''Darangen'' is a
Maranao epic poem
In poetry, an epic is a lengthy narrative poem typically about the extraordinary deeds of extraordinary characters who, in dealings with gods or other superhuman forces, gave shape to the mortal universe for their descendants. With regard to ...
from the
Lake Lanao
Lake Lanao ( Maranao: ''Ranao'' or ''Ranaw'') is a large ancient lake in the province of Lanao del Sur, Philippines. With a surface area of , it is the largest lake in Mindanao, the deepest and second largest lake in the Philippines, and counte ...
region of
Mindanao
Mindanao ( ) is the List of islands of the Philippines, second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and List of islands by population, seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the ...
,
Philippines
The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
. It consists of 17 cycles with 72,000 lines in
iambic tetrameter
Iambic tetrameter is a meter (poetry), poetic meter in Ancient Greek poetry, ancient Greek and Latin poetry; as the name of ''a rhythm'', iambic tetrameter consists of four metra, each metron being of the form , x – u – , , consisting of a spo ...
or
catalectic
A catalectic line is a metrically incomplete line of verse, lacking a syllable at the end or ending with an incomplete foot. One form of catalexis is headlessness, where the unstressed syllable is dropped from the beginning of the line.
A line ...
trochaic tetrameter
In English poetry, trochaic tetrameter is a meter featuring lines composed of four trochaic feet. The etymology of ''trochaic'' derives from the Greek ''trokhaios'', from the verb ''trecho'', meaning ''I run''. In modern English poetry, a troc ...
.
Each cycle pertains to a different self-contained story. The most notable of which deals with the exploits of the hero Bantugan.
In 2002, the ''Darangen'' was declared a
National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines by the
National Museum
A national museum can be a museum maintained and funded by a national government. In many countries it denotes a museum run by the central government, while other museums are run by regional or local governments. In the United States, most nati ...
and a Provincial Treasure by the
Lanao del Sur
Lanao del Sur (; Meranaw and ; Jawi ''(Batang Arab)'': ), officially the Province of Lanao del Sur, is a province in the Philippines located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The capital is the city of Marawi (th ...
provincial government. The ''Darangen'' epic was also proclaimed as a
Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
The Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity was made by the Director-General of UNESCO starting in 2001 to raise awareness of intangible cultural heritage—such traditions, rituals, dance, and knowledge—and ...
in 2005 by
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
(inscribed in 2008). It is the longest surviving
epic poetry in the Philippines.
''Darangen'' is meant to be narrated by singing or chanting. Select parts of it are performed by male and female singers during weddings and celebrations (traditionally at night time), usually accompanied by music from ''
kulintang
Kulintang (, )
is a modern term for an ancient instrumental form of music composed on a row of small, horizontally laid gongs that function melodically, accompanied by larger, suspended gongs and drums.
As part of the larger gong-chime culture ...
'' gong ensembles, ''Tambor'' drums, and ''
kudyapi'' stringed instruments. It is also traditionally accompanied by several dances, each interpreting specific episodes of the epic. Depending on the part being performed, the performance can last a few hours to a week.
The epic also incorporates Maranao customary laws, social values, and practices prior to the
Maranao conversion to Islam in the 14th century.
Etymology
The term ''Darangen'' literally means "that which is narrated by song or chant" in the
Maranao language
Maranao (; Jawi Script, Jawi: ), sometimes spelled as Maranaw, Meranaw or Mëranaw, is an Austronesian languages, Austronesian language spoken by the Maranao people in the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte and their respective c ...
, from the verb ''darang'' ("to narrate in the form of songs or chants").
Provenance
The ''Darangen'' was originally a purely oral tradition. Its importance was first recognized by
Frank Charles Laubach, an
American missionary
A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group who is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Thoma ...
and teacher then living in the
Lanao Province. He first encountered it in February 1930 on a return trip to Lanao by boat after he had attended the
Manila Carnival. He was accompanied by 35 Maranao leaders, two of them sang ''darangen'' (epics) of Bantugan for the two-day journey.
