Biag Ni Lam-Ang: I.A. Situations

BIAG NI LAM-ANG
I. INTRODUCTION
I.A. SITUATIONS
BIAG NI LAM-ANG (Life of Lam-ang) is a pre-Hispanic epic poem of the Ilocano people

of the Philippines. The story was handed down orally for generations before it was written
down around 1640 assumedly by a blind Ilokano bard named Pedro Bucaneg.
The theme of the epic revolves around the bravery and courage of the main character
portrayed by Lam-ang, who was gifted with speech as early as his day of birth, who embarked
on a series of adventures which culminated in his heroic death and subsequent resurrection.
I.B. CHARACTERS
The characters in the story Biag ni Lam-ang are the following:
1. Don Juan Panganiban – father of Lam-ang

2. Namongan - wife of Don Juan Panganiban
3. Lam-ang – Son of Don Juan and Namongan Panganiban and the major
character of the story.
4. Ines Kannoyon – Wife of lam-ang, daughter of the richest man of the
town Kalanuha
5. Marcos – the diver
6. White Rooster – Friend of Lam-ang
7. Gray Dog – Friend of Lam-ang
8. Bercacan – Monster Fish
9. Sumarang – the enemy of Lam-ang
I.C. SETTINGS
Nalbuan - somewhere in the Valley of Naguilan River in La Union where Lam-ang and his
parents lived.
II. RISING ACTION
II.A.
Namongan gives birth to a baby with incredible strength and courage, named Lam-ang. The
boy ask his mother about his father’s whereabouts and learns that he has gone to fight the
Igorot. Lam-ang arms himself with charm and decides to look for his father. While asleep,
he dreamed of his father’s head being an object of festivities among the Igorots. He
immediately arose and continued his journey until he found the Igorots indeed feasting over
his father’s head.
II.B.
When he reached Cannoyan’s house, he found a multitude of suitors futilely vying for her
hand. With the help of his pets - the cock and the dog - he was able to catch Cannoyan’s
attention. He asked her to go with him to the river along with her lady-friends. She acceded.
While washing himself in the river, the river swelled, and the shrimps, fishes and other
creatures in the river were agitated for the dirt washed from his body was too much.
II.C.
Back at Cannoyan’s house, he was confronted by her parents with an inquiry as to what his
real intention was. He had to set aside his alibi that he went there to ask Cannoyan and her
friends to accompany him to the river, and told them, through his spokesman - the cock -
that he came to ask for Cannoyan’s hand in marriage. He was told that if he desired to
marry Cannoyan, he must first be able to match their wealth, for which he willingly
complied. Having satisfied her parents, he went home to his mother and enjoined her and
his townspeople to attend his wedding which was to take place in Cannoyan’s town.
III. CLIMAX
III.A.
He asked the Igorots why they killed his father, but the Igorots instead advised him to go
home if he did not want to suffer the same fate which his father suffered. This was
accompanied by a challenge to a fight, despite their obvious numerical superiority. But
Lam-ang, armed with supernatural powers, handily defeated them, giving the last surviving
Igorot a slow painful death by cutting his hands and his ears and finally carving out his eyes
to show his anger for what they had done to his father.
III.B.
As they were about to leave the river, Lam-ang noticed a giant crocodile. He dove back into
the water and engaged with the creature in a fierce fight until the creature was subdued. He
brought it ashore and instructed the ladies to pull its teeth to serve as amulets against danger
during journeys.
III.C.
Lam-ang was obliged to go to the sea and catch the fish. Before going, however, his rooster
warned that something unpleasant was bound to happen. This warning proved true, as Lam-
ang was swallowed by a big bercacan, or shark-like fish. Cannoyan mourned and for a
while she thought there was no way to retrieve her lost husband. But the rooster indicated
that if only all the bones could be gathered back, Lam-ang could be brought to life again.
IV. DENOEUMENT
IV.A
The story of Lam-ang shows courage and determination. His love for Ines Kannoyan also
shows that the true love can even move mountains. But the most important thing that Lam-
ang implies to everyone was to have faith in God because He is always there to guide and
save us.
IV.B
The epic poem tells the story of Lam-ang who is an extraordinary being. His adventures
began when his father went to a battle and never returned so he went to search for him.He
found his father captured and was beheaded by headhunters. In his rage he challenged all of
them and eventually defeated and killed them all. He took his father’s head to bring home
with him.On his way home he met a girl whom he courted and married after he brought his
father’s head home.The epic poem continued with other the other adventures of Lam-ang
and ended with his death and soon after his rebirth.

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BIAG NI LAM-ANG

BIAG NI LAM-ANG (Life of Lam-ang) is a pre-Hispanic epic poem of the Ilocano people

The characters in the story Biag ni Lam-ang are the following:

1. Don Juan Panganiban – father of Lam-ang

II. RISING ACTION

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