Epic

An epic is a very long poem that tells the story of heroism and adventure written or orally said in a creative artful style.

Andres Cristobal Cruz discussed the "Ang Epikong Labaw Donggon ng Lambunao, Iloilo," in his column in Liwayway Filipiniana or Liwayway Magazine.

In 1955, when he was still a student of Central Philippine University in Iloilo City, Felipe Landa Jocano, an anthropologist who conducted a lot of research about native epics and folktales, proverbs, and riddles in the Philippines have heard about an epic. This is the Labaw Donggon of Lambunao, a municipality or town in the hinterlands or mountains of Iloilo.

According to Jocano, the Catholicism in Lambunao was not able to make a drastic change in the customs, traditions and beliefs of the people of Lambunao most especially their morality that can be found in Labaw Donggon (Honored Most High in English). A good social relationship is one of the finest values of the people in Lambunao just like stated in their proverbs: "Doesn't matter if the dish is only kangkong leaves, if we stay together beautifully in good terms." The social relationship or being congenial is in one kind of bayanihan - their "dagyaw". It is voluntarily work or help to a neighbor or neighborhood in the village. It can be compared to the "suyo" in the farm of the Bulakenyo, just like the story of Macario Pineda, "Suyuan sa Tubigan." The dagyaw is, thus, a personality of the bayanihan or united helping hands that is feature in the New Society because it is included and an ingredient of the barangay system. Another kind of cooperation or collaboration, however to earn, according to Jocano, is where of the Lambunao people called pakyaw. The dagyaw is based in huya (self-respect), at sa kabaraslan (obligation or utang na loob). These values is in the epic Labaw Dunggon.

Just like other Filipinos in places where the culture has not yet been stained or influenced by the western values, customs and traditions, the people of Lambunao are skilled in storytelling. The most popular is the Labaw Dunggon according to Jocano.

The Labaw Donggon, the name of the hero, is sung to the tune of pasyon reading. The Labaw Donggon was heard by Jocano from someone named Ulang Udig who was more than 50 years old then in 1956. However unlike the pasyon every Holy Week, the singing of Labaw Donggon, according to the descriptions of Jocano, is artistic, and the incidents, feelings or emotions and actions are being emphasized or given importance in singing.

Labaw Donggon is one of the three children of Diwata Abyang Alunsina and Buyung Paubari. Just right after his childbirth, Labaw Donggon immediately grew up, became strong and already learned how to speak. She bids her mother farewell to look for Anggoy Ginbitinan, and he was given a powerful clothes. Riding in the wind, Labaw reached Handog and he immediately gained the approval of Anggoy Ginbitinan. Not long after his marriage to Ginbitinan, Labaw left again to woo Anggoy Doronoon. She also became a wife of Labaw. When he heard of a beautiful lady, Nagmalitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata, Labaw left again. However, Nagmalitong Yawa has a husband and he is Buyong Saragnayan.

Buyong Saragnayan doesn't want to give up and give away Nagmalitong Yawa so the two went fighting. Labaw submerged or soaked his enemy in the water. Buyong Saragnayan stayed underwater for seven years yet remained alive. Labaw beat or whacked Buyong with trees however it only became shredded strings and Buyong is still alive. Labaw became tired and exhausted and he was defeated by Buyong. Buyong tied Labaw like a pig under his house.

Meanwhile, Anggoy Doronoon gave birth to Baranugan and the child bade farewell to his mother to look for his father. Anggoy Ginbitinan also gave birth to Asu Mangga and he too bade farewell to look for his father. The two brothers met and they went together to liberate their father. Baranugan challenged Saragnayan. Baranugan is about to beat Saragnayan when he wished to see his wife Nagmalitong Yawa first. The two fought again and when he learned that he will never beat the son of Labaw, Saragnayan asked for help from the evil creatures and a troop came. The siblings Baranugan and Asu Mangga helped each other in the battle and they won and once more, Baranugan and Saragnayan fought again. However Saragnayan could not be killed so Baranugan seek the help of her grandmother, Abyang Alunsina. To kill Saragnayan, the brothers should kill a wild boar. The brothers found a wild boar and killed it. After that, suddenly there's a tremor or earthquake and there's a darkness around when the brothers killed Saragnayan.

The siblings continued to search for their father, however it was gone under the house of Saragnayan. Humadapnon and Dumalapdap, siblings of Labaw Donggon, helped in the search. They found Labaw insane or mentally ill. The two wives of Labaw cured their crazy husband. Labaw recovered and got cured and he confessed that Nagmalitong Yawa has two more siblings who are very beautiful. The two siblings left to look for the beautiful siblings of Nagmalitong Yawa.

