Walang Hindi Gagawin, Walang Hindi Kakayanin

(buod ni Eliza F. Benitez ng saknong 7-388, Ibong Adarna)

The Kingdom of Berbanya is ruled by a just king named King Fernando. He is accompanied in the
kingdom by his queen, Queen Valeriana, and their three children, Don Pedro, Don Diego, and
Don Juan. Everyone was happy until the king had a disturbing dream, which caused him great
concern and illness. The only solution was the song of the magical Adarna Bird, which could be
found on Mount Tabor, residing in the Piedras Platas tree.
Don Pedro immediately prepared for the journey to find the magical bird. Unfortunately, his
horse died while traveling. He endured fatigue and hardship until he reached Mount Tabor.
Exhausted, he fell asleep and missed the arrival of the bird. The bird sang, deepening his sleep.
The bird had a habit of defecating after singing, and Don Pedro was accidentally soiled by the
bird's droppings, turning him into a living stone.
The eldest son took a long time to return, so Don Diego decided to try his luck. Following the
same path, he endured fatigue and after several months, he reached Mount Tabor. There, he
noticed a glowing tree from the leaves to the roots. He was fortunate to see the magical bird and
waited for an opportunity to catch it, but he fell asleep as soon as the bird started singing.
Consequently, he couldn't avoid the bird's droppings and turned into a stone.
The condition of the king worsened in the kingdom. Don Juan couldn't bear to see his father
suffer, so he asked for his parents' blessing to be the one to find the cure and bring back his
siblings. Reluctantly, the king and queen granted their blessing to their youngest son.
Without bringing a horse, Don Juan prepared himself for the hardships of the journey. While
traveling, he sought guidance from the Blessed Virgin Mary. He encountered an old beggar who
was crawling in the grass. The beggar asked him for some food. Don Juan had only one loaf of
bread left, not knowing the purpose of his journey or how long he would travel. Nevertheless, he
gave the loaf to the beggar. The old man rejoiced at Don Juan's kindness and, upon learning his
purpose, taught him what he should do. The old man advised Don Juan not to be tempted by the
beauty of the magical tree but instead to go to the house below the mountain, where a hermit
would help and teach him how to catch the Adarna Bird.
The Adarna Bird finally arrived. Don Juan prepared himself, sang, and the bird changed its color.
With each song, Don Juan sliced his palm with a blade and rubbed lime juice on the wound to
fight sleepiness. Seven songs, seven color changes, and seven wounds on his palm. Don Juan
managed to stay awake, avoiding the bird's droppings. When the bird fell into a deep sleep, he
tied it up with a golden ribbon. The hermit instructed him to fill a jar with water and pour it over
the stones under the Piedras Platas tree. Don Pedro and Don Diego returned to their original
forms, and the three brothers rejoiced. They bid farewell to the hermit, who advised them to
beware of deceit.
While returning to Berbanya, Don Pedro slowed his pace and spoke to Don Diego. He considered
their previous failure and Don Juan's success as a great disappointment. He suggested killing
their youngest brother and claiming that they caught the bird themselves. Though Don Diego
disagreed, he couldn't bring himself to contradict Don Pedro. Instead, Don Pedro decided to
harm and disable Don Juan, leaving him behind while they returned to the kingdom with the
Adarna Bird. Don Diego reluctantly agreed to this plan.
Their plan succeeded, and they brought the bird home, claiming that they were the ones who
caught it. The bird lost its beauty and refused to sing no matter how much they tried. It awaited
its true owner.
On the other hand, Don Juan was alone, battered and bruised. He called upon God, and instead
of asking for his own safety, he prayed for his father's recovery. An old man arrived and
approached Don Juan. Like a dream, his wounds and pains suddenly disappeared, and his
strength and vitality returned. He thanked and bid farewell to the old man who had taken care of
him.
Don Juan hurried back to Berbanya, hoping to find his father alive. Upon his arrival, the Adarna
Bird suddenly burst into song. The song narrated all the hardships Don Juan endured, including
the betrayal of his two brothers.
Miraculously, the king recovered, approached the Adarna Bird and Don Juan, and then turned to
Don Pedro and Don Diego, who were pale with fear. The king summoned all the officials and
imposed punishment on the two... (to be continued)
 “Ang muling pagtataksil ng dalawang Prinsipe at Ang Pagkatagpo ng Pag-ibig”
Saknong 440-650

