Epics

“narratives of sustained length based on oral tradition revolving around supernatural events of heroic
deeds”

Biag ni Lam-ang

BIAG NI LAM-ANG (Life of Lam-ang) is a pre-Hispanic epic poem of the Ilocano people of the
Philippines. The story was handed down orally for generations before it was written down around
1640 assumedly by a blind Ilokano bard (professional story teller) named Pedro Bucaneg

BUOD NG BIAG NI LAM-ANG

(SUMMARY OF BIAG NI LAM-ANG)

Don Juan and his wife Namongan lived in Nalbuan, now part of La Union in the northern part of the
Philippines. They had a son named Lam-ang. Before Lam-ang was born, Don Juan went to the
mountains in order to punish a group of their Igorot enemies. While he was away, his son Lam-ang
was born. It took four people to help Namongan give birth. As soon as the baby boy popped out, he
spoke and asked that he be given the name Lam-ang. He also chose his godparents and asked where
his father was.

After nine months of waiting for his father to return, Lam-ang decided he would go look for him.
Namongan thought Lam-ang was up to the challenge but she was sad to let him go.

During his exhausting journey, he decided to rest for awhile. He fell asleep and had a dream about his
father’s head being stuck on a pole by the Igorot. Lam-ang was furious when he learned what had
happened to his father. He rushed to their village and killed them all, except for one whom he let go
so that he could tell other people about Lam-ang’s greatness.

Upon returning to Nalbuan in triumph, he was bathed by women in the Amburayan river. All the fish
died because of the dirt and odor from Lam-ang’s body.

There was a young woman named Ines Kannoyan whom Lam-ang wanted to woo. She lived in
Calanutian and he brought along his white rooster and gray dog to visit her. On the way, Lam-ang met
his enemy Sumarang, another suitor of Ines whom he fought and readily defeated.

Lam-ang found the house of Ines surrounded by many suitors all of whom were trying to catch her
attention. He had his rooster crow, which caused a nearby house to fall. This made Ines look out. He
had his dog bark and in an instant the fallen house rose up again. The girl’s parents witnessed this and
called for him. The rooster expressed the love of Lam-ang. The parents agreed to a marriage with
their daughter if Lam-ang would give them a dowry valued at double their wealth. Lam-ang had no
problem fulfilling this condition and he and Ines were married.

It was a tradition to have a newly married man swim 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. Back alive, Lam-ang and his wife lived happily ever after with his white rooster and
gray dog.
Folk Songs

1. Hele or Oyayi
- tinatawag na OYAYI ang mga tugma at awit na pampatulog sa sanggol. Karamihan sa mga oyayi o
panghele sa mga sanggol sa buong mundo ay tunay na nakakapagpatulog at paulit-ulit lamang ang
pagbigkas ng mga salita. Marapat lamang banggitin na sa ilang oyayi ng Pilipinas, ang mga salita ay di
lamang paulit-ulit ngunit mayroon ding temang seryoso katulad ng : panibugho sa kahirapan na kung
saan ang sanggol ay ipinanganak o ang mataas na pangarap ng isang ina sa kanyang anak kapag ito ay
lumaki na.

2. Ambahan (Mangyan)
- The ambahan is the traditional poetry of the Hanunuo Mangyans of Oriental Mindoro. It is usually
written on bamboo in the Surat Mangyan, a centuries-old pre-Spanish script. The syllabic script and
the ambahan poetry have complemented each other, contributing to their continued existence today.
The ambahan is a literary product and poetic expression of the Southern Mangyans of Mindoro,
Philippines

Ambahan: Old age

Sharing their love, the happy couple grows old together.

Old age in Mangyan society is not given special status and special privileges. As long as anyone is able
to keep up, he is expected to take part in daily work. It is, therefore, not surprising to see the old and
feeble people working side by side with the younger generations in the rice fields. However, the
irrevocable advance of time is felt by the elder generation. It is something that can't be changed.

Hanunuo-Mangyan

English Filipino

It's a fact we all know, Di ba't totoo naman

a truth wherever we go: Katunayan saan man
the sun in the afternoon Araw sa kataasan
will be setting very soon. Ay lulubog rin naman.

Among themselves, the older generation talk about the time when they will no longer be together.
Will there still come another day after this night?

English and the stars become detached,

our bond might break up too.
At this hour of the dark night When we'll ever meet again,
we are still together now it is not with mortal eyes,
on the woven sleeping-mat. but the eye-sight of the soul.
But when the sun rises soon,
Filipino Talang maghihiwalay;
Buklod nati'y bibigay;
Sa sandaling karimlan Pagkikita'y daratal
Kahit kita magtipan Paningi'y mapawi man
Sa banig na higaan May bagong kaanyuan.
Pagsikat nitong araw

Ambahan: Courtship
Many pages of sweet-flowing romances have been written about courtship, but the Mangyans create
their own by using the examples of the budding and flowering plants and trees around them.

A boy has his way of convincing a girl of his good intentions and intimate love. He is willing to sacrifice
anything for his beloved.

O liyag, aking hirang Di basta palay lamang

Kanina nang lumisan Sa lakad sa ilog man
Galing sa 'king dingdingan Maging sa kaparangan
Palay na inanihan Kaakbay ko saan man
Akin lang iniwanan Kaabay sa higaan!
Hinangad kong katuwang

3.Kalusan (Ivatan)
- Kalusan or working song is a song that is swiftly disappearing as a tradition because it is barely
preserved. It is a song sung in chorus by field workers, by rowing boatmen, or by men sawing lumber.
The Kalusan aims to have rhythmic synchronization or unity in the movements of these workers. The
content of this song can be about farm work, about rowing or cutting wood and iths rhythm depends
on the particular rhythmic demands of the work the song accompanies.

4. Tagay (cebuano and waray)

dringking song

Ay Liding, Liding, Liding

Ay Liding, Liding, Liding
Uhaw tagay
Uhaw tagay.

Kon walay sumsuman,

Ihawon ang hinuktan.
Uhaw tagay
Uhaw tagay.

Si Pilemon

Si Pilemon, Si Pilemon namasol sa kadagatan

Nakakuha, nakakuha ug isda’ng tambasakan
Guibaligya, Guibaligya sa merkado’ng guba
Ang halin puros kura, ang halin puros kura igo ra i panuba.

5. Kanogan (cebuano)
song of lamentation for the dead