin ninra inaraya kag bugas?” Ingpamidungan ni Layla kag ida hali.
Nahadlok si Tanya. Ngasing yang nida nakitang tuyar kag ida hali, pero naraog sida it ida kausyosohan. “Imaw.” kag sabat ni Tanya.
Ingsunran it maghali kag grupo it mga ugaw sa kayhasan ag patukar sa mga baguntor. Nagrali sinra it baktas, maisot ka mga ugaw, pero katulin ra gihapon sinra. Ingpiga ni Tanya kag ida sarili nak indi magpisok dahil hadlok sida nak sabaling sinra ay mawagit. Waya girali si Layla, nasunor yang sida sa likor it ida hali nak nauuna it pilang tikang.
Nag-abotey kag mga ugaw sa sementeryo, nak buko ra masyarong mayado sa baryo. Ingmuyatan ni Tanya sinra nak magplastar it kada busoy it bugas sa atubangan it yubnganan hastang nataposey sinrang tanan. Pagkatapos, naghaliney kag mga ugaw, papagto sa kayhasan.
Nagmuyat si Tanya sa ida hali, ag malagat-lagat bag-o nida nahantop kung riiney sida. “Kina kag yubnganan ni lola,” nasambit nida matapos it pilang minutos it him-ong.
“Mga amigo nida sinra.” Naghidom si Layla.
=———————–=
English Version
“They’re at it again.” Tanya grabbed her sister’s dress. “We should stop them.”
“Don’t worry about it, they’re not hurting anyone. Besides, lola always said these ones never take more than they need.” Layla waved as the small creatures walked by. “See? They can be friendly if you give them a chance.”
“I still don’t think it’s a good idea to just let them take the rice,” Tanya said. She grabbed one of the things and held it to her face. “What do they even need the rice for? Do they eat it?”
“Tanya! Put it down.” Layla grabbed the doll-like being from her sister’s hands. “I’m sorry, she’s young.” Layla turned to her sister. “Apologize to them.”
“Why should I? They’re stealing our rice right in front of us,” Tanya said adamantly.
“Do you really want to see where these things take the rice?” Layla looked at her sister sternly.
Tanya was scared. She had never seen her sister look that way, but her curiosity got the better of her. “Yes” was Tanya’s reply.
The sisters followed the group of ugaw through the forest and up the hills. They had to walk fast, the ugaw were small, but they were also swift. Tanya forced herself to not blink because she was afraid that they might disappear. Layla did not rush, she stayed a few steps behind her sister.
The ugaw ended their journey at the cemetery, which wasn’t far from the town. Tanya watched them set each grain of rice in front of a grave until they were all finished. Then, each ugaw walked away, heading towards the forest.
Tanya looked at her sister, it took her a moment before she realized where she was. “That’s lola’s grave,” she managed to say after a few minutes of silence.
“They were her friends.” Layla smiled.
=————————-=
Bantoanon or Asi is a regional Bisayan language spoken, along with Romblomanon and Onhan, in the province of Romblon, Philippines. Asi originated in the island of Banton, Romblon and spread to the neighboring islands of Sibale, Simara, and the towns of Odiongan, San Andres and Calatrava on Tablas Island. The Asi spoken in Odiongan is called Odionganon, Calatravanhon in Calatrava, Sibalenhon in Concepcion, Simaranhon in Corcuera, and Bantoanon in Banton. The Asi language is closer to Western Visayan language like Karay-a than to Cebuano and Waray
Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Mateo Ferranco
Story inspired by Ugaw description in Myth Museum. Medina. 2015.
Watercolor by Tara Singson
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