THE IBALON EPIC SCRIPT

Narrator:          A long, long time ago, there was a rich land called Ibalong. The hero Baltog,

who came from Botavora of the brave clan of Lipod, came to this land when many monsters were still roaming in its very dark forests. He saw that the land was good, so he said:

Baltog:             I have decided to stay in this land. I will cultivate its fields and plant them with gabi.

Narrator:          Then one night, a monstrous, wild boar known as Tandayag saw these field and destroyed the crops. Upon knowing this, Baltog decided to look for this boar with all his courage and patience. At last, he caught the wild boar while destroying more of his crops.

Baltog:             Tandayag, stop destroying my crops! Come here and I will destroy you.

Tandayag:        You think you can kill me? Let’s see.

Narrator:          Baltog fought with all his might. He was unafraid. He was strong and brave. Though the Tandayag had very long fangs, he was able to pin down the monstrous, wild boar and break apart its very big jawbones. With this, Tandayag fell and died.

Baltog:              That’s what happens to anyone who will come here obliterating peace.

Narrator:          After this fight, Baltog went to his house in Tondol, carrying the Tandayag's broken jawbones. Then, he hung it on a talisay tree in front of his house. Upon learning of the victory of their Chief Baltog, the people prepared a feast and celebrated.

People:             Mabuhay Chief Baltog! Let’s celebrate for his victory.  

Narrator:          The very big jawbones of the dead boar became an attraction for everyone. Thus, came the tribes of Panikwason and Asog to marvel at it.

People of Panikwason & Asog: What a very big jawbone. Baltog must be very powerful to defeat this beast.

Narrator:          The second hero who came to the land of Ibalong was Handyong. Together with his men, he had to fight thousands of battles, and face many dangers to defeat the monsters. As warriors, they first fought the one-eyed monster with three necks in the land of Ponong.

Handyong:       My dear warriors, let us kill this one-eyed monster with all our strength!

Warriors:         Yes master. Let’s kill it with all our might!

Narrator:          For ten months, they fought without rest. And they never stopped fighting until all these monsters were killed.

Handyong:        Victory! The victory is ours!

Warriors:          All hail!

Narrator:          Handyong and his men made their next attack against the giant flying sharks called Triburon which had hardy flesh and saw-like teeth that could crush rocks.

Handyong:       Are we going to let this Triburon defeat us?

Warriors:          No! We will kill all of those Triburons!

Narrator:          They continued fighting until the defeat of the last Triburon. Then, they tamed the wild carabaos. They even drove away the giant and very fierce Sarimao which had very sharp fingernails. And using their spears and arrows, they killed all the crocodiles which were as big as boats. With all these killings, the rivers and swamps of Ibalong turned red with blood. It was at this time that the savage monkeys became frightened and hid themselves.

Monkey 1:       Handyong and his warriors are full of strength. I’m afraid they will kill us too.

Monkey 2:       We better hide ourselves.

Monkeys:         Let’s get going!

Narrator:          Among the enemies of Handyong and his men, the serpent Oryol was the hardest to kill. Having a beautiful voice, Oryol could change its image to deceive its enemies. To capture it, Handyong tried different ways. But Oryol escaped every one of it and disappeared. So, alone and unafraid, Handyong decided to look for Oryol in the heart of the forest.

Handyong:       I will look for Oryol in the heart of the forest. Her beautiful voice will lead the way.

Narrator:          Days and nights passed until Oryol came to admire Handyong's bravery and gallantry. Then, the serpent helped the hero to conquer the monsters, thus restoring peace to the entire Ibalong.

Oryol:              Handyong, you are brave. I admire your gallantry. From now on, I will help you conquer all the monsters.

Handyong:       Please do help me for the restoration of peace.

