The Life of Lam-ang (An Iloko Epic)

(Complete Text in English)

Which mountain do you intend to hunt in?
My friend Lam-ang?

Replied Lam-ang:

My friend Sumarang, may I also ask
Where you came from—
The town, the locality you visited?

Said Sumarang:
Since you ask me, I came from the north,
The town of Calanutian.

I went there to compete
For the hand of Doña Ines Cannoyan.

Lam-ang said:

Where you came from
There I also intend to go,
With the same purpose, my friend Sumarang.

And he added:
“My friend Sumarang,
We must now go our separate ways

For I must go now to Calanutian to compete—
Who knows, I may be chosen by Doña Ines Cannoyan.

You need not continue on your way

You cannot be, with your looks,
One Doña Ines Cannoyan can possibly choose.
So many rich men and Spaniards are there already

And Doña Ines Cannoyan has yet
To look out her window for anyone.
I say it again: it is futile

For you to continue your journey.
Sumarang (suddenly added):
Prepare your end

And try defending yourself
From my spear—
It will be too bad if you can’t catch

My hooked spear.
Said Lam-ang then:
Do what you will, I await your move.

Sumarang threw his spear
At his friend, Lam-ang
Lam-ang caught it

With his little and ring finger
As though it were betel nut
Proferred by a maiden.

Then
He twirled it nine times
Around his neck and body.

My friend Sumarang
I will return to you your spear
For I don’t want to be in your debt.

What you handed to me is too hot
Though its handle is cold
The handle of your spear.

My friend Sumarang
Now wait for its coming.
If you don’t beware,

An English translation by Angelito L. Santos from the Iloko text and prose translation in Spanish by Fr. Gerardo Blanco.  The Iloko “Biag ni Lam-ang” is the oldest recorded Philippine folk epic and the only complete epic from the Christian Filipino groups which has a total of 977 lines.

See also the Bilingual (Tagalog-English) Summary of this Ifugao epic (Biag ni Lam-ang).