Wednesday, March 14, 2012

HINILAWOD

       Alunsina (also known as Laun Sina, “The Unmarried One”), the goddess of the eastern sky reached maidenhood and  the king of the gods, Kaptan the Great, 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 Hinulugang Taktak. Her decision angered her other suitors. They plotted to bring harm to the newlyweds. One of them pretended to be an old man and gave a poisonous orange to Datu Paubari but Datu Paubari was allergic to orange that was why the old man failed to kill him. So 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 Hinulugang Taktak by mud 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 mud flood waters subsided, Paubari and Alunsina returned to the plains secretly. They settled near the mouth of the Hinulugang Taktak river.
       Several months later Alunsina became pregnant. She delivered a set of triplets which each one of them had the power of elements. Labaw Donggon, the eldest, had the power of fire that could burn a thousand trees with just one touch of a left. Humadapnon, the second one, had the power of water and could make a flood when he cry. Lastly among the three was Dumalaplap who had the power of wind and could make a tornado with just one blow.
       Labaw Donggon, asked his mother to prepare his magic carpet cape, hat, black belt and kampilan (sword) for he heard of a place called Handugudog 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 Hinulugang Taktak river. When he finally met the maiden’s father and asked for her hand in marriage, the father asked him to bring a beanstalk that could grow up to the heaven. He went off to find that beans and with the help of his magic black belt Labaw Donggon exchange it to a farmer who sell different kinds of beans and he brought it to Angoy Ginbitinan’s father. After the wedding, Labaw Donggon proceeded home with his new bride.
       Along the way they met a group of dwarf men, they were seven, who told him that they were on their way to Tarambangbang Burokokok 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 was taking another quest, this time he was going to Tarambangbang Burokokok. Before he can get to the place he has to pass a ridge guarded by a giant named Sikay Padalogdogtatalbogtalbog who has a fifty arms and fifty feet. The giant would not allow Labaw Donggon to go through without a fight. However, Sikay Padalogdogtatalbogtalbog 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 magic carpet cape 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 banana 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 who could transform into a dog and Abyang Durunuun’s son was called Abyang Baranugon who could transform into a cat. The two didn't like each other and only a few days, they embarked to look for their father and took it as a challenge.They agreed and decided to go their together. When they reached Saragnayan’s home. They fought and Abyang Baranugon defeated Saragnayan and won his father’s freedom while Aso Mangga cried because he lose. 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 Madaya-as that he would wreak revenge on all of Saragnayan’s kinsmen and followers. Humadapnon travelled through the region of the clouds, passed by the region of eternal darkness and ended up at a place called Tarambangbang Burirawdaw. In this place was a ridge called Talagas Kutingtin-tang where a seductive but ugly sorceress named Piganun lived. Piganun changed herself to a beautiful maiden and captured the heart of Humadapnon. Bubuyog Matanayon begged with Humadapnon to leave the place with him but the latter refused. After seven months passed, Bubuyog Matanayon remembered that they have brought with them some ginger bread. One evening at dinner time Bubuyog Matanayon threw ten slices of ginger bread into the fire. When Pinganun smelled the odor of burning ginger bread she left the dinner table because sorcerers hated the odor of ginger bread. Bubuyog Matanayon saved Humadapnon.
       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 find the missing glass shoe. Many men tried their luck but no one so far was able to find it.They didn't know that the Datu hid it inside a squash. Humadapnon saw the squash and tried to eat it because that was his favorite vegetable. He accidentally saw the glass shoe there and showed it to the datu. The datu kept his word and Humadapnon married his daughter. 
       Dumalapdap left for Burutlakan-ka-adlaw where the maiden Lubay Lullaby-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 a woman who had lot of snakes on her head, 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 thirteen months and their skill and prowess seemed to be equal. But on the thirteenth month, Dumalapdap was able to kill Uyutang using a big cross with a garlic on the top of it. 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. The three used their own power to create a beautiful fireworks. 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 with his wife, Alunsina.

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