Agawe: A Bagobo Fiction Series 1 Episode 12

 Video is in Tagalog

Continued from Episode 11

As they approached Eban’s house they heard screaming and crying. Tadeo bounded up the stairs. Agawe saw two men run from under the house and he gave chase with Ansel at his heels. Ansel fired at the fleeing figures and they heard a cry of pain but lost them in the dark. They went back to Eban’s house.

Inside, Agawe saw Tiyo Tadeo talking to the crying wife of the dead Eban.

“Tadeo, he looked bad when he came home from work. He said he was just tired and he needed rest. Then suddenly, he became violently sick. He said he might have been poisoned. I was crying and screaming until he calmed down… that was when you came in. I did not even realize he’s dead!”

“Did he say who might have poisoned him?” Tadeo asked.

Agawe: A Bagobo Fiction Series 1 Episode 11

Video is in Tagalog

Continued from Episode 10

Agawe saw Umed writhe in pain but he kept howling, “Your father will roll in his grave. This land belongs to all of us – your father promised a portion of this land to me… you greedy son of …”

“Get him out of here,” Tadeo ordered. Two men carried Umed. 

“Eban, get help for Umed. Get a mabalian. Agawe, get these men to clean up the damage.” 

Agawe: A Bagobo Fiction Series 1 Episode 10

 

Video is in Tagalog

Continued from Episode 9

That night, as Agawe sat at the top of the stairs of his hut watching the stars, he remembered Apô Ugay’s story about his heritage. He’s not al-lang but which could be worse – being a slave or rejected by parents... his father wanted him dead and his mother gave him away.

He suddenly sat up when he heard rustling. He unsheathed his sword and slowly climbed down the stairs, “Who is that?”

Agawe: A Bagobo Fiction Series 1 Episode 9

 Video is in Tagalog

Continued from Episode 8

Waeg was dead when they arrived at his house. The mabalian had applied oils and leaves all over Waeg’s swollen legs and body.

“It’s not in my hands anymore. Waeg has offended the spirits… the spirits has caused his death,” the mabalian panicked.

Waeg’s wife screamed and wailed.

Agawe: A Bagobo Fiction Series 1 Episode 8

 Video is in Tagalog

Continued from Episode 7

“Eban, since you are the eldest son in the third family, I will assign you to do Maramag’s job. You will supervise the workers.”

Eban grinned from ear to ear. “I’ve been telling you that Maramag could not be trusted, Tadeo. I am right!”

“Eban, you know I hate traitors… I trust you are unlike Maramag or Anson?” 

Agawe: A Bagobo Fiction Series 1 Episode 7

Video is in Tagalog

Continued From Episode 6

“Ansel… you’re back,” he said nervously as he stared at the boy and at the sword. He slowly got up. “What do you want?” Agawe forced himself to be calm.

“Apô said I should…” Ansel said seriously as he brandished the sword, “give this to you,” and grinned sheepishly. “She wants you to have a sword,” he put it in the sheath hanging from his waist. He untied the rope and gave the sheathed sword to Agawe. “Apô sends you some clothes, too…”

“Wheww…. You scared me…” 

Agawe: A Bagobo Fiction Series 1 Episode 6

Agawe Series 1 Episode 6
Continued from Episode 5

 Agawe slipped out the door. He heard voices in the front yard. He quietly walked to the side of the house until he could see the front yard. There he saw several men. And he saw two men carrying Waeg by the shoulder. He also saw Maramag walking behind them. 

As they entered the house, Agawe hurried back to the kitchen door. He found a tree stump nearby and sat down.

Voices flared up but Agawe could hardly make out the words. The kitchen door suddenly opened and Agawe jumped up. The old woman came out, “Agawe…get inside,” she said calmly.

Agawe: A Bagobo Fiction Series 1 Episode 5

Video is in Tagalog

Continued From Episode 4


They had been walking for quite sometime when a group of men appeared from across the footpath they were following. The men ran to them excitedly.

“We found your horse so we came looking for you. What happened?” one of the men asked Tadeo. 

He told them about Waeg and Maramag's failed plot against him. He ordered them to find the two men and bring them to him immediately.

Agawe: A Bagobo Fiction Series 1 Episode 4

 Video is in Tagalog

Continued From Episode 3

Agawe prepared for his journey that afternoon. When darkness fell, he said goodbye to his Innà and to his Apô Ugay. He held his apô’s hand, “I am not sure if I can be back or if you will be here when I come back …” he paused, “goodbye, Apô.” 

His apô’s tear fell on his hand.

He looked at them one last time and was out the door. He ran towards the forest. He went straight to the stream where he and Egul used to bath. It was their own find. No one ever went there. He was safe there for the night. It was cold but he did not mind. 

His body could withstand the cold. There were times when he would wonder why he was tougher than anyone else. When Egul would shiver from the cold or almost faint from the heat, he would be alright. 

Many times, Egul would joke, “You are not human.”

More Bagobo Words With English Translation

 

You will find a few of this symbol “Ə” which is the symbol for the schwa sound that is most common in the Bagobo dialect. 

1. KirƏm - lightning 

2. Kayaan – shy/ashamed 

3. Kalingasa – angry/irritated/annoyed 

4. Abu (stress on the first syllable “a”) – ashes 

5. DakƏl – big 

Agawe: A Bagobo Fiction Series 1 Episode 3

 Video is in Tagalog

Continued From Episode 2 

“Agawe, you are smart. I know you are wondering long ago why you are different… you are taller, you look better than anyone in this place, and why I tell you to keep your shirt on at all times…” 

Agawe sat frozen on the cot. After a long silence, he took a deep breath filled with anguish, “I am not a slave? Innà is not my mother and you are not my grandmother?”

