An Ilocano Epic

BIAG NI LAM-ANG

• Don Juan

• Namongan

• Lam-ang

• Ines Cannoyan

• Sumarang

ASummary…

Centuries ago, there was a great warrior who was widely known in Ilocosas a hero who fought the Igorots. When Lam-ang was born, he had the most unusual ability to speak immediately at birth. He asks where his father was, and, upon being told that his father was killed by Igorots, Lam-ang vows revenge; a vendeta is born.

Lam-ang grows up immediately, and goes up into the mountains to take his vengeance. Alone, he fights off dozens of Igorot warriors, defeating them all. He cuts off the ears of the warriors, as trophies, and returns to Ilocos. He then meets and is captivated by a beautiful woman named Ines, and he immediately falls in love. He pledges to her all of his gold, land, and livestock.

As the most beautiful woman in the province, Ines has many suitors, but all quietly gave way to Lam-ang, since they knew that they could not compete with him for her affections. All, except for a giant of a man named Sumarang, who would not yield. Lam-ang and Sumarang fight and Lam-ang wins, easily defeating Sumarang.

Lam-ang and Ines are married in the largest wedding feast that ever been seen in the province. In order to secure the union’s blessing, Lam-ang is told that he must dive down to the very depths of the sea and retrieve a pearl from a magical oyster, otherwise the marriage would have bad luck. (Other versions say that Lam-ang went to catch a rare fish called rarang.) Lam-ang dives into the sea and on his way down, is eaten by a fearsome fish called the Berkaken.

Heartbroken, Ines goes into mourning, as did most of the town, as Lam-ang was their hero. The next day, Lam-ang’s rooster, who had magical powers (Lam-ang also owned a magic dog and cat), spoke to Ines, and told her to have Lam-ang’s bones fished out of the sea. Ines did as she

The turning points ofLam-ang’s life:

Namongangave birth

to Lam-ang.

Lam-angmade

revenge to the Igorots

for his father.

Lam-ang’sjourney to the town of Calanutian.

Lam-ang’sfulfillment of the trial given by

Ines Cannoyan’s

parents.

His resurrection after his adventure with the

tioan-tioanshark.

Pagan Cultural Elements or Ilocano Customs and Traditions

• Preparation of bamboo shoots before giving birth

• Wearing of wild carabao’s amulet, centipede’s amulet,

stone of sagang, stone of tangraban and lao-laoigan

• Tribal wars and revenge

• Domestication of animals like rooster and dog

• Tradition of diving for the shellfish, rarang

Christian Cultural Elements

• The sacrament of Baptism

• Having godfather or godparents during baptism

• Celebration of feasts

• Resurrection from death

• Church wedding or church ceremonies

Biag ni Lam-ang and Hudhud hi Aliguyon

Biag ni Lam-ang Hudhud hi Aliguyon

NATIONHOOD Compared to Hudhud

hi Aliguyon, Lam-ang

did not just competed

with the other tribes but

as the same time with

the Spaniards. Thus,

the epic portrays the

presence of the

Spaniards during Lam-

ang’s time. Nationhood

is not manifested in the

story because the

Filipinos were not

united and tribal wars

still occur.

Tribal wars also existed

in the story. The battle

was between Aliguyon

and Pumbakhayon.

They have the same

strength and it is the

reason why the war

lasted for 3 years. They

cannot defeat each

other. But, in the end,

both their tribes agreed

to be at peace. Thus,

nationhood can be

seen in the story

because the tribes

united in the end.

Meaning, they become

one in defending their

Biag ni Lam-ang Hudhud hi Aliguyon

GENDER Patriarchal system is

observed. Just the

same with other epics,

men are considered

superior because of the

existence of battles.

But unlike Hudhud hi

Aliguyun, a more formal

way of courtship was

emphasized which

manifests a great

respect to women.

Patriarchal system is

also observed. Men are

considered superior. It

is because they are the

one who go to battles.

This tradition is

manifested in the scene

where Aliguyon curses

his mother and at the

same time he didn.t

listen to his mother’s

advice.