Biag ni Lam-ang The Biag ni Lam-ang or Life of Lam-ang (complete Iloko title: Historia a Pacasaritaan ti Panagbiag ni Lam-ang iti

Ili a Nalbuan nga Asaoa ni D.a Ines Cannoyan iti Ili a Calanutian) is a pre-Hispanic epic of the Ilokano people from the Ilocos region of the Philippines. Recited and originally written in Iloko language, it is believed to be the work of many poets from various generations. At around 1640, a blind Ilokano bard named Pedro Bucaneg put the epic poem into a written language. Synopsis The hero, Lam-ang, could talk immediately after birth. He selected his own name, chose his own sponsor, and asked for his fathers presence. Barely nine months old, Lam-ang fought against the headhunters who killed his father. He was also eaten by a river monster called "Berkakan," but was reborn from his retrieved bones. Nine months before Lam-ang was born to a noble family, his father Don Juan left for the mountains to defeat an evil tribe of Igorots. Unfortunately, he was beheaded, and his head was displayed at the center of the village as a prize. When Lam-ang's mother Ina Namongan gave birth, she was surprised when the baby grew up instantly. Lam-ang, as he was named, promised to find out what happened to his father by going up the mountains himself. There, helped by a good tribe of Igorots, he encountered the evil tribe and killed every one of them as vengeance, just by using a single spear. When he returned home, he was so tired that he wanted to bathe. He dipped into the Amburayan River, which was instantly drenched in mud and blood. So filthy was the flow that the fish in the river crawled out and died on its shores. The following day, he told his mother Ina Namongan that he wanted to marry. Using his supernatural abilities, he predicted he would wed a woman named Ines Kannoyan in a place called Calanutian. Accompanied by his pets, a rooster and a dog, he journeyed to get the beautiful Ines Kannoyan. On the way, he encountered a man called Sumarang with very big eyes. They fought and Lam-ang won, killing Sumarang. Ines Kannoyan had a multitude of suitors, and they crowded her house in Calanutian. So many were they that Lam-ang had to step on their heads and walk through a window just to enter the house. Lam-angs rooster flapped its wings, and the long house toppled. This amazed everybody, especially Ines. Then, Lam-angs dog barked and the long house rose to its former site. Ines Kannoyan was so immediately stricken by his strength that she agreed to marry him. Nevertheless, her parents were still skeptical: they needed a dowry from his parents in return for Ines Kannoyans hand. Lam-ang agreed to return in a week to bring his mother as well as wealth and goods. Back in his town, Lam-ang prepared a house gilded with gold, filled with fruit, jewels,

statues, and other amenities. When he sailed back to Calanutian, Ines Kannoyans family was stunned. The wedding was done on the spot. After the wedding Lam-ang was tasked to catch some fish in the Amburayan River and when he dove into the river he went straight to the mouth of the Berkakan. His wife was deeply anguished. The old diver Lacay Marcos was fetched to get the bones of Lam-ang excreted by the Berkakan. When the bones were retrieved, the pets of Lam-ang performed magics and Lam-ang was again brought to life. __________________________ The Biag ni Lam-ang or Life of Lam-ang is a pre-Hispanic epic of the Ilokano people in the Philippines. Recited and originally written in Iloko language, it is believed to be the work of many poets from various generations. At around 1640, a blind Ilokano bard named Pedro Bucaneg put down the epic poem in writing. Synopsis The hero, Lam-ang could talk immediately after birth. He picked his own name, chose his own sponsor and asked for his fathers presence. Barely nine months old, Lam-ang fought against the headhunters who killed his father. He was also eaten by a sea monster, but was reborn from his retrieved bones. He also journeyed to get the beautiful Ines Kannoyan accompanied by his pets; a rooster and a dog. (This reminds us of an old Japanese tale titled Momotaro the Peach boy.) Ines Kannoyans place was filled with suitors, Lam-angs rooster flap its wings and the long house toppled. This amazed every body, especially Ines. Then, Lam-angs dog barks and the long house rose to its former. Lam-ang gave Ines two golden ships filled with treasures, and then he married her. ________________________________ Ang Epiko. Ang epiko ay mahabang tula na inaawit o binibigkas. Ito ay tungkol sa mahiwagang pangyayari at kabayanihan ng isang mamamayan. Ang katangian na makikita sa epiko ay ang pagkakaroon ng kaisahan na banghay, mabilis na aksiyon, paggamit sa mga istorying kababalaghan, at ng nakatitinag-damdamin at dakilang paksa (Talindaw,p.6). Ang ating mga ninuno ay naglayong gamitin ang epiko para pangritwal. Ipangaral sa mamamayan ang kani-kanilang mga tungkulin sa sambayanan. Ang mga sumusunod ay mga iba't ibang epikong galing sa iba't ibang tribo: una; ang epikong Biag ni Lam-ang ay galing sa mga Ilokano. Ang epikong ito'y akda ni Pedro Bukaneg na taga-Abra na naging dalubhasa sa samtoy (Ilokano) at Kastila. Pangalawa; ay ang Maragtas na galing sa Panay. Ito ay kasaysayan ng 10 datung Malay na tumakas sa Borneo (dahil sa kalupitan ni Sultan Makatunaw) at ng mga unang araw nila sa Panay na kanilang binili kay

Haring Marikudo ng mga Aeta. At ang pangatlo'y ang Alim ng mga Ipugaw. Dito itinutukoy and pagkakasal ng magkapatid na Bugan at Wigan na siyang pinagmulan ng kagalitan at patayan sa daigdig bilang tala ng sumpa ng Bathalang si Makanungan. Sa pangkabuuan mapapansin at mapapag-aralin natin na ang mga tula noong mga matandang panahon ay nagpapakita kanilang kahirapan, pagkakawagi laban sa mga kasamaan at digmaan, kasaganaan sa bukid, kaligayaan, katapatan, at iba pang malapit sa kanilang buhay at kapaligiran.

The epic is a broadly defined genre of narrative poetry, characterized by great length, multiple settings, large numbers of characters, or long span of time involved. As a result of this change in the use of the word, many prose works of the past may be retroactively called "epics" which were not composed or originally understood as such. Epic: a long narrative poem in elevated stature presenting characters of high position in adventures forming an organic whole through their relation to a central heroic figure and through their development of episodes important to the history of a nation or race.

Epics have 6 main characteristics: 1. the hero is of imposing stature, of national or international importance, and of great historical or legendary significance 2. the setting is vast, covering many nations, the worlds or the universe 3. the action consists of deeds of great valor or requiring superhuman courage 4. supernatural forces--gods, angels, demons--interest themselves in the action 5. a style of sustained elevation is used 6. the poet retains a measure of objectivity

Epic poetry

An epic poem is a long poem narrating the heroic exploits of an individual in a way central to the beliefs and culture of his society. Typical elements are fabulous adventures, superhuman deeds, polyphonic composition, majestic language and a craftsmanship deploying the full range of literary devices, from lyrical to dramatic. Nonetheless, the first epics Iliad, Odyssey, Mahabharata, Ramayana were created and transmitted orally, a tradition still seen in Serbian guslars and storytellers throughout Asia.