Course Code and Title: ENED 2 Philippine Literature

Lesson Number 6
Topics:
A. Epic: “Biag ni Lam-ang” by Pedro Bukaneg (Region 1)
B. Legend: “The Legend of Magat River” (Region 2)

Introduction

Philippine epics are long narrative poems based on oral tradition. The verses were chanted or sung
rolled orally from generation to generation before being written on paper. The plots of their stories go
around supernatural events and heroic deeds. With the variation of ethnic groups in the Philippines,
Filipino epics are not national in range the way. Instead of honoring national heroes, Philippine epics
are certain to a particular part of the country, and therefore they are referred to as ethno-epics or
regional epics. In fact, the epic poems of the Philippines are in many different languages, not just the
currently dominant Tagalog.

Philippine legends were one of our first ways of understanding ourselves and our surroundings. The
stories we heard formed our views and values; told us the origins of the world and of the things that
fill it; inspired us to dream, or discouraged us from doing wrong by showing us the consequences of
bad behavior. These legends give a glimpse of the richness of our culture, of our imagination.

Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
a. Compare and contrast an epic from a legend.
b. Understand that Philippine epics are intangible heritage that reflects the rich culture and
colorful history of indigenous Filipinos.
c. Enrich their valuable sources of information with regard to the history of our forefathers, their
traditions, beliefs, ideals and life values.
d. Appreciate, promote and preserve our Filipino culture

Pre-Assessment
Directions: Choose the correct word that will make the sentence true/correct.

1. Lam-ang learned to ________ the moment he was born.

[Link] b. cry c. talk d. swim
2. ________ is the mother of Lam-Ang.
[Link] b. Namongan c. Sumarang d. Sarindadan
3. On his journey, Lamg-ang took with him his chicken and _________.
[Link] b. dog c. alligator d. fish
4. Lam-ang got angry because the ___________ killed his father.
[Link] b. Ilongot c. Mangyan d. Manobo
5. Lam-Ang-s heart was captured by _______.
a. Ines b. Namongan c. Sumarang d. Sarindadan
Lesson Presentation

Epics
It is a long narrative poem depicting heroic deeds. It is a lengthy narrative poem, ordinarily involving a
time beyond living memory in which occurred the extraordinary doings of the extraordinary men and
women who, in dealings with the gods. This folktale relate how the main character get on with the
events of everyday life, and the tale may involve crisis or conflict.
Six Elements Of The Epic:
1. Plot. It enters around a hero of unbelievable stature. The epic hero completes what everyone
only attempts. In ancient epics, the hero often is either partially divine or at least protected by a
god or God.
2. Superhuman strength and valor. It involves deeds that no real human could.
3. Vast Setting. The action spans not only geographical but also often cosmological space: across
land, sea, into the underworld, or thru space or time etc.
4. Supernatural and-or otherworldly forces. Gods, demons, angels, time/space travel, cheating
death etc.
5. Sustained elevation of style. Overwritten. Overly formal, highly stylized (poetry, lyricism (singing),
exaggeration)
6. Poet remains objective and omniscient. The narrator sees and knows all and presents all
perspectives.

Pedro Bukaneg was a foremost Ilocano poet and Christian missionary born in Bantay, Abra. He was
born congenitally blind, he was thrown into a river by his parents. Luckily a laundrywoman picked and
brought him to the local Augustinian monk, where he was baptized and given the name Pedro
Bukaneg meaning a Christianized Itneg. He studied at the Augustinian convent in Manila where he
developed his eloquence in the Spanish and Ilocano languages. He also used his extensive
knowledge of the Itneg dialect to teach Spanish missionaries heading north.

BIAG NI LAM-ANG
by Pedro Bukaneg

Namongan gives birth to Lam-ang, a baby of incredible strength and courage. The boy asks his
mother about his father's whereabouts and learns that he has gone to fight the Igorot. Lam-ang arms
himself with charms and decides to look for his father. From a dream, he learns that his father Don
Juan Panganiban had been killed by the Igorot. Later, Lam-ang finds the Igorot in a "sagang", a feast
celebrating a successful headhunting expedition. His father's head is displayed in the feast. Lam-
ang slays them all with his spear and mutilates the last among them.

When Lam-ang returns home, 99 maidens wash his hair in the river. For his shampoo, he burns so
much rice straw that the communities near the river are alarmed by smoke. The dirt from his hair kills
all the fish in the river. He then kills a crocodile and carries it on his shoulder ashore amidst the
applause of his companions.

Lam-ang hears of a beautiful maiden named Ines Cannoyan, daughter of the richest man of the town
of Kalanutian. He tells his mother of his desire to court the maiden. Although his mother discourages
him, he goes anyway, dressed in gold and accompanied by his pet rooster and white dog. The giant
Sumarang blocks his way and belittles him. Lam-ang defeats him in a duel and hurls him nine hills
away. Later, Sarindadan tries to seduce him, but Lam-ang rejects her advances.

