Philippine Epic

Philippine Epic

v Is a long narrative revolving around heroic deeds and supernatural events.

v It embodies beliefs, customs, ideals, or life values of the people.

v Used to be sung or chanted in communal gathering (examples of communal
gathering are: celebration of a good harvest, tribal victory, death of a chieftain, wedding, baptism, wakes, prestige rites, and peace pact agreement)

v In 1963, there were 19 Filipino ethno epics according to E. Arsenio Manuel

v Epics are verse narratives relating the feats of ancestral heroes against great odds.

v The lives of saints soon replaced the lives of epic heroes.

v Darangan is a collection of Maranao narratives. Examples of Maranao heroes are:

• Bantugan – He is the most popular Darangan hero. He is brave and handsome warrior prince. He fought his enemies with a magical kampilan.

Maharadia Lawana – tells the adventure of two datus; Manangani and Mangaarwana, who killed the witch Lawana and rescued princess Patre Taia.

v Epics are transmitted by singers and chanters
v The purposes of epic are the following:

• It serves as a form of entertainment

• It serves as inspirations to the youth to emulate their heroes.

v The epic singer could be a male or a female. Accordingly, the singer sings for two to four hours at night time.