FILIPINO EPIC POETRY warriors that reverberated throughout the forests
and mangroves swamps. Brought to Ligmanan, the
1. IBALON
 Also known as “Handiong”
 Written in Spanish Colonial Era
 Folk epic of Bicol region
 Have 60 stanza
 Based on Indian Hindu epic Mahabharata
and Ramayana
 Full version is in book: Balon
Ethnohistory of the Bikol Region (Author:
Mariano Goyena Del Prado.)
IBALON SUMMARY
The epic opens with Iling requesting the bard
Kadunung to recount the tale of the glorious Ibálong
of long ago. Forthwith Kadunung described the
ancient land and spoke of its first hero, Baltog, a
White Aryan, who had come
from Boltavara (Bharata-varsha or India). He
planted a linsa patch in Tondol (now in Kamalig)
which, one night, was foraged by a giant wild
boar (Tandayag). The furious Baltog chased the
Tandayag, killed it with his bare hands, and hung its
enormous jawbones on a talisay tree in front of his
house in Tondol. For this marvelous feat, he was
acknowledged chief of the local hunters. The clans
of Panicuason and Asog came over to marvel at the
monstrous wild boar in Ibálong.
Next to come was Handyong. With his
followers, he fought the monsters of the land.
But Oryol, a wily serpent who appeared as a
beautiful maiden with a seductive voice, was one
whom Handyong could not destroy. Meanwhile,
Oryol admired Handyong's bravery and gallantry.
Because of this, Oryol helped Handyong clear the
region of ferocious beasts until peace came to the
whole of the land.
With Ibálong rid of wild creatures, Handyong
turned to making wise laws and planting the land to
linsa and rice. A period of the invention followed:
boat, farming tools, weaving looms, clay wares,
kitchen utensils, tree houses, and even a syllabary.
Together, the people built a society with culture. It
was a golden period in Ibálong when even slaves
were respected under the laws of Handyong.
Then came a great flood, freed by Unos that
changed the features of the land. Three volcanoes,
named Hantik, Kulasi, and Isarog erupted
simultaneously. Inundations caused lands to sink,
from which Lake Buhi came about, or rise, as in the
strip of seacoast in Pasacao, Camarines Sur, and
wiped out many settlements, especially the
Dagatnong settlement in the Kalabangan Gulf. The
Malbogong Islet formed in the Bikol River. The
Inarihan River altered its course. A lofty mountain
sank at Bato, forming a lake.
Despite the calamities, Ibálong grew
powerful under Old Chief Handyong, whose
constant companion and good friend, by then, was
the young Bantong. Although given a thousand men
to destroy the half man and half beast Rabot, who
could change its enemies into rocks, Bantong slew it
single-handedly – to the loud cheers of his thousand
corpse of Rabot was horrible to behold. The Great
Handyong himself was shocked at the sight.
At this point, the Ibálong epic-fragment ends
abruptly, and Kadunung promises to continue the
story some other time.
IBALON INTERPRETTIONS
1. Resilience of Bicolanos.
2. Innovativeness of Bicolanos
3. Good leadership without self-glorification
4. Note that three heroes were foreigner and
not pure inhabitants of Ibalon poses that the
locals had to depend on foreign abilities and
leadership before they were able to obtain
progress.
2. HINILAWOD
 From Panay, Philippines
 Longest epic known along with Tibet’s Epic
of King Gesar with 29,000 verse and takes
3 days to chant
 Translated as “tales from the mouth of the
halawod river”
 Performed for weddings in songs
 Discovered by anthropologist F. Landa
Jocano from natives Ulang Udig, Udungan
(Babaylan) and Hugan-an (Mountain
Singer) in 1955
SUMMARY OF HINILAWOD
The Story Alunsina and Datu Paubari
Kaptan, the king of the Gods, decreed that
the beautiful Alunsina (also called Laun Sina, "the
Unmarried One") marry upon reaching her
maidenhood. Though all the unmarried gods from
every corner of the universe tried to win her hand in
marriage, she chose to marry a mortal, Datu
Paubari, ruler of the Halawod.
Angered by Alunsina's decision, her suitors
conspired to harm the newlywed couple. Maklium-
sa-t'wan, the God of the Plains, called a council
meeting of the gods. The deities decided to destroy
the couple's home, Halawod, by flood.
Fortunately for Alunsina and her husband,
her sister, Suklang Malayon (Goddess and Guardian
of Happy Homes) discovered the evil plot and
warned them of it. Before the flood, the new couple
sought refuge on a higher ground and escaped the
gods' wrath undetected. They returned to the plains
and settled near the mouth of the Halawod River
after the flood has subsided and lived in secrecy.
After several months, Alunsina became
pregnant with triplets. The couple was ecstatic and
Datu Paubari prepared the things needed for
childbirth including the siklot. When the triplets were
born, the couple called them Labaw Dongon,
Humadapnon and Dumalapdap.
Immediately after giving birth, Alunsina
summoned the high priest Bungot-Banwa to perform
the rites of the gods of the Mount Madya-as to
ensure that the triplets will have good health. During
the ritual, Bungot-Banwa burned
some alanghiran fronds and a pinch
of kamangyan (incense) in an altar that he made
himself. He opened the windows of the north side of
the room after the ceremony, and in came a cold
wind that transformed the infants into strong, mighty
and handsome young men.
The Adventures of Labaw Donggon
When he reached adulthood, Labaw
Donggon, the eldest of the triplets, decided to go on
a quest to find himself a wife. He heard of the beauty
of Anggoy Ginbitinan of Handug and wanted her for
a wife. He asked his mother to prepare the things he
will need for the journey—a magic cape, hat, belt,
and kampilan (a large, two-handed sword).
The journey to Handug took several days.
Labaw Donggon had to pass by plains, valleys and
mountains to get there. When he finally arrived, he
asked for an audience with Anggoy Ginbitinan's
mother and asked for her hand in marriage. The
marriage was finalized when Labaw Donggon's
parents met, and discussed with, the maiden's
parents. Using his "pamlang" (magical charm),
Labaw Donggon built a giant house with ten roof-
tops and a hundred doors without difficulty.
After the wedding, Labaw Donggon and his
new bride started their journey back to his home.
Upon reaching home, Labaw Donggon asked his
mother to take care of his new wife and told her that
he will be going on another quest. This time he will
be going to the Underworld (Rugal sa Idalom) and
vie for the hand of the beautiful Anggoy Doronoon.
Labaw Donggon won the hand of the
legendary Anggoy Doronoon, with little difficulties,
and also took her home to his mother. Thereafter,
the demigod went on third quest to the Eastern Sky.
This time the object of his desire is Malitong Yawa
Sinagmaling Diwata, the young bride of the Lord of
Darkness, Saragnayan.
Aboard his biday nga inagta (black boat),
Labaw Donggon sailed across many seas and flew
across the region of the clouds and the Land of
Stones before he found himself at the shores of the
Eastern Sky, the fortress of Saragnayan, the Lord of
Darkness. Upon setting foot on the shore,
Saragnayan asked who he was and what was his
business. When Labaw Donggon expressed his
desire to have Saragnayan's young wife, Malitong
Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata, the Lord of Darkness just
laughed and told him it was impossible. The young
demigod then challenged Saragnayan to a duel.
The duel lasted for years. Labaw Donggon
held Saragnayan's head underwater for seven years
but Saragnayan still lived. Labaw Donggon then tied
Saragnayan on top of a rock, and beat him hard with
a coconut trunk; however Saragnayan still lived. Still
not giving up, Labaw Donggon threw Saragnayan
upwards the sky, but still the god lived. The two still
fought for many years until finally, Labaw Donggon
weakened. Saragnayan imprisoned the exhausted
demigod under his pig pen.
