Video: The Darangen Epic of the Maranao People of Lake Lanao
On the southernmost major island of the Philippines, Mindanao, an ancient epic survives mainly through the astonishing memory and community spirit of its residents
On the southernmost major island of the Philippines, Mindanao, an ancient epic survives mainly through the astonishing memory and community spirit of its residents. The Darangen is an epic song or poem consisting of over 72,000 lines. Within its 17 cycles are stories from Mindanao’s past and mythology, as well as lessons on the many questions and challenges of life. It is usually recited during important events within a community, such as at a wedding festival. Both men and women recite parts of the poem, and a performance delivered each night can take a week or more to finish. To keep things lively, the Darangen is often accompanied by music and dance related to different parts of the story.
The Darangen appears to be at least 700 years old, a holdover from the time before Mindanao saw widespread conversions to Islam. Though it features many characters, its most consistent hero is Prince Bantugan, who hails from the lost kingdom of Bembaran. Bantugan and other heroes navigate a world of both human and supernatural threats. Their adventures range from high-stakes marriage proposals to diplomatic missions to pitched battles.
The Darangen is primarily an oral tradition, which has placed it in some jeopardy in the past few decades. The epic demands exhaustive memorization in an archaic form of Mindanao’s hereditary language. Combined with the gradual spread of more mainstream Filipino culture, the future of the Darangen in everyday life was called into question. Thankfully, researchers have worked not only to preserve the epic digitally, but to recognize its importance to Mindanao and the world. The epic is now recognized as a National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines and a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
This video, courtesy of UNESCO, showcases the epic and a few of its living performers.
You can also watch an extended recital of the Darangen here, courtesy of NCCA Philippines:
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