That was the end of the epic Labaw Donggon which was summarized in the writings of Jocano based from his tape recordings of the narrative singing of Ulang Udig.

The Labaw Donggon in the reckoning or assumption of Jocano was included in Hinilawod, another epic. If compared to the epic Biag ni Lam-ang of the Ilocos region, it can be noticed in its resemblance of strength, bravery or courage and the power of the children. It also commemorates the ritual of the search for the father and in this kind of epic, it can be said that the native or tribal customs and traditions or beliefs emerges that a crime is bad and it results to death or punishment which was also featured or expressed by Labaw Donggon. To love and not having self-control in his desire for the wife of others became the undoing for Labaw Donggon.

The love of the children to their parents is also shown through the search of the siblings for Labaw. The epic also showed the responsibilities of the wife to the wronged husband or insane husband - to help and nurse it back to his normal self with the right and sound mind.

According to the analysis and studies of Jocano to the epic and the life in Lambunao is that it is difficult to separate the human life to the life of the supernatural beings. In its further deep meaning,  it can be said that the life of a human has two parts - the earthly and the heavenly. In the strong relationship and understanding of both is a life of wisdom, progressive and peaceful.

Loa

Loa are limerick simple verses recited in the bilasyon or during a wake. The participants form a circle, and a lighted candle is being passed around while they are chanting a song. Whoever is holding the lighted candle at the end of the chant or song will recite the loa or short humorous poems as a form of punishment. I think this is our older generation way of cheering up the grieving family. Some verses sounds like they are teasing and humorous and others are about love. This was considered as an extinct practice now because people are no longer interested in loa nowadays. The loa in Hiligaynon is given or stated here first before its English translation below it.


Ang maayo kuntani
Sang mga kabalyero
Nga talahuron sa reinado
Tratahon sing maayo
Sa sining una naton nga pag-encuentro.


It could have been good
Of the gentlemen cavalier
Who were respected in their throne or court
Treat this good and seriously
In this first encounter of ours.



Tuluka, tuluka
Ang pantalya
May pagdulum
May pagsiga
Subong man sang paghigugma
Sang soltero kag dalaga.


Look at it, look at it
The stage light 
There is darkness
There is enlightenment
Just like in love
Of the young man and woman



Bisan inyo ako tangkalon
Sa binarita nga salsalon
Himpit nga pagalumpagon
Kay dili gusto kag uyon.

Even if you beat me up
With a steel bar
I will completely destroy or defeat
Cos I dislike and unwanted it.



Inday, indi ka maghikay
Sang akon pagka diutay
Pus-on ta nga daw langaw
Ipakaon sa anay.

Inday, don't underestimate
In my smallness
We'll crush it like a fly
And feed it to the termites.



Nonoy, bisan anhon mo ka luhudluhod
Sa puwerta sang amon sulod
Balhason ka lang tagatuhod
Si Inday dili mo matandog

Nonoy, (name given to a young man) no matter how you kneel
At the doorstep of our room
You will just sweat or perspire knee deep
You will never touch Inday (name given to a young woman, maiden).


Sa idalom sang balay
May bato nga malapad
Kon sin-o makasandad
Ciento beinte ang bayad.

Under the house
There is a flat stone
Whoever will stumble
One hundred twenty is the payment.



Paghalin ko sa balay
Nagtugon si Nanay
Kon diin ang belasyon
Didto ako manyapon.

When I left the house
My mother instructed
Wherever is the wake
Is where I will eat my dinner.



Sa ibabaw sang bintana
May everlasting nga nagabitin
Kon sin-o makatangla
Magahibi ang iya kasing-kasing

Above the window
There is an everlasting flower hanging
Whoever can look up
His or her heart will cry



Sa higad sang baybay
May malunggay nga namohi
Pisik pisik ang hipon
Abi na ilangkay.

On the shores of the sea
There is a malunggay leaves that grows or sprouted
The shrimps are jumping off
Afraid to be cooked or mixed into the cooking.



Rosas na rosas
Rosas na lupolupo
May radyo sa puno.

Roses that is so rosy
Rose that is a grass feed to the pigs
There is a radio in the tree.



Sa ibabaw sang bintana
May namuhi nga iba
Tumangla si Inday
Nagtulo iya luha.


Above the windows
An iba (Averrhoa bilimbi) grows up or sprouted
Inday look up
Her tears fell.


Sa ibabaw sang kampanaryo
May nag-itlog nga pato
Ginlomloman sang pari
Nagbuto obispo.