Narrator:          In one of the areas of Ibalong called Ligmanan, Handyong built a town. Under his leadership and his laws, slaves and masters were treated equally. The people planted rice and because of their high regard of him, they named this rice after him. He built the first boat to ride the waves of Ibalong's seas. Through his good example, his people became inspired and came up with their own inventions. There was Kimantong who made the plow, harrow, and other farming tools; Hablom who invented the first loom for weaving abaca clothes; Dinahong, an Agta, who created the stove, cooking pot, earthen jar, and other kitchen utensils; and Sural who brilliantly thought of the syllabary and started to write on a marble rock. This was a golden period in Ibalong.

Then suddenly, there came a big flood caused by Unos, with terrifying earthquakes. The volcanoes of Hantik, Kulasi and Isarog erupted. Rivers changed their direction and the sea waves rolled high. Destruction was everywhere. Soon, the earth parted, mountains sank, a lake was formed, and many towns in Ibalong were ruined.

Then, appeared the giant Rabot, half-man and half-beast, with awesome and terrifying powers.

Person 1:         Who will fight against Rabot?

Person 2:          Let’s call Bantong.

Narrator:          So, Bantong, the third hero was called. He was a good friend of Handyong. He was ordered to kill the new monster in Ibalong.

People:             Please, do kill Rabot for us.

Bantong:           I will do my very best.

Narrator:          To do this, Bantong took with him a thousand warriors to attack Rabot's den. But using his wisdom against Rabot, he did not attack the giant right away. He first observed Rabot's ways. Looking around the giant's den, he discovered that there were many rocks surrounding it, and these were the people who were turned into rocks by Rabot.

Bantong also learned that Rabot loved to sleep during the day and stayed awake at night. So, he waited. When Rabot was already sleeping very soundly, Bantong came hear him. He cut the giant into two with his very sharp bolo and without any struggle, Rabot died, So, Ibalong was at peace once more.

HINILA-AKO (Parody of Hinilawod)

The story of Hinila-Ako is about an ugly goddess who just pulled his husband hard to the aisle so they could get married. The story was entitled as such because the husband kept explaining to his friends, “Hinila lang ako! Hinila lang ako!” when asked about why he married the ugly goddess. Here is the summary.

When the ugly goddess of the eastern forest, Layonsiya (also known as Leon Siya, “The Unwanted One”), reached maidenhood, the king of the jungle, Kapitan, decreed that she should marry. All the unmarried gods of the different parts of the forest, including all the people in the neighboring village tried to avoid winning her hand. Everyone succeeded except the guy next door, Dating Paubari, the mighty rat killer of Hila-ako. 

Her decision overwhelmed all the other gods that they even gave Dating Paubari a battalion of security guards to make sure he will not be harmed by giant insects so that Layonsiya will never go choosing another husband again. A meeting of the council of gods was called by Maklium-sa-t’wan, god of the mosquito net sellers, where a decision by those present was made to protect Hila-ako by a giant shield of mosquito net.

Paubari tried to escape from Layonsiya through the assistance of Sukling Malayon, the goddess and guardian of wrecked homes and sister of Layonsiya, who learned about the protection order and warned Paubari so he was able to let himself be bitten by mosquitoes. But Ayunsila foresaw Paubari’s plan so she tied him on their bed with the giant mosquito net.

Several minutes later, Layonsiya became pregnant and told Paubari to prepare the salot, things unnecessary for childbirth. She delivered a set of triplets and summoned the high priest Bangungot-Banwa to perform the rites of the gods of Mount Medya-as (the socks mountain of the gods) to ensure the good teeth of the children. The high priest promptly made an altar and burned some alanghiran frogs and a pinch of kamatis powder. When the ceremony was over, he opened the windows of the north side of the room and a cold refrigerator wind came in and suddenly the three infants were transformed into yellow-toothed, kikay young gays.

Langaw Donggon, the eldest of the three, asked his mother to prepare his magic lipstick, fashion hat, yellow belt and kamison (slip) for he heard of a place called Handug where a beautiful maiden named Angoy Ginbinitinan lived.

