Philippine Literature Tungkung Langit And Alunsina Panay Visayan Myth One of the stories about the creation

n of the world which the old people of Panay, especially those living near the mountains, do not tire relating, tells that in the beginning there was no sky or earth only a bottomless deep and a world of mist. Everything there was shapeless and formless the earth, the sky, the sea, and the air were almost mixed up. In a world, there was confusion. Then from the depth of this formless void, there appeared two gods. Tungkung Langit (Pillar of the Sky) and Alunsina (The Unmarried One). Just where these two deities came from, it was not known. However, it is related that Tungkung Langit fell in love with Alunsina; and after so many years, of courtship, they got married and had their abode in the highest realm of the ethereal space, where the water was constantly warm and the breeze was forever cool. It was in this place where order and regularity first took place. Tungkung Langit was an industrious, loving and kind god whose chief concern was how to impose order over the whole confused setup of things. He assumed responsibility for the regular cosmic movements. On the other hand, Alusina was a lazy, jealous, and selfish goddess whose only work was to sit by the window of their heavenly home and amuse herself with her pointless thoughts. Sometimes, she would go down the house, sit down by a pool near doorsteps, and comb her long, jet- black hair all day long. One day Tungkung Langit told his wife that he would be away from home for some time to put an end to the chaotic disturbances in the flow of time and in the position of things. Alunsina sent the breeze to spy on Tungkung Langit. This made the latter very angry when he found out about it. Immediately after his return from his trip, he called her attention, saying that it was ungodly of her to be jealous, there being no other creature living in the world except the two of them. This reproach was resented by Alunsia and a quarrel between them followed. Tungkung Langit lost his temper. In his rage, he divested his wife of powers and drove her away. He did not know where Alunsia went; she merely disappeared. Several days after Alunsina had left, Tunkung Langit felt very lonely. He regretted what he had done. But, it was too late to even be sorry about the whole matter. The whole place, once vibrant with Alunsinas sweet voice, suddenly became cold and desolate. In the morning when he woke up, he would find himself alone; an din the sfternoon when he came home, he would feel the loneliness creeping deep in his heart because there was no one to meet him at the doorstep or soothe the aching muscles of his arms. For months, Tungkung Langit lived in utter desolation. He could not find Alunsina. And so, in desperation, he decided he should do something to forget his sorrows. For months he pondered on this. He must do something about his lonely world. One day, while he was sailing across the regions of the clouds, a thought came to him. He would make the sea and the earth. And lo! The earth and the sea suddenly appeared. However, the somber sight of the lonely sea and the barren land irritated him. So he came own to earth and planted the ground with trees and flowers. Then he took his wifes treasured jewels and scattered them in the sky, hoping that when Alunsina would see them she might be induced to return home. The goddesss necklace became the stars, her comb the moon and her crown the sun. however, despite all these, Alunsina did not come back. Up to this time, the old folk says Tungkung Langit lives alone in his place the skies. Sometimes, he would cry out his pent up emotions and his tears would fall down upon the earth. The people in Panay today say that rain is Tungkung Langits tears, incidentally, when it thunders hard, the old folk say that it is Tungkuling Langit sobbing, calling for his beloved Alunsina to come back entreating her so hard that his voice reverberates across the fields and countryside.

DISCUSSION QUESTION 1. How is Tungkung Langit described? 2. How is Alunsina described? 3. What is the role of Alunsina in the life of Tungkung Langit? How did she make the life of Tungkung Langit unhappy? 4. What happens to Tungkuling Langit after the disappearance of Alunsina? 5. How is a man and woman described in this myth? 6. Is this perception of a man and a woman still true at present? ACTIVITY 1 Group into 6s and record the character traits of Tungkung Langit and Alunsina in the table below. Then, write the group answer on the board NOTE: Give only word phrase answers. Alunsina

Tungkuling Langit

` ACTIVITY 2 From the details you have noted down in Activity 1, find out why men and women can be evaluated in terms of their roles in society. Historical Perspective Men Past present Past Women Present

