Bid Asari

Autonomous Region of
Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)

Literature
Background and Literary Forms
Background
and History
It is located in the Mindanao island group of
the Philippines, that consists of five
predominantly Muslim provinces:
• Basilan (except Isabela City)
• Lanao del Sur
• Maguindanao
• Sulu
• Tawi-Tawi
o The ARMM spans two geographical areas: the Mindanao mainland, where
Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao are situated, and the Sulu Archipelago, made
up of the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. The region covers a
total of 12,288 km².
o It is the only region that has it’s own government. The region’s de
facto seat of government is Cotabato City, although this self-
governing city is outside of its jurisdiction.
o The region has been the traditional homeland of Muslim

Filipinos since the 15th century, even before the arrival of the
Spanish who began to colonize most of the Philippines in 1565.
Famous People
1.) Leonor Orosa-Goquingco (July 24, 1917 - 2.) Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat (also
July 15, 2005) was a 1976 Filipino national spelled Qudarat or Corallat) (1581–1671) was
artist in creative dance. Her pen name was a Sultan of Maguindanao. He was a direct
Cristina Luna and she was known descendant of Shariff Kabungsuwan,
as Trailblazer, Mother of Philippine Theater a Muslim missionary who brought Islam to the
Dance and Dean of Filipino Performing Arts Philippines.
Critics.
Famous Places
Rio Grande de Mindanao - the

