TITLE:
Re-Examining the Ibalong: An Indigenous Bikolano Epic or a Spanish Poem?
AUTHORS:
Maria Aurora Gratela Caballero
KEYWORDS:
Bikolano Folk Literature, Brain-Text, Hispanicized Poem, Biographical Literary Discourse Analysis
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Literary Study,
Vol.12 No.4,
October
31,
2024
ABSTRACT: This paper critically investigated the origins and cultural roots of the Ibalong, a renowned Bikolano epic, questioning its classification as an indigenous narrative or a product of Spanish influence. Through a comprehensive review of related literature, the paper explored existing references about the Ibalong, shedding light on divergent perspectives. The study aimed to elucidate the blurred boundaries between indigenous and colonial influences on the epic’s narrative structure and content. Using a multidisciplinary methodology that combines literary discourse analysis with biographical inquiry, the results and analysis section dissected the elements of an epic as a literary form, as well as its linguistic nuances and thematic elements. Results showed the author reevaluated the Ibalong’s cultural identity, offering new insights that challenge prevailing interpretations and conclusions regarding its nature. