The Prowess of Aliguyon

Retold by F Landa Jocano

Long ago in Hannanga, there lived a rich couple, Amtulao and Dumulao. They owned the
longest and widest of the rice terraces that covered the mountainsides, and their harvests were
the most plentiful. Their thatched house, large enough to contain three of their neighbors' huts,
had piles of red and white camote. Buried in the earth were jars of rice wine. Amtulao's dogs were
fat and well fed, not lean and starved looking as were the dogs of his neighbors.

But with all their wealth, Amtulao and Dumulao were unhappy, for they were childless. They
offered numerous sacrifices to the spirits; and they lived frugally and simply, feeling somehow that
austerity and lack of ostentation would please the anitos. In the end, their prayers were answered,
and Dumulao gave birth to Aliguyon, 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 skill with the spear and the shield. Amtulao made
for him a little spear; and when at the age of three Aliguy-on speared his first fish, Amtulao offered
a pig as sacrifice 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 anyone 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 abour his bitter enemy in the village across the mountain.
Pangaiwan of Daligdigan had to be conquered before Amtulao could die in peace.

So, when Aliguyon reached manhood, he called his childhood friends, now skilled warriors,
and talked to chem 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- gan. Eagerly his friends ran
for their spears and shields, and after preparing provisions, Aliguyon and ten warriors set forth.
 When they reached the enemy village, Aliguyon challenged Pangaiwan to fight, but
Pangaiwan was 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 admire 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.
One 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. Perhaps the anitos do not favor this fight, for
neither has won. Perhaps 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, che warriors ran to their elders and carried them to the house
of Pumbakhayon where old Pangaiwan waited.
Preparations began for a huge celebration. Squealing pigs were dragged to be butchered
and cooked as were the fattest dogs. The fields were scoured for river fish and snails. Prized
camote, violet and orange, glutinous 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
between the strangers from Hannanga and the people of Daligdigan grew.

All throughout the feast, Aliguyon was fascinated 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 co her. But
Aliguyon was such a hero, as strong and brave, so well-spoken of and handsome! Would her
father allow 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: "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 worthy 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
air, yelling with happiness, and his friends chanted the first words of the courting song. The
women took up the rhythm with their hands on bronze gongs and hol-lowed-out logs, and
everyone crowded around to see Aliguyon mimic the strut of a rooster as he danced before
Bugan.

In triumph he led her to his father in Hannanga, and kneeling before Amtulao and Dumulao,
he cried:
"O Father! O 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. If you love me,
love too the man whom your son promised to honor as the father of his wife. Behold, I have
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, O my mother, so that someone can carry water to you when you want to drink."

"I 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 cheir 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 to talk of old times with Amtulao and Dumulao.

The Prowess of Aliguyon

Retold by F Landa Jocano

Characters:
Amtulao: Wealthy landowner in Hannanga, childless at first, father of Aliguyon.
Dumulao: Wife of Amtulao, initially childless, mother of Aliguyon.
Aliguyon: Protagonist, son of Amtulao and Dumulao, skilled warrior and hunter.
Pangaiwan: Initially an enemy of Amtulao, becomes a friend, father of Bugan.
Pumbakhayon: Son of Pangaiwan, skilled warrior, engages in combat with Aliguyon.
Bugan: Daughter of Pangaiwan, caught in a love story with Aliguyon.

Setting:
Hannanga: A village with rich rice terraces, owned by Amtulao and Dumulao.
Daligdigan: The enemy village across the mountain from Hannanga.
The mountainsides: Where the rice terraces are situated.

Plot Synopsis:
"The Prowess of Aliguyon" unfolds in the ancient village of Hannanga, where the wealthy
couple Amtulao and Dumulao, initially childless, are blessed with a son named Aliguyon. As
Aliguyon grows, he exhibits exceptional skills in hunting, spear handling, and leadership.
Amtulao, driven by a long-standing enmity with Pangaiwan of Daligdigan, instills in Aliguyon
the desire to conquer their rivals.

Upon reaching manhood, Aliguyon assembles a group of skilled warriors for an expedition to
Daligdigan. However, instead of an outright battle, a prolonged and evenly matched combat
ensues between Aliguyon and Pumbakhayon, Pangaiwan's son. As the warriors rest, mutual
admiration and respect grow, leading to a realization of the senselessness of their conflict.

The story takes a turn when Aliguyon, captivated by Bugan, Pangaiwan's daughter, proposes
a union. The request is granted, symbolizing the end of animosity between the villages. A
grand celebration follows, uniting the once-hostile communities. The tale concludes with
Aliguyon bringing Bugan to Hannanga, presenting her to his parents, and declaring the
victory over their enemies. The union between Aliguyon and Bugan becomes a beacon of
love and understanding, bringing lasting peace to the villages. "The Prowess of Aliguyon"
 ultimately emphasizes the transformative power of diplomacy, love, and cultural unity in
resolving conflicts and fostering harmony.

Theme/Moral Lessons:

The Folly of Enmity: The story emphasizes the futility of prolonged conflict and the potential
for friendship even with former enemies.

Power of Diplomacy: Combat turns into friendship through dialogue and understanding.
Cultural Unity: Despite differences, the villages come together to celebrate common values
and virtues.

The Role of Love: Love has the power to overcome animosity and bring about lasting
peace.

Generational Harmony: The elders accept the changing dynamics and embrace the union
of Aliguyon and Bugan, signifying generational unity.

The retelling of "The Prowess of Aliguyon" underscores the transformative nature of

relationships, the consequences of enmity, and the potential for peace through
understanding and love.