Nagbuhis: Sugidanon (Epics) of Panay, Book 10

Matan-ayon (Ayon), mother to Nagmalitong Yawa (Mali), and wife of Labaw Donggon (Abaw), is already an elderly woman in this story. Her failure to perform her surondon, a mandatory ceremony that would have allowed her to interact with her ancestral spirit beings through the buruhisan rite, is the cause of her emaciated condition. The renowned ritualist Ginduluman suggests doing the ceremony as soon as possible to appease them.

After that, a large ritual is prepared. A sizable crowd, including the entire hamlet, attends the ceremony. Since Ayon is the heir to her mother’s skill, Mali is required to attend a ritual, which transfers power onto Ayon. But her husband, Humadapnon, would not allow her to be on the beach where the ritual will be held. Mali thinks Humadapnon is being jealous, only to learn later that he had gone to the shore courting other binukot (beautiful kept maidens). This hurts Mali so much.

Mali uses her power to transform a magical pillow that resembles her. She instructs her twin to sit on other men’s laps and gently informs them that she will soon pass away while feigning a terrible stomachache. She is already rather frustrated with her husband, so she seeks her grandma Laonsina for assistance in getting her to langit (sky). In the meantime, her actual body has already been lifted into the sky in a gold tayakan (big basket). Mali’s beautiful retaliation against her womanizing husband, who has grown envious of Mali’s actions, comes from the heavens.

Author: Dr. Alicia P. Magos and Anna Razel Limoso-Ramirez (researcher and translator)
Chanter: Federico “Tuohan” Caballero
ISBN/ISSN: 9786210901054
Category: Literary; Folk Literature
Copyright: 2025
Pages: 244pp
Dimensions: 9 x 1 x 6 in.
Type: PB/BP