The journey took several days. He tsunami walked across plains and valleys, climbed up mountains until he reached the mouth of the Hila-ako river.

When he finally met the maiden’s father and asked for his daughter’s beauty tips, the father asked him to seduce the monster Binaliktad as part of his tutorial fee. He went off to seduce the monster and with the help of his magic lipstick, Langaw Donggon made the monster fall in love with him and to prove his triumph, he showed to Angoy Ginbinitinan’s father the monster’s kiss mark.

After the make-up tutorial, Langaw Donggon proceeded home with his new make-up kit. Along the way he met a group of young gays who told him that they were on their way to Tarambang Burok to win the Ms. Gay contest of Abyang Durunuun, sister of Champoy, the janitor of the underworld and whose beauty was legendary.

Langaw Donggon continued his journey home. The moment he arrived home, Langaw Donggon told his mother to take care of his make-up kit because he is taking another quest, this time he was going to ask for a registration form from Tarambang Burok to join the Ms. Gay Contest.

Before he can get to the place he has to pass a gate guarded by a gay monster named Kikay Padalogdog, who has a hundred arms. The monster would not allow Langaw Donggon to go through without a sabunutan battle.

However, Sikay Padalogdog, though with a hundred arms, was no match to Langaw Donggon’s skill in sabunutan so he gave up and allowed him to continue.

Langaw Donggon won the Ms. Gay Contest of Abyang Durunuun and also took her Gandang Ricky Reyes trophy home. Before long he went on another journey, this time it is to Gadlum to ask for yet another beauty tips from Nalitong Asawa Sinampalang Diwata who is the young bride of Saraduhan, the security guard of darkness.

This trip required him to use his mamalung saken (wave board) on which he waved across the streets for many months, went across the region of the gravel, and passed the land of sand until finally, he reached the shores of Kulogngtiyan which was the seaside fortress of Saraduhan. The moment he set foot on the ground, Saraduhan asked him, “What is the password?”

To which he answered, “Chorva chenes kang beki ka!”

Saraduhan laughed. He asked Langaw Donggon how he was able to guess that mysterious phrase. Langaw Donggon then simply raised one of his eyebrows and said, “What do you think of me, thinking of you?”

Saraduhan was deeply offended by what Langaw said. So, he asked his secretary to imprison Langaw inside Saraduhan’s cabinet.

 Back home, Aso KaNga and Abyang Balakubak, Langaw’s loyal friends were missing him so much. So they set forth to the region of eternal darkness, finally reaching Saraduhan’s home.

Saraduhan noticed that Abyang Balakubak’s dandruff have not yet been removed. He laughed and told the gay to go home to wash his scalp.

Abyang Balakubak was slighted by the remarks and immediately challenged Saraduhan to a duel. They fought J and P and Abyang Balakubak defeated Saraduhan and won his friend’s freedom.

Langaw Donggon’s defeat and subsequent imprisonment by the security guard of Darkness also angered his brothers turned ‘sistahs’. Humadona was so enraged that he swore to the gods of Medya-as that he would wreak revenge on all of Saraduhan’s kinsmen.

Humadona prepared to go to Saraduhan’s domain. He employed the aid of Burong Matanglayon of Mount Matiula who was well-known for his skill in face slapping. For their journey they rode on a sailboat called biday nga rumba-rumba. They travelled through the streets, passed by the region of gravel and ended up at a place called Tarambang Buriraw. In this place was a ridge called Tumatagas Kuting-tang where a malnourished sorcerer named Piganun lived.

Piganun changed himself to a hunky bachelor and captured the heart of Humadona. Buyong Matanayon begged with Humadona to leave the place with him but the latter refused. After seven months passed, Buyong Matanayon remembered that they have brought with them some ginger. One evening at dinner time Buyong Matanayon threw seven slices of ginger into the fire. When Pinganun smelled the odor of burning ginger he left the dinner table because sorcerers hated the odor of ginger. Immediately Burong Matanglayon slapped the face of Humadona, who became unconscious. He dragged his friend with him and they were able to escape.

