EPIC

THE EPIC OF BANTUGAN

ELT 311 SURVEY OF PHILIPPINE LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

EPICS
!According to Damiana L. Eugenio, epics are
generally perceived during recreational activities of the
common people

!They are primarily for entertainment such as –

weddings, baptisms, wakes, prestige rites, peace pact
agreements, and the like
.

EPICS
! Across Philippine ethnic groups, the epic
Darangen tells the story of Bantugan. It deals with the
adventures of Bantugan.
EPICS
! It was on February 1930 when Dr. Frank Laubach
discovered the wealth of Maranao epic tradition

! He spent two days in the company of thirty- ve

leading Maranaos, during which two men sang
darangans (epics) all day and part of the night.

EPICS
! Upon his return to Lanao, Dr. Laubach began
looking up people who knew the story of Bantugan,
recording what they recited phonetically on the
typewriter

! His best informant, “the champion ‘Homer’ of them

all,” was pang-gaga Mohammad, “who typed stories of
Bantugan for him (he had typed 200 pages, single-
spaced, as of 1930)
.

 EPIC OF BANTUGAN
Bantugan is a famous prince in Bumbaran and in

neighboring places. This made the King of Bumbaran

envy him. He ordered his constituents to

excommunicate Prince Bantugan. The prince, who is

confused of what is happening, left Bumbaran; he

thought it would be the best thing to do.

 EPIC OF BANTUGAN
On his journey away from Bumbaran he got ill and died.

Luckily, the princess of the place where he had own The-

Land-Between-Two-Seas found him. The princess hurriedly

told the King about their guest. They do not know who he

is. The princess has a pet parrot who can speak; the princess

told the parrot to seek the family of the prince.

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Upon knowing the demise of Prince Bantugan, Mabaning

and Madali formed a daring plot which is to go to heaven

and get Bantugan’s soul back. He hurriedly ew to the

heavens to return Bantugan’s spirit. Madali return with the

soul and Prinsesa Datimbang met with Madali carrying his

body. They returned the soul into Bantugan’s body and

revived him. All rejoiced, including Madali.

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Meanwhile, King Miskoyaw heard of Bantugan’s death and

invaded the kingdom of Bumbaran. Bantugan fought but he

was weakened since he was recently revived. He was

imprisoned. Eventually, his strength returned and defeated

King Miskoyaw and his men. The kingdom was saved and

they continued their celebration. The envy of King was now

gone.
Bantugan traveled to many lands and met many

princesses, which he all married. He returned to King,

who welcomed him with joy. Bantugan lived longly and

peacefully.
EPICS
As Damiana L. Eugenio discussed in her book, Philippine Folk Literature:
The Epics, there are some distinctions that epics share in common

! Epic singing and Singer

! Adventures of the her
! Epic Convention
! Supernatural Elemen
! Otherworld Journey
! Dominant Motif
! Magic Transportation
! Resuscitatio
! Fightin
! Epics as Embodiment of Customs, Beliefs, and Value
! Rites and Rituals, Feasts and Festival
! Value
! Aesthetics
s

 EPICS SINGING AND SINGERS

From the story of Bantugan as to Dr. Frank Laubach

! Everybody applauds at e iumph of e heroes. At e mes e en re

household joins in e singing. At large weddings and a various fes vals good
singers are given as high as one hundred pesos en rtain e assembled guests.
And ey earn it. ey begin singing at six o’clock in e evening and sing un l
ve e next morning. e longest darangan requires eight days sing, at 11
hours a day – or ra er we should say night.
! e darangan, which we are now pubishing in ansla on, would require ree
nights sing.
*From Frank Laubach, “An Odyssey from Lanao, “Philippine Public Schools, 3,8 (November 1930), 359-73.
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 ADVENTURES OF THE HERO
According to Damiana L. Eugenio:

Philippine folk epics may be classi ed into two groups

1. One group may be called epics of romance, in which the main

adventures consist in the hero’s courting of speci c women of his
choice or in just a search for beautiful ladies whom he can marry

2. Second group consists of epics in which the hero undertakes

adventures mainly in the service of his family, his country, his
people, and of others who seek his help fi
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 ADVENTURES OF THE HERO

As Damiana L. Eugenio discussed:

