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L O N T
A E
IB IC FRA GM

EP

Presented by:
ABION, Aldrin
BIGTAS, Honorio Jr.
LACRA, Lyka
 Breve Noticia acerca del origin, religion, creencias, y
superticiones de los antiguos indios del Bicol
• An account of the ancient Bicolanos, their origin and beliefs
published by Wenceslao E. Retana in Archivo del Bibliofilo
Filipino

Fray Jose Castaño

• A fray who wrote Breve Noticia for the “archivo”
• 1871- spent the year for missionary work in Camalig, Albay
• 1871-1880 – appointed as parish priest in Lupi, Camarines Sur
• He then kept the fragment and translate it into Spanish
Quatrains
• He described the fragment from Bicol as “A fragment of a
certain manuscript in verse”
 IBALON: A Bicol Epic

• The narrative trilogy version of F. Castaño’s

fragment about Bicol’s legendary heroes:
Baltog, Handiong, at Bantong
• Supplied by Bicolano Essayists Jose
Panganiban and Consuelo Panganiban as
reference to Tierra de Ibalon
• “Bicol epic recounted in verse by a wandering
mistrell called Cadugnong”
 STRUCTURAL CONTEXT

1. YLING and CADUGNONG

• YLING (Iling)- a legendary Bicol name of a woman
-Represents a group of listeners seated under the
shadow of daod
• CADUGNONG(Kadunung)- a poet that sang the
heroic events in the land of Handiong (Bicol)
• Supplication of Yling to Cadugnong to sing heroic
events that happened in Handiong.
2. THE SONG OF CADUGNONG
• Narrates on poetical verse the heroic events centered
on the legendary heroes: Baltog, Handiong, and
Bantog.
IBALON: Epikong Bicolano
IBALON: Epikong Bicolano
IBALON: Epikong Bicolano
IBALON: Epikong Bicolano
IBALON: Epikong Bicolano
IBALON: Epikong Bicolano
IBALON: Epikong Bicolano
IBALON: Epikong Bicolano
IBALON: Epikong Bicolano
 IBALON: LITERARY MERITS
Artistry Style

• Fr. Castaño’s fragment and its structural form shows that

Ibalong is SUNG, not read
therefore, early Bicolanos love to sing and hear poetic verses about
heroic valor and beauty of their land.

• The fragment is sung in accompaniment of Barimbau or

Baringbau
an indigenous musical instrument in a form of lute made of dried
shaft of scitamina and half coconut shell. Shows that ancient Bicolanos
are creative and loves music.
 IBALON: LITERARY MERITS
Artistry Style

• The usage of names Yling (Iling) and

Cadugnung (Kadunong)
Yling is also a Bikol name for a bird with bald
head, charcoal-gray feather and can be trained like
a parrot.
Suggests that the listeners of Kadunong are
maidens who love poetry.
Cadugnung (kadunong) is similar to the Bikol
word: “Dunong/Madunong” which means wise.
 IBALON: LITERARY MERITS
Intellectual Issue

The fragment mentioned MUOG

A house constructed on a tree-top to protect
natives from wild animals
Suggests that there are already an innovation on
pre-historic architecture

The invention of BAROTO BOAT

A river boat without riggers, rudder, or sail.
Suggests that Bicolanos are naturally
innovative.
 IBALON: LITERARY MERITS
Intellectual Issues

The invention of agricultural tools

• PAGOLON- made of spiked wooded
rollers for the preparation of rice
paddies

• A-ABOLAN- weaving loom

• GANTA- units of measure

 IBALON: LITERARY MERITS
Intellectual Issues

SURAL
Alphabet inscribed from Libon Stone
“Surat” , a Bicol term for writing is believed
to be derived from the word sural.
 IBALON: LITERARY MERITS
Permanence

The invention of household utensils that

are still used on present Bicolano kitchen
• CORON- earthen pot

• CALAN- earthen stove

• PASO- earthen receptacle used as a

container for salt or fish paste

• GORGETO- water container

 IBALON: LITERARY MERITS
Spiritual Value

TACAY
Lotus-like flower that blooms in Bicol lakes
Famous for its legend story about a fair maiden named Takay
drowned in the flood caused by the God of Storm Onos where God
Bulan saw what happened to the maiden and made her as a lake
flowers abundant in Lake Bato.
 IBALON: LITERARY MERITS

GEOGRAPHICAL LANDMARKS
Mount HANTIC – a mountain peak in the
vicinity of the town Libmanan, Camarines Sur

Mount COLASI – a volcanic

peak in Camarines Norte near the
coast of San Miguel Bay
Also known as Culasi Peak
 IBALON: LITERARY MERITS

GEOGRAPHICAL LANDMARKS
Mount MASARAGA– a mountain
peak in Ligao, Albay near
Mayon volcano

Mount ISAROG – a mountain peak

in Camarines Sur
 IBALON: LITERARY MERITS

GEOGRAPHICAL LANDMARKS
LAKE BATO – a fresh water lake in the
province of Camarines Sur

RIVER INARIHAN– a tributary of

the Bicol river that connects from
Naga to
San Miguel Bay
 WHERE IS MAYON?

• The fragment instead mentioned Lignion which is

believed to be the home of the monster who
heaves tongues of fire named Tandaya
• Handiong’s daughter was named Magayon, could
it be that Mayon was named after his lost
daughter?

And so, the legend continues…

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING!