Tuwaang (epic)

Tuwaang received a message of invitation from the wind saying that he should
attend the long waited wedding of the Dalaga ng Monawon. His aunt warned him not to
go but he insisted. Tuwaang just shrugged his shoulder and prepared to attend the grand
wedding. He wore the clothes the goddesses made for him. He got the heart-shaped
basket that could make the lightning move. He took along with him his sharp spear and
shield and the long knife.

He rode in the lightning and he soon reached the beautiful boundless plain of
Kawkawangan. There, he found a Gungutan, a bright colored bird that could talk. The
bird wanted to go with him to the grand wedding so he took it along with him. When they
reached the town of Monawon, they were politely let into the hall where the wedding would
take place.The guests started coming one by one.

First to come was the young Binata ng Panayangan, then the charming Binata ng
Sumisikat na Araw. Last to come was the groom, the Binata ng Sakadna who was with
his one hundred well trained men. As soon as he arrived, the groom ordered all his men
to drive away the guests who should not be there or those uninvited guests. Insulted,
Tuwaang told the groom that they, the guests were all pulang dahon, which meant heroes.

In short time, the ceremony started with the guests being offered several precious
things that they should top with what they had. Two were left for the groom but the Binata
ng Sakadna admitted that he didn't have a gold flute and a gold guitar to top what were
left. Tuwaang came to the quick rescue. With his mysterious breath, he produced a gold
flute, guitar and gong.

The beautiful bride came out of her room and started offering a bowl containing
nganga to every guest. Then she sat beside Tuwaang that put the groom in a very
embarrassing situation. The groom felt insulted and degraded. He went out the hall and
challenged Tuwaang to a fight.Tuwaang accepted the challenge but the bride held him
and combed his hair dearly. Tuwaang stared at the bride and saw her feelings for him.

‘Be careful out there. The bride warned him. He does not know how to fight fairly.’
Tuwaang held the bride and kissed her. ‘For you my lady, I will be careful’ said he who
went outside the hall to start the fight.Tuwaang and the Gungutan fought the Binata and
Sakadna and his hundred men. They fought with each other and after a short time,
Tuwaang and the Gungutan defeated 94 men. They easily defeated the six remaining
men and after a while, only Tuwaang and the Binata ng Sikadna were left.

The groom threw a big boulder on Tuwaang but it became dust even before it hit
Tuwaang. An earthquake happened because of the bloody fight. All the trees were
uprooted. The groom took Tuwaang ang threw him at the ground until Tuwaang reached
Hades. In Hades Tuwaang saw Tuhawa, the god of Hades. Tuhawa told him that the
groom’s life is in the golden flute. Tuwaang rose from the ground then he got hold of the
golden flute and broke it.
After that, he kissed and hugged the bride. And because of his triumph, the Dalaga of
Monawon accepted Tuwaang’s invitation for their own wedding. They went to Kuaman
and lived happily ever after.
 The Durian Legend (legend)

A long time ago there lived an ugly, old but powerful king named Barom-Mai in
Calinan near Davao City. He married the young and beautiful Madayaw-Bayho, a
daughter of Tageb, king of the sea pirates who ruled the islands of Ligid, Talicud and
Samal. But Madayaw-Bayho did not love the king: so she often ran away from his
kingdom. But her father always returned her to the king. One day, she ran away, and
vowed never to return to the king. Because of this King Barom-Mai told his advisers,
headed by Matigam, to find a way to make his wife love him.

When the king met the hermit, the hermit said to him to get three things: the egg
of the black tabon, twelve ladies of white carabao's milk, and the nectar from the flower
of the tree-of-make believe, because the egg would soften the heart of the princess, the
milk would make her kind and the nectar would make her see the king as young and
handsome.

Pawikan, king of the sea turtles, helped him secure the tabon's egg. The king also
easily got the milk. He procured the flower with the help of Hangin-Bai, a wood nymph.
He gave the three things to the hermit who mixed the nectar, the milk and the egg together
and told him to plant it. It grew into a durian tree!

He brought the fruit to his wife who ate it. After eating, she fell in love with the king
who looked young and handsome. They returned to their kingdom and feasted. they
forgot to invite the hermit who said angrily that the delicious fruit with offensive odor be
covered with thorns. Since then the durian fruit is thorny but delicious.
 The Tale Of Kamanduan - A Southern Agusan Manobo (epic)

Long before the coming of the Spaniards to Mindanao, Agusan Valley was then a
vast woodland inhabited by several tribal groups of the Manobos. Different varieties of
trees grew in these vast forests such as narra, yakal, bagras, and other big trees now
extinct due to illegal logging and mining activities in the area. In the midst of these natural
God given bounties is the big River called Agusan. There are many tributaries to this vast
water system. From Compostela Valley, the Monkayo River, Wawa River from Bayugan,
Simulao River from Loreto and Adgawan River from La Paz all meeting at Sabang Gibong
in Talacogon. The water flows down to the great China Sea passing through the City of
Butuan, then the kingdom of Batwan and on to Masao then the kingdom of Masawa.
Closer to Monkayo lived the Taghimayat Tribe of the Manobo ancestry. These
people according to the Minonas or village elders came from the kingdom of the
Madjapahit and the Shri Vishaja Empire of Southeast Asia who reached Mindanao in
search for economic hunting grounds crossing through land bridges. The vast woodland
was inhabited by warring Manobo tribes each headed by a Datu whose functions were
that of a Bagani, General of the Army, Chief of Warriors, a Baylan the village shaman,
priest and medicine man who have direct access being medium with the gods and diwatas
(good spirits) and busaos (evil spirits) and an Apo, a Manigaon (elder) who acts as the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the final Judge of all the cases that are to be settled
in the village. The Datu therefore was the most powerful man, in his hands lies tripartite
powers with no check and balance that of spiritual, military and power over the Justice
system.
While the women do all the household chores like cooking, washing clothes,
cleaning the house, caring for small children, the men were busy looking for food,
consisted of hunting wild boars and other edible animals and birds in the forests,
protecting domicile economic areas such as marshlands commonly called
“panganopanan” “ugpa-anan tu mga koonon” a swampy area where lots of food can be
found, for it is the abode of mudfish (haluan), catfish (hito), eel (Kasili) and wild boars. In
this place too can be found stumped of rotten trees, habitat of their favorite “abatod”- milk
worms from dead trees- a very delicious delicacy, very highly proteinous eaten by
Manobos of all ages- kids and adults alike.
The tribe is protected by Baganis- warriors- almost all the men are baganis- they
live and exist to protect the welfare of the tribe.
Young teen age boys are baganis in red attire. They are the new recruits trained
for battle.
If a warrior has killed one enemy, he can decorate his shirt with a black band. The
number of black bands decorated in his red shirt signifies the number of enemies he has
killed.
If in case in a battle with another tribe, one is able to hit with his spear a dead man
in the house then he is entitled to wear a black shirt “naglinugom on” for he has speared
and killed what the “busao” (evil spirit, spirit of death) already has killed. The ranks and
seniority of responsibilities in the tribe is known by the number of black badges one wear
over his red shirt.
But the judge, the Apo, the elderly Minonas or Council of Elders usually wear white
shirts with badges of black and red colors telling stories of his life , his family and tribe.
 The Datu however wore white shirt with different colors of badges over it. His
conquest written in his shirt woven by some story teller of the village- red reflecting
warfare and black reflecting death.
The Taghimayat tribesmen shares the same passion for justice with the rest of the
Manobos which often times to massive killing once they felt an injustice is done to them,
like a boar from their domestic economic hunt is being taken by a fellow from another
tribe. Oftentimes this results to a treacherous kind of warfare “minagahat” when
everything appears to be all right and under control, when every body is in festive and
joyous mood. Apparently sleep is a happy moment for everyone, then the warring assault
will come, killing everybody in the tribe, babies, children, women, men, sparing no one.
The warrior this time is called a Magahat- (a bagani under oath before the diwatas-
sinugbahan- whose life is offered to the good spirit and to MAUBUYAN, THE Chief god
who resides in paradise located in northern Bukidnon, close to Misamis Oriental in Claver,
to kill all enemies that come along his path.)
That is why these tribal folks were disdained by other ethnic groups in Agusan like
the Banwa-on recently termed Higa-onon found in Esperanza closer to the boundaries of
southern Bukidnon, who claimed to be more peaceful people, more economically stable
for they have learned to plant permanent crops like coconut and other fruit bearing trees.
So, as the tale goes, in this upper portion of Agusan, the brave Taghimayats was
ruled by Apo Todow, a shaman, a war general and Chief Justice of the village.(Babaylan,
bagani and an Apo Manigaon.) His shirt was very colorful with backdrop of white and
badges of red and black. He has a beautiful, charming, intelligent, obedient, industrious
wife, Bae Sabuyakan Tisay. Tisay is as sweet as the red bush roses that grow along the
ever powerful Agusan River in the Adgawan portion.
The couple has two kids- a boy called Uto ay and a girl named Kamanduan. These
two kids are the life and light of the village. They are the future leaders of Adgawan. Uto
ay was around four summers old, Kamanduan, older by two summers.. Of course, there
is no winter in Agusan, but they have rainy days, and much more heavier rainy days.
Summer is always a welcome time when the sun is always up the whole day, passionately
kissing over the vast woodlands.
Uto-ay and Kamanduan played a lot, roaming freely around the village and they
are well loved by the tribe.
Bae Sabuyakan Tisay stayed in the house, being the first wife and the queen of
