An example of an ancient poem of historical importance is Historia a Pacasaritaaan ti Pinagbiag ni Lam-Ang. It is an old Ilocano metrical story, because of his immense physical prowess and adventures and the medium in which this story has told. Pinagbiag ni Lam-Ang has become very popular in Ilocos, Pangasinan, and Zambales.Pinagbiag ni Lam-Ang, in its present form, is a folk-poem. It bears for the most part, truly pre-spanish elements, like some of the characters are addressed like Doña, Don, Seniora and Dois.
Lam-Ang is considered as the hero of the North. He was the son of Don Juan Panganiban and Namongan, a family of substance in the town of Nalbuan somewhere in the Valley of Naguilian River in La Union.
Lam-Ang was born as a baby with both power of speech and unusual physical form. And in nine months, Lam-Ang grew so rapidly that he assumed the form and size of a full-grown man. He was strong in muscles and in big limbs and for this reason, he immediately evoked fear and respect in his community.
The story leaves an expression of bravery, revenge, romance, magic, and love for the family and even for pets. The author makes use of strange animals like giant fish, rooster and dog to add up more zest in the story and to have some twist.
The first part of the story seemed to be fine but as I go on reading the myth, I get surprised with what happened to Lam-Ang as he grows old. It was very unusual to happen in real life. The supernatural powera that Lam-Ang has is unrealistic, like those he can talk after he was born and that barely in nine months that he already looked like a grown up man.
But still, the Story of Lam-Ang did have a lot of moral lessons and whimsical events that widens the imaginations of the readers.
As the story ended, it was like a typical Disney fairytale I have watched that the main characters lived happily ever after, after all the trials that they have faced through their journey.
