CANTOR, KURT MORIN B.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING 2-3

10-11:30 AM

BIUAG AND MALANA

(CAGAYAN EPIC)

FORMALIST/NEW CRITICISM
A Checklist of Formalist Critical Questions

1. How is the work structured or organized? How does it begin? Where does it
go next? How does it end? What is the work’s plot? How is its plot related
to its structure?

The Cagayan epic “Biuag and Malana” was structured through the classic
five (5) – stage plot structure: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and
denouement which most of the Philippine literatures that I have red was
constructed. The story begins by presenting the characters where the story will
revolve. At first, the author of the story gave a picture about the character’s roles
and stated some events happened from the beginning of the story. The story
goes by as the writer relates every specific events of the story and connected
them. Linking all the events together helped the author in formulating a better
story and to be understood by the readers as well. The author ended the story by
briefly summarizing the causes and effects of the events occurred in the story
which aided him to express the lessons and moral of the story.

Using the five (5) – stage plot or scheme, the exposition of the story
started at Enrile, the southern part of Cagayan where Biuag was born. From their
house, there was a beautiful woman who visited him and where Biuag’s mother
considered the woman to be a goddess. The goddess gave Biuag three stones
as his source of powers and prowess where he can do extraordinary things.
Despite of his special abilities, Biuag is not satisfied with his life until he met a
young lady from the town of Tuao. Biuag fell in love with her. Unfortunately, the
young lady also has another suitor named Malana from Malaueg and he also
possesses the same powers and prowess that Biuag has. The action of the story
rose up when Biuag showed a sign that challenges Malana in winning the young
lady’s heart. This event led to the point of highest tension or climax of the story
where Malana realized that the sign Biuag showed to him was a challenge. He
then officially confronted Biuag for the hand of the young lady. Biuag and Malana
fought with each other to win the heart of the young lady and both of the clans
where they belong clashed to support their own ally. The falling action was stated
when Biuag emerged with the largest crocodile to devour Malana, the young man
also jumped from the mountain and as he soon fell in mid-air, the young lady
transformed and shown herself to Biuag and all the witnesses. Then the
 resolution of the story was when Malana won over Biuag and flew in the kingdom
of the air with the goddess daughter and in accordance with the other versions
that I have red, due to the extreme shame that was felt by Biuag, he drowned
himself under the river.

The plot of the story was shown through the way how the work was
structured. Because of the sequential structure of events, I was able to follow and
understand its plot or scheme as the story goes by and I was able to trail the
journey of the characters revolving in the story which led me to symbolically give
interpretations from the plot and the characters’ actions.

2. What is the relationship of each part of the work to the work as a whole?
How are the parts related to one another?

The purpose of each part of the story is to serve as a connection or

conjunction to the succeeding events. Through its specific events, the scenes are
highlighted and I was able to picture the actions more creatively and effectively.
Additionally, the parts made me to appreciate the roles of the characters and
helped me in understanding the plot of the story. Relatively, the parts supported
me in linking and relating the happenings of the work as a whole to the values
and practices of the different ethnic groups in the Philippines.

3. Who is narrating or telling what happens in the work? How is the narrator,
speaker, or characters revealed to readers? How do we come to know and
understand this figure?

The story’s perspective is in third person point of view. The narrator or the
author itself expanded the visual narration of everything that occurred within the
story. Unfortunately, I was not able to know the exact name of the author but
based from my research findings, the story came from Ibanag people who
inhabited the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya. The characters
are revealed to us readers through their parts contributed in the story which
served as an idea for us to comprehend in the story more effectively. The figures
(narrator, speaker, characters) played a vital role in my mental and emotional
aspect in indulging and appreciating every pieces of the work because each of
them had a purpose and contribution in the success of the work.

4. Who are the major and minor characters, what do they represent, and how
do they relate to one another?

One of the major characters in the story was Biuag, a man born in Enrile
who was given powers by a goddess when he was an infant. He has a round
character because his role was well-developed in the story. Malana, a good-
hearted man from Malaueg who possessed the same powers as Biuag. He has a
flat character because unlike Biuag, Malana does not change too much from the
start of the narrative to its end. Both Biuag and Malana are the Protagonists of
the story. They were the Protagonists of the story because they both have a
 leading character but as the story goes deeper, Biaug turned into Antagonist for
the reason that he opposed Malana and became a bad one in the end of the
story. In relation, they are enemies with each other fighting for the love of a young
lady. There was also the daughter of the goddess, the young lady with
incomparable beauty. Served as the foil of the story because her purpose was to
accentuate or draw attention to the qualities of another character which are
Biuag and Malana. The minor characters that was stated in the story are
Biuag’s mother who took care of him when was a child and the people from
Enrile and Malaueg who supported the two men in battling with each other.