After hearing parts of the ''Darangen'', Laubach was so impressed by the "sustained beauty and dignity" of the songs that he immediately contacted Maranao people who could recite various parts of it. He transcribed them phonetically by typewriter. His best source was the nobleman Panggaga Mohammad, who also helped Laubach transcribe the epics. Laubach described Mohammad as a man who "knew more Maranao songs than any other living man." Laubach published part of the ''Darangen'' in November 1930 in the journal ''Philippine Public Schools''. This was the first time the oral epics have ever been recorded in print, and it was also the first instance of the
Maranao language
Maranao (; Jawi Script, Jawi: ), sometimes spelled as Maranaw, Meranaw or Mëranaw, is an Austronesian languages, Austronesian language spoken by the Maranao people in the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte and their respective c ...
being published in the
Latin script
The Latin script, also known as the Roman script, is a writing system based on the letters of the classical Latin alphabet, derived from a form of the Greek alphabet which was in use in the ancient Greek city of Cumae in Magna Graecia. The Gree ...
.
Laubach's version, however, was incomplete. A more complete version was later compiled by modern scholars from the Folklore Division of the
Mindanao State University
Mindanao State University (MSU; ) is a Higher education in the Philippines#State universities and colleges, state university system in the city of Marawi, Philippines. It is the first state university in Mindanao, Philippines, established throug ...
Research Center (now the Mamitua Saber Research Center) under the sponsorship of the
Toyota Foundation. They collected, transcribed, and translated various parts and versions of the ''Darangen'' from Maranao elders and from ''kirim'' (handwritten Maranao songbooks written in the
Jawi alphabet
Jawi (; ; ; ) is a writing system used for writing several languages of Southeast Asia, such as Acehnese language, Acehnese, Banjarese language, Banjarese, Betawi language, Betawi, Maguindanao language, Magindanao, Malay language, Malay, Mar ...
) over a period of ten years. The entire epic was published from 1986 to 1988 in eight volumes, in both original Maranao and their English translations.
Background
The ''Darangen'' does not have a single author, but is rather a collection of tales passed down orally from generation to generation. It has 72,000 lines divided into 17 cycles (also called books or episodes) in
iambic tetrameter
Iambic tetrameter is a meter (poetry), poetic meter in Ancient Greek poetry, ancient Greek and Latin poetry; as the name of ''a rhythm'', iambic tetrameter consists of four metra, each metron being of the form , x – u – , , consisting of a spo ...
or
catalectic
A catalectic line is a metrically incomplete line of verse, lacking a syllable at the end or ending with an incomplete foot. One form of catalexis is headlessness, where the unstressed syllable is dropped from the beginning of the line.
A line ...
trochaic tetrameter
In English poetry, trochaic tetrameter is a meter featuring lines composed of four trochaic feet. The etymology of ''trochaic'' derives from the Greek ''trokhaios'', from the verb ''trecho'', meaning ''I run''. In modern English poetry, a troc ...
. Each of the cycles can be treated as an independent story, but they are all connected sequentially. The epic is also recorded in the archaic Maranao language, which differs significantly from the modern colloquial version of Maranao.
''Darangen'' was memorized by their performers. Skilled chanters were known as ''onor''. The epic was most commonly sung at night time, during weddings (''kawing'') and other celebrations. But it can also be used as a
lullaby
A lullaby (), or a cradle song, is a soothing song or piece of music that is usually played for (or sung to) children (for adults see music and sleep). The purposes of lullabies vary. In some societies, they are used to pass down cultural knowl ...
e for children.
A full performance of the entire epic usually takes about a week. In modern times, however, it is more common to only perform parts of the epic, which usually lasts for a few hours. The chanting or singing is commonly accompanied by dances and musical performances using traditional Maranao instruments like ''
kulintang
Kulintang (, )
is a modern term for an ancient instrumental form of music composed on a row of small, horizontally laid gongs that function melodically, accompanied by larger, suspended gongs and drums.
As part of the larger gong-chime culture ...
'' gong ensembles, ''Tambor'' drums, and ''
kudyapi'' stringed instruments.