the tribe. She is being tended to be the other four wives of Apo Todow, all relatives and
two are sisters of Sabuyakan. Duway (plural marriage of one man and four women is an
institution among Manobos , the fact that the tribe has more women than men. Men being
early death casualties in constant warfare engaged in by the tribe.) The four other wives
of Datu Todow serve in the palace as cooks, laundrywomen, housekeeper, care for the
children, entertain guest and visitors if any and attend to the need of Datu Todow if the
Queen is indisposed to do so. Other Baganis and men in the village practice duway as
this is their customary law regarding marriage. A man must be responsible for the tending
of at least five women in the tribe.
So, every afternoon, when the sun is not anymore hot Uto-ay and Kamanduan go
to the stump of a dead tree overlooking the river. From this stump, they took turns in
jumping to the deep still river of the Agusan.
This activity of the kids has become daily ritual for the entire summer months. All
the nature surrounding Agusan including the favor of the Diwatas, the good spirits has
known this activity and apparently approves together with the nodding of the heads of the
little cicadas and crickets on top of the Durian and the marang trees and the different
varieties of birds including the migratory birds from other countries hopping lazily from
twig to branches of the trees in the vast woodland.
Then, one day, the sun appears gloomy. Cloud formation seems to threaten the
smile of the happy sun, foretelling that something foreboding unwanted event might
happen… seemingly Uto ay and Kamanduan did not bother to care to notice the change
in scenery around them for going to that stump of the tree during summer had been an
addiction and a ritual for the two kids. Apparently, the day will not be complete without it.
So, Uto ay was the first to dive. While Kamanduan waited for Uto ay to emerge out
from the deep river. Then once Uto ay get out from the water, Kamanduan takes the turn
to dive. This has been the process of the game. Then it was Kamanduan’s turn to dive,
and she did. Uto ay waited for her to get out of the waters. Uto ay waited and
waited..waited and waited.. the seconds turn to minutes.. the minutes to hours… Uto ay
was already apprehensive.. What has happened to her sister? Why has she not got out
of the waters till now? Is she drowned? Is she dead? Many questions play in Uto’s mind..
and there are no sure answers. But the sun was about to set and no Kamanduan has got
out of the waters. The vicinities and surrounding areas starts to darken. Uto was already
afraid.. running he went home… cringing with fear. What will father and mother do now?
Where’s his sister?
Bae Sabuyakan Tisay met Uto halfway down the road. Her colorful skirt bearing
colors of red, black and white telling of stories of warfare and how the family had escaped
and survived swayed reaching the ground as she ran toward Uto asking him questions of
what had happened. What took them so long to return home and where is Kamanduan?
Uto has a hard time opening his mouth and between sobs and falling tears with
shaking body, he said that Duan dove from the stump of the tree, he waited for her to
come out of the waters but that was the last time he saw her. She never got out of the
waters again. The sun was halfway down the sky when Duan dove and now the sun has
set and Duan never emerged again.
Bae Sabuyakan Tisay run to where her husband was, together with the rest of the
Apos and the Baganis and told them of Duan’s predicament. The whole village was in
commotion. The gong was beaten informing the inhabitants that something bad has
happened in their village. The manigaons and the minonas gathered together seeking
wisdom from the diwatas and from each other as to what to do and how this issue be
addressed. Then Apo Suday, a minona said: “ we will have to ask Datu Buada of the
nearby village, to do the task for us- for among all datus, he is the only one with the power,
the skill to swim to that deepest part of the river and stayed there for long and to know
where and what happened to Duan.” So, emissaries were sent to Datu Buada telling him
of the predicament of Duan and asking him if he could help , that whatever it is he will ask
as payment for this gigantic task of finding Duan will be given to him with additional offers
attached to the award .
Datu Buada met Datu Todow with their men and conglomerated themselves near
the stump of the tree where Duan dove. A ritual was made invoking the spirits of the
crocodile of the river, from there Buada dive. Buada spent many hours under water . Many
of the villagers were weeping , crying out loud, invoking the Diwatas for the safety of
Kamanduan. The sound of the gongs and the drums continued till the wee hours in the
morning. Nobody slept in the village except for the small kids and children. The men and
women were in full alert, heart beating in anticipation as to what has happened to their
little princess.
 It was about early morning that Buada came out of the river , in his arms lay the
limp but alive body of Kamanduan.
The people shouted with joy! It was a great day for every body! How the people
rejoiced. They praised Datu Buada for a feat unsurpassed, that is bringing the life back
of their beautiful little princess. The gongs and drums beat now joyfully announcing to one
and all that the princess is found and there is a reason for great rejoicing in the village!!!
The Manigaons, minonas, baganis of the two tribes gathered around Datu Buada ready
to listen to what transpired under water. Datu Buada was given buyot (bettle nut for
chewing put in between his right teeth protruding in the lower lip), started to narrate his
escapade under water. Under the influence of the Buada Spirit (spirit of the crocodile god)
the Datu narrated the event in a form of a chant (tud-om): “Oh… oh… oh… down under ,
I saw Kamanduan in the lap of a very big lumod (mermaid of the river, the spirit of the
river Agusan). The lumod was singing lullaby to the princess for her to go to sleep. Soon
Kamanduan fell asleep, but it took a long time for the lumod to fall asleep. She was
watching Kamanduan carefully it was about dawn when the lumod fall asleep. I , Buada
hid in the under water bushes, when I saw that the Lumod had fallen asleep. I immediately