Above the belfry
A duck laid eggs
Incubated by the priest
Hatched a bishop



Sa tanan nga bata ni Nanay
Ako gid ang makaluluoy
Isa ka bilog ang nobyo
Ginkaon pa sang baboy.


Of all the children of mother
I am the most pathetic
Only one lover or suitor
Still eaten by a boar.


Sa ibabaw sang langit
May anglit nagakabit
Hinaboy sang luy-a
Tahu guwa na.


Above the heavens
There is a rice cooking pot hanging
Thrown with a ginger
It comes out with a human.


Sa bangi sang balay
May namuhi nga katumbal
Namunga sang kuritot
Halampangan sang buktot.


On the other side of the house
There sprouted a chili
It bore a twisted or curled  produce
Toy of the hunchbacked.


Didto sa amon
May dalaga nga laon
Abuton sang paghigugma
Nagataray sa karsada.

There in our place
There is a spinster
When love breakdown or seizure
She walks in the street.


Sa bangi sang dingding
May namuhi nga everlasting
Kon sin-o makalingling
Nagahibi iya kasingkasing

On the other side of the wall
There sprouted or grows an everlasting
Whoever can sneak peek
His or her heart will cry.


Malayo nga lugar ang akon ginhalinan
Leon kag Tigre ang akon kaaway
Wala ko baliha ang akon kabudlay
Agud maabot ang larawan mo Inday.

I came from a far away land
Lion and Tiger are my enemies
I never mind my hardships
Just to glimpse a picture of you, Inday.


Sa idalum sang balay
May nagatumpuk nga lukay
Ukay ko nga ukay
Nagguwa ang soltero nga bukay.

Below the house
There's a pile of dried coconut leaf
I spread and spread
An albino young man came out.


Sa ibabaw sang bukid
May bato nagaligid
Nagaligid nagafall
Pakadto sa waterfall

On top of the mountain
There is a rock rolling
Rolling and falling
Towards the waterfall.


Sa ibabaw sang paho
May uwak nga nagadapo
Tunto nga uwak
May rebolber na hawak.

On top of the mango tree
There is a raven perching
Stupid raven
Holding a revolver gun.


Tapakan ko paka ek!
Tapakan ko sentral gupi
Gua kalamay puti.

I stepped on a frog ek!
I stepped on the central dented
White sugar came out.


Nagtanom ako bulak
Sa tunga sang kabulakan
Namuhi sang bulak
Kay bulak ang ginhalinan.

I planted a flower
In the middle of the flowers
A flower grows.
Because it came from a flower.



Sa tupad sang bintana
May puno sang iba
Kon sin-o makatangla
Nagalaway iya baba.

Beside the window
There is an iba (averrhoa bilimbi)
Whoever can look up
His mouth is salivating.


May pispis ako nga kurit
Humapon sa silit
Binuno ko ang kampit
Imo senyor sang kadit


I have a kurit bird
Perched on a window sill
I stabbed the __
For you senior cadet


Paghalin ko sa balay
Nagbilin si Nanay
Inday indi ka magdugay
Kay pila gid ang kalipay.

When I left the house
Mother instructed
Inday don't be gone for so long
Cos how much or how deep is happiness.



Didto sa bukid
May libro nagalitib
Basahon sang karbaw
Pati Dios nagakadlaw.

There in the mountain
There is a book exposed
Read by the carabao
Even God is laughing.


Didto sa bangi sang balay
May namuhi nga balunggay
Nalagyo ang akritot.
Nahadlok ilangkay?

On the backyard of the house
A malunggay (Moringa oleifera) leaves grows
The krill scampered away
Scared to be cooked?



Pito ka bukid ang akon ginlakbay
Leon kag Tigre ang akon kaaway
Ulan kag init ang akon ginsulay
Para lang makita ang larawan ni Inday.

Seven mountains I journeyed and crossed into
Lion and tiger are my enemies
Rain and Scorching Hot of the sun I defy or braved against
Just to see a picture of you Inday.



Didto sa Guimaras
May tawo nga haras-haras
Kon abuton sang paghigugma
Nagaligid sa baras. 

There in Guimaras
There is a man who is naughty and restless
If love breakdown or seizure / If he is captured by love
He is rolling in the sand.



Paghalin ko sa balay
Nagtugon si Nanay
Nga kon ako magsaka sa iban nga balay
Maghatag tahod sa tagbalay.

When I left the house
Mother instructed
That if I went and go inside other people's houses
I should pay respect to the residents.



Yari ako mabayad sang utang
Basi ako sukton sa tunga sang dalan
Ang huya sang tawo dili mabayaran
Sang perlas kag diyamante kag mga bulawan.

