Raja Indarapatra

Origin: The Legend of Lanao Lake

➢ Raja Indarapatra is a fine warrior with good skills and fighting combat. He is a knowledgeable
son with the courage to fight furious enemies.

➢ There were once two princes, Soliman and Indarapatra, who set out to kill the giant Umacaan
who was horribly addicted to eating humans. Soliman journeyed first, but was bested and killed
by the giant. Upon learning his fate, his brother, Indarapatra, vowed to avenge him.

➢ The fight between Indarapatra and Umacaan was a pretty fierce one; it is said that the small
islands and hills around Lanao Lake came from the dirt/clay balls that Umacaan hurled to try to
kill Indaraptara. But ultimately, with the help of his magic sword (which can wound and cause
damage from a distance), Indaraptara won the battle.

➢ A pretty straightforward tale of revenge and monster-murder

 Princess Urduja
Origin: Various sources, including several history textbooks

➢ Princess Urduja's life is outrageous in terms of love, she's one of those characters that is furious
and dependable on his own.

➢ If you want her hand in marriage, you need to best her in a fistfight. Definitely gives a new
meaning to the term "a love worth fighting for."

➢ Some books had described her to be ruthless in competition as men vows their desire to have
her. However, for Princess Urduja, she just don't give love easily, she wanted to attest the love
that is worth waiting and fighting for.
 Apolaki
Origin: Legends about night and day

➢ Apolaki is a wild and ferocious man to ever live.

➢ He is the god of sun, and he eventually scooped another goddess' eyes out because he really
wanted to rule the Earth.

➢ Anyway, Apolaki did learn to share Earth with Mayari (the goddess whose eyes he scooped
out); he rules during the day, and Mayari rules at night.
 Alunsina
Origin: Tungkung Langit and Alunsina

➢ In the beginning, there was nothing except the two gods Tungkung Langit and Alunsina.
Tungkung Langit and Alunsina eventually fell in love with each other and they lived happily in
the cushiest part of the realm.
➢ One day, Tungkung Langit went out to do his godly duties (fix the flow of time and the order of
things) and Alunsina tasked the wind to spy on him. Tungkung Langit did not like that, to say
the least. He took all her godly powers and drove her away.
➢ Years passed and Tungkung Langit, out of boredom and desperation, created the Earth and tried
to make it as fancy as possible to win Alunsina back. But she didn't and Tungkung Langit ruled
his kingdom on his own. It is believed that the rain is from Tungkung Langit's tears and thunder
is from his lovelorn cries.
➢ Alunsina didn't settle for a man who didn't treat her right-even when no other guy was around.
 Labaw Donggon, Humadapnon, and Dumalapdap
Origin: Hinilawod (Tales from the Halawod River)

➢ A good part of the Hinilawod is about Labaw Donggon, Humadapnon, and Dumalapdap and
their quest for chicks. We meant true love. And by true love we meant several love interests.
➢ Labaw Donggon, Humadapnon, and Dumalapdap are three brothers. They're demigods. They
are the sons of Alunsina and Datu Paubari and they're all strong and handsome. Most of their
quests somehow involve them getting a new wife. It's an oversimplification of one of the
world's longest epics, but that's what most of it is.
➢ There're quite a few good adventures from the Hinilawod. From Labaw Donggon's tales, it's
when he tried to drown the Lord of the Underworld-for seven long years-to get his wife to
marry him. He failed and was rescued by his sons from his two other wives. From
Humadapnon's stories, it was when he lifted a giant boulder and threw it back to the mountain
from whence it came to marry the town's Datu's daughter-only to go on another quest to make
the Goddess of Wealth and Greed his wife (whom he only heard about on his wedding night).
From Dumalapdap's passages, it was when he wrestled with the monster Uyutang for seven
months. After defeating the monster, he got himself a wife.
➢ It is indeed welcoming to admire the lengths the heroes went to get the women of their dreams.
 Bantugan
Origin: The Darangan Epic

➢ The Darangan epic tells the story of two princes, Prince Madali and Prince Bantugan.

➢ Bantugan is an intelligent, strong, and handsome warrior-slash-prince. Everybody likes him.

The men admire his bravery and strength and the women adore him for being such a stud
muffin. People (especially the ladies) still liked him more even when his brother became king.
Because of that, King Madali declared that anyone who talks to Bantugan would be executed.
Bantugan, out of loneliness from being ignored, set out to live and find happiness elsewhere.
Frankly, Bantugan's the only hero we know who got banished from his own kingdom for being
too awesome and handsome.