Then, compare how men and women are described in the past with the present. Are the differences or none at all? Read the following epics and a answer the discussion question that follow:

Philippine Literature BIAG NI LAM ANG Ilocano Epic

Biag ni Lam ang (Life of Lam- ang) is a pre- Hispanic epic the source of which is now lost in the dim tradition of the past. The epic was very long; written version of it available today seem to show that it was close to 300 stanzas. It is believed to be the work of several posts of different generations, each poet making his own alternations or additions until the 17 th century when Pedro Bukanreg, Father of Ilocano Poetry, put it down in writing for the first time (about 1720) in both Ilocano and Spanish. Versions were later written by Canuto and Medina Ruiz, the Pararyno Hermanos, Isabelo de los Reyes, and Leopoldo Yabes. However, the Bukaneg version seens to be the

The following is just the basic form of the epic: In Nalbuan (La Union) lived Namongan and her husband Don Juan Panganiban. At the time Namongan was getting ready to deliver her first born, Don Juan had to go to the mountains to punish an Igorot band. While the husband was away. Namongan gave birth to a baby boy. The baby boy was very strange because he could talk from the moment he was born and even he told his mother that he should be named Lam- ang. He also chose his own baptismal sponsor. And he asked his mother where his father was. When Lam- ang was nine- months old and his father has not yet returned the boy resolved to go after his father: While traveling, he dreamed one night of Igorots celebrating the death of his father. He woke up in anger, believing his dreams to be true. He travelled faster after this and soon reached the place in which he found many Igorots still celebrating around the severed head of his father. He slew them all, except one whom he tortured first before releasing. Upon returning to Nalbuan, several women friends gave him a bath in the Amburayan river. So much was the dirt and so evil was the smell taken off his body that the fish in the river all died. Later. Lam- ang fell inlove with a girl named Kannoyan, daughter of the richest man in Kalanutian. Although his mother tried to dissuade him, he nevertheless took a while rooster ans a dog with him as he went forth to court lnes. On the way to Kalanutian, he met another suitor of Ines. This rivals name was Sumarang. Upon knowing that they were rivals, they quarreled violently, and Lam- ang slew Sumarang. Upon arriving at the house of Ines Kannoyab. Lam- ang found a crowd of rivals vying for the hand of the lady. So Lam- ang made his white rooster crow mightily to impress everyone, and immediately a house in the neighborhood collapsed. The people shouted in surprise and fear. Hearing the noise of the shouts, Ines Kannoyan looked out her window. This was what Lam- ang expected. And to impress her, he made his dog growl. And the house that collapsed before went up again as if nothing had happened. Duly impressed, ines Kannoyan and her parents came down and learned from the rooster of the intensions of Lam- ang. The parents said they would bestow the hand of Ines upon Lam- ang if the suitor could equal their wealth consisting of lands and gold.

Lam- ang went home and prepared for his wedding. When he returned to Kalanutian, he and his companions were abroad a vessel of gold which more than matched the wealth of his future parents- in law. So he married and there was great celebration. After some time, the headman of the town reminded lam-ang that his turn to catch raring (a kind of fish) had come. Lam- ang told Ines that he had a premonition that he would be bitten by a big fish called berkakan (pr9obably of the shark family while fishing. And it was as he said. He was killed. But the white rooster told Ines that if the bones of Lam- ang could be recovered and gathered together, he might be revived. So, with the help of adiver named Marcos, the bones of Lam- ang were collected; and with the loving ministrations of the rooster, the dog, and Ines Kannoyan, Lam- ang lived again. Philippine Literature INDARAPATRA AT SULAYMAN Maranao Epic
It was Najeed M. Saleeby who wrote the story of Indapatra at Dulayman in A History of Sulu in 1908. This epic of INDARAPATRA AT SULAYMAN contains of the deeds and adventures of the Kingsom of Mantapuli. He was the greatest of all monarchs of that western empire. He had a magic spear which he could cause to fly from and return to his hand. By this s pear, he caused the volcano Bud Matutum to explode in one final eruption and to cease to be a threat to his kingdom. The scene of the stories contained in the epic is supposed to be the region now included within the territory of ajCotabato.