I'm here to pay what I owe
Perhaps someone would demand payments from me in the middle of the road
The shame of a person could not be repaid
Of pearls and diamonds and golds.


Didto sa amon balay
May manok ako nga si Bukay
Ginbulang ko sa Janiuay
Nagdaog pero patay.

There in our house
I have a chicken named Bukay (White or Albino)
I brought it to a cockfight in Janiuay
It won but died.



Paghalin ko sa balay
Nagtugon si Nanay
Kay ako malaw-ay
Pahigad-higad lang anay.


When I left the house
Mother instructed
'Cos I am ugly
Just step aside for now.



Sa kilid sang kasilyas
May namuhi nga bayabas
Kon sin-o makatapas
Pakaslan ko buas.

At the side of the toilet or restroom
There grows or sprouts a guava tree
Whoever can cut it down
I will marry him tomorrow.



Sa idalom sang bubon
May tatlo ka bituon
Kon ako papilion
Sa tunga gid akon.

Below the deep well or shallow river digging
There are three stars
If I have to choose
I will choose the one in the middle.

*bubon can be a deep well or a shallow river diggings or dug up that produces clean pure water in the river, brook or stream for cooking, drinking, washing and even bathing.


Nonoy pagkita ko kanimo
Nagahining-hining ulo mo
Abi ko anay pumada mo
Kay gali kalbo mo.

Nonoy when I saw you
Your head is shining or glistening
I thought it was your pomade
I realized it was your bald head.


*Nonoy is a name or terms of endearment or adoration to a young boy.



Palayo palayo lalaki nga mabaho
Kalapit sang bubon
Waay ka paligo

Go away filthy and smelly man
The deep well is near
You never took a bath.



Kon ako mamana
Pilion ko hanggod mata
Kon waay kami sang suga
Patindugon ko siya sa tunga.

If I have to get a husband
I will choose someone with big eyes
If we don't have a light
I will make him stand in the center (of our house).



Sa ibabaw sang tigbaw
May sulat nga nagalabaw
Ginbasa sang karbaw
Waay unto sa ibabaw.

On top of the riverbed reeds
There is a letter over it
The carabao reads it.
No teeth on its upper mouth.



Sa likod sang balay
May namuhi nga Atimon
Pito anang bunga
Pito anang dahon
Pito ka pari naga sermon

At the backyard of our house
There grows a wild melon
It has seven fruits
It has seven leaves
Seven priests are doing the sermon or homily.



Sa likod ka sira
May tiki nga nagadupa
Gindulugan sang sultero
Abi na daraga.

On the area of the door
There's a lizard outstretching its arms
A young man stop or halt by it
He thought it was a young woman.




Sa dalom sang hagdan
May batong malapad
Kon sin-o ang makasandad
Kay tatay umagad.

Below the stairs
There is a wide rock
Whoever can stumble upon it
To my father will be his in-law.



Didto sa tabuk
May babayi nga matambok
Nagapangihi nagalagapok
Nagakamatay ang udok.

There across the street
There is a fat woman
Urinating noisily
The piglets are dying.

Ulan-ulan tumba kawayan, 

bagyo bagyo bantay kabayo.

Rain rain, bamboo is falling

Storm storm watching horse.

Paktakon or Riddles Part IV

About Play and Games:

1. Tul-an kag panit
    Pero nagalupad

         Burador


   Bones and skin
   Yet flying.

       Kite


2. May hampangan ako nga maayo-ayo
    Ang iya kinaugali korioso
    Kon higtan mapasiyo
    Kon buhinan madiskanso.

         Burador


    I have a decent toy
    Its attitude is korioso
    If tied it will walk
    If reduced it will rest or stop.

           Kite



About Transportation:

1. Naligo ang kapitan
    Wala mabasa ang busong.

         Baroto

    The captain took a bath
     Its stomach is dry or not wet.

          Boat


2. Kahoy nga kon ang dahon mahomok
    Malaya ang iya gamut
    Kon ang gamut manalonton
    Malaya ang iya dahon.

       Sakayan

  If a tree has a leaf that is soft
  It's roots will wither
  If the roots will spring and sip
  It's leaf will wither

       Car


3. May nakita ako nagapangali
    Kinadto-an ko wala agi.

       Bugsay sang baroto


    I saw someone digging
    I went towards it but it has no trace.

        Paddling of the boat



About Different Objects:

1. May ulo, wala busong
    May li-og, wala hawak

           Botelya

   There is a head but no stomach
    There is a neck but no waist

           Bottle


2. Balay sang panday
    Isa ang haligi

         Balay sang Pating


   House of carpenter
   Has only one post or pillar.