swam silently towards where Kamanduan was, carefully I snatched her from the lap of
the lumod who was soundly snoring, and brought her up towards the surface of the waters
limp but very much alive…” The village men started chanting thanks to the good diwatas
of the river agusan and the woodlands.. Datu Todow asked Datu Buada what will be the
prize for such conquest , twenty boars, twenty chicken, twenty sacks of gabi (taro). twenty
women slaves.. what will satisfy Buada? Datu Buada shook his majestic head and said:
“ I don’t want any of what you offer me. All I want is that when Kamanduan reaches
womanhood indicated by menarche I want that she be wedded to my son Sundi.” Datu
Todow just like any gentleman sealed the pact of agreement with Datu Buada, giving
honor to his word that whatever be the prize that Buadawould like to get after he is able
to save Kamanduan will be granted to him. So the pact was sealed. In due time
Kamanduan was to marry Prince Sundi of the Buada Tribe. The ritual for betrothal was
performed offering the lives of the two children to the Diwatas that in appropriate time
they will become man and woman and the Tribes of the Taghimayat and the Buadas will
be one.
After that heart palpitating incident, time and seasons became normal once again
for the Manobos of Agusan. Uto now growing to manhood, and soon being recruited to
the baganiship. Young Kamanduan however, every night is being visited by the lumod,
the god of the river agusan telling her to go back to the stump of the tree for in it is an oil
which she has to use everyday for her hair and for her skin. At first Kamanduan was very
apprehensive, but she cannot anymore contain the instructions of the lumod but to comply
for it appeared nightly in her nightmarish dreams.
Kamanduan found a jar of oil at the foot of the stump.
Religiously, Kamanduan followed the lumod’s instruction that is to apply the oil to
her skin and to her hair every time she bathe in the vast Agusan River. Thus, Kamanduan
grow up to be so white skinned that even the food she ate could be seen passing through
her throat. Her hair so long that it reaches to the ground, which she formed into a beautiful
bun hanging at the right side of her face and bangs of hair on the forehead indicating that
the girl is a virgin. For if the bun is on the left side the girl now is married to one husband
and if the bun is at the back indicating that she is married by duway. (second , third or
fourth wife of The Datu)
Princess Kamanduan then was the most beautiful girl found in the Manoboland
that time. Many men were enthralled by her and would like to pursue her with ardor. But
alas, her fate had been sealed for in proper time she would be wedded to Sundi the only
son of Datu Buada.
But who can ever dictate the heart? Kamanduan fell in love not with Sundi but with
Sundey, the son of Datu Mati. The love was so ardous that even the birds and the bees
want to join with the two when ever they went around the highly forested lands of Agusan.
The flowers bloomed whenever the two passed by. And as they say, affairs like this can
never be kept a secret. At first , whispers went around the village… “psst, Do you know,
Kamanduan and Sundey are in love with each other.. OH Apo, Diwatas .. what will be the
reaction of Datu Buada and Prince Sundi if they learned this?….” The whispers became
loud voices of antagonism. No, this cannot happen. The gods will not allow this to happen.
This is injustice to the Buada Tribe… a breach of contract, and indespicable act. And so
as the tale went on, Buada came to hear of the news.
He stomped his feet in a savaged outrage. Todow should not allow this to happen.
What has happened to the contract made the time Kamanduan was saved by Buada
under water that she was to marry Prince Sundi. So, the Buadas planned a magahat
against the tribe of Todow. The order was to kill all of Todow’s people. But like all
Manobos that time, all children are betrothed but parents left alone their children most of
the time and very little parental concern is being given to their kids. Todow was the last
person to know of Kamanduan’s affair, but too late… No amicable settlement could be
made for in the baganis law.. any injustices committed by any Manobo should always be
punished with death.
So, the warfare started, killings were made in the name of the tribe, Buada killing
Todow’s men. Todow’s men killing Buada’s people.. men, women, children, not sparing
any one including their animals.
Agusan was in bad shape, Even those belonging to other tribes cannot contain the
warfare. Todow decided to put Kamanduan into auction.. Duan was put into public
bidding, but no man will take her now. She was considered accursed… Buada will not
take her for the Buadas believed that only her death can pay the honor and dignity of the
tribe besmirched by her reputation of falling in love with another man and not to his
betrothed.
Knowing this predicament of Kamanduan, Prince Sundey faced all the obstacles
of warfare and hatred, took her beloved Kamanduan and together they fought for their
love and together they died in the hands of the Buadas. The tragedy did not end with the
death of the lover. Now the tribe of Sundey are in red and black.. the warfare escalated..
blood for blood..honor for honor… justice for justice… in the name of love and tribal
dignity.
Many in Agusan so tired of the warfare moved out of the vast Agusan Valley. Those
who reached Lake Lanao became the Maranaws. Those who reached Cotabato became
the Maguindanaos, others went to Butuan and became the Lapaknons. There were those
who went to far Davao and became the Bagobo.
To this date, warfare is still in the blood of the Manobos in Agusan.. A little injustice
against their domain will cause bloodshed for still in their veins run the blood and deep
desire for justice and revenge. If there is no justice in this earth except warfare, then in
death there is, for even how many people had been killed by a Manobo, there is no
concept of hell.. In death, All will go to paradise, where the god Maubuyan lives, near
Bukidnon..Where food abound, lanzones as big as the head of a baby, corn found
aplenty, rice, mud fish, everything provided for and there is no need to fight .True love,
real love is in paradise with Maubuyan… and as the tale ends, there Sundey and
Kamanduan lived happily ever after.
 Bilaan (folktale)

