Madilim ang kalangitan at tanging ang sinag ng buwan lamang ang nagbibigay ng liwanag sa kapaligiran. Ang ihip ng hangin ay sumisipol at ang ilaw sa may poste'y tila malapit nang mapundi.
Ganiyan na ganiyan ang lagay ng paligid noon at kahit musmos pa lang ako noon at ilang taon na ang lumipas, tandang-tanda ko pa rin ang isang karanasan na masasabi kong nagdulot talaga ng kilabot at nagpatindig sa aking balahibo noong mga panahong iyon.
Sabi nila, kapag madilim na at bilog na bilog ang buwan ay tsaka lalabas ang iba't ibang mga elemento. Sa Pilipinas, normal na lamang ang makarinig ng mga ganitong usapin pero iba pa rin talaga kapag ikaw na mismo ang nakaranas.
Ang mga bata'y madalas matatakutin. Ngunit sa gabing iyon, hindi ko talaga maipaliwanag 'yung takot ko. Ihing-ihi na kasi ako noon at 'yung cr namin ay nasa labas pa ng bahay kaya sa may harap na lang ng punong mangga ako umihi. Pero bago 'yon, nagsabi muna ako ng kataga na madalas maririnig sa mga Ilokano.
Dayu-dayu, apo. Bari-bari.
Kahit antok na antok ako sa gabing iyon, hindi ko maiwasang kilabutan dahil tila may mga matang nakamasid. Pagkatapos ko'y lumabas din ang isa kong kapatid at doon din umihi. Pagkaraang iniangat namin ang aming ulo dahil tila may sumisitsit sa taas ng puno ng mangga, doon na nagsitayuan ang aking mga balahibo sa aking nakita.
Agad-agad ay tumakbo na lamang kami ng aking kuya papunta sa loob. Nagulantang ang buong bahay sa aming sigaw dahil sa nakita naming puti at lumiliwanag na elemento na nakaupo sa itaas ng puno. Hindi ko naaninag ang mukha dahil sa totoo lang hindi ko na rin alam ang gagawin. Madali pa man din akong magulat pero buti na lang at wala namang nangyaring masama.
Simula noon, hindi na ako tumitingin sa taas ng puno kapag gabi dahil nagdulot iyong ng matinding takot sa aking kabataan. White Lady man 'yon o hindi, natakot talaga ako ng sobra.
Ikaw, anong kwentong kababalaghan ang meron ka?
The sky is dark, and only the moonlight gives light to the environment. The wind was whistling, and the light on the pole seemed about to blow out.
That's how things were around then, and even though I was just a kid then and that's several years ago, I still remember this experience that I can say really scared me and made me feel goosebumps at that time.
They say that when the moon is dark and round, different elements will appear. In the Philippines, it's normal to hear such things, but it's really different when you experience them yourself.
Children are often afraid. But that night, I couldn't really explain my fear. I was about to pee then and our cr was still outside the house so I peed right in front of the mango tree. But before that, I said a word that is often heard among Ilocanos.
Dayu-dayu, apo. Bari-bari.
Even though I was very sleepy that night, I couldn't help but be afraid because there seemed to be eyes watching. After me, one of my brothers also came out. After we raised our heads because something seemed to be hissing at the top of the mango tree, my hair stood on end at what I saw.
Immediately, my brother and I ran inside. The whole house was startled by our frightened scream because we saw a white and luminous element sitting on top of the tree. I couldn't recognize its face because I honestly didn't know what to do anymore. I can be easily surprised, but fortunately nothing bad happened.
Since then, I refuse looking up at the top of the tree at night because it caused great fear in my youth. Whether it was a White Lady or not, I was really scared.
You, what scary story do you have?
Did you know?
Dayu-dayu means go away, and bari-bari is from the word bakir, which means forest and something that seems creepy. It is usually said to dispel evil spirits and elements.
All images and text are the author's property.