They continued with their trek and everywhere they went, they exacted revenge on all of Saraduhan’s people and relatives. One day they reached a place called Pinalang Tubig who was ruled by Datu Umbaw Pinaumbaw. There was a big gathering in the village and when they asked what was going on, they were told that the datu was giving his son for marriage to whoever could remove the small stone that rolled from a mountain into the center of the village. Many girls tried their luck but no one so far was able to even move the stone.

Humadona took off his magic cape and used it to lift the stone and threw it back into the mountain. The datu, though skeptical of letting his son marry a gay, kept his word and Humadona married his son. During the wedding feast, Humadona heared about the manly beauty of the god of greed Borogodong Podo Sonoklong Bolowon from a guest minstrel who sang at the celebration.

After the wedding, Humadona went to seek the finger of the god in marriage. Along the way he encountered the gay, Buyong Nabading, son of the mighty Datu Balahidyong of Pinalang Bukid who was also travelling with the same purpose in mind. Upon learning of Humadona’s intent, Buyong Nabading challenged him to a duel. They fought and Buyong Nabading was no match to Humadona’s skill in J and P. The fight ended when Buyong Nabading surrendered and even promised to aid Humadona in his quest. Humadona married the god and brought him home.

Meanwhile, right after Humadona left to seek Saraduhan’s followers and relatives his, brother turned sistah, Dumalapdapa left for Burutlakan-ka-adlaw where the man Lubay-Lubyok Hanginun si Mahuyokhuyokon lived. For the trip, he brought along Dumasig, the most powerful gayuma maker in Medya-as.

Several months later they came to a place called Tarambuan-ka-banwa where they encountered the two-headed monster Balanakon who guarded a narrow ridge leading to the place where the man lived.

With the aid of Dumasig, Dumalapdapa killed Balanakon. However, upon approaching the gate of the palace where the man lived, he was confronted by Uyutang, a bat-like gay monster with sharp poisonous claws. There ensued a bloody battle between Dumalapdapa and the monster. They fought for seven seconds and their skill and prowess seemed to be equal. But on the seventh second, Dumalapdapa was able to grab on to Uyutang’s headband and broke it. Then he took his iwang daniwan (magic dagger) and stabbed Uyutang on his little finger.

Uyutang cried out so loud that the ridge where they were fighting, broke into two and there was an earthquake. Half of the ridge became the island of Buglas (Negros) and the other became the island of Panay.

Dumalapdapa married Lubay-Lubyok Hanginun si Mahuyokhuyokan and then took him home. Dating Paubari was very sad when he was reunited with his three sons turned daughters and he didn’t bother preparing a feast in their honor.

After they were asked to immediately leave their home, the happy three gays left for different parts of the world. Langaw Donggon went to the north, Humadona went south, Dumalapdapa to the west and Dating Paubari remained in the east.

Unfair Firsts

If first love's are to last eternally,

Then how would it be fair for you and me?

I loved you first and no one precedes thee,

But I was just next after you loved she.

"I honestly love you," said thou to me;

I was supposed to tell you I do to;

But before I can what did sayeth thee?

You spoke about memories of you two.

What was I to say 'fter you told me that?

"I'm sorry but I don't love you as such."

And after that do you know what I've got?

A sore for my heart that is really much.

Was life not unfair when it made that rule?

I aren’t yours but you were mine – first love.

Unknowing

Yesterday, I stared at the blithe heaven;
It was full of joy, beaming unto me.
I did not know that it was an omen;
A paradox told I shan't live in glee.
Today I realize it's happening,
Bygones are bygones, joyance turned outcry.
Know it, in misery I am weeping,
'Cause pouring rain, in a blink, will be dry.
In the near future I suppose to know,
Love gives joy but not infinitely does;
The summer sun will surely lead to snow;
I know, but still, I can't discern what was.
        I know it, but I oft forget in curt,
        I will still love though I know it will hurt.

My Loveline

It's been a long while since that very day,
Since you breathed that promise and sealed it tight;
But I think so it's my fault anyway,
To keep on believing, fulfilled, it might.
Flash it back... twenty-second day of May,
When we were sitting there along the shore.
You broke the silence and told me you'll stay;
That vow of you asks me to crave for more.
I know my world is different from yours;
So, hard it may be, I tried to move on.
But you promised so I opened my doors,
Now my heart bleeds, are you happy you won?

You promised me, so I believed in you;

But a fool I’d been to hold on the queue.

Life's Voyage

On one beatiful day in May, a hale and hearty baby girl named Mira was born.  How her parents rejoiced upon the birth of this little creature. Her brother and sisters were all very excited to meet their baby sister. Hopes of a bright future were never a letdown. God has been good to the family as He blessed this little kid the gift of wit and a good heart.

Mira was offered in the Church of Christ and served as a choir member in the Pagsamba ng Kabataan during her childhood years. In academics, she was twice awarded the most outstanding student at the Day Care Center in their hometown in Pampanga. In elementary, she bagged medals and certificates being a consistent honor student at the local elementary school and finally graduated the batch salutatorian.

She continued her high school in the neighboring town. With her mom’s all out support to her studies, she maintained being one of the top students.

Mira was generally excelling in almost every subject in school. Thus, choosing a career to take up in college is quite a poser. She altogether liked journalism and mass communication, being one of the school’s editorial writer and broadcaster and having English as her favorite subject. Nursing was also a good choice having the opportunity to work abroad with her uncle. Engineering and architecture, she reckoned, were also a choice because she so liked mathematics, especially geometry. In shorter terms, it was really hard to decide which course she will take. Then finally, after all of these reasoning out, she decided to take up Accountancy.

As the academic year of her last year in high school started, all of her batchmates, including her, were so busy applying for entrance examinations from different universities. She tried taking the UPCAT and USTET. During the last months of the academic year, results finally came and she successfully passed the entrance examinations for both the University of the Philippines and the University of Sto. Tomas.

But God works in her life. He didn’t let her study in any of those schools. At first, she was having faint resentment for she didn’t get the sign she asked for. It was painful for what she asked is to be that year’s salutatorian which for sure is not far from reality because she ranked second among her batchmates on the previous year.

Honor students were deliberated but no, she wasn’t the year’s salutatorian. She was only the third honorable mention. Just for that single problem which scored ten points on the term examinations, she lost three ranks up. But it wasn’t the end of everything. Losing the chance to study at UST and UP, her brother told her to go to their Church's University. She did. She passed the entrance examinations and she was able to study there. But still, questions continued to bother her.

Few weeks later after the opening of classes, God answered all of those queries. She was there at the university because it is there where she belongs. It is there where people will treat her as their own kin. It is there where not only her mind, but most especially her soul, will be nurtured. It is there where she found life.

Mira is recently a second year student and she is one of those who, as frequently called the cream of the crop, struggles to be retained as an accountancy student and continuously prove herself deserving of the title.

The story doesn’t end here. The voyage will carry on.

Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)

NOTES:

§  ^a Figures exclude Isabela City.

§  ^b Rejected inclusion into the ARMM, still part of the Zamboanga Peninsula region.

§  ^c Figures exclude the independent component city of Cotabato.

Geography

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.

Famous People

1.     Leonor Orosa-Goquingco (July 24, 1917 - July 15, 2005) was a 1976 Filipino national artist in creative dance. She could play the piano, draw, design scenery and costumes, sculpt, act, direct, dance and choreograph. Her pen name was Cristina Luna and she was known as Trailblazer, Mother of Philippine Theater Dance and Dean of Filipino Performing Arts Critics.