A long, long time ago, Mindanao was covered with water, and the sea cover all the lowlands so that nothing could be seen but the mountains jutting from it. There many people living in the country and all the highlands were dotted with villages and settlements. For many years the people prospered , living in the peace and contentment. Suddenly appeared in the land four horrible monster which, in a sort time has devoured every human being they could find. Kurita , a terrible creature with may limbs, lives partly on land and partly on the sea, but its favorite haunt was the mountain where the rattan palm grew; and here it brought utter destruction on every living thing. The second monster. Tarabusaw, an ugly creature in the form of man, lived on Mt. Matutum, and far and wide from that place he devoured the people, laying waste the land. The third an enormous bird called Pah, was so large that, when on the wing, it covered the s7un and brought darkness to the earth. Its egg was so large as a house. Mt. Bita was is haunt; and there only people who escaped its voracity were those who hid in the mountain caves. The fourth monster was also a dreadful bird, having seven heads and the power to see in all directions at the same time. Mt. Gurayan was its home and like the others, it wrought havoc to its re gion. So great was the death and destruction caused by these terrible creatures that at length, the news spread even to the most distant lands and all nations grieved to hear the das fate of Mindanao. Now far across the sea, in the land of the golden sunset, was a city so great that to look at its many people would injurie the eyes of men. When tidings of these great disasters reached this distant city, the heart of King Indarapatra was filled with compassion, and he called his brother, Sukayman, and begged him to save the land of Mindanao from the monsters. Sulayman listened to the story and as he heard it, was moved with pity. I will go, zeal and enthusiasm adding to his strength, and the land shall be avenged, said he.

King Indarapatra proud of his brothers courage, gave him a ring and a sword as he wished him success and safety. Then he placed a young sapling by his window and said to Sulayman By this tree I shall know your fate from the hour you depart from here, for if you live, it will live; but if you die, it will die also, So Sulayman departed for Mindanao, and her neither waded nor used a boat, but went through the air and landed on the mountain where the rattan grew. There he stood on the summit and gazed about on all sides. He looked on the land and the villages, but he could see no living thing. And he was very sorrowful and cried out: Alad, how pitiful and dreadful is this devastation. No sooner had Sulayman uttered those words than the whole mountain began to move and then shook. Suddenly out of the ground came at his flesh. But Sulayman knowing at once that this was the scourge of the land, drew his sword and cut Kurita to pieces. Encouraged by his first success, Sulayman went to Mt. Matutum, where the conditions were even worse. As he stood on the heights viewing the great devastation, there was a noise in the forest and movement in the trees. With a loud yell, Tarabusaw forth leaped. For a moment they looked at each other, neither showing any sign of fear. Then Tarabusaw used all his powers to try to devour Sulayman, who fought back. For a long time, the battle continued, until at last, the monster fell exhausted to the ground and Dulayman killed him with his sword. The next placed visited by Sulayman was Mt. Bita. Here havoc was present everywhere, and though he passed by many homes, he saw that not a singlr soul was left. As he walked sudden darkness fell over the land, starting him. As he looked toward the sky he beheaded a great bird that swooped upom him, immediately he struck, and thebird fell dead at hisa feet; but the wing fell on Sulayman and he was crushed. Now at this very time King Indapatra was sitting at his window, and looking out he saw the little tree wither and dry up. Alas! he cried, my brother is dead and he wept bitterly. Then although he was very sad, he was filled with a desire for revenge. Putting on his sword and belt, he started for Mindanao, in search for his brother. He, too, traveled through the air eith great speed until he came to the mountain where the rattan grew. There he looked about, awed at the great destruction, and when she saw the bones of Kurita he knew his brother had been there. He went on till he came to Matutum, and when he saw the bones of Tarabusaw, he knew that his, too, was the work of Sulayman. Still searching for his brother, he arrived in at Mt. Bita, where the dead bird lay on the ground, and when he lifted the severed wing he be held the bones of Sulayman with his sword by his side. His grief now so overwhelmed Indarapata that he wept for some time. Upon looking up, he beheld a small jar of water by his side. This, he knew had been sent from heaven , and he poured a small jar of water over the bones of Sulayman, came life again. They greeted each other and talked animatedly for a great length of time. Sulayman declared that he had not been dead but asleep, and their hearts were full of joy. After some time Sulayman returned to his distant home, but Indapatra continued his journey to Mt. Gurayan where he killed, peace and safety had been restored to the land. Indarapatra began searching everywhere to see id some of the people who hid in the earth were still alive. One day, in the course of his search, he caught sight of a beautiful woman at a distance. When he hasatened toward her she disappeared through a hole in the ground where she stood. Disappointed and tired, he sat down on a rock to rest when, looking about he saw near him a pot of uncoked rice with big fire on the ground in front of it. This revived him and he proceeded to cook the rice. As he did so, however, he heard someone laugh near by, and turning he beheld an old woman watching him. As he greeted her, she drew neared and talked to him while he ate the rice. Of all people in the land, the woman told him, only few left, and they hid a cave in the ground from whence they never ventured to come out. As for herself and her old husband, she went on, they had hidden in a hollow tree, and this they never dared to leave until after Sulayman killed the voracious bird Pah. At Indarapatras request, the old woman led him to one such cave. There he met the headman with his family and some people. They all gathered about the strange, asking many questions, for this was the first time

