*Note this story is in Waray
“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/