Meanwhile, Labaw Donggon's two wives
gave birth to a son each. Anggoy Ginbitinan called
her child Aso Mangga, while Anggoy Doronoon
called her son Buyung Baranugon. Both sons went
in search of their father a few days after they were
born. They arrived in the Eastern Sky and asked
Saragnayan to free their father. Saragnayan,
instead, summoned a crowd of helpers from the
underworld to defeat the young lads. Wielding a bow
and poisoned arrows, that dealt seven wounds with
a single shot, Aso Mangga and Buyung Baranugon
easily killed the helpers and only Saragnayan
remained.
Saragnayan wrestled with Buyung
Baranugon but the Lord of Darkness was no match
for the strength of Buyung Baranugon. However,
Saragnayan could still not die. Buyung Baranugon
sought aid from his grandmother, Abyang Alunsina,
and learned that Saragnayan's life is contained in the
body of a boar in a place called Paling Bukid. The
sons kill the boar and eats its heart, rendering
Saragnayan mortal.
Sensing that death is near, Saragnayan bids
a sorrowful farewell to his wife. Buyung Baranugon
finally kills Saragnayan by plunging poisoned arrows
on both Saragnayan's eyes. After the victory,
Buyung Baranugon and Aso Mangga failed to find
their father, who hid under a fishnet while the fight
was ongoing, out of fear. Believing that their father
went home ahead of them, the brothers sailed home,
only to realize that Labaw Donggon is still missing.
Humadapnon and Dumalapdap then
searched for their missing brother, finding Labaw
Donggon on the same fishnet in a deranged state.
Labaw Donggon's brothers return him home to his
wives. Anggoy Ginbitinan and Anggoy Doronoon
cure Labaw Donggon from his deranged state and
his former strength returns to him.
The Adventures of Humadapnon
Meanwhile, the defeat of Labaw Donggon in
the hands of Saragnayan and his subsequent
imprisonment angered his brothers Humadapnon
and Dumalapdap. Humadapnon swore to the gods
of Madya-as and vowed that he would seek revenge
on all of Saragnayan's kinsmen and followers. He
then embarked on a journey to Saragnayan's land.
He took with him a man known for his exceptional
swordsmanship, Buyong Matanayon of Mount
Matiula. Together they traveled the same path that
Labaw Donggon took.
After seven months of staying in Tarambang
Buriraw, Buyong Matanayon remembered that they
brought some ginger with them. He thought of a plan
to break Piganun's spell over his friend. One
evening, at dinner, Buyong Matanayon threw seven
slices of ginger into the fire. Upon smelling the
burning ginger, Piganun ran away from the room.
Buyong Matanayon struck Humadapnon in the head,
which rendered the latter unconscious. He then
dragged his body away from the place and managed
to escape.
Humadapnon rose to the challenge and took
off his magic cape. He then used it to lift the huge
boulder off the center of the village and hurled it back
to the mountain. Datu Umbaw Pinaumbaw honored
his word and gave his daughter's hand in marriage
to Humadapnon. The two were married and a big
feast was held. During the wedding feast, a
guest minstrel sang and paid tribute to the beauty of
Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan, the Goddess
of Wealth and Greed. Enchanted with the story,
Humadapnon started on a quest to seek the
goddess' hand in marriage.
He met Buyong Makabagting, son of the
Datu Balahidyong of Paling Bukid, who was also
hoping to win the hand of Burigadang Pada
Sinaklang Bulawan. The two fought in a duel and
Humadapnon emerged victorious. The defeated
Buyong Makabagting helped Humadapnon in his
quest. Humadapnon eventually married the goddess
of greed and brought her home to his mother.
The Adventures of Dumalapdap
Shortly after Humadapnon left their home to
seek revenge on Saragnayan's family and followers,
Dumalapdap embarked on a quest of his own. He
decided go to Burutlakan-ka-adlaw and marry the
maiden Lubay-Lubyok Hanginun si
Mahuyokhuyokon. With him was Dumasig, the most
powerful wrestler in Madya-as.
After several months of traveling, the two
warriors came face to face with a two-headed
monster called Balanakon. The monster guarded the
ridge that led to the place where the maiden lived.
They managed to kill the monster but were
confronted with another kind of monster when they
reached the gate of the palace where the maiden
lived. Called Uyutang, the monster was similar to a
bat with sharp, poisonous claws.
