THE STORY BEHIND TRADITIONAL FILIPINO CHILDREN'S GAME NANAY TATAY
I stopped my car at Santo Domingo Church for a moment. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched the church. Santo Domingo Church is the largest church in Metro Manila and one of the biggest churches in Asia.
I’ve actually been here once, only now I’m back again after I lived ten years with my dad in United States. While I observed the entirety of the church, the kids got my attention because of what they played. They sing while clapping each other.
"Nanay, Tatay
Gusto kong tinapay.
Ate, Kuya
Gusto kong kape
Lahat ng gusto ko ay susundin niyo
Ang magkamali ay pipingutin ko.
Isa, Dalawa, Tatlo..."
I didn't grow up in the Philippines so I just shrugged my shoulders and started my car because I wasn't familiar with that game at all. And I also don't like it because it's creepy to listen to.
When I arrived at my apartment, I immediately put away my clothes. After I cleaned, I thought about going out of the apartment first to get some air.
When I came out, I saw some teenagers gossiping.
"The story behind the traditional Filipino children's game "nanay, tatay" is very trending on twitter right now," teenager said.
Because of what I heard I quickly opened my twitter and saw it right away. Well, curiosity kills me.
According on what I read, there is a big family. Mother, father, sister, brother and youngest. The mother is a perfectionist. The father was an alcoholic, drug addict and abuser. Sister and brother always go for walks so all their work is passed on to the youngest. The youngest is miserable. The father always beats the youngest every time he comes home and sees her still awake. The youngest had a lot of bruises but her mother thought she was getting bruises from always playing so she locked her in the cabinet for punishment. The youngest also cannot report because she's mute. Until the youngest filled up and thought of suicide. Before she committed suicide she wrote poetry.
"Nanay, Tatay
Gusto kong tinapay.
Ate, Kuya
Gusto kong kape"
That means, she begs to be given a proper funeral.
"Lahat ng gusto ko ay susundin niyo
Ang magkamali ay pipingutin ko.
Isa, Dalawa, Tatlo..."
Because her family did not comply with her request, she killed them one by one.
On the full moon, when you hear that song, it means he’s just there next to you.
I was shocked when suddenly I heard someone sing it.
"Ekk! What the hell!" I shouted at the child playing on the stairs alone.
She looked at me. "Pasensya na ate kung nagulat ka namin, gusto niya lang po kasi maglaro."
I feel goosebump, i don't know what to do. She doesn't have a playmate, it's kinda scary.
"W-What's your name little g-girl?" I stuttered.
"Ako po si Ella, ate pasensya na talaga kung nagulat ka namin," she apologize.
I shrugged. "Don't play that again, you don't know the story? Then I will te—"
"Hindi po totoo ang nababasa niyo sa internet sabi ng kaibigan ko. At gusto niya po ekwento sa iyo ang totoo," she uttered.
"O-okay.." I answered in a scared tone.
"May isang malaking pamilya, gaya ng saad sa kanta nanay, tatay, ate, kuya at bunso. Isa silang buong masayang pamilya. Mahirap lang pero kuntento sila ngunit hindi ang kanilang bunso. Sa isang iglap nagkaroon ng dilubyo ang kanilang pamilya, nagipit sila sa pera kahit bigas man lang hindi na makabili. Nakasanayan ni bunso na palaging may dalang tinapay si tatay paggaling siya sa trabaho. Hinanap niya ito kay tatay pero walang maibigay si tatay kaya nagalit siya at humingi ng kape kay nanay pero wala ding maibigay si nanay dahil naubos na din ang kanilang kape. Sinagut-sagot ni bunso ang kanyang nanay at tatay, kaya hindi nakapagpigil ng galit si tatay, natahi niya ang bunganga ni bunso. Dahil sa galit at gusto gumanti, naisipan ni bunso na patayin ang kanyang sariling pamilya habang tulog ito at bago niya sila pinatay sumulat siya ng tula na ngayon ay sikat na nilalaro ng mga bata."
"W-What happened to y-youngest after she did that?"I stuttered.
"Nagpakamatay siya. Sa kabuuhan ng bu—" she hadn't finished what she was supposed to say when suddenly an old woman approached her.
"Nandito ka lang pala apo! Juskong batang 'to, pagpasensyahan mo ang apo ko iha, may sakit kasi siyang Schizophrenia," she said.
Before they left, the girl turned to me. "Ate, mag-ingat ka.............." she said something else but I didn't bother to listen to her.
I winced but I was now able to breathe properly when I learned that the child was mentally ill. I rubbed my forehead when I looked at my watch it was about 10 pm.
When I entered the apartment I immediately rested my back on the bed.
While scrolling to my cellphone I looked out the window and I was amazed at the very round moon.
But I froze in my bed when I heard someone singing beside me.
"Nanay, Tatay
Gusto kong tinapay.
Ate, Kuya
Gusto kong kape
Lahat ng gusto ko ay susundin niyo
Ang magkamali ay pipingutin ko.
Isa, Dalawa, Tatlo..."
I slowly turned to the source of the voice.
And.....
There was a child looking at me, she was just staring at me and she had a malicious grin even though her mouth was stitched. Her face was alarming.
And now....
I realize the whole thing the girl told me earlier....
"Ate, mag-ingat ka. Nagpapakita siya sa mga taong alam ang kwento niya."
YOU ARE READING
TALES OF AGONY
Short StoryEach person has their own agony to handle. Others, commit a crime, suicide or evilness. Depending on what you're willing to risk, as long as you can get out of the hands of agony. But everything you do has consequences, whether it's good or not. So...