Reaching Kalanutian, he impresses Ines with his magic. His rooster crows and topples a small
outhouse. His dog barks and the outhouse is rebuilt. Ines invites him to the house where the rooster
acts as Lam-ang's spokesperson. Ines' parents ask for a bride price, which Lam-ang agrees to
give. Lam-ang returns home to prepare for the wedding and the presents. He and his townfolk sail on
two golden ships to Kalanutian where Lam-ang and Ines have a Catholic wedding. The townspeople
board the two ships to Nalbuan, Lam-ang's birthplace, to continue the celebration.

After the celebration, Lam-ang agrees to hunt "rarang" a shellfish. He is swallowed by the giant fish
"berkakang" as he has dreamt so. However, a diver recovers his bones. The pet rooster flaps its
wings and resurrects Lam-ang. Lam-ang rewards the diver and lives happily with his wife and pets.

The Iloko Biag ni Lam-ang is the oldest recorded Philippine folk epic and the only complete epic from
the Christian Filipino groups. A relatively short epic with 977 lines.

LEGEND
A legend is a genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions perceived or
believed both by teller and listeners to have taken place within human history. Narratives in this
genre may demonstrate human values, and possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude.

Elements of a Legend

A. Characters and Setting

Characters in a legend are limited to a small cast. They may be inanimate objects, gods, or humans
with super traits. The gods are superheroes who may appear in human form, but maintain immortality
and supernatural abilities. Legends typically take place in the past, and the setting is somehow
relevant to the culture from which it derives.
B. Plot and Theme
A legend's plot will include a lot of action, suspense and conflict. The characters of a legend are often
faced with difficult obstacles to overcome, and struggle with their fate or destiny. Legends often
explain natural phenomena, religious practices and human nature. They usually offer a
straightforward moral, or a lesson for life.
C. Point of View and Style
Legends are written from the third person point of view. A legend will reflect upon a society's culture,
values and beliefs and the frail nature, or weakness, of human beings. Readers of the legend will
believe that the main character is capable of overcoming any obstacles in his path, and root for him
to succeed.
D. Generations
Legends are usually passed down through generations. Prior to printing, legends were passed orally
to teach the younger generation a certain set of values.
 The Legend of Magat River

A long time ago, in a town called Bayombong, in Nueva Vizcaya province, there lived a hunter named
Magat. He was young and strong, his eyes were keen, and his hands sure and steady. He was swift
as a deer and strong as a bull. Magat was the best hunter in the village, and proud of it.
He lived by himself in a small hut at the edge of the town. But he was a hunter who liked to spend
most of his time outdoors. He did not like to be kept in, not by a house, nor by anyone’s rules. And he
was stubborn.
One day Magat was hunting in the forest. His sharp eyes spotted the tracks of a strange animal.
They led to a part of the forest he had never explored, where it was cool and dark. Magat was
curious, so he followed the tracks. The soil beneath his feet soon became mossy and full of soft,
fallen leaves. Suddenly the tracks disappeared. Magat had to squint to see where he was. The trees
were so tall that their branches interlocked overhead. There was hardly any sunlight in this part of the
forest.
Then he heard the sound of running water.
Just beyond a clump of grass Magat saw a large stream. On the other side of the stream he saw a
large balete tree with branches that leaned over the water. And there in the shade of the tree was a
maiden, bathing.
Magat hid himself behind the tall grass. He sat very still and silent. The mysterious woman bathed in
slow graceful movements. She was the most beautiful woman Magat had ever seen. She had long
black hair and her long arms skimmed through the water. Magat felt his heart stir in his chest. He
could not take his eyes off her.
Just then his keen eyes detected a sudden movement. It seemed to come from the tree branch
hanging just above the woman. Although it was hard to tell in the dark forest, his hunter’s instinct told
him that danger was near.
Just then a shaft of sunlight streamed through the leaves. The light revealed a python! The huge
snake was coiled around the branch, ready to attack the woman.
In one swift movement Magat took his spear and aimed. Hearing a noise in the grass, the young
woman looked up to see the hunter for the first time. He was tall and brown and strong, with a spear
aimed right at her. She ducked under water at the same time that the python sprang. The spear flew
and hit its target. The huge snake fell writhing into the water.
Magat ran splashing across the stream. “Are you hurt?” he called out to the maiden.
The confused woman scrambled quickly onto the riverbank, but when she saw the dead python she
stopped. Slowly she turned to stare at Magat. She now understood what had happened and hid her
face in her hands. She was ashamed to have suspected him of wanting to hurt her, when really he
had saved her life.
Magat took her hands gently and said, “Do not be afraid. I am only a poor hunter.”
The maiden looked up at him and smiled. Magat felt his heart overflow with tenderness. They spent
the rest of the day together, wandering in the cool forest. By the time the crickets began to sing and
the moon had risen in the sky, the hunter had asked the lovely maiden to become his wife.
She agreed.
“I must ask of you only one thing,” she said, taking his strong brown hand and putting it to her cheek.
“You must promise, in the name of the great god Kabunian, never to look in on me at midday. If you
swear it, I will become your wife.”
“I will promise you anything,” said Magat. “Just be my wife.”
“Swear it,” she said, urgently.
Magat thought to himself, “I am a hunter. I am always gone at midday. This will be an easy promise
to keep.” And so he swore never to lay eyes on her in the middle of the day.
Then he laughed and said, “Come, do not be so serious. We will be happy together.”
And so they were. She made his home warm and cozy. She filled it with her lovely songs and the
good smell of cooking.
One morning Magat was hunting in the forest, following the trail of a huge wild boar. He would have
caught it too, but its hide was so tough that the shaft of his spear broke. “What use is a hunter without
his spear?” he thought to himself. Not realizing that it was midday, he decided to head for home.
When he arrived at his hut, everything was quiet. It seemed that no one was home. Then Magat saw
that the door to his bedroom was closed. Suddenly he remembered his promise to his wife. He took
another spear and left in a hurry so that he wouldn’t be tempted to look.
But Magat became curious. He found himself going home at noon the next day, and again the day
after. “It is my home after all and she is my wife,” he reasoned. “Married people should have no
secrets.”
And so one midday Magat came home and quietly opened the bedroom door a crack and peeked in.
To his horror, he saw a great crocodile lying on his wife’s bed. Quickly he ran out to get his spear.
Then he crashed into the bedroom, spear poised to strike, but he stopped short.
Lying on his bed was his wife. She appeared sick and pale. When he drew near, she whispered,
“You broke your promise, and now I must die. I can no longer live on this earth as your wife. I must
leave you.”
And as Magat watched in horror, her skin changed color and grew thick. Her arms and legs
shortened and her hands and feet became claws. Slimy green scales began to form on her smooth
skin. Before his very eyes she had turned into a crocodile. He had broken a promise made in the
name of the god Kabunian.
Magat carried the dead crocodile outside and buried it in his yard.
He blamed himself for his wife’s death and could not bear to eat or sleep. At last, worn out by sorrow
and grief, Magat drowned himself in the very stream where he had met and first rescued his love. As
the deep stream engulfed Magat, it grew into a mighty river.
Every year when the rains come, the Magat river rages. The townsfolk say that the hunter’s spirit will
not rest until he reaches the bones of his wife, buried in his yard at the edge of the town. If the water
does not rise to that very spot, the Magat river will never be still.
Generalization

