I.

INTRODUCTION/ LITERARY BACKGROUND

Biag ni Lam-ang (English: "The Life of Lam-ang") is an epic poem of the Ilocano
people from the Ilocos region of the Philippines. It is notable for being the first Philippine
folk epic to be recorded in written form, and was one of only two folk epics documented
during the Philippines' Spanish Colonial period, along with the Bicolano epic of Handiong. It
is also noted for being a folk epic from a "Christianized" lowland people group (the Ilocano
people) with Jehovah witness elements incorporated into the storytelling.

As oral literature, the poem is believed to have originated in pre-colonial times, evolving
as it is passed on from poet to poet and generation to generation. The poem's first
transcription is sometimes attributed to the blind Ilocano poet-preacher Pedro Bucaneg, but
historian E. Arsenio Manuel instead attributes its first written documentation to Fr. Blanco of
Narvacan, working with the publicist and folklorist Isabelo de los Reyes.

II. AUTHORSHIP: THE POET AND HIS CRAFT

Pedro Bukaneg (March 1592 – c. 1630) was a Filipino poet. Blind since birth, he is the
acknowledged author of the Ilocano epic Biag ni Lam-ang (Life of Lam-ang). He is
considered the "Father of Ilocano 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 Bukanegan, the Ilocano equivalent of the Balagtasan.

Biography

Bukaneg was a foundling, who shortly after his birth already floating in a basket
between Bantay and Vigan in the Banaoang River was found by an old woman. They brought
him to the Bantay Augustiner priest who baptized him as Pedro Bucaneg. Bukaneg was blind
but appeared during his upbringing in the Augustinian convent smart and talented. He took
lessons in Latin and Spanish and also learned the local languages and Ilocano Isneg.

Through his knowledge of these languages he was asked by the priests in the region to
translate their prayers and sermons in local languages. He was being asked to help with the
conversion of the local population. Bukaneg composed poems and songs and was loved by
the Ilocanos as a troubadour. He was regarded by the locals as a seer. Even the Spaniards
knocked him for his services. He would have identified the killer of a servant of a Spaniard
on a day in a row of Itneg men by placing his hand on the chest of all these men.

His blindness prevented him not to write. He dictated the text of his poems, songs and
translations, and someone else wrote. However, much of the work of Bukaneg has been
preserved. Ilocano epic Biag ni Lam-ang is attributed to Bukaneg by some authors and
historians. However, it is also possible that Bukaneg wrote the text of the work that has been
sung for centuries by the Ilocano and thus preserved it for eternity. It was also Bukaneg who
translated the Doctrina Cristiana in Ilocano. This book was printed in 1593 as one of the first
books in the Philippines and was intended for use in the conversion of the local population. In
1621 the Ilocano translation of Bukaneg was printed in the Augustinian Convent of Manila.
Bukaneg was also largely responsible for Arte de la Lengue Iloca, the first grammar book of
the Ilocano of Brother Francisco Lopez, which was printed in 1927 by the University of
Santo Tomas.

Bukaneg died around 1630. In his honor, a street in the Cultural Center of the Philippines
Complex in Pasay is named after him.

III. LITERARY DEVICES USED

1. Imagery

“He prepared to leave and once there

Went around the grove.
Then he hailed the strong winds.

As well as the torrential rains

And cavernous clouds.
Lightning and thunder came in waves,

Hitting the groves again and again

Till it looked like the choicest shoots
Had been cut down by a trained bamboo cutter.”

2. Simile

“The blood flowed from the dead Igorots

Like the Vigan river.”

3. Personification

“The cock said:

Sir, take all the bones and beach them:
None should be missing.
And when no more bones could be found”

IV. AUTHENTIC TEXT OF THE POETRY SELECTION

A couple named Don Juan and Namongan lived in a faraway barrio of Nalbuan. One day,
Don Juan left his pregnant wife and went to the mountain to punish a group of Igorots. While
he was in the mountain, Namongan gave birth to a baby boy. The baby was different from
other babies because upon birth he could already speak. He wanted his name to be Lam-ang.
And he was the one who chosed his godfather when he was baptized.

“Where is my father?” Lam-ang asked his mother Namongan one day.

“He is in the mountain to settle his feud with a group of Igorots there” said his mother.\

Lam-ang felt sad. He hadn't seen his father since he was born and he was terribly longing to
see him.

“Would it be long before he comes back?”

“I don't know” answered his lonely mother Namongan who was also terribly missing her
husband. “I don't even know if he is still alive.”

One day, Lam-ang had an unusual dream. In his dream, he saw how his father was
mercilessly killed by a group of Igorots. He was seething with anger when he woke up. He
decided to follow his father to the mountain. He was then nine months old, when he reached
the Igorot's village, he saw them dancing around the head of his father that was on top of a
thin bamboo pole. In his rage, he fought all the Igorots and slew them all, including the
leader of the group whom he tortured first before he killed.