2.     Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat (also spelled Qudarat or Corallat) (1581–1671) was a Sultan of Maguindanao. During his reign, he successfully opposed the Spaniards who attempted to conquer his land and hindered the Christianization of the island of Mindanao. He was a direct descendant of Shariff Kabungsuwan, a Muslim missionary who brought Islam to the Philippines.

Famous Places

1.     Rio Grande de Mindanao - the longest river in Mindanao and the second largest in the Philippines. Its 320 kilometer journey starts somewhere near Butuan City as the Pulangi River then joins with the Kabacan River before emptying into the Moro Gulf through Cotabato City.

2.     Sitangkai -  an island in Tawi-Tawi, Philippines known as the 'Venice of the East' for its houses that are built on stilts above water

3.     Bulingan Falls - a majestic falls in Basilan, Philippines

Literature of ARMM

Tarasul - poems of Tausug. Tarasul are both entertaining and pedagogical. Although part of oral tradition, they are also written down. Topics of the tarasul are various-nature, cooking, love, among others.

Examples of Tarasul: 


1.  In ulan iban suga
Kagunahan ha dunya
Apu' Banuwa
In jambangan tulunga.


The rain and sun
Are essential on earth,
Oh, Apu' Banuwa ["grandfather chief" or angel Michael]
Help the garden.


2. Manggis iban buwahan
Kasusuban sin katan;
In marang iban duyan
Bungangkahuy manaman.


The mangosteen and the lanzones
Are the delight of everybody;
The marang and the durian
Fruits are tasty.


3. Tarasul ini iban daman
Ganti' pamintangan
Ha pasal ina' subay kalasahan
Di ha dunya ganti' patuhanan.


This tarasul and daman
Serves as a lesson
Concerning the obligation to love one's mother
Since she is God's representative on earth.


4. Mabugtang agun in baran ku
Pasal sin raybal ku.
Hangkan no aku di' no magkadtu
Sabab landu' susa in atay ku.


My whole being seems paralyzed
[Thinking] of my rival.
The reason I no longer pay [her] a visit
Is that my heart is grieving much.

Katakata – one of the four Tausug narratives:  the salsila (ethno-historical narratives), the kaawn kissa (creation stories), the usulan kissa (origin stories), and the katakata (marchen).

Märchen -  folktale characterized by elements of magic or the supernatural, such as the endowment of a mortal character with magical powers or special knowledge; variations expose the hero to supernatural beings or objects. The German term Märchen, used universally by folklorists, also embraces tall tales and humorous anecdotes; although it is often translated as “fairy tale,” the fairy is not a requisite motif.

Katakata are stories which are not historical and which are recited basically for entertainment. There are generally three types of katakata, one which resembles the legend, the marchen, and the trickster tale.

An example of the first type is:

"In Duwa bud" (The Two Mountains)

A man and a woman who have died become two mountains, which today are believed to be enchanted. Resting between the sea of Sulu and Zamboanga, the two mountains must not be referred to by travellers.

An example of the second type is the Tausug version of "Tom Thumb" folktales and is called "Hangdangaw" (literally, "a span high").

Despite his size, Hangdangaw is a voracious eater and grows with exceptional strength. He leaves his parents and -meets four powerful men who become his friends: Mamuk Bunga, Tumibik Batu, Sumagpih Ipil, and  Rumatag Bud. One day, Hangdangaw catches s big fish but discovers that he needs fire to cook it. He sends the four to get fire, but they are captured and imprisoned by a human-eating giant. Hangdangaw rescues them, and they finally get to eat the fish. After the meal, Hangdangaw throws away the fish bone, which, unfortunately lands on the maharajah's well. Hangdangaw helps the maharajah by throwing the fish bone a second time; it lands on the water hole of a panglima (headman). This is repeated two more times in the wells of the imam and the crown prince. As a reward, the daughters of the maharajah, panglima, imam, and crown prince are married off to Hangdangaw's four friends. From the crown prince's well, the fish bone lands on the sultan's. Hangdangaw intervenes again and ends up marrying the sultan's sister.