In the very beginning there lived a being so large that he can not be compared with
any known thing. His name was Melu,[2] and when he sat on the clouds, which were his
home, he occupied all the space above. His teeth were pure gold, and because he was
very cleanly and continually rubbbed himself with his hands, his skin became pure white.
The dead skin which he rubbed off his body[3] was placed on one side in a pile, and by
and by this pile became so large that he was annoyed and set himself to consider what
he could do with it.

Finally Melu decided to make the earth; so he worked very hard in putting the dead
skin into shape, and when it was finished he was so pleased with it that he determined to
make two beings like himself, though smaller, to live on it.

Making the remnants of the material left after making the earth he fashioned two
men, but just as they were all finished except their noses, Tau Tana from below the earth
appeared and wanted to help him.

Melu did not wish any assistance, and a great argument ensued Tau Tana finally
won his point and made the noses which he placed on the people upside down. When all
was finished, Melu and Tau Tana whipped the forms until they moved. Then Melu went
to his home above the clouds, and Tau Tana returned to his place below the earth.

All went well until one day a great rain came, and the people on the earth nearly
drowned from the water which ran off their heads into their noses. Melu, from his place
on the clouds, saw their danger, and he came quickly to earth and saved their lives by
turning their noses the other side up.

The people were very grateful to him, and promised to do anything he should ask
of them. Before he left for the sky, they told him that they were very unhappy living on the
great earth all alone, so he told them to save all the hair from their heads and the dry skin
from their bodies and the next time he came he would make them some companions.
And in this way there came to be a great many people on the earth.
 Indarapatra and Sulayman (epic)

A long, long time ago, Mindanao was covered with water, and the sea cover all the
lowlands so that nothing could be seen but the mountains jutting from it. There were many
people living in the country and all the highlands were dotted with villages and
settlements. For many years the people prospered, living in peace and contentment.
Suddenly there appeared in the land four horrible monsters which, in short time has
devoured every human being they could find.
Kurita, a terrible creature with many limbs, lived partly on the land and partly on
sea, but its favorite haunt was the mountain where the rattan palm grew; and here it
brought utter destruction on every living thing. The second monster, Tarabusaw, an ugly
creature in the form of a man, lived on Mt. Matutum, and far and wide from that place he
devoured the people, laying waste the land. The third, an enormous bird called Pah, was
so large that, when on the wing, it covered the sun and brought darkness to the earth. Its
egg was as large as a house. Mt. Bita was its haunt; and there the only people who
escaped its voracity were those who hid in the mountain caves. The fourth monster was
also a dreadful bird, having seven heads and the power to see in all directions at the
same time. Mt. Gurayan was its home and like the others, it wrought havoc to its region.
So great was the death and destruction caused by these terrible creatures that at
length, the news spread even to the most distant lands - and all nations grieved to hear
the sad fate of Mindanao.
Now far across the sea, in the land of the golden sunset, was a city so great that
to look at its many people would injure the eyes of men. When tidings of these great
disasters reached this distant city, the heart of King Indarapatra was filled with
compassion, and he called his brother, Sulayman, and begged them to save the land of
Mindanao from the monsters.
Sulayman listened to the story and as heard it, was moved with pity. "I will go",
zeal and enthusiasm adding to his strength, "and the land shall be avenged," said he.
King Indarapatra, proud of his brother's courage, gave him a ring and a sword as
he wished him success and safety. Then he placed a young sapling by his window and
said to Sulayman "By this tree I shall know your fate from the hour you depart from here,
for if you live, it will live; but if you die, it will die also."
So Sulayman departed for Mindanao, and he neither waded nor used a boat, but
went through the air and landed on the mountain where the rattan grew. There he stood
on the summit and gazed about on all sides. He looked on the land and the villages, but
he could see no living thing. And he was very sorrowful and cried out: "Alas, how pitiful
and dreadful is this devastation."
No sooner had Sulayman uttered those words than the whole mountain began to
move and then shook. Suddenly out of the ground came the horrible creature Kurita. It
sprung at the man and sank its claws at his flesh. But, Sulayman knowing at once that
this was the scourge of the land, drew his sword and cut Kurita to pieces.
Encourage by his first success, Sulayman went on to Mt. Matutum, where
conditions were even worse. As he stood on the heights viewing the great devastation,
there was a noise in the forest and a movement in the trees. With a loud yell, Tarabusaw
forth leaped. For the moment they looked at each other, neither showing any sign of fear.
Then Tarabusaw used all his powers to try to devour Sulayman, who fought back. For a
long time, the battle continued, until at last, the monster fell exhausted to the ground and
Sulayman killed him with his sword.
The nest place visited by Sulayman was Mt. Bita. Here havoc was present
everywhere, and though he passed by many homes, he saw that not a single soul was
left. As he walked, sudden darkness fell over the land, startling him. As he looked toward
the sky he beheaded a great bird that swooped upon him. Immediately he struck, and the
bird fell dead at his feet; but the wing fell on Sulayman and he was crushed.
Now at this very time King Indarapatra was sitting at his window, and looking out
he saw the little tree wither and dry up.
"Alas!" he cried, "my brother is dead" and he wept bitterly.
Then although he was very sad, he was filled with a desire for revenge. Putting on
his sword and belt, he started for Mindanao, in search for his brother.
He, too, traveled through the air with great speed until he came to the mountain
where the rattan grew. There he looked about, awed at the great destruction, and when
she saw the bones of Kurita he knew that his brother had been there. He went on till he
came to Matutum, and when he saw the bones of Tarabusaw, he knew that this, too, was
the work of Sulayman.
Still searching for his brother, he arrived at Mt. Bita, where the dead bird lay on the
ground, and when he lifted the severed wing he beheld the bones of Sulayman with his
sword by his side. His grief now so overwhelmed Indarapatra that he wept for some time.
Upon looking up, he beheld a small jar of water by his side. This, he knew had been sent
from the heaven, and he poured the water over the bones, and Sulayman, came to life
again. They greeted each other and talked animatedly for great length of time. Sulayman
declared that he had not been dead but asleep, and their hearts were full of joy.
After some time Sulayman returned his distant home, but Indarapatra continued
his journey to Mt. Gurayan where killed the dreadful bird with the seven heads. After these
monsters had all been killed, peace and safety had been restored to the land: Indarapatra
began searching everywhere to see if some of the people who hid in the earth were still
alive.
One day, in the course of his search, he caught sight of a beautiful woman at a
distance. When he hastened toward her she disappeared through a hole in the ground
where she stood. Disappointed and tried, he sat down on a rock to rest when, looking
about, he saw near him a pot uncooked rice with a big fire on the ground in front of it. This
revived him and he proceeded to cook the rice. As he did so, however, he heard someone
laugh near by, and turning he beheld an old woman watching him. As he greeted her, she
drew near and talked to him while he ate the rice.
Of all the people in the land, the woman told him, only few were left, and they hid
in a cave in the ground from whence they never ventured to come out. As for herself and
her old husband, she went on, they had hidden in a hollow tree, and this they had never
dared to leave until Sulayman killed the voracious bird Pah.
At Indarapatra's request, the old woman led him to one such cave. There he met
the headmen with his family and some people. They all gathered about the stranger,
asking many questions, for this was the first time they had heard about the death of the
monsters. When they found out what Indarapatra had done for them, the headman gave
his daughter to him in marriage, and she proved to be beautiful girl whom Indarapatra
had seen at the mouth of the cave.
 Then the people all came out of their hiding places and returned to their homes
where they lived in peace and happiness. And the sea withdrew from the land and gave
the lowlands to the people.
 Ulahingan: The Visit of Lagaba’an to Nelendangan (Manobos of North
Cotabato) (epic)