Agawe: A Bagobo Fiction Series 1 Episode 2

 Video is in Tagalog

Continued From Series 1 Episode 1

He always felt safer in his grandmother’s hut. He believed that his Apô Ugay had some supernatural powers that could protect him.

“Agawe… what happened to you? You look terrible.”

Agawe liked spending time with his Apô Ugay. He learned the art of chewing betel from her. He is fascinated by her dexterity in putting together the betel nut and lime, then wrap them in a betel leaf.

“Agawe… I can sense you are in trouble.” 

“Apô… they took Egul this afternoon..”

Agawe: A Bagobo Fiction| Series 1 Episode 1

Years and years ago, there lived an aboriginal tribe in the highlands of southern Philippines who followed a culture characterized by violence and heartlessness. This tribal community lived in a caste system where the datus or the chieftains occupied the highest strata, followed by the warriors called magani, then comes the common tribal members, and the slaves called al-lang who belonged to the lowest strata. It was in this setting that Agawe was raised by al-lang parents until his destiny beckoned sending him on a journey to find a better fate than that of a slave.

The video is in Tagalog.

AGAWE - The Adventures of The Slave Prince Series 1 Episode 1

Egul’s head hang when he was tied to the post. He was still unconscious. Agawe could see Egul clearly from where he was. He could also see the dead man lying on a mat in the floor. The body was surrounded with flowers and dressed in the most beautiful clothes he had ever seen. 

He must be a datu, Agawe thought. He looked around to check that no one could see him. He was hidden from view by thick bamboo poles piled high under the house. He could only see a little inside the house through a slit in the bamboo wall. 

His eyes returned to Egul who started to regain consciousness. Agawe heard some chanting or praying going on. He noticed people coming up the short stairs. Scared that they could see him, he crouched lower. 

Then he heard a scream. He looked through the slit again and froze at what he saw. People were stabbing the screaming Egul with their short knives called gal-lat.

When Bagobos Come To Visit

Image by Ingrid Russelle Barcelona

Simple conversation when Bagobos visit or accept visitors into their homes:

Madiggir - (Tagalog: Tao Po) - the word in itself  means "good" but in the context of visiting a home, it can be loosely translated as "hello" in English or any other greetings you say when you announce your presence in the home that you visit.

Al-lus ko -  an invitation for some people to drop by your home.
Al-lus ka - an invitation for one person to drop by your home.

Most Common Bagobo Animals

In any Bagobo community, you will always find the following animals:

1. Horse - Kuda

Kuda

The Bagobo Numbers

Let's count the Bagobo way:

1 - Sab-bad

2 - Duwa

3 - Tal-lo

4 - Ap-pat

5 - Lima (stress on the first syllable)

The Early Bagobo Society

Traditional Bagobo society was divided into three classes.

1. Magani – the warrior class

The Datu was the chief magani who inherited his position from his ancestors. He did not enjoy special privilege except for the title and rank. His main function was to be a judge, arbiter, and a defender of the tribe. The magani who should have killed at least 2 persons was allowed to wear blood-red clothes and a headkerchief called tangkulu, and he was allowed to possess a small bag for betel nut and lime which was considered a property of the spirits.

If the magani was held in high esteem,  a man called the matalo was scorned by the Bagobo society because he had never killed a person and had no desire to fight.

Bagobo 101

Ulo means head or hair

The following are Bagobo terms which mean the same in Tagalog dialect:

 

1. Hagdan  - stairs
2. Ulo – head (which can also mean hair)
3. Pinggan – plates
4. Aso – dog
5. Kagat – bite (but it is pronounced differently from the Tagalog term – the stress is on the first syllable)  
6. Labas – outside; go out

Let's use them in sentences:

Life with the Bagobos

My Mother - 1951

I grew up in the midst of the Bagobos in the highlands of Davao. My mother was a  Bagoba and my father a Pampangueño.

Growing up with a father from Luzon, we learned the art of “mano po” – taking the hands of the elders and touching it  to our forehead – it’s a sign of respect.

We learned that elders are not to be addressed by their names. My father got the shock of his life when my mother’s small nephew called him by his name. “Walang respeto,” he says.

We call our eldest sister “attê” (the Kapampangan term is supposed to be "achê" but thanks to my inability to say the "ch" when I was small -- it became “attê” instead). We call older brothers “kuya” -- but I am not getting into the culture of my father’s people. I want to explore my mother’s ancestry.

Bagobo conversation

 

Let's look at some simple Bagobo conversation.

Agawe and Ayong talking as they walk home together.

Agawe:  Inná mudan ngan-ni. [It looks like it will rain today.]
Ayong: Diri pa mudan ni... ago kani dukilim pò. [It will not rain yet... maybe tonight.]
Agawe: Madiggir gó ka mudan kani dukilim… anda din wayig to tangke ko. [It’s good if it rains tonight. There is no water in my tank anymore.]
Ayong: Sunnod manggo masirap ka anda udan. Agad to dram ko anda din wayig.  [It’s very hard when there’s no rain. Even my drum does not have water.]
Agawe (reaches home): Nah, ad-ding ka pa. (It’s an invitation to come into his house which is usually just a formality.)
Ayong: Be-e din. Muli a din pagsik. [Don’t bother. I am also going home.]

*****