Ang Alamat ng Atabay

My Lolo is 81 years old. He’s well respected in our small barrio, Atabay, in Ilocos Sur. The whole family looks up to him with much love and respect. Last weekend the family went home to Ilocos to celebrate my Lolo’s birthday.

On our way back from our brief trek from the mountain (where we attempted to pick some mangoes), Rod, my husband was talking to my Lolo…

R: Lolo, ano po ang ibig sabihin ng Atabay (referring to the name of the barrio, he probably thought Atabay is an Ilocano word)?
L: May kwento diyan ang matatanda… noong araw pa…

We were listening intently to what Lolo will say… expecting a magical or tragic story about the town.

R: Ano po yung kwento?
L: Noon daw may mag-asawa na nakatira dito, ang pangalan ng asawang babae ay Ata. Isang araw sabi ng lalaki, aalis na siya, iiwan na niya ang asawa niya. Ang sabi niya sa asawa niya, “Ata… ba-bay…” kaya tinawag na Atabay ang lugar na ito.

Ngeeeh! Ganon! Ata, ba-bay - - - Atabay! Hahahahaha!

I am not sure if Lolo was serious about the story. We were too polite to laugh so we just kept our comments to ourselves and burst into laughter when we reached our room. But one thing’s for sure I will not forget the legend of Atabay, which was told by my 81-year old Lolo.