There are also various conflicts that were addressed by the

characters in the story. Man vs Man was shown in the story when Biuag and
Malana battled with each other in winning the young lady’s heart. Man vs Nature
was also presented when Biuag emerged with the crocodile, as part of nature,
and was about to attack Malana. Moreover, when Biuag struggled to do what is
right throughout his battle with Malana. As a result, he resorted to cheating that
cost him the battle which was represented as Man vs Self.

5. What are the time and place of the work - its setting? How is the setting
related to what we know of the characters and their actions? To what extent
is the setting symbolic?

The story took place in the province of Cagayan. Specifically, in the towns
of Enrile, Malaueg and Tuao and it is presumed that the events occurred in
daytime. Relying from the setting or location where the story was arisen, the
place also represents the Filipino people, especially the Ilocano and Ibanag
people who are brave, strategic, and lovable. These representations were
actualized by the main characters through their actions and experiences as
stated in the story. In addition, if I am to relate the story Biuag and Malana to our
time, the story is related to the Spanish time or period because this was the time
where battles started between different people from our history.

As of my own symbolization, the setting was symbolic when Biuag fought

for his loved one. Even Biaug became the Antagonist of the story, I still admire
his character that was portrayed because even when it was wrong in his
situation, I have really felt and seen how he loved and wanted to have the young
lady and how he sacrificed himself in competing with Malana. Moreover, when
there was a typhoon occurred in Malaueg, Malana’s journey to Sto. Nino to get
some food for the people was symbolic for me because this represented
kindness for the community and he characterized good leadership and love for
our countrymen. This moral action represents the Filipino practices when there
are calamities happening in our country and we try to help one another and share
our blessings to the less fortunate people. Furthermore, the wide river with full of
crocodiles that was crossed by Malana represents our walk of life which signifies
that our lives are uncertain and there will be obstacles on our way. This scene
also reminded me that I should walk by faith and never be afraid for I have a God
and family that will guide me through my way.
6. What kind of language does the author use to describe, narrate, explain or
otherwise create the world of the literary work? More specifically, what
images, similes, metaphors, symbols appear in the work? What is their
function? What meanings do they convey?

Similar to the epic poem Biag ni Lam-Ang, the narrator also made use of
the cultural allusion in the story Biuag and Malana where it added context,
symbols, and ideas of historical and cultural literary meaning in the story. This is
represented by the setting of the story where the author incorporated various
towns of Cagayan Valley. The author also implied the ethnic groups of the
province and related the values of the characters portrayed in the story to the
Ilocano and Ibanag values just like being self-reliant and have a self-control.
These values were shown in the story on how Biuag and Malana fought for their
love for the young lady. Basically, there are two images existed in the story,
sense of sight and hearing. Some examples of sense of sight that were stated in
the story are “when it dawned on the child’s mother”, “a devastating typhoon”,
“the river to cross was wide and full of crocodile”, “a dazzling light that sparkled.
While the examples of sense of hearing are “barking a command”, “Biuag
laughed decisively”, “sounds of a thousand tubes”, “the natives cheering
Malana”.

Aside from the kind of language and images that was used, there were
also figures of speech which the author used to indirectly convey the meaning of
some parts of the story. Some of the illustrations are “he could uproot a big
beetle nut as if it were a wood” and “the coconut tree flew like an arrow into the
air”. These speeches are simile in figure as the statements are involved with
comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind. Likewise, the
statements “he could go faster than the wind”, “he could throw easily a carabao
across the hills”, “carrying a big coconut tree”, and “Biuag emerged with the
biggest crocodile under his arm” are hyperbole because there was an
exaggeration or the claims are not meant to be taken literally. Furthermore,
“sounds of a thousand bamboo tubes” was an onomatopoeia because it creates
a sound effect that mimics the thing described.

Apart from the images and figures of speech, the main symbol that was
used in the story is the three small stones that was given by the goddess to Biuag
when he was an infant. It signifies the powers and prowess of Biuag to do
extraordinary things that a normal being is unable to do. This also reflects the
powers of the Ilocano and Ibanag which is the hard work and sacrifice.

To wrap things up, the story Biuag and Malana was all about love and
heroism. Love was shown by Biuag on how he fought his love for the young lady
even it costs him to cheat in fighting with his rival. This is evident in today’s reality
because we would do anything for the one we love even if it means doing the wrong
thing, but for this reason, I came to realize that not all love is right. It is not right when
there is someone being abused. We should not choose to do the wrong thing just to
gain something for our own benefit. Heroism was shown by Malana when he went to
a lot of hindrances in getting to Sto. Nino. There was a brevity exemplified by Malana
because he became altruistic and considered the sake of many. His significance
reflects the Filipino value which is the ability to survive even in times of catastrophe.
MYTHOLOGICAL CRITICISM/ ARCHETYPAL APPROACH
A Checklist of Mythological Critical Questions

1. What incidents in the work seem common or familiar enough as actions

that they might be considered symbolic or archetypal? Are there any
journeys, battles, falls, reversals of fortune?

