[5] True Filipino Horror Experiences (Tagalog)

Di Ingon Nato

"Di Ingon Nato"
-literal translation: "not like us [humans]"
-elemental or nature spirit

Naabutan ko pa ang great-grandmother (GGM) ko during my childhood days. To give you an idea of what she was like, she had a plant-based diet. Occasional lang syang kumakain ng fish. Would start her day by waking up at around 5am and sweep her lawn. She lives in a small house but the surrounding lot is huge with trees all around, typical probinsya house at walang bakod. Before dusk, she will roam around the property to collect some firewood. She doesn't have to, she just enjoyed doing it. She was healthy and strong for her age.

When I was about 6 years old, she told me a story that took place somewhere in Davao. Sa likod bahay daw nila may malaking puno ng acacia. May naging kaibigan daw syang dalawang "Di Ingon Nato". She described them to me as tall, had a very pale complexion, blue eyes & blonde hair. Ngayong malaki na ako, naiimagine ko na parang si Legolas of Lord of the Rings yung mga nilalang based sa description ni GGM. Pero hindi raw sila gwapo. But based on my understanding, hindi gwapo paningin nya sa mga yun dahil alam nyang di sila tao. Inalok daw sya ng mga yun na sumama sa lugar nila which she declined. Sinabihan lang daw sya na, di bale na lang kukunin na lang daw sya pagtanda nya.

Years went by, she married my great grandpa who was from Cebu. They moved to Leyte and lived there ever since.

Fast forward early 2000s, high school na ako nun. Nabalitaan na lang namin na naaksidente si GGM. Dinala sya sa malapit na city at pinaospital. Later na namin nalaman bakit sya naaksidente. Pinaospital sya pero walang findings yung mga doctor. Parang old age lang, ganun. Pero di kami makapaniwala, sa sobrang active nya at vegetarian pa nga, naging lupaypay lang syang bigla. Kumunsulta kami sa isang albularyo for guidance. Takot na takot ako nun kasi pag lapit pa lang ng albularyo kay GGM sinabi nya na may nag aantay daw na mga "bisita" sa kanya, dalawang nilalang. Kukunin na daw sya, at di na kayang agapan pa. Biglang nag flashback yung sinabi ni GGM sakin nung 6 years old pa lang ako. Nagkatotoo yung sabi ng mga "Di Ingon Nato" sa kanya, yung nakatira sa acacia tree. The following day, nawala na ng tuluyan si GGM. At ang tanging nilagay na cause of  death nya ay pneumonia. Alam ng buong pamilya na di yun yung reason bat nawala sya.

Pinalibing agad si GGM ng family namin. At dun sa bahay nya sa province ginanap ang lamay. Dun lang namin nalaman ano talagang nangyari kay GGM bago sya naospital. May nakakita sa kanya na mga kapit bahay while ginagawa nya ang usual routine nya. Namumulot lang daw sya ng firewood, mind you wala pong bakod ang property ni GGM, out of nowhere may dalawang malalaki at puting mga aso na tumatakbo ng malakas at parang intentionally binangga sya hanggang natumba si GGM at di na makabangon. Bilang maliit lang yung baranggay nila, magkakakilala lahat ng tao dun at wala niisa sa kanila ang may alagang malalaki at puting mga aso.

Until next time,
Black_Cat

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