Nalandangan is the later name of an ancient city fortress called by different names,
among them: Yendang, Manengneng, Libalan, and Newili-an. A chosen people, loved by
the Highest God of the skyworld, dwell in the fortress city. They have come from Aruman,
by riding a huge ship.

The people built the city, a huge structure along the seashore at the mouth of a
river, using trees for pillars. The trees are so big that eight men are needed to link hands
around each one. The beams point to the east, their tips decked with statues of reptiles
carved with their mouths open, daggerlike teeth exposed. The hair of the mermaid and
the locks of the deity Alimugkat, goddess of the seas, layered with grass from the
skyworld, make up the roof of the fortress. On the eaves is a frieze of statues of dazzling
red warriors; and on top of the building are two warriors of gold, each armed with a spear,
a shield, and a buckler, both poised for battle. West of the building is a statue of a beautiful
maiden, washing herself in a stream; in the east, a statue of a golden eagle with wings
outspread. Surrounding the building are shrubs and flowering plants. The huge palace
also has a courtyard of silver and a playground of glass. A mountain of destroyed shields
and bucklers, spear shafts, and uprooted trees, hems in a battlefield. Scattered around
are the teeth, skulls, and hair of previous invaders. Agyu’s room, called the “bengyasan”,
is coated with paint nine times over. The bathing place of the maidens is fenced by
boulders to protect them from sharks and crocodiles. The floor is made of silver; the inside
wall of glass. There are also bathing places for the married women, for Agyu the hero,
and for the young men. They never remove their armours when they bathe.

Nalandangan also has fortifications. Each of the well-known warriors – Kuyasu,

nephew of Agyu; Seyluwen, the son; Piglibu, the brother; Banlak/Vanlak, another brother;
Nebeyaw, another son; and Agyu — is assigned a fort. Agyu’s fort is built of iron and
steel. This fort is specially provided with a cover on which eight or ten men can perform
the “sa-ul”. Invaders reach no farther than the opening of the fort.

After a period of peace comes an eventful time for the people and warriors of
Nalandangan. Elbowing one another and splattering betel quid onto the floor, the people
are assembled in the palace. Agyu’s brother Lena/Lono has convented the people to an
assembly while Agyu has been sleeping for days. When he wakes up, Agyu asks his wife
for the water container to wash his face and for the betel chew. Directing his eyes to Lena,
the favorite son of Nalandangan, Agyu recites his foreboding dream about the darkness
and destruction of Nalandangan. He has dreamt that hardwood trees are uprooted and
flung to distant places, and that the cliffs of the sea are turned to dust.

Pigyugung or Pemulew, Agyu’s older brother, dreams that invaders have come.
Agyu wants to offer a prayer because he thinks that the goddess of fate has forsaken him
and his people. Thunder booms. Unperturbed, Lena laughs faintly and says that the
morrow will show whether or not they are an abandoned people. Just then, the invaders
reach the fortress. Lena orders the young people to arm themselves. They grab weapons
from the piles of shields and spears, and they delight in putting on their battle gear again
after a long time.

Vanlak, the younger brother of Agyu, shouts that he will lead the attack against the
“darkness” that has enveloped the fortress of Nalandangan. Agyu’s son, Nebeyew, is just
as ready as any other young man. With his plume, he paces around the courtyard like a
cock at the edge of the lawn. Soon, he is fighting the invaders who fall like fruit from a
tree. He raises his arm, and from it come a flame that lights the place, revealing that the
“darkness” has caused a magic iron rod to disable or devour many of Agyu’s followers.

