: The Prowess of Aliguyon | boast ta ‘ Understanding and Appreciating the Filipino Regional Epic 1 One kind of narrative that is often told and retold is the regional folk ' epic. The Filipino epic is a poem abous a legendary hero of the region where the epic originated. Itis a lengthy narrative in verse that takes several days to recite. In fact, one song for a short episode from our epics may be longer than the whole epic of another country. Filipino literature began as early as.a millennium ago. Much of our literature was destroyed by Spanish colonizers, who viewed it as pagan lit- erature, However, about thirty of the epics survived due to resistance to co- lonial rule by some indigenous people of the Cordillera and the Mindanao regions. Other tribes, like the Mangyans, Bukidnons, and Isneg, were able to cling to their oral lore and their traditional way of life as they did not come under the sway of Western colonizers due to inaccessibility of their serclements. ‘Among the thirty epics that survived are the Darangen (Maranao), Hinilawod (Sulod), Parang Sabil (Tausog), Hudbud (Ifugao), and Biag ni Lam-Ang (Ilocano). The Hudhud chants and the Darangen epics were proclaimed as masterpieces by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2001 and 2005, respectively. In 2006, both were given the farther honor of being inscribed in UNESCO's List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a further testament to the richness of our cultural heritage, ~lease] One of the ways by which you can remember things more easily is by using graphic organizers. Try to fill in the following brainstorming web with information you remember about the Filipino epics. a | y — Filipino Epic — a. Preparing for Reading The selection you are abot to read talks about family, war, and peace. “To help you understand the material, answer the following questions with a partner: 2 1. What could a husband and wife desire most? Why do you say so? 2. Ifyou had a son, how would you treat him/her? 3, How do parents influence their child's future? 4, Which is more desirable, war or peace? Why? ‘The Prowess of Aliguyon Retold by F. Landa Joeano i Long ago in Hannanga, there lived a rich couple, | Ion had al the rch “Amtalas and Dumulao. They owned the longest and | 4) properties in the widest of the rice terraces that covered the mountain- co what would you sides, and their harvests were the most plentiful. Their with them? thatched house, large enough to contain three of their : neighbors’ huts, had piles of red and white camo, Bur- “4 jedin the earth were jars of rice wine. Amtulao’ dogs ‘were fat and well fed, not lean and starved-looking as were the dogs of his neighbors. ‘ 4 f if Lesson 3 * The Prowess of Aliguyon “But with all their wealth, Ameulzo and Dumulao were unhappy, for they were childless. They offered nu- merous sacrifices to the spirits; and they lived frugally and simply, feeling somehow that austerity and lack of ostentation would please the anitas. In the end, their prayers were answered, and Dumulzo gave birth to Ali- guyon, a sturdy and handsome child. Even as an infant, Aliguyon was precocious. He quickly learned the song with which his mother lulled him to sleep, and in no time he could recite the long prayers chanted by the warriors on Hannanga. He even knew by heart the village lore, the stories that the old folks of the village told, reciting them word for word as he had heard them in the cool evenings. But what pleased Amtulao most was Aliguyon's slcll with the spear and the shield. Amrulao made for him a lite spears and when at the age of three Aliguy- “on speared his first fish, Amtulao offered a pig as sacri- fice to the gods in thanksgiving. At five, Aliguyon had speared wild chickens. At seven, he was an accepted companion of Amtulao on hunting trips. Among his playmates Aliguyon was a favorite. He was accepted as the leader, and no one challenged his leadership, for could he not spin a top better than’ any- one else? And could he not ‘kill’ the strongest tops by hitting them with the pointed stem of his own top? Amtulao loved his son and carefully taught him all the arts of hunting and fishing that he knew, and he told the boy ali the stories of valor and prowess of which he knew so many. But always, he ended with the story about his bitter enemy in the village across the mountain. Pangaiwan of Daligdigan had to’be con- quered before Amtulao could die in peace. : So, when Aliguyon reached manhood, he called his childhood friends, now skilled warriors, and talked to them about the glories of war, the prizes they: could bring back, and the adventures and fame awaiting them if they joined him in an expedition to Daligdi- dj Unit 1 Philippine Oral Lore Why were Amtulao and Dumulao unhappy, Why would a child make Amrulao and Dumulao happier than any form of material possession? How would you feel if you had a cil like Ali- eyon? What abilities of Align on showed that he was very intelligent? What could he do at three years cold? at fve? at seven? Why did Amtulao sonsid- cr the skill with the spear sand shield helpful? What did they do for a living during ancient times? Why was he a favorite ‘among his playmates? I Aliguyon were a leader because of his skill with the ap, what do you think were the necessary qualifications required of a leader at that time? What are your qualifca- tions fora leader? Can you say that Amtu- 420 was a happy and can- rented man? Why? Why not? ?gan. Eagerly his friends ran for their spears and shields, and after preparing provisions, Aliguyon and ten war- riors set forth. ‘When they reached the enemy village, Aliguyon challenged Pangaiwan to fight, ie eas old. Instead, up rose Pumbakhayon, his manly son as skilled as a warrior and as strong and keen-eyed as Ali- guyon. For three years the two men fought, and when they rested, their friends fought man to man. But so. well-matched were the men, so equal in the arts of war, that no one was beaten. Each combat was a draw; each encounter ended with no one seriously wounded. At last, Aliguyon and Pumbakhayon grew to ad- mire each other. The people of Daligdigan, who had watched the strangers with suspicion, learned to like them for their courteous bearing and fair fighting, And the warriors of Hannanga