The events in the story Biuag and Malana that are familiar which I
considered symbolic or archetypal was when Biuag fought his love for the
daughter of the goddess because I have really sensed his affection and on how
he wanted to have the young lady. Even he was not able to have her, he
continued to battle against Malana until the end. Their battle in winning the young
lady’s heart was also symbolic because it represents some of the current events
happening just like love affairs which is unfair and where people used to harm
one another just to get what they want even it is against the order of God and
human. The part where there is a journey in the story was when Malana endured
a complex way to Sto. Nino. On his way to the very distant place, he has to cross
a wide river full of crocodiles. Even it was perilous for him, he still conquered and
showed heroism for the people of Malaueg. For the reason that Malana has a
kind heart and good intention for the young lady, he was the one who
experienced fortune and lived together with his love. My assumption to the
author’s purpose in describing Malana as a hero in the story is to symbolize the
first and modern heroes of the country that we should rekindle their sacrifices and
to look back from our history.

2. What kind of character types appear in the work? How might they be typed
or classified?

As I have mentioned in the formalist approach of the story Biaug and

Malana, there are several types of characters appeared in the story. Foremost
was Biaug who was the Protagonist and became the Antagonist of the story
because his role was to challenge, hinder, battle, or otherwise oppose another
character which was Malana. He has a round character because his role was
well-developed in the story and typically change throughout his character arc.
Upon reading the story, I was thinking that Biuag, given his extraordinary powers,
will be able to give a positive impact for Enrile but as the flow goes by and I came
to know him better, it was there stated that he does not deserve his power
because he used it merely for his own advantage. With that being said that he
has a round character, Biuag therefore has also a dynamic character as
he changed over the course of story. On the other hand, Malana, was the
Protagonist of the story as well because most of the action centered around them
and he was the one that was meant to care about the most. He has a flat
character because he does not change too much from the start of the narrative to
its end. Hence, Malana is a static or unchanging character because he was good
from the beginning until the end but even he was static, he still served a large
 purpose in the story. In addition to the characters was the daughter of the
goddess who functioned as the foil of the story because her purpose was to
accentuate or bring out the real qualities of the characters which are Biuag
and Malana.
3. What creatures, elements of nature, or man-made objects play a role in the
work? To what extent might they be considered symbolic?

The creature or element of nature that was talked about in the story was
the crocodile who also served as the enemy of the main characters. As of my
own symbolization, the crocodile represents danger or risk that we cannot always
be gentle and calm and that we should be alert and mindful in all of our actions.
In my point of view, the daughter of the goddess was also an element of nature
and she implied beauty and purity. The objects that was mentioned in the story
was the three stones given by the goddess to Biuag which symbolizes power and
prowess and I relate the three stones to one of the three important things for
every Filipinos which are family, culture, and God. I could also use the spear that
was used by the characters in their battles as a representation of the ethnic
groups in the Philippines for being a risk-taker and who has brevity in all
challenges of life.

4. What changes do the characters undergo? How can those changes be

characterized or named? To what might they be related or compared?

With respect to the story, the character who underwent a change was the
antagonist which was Biuag. As described by the author, I thought that Biuag will
will be the good one in the story because of his special abilities which he can use
to help the people of Enrile for good. Consequently, my thoughts have changed
because in the last parts, Biuag did not justified his powers and became coward
or unfair to Malana. Looking at the brighter side, I concluded that the change of
the character was a technique used by the author for us readers to think deeper
and appreciate the story. Biuag and Malana has a point of comparison knowing
that they both have the same abilities or extraordinary powers. However, Malana
is the one who really demonstrated and justified his aptitudes because he
became fair to Biuag resulting for him to be chosen by the young lady.

5. What religious or quasi-religious traditions with which you are familiar

might the work’s, characters, elements, or objects be compared to or
affiliated with? Why?

Actually, there are no particular religious or quasi-religious traditions

described in the story Biuag and Malana but as I have observed the actions of
the characters, I have noticed some religious practices acted in the story. That
was when there was a devastating typhoon occurred in their town which is
Malaueg and destroyed all their crops and the people suffered into famine or the
widespread scarcity of food. The religious practice was acted by the people of
Malaueg when they all prayed together for the safety of Malana in saving the
town. Their act of praying for him symbolizes the spiritual value of the Filipino
people. Additionally, the statement of Malana "God’s forbid anyone from taking
anything that belongs to the other” represents the respect of the Filipino people to
the order of God and order of human. Digressing from the positive side, the main
characters Biuag and Malana also violated the 6 th Commandment of God which is
"Thou shalt not kill" because they both attempted to kill one another just for the
lady’s love.