they had heard about the death of the monsters. When they found out what Indarapatra had done for them, the headman gave his daughter to him in marriage, and she proved to be the beautiful girl whom Indarapatra had seen at the mouth of the cave. Then the people all came out of their hiding places and returned to their homes where they lived in peace and happiness. And the sea withdrew from the land and the gave lowlands to the people. DICUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What are the characteristic features of a n epic that are reflected in these exploits? 2. Do these epics teach moral values? 3. Do the epics certain the readers with the extraordinary feats of the hero that show Filipino values in ancient times? 4. How are the women described in these epics OUTPUT Compare and contrast the Ilocano with the Maranao on these points: epic qualities, plot development, character portrayal (man and woman) and Filipino values. Use the chart. Read these two epics and compare them as to: a. Characteristic in terms of epic quality; b. Plot, character portrayal and development, and of theme; c. Filipino values. Epic Characteristic Plot Man Character Potrayal Woman Filipino Values

INTEGRATION Tell a story. Research on some epics, parables, myths, and legends, then present your findings to the class.

Ang kwentong inyong maririnig ay nagmula sa mga Panay, sa isla ng Visayas. Itoy isang kwentona naglalarawan kung pano nabuo ang mundo dahil sa pag-ibig. TUNGKUNG LANGIT AT ALUNSINA Noong pinakaunang panahon, wala pang mundo o kayay kalangitan. Lahat bagay ay walanghugis at ang lahat ay walang kaayusan. Sa madaling salita, puno ng kaguluhan.Isang araw, dalawang diyos ang lumitaw mula sa kawalan. Sila ay sina Tungkung Langit o kilala satawag na Haligi ng Kalangitan at si Alunsina na tinatawag na Ang Dalaga. Nahulog ang puso niTungkong Langit kay Alunsina. Niligawan niya ito at pakatapos ng napakaraming taon, silay ikinasal atnanirahan na sa pinakamataas na bahagi ng kalawakan. Nanirahan sila sa lugar kung saan lagingmaligamgam ang tubig at ang ihip ng hangin ay napakalamig.Si Tungkong Langit ay napakasipag at mapagmahal na diyos. Siya ang pinunong na ang naislamang ay magdala ng kaayusan sa mga bagay na puno ng kaguluhan. Siya ang umaako ngresponsibilidad sa mga nangyayari sa kalawakan. Sa kabilang banda naman, si Alunsina ay tamad, selosa,at madamot na ang tanging ginagawa lamang ay umupo sa tabi ng bintana ng kanilang bahay at libanginang kanyang sarili sa pamamagitan ng pagiisip ng kung anu-ano. Minsan, syay bumababa ng kanilangbahay, nauupo sa tabi ng kanilang pinto, at nagsusuklay ng kanyang napakahabang buhok maghapon.Isang araw, nagpaalam si Tungkong Langit kay Alunsina,Aking mahal na Alunsina, akoy aalis muna. May kaguluhan kasing