found the girls in Daligdigan winningly shy and sweet.” @ne day, therefore, while Aliguyon and Pum- bakhayon sat resting from a hotly contested fight, Pumbakhayon remarked: “What a waste of time! IF we were not enemies, we ‘could be at home drinking rice wine and eating broiled river fish or roasted meat. But we are enemies even though neither of us did the other any harm.” Aliguyon replied, “Ah, how truly you speak. Per- haps the anitos do not favor this fight, for neither has won. Pethaps the gods put your words into your mouth and this feeling in my heart, for I no longer wish to kill you, O Pumbakhayon.” His words fell on the ears of the listening warriors and on those of the villagers watching the combat. With a loud shout of approval, the warriors ran to their clders and carried them to the house of Pumbakhayon where old Pangaiwan waited. Preparations began for a huge celebration. Squeal- ing pigs were dragged to be butchered and cooked as were the fattest dogs. The fields were scoured for river 4 Who fought Aliguyon? If you were Aliguyon, why would you have gone * cout to Daligdigan? If you suere the warriors, would have convinced pu? How would you feel if ‘you met someone as good ‘and as strong as you are? How could enemies even- ‘ually like each otber? How, did the fight end? What was thought of about the anitos? Af you were Pumbakha- yon or ‘Aliguyon, would ‘you have fle the same 1009? Why? Why no? Do you think that the cause of war is no longer as Why thas there appig cel- ebration?. Deschibe the Lesson'3 * The Prowess ee ws— fish and snails. Prized camote, violet and orange, gluti- nous and sweet, were boiled or roasted. Bananas were laid out by the bunches; guavas and berries were heaped high, and in white scrubbed wooden bowls steamed small-grained upland rice, sweet smelling of fragrant herbs and banana leaves, and black-bottomed earthen pots. : Everyone came to the feast, and as the jars of rice wine were emptied, the friendship berween the strang- ers from Hannanga and the people of Daligdigan grew. 1 All throughout the feast, Aliguyon was fascinared by the light movements of Bugan, by her gaiety and her poise. At the end of the three-day feast, he approached Pangaiwan and said, “O Pangaiwan, once my father's enemy but now his friend, grant, I beg of you, this one request. Let us bind our friendship with ties that even death cannot break. Give me your daughter, Bugan, for my wife. I love her; she is to me the brilliant sun that warms the earth and drives away the chill of the night. She is to me the golden moon that brightens the dark and drives away the weariness of the day's work. ‘Without her I cannot return to my village as I left it, for with her I have left my heart and my thoughts and my happiness.” Pangaiwan listened, and the men grew quiet. Bugan blushed and bent her head. Fourteen times her father had harvested his yearly crops since she was born; she knew that after two or more harvests her father would begin looking critically at young men who talked to her. But Aliguyon was such a hero, as strong and brave, so well-spoken of and handsome! Would her father al- ited 48 Ld low her to leave the house and follow Aliguyon? Pangaiwan looked at his daughter fondly. He could read her thoughts as she looked at him mutely from under shyly lowered eyelashes. Clearing his throat, he answered slowly: : Unit 1 ¢ Philippine Oral Lore If you were Pangaiwan, Toads br rinaly with Amenlao, would ‘jou have agreed to Pu ‘bakhayon and Aliguyont decision? Why? Why nos? If you were 10 throw a celebration, what would be the best reason for it? How do you think did the rice wine help in making the friendship between the Hannanga warriors and Daligdigan citizens grow? This scenario shows that fired marriages were ‘common then. If, you were the girl, would. you have agreed? Would you think this lesened your freedom? How would you reach? What do you think caused Pangaiwan to remain silent? If he har- vested the crops fourteen times, how old could Bu- gan be? If Pangaiwan looked at his daughter fondly what do you think will be bis reponse? &“Aliguyon, you are my son, The spirits are good. They have given me a worthy man for a son-in-law. ‘Take Bugan. I pray to the anitos that she will be a wor- thy wife for you and a dutiful daughter-in-law for Am- tulao and Dumulao.”. His words were drowned by the joyous shouts of Aliguyon and his men, Aliguyon sprang into the ais, yelling with happiness, and his friends chanted the first words of the courting song. The women took up the shythm with their hands on bronze gongs and hol- lowed-out logs, and everyone crowded around to see Aliguyon mitnic the strut of a rooster as he danced be- fore Bugan. In triumph he led her to his father in Hannan; and kneeling before Amtulao and Dumulao, he cri “© Father! © Mother! Your enemy in Daligdigan is no more. Pangaiwan, your enemy, no longer lives. In his place is Pangaiwan, the father-in-law of your-only son Aliguyon. Ifyou love me, love too the man whom your |- son promised to honor as the father of his wife. Behold, Thave brought you my wife, Bugan of Daligdigan, the lovely daughter of Pangaiwan. I bring her to you, Fa- ther, so that someone can pound the dried meat for you when you are hungry. I brought her to you, © my ‘mother, so that someone can carry Water to you when you want to drink.” { destroyed your enemy by making him a friend. “Therefore, O Father, you can die in peace, for we have conquered him. But Bugan conquered my heart, and with her I can live in peace.” “Thus ‘did peace come to Amtulao and Dumulao. “They lived to see Bugan enrich their lives with several grandchildren. Often Amtulao and’ Dumulao were honoured guests at Daligdigan, in the house of Pangai- wan; and as often as they visited Pangaiwan, so often did he go to Hannanga to visit his grandchildren and "If Pangaivan is praying tothe anits, what, tens could the role ofthe ani- tos be? What did the rooster-like dance of Aligayon serve as? What do you think were the challenges for Amtu- Lao upon hearing that his rival was now bis sont father-in-law? What, then, isthe best sweapon to deray an en- omy? What can peace bring 10 people? to talk of old times with Amtulao and Dumulao. ss f ae * ae Lesson 3 + Te Prowess of Aliuyon 49