Darangan - Page 2 of 3
(an epic of Maranao)
Bilingual (Tagalog-English) version
Nang umabot na si Prinsipe Bantugan sa kanyang kabinataan, siya ay naging pinakamagaling na sundalo sa kaharian. Lagi niyang pinamumunuan ang mga sundalo sa labanan. At lagi silang nagwawagi laban sa mga kalabang kaharian. Ang kanyang pangalan ay naging bukambibig ng lahat ng mga sundalo ng mga kalapit na kaharian. Hindi nagtagal ay wala nang kaharian na nangahas kumalaban sa kanila. Kapayapaan at pag-unlad ang naghari sa kaharian dahil natamo nilang respeto at pagkilala ng mga kalapit kaharian.
Nang mamatay ang kanilang ama, ang kaniyang nakatatandang kapatid na si Prinsipe Madali ang hinirang na bagong hari. Nagkaroon ng protesta ang mga nasa ranggo. Nais nila na si Prinsipe Bantugan ang maging bagong hari. Kahit ang mga ordinaryong mamamayan ay nagsasabi na si Prinsipe Bantugan ang mas karapat-dapat maging hari sa dalawang prinsipe.
Si Prinsipe Bantugan ay matapang at malakas, kaya niya tayong protektahan laban sa mga kaaway!
sabi ng isang matandang babae sa pamilihan.
Sang-ayon ako sa iyo,
sagot ng matandang lalaki.
Hindi ito pinansin ni Prinsipe Bantugan. Alam niya na ang kanyang kapatid ang karapatdapat na tagapagmana ng trono dahil si Prinsipe Madali ang panganay sa kanilang dalawa. Siya mismo ang nagpatunay para sa kanyang kapatid.
As years passed, Prince Bantugan reached to his manhood, he became the kingdom's number one soldier. He always led their soldiers to the battlefield. And he always triumphed over their kingdom's enemies. His name became a word of the mouth among the soldiers of the neighboring kingdoms. Soon no kingdom ever dared to conquer or make war with their kingdom. No one would want to fight him. Peace and progress reigned in their kingdom because they had gained the respect and recognition of their neighbors.
When their father died of old age, his elder brother, Prince Madali was named the new king. There were silent protests among the ranks and their people. They wanted Prince Bantugan to be the new king. Even the ordinary people were one in saying that Prince Bantugan was the better choice between the two princes.
Prince Bantugan is brave and strong. He can really protect us from our enemies!
an old woman in the marketplace said to her listeners.
I agree with you,
an old man answered.
This did not bother Prince Bantugan. He knew that his brother was the legal heir to the throne because Prince Madali was the first sibling. He even vouched for his brother.