Oral Traditions and Expressions, Including Language
THE EPIC TELLS about the bravery of in the Kordan River. While in the river, the
Biag ni Lam-ang Epic
Lam-ang, who was precocious from birth. water swells. Before he leaves, he kills a giant The adventures begin with his search for his crocodile then gives the teeth to the ladies father who was killed by the Igorot (upland as amulets. Back at Kannoyan’s house, her people) of the Cordillera Mountains. He parents ask him of his intentions. He was meets Sumarang who tries to stop him asked to match their wealth, which he did. and challenges him to a fight. He spears He goes home to invite his mother and Sumarang through his stomach. He then village mates to come to his wedding. meets a serpent with nine heads, all of which the serpent loses in the ensuing fight. He After the elaborate wedding, he goes naps and dreams of his father’s head being home to Nalbuan where the feasting ILOCANO, ILOCOS NORTE, ILOCOS SUR, AND ABRA PROVINCES, feasted upon by the Igorot. He continues continued. The guests ask for a dish made NORTHWESTERN LUZON ISLAND, NORTHERN PHILIPPINES. his journey to find that the Igorot are indeed from the fish, rarang. He is warned by his The epic poem, “Pakasaritaanti Panagbiag ni Lam-ang nga asawa ni Doña Ines feasting on his father’s head. He fights the pet rooster that something bad will happen Kannoyan” (Story of the Life of Lam-ang, spouse of Doña Ines Kannoyan) is a Igorot and defeats all of them, torturing the to him should he go out and fish, which last one to death. he ignores. Lam-ang is swallowed by the mixture of Spanish and indigenous cultures. It was first written in 1889 by Gerardo berkakan, a big shark-like fish. Kannoyan Blanco, a Spanish priest. Isabelo de los Reyes, who was then publishing an Ilocano He goes home and swims in the Kordan mourns his death but Lam-ang’s rooster tells bi-monthly, the “El Ilocano” between December 1889 and February 1890, included River. On the way to Kannoyan’s (his her that if Lam-ang’s bones are collected, he a prose translation of this work in Spanish. This is his version. There are at least ten beloved) place in Kalanutian, he meets can be brought back to life. Kannoyan asks versions. Saridandan, a woman of ill repute. He resists a man to do this, after which Lam-ang’s dog her temptation. He then reaches Kannoyan’s barks over the collected bones and Lam-ang house where he finds many suitors there rose. He rewards the man, the dog and the for her. She accepts his invitation to swim rooster. The couple lived happily after this.