Epics and legends are stories that inspire us which show lasting importance or fame. Biag ni Lam-
ang and The Legend of Magat River are handed down from earlier times, but will continue to evolve
with time. These stories once believed to have been true, turns out to be fictional. The heroes are
fictional heroes or real people who aren't quite what they're made out to be, who were either so
lifelike or so admirable that people wished they were real. This description fits the works and heroes
typically associated with the genre.
The adventures of Lam-ang as a tribal hero expresses the customs, beliefs, and ideals of the Filipino
people. The story gives us an opportunity to get acquainted with the characteristics of Philippine folk
epic heroes and the values and ideals they stand for. They give us an understanding of native culture
and values.
A. The Ilocano poem Biag ni Lam-ang which is believed to have originated in pre-colonial times, tells
the story of Lam-ang’s life from avenging his father’s murder, to being eaten by the water monster
 Berkakan, to being reborn and living happily ever after with his love, Ines Kannoyan. Lam-ang is a
great person because he has a supernatural power that he used to help other people around him.
He did anything just to win the heart of the woman he loves. The epic tells us that life is full of
trials and problems; one must be strong and must accept this reality and we must persevere
through the trials of life.

B. The legend of the Magat River is the story of a man who fell in love with a mysterious woman
he found at a large river. It is a tragic story of how he broke his promise and accidentally
killing her, which led to the act which gave the river its name. The story reminds us to never
make a promise to a person when you have no intentions of keeping it. Expectation hurts.

Application
Directions: Write your reflection on these two important lessons we learned from “Biag ni Lam-Ang”
and “The Legend of magat River”.
1. One must persevere through the trials of life.
2. Never make a promise when you have no intentions of keeping it.

Evaluation/Activity
Activity #2: Due Date: April 5, 2021
Explain the following briefly.
1. Are the elements of an epic story observed in “Biag ni Lam-ang”? Explain. (5pts.)
Are the elements of a legend manifested in “The Legend of Magat Dam”?(5 pts.)
2. What part of the two stories we read you like best? Why? (10pts.)
3. How the stories of “Biag ni Lam-ang” and The Legend of Magat River” reflect the rich
culture and colorful history of indigenous Filipinos? (10pts.)
4. What other valuable sources could we use to get information with regard to the history of
our forefathers, their traditions, beliefs, ideals and life values.(5pts.)
5. How will you promote and preserve our Filipino culture? (5pts.)

Reinforcement 

Read the following literary works for our class discussion and literary analysis. Try answering the
question below each literary work.
1. “The Wedding Dance” by Amador T. Daguio
Why do Lumnay and Awiyao have to give up for their love?
2. “Man of Earth” by Amador T. Daguio
Could Amador Daguio have been thinking of today's time when he wrote the poem?
References:
Dr. Jaime Gutierrez- Ang (2012) Literatures 101: Philippine Literatures: A Course Reader
Bienvenido Lumbera [Link] (2005) Philippine Literature: A History and Anthology
[Link]
ilokano-epic_1179.html
[Link]
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