IV.

ELABORATE
MODULE 2: PHILIPPINE PRE-COLONIAL LITERATURE

I.   PRE-READING

1.    Where did the story Hinilawod originate, in what part of the country?

The story Hinilawod originated from Central Panay.

2.    Who discovered the story Hinilawod? How did he discover it?

The Hinilawod story was discovered accidentally by F. Landa Jocano when he

traveled the hinterland of his home island, Panay. He had heard this story from a
young boy and from then he discovered it.

3.    How many verses are found in the original text of the epic Hinilawod?

Hinilawod had 29,000-verse epic. 

II. DURING READING

1.    How did Alunsina and Datu Paubari get married?

When Alunsina reached maidenhood, the King of Gods degreed that she should
marry. For all her suitors, he chose Datu Paubari, the mortal one.

2.     Who are the sons of Alunsina and Datu Paubari?

The sons of two are Labaw Dongon, Humadapnon, and Dumalapdap.

3.    Who are the monsters in the story?

There are three monsters mentioned in the story, there are; Manalintad,
Balanakon, and Uyutang.

4.    Why the story entitled Hinilawod?

Hinilawod means “Tales from the Mouth of the Halawod River”. The story was
entitled  Hinilawod because the story happens in the Halawod River, Province of
Panay.

5.    How did the story end?

The story ends with a celebration for the reunification of the family.

III.  AFTER-READING
 
 The story of Hinilawod is full of characters. For this activity, you are going to identify all
characters mentioned in the story and give a description for each of the characters. Use
the table below as your guide. Tip: there are at least 28 characters mentioned in the
story. There is a sample answer for you.

  

HINILAWOD CHARACTERS
NAME OF THE CHARACTER DISCRIPTION

1. ALUNSINA Goddess of the Eastern Sky, wife of Datu Paubari

2. DATU PAUBARI Mortal; mighty ruler of Halawod

3. KAPTAN King of Gods

4. MAKLIUM-SA-TWAN God of Plains

5. SUKLANG MALAYON Goddess and guardian of happy home; sister of Alunsina

6. LABAW DONGON Eldest of the three sons of Datu Paubari and Alunsina

7. ANGOY GINBITINAN 1st wife of Labaw Dongon from Handug

8. MANALINTAD A monster that Labaw Dongon killed as part of his dowry

9. ABYANG DURUNUUN Sister of Sumpoy; 2nd wife of Labaw Dongon

10. SIKAY PADALOGDOG A giant with a hundred arms

11. MALITONG YAWA SINIGMALING 3rd prospec of Labaw Dongon; young bride of Saragnayan
DIWATA

12. SARAGNAYAN Lord of Darkness

13. ASO MANGGA Son of Angoy Ginbitinan

14. ABYANG BARANUGON Son of Abyang Durunuun; defeated Saragnayan and won his
father’s freedom

15. HUMADAPNON 2nd of the 3 sons; was angry at what happened with his
brother so he wanted revenge

16. BUYONG MATANAYON Accompanied Humadapnun; known for his skill in

swordsmanship

17. PIGANUN Seductive Sorceress

18. DATU UMBAW PINAUMBAW Ruler of Piniling Tubig

19. BURIGADANG PADA SINAKLANG Goddess of Greed

BULAWAN

20. DUYONG MAKABIGTING Son of the Datu Balahidyong of Paling Bukid

21. DUMALAPDAP The 3rd of the 3 sons or Alunsina and Datu Paubari; 

22. DUMASIG The most powerful wrestler

 23.BUNGOT BANWA High priest who performed the rites of Gods

24. AYUTANG Bat-like monster with sharp poisonous claws

25. BALANAKON Two-headed monster from Tarabuan-ka- Banwa

26. LUBAY-LUBYOK HANGINUN SI Maiden from Bututlakan-kaadlaw, 1st wife of Dumalapdap

MANUYOKHUYUKON

27. MINSTREL Someone who sings with harp accompaniment

28. SUMPOY Lord of the underworld

IV. REFLECTING FROM THE TEXT

 

 1.    What is the importance of knowing the folk story of Hinilawod as a student of
literature?

It is important to know the folk story of Hinilawod for a literature student like me, because it is
not only exposing ourselves to the culture of the ancient people of Panay, but also, it gives us the
idea on how being curious and having the love for discovering can help raising the literature in the
Philippines. Just like what F. Landa Jocano, the author of this story did. Because of his
curiosity, he discovered an epic poem which today we study.

2. What are the valuable lessons that we could get from the story Hinilawod?

  According again to my humble friend, Google, the moral lesson of the story is to listen to your
parents. But for me, the story is more on the Home. The story begins at home and starts at home. No
matter how long your journey is, no matter how successful or down you are, remember that you have a
home, where your family is waiting for you to be back. Because at the end of the story, the Datu Paubari
and Alunsina, together with their sons and their wives, celebrated their togetherness, at HOME.

3. What makes Hinilawod different from the epics or stories that you had
when you were still in junior high school?

  I think what makes it different from the story in high school is that it consists of different
stories in one story. I mean, every son of Datu Paubari and Alunsina have their own story in the
story. Hinilawod gave me important values and experiences from our forefathers that we could use
in the Future, and that is the importance of Family and Honor. It is said to be the longest epic in the
world. It is an epic worth retelling.