1. Name: Mark Ian C. Tagami LIT 1 Epic Analysis
Yr./Sec.: BEEd II-A Philippine Literature Biag ni Lam-ang
1 | P a g e
Biag ni Lam-ang
(Translated by Angelito L. Santos)
Adventure of the Hero
Biag ni Lam-ang is a great epic where the adventure of Lam-ang (protagonist), son of
Don Juan Panganiban and Namungan, featured both romance and service aspects.
Lam-ang was able to search the woman he really loves, Donya Ines Cannuyan of
Calanutian which shows romance adventure.
He took revenge of his father beheaded as he killed almost all Igorots. He was able to
protect his fellowmen after he dethroned Igorots. The possible war between Ilocanos and Igorots
ended after Lam-ang killed them which show service aspect.
*SERVICE*
―…My Mother Namungan, please let your son go,
For I would seek Father whom I came from…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 80-81~
―…Tattooed Igorots, just tell me
What foul thing my father I came from did.
It is only right that it paid.‖
―Our friend Lam-ang,
It is only right, too,
That you go back to the house
―You stepped down from.
Or else, you’ll be the next (to die)…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 124-131~
―…The man Lam-ang.
He embraced these crisscrossing spears…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 165-166~
―…He slashed at his mouth, his eyes;
Cut off his ears, arms and legs.
He then let him loose, the tattooed Igorort,
Who received no mercy at his hands.
―That your relatives and your tribe may all see you…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines191-195~

2. Name: Mark Ian C. Tagami LIT 1 Epic Analysis
Yr./Sec.: BEEd II-A Philippine Literature Biag ni Lam-ang
2 | P a g e
The Epic Hero
Lam-ang, son of Namungan and Don Juan Panganiban of Nalbuan, is referred to be the
hero (protagonist) of the epic. He is respected by the townpeople because of his super powers
and heroic deeds in his adventure. He is admired and feared because of his god-like super
strength.
He was able to speak immediately after he has given birth by Namungan.
*ROMANCE*
―…Mother Namungan, I must go.
I must enter the competition
―At the town of Calanutian,
Who knows, Donya Ines Cannuyan
May look on me with favour…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 313-317~
―…My friend Sumarang,
We must go now our separate ways.
―For I must go now to Calanutian to compete –
Who knows, I may be chosen by Donya Ines
Cannuyan.‖
You need not to go on your own way.
You cannot be, with your looks…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 382-387~
―…Prepare your end (Lam-ang)
And try defending yourself
From my spear—
It will be too bad if you can’t catch
My hooked spear…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 395-399~
―…Namungan, my mother,
Let my name be Lam-ang when you have me baptized.
―and let the old man Guibuan be my godfather…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 71-73~

3. Name: Mark Ian C. Tagami LIT 1 Epic Analysis
Yr./Sec.: BEEd II-A Philippine Literature Biag ni Lam-ang
3 | P a g e
He was able to achieve a fully grown man body at his nine months. After that, he
had an adventure that time in order to find his father. It’s very supernatural.
He had also an undying spirit that can’t be compared to anyone. He was able to
withstand fighting numerous Igorots and defeated them.
He displayed his bravery to the people of Calanutian and Nalbuan as he tried to
fish raring, a shellfish which is not easy to get because a lot of people died of it,
because it is a part of the tradition of Calanutian.
LifePattern of theHero
―…My mother Namungan, please let your son go,
For I would seek Father whom I came from…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 80-81~
―…You tattooed Igorots,
I cannot be satisfied (with your number)…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 133-134~
―…Oh, their number indeed was remarkable
For one cannot keep count of their number…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 149-150~
―…The man Lam-ang.
They were mowed down in an instant,
Only one tattooed Igorot was left unharmed,
Whom he mocked at, then pinned down…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 186-189~
―…My friend Lam-ang,
your turn has come
To dive for shellfish rarang”
When the captain had left,
This is what brave man Lam-ang said with a sigh:
―My wife Cannuyan,
I have been choosen
To dive for shellfish called rarang
―I have dreamt
That I shall doubtless be eaten…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 854-864~

4. Name: Mark Ian C. Tagami LIT 1 Epic Analysis
Yr./Sec.: BEEd II-A Philippine Literature Biag ni Lam-ang
4 | P a g e
a. Unusual Birth
As soon as he was delivered from her mother, he speak immediately and
suggested to Namungan, his mother, that his name will be Lam-ang.
b. Miraculous Growth
When he was nine months old, he achieved already the body of a full grown man
that he can do anything at that age what an adult can do. He is so powerful.
c. Life adventure
1. Physical appearance – he was able to make his adventure at his nine months because
he already achieved the body of a mature and full grown man.
2. Loud voice – Lam-ang has a very loud voice that even the townpeople of Nalbuan
can hear it. It is so powerful as he clearly stated his announcements to the people
about the wedding party.
3. Leadership qualities – Because of his loud voice and super powers, the leadership
qualities eventually came out. He is respected and feared by the people and all what
he said is immediately done by his subordinates. Because he is acclaimed as the
leader, he intends to protect his people from Igorots as he killed them when he went
to Igorot land in search of his father.
4. Magic powers – He is being feared by everyone not only his miraculous growth, loud
voice and physical appearance but also his magical powers. When he went to Igorot
―…Lam-ang made an announcements.
―Townmates, please come to my wedding feast;
We will ride in my two boats.‖
And when the needed things has been loaded:
―My townmates, please go on board one by one.‖
When each one had boarded the boat…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 658-663~
―…For your legs are like bamboo string
―And hands are like needles
And you were born, my son,
Even before your ninth month inside me…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 84-87~

5. Name: Mark Ian C. Tagami LIT 1 Epic Analysis
Yr./Sec.: BEEd II-A Philippine Literature Biag ni Lam-ang
5 | P a g e
land, he brought with him magical stuffs and displayed his magical prowess to them
as he killed them.
d. Victorious Moments – Lam-ang effortlessly killed the Igorots except one because he,
the not killed Igorot, will serve as an instrument in propagating/announcing how strong
Lam-ang is.
e. Resuscitation – Because of the tradition of Calanutian, Lam-and decided to catch rarang
to prove his worthiness of marrying Donya Ines Cannuyan. Unfortunately, he was
swallowed and killed by a berkakan, a big shark, but brought back to life through his
magical animals.
―…For he wanted to see the father he sprang from.
For he had with him stone of sagang
Stone of tangraban, of laolaoigan
A wild carabao’s amulet
When he passed by a grove of cana vernal,
The shoots bent down
For he also had the amulet of centipede.
And having reached the river’s ford…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines90-97~
―Lam-ang beckoned to the strongest wind—
And the straw burn into flames
The people of San Juan were alarmed
By the sparks that reached them…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 250-254~
―…And when the tattooed Igorots had run out
Of sharpened bamboo poles, spears, lances,
But could not hit him even just once…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 169-171~
―…Tattooed Igorots, watch me closely now
He beckoned to the south wind
And with it lunged at once at them
As though felling down banana trunks,
His bolo bit into flesh two ways, swung left or right,
The man Lam-ang.
They were down in an instant,
Only one tattoo was left unharmed,
When he mocked at, then pinned down…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 181-189~

6. Name: Mark Ian C. Tagami LIT 1 Epic Analysis
Yr./Sec.: BEEd II-A Philippine Literature Biag ni Lam-ang
6 | P a g e
WorldJourneys
His journey started when he searched his father as he went to the land of Igorots and saw
his father beheaded. After he got his revenge, he went to Calanutian to find a woman whom he
will marry named Donya Ines Cannuyan and luckily they got married.
DominantMotifs
In Philippine Literature, there are motifs/events in an epic that is dominant/common to all
epic.
a. Magic Transportation – He went to the Igorot land effortlessly as he covered the
distance easily and did not felt tired at all in coming back to Nalbuan after defeating
them.
b. Resuscitation - Because of the tradition of Calanutian, Lam-and decided to catch rarang
to prove his worthiness of marrying Donya Ines Cannuyan. Unfortunately, he was
swallowed and killed by a berkakan, a big shark, but brought back to life through his
magical animals (yellow-legged hen, rooster and hairy dog).
c. Fighting – Lam-ang engaged into fightings when he went to the Igorot land to find his
father and got revenge of him. He also fought his love to Donya Ines Cannuyan, as he
confronted a fellow lover of Cannuyan also, Sumarang, and he killed him.
d. Magical Animals – When he wanted to go at Calanutian to try his luck to Donya Ines
Cannuyan, he brought with him three magical animals: yellow-legged hen, rooster and
hairy dog which helped him in the remodelling of the house and resuscitation of him.
―…The yellow-legged hen crowed;
The rooster shook its wings;
And the bones started to move.
The dog with curly locks
Howled twice
Then clawed the ground.
As though to bury the bones of Lam-ang
Then the man Lam-ang
Got up once…‖
~Biag ni Lam-ang lines 929-937~

7. Name: Mark Ian C. Tagami LIT 1 Epic Analysis
Yr./Sec.: BEEd II-A Philippine Literature Biag ni Lam-ang
7 | P a g e
Embodiment ofCustoms, Beliefs and Values
All epics are culture-based that every scenes portrays different values and traits which
shows the charcteristics of the people living in a certain place.
a. Rites, rituals, feast and festivals
The inclusion of baptism in the epic manifested a sign of Christianity. Pedro
Bukaneg, acclaimed author of Biag ni Lam-ang, was adopted by Agustinian friars
before. Because of them, Bukaneg incorporated the practice of being Christian to
the epic.
They also have a concept of the so-called “love thy neighbour”. Lam-ang was
conveyed to marry a woman in Nalbuan by Namungan so that he will not go to
Calanutian anymore to search Donya Ines Cannuyan.
When a man wants to marry a woman, he must offer a dowry to the family of the
woman. Lam-ang equalized the wealth of Cannuyan family in order to get the
hands of Donya Ines Cannuyan (figuratively).
When a woman is about to deliver her child, the man will prepare everything
before the child goes out. Don Juan Panganiban, father of Lam-ang, went to the
Igorot land to get bamboos to make a reclining bed for Namungan, his wife.
Superstitious beliefs are also dominant in the epic and today as lots of people still
believes in it. Lam-ang went to catch rarang and he gave signs if something bad
happens to him such as stairs will dance, kitchen will collapse and stove will
break into pieces.
b. Values
Lam-ang was very brave and strong that all people feared him. Despite of this, he
still has good values embodied on him. He loves so much his family as he searched his
father. When he knew his father was beheaded, he took vengeance for him and protected
them (townpeople) from possible colonization of Igorots as he defeated almost all of
them.
He kept also his promise after he married Ines to catch rarang. This only shows
the importance of having a “word of honor”. These are very good values that should be
embodied to us.
c. Aesthetic
Biag ni Lam-ang shows a very good portrayal of what is a true Ilocano all about.
Despite the worsening condition, Ilocanos continue to smile and portrays resiliency.
The epic also caters desirable traits of Ilocano. Therefore, this epic has a big
impact to the country especially to the students for it shows the culture and traits of
Ilocanos which cannot be compared to others.