nang yayari sa atingnasasakupan, aayusin ko muna ito. Babalik din ako kaagad.Ngunit, naging mapanghinala si Alunsina kaya pakaalis ng kanyang asawa ay agad niyangtinawag ang hangin,Hangin! Lumapit ka. Mukhang may gagawin ang aking asawa na nakakapanghinala. Inuutusankitang sundan at matsagan si Tungkung Langit, at saka sabihin sa akin ang kanyang pinagkakaabalahan.Humayo ka.At noong nalaman ito ni Tungkung Langit, naubos ang kanyang pasensya at lubusan syangnagalit kay Alunsina.Pagkabalik na pagkabalik ni Tungkung Langit, tinawag nya si Alunsina at sinabing,Bakit mo ako pinaghihinalaan? Hindi iyon gawain ng isang diyosa! Pano mo naisip napagtataksilan kita eh walang ibang nabubuhay dito kundi tayong dalawa?Ang mga pahayag na iyon ay lubusan ding ikinagalit ni Alunsina at pinagmulan ito ng kanilangaway. Inalis ni Tungkung Langit ang kapangyarihan ni Alunsina at pinalayas nya ito. Bigla na lang naglahosi Alunsina at hindi alam ni Tungkung Langit kung saan sya nagtungo. Maraming araw ang lumipas at si Tungkung Langit ay nakaramadam ng labis na kalungkutan.Pinagsisihan nya ang kanyang ginawa. Ngunit huli na ang lahat. Ang lugar na dating puno ng kaligayahanat napakagandang tinig ni Alunsina ay napalitan ng kalungkutan. Sa tuwing gigising sya sa umaga, nag-iisa na lamag sya. At sa paguwi nya tuwing hapon, tanging kalungkutan pa rin ang kanyang nadaramadahil wala na ang Alunsinang naghihintay sa kanyang pagdating.Lumipas ang mga mga araw at buwan, si Tungkung Langit ay nabubuhay pa rin sa mundongpuno ng kalungkutan. At sa kanyang pagiging desperado, nagpasya siyang gumawa ng paraan paramawala ang kanyang kalungkutan.Isang araw, habang syay naglalakbay sa mga ulap, isang ideya ang kanyang naisip. Naisip nya nagumawa ng mundo at karagatan. At sa isang iglap, bilang lumitaw ang lupa at katubigan. Ngunit, dinaging kanais nais sa kanyang paningin ang kanyang mga ginawa kaya bumaba sya sa lupa at nagtanimsya ng mga puno at

magagandang bulaklak. Kinuha nya rin ang mga alahas ni Alunsina at ikinalat ito samundo dahil nagbabakasakali syang makita ang mga ito ni Alunsina at naisin ng bumalik sa kanilangbahay. Ang kwintas ni Alunsina ay naging mga butuin, ang suklay ay naging buwan, at ang korona niAlunsia ay naging araw. Ngunit sa kasamaang palad, sa kabila ng mga ginawang paraan ni TungkungLangit, hindi na bumalik ang kanyang pinakamamahal na Alunsina.Hanggang ngayon, sinasabi pa rin ng mga matatandang katutubo na mag-isa pa ring naninirahansi Tungkung Langit sa kanyang bahay sa kaitaasan. Minsan, kapag lungkot na lungkot si Tungkung Langit,ang kanyang mga luha ay pumapatak sa mundo. At paniniwala rin ng mga taga Panay hanggang ngayonna ang ulan ay ang luha ni Tungkung Langit. At kung kumukulog naman, boses ito ni Tungkung Langit natinatawag si Alunsina