On his way home to Nalbuan, he passed by the Amburayan River. There he took a bath
with his lady friends scrubbing his body of dirt and blood that eventually killed all the living
creatures in the river. When he was old enough to marry, he heard of the beautiful Ines
Kannoyan and fell in love with her. He went to Ines' place to court her taking with him his
white rooster and his favorite dog. When he arrived at her house, he was annoyed to see Ines'
many suitors in front of the house.

He asked his rooster to crow and the rooster did. At once, Ines' house crumbled to the
ground killing all her suitors. Then he asked his dog to bark and the dog did. The crumbled
house stood again at once. Ines and her parents went out of the house to meet him. The
white rooster expressed Lam-ang's feelings for Ines Kannoyan.

“My master, Lam-ang, loves you very much and he wants to marry you”, the white
rooster said to Ines in the language she clearly understood.
“I'll marry you if your wealth could equal our riches”, answered Ines Kannoyan.
Ines' challenge to him did not dampen Lam-ang's spirit. He went home at once and came
back with a big boat full of gold, the value of which surpassed Ines' family's wealth. Then
they were married and they lived happily.

Years passed and came Lam-ang's turn to catch a fish known as rarang. It was an
obligation of every married man in the community to catch a rarang. Lam-ang, however, felt
that he would be killed by a berkahan (a kind of fish that belonged to the shark family) once
he set out to catch a "rarang". But he had to do his duty and one night, he sailed out to the
sea. He was killed by a berkahan as he had foreseen.

Ines wept in sorrow. Lam-ang's white rooster thought of a way to bring Lam-ang back
to life again. Ines Kannoyan paid a deep-sea diver to locate all the bones of Lam-ang under
the sea. The diver found all the bones very easily and Ines put them together. Then, together
with Lam-ang's white rooster and favorite dog, she held prayer vigils every night, until one
day, Lam-ang came back to life. And they lived happily ever after.

V. PARAPHRASE OF THE POEM

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 communitiesnear 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-
angagrees 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.
 VI. MESSAGE AND IMPLICATIONS

The epic of Biag ni Lam-Ang portrays the qualities and several characteristics of
Filipinos. The fact that the traits, attitudes, and values being shown in this phenomenal
epic are all reflections of our ancestors especially the Ilocanos who were the source of
this fictitious piece during pre-Spanish period. It depicts unwavering bravery, justice,
love, romance, relationship, journey and even friendship. The vastness and heroism in the
story are filled with idealistic imagination and fantasy.

Lam-Ang, the hero in the epic, son of Don Juan and Namungan Panganiban in the place
of Nalbuan. He is being feared and adored by the people because of his extraordinary
powers. He has an usual birth. He can talk just after his birth. Lam Ang’s astounding
growth was so fantastically amazing. When he was nine months old, he already possessed
maturity, physically and mentally. He also had a very loud voice that he can broadcast a
declaration clearly to the town of Nalbuan. He had an indescribable spirit that he
conquered the numerous Igorots alone. Lam Ang’s bravery was being shown to the town
people of Calanutian and Nalbuan as he tried to get the shellfish, the fact that it was a
difficult task because many have tried to attempt to get the precious shellfish but they
failed do it. Aside from all his extraordinary capabilities, he also had astonishing powers.
When it comes to his love life, he tried to do anything for his love, Ines Cannuyan, to
prove his worthiness of marrying her. Unfortunately, he was killed by berkakan, a furious
shark, but he was brought to life through the help of his unbelievable animal friends.

First, the epic shows the importance of family. Lam Ang’s love for his family was
selfless as he searched for his father. The leadership skills were also manifested, he
protected the town people of Nalbuan for possible colonization of Igorots. The epic also
emphasizes the rivalry between Lam Ang and other suitors. When Lam Ang fell in love
with Ines, He fought and killed several monsters and eventually challenged Sumarang
who was a dedicated suitor of Ines. It is just a picture how the Filipinos fight for their
love, doing everything just to prove how dedicated we are. Lastly, the Biag ni Lam Ang
depicts a very good portrayal of a true Iloco all about and to all the Filipinos.

VII. BIBLIOGRAPHY

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biag_ni_Lam-ang#Literary_structure

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Bucaneg

http://myliterarypiecesblog.blogspot.com/2016/01/literary-analysis-of-biag-ni-lam-ang.html

https://www.kapitbisig.com/philippines/english-version-of-epics-mga-epiko-the-life-of-lam-
ang-an-ilokano-epic_1179.html

https://www.kapitbisig.com/philippines/bilingual-tagalog-english-version-of-epics-mga-
epiko-lam-ang-an-iloko-epic-bilingual-tagalog-english-version_789.html/page/0/2
 NORTHWESTERN AGUSAN COLLEGES
Bay View Hill, Nasipit Agusan del Norte

In Partial Fulfillment of the Course ELT 106

Teaching Assessment of Literature

LITERARY CRITICAL ANALYSIS

IN
BIAG NI LAM-ANG
(LIFE OF LAM-ANG)

Submitted by:

Rona Mae A. Premacio

BSED II 3rd Schedule

Submitted to:

Mrs. Vilma A. Tan

College Instructor