Ang Pangalawang Pagtataksil

(Saknong 404 – 428) (Buod)

The King entrusted the Ibong Adarna. Every hour, he would visit it, but the queen did not find it
pleasing. Fearing that the bird might escape, he assigned three princes to guard it. Don Juan
would talk to the bird to prevent it from falling asleep. Don Pedro and Don Diego once again
plotted evil against Don Juan. Don Diego hesitated to agree with the plan but eventually gave in.
Unbeknownst to Don Juan, he fell asleep and didn't realise that the two had set the bird free.

Ang Muling Pag-alis ni Don Juan

(Saknong 429 – 442) (Buod)

In the early hours of the morning, Don Juan decided to escape, knowing that his father would be
furious if he discovered that the Ibong Adarna had flown away. The King immediately called the
three princes, but only Don Pedro and Don Diego appeared before him. The two once again told
a new lie, but this time the King didn't believe them anymore. Don Pedro and Don Diego uttered
that they would search for the traitor, Don Juan, to punish him. They journeyed through the
fields but couldn't find Don Juan. Finally, they reached the mountains of Armenya where Don
Juan was hiding.

Bagong Paraiso

(Saknong 443 – 479) (Buod)

The mountains of Armenya are like paradise. They are abundant in all things, and many animals
live there. It is in these mountains that Don Juan sought safety and hid, afraid of the punishment
that his father, the king, might punish him for his wrongdoing. Don Diego felt ashamed to face
Don Juan because of the betrayal they both committed. Although Don Diego initially disagreed
with Don Pedro's plan for them to live in the forest with Don Juan, he eventually succeeded in
persuading Don Diego to agree to the plan. Don Juan accepted his two brothers' companionship
in living on the mountain because he loved them. The three of them happily lived in Armenya,
residing in a magnificent wooden house. One day, they agreed to uncover the mystery of the
mountains of Armenya.

Ang Balon sa Armenya

(Saknong 480 – 503) (Buod)

The three princes discovered a well, made of marble and gold, with carvings covered in moss.
Don Pedro decided to descend using the rope that was there, but he only reached three arm
lengths due to extreme fear of the darkness. Don Diego attempted next, but the outcome was
the same. Only Don Juan remained beneath the well, and he did not return. Don Pedro grew
anxious while Don Diego worried because their brother had not surfaced from the well.

Si Donya Juana

(Saknong 504 – 530) (Buod)

Don Juan reached the deepest part of the well. Before him appeared a flowery paradise and a
palace made of gold and silver. He also saw a beautiful maiden named Donya Juana. The maiden
was astonished that Don Juan had reached that place. The prince knelt before the maiden to
introduce himself. He also apologised for daring to enter the place. Don Juan admitted that he
felt love for the maiden, and he was not disappointed because she felt the same way for the
prince.

Bantay na Higante

(Saknong 531 – 568) (Buod)

Donya Juana mentioned that there was a giant guarding the garden. The giant arrived because
he smelled someone nearby. When the giant saw Don Juan, he was delighted because he no
longer had to go hunting as he had someone to eat. Don Juan became angry and fought against
the giant using his sharp sword. Don Juan defeated the giant. Donya Juana requested that her
sister, Donya Leonora, be saved because she did not want her to leave alone. She warned Don
Juan to be careful because Princess Leonora's guardian was even more ferocious—a seven-
headed serpent. It was difficult to fight against it because even if one of its heads were severed,
it would grow back to life. Princess Leonora could be found in a nearby palace, the one with a
grand staircase made of gold.

