*Note this story is in Kapamapangan
“Aren no nanaman.” Dimput ng Tanya ing malan na ning kaputul ng babai. “Dapat talang patuknangan.”
“Eka migaganaka, ela man mangayi ren. Metung pa, sabi da ng apu ela kanu kukwang labis keng karelang kailangan.” Kinawe yang gamat i Layla anyang ating dinalang malating nilalang keng kayang harapan. “Oh, lawen muna, sabi kuna keka puwede mulang akaluguran nung dinan mong pagkakataon.”
“keng kakung palage, e parin masanting na paburen talang kukunan dala reng kekatamung abias.” ing amanu ng Tanya. Dinamput yang metung at tepat ne ini keng kayang lupa. “nanan de wari inga bias? Mamangan la wari mu nmn?”
“Tanya! Baba mo ren!” Simsam ng Layla itang balamu manikang nilalang ketang gamat na ning kayang kaputul. “ Pagpasensyan yune, anak yapa kasi” Linawe ya I Layla keng kayang kaputul. “Manyad kang Upaya.”
“Ot manyad kung Upaya? Bara-bara deng kukunan ing kekatamung abias,” mimwang sabi ng Tanya.”
“Buri muba talagang akit nung nokarin do talaga dadala denga bias?” Seryoso ya lawe I Layla keng kayang kapatad. Makeramdam yang ditak a karug I Tanya. Yapin ing mumunang beses na ikit ne ing kayang Atyi na seryoso. Manggaman, menaig parin kaya ing kaburyan ng abalu ing katututwan. “Sige” ing amanu na. Tikyan de deng mikapatad reng ugaw ketang masukal gubat at paakyat a bunduk. Kailangan dang lumakad a mabilis uling hanggang mangalati la reng ugaw, mabilis noman.
Eya talaga kinurap i Tanya uling tatakut ya na milako la keng karelang panimanman ing karelang tutukyan. Bagya-bagya lang nilakad I Layla kabang atyu ya keng kayang kagulutan ing kayang kapatad. Keng e malawut a semeteryo, Karin la tinuknang meglakad deng ugaw. Pekalawen nalang Tanya nung makananu dong pekasamasan deng ugaw retang abias keng tapat na ning pilibingan hangang mayari la. Metung metung lang meko reng ugaw tyaka la minta keng direksyon na ning gubat. Linawe ya I Tanya keng kayang atyi.
Anyang mumuna ala yang kabalubalu tapos apagtantu nung nokaring lugar ya atyu. “Saguli, libingan neng apu ini ah” Bagya yang metahimik. “Kaluguran tala” Minayli ya I Layla.
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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.
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* Kapampangan, Pampango, or the Pampangan language is a major Philippine language. It is primarily spoken in the province of Pampanga, southern Tarlac, and northeastern Bataan. Kapampangan is also spoken in some municipalities of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija, by various Aeta groups of Central Luzon, and in scattered communities within the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. The language is known honorifically as Amánung Sísuan (“breastfed, or nurtured, language”)
Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © April Christian De Leon
Story inspired by Ugaw description in Myth Museum. Medina. 2015.
Watercolor by Tara Singson
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