Biag ni Lam-Ang

Biag ni Lam-ang (English: "The Life of Lam-ang") is an epic poem of the Ilocano people from the Ilocos region of the
Philippines. It is notable for being the first Philippine folk epic to be recorded in written form, and was one of only two folk epics
documented during the Philippines' Spanish Colonial period, along with the Bicolano epic of Handiong. It is also noted for being
a folk epic from a "Christianized" lowland people group (the Ilocano people),with Roman Catholic elements incorporated into
the storytelling.

As oral literature, the poem is believed to have originated in pre-

colonial times, evolving as it is passed on from poet to poet and
generation to generation. The poem's first transcription is sometimes
attributed to the blind Ilocano poet-preacher Pedro Bucaneg, but
historian E. Arsenio Manuel instead attributes its the first written
documentation to Fr. Gerardo Blanco of Narvacan, working with the
publicist and folklorist Isabelo de los Reyes.

Lam-ang's extraordinary birth

Lam-ang is an extraordinary being, manifesting when he begins to
speak in his early years, thus enabling him to choose his own name.

The quest for Lam-Ang's father

His adventures begin when his father, Don Juan, set out for a battle
but never returned. At barely nine months, Lam-ang goes to search
for Don Juan in the highlands where the latter was said to have
gone. Aware that her child was a blessed, exceptional creature, his
mother Namongan allows him to go. Lam-ang then goes off in search of his father, leaving his grieving mother behind.

He sees his father beheaded and the head put on a spike. While the headhunters are celebrating, in his anger, he challenges
all of them to a duel. The headhunters throw spears at him, but he just catches it and throws it back to them. He defeats the
headhunters, kills them all and takes his father's head down to the plains...

The pursuit of Ines Kannoyan

Upon arriving home, Lam-ang decides to court his love interest, Ines Kannoyan who lives in Calanutian (Kanluit). [7] Despite
his mother’s disapproval, he follows his heart and set off again on another journey to his love. He faces one of Ines’ suitors
and various monsters, but again is able to vanquish them with ease. Aiding him are his magical pets, a cat (in other versions,
no cat), a dog, and a rooster. The bird flaps its wings and a house toppled over. This feat amazes everyone present,
especially Ines. Then, Lam-ang’s dog barks and the house rose up. Invited to lunch with the family of Ines, Lam-ang
impresses her parents with his wealth and upon returning, he gives the family two golden ships.

Lam-ang's death and magical resurrection

After his death due to being eaten by a huge fish, Lam-ang's bones are recovered and he is resurrected with the help of his
magical pets. Ines is ordered by the rooster to wrap the bones with her tapis while the hen flapped its wings and the dog
growled. In an instant, Lam-ang is happily reunited with his wife.
 Biag n Lam-Ang
By Aiden Sevilla

A short summarization of the story of the local deity

of the region of the Ilocos