Dumalapdap fought with the Uyutang for
seven months. He was able to defeat the monster
when he grabbed its ankle and broke it. Then he took
his twang daniwan (magic dagger) and struck
Uyutang under the armpit. The monster howled in
pain, causing an earthquake that broke the ridge
they were fighting in into two. Half of the ridge
became an island that is known today as Negros,
while the other half became Panay.
With the monster Uyutang dead, Lubay-
Lubyok Hanginun si Mahuyokhuyokan was free to
marry Dumalapdap. He brought her home and was
reunited with his family. Datu Paubari celebrated the
return of his three sons with a very big feast. His
sons left for different parts of the world after the
feast. Labaw Donggon ventured north,
Humadapnon went south, and Dumalapdap
embarked to the west. Datu Parubari was left to rule
in the east.
The Quest of Humadapnon Continues
Humdapnon was visited by his spirit friends
Taghoy and Duwindi in his dream and told him of
lovely maiden who lived in a village by the mouth of
the Halawod River. The demigod left his dominion to
look for the maiden named Nagmalitong Yawa. He
brought with him a boatful of crew.
Humadapnon and his men safely traversed a
blood-coloured sea with the help of his spirit friends.
They landed on an island that was inhabited by
beautiful women and headed by the sorceress,
Ginmayunan. For seven years, Humadapnon and
his crew were imprisoned in the island until
Nagmalitong Yawa helped them escape by
disguising as a boy. Humadapnon and Nagmalitong
Yawa were married soon after in Halawod.
During the wedding feast, Humadapnon's
brother, Dumalapdap fell in love with Huyung Adlaw
and asked his brother to help him talk to the parents
of the maiden. Humadapnon left his new wife and
accompanied his brother to the Upperworld where
Huyung Adlaw lived.
It took the brothers seven years to come
back from their journey to the Upperworld. They
arrived just in time for the ceremony that will have
Nagmalitong Yawa married to Buyung Sumagulung,
an island fortress ruler, in a ceremony. The brothers
were enraged and killed all the guests and the
groom. Humadapnon also stabbed his wife because
the treachery only to feel remorse later on. He asked
his spirit friends and found out that his wife only
agreed to marry Buyung Sumagulung because her
mother, Matan-ayon, convinced her that
Humadapnon is not coming back.
Upon learning of this, Humadapnon asked
his sister, Labing Anyag, to use her powers to bring
Nagmalitong Yawa back to life. Seeing how
remorseful he is, Labing Anyag agreed. However,
Nagmalitong Yawa was so ashamed of agreeing to
marry Buyung Sumagulung that she ran away to the
underworld and sought the protection of her uncle
Panlinugun, who is lord of the earthquake.
Humadapnon had to kill an eight-headed
serpent in his pursuit of Nagmalitong Yawa. Then he
had to duel with a young man who spirited his wife
away. The duel ended when Alunsina intervened
and revealed that the young man is also her son,
Amarotha. This son died during childbirth and was
brought back from the dead to keep Alunsina
company. Alunsina decided that both Humadapnon
and Amarotha deserved a piece of Nagmalitong
Yawa so she cut the girl in half and gave a piece
each to her sons. Each half turned into a whole live
person. Humadapnon brought his wife back to
Panay.
DARANGAN
 Epic from Maranaw and is the inspiration for
their Singkil dance
 Shows the rich culture of Muslims
 3 episodes
1. Bantugan
2. Daramako-e babay
3. indarapatra at sulayman
 Written during Pre-Colonial Period
 Discovered by Dr. Frank Laubach an English
scholar in 1930
SUMMARY OF DARANGAN
Bantugan
Bantugan revolves around the life of Prince
Bantugan, brother of King Madali, the ruler
of Bumbaran. It is said that while Madali won many
battles, Bantugan won many hearts for the younger
brother is not only a marvelous fighter but also
handsome and popular. He has courted 50 of the
loveliest princess in the world but the King does not
allow him to marry. His popularity later makes the
older brother, Madali jealous. He decrees that
nobody shall ever be allowed to speak with his
brother. Driven by loneliness, the Prince leaves for
foreign lands. The wandering Bantugan evetually
falls ill and dies at the Palace Gates of The-Land-
Between-Two-Seas. Not knowing who this stranger
is, the ruler of the place and his sister Princess
Datimbang (Timbang) give shelter to the poor
prince. Not knowing what to do, and fearing that the
prince’s death is of their doing, they summon the
council to discuss what has to be done. A parrot
(loro) flies in and identifies the handsome man as
Prince Bantugan of Bumbaran. He is then sent home
to Bumbaran to tell King Madali of his brother’s fate.
