BIAG NI LAM-ANG

An Ilocano Epic
• Don Juan
• Namongan
• Lam-ang
• Ines Cannoyan
• Sumarang
 A
Summary…
Centuries ago, there was a great warrior who was widely known in Ilocos
as a hero who fought the Igorots. When Lam-ang was born, he had the
most unusual ability to speak immediately at birth. He asks where his
father was, and, upon being told that his father was killed by Igorots,
Lam-ang vows revenge; a vendeta is born.
Lam-ang grows up immediately, and goes up into the mountains to take
his vengeance. Alone, he fights off dozens of Igorot warriors, defeating
them all. He cuts off the ears of the warriors, as trophies, and returns to
Ilocos. He then meets and is captivated by a beautiful woman named
Ines, and he immediately falls in love. He pledges to her all of his gold,
land, and livestock.
As the most beautiful woman in the province, Ines has many suitors, but
all quietly gave way to Lam-ang, since they knew that they could not
compete with him for her affections. All, except for a giant of a man
named Sumarang, who would not yield. Lam-ang and Sumarang fight
and Lam-ang wins, easily defeating Sumarang.
Lam-ang and Ines are married in the largest wedding feast that ever
been seen in the province. In order to secure the union’s blessing, Lam-
ang is told that he must dive down to the very depths of the sea and
retrieve a pearl from a magical oyster, otherwise the marriage would
have bad luck. (Other versions say that Lam-ang went to catch a rare
fish called rarang.) Lam-ang dives into the sea and on his way down, is
eaten by a fearsome fish called the Berkaken.
Heartbroken, Ines goes into mourning, as did most of the town, as Lam-
ang was their hero. The next day, Lam-ang’s rooster, who had magical
powers (Lam-ang also owned a magic dog and cat), spoke to Ines, and
Theturningpointsof
Lam-ang’slife:
 His
resurrectio
n after his
Lam-ang’s adventure
Namongan journey to with the
gave birth the town of tioan-tioan
to Lam-ang. Calanutian. shark.

Lam-ang Lam-ang’s
made fulfillment
revenge to of the trial
the Igorots given by
for his Ines
father. Cannoyan’s
parents.
PaganCulturalElementsorIlocano
CustomsandTraditions
• Preparation of bamboo shoots before giving birth

• Wearing of wild carabao’s amulet, centipede’s amulet,

stone of sagang, stone of tangraban and lao-laoigan

• Tribal wars and revenge

• Domestication of animals like rooster and dog

• Tradition of diving for the shellfish, rarang

ChristianCulturalElements
• The sacrament of Baptism

• Having godfather or godparents during baptism

• Celebration of feasts

• Resurrection from death

• Church wedding or church ceremonies

Biagni Lam-angandHudhudhi
Aliguyon
 Biag ni Lam-ang Hudhud hi Aliguyon
NATIONHOOD Compared to Hudhud Tribal wars also existed
hi Aliguyon, Lam-ang in the story. The battle
did not just competed was between Aliguyon
with the other tribes but and Pumbakhayon.
as the same time with They have the same
the Spaniards. Thus, strength and it is the
the epic portrays the reason why the war
presence of the lasted for 3 years. They
Spaniards during Lam- cannot defeat each
ang’s time. Nationhood other. But, in the end,
is not manifested in the both their tribes agreed
story because the to be at peace. Thus,
Filipinos were not nationhood can be
united and tribal wars seen in the story
still occur. because the tribes
united in the end.
Meaning, they become
 Biag ni Lam-ang Hudhud hi Aliguyon
GENDER Patriarchal system is Patriarchal system is
observed. Just the also observed. Men are
same with other epics, considered superior. It
men are considered is because they are the
superior because of the one who go to battles.
existence of battles. This tradition is
But unlike Hudhud hi manifested in the scene
Aliguyun, a more formal where Aliguyon curses
way of courtship was his mother and at the
emphasized which same time he didn.t
manifests a great listen to his mother’s
respect to women. advice.