Si Prinsesa Leonora

(Saknong 569 – 617) (Buod)

Princess Leonora leaned out of the window when the Prince saw her. She was more beautiful
than Lady Juana, which made Don Juan more attracted to her. The princess became angry and
asked who he was. Princess Leonora chased Don Juan away from that place because she knew
that the serpent was about to arrive. Don Juan confessed his feelings to Princess Leonora,
forgetting that Lady Juana was waiting for him outside. The princess worried that the prince’s
promise to her might be broken. They felt a strong earthquake.

Ang Serpyente
 (Saknong 618 – 658) (Buod)
The serpent climbed the stairs, and the prince immediately confronted it. He narrowly escaped
being bitten by the serpent, thanks to his agility. The prince swiftly severed the head of the fierce
serpent, but it quickly grew back. Feeling weary, the prince offered a prayer. His strength
immediately returned. The battle lasted for three hours. Princess Leonora handed the balm to
Don Juan, instructing him to apply it to the severed head of the serpent to prevent it from
regenerating. The prince defeated the serpent. Don Juan released the two princesses from the
dungeon. Don Pedro and Don Diego discovered Don Juan's heroic act towards the princesses,
which ignited further envy, especially since Don Pedro was captivated by the beauty of Princess
Leonora.

IBONG ADARNA

Buod ng Saknong 650-790

While they were travelling back to Berbanya, Dona Leonora remembered her diamond ring that
she left beneath the well. Don Juan insisted on going back for it, so he tied a rope around his
waist to descend once again into the depths of the well. The treacherous Don Pedro cut the
rope, severing Don Juan's connection. This act fuelled Dona Leonora's anger towards Don Pedro.
The princess released her loyal wolf and ordered it to save Don Juan. Don Pedro and Don Diego
returned home with the two princesses. Don Pedro claimed that they did not find Don Juan and
instead rescued the princesses from the hands of a giant and a serpent. The king commanded
that the four of them should get married immediately, but Princess Leonora refused the king's
proposal and pleaded to be married after seven years due to a vow she had made. The king
agreed to have Don Diego and Dona Juana married first. The kingdom celebrated for nine days.

The wolf found Don Juan, covered in blood and wounded. Don Juan quickly grabbed three
bottles and went to the River Jordan. The wolf deceived the vigilant river guard and filled the
three bottles with water. When the guard discovered the wolf's actions, he gave chase, but the
wolf swiftly leaped into a ravine. When the wolf returned to Don Juan, it bathed the prince's
entire body with the water. The prince's strength returned, and his wounds vanished. Overjoyed
and grateful, Don Juan embraced the wolf. They both headed to the palace to retrieve the ring
left by Princess Leonora. After retrieving the ring, the wolf helped Don Juan ascend from
beneath the well. Then, bidding farewell, the wolf left the prince.

Don Juan was nearing the kingdom of Berbanya when he felt exhausted. He found a lush tree
and rested there. He was awakened by the song of the Ibong Adarna. Upon waking, the prince
was delighted to see the bird perched on a branch. The bird recounted its story to Don Juan
through its song. The prince discovered that the bird had left to save him from hardship. Don
Pedro and Don Diego planned to kill both the bird and Don Juan.

The Ibong Adarna commanded Don Juan to travel to a faraway and beautiful kingdom located in
the east. There, he would find the three sibling princesses: Isabel, Juana, and Maria Blanca. Their
father was King Salermo, a cunning and intelligent ruler. The bird instructed Don Juan to choose
Maria Blanca among the three, as her beauty was unparalleled. Don Juan obeyed the bird's
command and embarked on a journey to the Reyno de los Cristales. On the other hand, Princess
Leonora remained full of worry, fearing that her beloved Don Juan had not been saved by the
wolf.

IBONG ADARNA: ANG HULING BAHAGI

Don Juan began his search for the Reyno de Los Cristales and on his journey, he was aided by an
old man. The old man directed him to the mountain where a Hermit resided. The Hermit quickly
learned of Don Juan's quest. From his kingdom, he gathered the animals, including the legendary
Ibong Adarna, but even the king of the animals, the Olikornyo, was unaware of the said kingdom.

