Predominantly Muslim region in the Philippines island of
Mindanao. They are famous for their artwork, sophisticated weaving,
wood and metal crafts. The prefix MA- means 'to be The real term is
Iranon meaning "People of the Lake"
"Prince Bantugan is so handsome." he often heard the women say,
and he would look in a mirror and see with sorrow that he was not
good looking. I am really ugly!!
He added that whoever dared to speak to Bantugan would be
killed. He knew that his brother hated him, so he decided to leave
Bumbaran.
Even in death, Prince Bantugan was still very handsome. The
heart of Princess Datimbang captured him and fell in love. What a
handsome young man. I wish I could have spoken to him before he
died. I am sure he was as good as he was handsome.
No one knew who the strange young man was. The king ordered his
body to be brought into the palace. The king was afraid that the
relatives or subjects of the dead man might wage war upon his
kingdom. He therefore treated the body of the young man as he would
a royal person. He had it dressed in magnificent clothes and placed
it in a large hole in the palace.
In another part of the kingdom, some parrots were talking about
the young man and how he died in the Kingdom-Between- Two-Seas.
Suddenly they noticed that the parrot from the kingdom of Bumbaran
was silent and sad. Why are you sad, my brother? I lost my master
,the Prince Bantugan. He left Bumbaran never to return. I have
looked for him everywhere but have found him."
The news death quickly spreads, reaching the ears of Miskoyaw,
Bantugans mortal enemy, who decides to finally invade Bumbaran,
Meanwhile, Prince Madali and Prince Mabaning of Bumbaran, loyal
friends of the great prince upon hearing the sad news, decide to go
to the heavennto retrieve Bantugans soul from the angel of death.
Prince Mabaning, posed as a young beautiful woman, seduces the
engel of death into telling him where he keeps all the souls of the
dead, including that of the dead prince.
The two tricked the Angel of Death to go out for a minute. As
soon as the angel was out of the room, Prince Madali whispered
softly. Bantugan, my brother where are you?" I am here.
Successful with the bottle Bantugans soul in hand, the two
princes race back to Bumbaran just in time for Bantugans funeral.
They open the bottle and almost instaneously, and much to the
amazement of those present, Bantugan awakes from his lifeless
slumber. Bantugan is also greeted by Princess Datimbang, who he
vaguely remembers as the beautiful woman who treated kindly before
his death. Their eyes meet and Bantugan quickly falls in love with
here.
But amidst the celebration, Miskoyaw enters with the evil
cohorts. Seeing Bantugan well and alive, he orders his soldiers to
attack. But still in the end, Bantugan appears victorious standing
over Miskoyaws corpse.
Later Prince Bantugan married the beautiful Princess
Datimbang.
Instructor: Mrs. Beatriz P. Yap Thank you for
participating!!!!