Reporter: Aguilar, Ellaine Rose S.

ENG14-A

BIAG NI LAM-ANG (The Life of Lam-ang)

BY PEDRO BUCANEG

Pedro Bucaneg

• It was first transcribed around 1640 by a blind Ilokano bard named Pedro Bucaneg
• Pedro Bucaneg (March 1592 – c. 1630) was a Filipino poet.
• Blind since birth
• He is the acknowledged author of the Ilokano epic Biag ni Lam-ang(Life of Lam-ang)
• He is considered the "Father of Ilokano literature."
• A street inside the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex in Pasay City, Philippines is
named in his honor.
• His surname is lent to the Bucanegan, the Ilocano equivalent of the Balagtasan.

Brief history of the Story

Biag ni Lam-ang (English: "The Life of Lam-ang")

• Is an epic poem of the Ilokano people from the Ilocos region of the Philippines
• Recited and written in its original Iloko, the poem is believed to be a composite work of
various poets who passed it on through the generations
• The story dates its origin during the pre-Spanish period of the Philippines
• It is one of the greatest Ilocano epic of the pre-colonial literature of the country
• It is originally written in the Ilocano language but as time goes it has been translated to
different languages
• The story is a mix of adventure and romance with exciting and unpredictable outcomes
• The epic poem showed some of the earlier customs, culture, tradition and belief of the
Ilocano people of the Philippines

Brief history of Biag ni Lam-Ang

• The story presented some of the qualities of the people of the Ilocos region- adventurous,
hardy, and brave as strongly portrayed by Lam-ang
• The epic poem presented the fact that life is full of trials and problems
One must be strong and just accept the reality that it is already part of life
BUOD (SUMMARY) OF BIAG NI LAM-ANG

Don Juan and his wife Namongan lived in Nalbuan, now part of La Union in the nor thern 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 will 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 Lan-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 Lan-ang wanted to woo. She lived in
Calanutian and he brought along his white rooster and gray dog to visit he 1. 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 white rooster, 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.
Literary structure

• Prologue: The Birth of Lam-ang (lines 5-108)

Quest for the Father (lines 109-370)

• Preparation (line 104-192)

• Obstade: Burican (lines 193-261)

• Triumph (Ines 262-315)

• Return to the Home (Tree 315-370)

• Queet for the Wife (ines 455-1300)

• Preparation (lines 455-586)

• Obstacles: Sumarang and Saridandan (lines 587-724)

• Wedding Banquet (lines 725-1286)

Return to the Home (lines 725-1286)

• Epilogue: The Death and Restoration of the Hero (lines 1301-1477)

ELEMENTS OF BIAG NI LAM-ANG

Character:

1. Don Juan Panganiban - father of Lam-ang

2. Namongan - wife of Don Juan Panganiban
3. Lam-ang-Son of Don Juan And Namongan Panganiban and the major character of the story.
4. Ines Kannoyon - Wife of lam-ang, daughter of the richest man of the town Kalanuha.
5. Sumarang - enemy of Lam-ang.

Setting:
• Nalbuan,La Union
• Kalanutian
• Amburayan river

Point of View
•Third Point of View
Theme:
It revolves around the bravery and courage of the main character portrayed by Lam-ang.

Conflicts
• Man vs. Man
- Lam-ang vs. Igorots & Lam-ang vs. Sumarang

Plots
• Lam-ang's extraordinary birth
Lam-ng 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 banle but never returned. At barely
nine months, Lam-ang goes to search LACHING for Don Juan in the highlands where the latter
was said to have gone. Awware 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, kils them all and takes his
father's head down to the plains

• The pursuit of Ines Kannoyan

Upon arriving home, Lamang decides to court his love interest, Ines Kannoyan who lives in
Calanutian (Kanluit). [7] Despit his mothers disapproval, he follows his heart and sees 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 car (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 lines, 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

Aher 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 sapped its wings and the dog growled. In an instant, Lam-ang is happily
reunited with his wife.

Tone:
•Simile
•Imagery
•Personification