Don Juan continued his journey as instructed by the Hermit. The Olikornyo escorted the prince
to another Hermit from the seventh mountain. The Hermit understood Don Juan's purpose, so
he called for the birds that were his pets throughout the mountains. Following the Hermit's
instructions, they successfully reached Reyno de Los Cristales.

The Eagle descended Don Juan into the bathing area of the princesses, where the siblings bathed
at exactly four o'clock in the morning. Meanwhile, Haring Salermo, the ruler of Reyno de Los
Cristales, woke up at five o'clock in the morning. Before the Eagle departed, Don Juan was
instructed to hide in the garden to avoid being noticed by Princess Maria Blanca.

The three princesses arrived in the form of beautiful doves with pure whiteness. Don Juan was
captivated by the beauty of Princess Maria Blanca when she appeared before him. While she
was bathing, the prince hid the princess's clothes. When she emerged, she was filled with anger.
However, due to Don Juan's heartfelt apology, the princess's anger subsided.

As the first request, Don Juan was given wheat to plant from a mountain that he needed to level
within the same day, so that it would bear fruit and be harvested to make bread for his
breakfast.

This was followed by the second challenge, where the king released his twelve black slaves
(negritosDON’T CANCEL ME :D ) into the vast ocean and then brought them back inside a cage without any of
them missing.

The third command was the king's desire to inhale the fresh air, so he ordered the mountain to
be moved and positioned outside his window.

The fourth command was to build a castle in the middle of the sea. However, the king, in his
amusement while walking, accidentally dropped his ring into the sea without realizing it. Don
Juan was ordered to dismantle the castle as the fifth command and to return the mountain to its
original place in front of the king's window.

As for the sixth command, the king remembered the lost ring, and as a replacement for his life, it
had to be retrieved.

Haring Salermo was not completely happy due to the prince's skill and dedication in fulfilling all
the commands. He gave Don Juan the final command, which was to tame the elusive magic
horse.

Finally, Don Juan's hardships came to an end. As a reward, Haring Salermo allowed Don Juan to
choose one of his three daughters who were inside the room, and the chosen princess would
become his wife. The prince chose Donya Maria Blanca because of her missing finger. However,
the princess was not entirely happy because she knew her father's secret plan, so she invited
Don Juan to elope.

Donya Maria learned about her father's plan and invited Don Juan to elope. She asked Don Juan
to fetch the seventh horse from the stable, as it was very fast. However, in Don Juan's haste, he
mistakenly took the eighth horse. Haring Salermo chased after them, and they almost caught up
because the king was riding the seventh horse. With the help of Donya Maria's magic
handkerchief, they managed to escape. The king, consumed by anger, cursed Donya Maria,
saying that she would be forgotten by Don Juan. The king died of a broken heart.

Don Juan and Donya Maria arrived at the kingdom of Berbanya. Don Juan left Donya Maria
outside the palace because he wanted to greet her with a noble reception befitting a princess.
Donya Maria instructed Don Juan not to approach any other woman, or he would forget her.
When Don Juan arrived at the palace, Donya Leonora approached him, and he forgot about
Donya Maria.

Their wedding was arranged. When Donya Maria learned about the upcoming wedding, she
asked for her wedding ring, an Empress's attire, a golden carriage, coachmen, and horses. She
attended the wedding, causing a temporary halt to the marriage of Don Juan and Donya Leonora
as a sign of respect to an Empress. Donya Maria poured the water from the flask, and that was
when Don Juan recognized her. The prince embraced Donya Maria and told his father, King
Fernando, that he wanted to marry Donya Maria. Donya Leonora did not agree. The king and the
Archbishop decided that Donya Leonora should be the one to marry Don Pedro, and the princess
agreed.

Don Juan and Donya Maria were married at the same time as Don Pedro and Donya Leonora.
After the wedding, King Fernando intended to crown Don Juan, but Donya Maria stopped him
and suggested that the crown be placed on Don Pedro instead since he had a kingdom. Don
Pedro became the king of Berbanya, and Donya Leonora became the queen. Don Juan and
Donya Maria returned to Reyno de Los Cristales and became the king and queen of that realm.
They ruled their subjects well and lived happily.