Innah Johanee P. Alaman II-BAE.

Summary of Hinilawod

Hinilawod, the Sulod epic poetry, starts with an invocation where fair muses are summoned to

guide the chanter in storytelling. The story is about the unenviable adventure of the renowned leader

Buyong Humadapnon in his pursuit for Nagmalitong Yawa; the courageous heroine and his ladylove in

Halawod river. The story begins with the spirit friends Duwindi and Taghuy pothering over

Humadapnon's status being a bachelor in his rightful age. They reveal to him that someone living in the

horizon befits to be his wife, his equal of regal birth, of noble bearing, and with golden braided hair like

him. He agrees to seek her, but first through a life-giving ritual, Humadapnon creates a full-grown man,

names him Dumlapdap, and ruthlessly trains him as his brother to accompany him in his voyage.

Beforehand, his Father Buralakaw warns them not to yield to deceitful strangers. Aboard the swiftest

boat baranggay, moons, weeks, and seasons pass. They get through the bloody sea where the brothers pay

respect to their Uncle Buyong Sarandihon who again warns them not to cede to the sweet callings of

enchantresses in Tarangban.

Three turns away, their boat faces the infamous mountain isle of Kurundalan where Sinangkating

Bulawan bathes naked and flirtatiously invites the handsome travelers to share with her the choicest betel

nuts inside the cave. Young and unclouded with cravings, Dumalapdap brings back his bewitched brother

to his senses every time Humadapnon's willpower weakens against the wooing of the multitude of young

and fresh maidens. A daring fool he is, Humadapnon soon relents; unmindful of his father's forewarning.

He goes inside of Tarangban and finds himself euphoric in the presence of unmarried virgins. Outside,

Dumalapdap wails disconsolately for he knew that the enchantress Lubay Hanginon's charm has numbed

Humadapnon's reasons and his brother's name will live on through generations as a bad example of

disobedience and defiance. Dumalapdap then follows him inside, viciously brandishing his spear to ward

off maidens as he tries to drag his brother away from the snare of lovemaking. Long time has passed and
after satisfying his feelings and exhausting his desires Humadapnon tries and begs the prettiest maiden to

let him leave, but Sinangkating closes the Tarangban's door; imprisoning him. In the total darkness, he

tells his brother to sail home and inform their parents of his misfortune. Dumalapdap hastily implores the

wind to blow him back to his home in Pan-ay. Upon knowing, Humadapnon's lamenting parents

Ginbitingan and Buralakaw hurry in great haste to Mt. Kurundalan to rescue their son. As a call for

emergency and crisis, the pealing of gongs usher the arrival of great leaders and deities who can liberate

Humadapnon from his seven-year imprisonment. With the promise of a generous reward, many have

tried smudging sacred oils and striking the mountain wall, but no one succeeded.

In utter failure, Taghuy and Hangin resort to the well-kept and excellent babaylan Nagmalitong

Yawa; the reason of Humadapnon's ill fortune in the first place. By lying to her that her brother Asu

Ginlawadun was trapped, she indignantly refuses to save Humadapnon. Only when her spirit friends

threaten to leave her powerless, she agrees and prepares her ritual paraphernalia. She leaves her clone

created from a pillow and disguises herself into a sturdy man named Buyong Sunmasakay. In Mt.

Kurundalan, the crowd falls in love with him for he looks exactly like the great master Humadapnon, but

no dares to talk to him. In front of a sacrificial altar, Spirits and Laon Sina possess him and he whirls like

a top, faints, stands up, smudges the door with charmed ritual oil, and in one swift blow stabs open the

Tarangban with dagger. His fury spared no one as he massacres thousands of exposed maidens. He also

looks the for the hidden maiden Dambalayon who is responsible for Humadapnon's captivity, drags her by

her hair, and executes the last of maidens. On her final moment before she writhed and died, she calls for

Humadapnon to save her. With eyes ablaze, pale-white skin, naked, and crouching with growing moss on

his back, Humadapnon was no longer his sane self. Like a rabid dog, he lashes, snarls, and growls

ferociously at everyone so he has to be dragged with chains on his neck like a dog. Though with much

reluctance, Sunmasakay resuscitates him after many failed attempts. Sunmasakay then hides behind a

rock and alters his body to a well-kept one again and comes out as the stunning Nagmalitong Yawa who

holds the highest prestige; ascending on top of a rock.