Complete Text of Lam-ang (an Iloko epic) - Page 4 of 16
(English version)
The tattoed Igorots
Soon ran out
Of pointed bamboos, wood and spears
Yet they could not touch
The man Lam-ang
Who said to them:Now it's my turn
I will draw my campilan
From its sheathe.
And he struck it on the ground
And what stuck to the campilan
Is what he ate
Such a big piece
A strong antidote
Against their power.Ay tattoed Igorots
Now be ready.
And he beckoned
The whirlwind
And he went with it.
He charged but once
Like cutting bananas
Cutting equally
To and fro
The sword of Lam-ang
And they all were dead
Except for one yet alive!
He made fun of him
And took hold
Of the tattoed Igorot
And told him:Now is your end!
He removed his teeth
And then his eyes
Next he cut off his ears
And also his hands.
Then he let go
The tattoed Igorot
And did not show any pity
Making sport of him.So you will remember me
Also your tribe and your kin
And I will bundle these spears
And these Igorot things
To remember you by.
Now I will leave you,
Our field of combat.
And he started to leave
The man Lam-ang
And he went away his way
To his mother Namongan.
And like the river Vigan [15]
Now flowed the blood
Of the tattoed Igorots.
And when he reached
His town Nalbuan
He said to the woman Namongan:Ay mother Namongan,
I would like to ask
Whatever was the reason
Of my father beholden
Why he left you.
And replied thus Namongan:Ay my son Lam-ang
About your father, apo
I know not of any ill-feeling
We never had a quarrel.
And Lam-ang said
To his mother Namongan:Punishment would then be your due
Had you not reasoned out so well.
Ay dear mother Namongan,
Now please sound the gong
To inform
My young lady friends
Numbering twice nine
And nine times nine
That they can go and wash
In Amburayan River
My long, thick hair
Dirtied in the battle
All day long yesterday.
Ay dear mother Namongan
Let us now thresh the grain
In the old granary
With posts of gasatan
With floors of der-an
And rafters of bellang. [16]
Ay dear mother Namongan,
Please get that broomstick.
Namongan then took it
And then went to sweep
The entrance of the granary
Littered with saliva and excreta
Of spiders and cockroaches
So long ago it was last opened. [17]
[15] Vigan = Name of the capital of the province of Ilocos Sur.
[16] With posts of gasatan
With floors of der-an
And rafters of bellang = Species of wood.
[17] Ay dear mother Namongan,
Please get that broomstick.
Namongan then took it
And then went to sweep
The entrance of the granary
Littered with saliva and excreta
Of spiders and cockroaches
So long ago it was last opened = Rice is stored in bundles with the straw. They are usually threshed, i.e. removing the paddy from the straw, in front of the granary. This is why the front of the granary had to be swept clean.