Wednesday, April 2, 2008

ALIGUYON OR HUDHOD-IFUGAO EPIC

ALIGUYON OR HUDHOD-IFUGAO EPIC summary of the epic from IFUGAO, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE IN LUZON

Aliguyon or the Hudhud of the Ifugaos is the adventure of epic hero ALIGUYON as he fights enemy , Pambukhayon among rice fields and terraces. He also advised his people to be steadfast and learn the wisdom of warfare as well as peacemaking during harvest seasons.

The hudhud is recited and chanted among the Ifugao people - known for their rice terraces - during the sowing and harvesting of rice, funeral wakes and other rituals. Estimated to have originated before the 7th century, the hudhud - comprised of some 40 episodes - often take three or four days to recite. The language of the chants, almost impossible to transcribe, is full of repetitions, synonyms, figurative terms and metaphors. Performed in a leader/chorus style, the reciter - often an elderly woman - occupies a key position in society. There is only one tune, common to the entire region, for all of the verses. Very few written examples of hudhud exist.

sources: unesco.org

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