Hinilawod
is the epic from Panay, a triangle-shaped island in the western
Visayas. It means ‘Tales from the Mouth of the Halawod River’.
The epic is composed of 28,000 verses and takes three days to recite.
The story is passed on by mouth from generation to generation; and
each story teller would modify the story in one degree or another.
The
epic was “discovered” in 1955 by famed anthropologist F. Landa
Jocano as he was traveling the hinterlands of his homeland of Panay
with two colleagues in order to collect native songs and stories.
They met an old man named Ulang Udig, who sang them parts of the
story. In the following year, Jocano returned with a radio technician
from Central Philippine University, Iloilo, to record the story on
tape. However when they returned in 1957, Ulang Udig refused to
cooperate. Jocano was introduced to a mountain singer named Hugan-an.
It took three weeks to record her retelling of the 30-hour epic poem.
Hinilawod
tells the story of the adventures of the three sons of a goddess
named Alusina and a mortal named Datu Paubari. The names of their
children are Labaw Dongon, Humadapnon, and Dumalapdap. Their
adventures are similar to the journeys of Odysseus in The Odyssey by
Homer (also featured in this blog).
The
Story Alunsina and Datu Paubari
Kaptan,
the king of the Gods, decreed that the beautiful Alunsina (also
called Laun Sina, 'The Unmarried One') marry upon reaching her
maidenhood. Though all the unmarried gods from every corner of the
universe tried to win her hand in marriage, she chose to marry a
mortal, Datu Paubari, ruler of the Halawod.
Angered by Alunsina's decision, her suitors conspired to harm the newlywed couple. Maklium-sa-t'wan, the god of the plains, called a council meeting of the gods. The council decided to destroy the couple's home, Halawod, by flood. Fortunately for Alunsina and her husband, her sister Suklang Malayon (goddess and guardian of happy homes) discovered the evil plot and warned them of it. Before the flood, the new couple sought refuge on a higher ground and escaped the gods' wrath undetected. They returned to the plains and settled near the mouth of the Halawod River after the flood has subsided and lived in secrecy.
After
several months, Alunsina became pregnant with triplets. The couple
was ecstatic and Datu Paubari prepared the things needed for
childbirth including the siklot.
When the triplets were born, the couple called them Labaw Dongon,
Humadapnon and Dumalapdap.
The
adventures of Labaw Donggon
When
he reached adulthood, Labaw Donggon, the eldest of the triplets,
decided to go on a quest to find himself a wife. He heard of the
beauty of Angoy Ginbitinan of Handug and wanted her for a wife. He
asked his mother to prepare the things he will need for the journey—a
magic cape, hat and belt, and kampilan
(sword).
The
journey to Handug took several days. Labaw Donggon had to pass by
plains, valleys and mountains to get there. When he finally arrived,
he asked for an audience with Angoy Ginbitinan's father and asked for
her hand in marriage. The father agreed in one condition: Labaw
Donggon must kill the monster Manalintad as part of his dowry. Labaw
Donggon agreed and went away to confront the monster. With the help
of his magic belt, he was able to kill the Manalintad. He cut off the
tail of the monster and brought it back to Handug as a proof of his
victory. Angoy Gibintinan's father was satisfied with the proof and
allowed Labaw Donggon to marry his daughter. After the wedding, Labaw
Donggon and his new bride started their journey back to his home.
Along the way, they met a group of young men who were on their way to
Tarambang Burok to win the hand of Abyang Durunuun, sister of Sumpoy,
the lord of the underworld. According to these young men, Abyang
Durunuun has beauty that equals no other. Labaw Donggon and Angoy
Gibintinan continued on their journey. Upon reaching home, Labaw
Donggon asked his mother to take care of his new wife and told her
that he will be going on another quest. This time he will be going to
Tarambang Burok and vie for the hand of the beautiful Abyang
Durunuun.
On
his way to Tarambang Burok, Labaw Donggon had an encounter with the
giant Sikay Padalogdog. This giant had a hundred arms and he won't
let the young demi god pass without a fight. And fight they did. In
the end, the hundred-armed giant admitted defeat and allowed the
Labaw Donggon to pass the ridge.
Labaw
Donggon won the hand of the legendary Abyang Durunuun and also took
her home to his mother. Thereafter, the demigod went on third quest
to Gadlum. This time the object of his desire is Malitong Yawa
Sinagmaling Diwata, the young bride of the lord of darkness,
Saragnayan.
Aboard
his biday nga
inagta
(black boat), Labaw Donggon sailed across many seas on his way
Gadlum. He also traveled across the region of the clouds and the land
of stones before he found himself at the shores of Tulogmatian, the
seaside fortress of Saragnayan. Upon setting foot on the shore,
Saragnayan asked who he was and his business. When Labaw Donggon
expressed his desire to have Saragnayan's young wife, the lord of
darkness just laughed and told him it's impossible. The young demigod then challenged the Saragnayan to a duel for the hand of the
beautiful Malitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata. The duel lasted for
years. Labaw Donggon held Saragnayan's head underwater for seven
years but the lord of the darkness still lived. With the help of his
pamlang
(amulet), Saragnayan defeated Labaw Donggon and imprisoned him
beneath his house.
Meanwhile, Labaw Donggon's two wives gave birth to
a son each. Angoy Ginbitinan called her child Aso Mangga while Abyang
Durunuun called her son Abyang Baranugon. Both sons went in search of
their father a few days after they were born. They arrived in
Tulogmatian and asked Saragnayan to free their father. Saragnayan
told Abyang Baranugon to go home to his mother when he noticed that
the young lad still has an umbilical cord. The young lad took offense
and challenged the lord of the darkness to a duel.
Saragnayan
accepted the challenge and fought with Abyang Baranugon. The lord of
darkness was no match for the strength of Abyang Baranugon and was
defeated in the process. Abyang Baranugon earned the freedom of his
father and took him home.
The
adventures of Humadapnon
Meanwhile,
the defeat of Labaw Donggon in the hands of Saragnayan and his
subsequent imprisonment angered his brothers Humadapnon and
Dumalapdap. Humadapnon swore to the gods of Madya-as and vowed that
he would seek revenge on all of Saragnayan's kinsmen and followers.
He then embarked on a journey to Saragnayan's. He took with him a man
known for his exceptional swordsmanship, Buyong Matanayon of Mount
Matiula. Together they traveled the same path that Labaw Donggon
took.
The
two ended up at a place called Tarambang Buriraw. Here lives a
seductive sorceress called Piganun. The sorceress changed herself
into a very beautiful maiden and captured the heart of Humadapnon. No
matter what Buyong Matanayon did, Humadapnon would not leave
Tarambang Buriraw.
After
seven months of staying in Tarambang Buriraw, Buyong Matanayon
remembered that they brought some ginger with them. He thought of a
plan to break Piganun's spell over his friend. One evening, at
dinner, Buyong Matanayon threw seven slices of ginger into the fire.
Upon smelling the burning ginger, Piganun ran away from the room.
Buyong Matanayon struck Humadapnon in the head, which rendered the
latter unconscious. He then dragged his body away from the place and
managed to escape.
They
continued with their trek and exacted revenge on all of Saragnayan's
family and friend. They eventually found themselves in a place called
Piniling Tubig. There was a big gathering when they arrived in the
village because the ruler of the land, Datu Umbaw Pinaumbaw, was
giving away the hand of his daughter in marriage to anyone who can
remove the huge boulder that rolled off the mountain to the center of
the village. No one has succeeded. Humadapnon rose to the challenge
and took off his magic cape. He then used it to lift the huge boulder
off the center of the village and hurled it back to the mountain.
Datu Umbaw Pinaumbaw honored his word and gave his daughter's hand in
marriage to Humadapnon. The two were married and a big feast was
held. During the wedding feast, a guest minstrel sang and paid
tribute to the beauty of Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan, the
goddess of greed. Enchanted with the story, Humadapnon started on a
quest to seek the goddess' hand in marriage.
He
met Buyong Makabagting, son of the Datu Balahidyong of Paling Bukid,
who was also hoping to win the hand of Burigadang Pada Sinaklang
Bulawan. The two fought in a duel and Humadapnon emerged victorious.
The defeated Buyong Makabagting helped Humadapnon in his quest.
Humadapnon eventually married the goddess of greed and brought her
home to his mother.
The
adventures of Dumalapdap
Shortly
after Humadapnon left their home to seek revenge on Saragnayan's
family and followers, Dumalapdap embarked on a quest of his own. He
decided go to Burutlakan-ka-adlaw and marry the maiden Lubay-Lubyok
Hanginun si Mahuyokhuyokon. With him was Dumasig, the most powerful
wrestler in Madya-as. After several months of traveling, the two
warriors came face to face with a two headed monster called
Balanakon. The monster guarded the ridge that led to the place where
the maiden lived. They managed to kill the monster but were
confronted with another kind of monster when they reached the gate of
the palace where the maiden lived. Called Uyutang, the monster was
similar to a bat with sharp, poisonous claws.
Dumalapdap
fought with the Uyutang for seven months. He was able to defeat the
monster when he grabbed its ankle and broke it. Then he took his
iwang daniwan
(magic
dagger) and struck Uyutang under the armpit. The monster howled in
pain, causing an earthquake that broke the ridge they were fighting
in into two. Half of the ridge became an island that is known today
as Negros, while the other half became Panay.
With
the monster Uyutang dead, Lubay-Lubyok Hanginun si Mahuyokhuyokan was
free to marry Dumalapdap. He brought her home and was reunited with
his family. Datu Paubari celebrated the return of his three sons with
a very big feast. His sons left for different parts of the world
after the feast. Labaw Donggon ventured north, Humadapnon went south,
and Dumalapdap embarked to the west. Datu Parubari was left to rule
in the east.
The
quest of Humadapnon continues
Humdapnon
was visited by his spirit friends Taghoy and Duwindi in his dream and
told him of lovely maiden who lived in a village by the mouth of the
Halawod River. The demigod left his dominion to look for the maiden
named Nagmalitong Yawa. He brought with him a boatful of crew.
Humadapnon and his men safely traversed through a sea the color of
human blood with the help of his spirit friends. They landed on an
island that was inhabited by beautiful women and headed by the
sorceress Ginmayunan. For seven years, Humadapnon and his crew were
imprisoned in the island until Nagmalitong Yawa helped them escape by
disguising as a boy. Humadapnon and Nagmalitong Yawa were married
soon after in Halawod. During the wedding feast, Humadapnon's
brother, Dumalapdap fell in love with Huyung Adlaw and asked his
brother to help him talk to the parents of the maiden. Humadapnon
left his new wife and accompanied his brother to the Upperworld where
Huyung Adlaw lived.
It
took the brothers seven years to come back from their journey to the
Upperworld. They arrived just in time for the ceremony that will have
Nagmalitong Yawa married to Buyung Sumagulung, an island fortress
ruler, in a ceremony. The brothers were enraged and killed all the
guests and the groom. Humadapnon also stabbed his wife because the
treachery only to feel remorse later on. He asked his spirit friends
and found out that his wife only agreed to marry Buyung Sumagulung
because her mother, Matan-ayon, convinced her that Humadapnon is not
coming back.
Upon
learning of this, Humadapnon asked his sister, Labing Anyag, to use
her powers to bring Nagmalitong Yawa back to life. Seeing how
remorseful he is, Labing Anyag agreed. However, Nagmalitong Yawa was
so ashamed of agreeing to marry Buyung Sumagulung that she ran away
to the underworld and sought the protection of her uncle Panlinugun,
who is lord of the earthquake.
Humadapnon
had to kill an eight-headed snake in his pursuit of Nagmalitong Yawa.
Then he had to duel with a young man who spirited his wife away. The
duel ended when Alunsina intervened and revealed that the young man
is also her son, Amarotha. This son died during childbirth and was
brought back from the dead to keep Alunsina company. Alunsina decided
that both Humadapnon and Amarotha deserved a piece of Nagmalitong
Yawa so she cut the girl in half and gave a piece each to her sons.
Each half turned into a whole live person. Humadapnon brought his
wife back to Panay.
R E F E R E N C E S
Sir
G is highly indebted to Hinilawod.Wordpress.Com for the story of the
Hinilawod, plus the
history and the beautiful pictures. The pictures are from the play produced by the University of Western Visayas.
"Hinilawod".
Wikipedia. Accessed: August 12, 2013 from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinilawod>.
"Hinilawod:
The tales of Halawod river (A Visayan epic)". (September 2011). Akopito.Weebly.Com.
Accessed: September 23, 2013 from <http://akopito.weebly.com/1/post/2011/11/hinilawod-the-tales-of-halawod-river-a-visayan-epic.html>
"Hinilawod:
Adventures of Humadapnon". (September 1, 2005).
NasaDuloNgDila.Blogspot.Com. Accessed: September 23, 2013 from <http://nasadulongdila.blogspot.com/2005_09_01_nasadulongdila_archive.html>
Langit-Luistro,
Kaye. (August 17, 2011). "Must attend: Hinilawod the Musicale at the CCP
this September". KayeLangit-Luistro.Blogspot.Com. Accessed; September 23,
2013 from <http://kayelangit-luistro.blogspot.com/2011/08/must-attend-hinilawod-musicale-at-ccp.html>.
Beautiful!
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