Biag ni Lam-ang

Cast of biag ni lam-ang

*Lam-ang
- the son of Don Juan and Namongan who looked for his father
and had unique adventures while on his journey

*Don

Juan

- the father of Lam-ang who went to the mountains to punish his

Igorot enemies but he disappeared

*Namongan - wife of Don Juan

*Ines Kannoyan - wife of Lam-ang
*Sumarang - the enemy of Lam-ang

Biag ni Lam-ang
-isanepicpoemoftheIlokanopeoplefromtheIlocosregionofthe
Philippines.RecitedandwrittenintheoriginalIloko,thepoemis
believedtobeacompositeworkofvariouspoetswhopassediton
throughthegenerations,andwasfirsttranscribedaround1640bya
blindIlokanobardnamedPedroBucaneg.

Bard
-a professional poet, employed by a patron, such
as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the
patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own
activities.

Back

Pedro
Bucaneg

Initial plot
Lam-angisanextraordinarybeing,manifestingwhenhebeginstospeak
in his early years, thus enabling him to choose his own name. His adventures
beginwhenhisfather,DonJuan,setoutforabattlebutneverreturned.Atbarely
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
searchofhisfather,leavinghisgrievingmotherbehind.

WhenLam-angarrivesattheplacewhereDonJuanhaddisappeared,he
isenragedtoseehisfathersseveredheadatopabamboopole;ascene
hedreamtbeforehand.Lam-angdemandstothelocalpeoplewhythat
hadhappenedtohisfather,butdoesnotreceiveananswer.Instead,the
chieftainofthevillagetellshimtoleaveunderpainofsufferingthesame
fateashisfather.Lam-angdefiesthecaveatandbravelyfightsthe
chieftainandhistribesmen.Theheroemergesvictoriousfromthebattle
withlittleeffort,avenginghismurderedfather.

Comedic elements
Biag ni Lam-ang, though dominated by action and tragedy,
nonetheless contained some comedic points. An example is the scene
in which Lam-ang was on his way home. He passes by a river
(identified by some as the Amburayan River, the biggest river in
Ilocos) and decides to have a dip. The dirt and blood that came off
from his body causes the death of the river's fish, crabs, and shrimp.
As he is bathing, some of the maidens who were present at the river
gladly attend to him.

Amburayan
River

Marriage
Marriage upon arriving home, Lam-ang decides to court his love
interest, Ines Kannoyan who lives in Calanutian (Kanluit). Despite his mothers
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, dog, and a rooster. The
bird flaps its wings and a house toppled over. This feat amazes everyone present,
especially Ines. Then, Lam-angs 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. Their nuptials are
celebrated with a lot of feasting.

Ines and Lam-ang

Death and subsequent

rebirth
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 hertapiswhile the
hen flapped its wings and the dog growled. In
an instant, Lam-ang is happily reunited with
his wife.

Another images of settings

in the story

-the end-

Thanks for Listening

Prepared by:

Jaime R. Quindoyos Jr.

BEED II
11-25-2014