The ''Darangen'' originates from before the conversion of the
Maranao people
The Maranao people (Maranao language, Maranao: ''Bangsa'' ''Mëranaw''; Filipino language, Filipino: ''mga'' ''Maranaw''), also spelled Meranaw, Maranaw, and Mëranaw, is a predominantly Muslim Filipino people, Filipino ethnic groups of the ...
to Islam, and thus details the traditional pre-Islamic
anito
''Anito'', also spelled ''anitu'', refers to ancestor spirits, nature spirits, and deities in the Indigenous Philippine folk religions from the precolonial age to the present, although the term itself may have other meanings and associ ...
religions of the Maranao. The heroes in the epic worship and interact with various ancestor and guardian spirits (''
tonong'') and nature spirits (''
diwata
''Anito'', also spelled ''anitu'', refers to ancestor spirits, nature spirits, and deities in the Indigenous Philippine folk religions from the precolonial age to the present, although the term itself may have other meanings and associ ...
''). An example is ''Batara-sa-Marudo'',
[Compare with ]Bathala
In the indigenous religion of the ancient Tagalogs, Bathalà/Maykapál was the transcendent Supreme God, the originator and ruler of the universe. He is commonly known and referred to in the modern era as Bathalà, a term or title which, in ...
a nature spirit capable of bringing down floods and storms.
Setting
The ''Darangen'' features several locales, but the principal setting is the grand city of Bembaran (also spelled Bumbaran or Bembran),
[The town of Bumbaran (modern Amai Manabilang) of ]Lanao del Sur
Lanao del Sur (; Meranaw and ; Jawi ''(Batang Arab)'': ), officially the Province of Lanao del Sur, is a province in the Philippines located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The capital is the city of Marawi (th ...
was named after the mythical Bembaran in 1977 ruled by the main hero of the epic, Prince Bantugan. It was described as being near a great river. The city's name means "
he place of thesunrise" (i.e. "east"), and was also known as Tangkal a Baaraantakan, with the same meaning. It is also sometimes referred to as Mimbalas, meaning "the place where a river cuts across". It supposedly does not exist anymore as it was enchanted and sank to the bottom of the sea. In the epic, Bembaran is described as being founded by Diwata Ndaw Gibbon, the grandfather of Prince Bantugan.
Bembaran has a satellite city-state of Gadongan (literally "storehouse"), also known as Gadongan Pamaoy or Kodarangan a Lena ("petrified or enchanted yellow-green").
It also features the powerful city of Kadaraan sa Ndlaw (also known as Kadaraan Sandaw, Kadaraan, or Kadaan), literally "
he place of thesunset" (i.e. "west"). They are the traditional enemies of Bembaran and the big battles in the Darangen are between them. They are described as attacking neighboring city-states via the sea, using their large fleet of ships. The rulers of Kadaraan and Bembaran are descendants of the same ancestor.
The epic also illuminates the inter-ethnic relationships of the Maranao people. They mention the
Manobo
The Manobò (sometimes also spelled Menobò, Manuvù , Menuvù , or Minuvù) are an indigenous peoples from Mindanao in the Philippines, whose core lands cover most of the Mindanao island group, from Sarangani island into the Mindanao mainland in ...
, the mountain-dwellers, and the "Samar" (
Sama-Bajau
The Sama-Bajau include several Austronesian ethnic groups of Maritime Southeast Asia. The name collectively refers to related people who usually call themselves the Sama or Samah (formally A'a Sama, "Sama people"); or are known by the exonym ...
), the sea people, many times.
Summary
*
CYCLE 1: ''Paganay Kiyandató'' ("The First Ruler") - deals with the founding of the city (''iliyan'') of Bembaran by Diwata Ndaw Gibon (also spelled Diwatandao Gibon), a powerful hero born with the twin-spirit (''tonong'') Pinatolá a Tonong.