Upon learning this, the King leaves and journeys to
the heavens. He speaks with the gods and
baragains for his brother’s soul to be returned to
earth. Meanwhile, Princess Datimbang brings Prince
Bantugan’s body to Bumbaran. Upon King Madali’s
return, Bantugan’s life has been restored and the
king soon has a change of heart.
King Madali, overjoyed that his younger
brother Bantugan has been brought back to life, calls
for a celebration. But the story of his return
has already spread, and unknown to them, King
Madali’s rival, King Miskoyaw has sent his army for
a siege.
A battle takes place and Bantugan defends
his people. However, Bantugan who has just been
restored is eventually captured. It is said that he later
regains his strength while held captive, and avenges
his warrior’s death. Another celebration is held for
this victory. The people of Bumbaran feasted and
King Madali welcomes his brother back. Bantugan
gets married with the loveliest princesses and lives
happily in Bumbaran for several years.
Daramoke-a-Babay
Daramoke-a-Babay is a sequel to
Bantugan. It recounts the bravery and might
Bantugan. In the battles, no one equals his courage
and fighting skills.
wishes his brother a safe and victorious journey and
gives him a ring and sword.
In Mt. Bita, Sulayman slays the dreadful bird but
unfortunately, its wing has fallen on him and crushed
him. The news reaches King Indarapatra and leaves
for his brother and to seek revenge. Upon waking up,
Sulayman recounts what has befallen him.
Meanwhile, Indarapatra continues with the promise
of killing the horrible monsters and restoring peace
in the land. In Mt. Kurayan (Gurayan) he kills the
fourth monster. In his stay at this place, he chances
upon a maiden (who happens to be a goddess or
diwata). The maiden captures his heart and
Indarapatra decides to marry her. There, he lives
and rules over the vast kingdom.
(Although in some versions of the story, Indarapatra
meets her while searching for the monster, and not
after the battle. Further, the goddess disguises
herself as an old woman; never leaving Indarapatra
even as he battles with the monster.)
REFERENCES
Bloggera Filipina (2009, October 29). Maranao
Epics: Darangan. Retrieved October 1, 2019
from
https://rizhau.wordpress.com/2009/10/2
1/maranao-epics/
Hinilawod (2019, August 19). In Wikipedia. Retrieved
October 1, 2019 from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinilawod
Ibalong Epic (2019, July 11). In Wikipedia. Retrieved
October 1, 2019 from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibalong_Epic

Indarapatra at Sulayman
A just, wise, and kind ruler, Indarapatra of
the Mantapuli Empire is known as the greatest
of all kings. He is known to own an enchanted spear
(sibat) which comes back to him as he wishes.
He has taught his subjects how to farm, hunt for
food, domesticate animals, fish, weave, and use
plants as medicines. For many years they lived and
prospered.
But their peace is broken by the news of the
four terrible monsters that threaten the lives and
brings havoc to a nearby region. It is said that these
monsters-Kurita, Pah, Tarabusaw and another
dreadful bird haunting Mt. Kurayan– devoured
human beings as they wanted. Death and
destruction reign in the region, and the few people
who live there lived in fear. Moved with pity and
compassion for what has happened to their
neighbors, Indarapatra calls his brother, Prince
Sulayman for help. When Sulayman hears the story,
he promises to help the people, kill the monsters,
and “the land shall be avenged.” King Indarapatra