         Birdhouse


3. Baboy ko sa kaingin
    Nagatambok bisan wala pagkaon.

         Bungyod

    My pig in kaingin (slash and burn)
    Getting fatter or heavier even without food.

        Mound or high ground


4. Makadaha wala sang init
     Nagaaso bisan malamig.

           Yelo

    It can cook without heat
    It smokes even if its cold.

           Ice


5. Talamnan nga maputi
    Nga maitum sing binhi
    Lima ang nagatanum
    Duha ang nagatambong.

        Sulat


    Plantation that is white
    That has dark or black seeds
    Five are planting
    Two are attending.

        Letter


6. May karabaw ako nga wala sungay
    Ginarado ko sa puti nga duta
    Ginapangasan ko pilit nga itum
    Namunga pulos pulong.

        Sulat

     I have a carabao with no horns
     I made it plough a white field
     I planted or sow it with black or dark grains
     It produced or bear all words.

       Letter


7. Anano hinuptan nga talahuron
    Sang iya agalon nga matinumanon.

       Pilak ukon Bulawan


   What is that pet that is respected and honored
    By its master who is obeying.

       Silver or Gold


8. Isa ka lawi nga oway
   Makalambot sa Janiuay.

     Dalan


   A long curved feathers of a rattan
   It can reach Janiuay.

     Road


9.  Anano yadtong madasig
     Magdalagan sa kasiutan
     Kag kon sa matinlo nga dalan
     Dili makatikang.

       Kalayo

    What is this fast to run in the wilderness
     And in clean road it cannot walk

          Fire


10. Baston ni San Juan
      Indi makaptan.

         Suga


     Staff of Saint John
     Cannot hold

         Fluorescent lamp


11. Isa ka uhay nga humay
      Tughan ang balay.

          Suga


     An ear of rice grain
     It can cover the entire house

         Light or Lamp


12. Ano ang labing kamahalan
      Nga sang tanan guinahugma
      Apang daw ano katingalahan
      Ginapilasan ang lawas niya.

             Duta


     What is this so precious expensive and so valuable to everyone
     Yet it is so strange that it is inflicting wound and injury to its body.

            Land


13. Ano nga katingalahan
      Tubtob karon wala mahuman.

         Suba

  
      What is it so strange
       That until now it is not completed

          River

     
   

Paktakon or Riddles Part III

About the Climate, Weather and Elements  (Floods, Wind, Rain, Moon):

1. Baston ni San Jose
    Hindi maisip

        Ulan

    Staff of Saint Joseph
    Could not be counted

        Rain


2. Hindi man pilak, indi man bulawan
    Pero nagasiga

            Adlaw

   Not silver and not even gold,
   But it is glittering and shimmering

           Sun

3. Bati-on apang hindi makita
    Makita apang hindi bati-on.

     Daguob kag kilat

It can be heard but not cannot be seen
It can be seen but cannot be heard

     Thunder and Lightning

4. Natao ako sa aga
    Kag napatay sa hapon
    Apang ako ang kalipay
    Sa tanan nga dutan-on

 Ang  pagbutlak kag pagtunod sang Adlaw

    I was born in the morning
   And died in the afternoon
   But I am the happiness
   Of everything on earth or earthly

The rising and setting of the sun or
   Sunrise and Sunset


5. Ara na, ara na.
    Pero hindi makita

        Hangin

  It is here, it is here
  But cannot be seen.

       Wind



About Personal Stuff or Objects:

1. Duha ka sakayan
    May isa ka kapitan.
  
       Sapatos

   Two boats
   With one captain.

        Shoe


2. Isa ka gatos nga mag-utod
    Isa lang ang pusod.

         Payong


    One hundred siblings
    Only one navel.

        Umbrella


3. Kon iduso mo mahimo nga payag
    Kon butongon mo mahimo nga daw pusil.

        Payong


    If you push it will look like a hut
    If you pull it will look like a gun.

        Umbrella


About the Time:

1. May isa ka kahoy nga magayon
    Nga may napulog duha ka sanga
    Apat ka bulak sa tag-iya
    Kag ini may tagpito ka dahon.

       Kalendaryo

    There is a beautiful tree
    With twelve branches
    Four flowers for the owner
    And it has seven leaves each.

        Calendar


2. May kahoy akong nabal-an
    Pito ang iya sanga
    Ang kada sanga duha ka pulo
    Kag apat ang dahon itom.

        Isa ka semana

   

There is a tree I know
    It has seven branches
    Each branch has twenty-four black leaves.

       A week

3. Napulo kag duha ka soldado
    Duha ka kabo.

       Orasan


   Twelve soldiers
   Two chief boss.

      Clock