longest river in Mindanao and the
second largest in the Philippines.
Sitangkai - an island in Tawi-Tawi,
Philippines known as the 'Venice of the
East' for its houses that are built on
stilts above water.
Bulingan Falls - a majestic falls in
Basilan, Philippines. Bulingan Falls is
a 21-feet high and 40-meter wide
waterfall with a unique beauty that
cannot be seen anywhere else in the
country.
Literature of ARMM
Tarasul - poems of Tausug. Tarasul Katakata – one of the four Tausug
are both entertaining and narratives: the salsila (ethno-
pedagogical. Although part of oral historical narratives), the kaawn
tradition, they are also written kissa (creation stories), the usulan
down. Topics of the tarasul are kissa (origin stories), and the
various-nature, cooking, love, katakata (marchen).
among others.
Tudtul - Maguindanao Bidasari – an epic of
tudtul (folktales) are short Mindanao based on a
stories involving simple Malayan epic. It resembles
events. the tales of Snow White and
Examples: Sleeping Beauty all
1.) Lagya Kudarat combined. The author of
2.) Pat-I-Mata Bidasari is unknown, and
the date of the poem is a
matter of the utmost
uncertainty.
Bidasari
Long ago there was a kingdom Kembayat but the kingdom was festered by winged beast called Garuda,
the Garuda were bird-like creatures, or humanoid bird muscular upper body of a man but the face and
large wings of the great eagle. They would attack and destroy the fields, and the people were afraid of
them. For they are strong and they would sometimes attack and eat humans.
One day the Sultan of Kembayat along with his beautiful wife were riding a boat in a river along with their
servants and guards. Then a group of Garuda came swooping down, and attacked them. In her fear the
Sultan's wife who was pregnant at that time gave birth to a girl with a golden fish. In their fear and rush to
escape the winged monsters, they left behind the new born baby in their boat. The flock of Garuda saw the
boat and the baby, they descended, upon landing on the water they transformed into handsome men. They
looked at the baby and sensing it had the same magic with them. But they flew out of the water leaving the
new born baby and as they flew they transformed back into monstrous bird like creatures.
A merchant from another kingdom named Diyuhara found the baby. He also noticed the golden fish that
magically turned into a gold necklace. He brought home the baby and raised and love it as it were his own.
He named the baby Bisari, as Bisari grew, the lovelier she became. When she reached maidenhood they
called her Bidasari. Merchant and his family prosper, believing their good fortune is due to Bidasari's
entering their lives. So the merchant and his wife and their (foundling) daughter became contented and
happy.
In another kingdom called Indrapura, ruled by the Sultan Mongindra was married to Lila Sari who was
very beautiful but her heart was always filled with doubt and insecurity. She feared that the Sultan would
fall in love with some one else and replace her. So she asked her husband the Sultan if he would take
another wife, the sultan replied that if there is a woman more beautiful than her, then he would make her
one of his wives. The Sultan said it out of jest but Lila Sari ordered his men to find a girl more beautiful
than her, and if they do they must bring it to her. Her men found Bidasari who was lovely. They tricked her
into coming into the kingdom saying she would be handmaiden to the Sultan's wife. But upon arriving
in Indrapura , Bidasari was locked up in a chamber and was tortured. Bidasari could no longer bare the
torture she was under, she told Lila Sari that in her fathers garden there was a pond, and in that small pond
there was a golden fish that turns into a golden necklace by day.
She told Lila Sari that if she wore the necklace she would be more beautiful then she already is, and that
the fish is connected to Bidasari's life. So Lila Sari ordered her men to capture the golden fish, and they
did and it was as Bidasari said. During the day the fish would turn into a golden necklace and its glow
makes the bearer lovelier to behold. When the fish is worn by Lila Sari, Bidasari falls into a dead like
sleep, so during the night when Lila Sari puts the golden necklace back into the water and turns back into
fish, Bidasari wakes from her dead like slumber.
Diyuhara, Bidasari's adoptive father feared for the condition of his beloved daughter. So he used his
wealth and position to build a castle in the deep forest. There he placed Bidasari, she would spend her days
sleeping and secluded. One day the Sultan of Mongindra went hunting. He and his men ventured deep into
the forest and saw a grand palace made of bamboo and wood with beautiful carvings and gold decorations.
The Sultan amazed by the palace and tried to get in. After a long time he was able to break down the door.
He climbed the bamboo steps to the highest chamber. There he saw a lovely maiden sleeping. The night
came and Bidasari woke from her slumber. The Sultan captivated by her beauty asked her who she is and
why she is there. Bidasari told the sultan everything. Upon knowing the truth the Sultan was enraged and
left Lila Sari. He married Bidasari.
In the kingdom of Kembayat Bidasari's real parents had another daughter named Sinapati, she looked
exactly like her elder sister Bidasari. One time, Diyuhara sent one of his sons to Kembayat to trade and
sell goods. He saw the princess of Kembayat, Sinapati that looked exactly like his adopted sister Bidasari.
He returned to their kingdom and told his father what he saw. Diyuhara told this to Bidasari. They sent
invitation to the kingdom of Kembayat. The rulers of Kembayat and their daughter went to the kingdom of
Indrapura. When they arrived they saw that the Sultan's wife looked exactly like their own daughter. They
had finally found their lost daughter, and the Sultan of Indrapura found out that her bride was truly a
princess.
 Going through it piece by piece, we find many things which seem very different on the surface from Snow White.
• Instead of a magic talking mirror, the queen has human spies.
• Instead of eating a poisoned apple and falling asleep, Bidasari has her life tied to a magical fish. She falls into a
deathlike sleep during the daytime so long as the wicked queen wears the fish on a necklace.
• Instead of seven dwarfs who build a glass coffin, there are adoptive parents who construct a magnificent home in the
wilderness.
 Bidasari expresses universally held tendencies to produce symbols of women with dual characteristics of evil (the
King's first wife) or good (Bidsari, the King's second wife).
 Following a beautiful maiden who falls into a deathlike sleep during the day and wakes during the night, it has been
compared to the European fairy tales of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.
 Bidasari generates meaning from symbolic contrasts between life and death; human and animal, being childless and
being fertile; night and day; being asleep and being awake. While the Queen has the fish, Bidasari is neither dead nor
fully alive, but in a kind of zombie state.

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Autonomous Region of

Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)

o The region has been the traditional homeland of Muslim

Rio Grande de Mindanao - the

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