“Biag ni Lam-ang”

by: Pedro Bukaneg

I. Illustration or Artistic Presentation

II. Sypnosis
Don Juan and his wife Namongan lived in Nalbuan.
They had a son named Lam-ang an extraordinary being
manifesting when he begin to speak in his early years, thus
enabling him to choose his own name. After nine months of
waiting for his father to return, Lam-ang decided to look for him.
During his exhausting journey, he decided to rest for a while. He fell asleep and had a
dream about his father’s head being stuck on a pole by the Igorot. La-ang was furious when
he learned what happened to his father. He rushed to go to the place and kill all the Igorots
except for one whom he let go in order to tell other people about Lam-ang’s greatness.
After the battle defeated the Igorots, he bathed by women in the Amburayan and then
all the fish died because of his dirt and odor.
A young woman named Ines Kannoyan whom Lam-ang wanted to woo. He brought
along his white rooster and gray dog to visit her. There, Lam-ang met his enemy Sumarang
one of the suitor of Ines whom he readily defeated.
Lam-ang found the house of Ines surrounded by many suitors and his trying to catch
her attention. He had his rooster crow which caused the house to fall. This made Ines look
out. He had his dog bark and the house suddenly rose up again. Ines parents witnessed this
and called for him. The parents agreed to a marriage with her daughter if Lam-ang would
give then a dowry valued at double their wealth. Lam-ang had no problem fulfilling this
condition just to marry Ines.
As a tradition, the newly married man swims in the river for the rarang fish.
Unfortunately, Lam-ang dove straight into the mouth of the water monster Berkakan. Ines
had Marcos get his bones, which she covered with a piece of cloth. His rooster crowed and
his dog barked and slowly the bones started to move. Lam-ang resurrected, and they live
happily ever after together with his white rooster and gray dog.
III. Critical Literary Analysis:

Theme:
The story was entitled “Biag ni Lam-ang” by Pedro Bukanig, a Filipino poet, he is
blind since birth and acknowledged as the author of this Ilocano epic. He was also
considering as the Father of Ilokano Literature. The theme of the epic revolves around the
bravery and courage of the main character portrayed by Lam-ang who was gifted with speech
as early as his day of birth, who embarked on a series of adventures which culminated in his
heroic death and subsequent resurrection.

Plot:
To save the tribe from Igorot invader, Don Juan went to the mountain to fight the
Igorots. While he was away Namungan his wife give birth for a little boy, who suddenly
spoke during the day of his birth and named himself Lam-ang. He did not see his father since
his birth. Lam-ang asked permission to his mother and went out to search his father in the
mountain who fought to the Igorots. During his exhausting journey he decided to rest and
dreamed that the head of his father stuck on a pole by the Igorots. He rushed to the Igorots
village and defeated them all.
When arrived home he visit Ines whom he wanted to court, he did amazing things
which catches the attention of the maiden and her parents as well. The parents agreed for
marriage. As tradition, Lam-ang was challenge to catch the rarang fish but unfortunately
eaten by the Berkakan. From that he resurrected and they live happily.

Key Moment/Point of illustration:

Message and implication:

Biag ni Lam-ang is indeed a very great epic. The lesson on this story is that you must
persevere through the trials of life. The values that we get in this epic are value of being
respectful, determination, faithfulness and loving, bravery and responsible. The epic of Biag
ni Lam-ang portrays the qualities and several characteristics of Filipinos. The fact that the
traits,attitudes, and values being shown in this phenomenal epic are all reflections of our
ancestors especially the Ilokanos who were the source of this fictitious piece during pre-
spanish period. It depicts unwavering bravery, justice, love, romance, relationship.

Reviewed by: Lea C. Paquibot