Agyu: Manobo Epic

Agyu

Manobo Epic

The main source of livelihood of the Ilianon was collecting wax. They exchanged the wax to the Moros with their basic needs such as rice, salt and sugar. Agyu had a long rift with a Moro datu over a debt of one hundred mound of wax. To avoid bloody confrontation, Agyu and his household left Ayuman and went to Ilian. But the Moros would not let them live in peace until their debt were settled. They followed him to kill him and his family. Agyu and his household fought bravely and emerged victorious over the Moros. After their victory, Agyu decided to leave Ilian and set for Mount Pinamatun. They clean and toil the land and built their houses at the floor of the mountain.

One day, Agyu went to the forested mountain of Sandawa to hunt for wild boar. He went home with a prize catch while his brother Lono and sisters Yambungan and Ikwangan found a beehive full of sweet honey. They divided the wild boar and honey among themselves and their servants.

Why don’t you take some fresh meat and sweet honey to your wife in Ayuman, Banlak? Agyu asked his brother. Banlak’s wife Mungan was left behind at Ayuman because she had leprosy.

Banlak did not approve of the idea. Lono volunteered to go to Ayuman with the meat and honey for Mungan. There he heard a loud and thundering voice asking Mungan to accept immortality by eating a food for the gods.

When Lono returned to Pinamatun, he told Agyu and Banlak what he heard from the loud and thundering voice. Banlak wanted to see Mungan but Agyu halted him. Instead, Agyu trekked down to Ayuman to see Mungan but he was too late. Mungan had been ascended to the heavens. What was left was a golden house. When he returned to Pinamatun, they again abandoned the place for Tigyangdang. But they would not find peace in Tigyangdang. There were many enemies who wanted to drive them away from Tigyangdang. And no matter how hard they fought, they could not subdue the enemies.

On the fourth day of fighting, his brave and intelligent young son, Tanangyaw, approached him.

Allow me to fight the enemies, father, he asked him.

But you are too young, son, he said to him.

I maybe young but I am wise, father. Tanagyaw insisted.

Go ahead and may the gods help you.  Take care of yourself!

Tanagyaw then left for the battlefield.  And he won over the enemies.

The frustrated chieftain of the enemies wanted Tanagyaw for his daughter Buy-anon but Tanagyaw refused to marry her because he was too young.

Tanagyaw reached the town of Baklayaon and saved the small town from the enemies.  He killed Bagali, the son of the chieftain of the enemies of Baklayaon.  The datu of Baklayon wanted Tanagyaw too to marry his daughter Paniguan but Tanagyaw was not yet ready to marry.

When Tanagyaw returned to Tigyangdang, Paniguan went with him.  She told Agyu that she wanted to marry Tanagyaw,  Agyu agreed and Tanagyaw and Paniguan were married.

Meanwhile, the attack on Agyu’s household did not stop.  From time to time, a band of enemies would attack the settlement and killed Agyu’s people and animals and burn their crops.  But Agyu was too old to put up a fight.  To counter the enemies, Tanagyaw wore a shield of hard metal that even a strong wind could not move.  Then, he fought the enemies fiercely and came up victorious everytime.  But the enemies were not yet ready to give up.  The son of the datu confronted Tanagyaw with his spear of golden metal.  Tanagyaw used his gold stick and was able to kill the son of the datu.  The datu and his men fled to the mountain in fear.

Agyu heaved a sigh of relief.  He knew peace would now reign in their land.  His people would now enjoy the good life that was very elusive from the start.  The harvest was good and their animals had increased in number.  One day, he called his son Tanagyaw.

I’m giving you the town of Sunglawon.  Protect it and rule it with justice and compassion for your own people.

I’ll do it with the help of our gods, father, answered Tanagyaw.

The following morning, Tanagyaw and Paniguan together with their servants set out for Sunglawon.  They were now ready to start a family.