➢ Bantugan returned to defend his brother's kingdom from its enemies who attacked when news
broke that he left. This made his brother Madali welcome him back to the kingdom, where he
lived happily till the end of his days.
 Aliguyon
Origin: Huhud hi Aliguyon (The Story of Aliguyon)

➢ Hudhud hi Aliguyon tells the story of the hero Aliguyon, a smart, skilled, resourceful, magic-
capable warrior (who we bet is handsome too) who brought peace between two tribes.

➢ Aliguyon was groomed by his father to be awesome while he was young. He was educated in
the ways of his people, in the art of fighting, and in magic. He was elected leader of his tribe
(Hannanga) at a young age and was well-respected by everyone.

➢ When he came of age, Aliguyon set out to face his father's rival from another tribe (Daligdigan)
but was met by his son, Pumbakhayon, instead. The two met and then clashed-spears for three
years.

➢ The fighting only stopped when they both realized they're equally matched in every way. They
became friends (and married each other's sister) and that brought peace between the two tribes.
 8. Lam-ang
Origin: Biag ni Lam-ang (The Life of Lam-ang)

➢ Most stories have their heroes show great potential at a very young age and then grow up to do
extraordinary things. Lam-ang, on the other hand, was born extraordinary and then grew up to
do even more extraordinary things.
➢ Lam-ang was born able to speak (a pretty clear sign of intelligence) so he got to choose his own
name and his own godparents. He then set out to search for his father, aided with his magical
rooster (who could destroy things with its crow) and dog (who could rebuild things with its
bark), who have the power to resurrect their master from the dead), when he was barely nine
months old (certainly beats Frodo, who left the Shire when he was 50)-and then proceeded to
annihilate the tribe that murdered his father (leaving one survivor to tell of his greatness). Lam-
ang picked his name then made a name for himself at an age..
➢ Lam-ang's other notable achievements include getting so dirty he killed all the fish in the river
where he bathed, sending two boatloads of gold as dowry for the girl of his dreams, and coming
back from the dead.
 Baltog, Handyong, and Bantong
Origin: The Ibalon Epic
➢ The Ibalon epic, at its core, is about how Baltog, Handyong, and Bantong developed and
brought prosperity to the land of Ibalon (Bicol); Baltog cultivated the land, Handyong, along
with his friends, brought on innovations to the region, and Bantong kept the prosperity ball
rolling and they killed a slew of monsters while doing so.

➢ Baltog slayed Tandayag, a giant boar, by wrestling it and breaking its jaw with his fist
➢ . Handyong vanquished the cyclops of Ponon, eradicated the Tiburon (giant, scaly, slimy, flying
fish with saw-like teeth that could crush rocks with their mouths) , tamed the tamaraws, drove
the fierce, elephant-like Sarimaw away, drove boat-sized crocodiles to extinction, and
eliminated the shape-shifting serpent called Oriol.
➢ Bantong killed the monstrous Rabot with a single, well-planned blow. pioneers and monster
slayers.
 Bernardo Carpio (a.k.a Malyari)
Origin: Ang Alamat ni Bernado Carpio (The Legend of Bernardo Carpio)

➢ Badassery: Bernardo Carpio can be considered our Hercules. He's a really strong fellow. So
strong, in fact, that it took two mountains to trap him. There are different versions of the
Bernardo Carpio lore, but we like the one where he leads a revolution against the Spaniards best
as it makes him more heroic rather than just strong.

➢ After a few successful campaigns by Bernardo Carpio, one Spanish friar, fearful they'll be
utterly defeated in the revolution, decided to enlist the help of an engkantado. The Spaniards
lured Carpio to a cave, on the pretense of being willing to negotiate and hear out the Filipinos'
grievances. Once he was inside, the engkantado trapped him between two mountains. Regular
folks would've been crushed, but Bernardo Carpio's no ordinary guy. He was, however, unable
to break free. Doesn't mean he hasn't stopped trying, though; it is believed that he's the one who
causes earthquakes every time he tries to escape and that he'll finally break free once our
country's completely free of oppression.

➢ Strong, revolutionary type who never stops fighting even though the odds (and the mountains)
are stacked against him, Bernado Carpio's the folk hero we deserve and need.
 Philippines
Great Heroes
and
Characters in
the World of
Epics,
Myths, and
Legends