More popular among the Tausug are the trickster tales which involve Pusong and Abunnawas and which belong to the "clever lad" genre. In these tales, Pusong and Abunnawas always get away with the tricks they play on the sultan. The popularity of these tales and the irreverence they show towards the sultan betray the egalitarian attitude of the Tausug.

Other katakata deal with agassi (giants) like the "Baguinda Iban Hinda Apu" (Baguinda and Grand-father Agassi). There are also stories where handsome anak datu (royal princes) or beautiful putli (royal prin-cesses) are turned into ugly creatures only to be return-ed to their true selves after undergoing various trials. "Putli Pugut" and "Manik Buwangsi" are good examples of this type of katakata.

Animal tales such as that of pilanduk, a kind of mouse deer, are also types of the katakata. Pilan-duk has evolved into a human trickster as wily as Pusong and Abunnawas (Tuban 1977:93-94). Other examples of animal tales include the stories of "The Rabbit and the Lion," "The Tukling and the Crow," and "There was a King"

Tudtul - Maguindanao tudtul (folktales) are short stories involving simple events.  Two examples are presented.


The "Lagya Kudarat" tells the adventures of the two children of Lagya (rajah) Mampalai of Lum who are blown away after Mampalai laments the lack of viable partners for his children.  These two children are Lagya Kudarat and Puteli (princess) Sittie Kumala.  Puteli Kumala is blown to a forest where she meets a kabayan (in all Maguindanao stories, this character is associated with an old unmarried woman).  The kabayan adopts her, as she earlier did the prince named Sumedsen sa Alungan.  Although Kumala and Sumedsen live in the same house, they never speak to each other.  Later, because of peeping toms, Kumala leaves and Sumedsen goes with her.  They find their way to Lum, where a happy reunion takes place.  Sumedsen eventually marries Kumala.  Meanwhile, Lagya Kudarat is blown to Kabulawanan.  There he meets another kabayan who allows him to live with her.  One day while hunting, Kudarat hears the game of sipa (rattan ball kicked with the ankle) being played.  He proceeds to the direction of the game and is invited to play.  Not knowing how to play, he accidentally causes the sipa to fall in front of the princess who is sitting beside the window.  She throws him her ring and handkerchief.  The marriage between the princess and Kudarat is then arranged.  After the wedding, Kudarat feels homesick; his wife then suggests that they go back to Lum.  There is a happy reunion.  A week later, Kudarat and his wife returns to Kabulawanan to live with his in-laws.


"Pat-I-Mata" narrates the story of two brothers -- Pat-I-Mata and Datu sa Pulu.  The former rules Kabalukan while the latter reigns over Reina Regente.  Pat-I-Mata is so-called because he has four eyes; when his two eyes sleep, his other two are awake.  He is also known for his cruelty to women, marrying them when they are beautiful and returning them after they have gone ugly.  Because of this, the people of Kabalukan can no longer tolerate Pat-I-Mata's cruelty.  They approach his brother and ask for his help.  The Datu sa Pulu tries to advise his brother but to no avail.  He then decides to kill Pat-I-Mata.  So he builds a cage.  Seeing the cage, Pat-I-Mata asks what it is for.  The Datu replies that it is constructed to protect them from an incoming storm.  Being greedy, Pat-I-Mata asks for the cage saying that the Datu can make his own anytime.  The Datu pretends to hesitate but later accommodates his brother's wishes.  When Pat-I-Mata and his followers enter the cage, the Datu orders the door shut.  Realizing that he is tricked, he says before being thrown into the river: "Never mind, my brother.  We would always be enemies -- and we will never be reconciled till eternity.  I would die but I pray that whenever you go riding on a boat in the river, my spirit will capsize it".

Bidasari – an epic of Mindanao based on a Malayan epic. It resembles the tales of Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty all combined

Summary of Bidasari

When a simple merchant, his young son and mute servant are out in the woods, they chance upon a drifting boat, in which there is a baby girl and a bowl containing a live goldfish. The merchant realises that the baby is unusual because her life is bonded to the fish: if the fish leaves the water, she stops breathing. The merchant adopts the baby as her own and names her Bidasari. Years later Bidasari grows up into a beautiful young woman while the merchant has prospered into a wealthy businessman.


At the royal palace of this kingdom, the King has just remarried a beautiful woman, the Permaisuri (Queen). The Permaisuri is a proud woman who secretly practises witchcraft. Hidden in her chambers is a magic mirror that can show her anything she asks. She uses it to ask who the most beautiful in all the land is. One day when she asks the mirror this question, the image of Bidasari appears in it. She is enraged by this and carries out a search to find who Bidasari is.


Her search leads her to the merchant's house. Under the guise of kindness, the Permaisuri asks the merchant for permission to bring Bidasari to the palace to be her companion. Although the merchant is reluctant to part with his beloved daughter, he lets her go. But once Bidasari arrives at the palace, she is sent to the kitchens as a servant, where she is starved and given the dirtiest jobs.


After the Permaisuri is satisfied that Bidasari has been ruined, she once again asks her magic mirror who is the most beautiful in the land. When the mirror shows Bidasari yet again, the Permaisuri flies into a rage and runs to the kitchen where she grabs burning pieces of firewood which she tries to burn Bidasari's face with. She is shocked when the fire goes out and Bidasari's face is left untouched. Bidasari, who has by now realised that the Permaisuri's malice is targeted only at her and will never stop, begs for mercy and explains her life is bonded to that of a fish that is kept in a bowl in her father's garden.


The Permaisuri has a servant steal the fish for her from the merchant's garden, and as soon as the fish leaves the water, Bidasari collapses and stops breathing. Satisfied that Bidasari's life is in her hands, the Permaisuri hangs the fish around her neck as a trophy. When she asks the mirror who is the most beautiful in the land, the mirror shows her own image.


The merchant realises that the fish is missing, and is told that Bidasari died mysteriously at the palace. Her body is returned to him and he builds a small tomb for her in the woods where her body is laid out in peace.


Meanwhile, the Permaisuri's stepson the Prince has been having dreams about Bidasari, although he has never met her. The dreams plague him even in his waking hours, despite his father's advice that such a beautiful woman cannot exist. The Permaisuri sees her stepson acting this way and plants a painting of Bidasari in his room. The Prince finds the painting, which leads him to the merchant who explains the sad tale of Bidasari's death and the mysterious disappearance of the fish.


The Prince decides to visit Bidasari's tomb to see her beauty with his own eyes. Coincidentally at this time, back at the palace the Permaisuri is having a bath in the royal bathing pool. The fish manages to break free of its locket and drops into the water where it starts swimming. This causes Bidasari to wake up right before the Prince's eyes. Bidasari tells him of what the Permaisuri did to her, which confirms the Prince's suspicions of his stepmother.


When the Permaisuri finishes her bath, she discovers that the fish has gotten free. She manages to catch it just as the Prince is about to help Bidasari leave the tomb, causing her to fall unconscious again. The Prince places Bidasari back in the tomb and promises to make things right.


The Prince returns to the palace in a fury, demanding that the Permaisuri give him the fish. The Permaisuri pretends not to know anything, and when the King listens to the Prince's explanation, the King declares that his son has gone insane and calls the royal guards. A fight ensues, during which the Permaisuri is injured and dies.


Just before the Prince is about to be captured, the merchant and the Prince's loyal manservants arrive with Bidasari on a stretcher. The merchant explains that the story about the fish being bonded to Bidasari's life is true. The Prince takes the fish from the locket around the Permaisuri's neck and puts it into a bowl of water. As soon as the fish enters the water, Bidasari comes back to life. The King apologises to his son, and the Prince and Bidasari are married.