Overview :

The Good Prince Bantugan is a story passed down in the oral tradition of the Maranao tribe. It is
a story about the great Prince Bantugan, the greatest warrior of the Kingdom of Bumbaran,
passed down from generation to generation. The author of this well-known epic is unknown.

Individuals have been aspiring for a progress in their country. With this kind of mindset, a nation
will be able to embrace prosperity. On the other hand, the Philippines still remains to be poor
even though we, Filipinos, have been longing for its progression. We have this disease called
crab mentality that is one of the reasons that hinders the growth of our nation and is a great
obstacle to the entire citizenry of our country. We get jealous when someone achieved what we
can’t achieve then we find ways to destroy it. So, the story, The Good Prince Bantugan of the
Maranao tribe is a story about the prince Bantugan who was envied by his brother for being
brave, good and handsome. A story that has been served as guide of Maranaos moral values.
Full Text:
The Good Prince Bantugan

The Kingdom of Bumbaran were ruled by the old king. But the old king was full envy toward his
younger brother, Prince Bantugan. Prince Bantugan was so handsome, good and brave. Every
time someone praised him. The old king looked angry with him. One day enemies attacked the
kingdom of Bumbaran and Prince Bantugan led his men to defend the kingdom, the evil king
plotted against the good prince. Soon Prince Bantugan returned victorious from the battle. He
knew that his brother hated him, so he decided to left the kingdom of Bumbaran. In his journey
he heard about the beautiful land of the Kingdom-Between-Two-Seas. It was ruled by a good
king and the beautiful princess Datimbang, his sister. He decided to go to that kingdom. But
when he stood outside the gates. He suddenly felt very weak. Prince Bantugan fell to the ground
and died. The king and the princess of the kingdom were shocked when they saw the stranger

lying. Princess Datimbang fallen in love to the stranger. No one knew who the stranger. The king
made proclamation that all of his people must come to look at the prince so that he would know
who was that man came from. But no one knew who that man is. The two parrots talking each
other about Prince Bantugan. The parrot of Prince Bantugan said, I lost my master; he left
Bumbaran never to return. Another parrot said. He is dead. But you can see his body in the
palace where he is lying in royal state. The parrot flew to the palace. He saw his master’s body,
and said, he was so good to his people. He defended them in war. He cured the people when they
were sick. When the king heard what the parrot said. He brought the body of Prince Bantugan
into the kingdom of Bumbaran.
Everyone quiered for the good Prince Bantugan. His brother was full of repentance. Blaming
himself for the death of his brother. Prince Madali his brother loved him so much. He got the
soul of Prince Bantugan from the angel of death. When he reached the palace of Bumbaran then
he transferred the soul of Prince Bantugan to his body. The body stirred Prince Bantugan alive as
if just awakened from a deep sleep. They celebrated the return of their Prince. Later Prince
Bantugan married Princess Datimbang.

Summary:

Prince Bantugan was a great warrior and because of his bravery, no one dared to attack
Bumbaran.

Bantugan’s brother King Madali who was the king of Bumbaran became envious of him so he
warned everyone that whoever speaks to Bantugan will be sentenced to death and because of
that, Bantugan decided to left Bumbaran forever, and travel around the world. He decided to go
to the Kingdom-between-Two-Seas and when he stood outside the gate of the kingdom he fell
sick and died. Princess Datimbag of that Kingdom and her king brother were shook when they
saw the stranger (Bantugan).

As the royal court of the kingdom was in session, a talking parrot flew into the hall and identified
the dead as Prince Bantugan of Bumbaran so his body was brought back to his kingdom where
he came from. Prince Madali repented his cruelty toward his brother so together with the
counselors he went to heaven to request the return of Bantugan’s soul. King Miskoyaw of the
neighboring kingdom was gladdened by the fact that Bumbaran was no longer under the
protection of Bantugan and he started a full invasion of Bumbaran. Prince Madali got the soul of
prince from the angel of death. When he reached the palace of Bumbaran he transferred the soul
of Prince Bantugan to his body.
Prince Bantugan got alive but having revived from death he weakened. They celebrated , and
after that Prince Bantugan traveled to the princesses who were his former sweethearts and
married all of them at the same time including Princess Datimbang.

Element:

In the story The Good Prince Bantugan, King Madali is the flat character while Prince Bantugan
is the dynamic character.

King Madali (flat character) – The King Bumbaran. At first he is a jealous king and brother. He
even prohibited everyone in the kingdom from speaking with Bantugan under pain of death.
However, at the later part of the story, when he saw Bantugan’s dead body, he repented his
cruelty. He went to heaven to request the return of Bantugans’s soul through his body.

Prince Bantugan – (dynamic character) – He used to be a brave, handsome and a good protector
of the kingdom. When he knew that his brother got envy upon him he decided to leave the
kingdom instead of confronting his brother. He died after he arrive at the Island-between-two-
sees. After being alive from his death through his brother King Madali, he became weak.

King Miskoyaw – the antagonist of the story. When he heard that Bumbaran was no longer
protected by Prince Bantugan, he directly invaded the Kingdom.
Reflection:

One of the lessons that we can learn from this story is to not get jealous to anyone. It was
supported when King Madali prohibited everyone in the Kingdom to talk to his brother, Prince
Bantugan for being brave, good and handsome. So, the story has a strong impact on me. I am a
jealous type of person. I envy those people who has better abilities and appearance than me. I
envy those who has a better life and better job than me. I envy in so many things however, I
never brag someone down just because he or she is more capable of doing things than me. I
haven’t done what King Madali did to his brother. When someone is having a better life I envy
them but at the same time I am happy for them. I see it as a motivation in life. It helps me to
strive harder to become a better person. I don’t compete with them. I compete within myself.
When someone criticizes me, I take it as a constructive criticism. I just look at the bigger picture
and see it as a stepping stone towards success.