!The Maranao hero Bantugan also courts several

beautiful princesses from neighboring kingdoms – the
fair Maginar of Babalai Anonan, the Princess Minoyod of
Sun Girina Ginar, the Princess Manginawan of
Bagumbayan Luna, the Princess Timbang of the Land-
Between-Two-Seas, and many others. However, the epic
does not give the details of these courtships. Instead it
concentrates on the death of Bantugan and his
resuscitation with the help of his two friends, Madali and
Mabaning.
 ADVENTURES OF THE HERO
From the story of Bantugan as to Dr. Frank Laubach

!1030 Where King Miscoyaw saw his vintas

Speeding far om land, wi a e young men
Cheering for Bantugan; glad go
And live wi him in beau l Bumburan.
Five days ey sailed un l ey came
To Babalai Anonan, where Bantugan went at once
To court e fair Maginar, at whose home
He stayed a day, and ok e Princess wi him
And embarked and rode ve days Sun Girina Ginar
Where he ok his second wife, e Princess Minoyod,
*From Frank Laubach, “An Odyssey from Lanao, “Philippine Public Schools, 3,8 (November 1930), 359-73.
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 ADVENTURES OF THE HERO
From the story of Bantugan as to Dr. Frank Laubach

!1040 And ve days la r came Bagumbayan Luna

Where he once again was married
e Princess Manginawan, and ey sailed again
And ve days la r reached e Land-Between-Two-Seas.
Bantugan ok e lovely Princess Timbang
For his bride, and af r ve days’ celebra on,
Sailed away Solawan a Rogon, where he ok
Bolontai a Pisigi for his wife
And stayed a day, and sailed away in quest
Of for o er ladies he had seen and loved
*From Frank Laubach, “An Odyssey from Lanao, “Philippine Public Schools, 3,8 (November 1930), 359-73.
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EPIC HERO (QUALITIES OF THE HERO: MAGIC POWERS)S

As Damiana L. Eugenio discussed:

! The Maranao hero, Bantugan also wields magic

power. He has friendly daimon, Magyaw, his own
diwata dwelling in the sky, upon whom he calls for help
in conquering his every enemy.
 EPIC HERO (QUALITIES OF THE HERO: MAGIC POWERS)

From the story of Bantugan as to Dr. Frank Laubach

!470 If e King forbids his realm speak me,

How much may I expect om ca ing his diwata?”
en Prince Bantugan said, “Oh, my Magaw,
My own Diwata, dwe ing in e sky,
Who helps me conquer every enemy, Magaw!
My iend Magaw, if ou art not forbidden, come
And help me now, for if I die alone
I sha be ridiculed by a Bumbaran.”
So bri iant Prince Bantugan nished speaking.
e raindrops rough e sunlight drew a rainbow in e sky;
e rain fe harder, and e world grew dark again
For bri iant Prince Bantugan; en his iendly spirits
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 EPIC HERO (QUALITIES OF THE HERO: A LOUD VOICE)

As Damiana L. Eugenio discussed:

! After his resuscitation, brilliant Prince Bantugan has to

ght foreign enemies who, thinking that he has died, had
invaded Bumbaran

977 en, lif d by e spirits, Prince Bantugan

978 Shou ng like he voice of under
979 Leaped in e clouds upon his magic shield.

*From Frank Laubach, “An Odyssey from Lanao, “Philippine Public Schools, 3,8 (November 1930), 359-73.
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EPIC HERO (QUALITIES OF THE HERO: LEADERSHIP)

As Damiana L. Eugenio discussed:

! The epic hero stands out as the acknowledged

leader of his people. Perhaps the most eloquent tribute
to the leadership qualities of an epic hero is that which
mighty Sabarat pays to Bantugan when he appeals to the
King of Bumbaran to reconsider his decree forbidding
the lords of the realm to converse with Bantugan.
Sabarat asserts that the lords of the kingdom are equally
great, yet he admits that:
 EPIC HERO (QUALITIES OF THE HERO: LEADERSHIP)

From the story of Bantugan as to Dr. Frank Laubach

!110 None migh er an e o er?

Yet no man among us even dares dream
at he might rival bri iant Prince Bantugan
” at is why e Prince is ca ed
’Defender of e King’ and why
ey sing his praises over a e world;
Why never cloud has a cast a shadow on his fame,
Unconquerable for ess which no foe can ever win.
He is a agrant ower at everyone admires.
He raised aloft e glory of our ag,
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 EPIC CONVENTIONS
As Damiana L. Eugenio discussed:

! Bantugan (Frank Laubach text) ends with

Bantugan triumphantly bringing home beautiful
princesses as his wives and being jubilantly welcomed
by the whole kingdom
! Philippine folk epics may or may not have formal
openings, and those that do, do so in a different way;
none of them begins in medias res; they do not have
formal enumerations of warriors, ships, and armies, no
formal speeches by the main characters –
.

 EPIC CONVENTIONS
From the story of Bantugan as to Dr. Frank Laubach

!1030 Where King Miscoyaw saw his vintas

Speeding far om land, wi a e young men
Cheering for Bantugan; glad go
And live wi him in beau l Bumburan.
Five days ey sailed un l ey came
To Babalai Anonan, where Bantugan went at once
To court e fair Maginar, at whose home
He stayed a day, and ok e Princess wi him
And embarked and rode ve days Sun Girina Ginar
Where he ok his second wife, e Princess Minoyod,
*From Frank Laubach, “An Odyssey from Lanao, “Philippine Public Schools, 3,8 (November 1930), 359-73.
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 EPIC CONVENTIONS
From the story of Bantugan as to Dr. Frank Laubach

!1040 And ve days la r came Bagumbayan Luna

Where he once again was married
e Princess Manginawan, and ey sailed again
And ve days la r reached e Land-Between-Two-Seas.
Bantugan ok e lovely Princess Timbang
For his bride, and af r ve days’ celebra on,
Sailed away Solawan a Rogon, where he ok
Bolontai a Pisigi for his wife
And stayed a day, and sailed away in quest
Of for o er ladies he had seen and loved
*From Frank Laubach, “An Odyssey from Lanao, “Philippine Public Schools, 3,8 (November 1930), 359-73.
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 SUPERNATURAL ELEMENT
As Damiana L. Eugenio discussed:

! The hero has a diwata, Magaw, whom he addresses as “my own

diwata, dwelling in the sky, who helps me conquer every enemy.

!472 en Prince Bantugan said, “Oh, my Mangaw,

473 My own Diwata, dwe ing in e sky,
474 Who helps me conquer every enemy, Magaw!
475 My iend Magaw, if ou art not forbidden, come
476 And help me now, for if I die alone
477 I sha be ridiculed by a Bumbaran.”
*From Frank Laubach, “An Odyssey from Lanao, “Philippine Public Schools, 3,8 (November 1930), 359-73.
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 OTHERWORLD JOURNEYS
As Damiana L. Eugenio discussed:

! The action of a Philippine folk epic is not limited to

the earth world but sometimes extends to the heavenly
regions and to the underworld

! In Bantugan, the hero’s best friends, Madali and

Mabaning, y on their magic shields to heaven to recover
the soul of Bantugan. By deception and trickery, the two
friends succeed in stealing the bottle containing the soul
of Bantugan, and the hero is resuscitated
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 OTHERWORLD JOURNEYS
From the story of Bantugan as to Dr. Frank Laubach

803 Mabaning and Madali, formed a daring plot

804 To ride upon eir magic shields up e sky
805 And ask e angel of e dead give em back
806 e soul of eir dear iend which he had taken.
807 Leaping eir shields ey ew rough space

*From Frank Laubach, “An Odyssey from Lanao, “Philippine Public Schools, 3,8 (November 1930), 359-73.
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 DOMINANT MOTIFS
As Damiana L. Eugenio discussed:

! Among the most dominant of this type are the

preference for certain magic numbers, magic objects,
magic objects and animals possessed by the hero, and
magic transportation. Other motifs are resuscitation and
its accompanying motif, the quest for the soul of the
dead person; the external, or separable soul; the life
index, or life token; and ghting that lasts for months,
even years.
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 DOMINANT MOTIFS
As Damiana L. Eugenio discussed:

! Princess Datimbang also owns a talking parrot, which she sends to

Bumbaran to let them know about Bantugan’s death.

!780 e parrot en turned left and us replied:

781 “My coun y is e Land-Between-Two-Seas
782 My mis ess is e princess, fair Da mbang.
783 My purpose is Prince Madali
784 at your bro er, bri iant Prince Bantugan,
785 Was a acked by some malicious spirit
786 And has died wi out so much as ing who he was.”
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 MAGIC TRANSPORTATIONS
As Damiana L. Eugenio discussed:

!The Maranao hero Bantugan and his friends Madali and Mabaning
ride on their magic shields when they travel

803 Mabaning and Madali, formed a daring plot

804 To ride upon eir magic shields up e sky
805 And ask e angel of e dead give em back
806 e soul of eir dear iend which he had taken.
807 Leaping eir shields ey ew rough space
*From Frank Laubach, “An Odyssey from Lanao, “Philippine Public Schools, 3,8 (November 1930), 359-73.
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 RESUSCITATION
As Damiana L. Eugenio discussed:

! In the case of Bantugan, his best friends Madali and Mabaning

have to y to heaven and play a trick on the angel of the dead to be
able to steal the bottle containing the soul of Bantugan
!
803 Mabaning and Madali, formed a daring plot
804 To ride upon eir magic shields up e sky
805 And ask e angel of e dead give em back
806 e soul of eir dear iend which he had taken.
807 Leaping eir shields ey ew rough space
*From Frank Laubach, “An Odyssey from Lanao, “Philippine Public Schools, 3,8 (November 1930), 359-73.
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 FIGHTING
As Damiana L. Eugenio discussed:

! The world of the epic is a world primarily of ghting, with the hero
contending against various adversaries

984 But a o la , for on eir backs

985 Was rious Bantugan, cu ing, rus ng everywhere.
986 Some ere are who even say at many boats
987 Capsized at every s oke of his relentless blade.

*From Frank Laubach, “An Odyssey from Lanao, “Philippine Public Schools, 3,8 (November 1930), 359-73.
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 EPICS EMBODIMENT OF CUSTOMS, BELIEFS, AND
VALUES

As Damiana L. Eugenio discussed:

! Betel chewing is the most prevalent custom portrayed in the epics; the
acceptance by a woman from a man and versa is equipollent to marriage proposal.
Eugenio also asserted that Betel chewing also refreshes a person and restores beauty
and strength.
271 en his sis r Lianminna ok e box of be l nut
272 And in her left hand held e box and wi her right hand
273 Deftly cut e nuts and placed e pieces in e box
274 And en she ok bacco and red rsi in her palm
275 And gave it a handsome Prince Bantugan
276 Saying: “Here, my splendid bro er, here is be l nut for you
*From Frank Laubach, “An Odyssey from Lanao, “Philippine Public Schools, 3,8 (November 1930), 359-73.
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 RITES AND RITUAL, FEASTS AND FESTIVALS

As Damiana L. Eugenio discussed:

500 And fe exhaus d in e hammock – en he closed his eyes.

501 e younger sis r of e princess
502 When she saw e handsome s anger en r
503 Took e Be l nut and cut it in pieces
504 Which she dropped in e box, and en she said
505 “Maid, take is box and give it e gentleman replied.”

*From Frank Laubach, “An Odyssey from Lanao, “Philippine Public Schools, 3,8 (November 1930), 359-73.
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 VALUES
As Damiana L. Eugenio discussed:

! The universal heroic values of bravery, strength,

and ghting prowess stand at the head of the qualities
admired in a hero

! It is Bantugan’s sister, Princess Liaminna, who

comforts him and prepares betel chew and it is she who
whom he requests to oil, comb, and tie his hair
preparatory to leaving Bumabaran
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 VALUES
From the story of Bantugan as to Dr. Frank Laubach

286 A few more moons and he wi leave is world

287 en e princess Liaminna ok some oil om a ask
288 And bringing her gold comb him she said
289 “Lie down, big bro er, so at I can pour is oil upon your
head.”
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 AESTHETICS
According to Damiana L. Eugenio:

! The aesthetics sense or concept of the beautiful, of tribal

Filipinos is revealed in their epics – in their preferences in
clothes, in personal grooming and adornment

!891 Mabaning rew away his woman’s garb

892 And wore again e malong of a man
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 CONCLUSION
As Damiana L. Eugenio:

! Our folk epics will continue to be signi cant part of

Philippine folk literature and culture, because they
record part of the national experience

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