BRIEF INFORMATION ABOUT THE EPIC STORY

WHO wrote BIAG ni LAM-ANG?

It is written by PEDRO BUKANEG, was a blind Filipino poet since birth. He is the acknowledged
author of the Ilocano epic Biag ni Lam-ang (Life of Lam-ang).

WHAT is BIAG ni LAM-ANG?

Biag ni Lam-ang or 'The Life of Lam-ang'. It is an epic story of the Ilocano people that is
noted for being a folk epic from a "Christianized" Ilocano people. It is the first Philippine folk
epic to be recorded in written form, and was one of only two folk epics , along with the
Bicolano epic of Handiong.

WHEN and WHERE was BIAG ni LAM-ANG written?

In the year (March 1592 – c. 1630) was written. One of the folk epics documented during the
Philippines' Spanish Colonial period. It was from the Ilocos region of the Philippines.
 Once, there where to lovers
named Don Juan Panganiban and his
wife Namongan. They lived in
Nalbuan, near in the river of Naguilian
now part of La Union in the northern
part of the Philippines.
 Before Lam-ang was born,
the group Igorot who are their
enemies attack Nalbuan and kill
almost all Don Juan Panganibans’
fellowmen and his fighters
Because of what happened, Don Juan
panganibans’ anger leads him to the
mountains in order to punish a group
of their Igorot enemies alone. But
unfortunately, he was killed by the
Igorots and His head has been cut.
While Don Juan was away, his son
Lam-ang was born. It took four people
to help Namongan give birth. As soon
as the baby boy popped out, he spoke
and chose his name which is “Lam-
ang”. He also chose his godparents
and asked where his father was.
After nine months of waiting for his father to
return, Lam-ang decided he would go look for
him. At the age of nine months, Lam-ang is
already strong, intelligent and big boy already.
Namongan try to stop Lam-ang to find his
father but she can’t and sad to let him go.
While finding his father, Lam-ang is
accompanied with his pets. He is with his
“tangabaran”, a magical white rooster and his
magical gray dog. Lam-ang arms himself with
“talisman”, a charm from the banana.
Because of his talisman, Lam-ang took his journey
fastly. During his exhausting journey, he decided to
rest for awhile. He fell asleep and had a dream
about his father’s head being stuck on “sarukang”,
a bamboo pole by the Igorot.
Lam-ang was furious when he knew what
happened to his father. He rushed to the village
of Igorots. 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 challenge all the Igorot’s and as a
response to him, they warn him that he might
be put in the same situation of his father. Lam-
ang shouted and all their surroundings move.
Lam-angs’ shout makes all Igorots heard
him. All of them arrived and throw their
“sibat” to him, The igorots’ try their effort
to hit him, but they can’t, even a single
scratch to his body.
 When the igorot runs out of their “sibat”,
Lam-ang start his revenge. He pulled out his
“itak”, and by slaying his enemies, he is like
cutting a banana tree
When Lam-ang returns home, 99 maidens wash his hair in the river
of Amburayan. For his shampoo, he burns so many rice straw that
the communities near the river are alarmed by the smoke. The dirt
from his hair kills all the fishes in the river, even the crabs and eels
move out to the water. He then kills a crocodile and carries it on his
shoulder ashore amidst the applause of his companions.
Lam-ang hears about a beautiful maiden
named Ines Cannoyan, the daughter of
the richest man in 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
pets.
The giant “Sumarang”, who is also a suitor of
Ines Cannoyan blocks his way when he is
leading in Kalanutian 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.
When they arrive at Ines Cannoyans’
house, there are a lot of people and
he was not recognized. His rooster
crows and topples a small outhouse.
His dog barks and the outhouse is rebuilt. That
is why, Ines Cannoyan impressed by him and
was recognized because of it.
Ines invites him to the house where the
rooster acts as Lam-ang’s spokesperson.
Ines’ parents ask for a “panhik o bigay-
kaya”, which Lam-ang agrees to give. The
parents agreed to a marriage with their
daughter if Lam-ang would give them a
dowry valued at double their wealth.
He gives two ship that
is full of gold to her
parents and they are
so glad.
Lam-ang returns home to prepare for the
wedding and the presents. He and his townsfolk
sail on two golden ships to Kalanutian where
Lam-ang and Ines have a Catholic wedding. After
the celebration, Lam-ang agrees to
hunt ”rarang”, a shellfish. It is a tradition of the
people in kalanutian, it is a show of true love to
his wife.
Lam-ang already knows what will happened to
him that he will be eaten by a giant fish, called
“berkakang”, as he has dreamt so. But before
she went to the water he already instructed his
wife the things that she must do when it will
happened.
And the dream of Lam-ang came
true. He is swallowed by the
berkakang. Ines Cannoyan hire a
diver to dive Lam-angs” bone. After
that, she wrapped it with her “saya”.
It was surrounded by Lam-angs’
magical dog and rooster. The
“tangabaran” crow and the magical
dog bark. Suddenly, the bones that is
covered with “saya”moved and
Lam-ang resurrects.
Lam-ang woke up as if
newly awake from a
deep sleep. He gave
price to the diver after
what he did.
Lam-ang and Ines Cannoyan
hug each other. They also
hugged the magical dog and
the magical rooster. And they
lived happily for a long time.
End!!
 NOTES TO REMEMBER

Namongan- Lam-angs’mother
Don Juan- Lam-angs’ father
Igorot tribe- the invader and enemy of Don Juan's town
Beheaded- the outcome of DonJuan attacking the Igorot Tribe alone
Lam-ang- spoke after his birth
-chose his name
-chose his godparents
Nine months- the age of lam-ang that he is already strong, intelligent and big boy already
Tangabaran- the magical white rooster of Lam-ang
Magical dog- a color gray dog that is one of lam-angs’magical pet
Talisman- (Lucky chram) that came from a banana tree
Dream- the way that Lam-ang found the true reason of his fathers’ death
 NOTES TO REMEMBER

Sarukang- a bamboo pole on which Don Juan's head was pierced

Sibat-type of ancient weapon of the Filipinos
Itak-a kind of cutter of anything that is super sharp
Amburayan river- where lam-ang bathed after he invaded the town of the Igorots
Ninety-nine- the number of maidens helped lam-ang to took his bath
Dirt on Lam-angs’ hair- caused the death of fish in the Amburayan River
Eal and crab- went up into the water because he could not bear the filth that spread in the
Amburayan River from Lam-ang's body
Kalanutian-the hometown of Ines Cannoyan
Ines Cannoyan-woman loved by lam-ang
Sagang- a feast celebrating a successful headhunting expedition
Sumarang-A giant lover of Ines kannoyan who was blown by lam-ang
Nineth hill- where Sumarang flew after Lam-angs’ hurl
 NOTES TO REMEMBER
The mysterious chicken fluttered its wings- caused the collapse of Ines Kannoyan's house. It
was also a way for Lam-ang to get noticed
the magical dog barked - reason for the rebuilding of Ines Kannoyan's house
Two ships full of gold- sent by Lam-ang as a panhik or gift to Ines Kannoyan's parents
Catholic Church- place where it became luxurious and dignified where Ines Kannoyan and Lam-
ang were married
Rarang- a shellfish
Berkakang-the giant fish who eat Lam-ang
Saya of Ines cannoyan- use to covers lam-ang bones
Three ways to resurrect lam-ang made by his pets
1. It was surrounded by Lam-angs’ magical dog and rooster.
2. The “tangabaran” crow and
3. the magical dog bark.