*
CYCLE 2: ''Kambembaran'' ("The Story of Bembaran")
*
CYCLE 3: ''Kapmadali'' ("The Story of Madali") - deals with the conquest of Danalima a Rogong by Prince Madali of Bembaran
*
CYCLE 4: ''Kapaesandalan a Morog sa Iliyan a Bembaran'' ("The Story of Pasandalan a Morog in Iliyan a Bembaran")
*
CYCLE 5:
:*''Kapagondoga'' ("The Story of Hurt Feelings")
:*''Kaplombayawan a Lena'' ("The Story of Lombayawan a Lena")
*
CYCLE 6:
:*''Paramata Gandingan'' ("The Story of Paramata Gandingan") - deals with the courtship of Paramata Gandingan of Komara by Prince Bantugan of Bembaran
:*''Alongan Pisaeyanan'' ("The Story of Alongan Pisaeyanan")
*
CYCLE 7:
:*''Kaplomna'' - also known as ''Kiyasugo a Ki Lomna''
:*''Kormatan Borodan''
:*''Minirigi a Rogong''
:*''Kaploboway''
:*''Kiyatidawa i Lomna go so Ikadaraan''
*
CYCLE 8: ''So Kiyaprawa'a Ko Lawanen'' ("The Abduction of Lawanen") - also known as ''Kapmabaning'' ("The Story of Mabaning")
*
CYCLE 9:
:*''Saolaya'a''
:*''Paramata Selegen''
*
CYCLE 10: ''Pangensayan a Rogong''
*
CYCLE 11: ''Bagombayan a Lena''
*
CYCLE 12: ''Taratakan a Oray''
*
CYCLE 13:
:*''Sandalinayan Sirig sa Minilalansay Lena''
:*''Kangginaasan a Oray''
*
CYCLE 14: ''Kap Minango'aw a Rogong''
*
CYCLE 15:
:*''Kapmaginar''
:*''Kapnataengkoban a Ragat''
*
CYCLE 16: ''Kaprinandang''
*
CYCLE 17: ''Kiyandató i Sayana sa Kormara''
Dances

Dances associated with the ''Darangen'' include the following:
*''
Kaganat sa Darangen'' - A dance illustrating the journey of Prince Lomna to Gindolongan, to propose marriage on his father's behalf. It means "To stand from the Darangen" and involves graceful movements of the fingers and hips with fans.
*''
Sagayan'' - A war dance reenacting Prince Bantugan's preparation for battle. Also known as ''Kasagyan''.
*''
Singkil
Singkil is a Maranao people, Maranao royal dance from the Philippines.
The dance features a prince and a princess weaving in and out of crisscrossed bamboo poles clapped in syncopated rhythm. While the man manipulates a sword and shield, th ...
'' - A dance involving two pairs of clashing bamboos. The name of the dance derives from the ankle rings worn by the lead female dancer. It illustrates the abduction of Princess Gandingan and her rescue by Prince Bantugan. Also known as ''Kasingkil'' or ''Kasayaw sa Singkil''.
Modern adaptations
The Bantugan cycle of the ''Darangen'' has been adapted into the ballet performance ''Darangen ni Bantugan'' by the
Philippine Ballet Theatre.
Conservation
The conservation of the ''Darangen'' faces several challenges. Some modern Maranao Islamic religious leaders object to the non-Islamic themes of the ''Darangen''. Some modern revisions have omitted mentions of the ''tonong'' and ''diwata'' entirely. Some older ''Darangen'' singers have refused to sing these versions as they are deemed inauthentic.
The use of archaic Maranao in the ''Darangen'' also makes it less readily accessible to modern Maranao speakers, leading to decreasing interest among modern Maranao youth. Some versions are so old only the chanters can understand the words used.
The number of people able to play instruments like the ''kulintang'' and ''kudyapi'' are also declining.
See also
*
Philippine epic poetry
Philippine epic poetry is the body of epic poetry in Philippine literature. Filipino epic poetry is considered to be the highest point of development for Philippine folk literature, encompassing narratives that recount the adventures of trib ...
*''
Maharadia Lawana''
*''
Biag ni Lam-Ang''
*''
Hinilawod''
Notes
References
{{reflist
External links
The Darangen Epic of the Maranao People of Lake Lanao UNESCO
Paganay Kiyandatu Cycle chanted by Sinar Capal in the Epikong-Bayan Conference 2018
Kapagondoga Cycle National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines
Philippine poetry
Epic poems
National Cultural Treasures of the Philippines
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity