Epic proportions

Similarities between legends, epics and myths admittedly caused me some confusion. Adding to the three, superstition made research on my doctoral degree all the more interesting. I had to remember their definitions because the more I learned about them, the more they seemed to overlap in categories.

A legend is a story that has been passed down for generations, especially one that is presented as history but is unlikely to be true. An epic is a lengthy narrative poem in elevated language celebrating the adventures and achievements of a legendary hero, such as Bantugen of the Maranao’s Darangen, Maguindanao’s Indarapatra and Sulayman, and North Cotabato Manobo’s Agyu of the Ulahingan. A myth is a traditional story often explaining the origins of natural phenomena or aspects of human behavior through heroes and supernatural beings.

Superstitions come as traditional beliefs in our everyday lives. You may have heard of these: Don’t walk someone to the door who has condoled with you while the body of your deceased relative lies in state. Don’t cut your nails at night.

Regardless of the categories, all this is generally based on oral tradition. Call them messages repeated until many versions and memories are compounded. Whether or not the memory changes – and surely it does with every generation of story tellers – history is passed on from epics, legends, myths and superstitions.

Think about this advice: We must take time out from any feeling of doubt about ourselves as a nation, as a people, and return to our past, examine our roots, and our distinct heritage to feel good about ourselves and lead us to heights of nobility.

* * *

Many of the Maranaos old and young and the even unschooled listen and quote the Darangen on special occasions like a coronation or investiture of a royal title. Their royalty today follows the tradition of the proclamation of their Prince Tominaman sa Rogong, the heir of Diwata Ndaw Gibon of the Darangen abiding by their epic:

O respected datus, if you

Would allow me to present here

Who among our relatives would

Be the most fitted, as chosen to be

The next chief ruler of our place.

He must be the choice of all here

That no one can question his rule

In any place around the sea

See how vast their kingdom was…

Through the epic, I extracted their grand history, visualizing their material culture. There was the Sultan Ayonan who lived in his huge wooden residence called Torogan and his virgin daughters confined in a Lamen who were said to have come down from a world in the sky. So rich an imagination, and such beautiful customs described in their poetry. One of them was their unique gesture of courtesy, such as turning to the left practiced by both men and women as a sign of respect for every person regardless of rank and status. This also gave the men a split second to spit out the betel quid in their mouths.

One also understands how they hold morality – both in the past and present – in their belief that their once magical kingdom came to an end and their ancestors turned to stone because of incest and vanity.

The spokesman in negotiations for a marriage quotes these magnificent lines from the Darangen to enhance his cause and ensure the bride’s acceptance:

O my dear respected datus…

In our place, Iliyan a Bembaran,

We offer our rich treasures

To honor the very high rank of Minilalansay Lina.

My powerful princess,

Be at peace and calm yourself, look

Kindly on the proposal

For we shall never stop asking

You, yourself, until you agree

To marry our prince and thus raise

The fame and honor of our clan!

* * *

My team members – Prof. Lino Dizon of Tarlac, French geographer Jean Paul Guillard, researcher Roland Bayhon, my man Friday Ayub Marohumbsar – and I pierced through days and nights to discover the source of this romantic, historical epic around Mindanao to bring alive an emotionally charged story dating back to 1,000 AD. This could explain the nostalgia of the Maranaos’ golden yesterday, translated into English:

In the deepening shadows, when the sun starts creeping over the darkening hills. Remember, I suddenly do…the love of my life – she I spoiled, and endowed with everything. In a flash, my tears start cascading…perhaps in regret and loneliness…

* * *

Because the American doctor Frank Lauback assigned to Lanao Sur in the early 1900s mentioned the epic’s location as Davao, Agusan or Cotabato, I embarked on my fieldwork in what was Mindanao’s great expanse, which is now divided into provinces. From Lanao Sur and Norte to Misamis Oriental and Occidental, to Butuan, Bukidnon, Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Davao, I searched for Bembaran, the enchanted kingdom where the Darangen’s heroes lived. After four years of investigating, my children called me Indiana Jones.

I did find Bembaran in Butig, Lanao Sur, Barangay Pinjaman, which was claimed by every Maranao as a magical hill whose royalty and their retainers were identified by intriguing names, tongue twisters older than Islam in the Philippines.

Some of the names in the Darangen are:

Diwata Ndaw Gibon, which means "spirit-sun-man" of "bright spirit of mankind," or "spirit guardian of the princess’ chamber."

Aliwaliw o Ndaw literally means "ray of the sun" or "sparkling light of day."

Miyagondaya’ Linog literally means "as strong as an earthquake," or "spreading, creeping/devastating quake."

Aya Paganay Ba’I, "the first among all the ladies"

Mabolawan Pisigi, "desired like gold, a treasure."

Mapalongan Sirig is "bright as a star," or "unreachable star."

Walain Ditanongen is "peerless in beauty and endowed with much grace and virtue."

Would you ever name your child that? Darangen, translated to English by Sister Ma. Delia Coronel, has more in its numerous volumes.