SYNOPSIS

Hinilawod is an epic poem written by the early inhabitants of a place called Sulod in central Panay.

The word means tales from the mouth of the Halawod River.

Hinilawod is not just a literary piece but also a source of information about culture, religion and rituals of
the ancient people of Sulod; showing us that ancient Filipinos believed in the “sacred,” in the importance
of family honor and in personal courage and dignity.

This 8,340-verse epic is chanted when performed and would take about three days when performed in its
original form, making it one of the longest epics known.

HINILAWOD

When the goddess of the eastern sky Alunsina (also known as Laun Sina, “The Unmarried One”) reached
maidenhood, the king of the gods, Kaptan, decreed that she should marry. All the unmarried gods of the
different domains of the universe tried to win her hand to no avail. She chose to marry a mortal, Datu
Paubari, the mighty ruler of Halawod.

Her decision angered her other suitors. They plotted to bring harm to the newlyweds. A meeting of the
council of gods was called by Maklium-sa-t’wan, god of the plains, where a decision by those present was
made to destroy Halawod by flood.

Alunsina and Paubari escaped harm through the assistance of Suklang Malayon, the goddess and guardian
of happy homes and sister of Alunsina, who learned of the evil plot and warned the two so they were able
to seek refuge on higher ground.

After the flood waters subsided, Paubari and Alunsina returned to the plains secretly. They settled near the
mouth of the Halawod river.

Several months later Alunsina became pregnant and told Paubari to prepare the siklot, things necessary for
childbirth. She delivered a set of triplets and summoned the high priest Bungot-Banwa to perform the rites
of the gods of Mount Madya-as (the mountain abode of the gods) to ensure the good health of the children.
The high priest promptly made an altar and burned some alanghiran fronds and a pinch of kamangyan.
When the ceremony was over he opened the windows of the north side of the room and a cold northernly
wind came in and suddenly the three infants were transformed into strong, handsome young men.

Labaw Donggon, the eldest of the three, asked his mother to prepare his magic cape, hat, belt and kampilan
(sword) for he heard of a place called Handug where a beautiful maiden named Angoy Ginbitinan lived.

The journey took several days. He walked across plains and valleys, climbed up mountains until he reached
the mouth of the Halawod river. When he finally met the maiden’s father and asked for her hand in marriage,
the father asked him to fight the monster Manalintad as part of his dowry. He went off to confront the
monster and with the help of his magic belt Labaw Donggon killed the monster and to prove his feat he
brought to Angoy Ginbitinan’s father the monster’s tail.

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After the wedding, Labaw Donggon proceeded home with his new bride. Along the way they met a group
of young men who told him that they were on their way to Tarambang Burok to win the hand of Abyang
Durunuun, sister of Sumpoy, the lord of the underworld and whose beauty was legendary.

Labaw Donggon and his bride continued on their journey home. The moment they arrived home Labaw
Donggon told his mother to take care of his wife because he is taking another quest, this time he was going
to Tarambang Burok.

Before he can get to the place he has to pass a ridge guarded by a giant named Sikay Padalogdog who has
a hundred arms. The giant would not allow Labaw Donggon to go through without a fight. However, Sikay
Padalogdog was no match to Labaw Donggon’s prowess and skill in fighting so he gave up and allowed
him to continue.

Labaw Donggon won the hand of Abyang Durunuun and also took her home. Before long he went on
another journey, this time it is to Gadlum to ask for the hand of Malitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata who
is the young bride of Saragnayan, the lord of darkness.

This trip required him to use his biday nga inagta (black boat) on which he sailed across the seas for many
months, went across the region of the clouds, and passed the land of stones until finally he reached the
shores of Tulogmatian which was the seaside fortress of Saragnayan. The moment he set foot on the ground
Saragnayan asked him, “Who are you and why are you here?”

To which he answered, “I am Labaw Donggon, son of Datu Paubari and goddess Alunsina of Halawod. I
came for the beautiful Malitong Yawa Sinagmaling Diwata.”

Saragnayan laughed. He told Labaw Donggon that what he wished for was impossible to grant because she
was his wife. Labaw Donggon then challenged Saragnayan to a duel saying that whoever wins will have
her.

The challenge was accepted and they started fighting. Labaw Donggon submerged Saragnayan under water
for seven years, but when he let go of him, Saragnayan was still alive. The latter uprooted a coconut tree
and started beating Labaw Donggon with it. He survived the beating but was not able to surpass the powers
of Saragnayan’s pamlang (amulet) and eventually he gave up and was imprisoned by Saragnayan beneath
his house.

Back home Angoy Ginbitinan and Abyang Durunuun both delivered sons. Angoy Ginbitinan’s child was
named Aso Mangga and Abyang Durunuun’s son was called Abyang Baranugon.

Only a few days after they were born, Aso Mangga and Abyang Baranugon embarked to look for their
father. They rode their sailboats through the region of eternal darkness, passed the region of the clouds and
the land of stones, finally reaching Saragnayan’s home. Saragnayan noticed that Abyang Baranugon’s
umbilical cord have not yet been removed, he laughed and told the child to go home to his mother.

Abyang Baranugon was slighted by the remarks and immediately challenged Saragnayan to a duel. They
fought and Abyang Baranugon defeated Saragnayan and won his father’s freedom.

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Labaw Donggon’s defeat and subsequent imprisonment by the Lord of Darkness also angered his brothers.
Humadapnon was so enraged that he swore to the gods of Madya-as that he would wreak revenge on all of
Saragnayan’s kinsmen and followers.

Humadapnon prepared to go to Saragnayan’s domain. He employed the aid of Buyong Matanayon of Mount
Matiula who was well-known for his skill in swordsmanship. For their journey they rode on a sailboat called
biday nga rumba-rumba. They travelled through the region of the clouds, passed by the region of eternal
darkness and ended up at a place called Tarambang Buriraw. In this place was a ridge called Talagas Kuting-
tang where a seductive sorceress named Piganun lived.

Piganun changed herself to a beautiful maiden and captured the heart of Humadapnon. Buyong Matanayon
begged with Humadapnon 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 she left the dinner table because sorcerers hated the odor of ginger. Immediately Buyong Matanayon
struck Humadapnon, 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 Saragnayan’s
people and relatives. One day they reached a place called Piniling 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 daughter for marriage to whoever could remove the huge boulder that
rolled from a mountain into the center of the village. Many men tried their luck but no one so far was able
to even move the stone.

Humadapnon took off his magic cape and used it to lift the stone and threw it back into the mountain. The
datu kept his word and Humadapnon married his daughter. During the wedding feast Humadapnon heared
about the beauty of the goddess of greed Burigadang Pada Sinaklang Bulawan from a guest minstrel who
sang at the celebration.

After the wedding Humadapnon went to seek the hand of the goddess in marriage. Along the way he
encountered Buyong Makabagting, son of the mighty Datu Balahidyong of Paling Bukid who was also
travelling with the same purpose in mind. Upon learning of Humadapnon’s intent, Buyong Makabagting
challenged him to a duel. They fought and Buyong Makabagting was no match to Humadapnon’s strength
and skill. The fight ended when Buyong Makabagting surrendered and even promised to aid Humadapnon
in his quest. Humadapnon married the goddess and brought her home.

Meanwhile, right after Humadapnon left to seek Saragnayan’s followers and relatives his brother
Dumalapdap left for Burutlakan-ka-adlaw where the maiden Lubay-Lubyok Hanginun si Mahuyokhuyokon
lived. For the trip he brought along Dumasig, the most powerful wrestler in Madya-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 maiden lived.

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

Dumalapdap married Lubay-Lubyok Hanginun si Mahuyokhuyokan and then took her home. Datu Paubari
was very happy when he was reunited with his three sons and he prepared a feast in their honor. After the
celebration, the three brothers left for different parts of the world. Labaw Donggon went to the north,
Humadapnon went south, Dumalapdap to the west and Datu Paubari remained in the east.

DISCOVERY OF THE EPIC

Hinilawod is one of the many pieces of oral literature passed from one generation to the next, changed and
morphed by the mananalaysay (storyteller) to one degree or another as he told it to his audience.

Hinilawod was first discovered “by accident” in 1955, when F. Landa Jocano, Filipino anthropologist
became interested in native folklore. He traveled the hinterlands of his home province, Panay, with two
colleagues collecting folk songs, stories, and riddles. It was during one of those trips to the upland barrios
of Lambunao, Maasin, Janiuay, and Calinog in Iloilo that his attention was called to a long and popular tale
called Hinilawod. Portions of the story were sung to him and his colleague by an old man called Ulang
Udig.

Returning the following year, together with a radio technician from Central Philippine University, he then
recorded a portion of the story on tape in 1956.

However, when he returned, in 1957 to make a recording of the complete story, Ulang Udig refused to
cooperate . Weeks later, he was introduced to a mountain singer named Hugan-an, who, after much cajoling,
allowed herself to be tape recorded as she recounted both her story and the Hinilawod story. It took three
weeks to complete the recording of the 30 hour epic poem.

A concise version of the story of Hinilawod can be found in the book, Philippine Mythology, authored by
the Filipino anthropologist, Dr. F. Landa Jocano.

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