Lena arms himself carefully, with the orioles hovering over his plume, signifying
his diwata is guiding and protecting him. The he leaps on to the pebbled arena, and he
sinks deep there up to his belt. He instructs his shield and buckler to be firmly rooted to
the foundation of the underworld. Then, the enormous magic iron rod warns him to be
ready because he might be blown by a storm or swallowed up by a mighty wind. The iron
rod now withdraws to the sea and from there trots back to the battlefield, knocking Lena’s
shield and buckler to pieces. Lena leaps overhead, grapples with the rod, and throws it
to the outer space. The rod devastates every kingdom that it passes.

When it returns, it warns Lena of its revenge. The rod tries to gnaw Lena’s slender
waist, but Lena’s waist is alloyed. Then Lena grabs the rod, and, locked together, they
spin, until Lena smashes it against the hardwood trees and the cliff, turning them into a
wasteland. Lena then implores his protecting diwata to turn his legs with anklets into sharp
swords, and his limbs into sabers. With them, he splinters and powders the monster of
iron. But out of the splinters and powder appears a fleet of invading ships. In one ship is
a king, and from all come a thousand troops. They land and destroy the plantations, the
trees, and gardens. The people of Yendang are fettered on the decks of the ships. Lena
leaps onto the decks and pulverizes the chain that binds them by simply touching it. His
freed followers are transported back to the spacious courtyard.

A toddler welcomes the old king to Yendang. As the king sits at the portal of the
courtyard, he is directed to see for himself his own ships being splintered and strewn
around. Unmoved, the king only encourages his followers to continue devastating the
gardens and plantations. Lena chases the invaders around, and they assemble at the
seashore. Their king exhorts them to shout and to knock their shields to produce a
thunderous peal by which to frighten the inhabitants of Yendang. The local folks respond
by following Lena’s instructions to produce an even more deafening sound that drowns
out the invaders’ shouts and banging of shields. Then, Lena tells his followers to dance
the sa-ut, for he says that the battle will be awkward without it.

The war dance is just a warm-up to the fighting that ensues in the lawn. Both young
and old warriors participate in the battle. The enemies flee, but they are chased up to the
underbushes of the mountains, where they are decimated. The king of the invaders tells
his aide to save his men. The aide plants his shield, which becomes a cliff in the middle
of the lawn to shelter their warriors, although he claims it is for the people who are scared
of the fighting. Either Dayuen, Agyu’s cousin, or Delemenen, his son, knocks the shield
away. Delemenen spears the king’s aide. Losing his aide, the king arms himself. He
commands his anklets and ringlets to ring the place up to the mountains and hills, making
the place an impenetrable jungle. The king also commands his shield and buckler to grow
taller and wider until they are fastened to the gilded beams of the palace, becoming a
blocking cliff. The king taunts Lena to bypass the obstacle. Lena does not take the
challenge right away, but he performs the sa-ut. As he does so, he kicks the obstacles
along the seashore. Then Lena moves to the lawn and tests the strength and solidity of
the planted shield and buckler of the king, who again taunts him. The shield and the
buckler receive greater pressure from Lena, and they confess that they are like ropes
snapping, Lena soon turns them into splinters.

Lena fights with the king. The king’s spear and javelin are ground to dust. Then,
they fight with their daggers and kampilan blades, but Lena turns his opponent’s blades
to dust. The two wrestle, and, as they are grappling, a smoke arises in their midst, but
neither one of them yields. Lena then hurls himself skyward to look for the “sipa” or ball
of the sky. With this ball, he encases the king, who, however, frees himself easily. The
king shackles Lena’s feet. The fetters are attached to a gigantic tree and a balite tree,
which is ordered to fasten its trunk to the land of the dead and the gilded beam of the
palace. However, Lena frees himself easily. Lena retaliates by hurling the king up into
space. But the king returns to the courtyard. Confronting Lena, he uses the hair of a diety
to bind him, and although Lena can wriggle, he cannot free himself.

Meanwhile, in another land lives one of Agyu’s relatives: Tigyekuwa, Agyu’s first
wife, and their son Kumugpa. The boy has been crying the whole day long, and to stop
him, the mother promises him that they will visit his father Agyu if he ceases to cry. When
they arrive at Yendang, they find Lena already bound. Tigyekuwa then approaches Lena
and touches the hair that binds him and he is freed. She also identifies Lena’s adversary
as his true father, who has never visited Nalandangan before. The king’s eyes moisten,
unable to recognize the multitude of his children, his grandchildren and his great great
grandchildren.
 Literary
Works

Regions XI, XII and XIII

Region
XII
Region
XIII
Region
XI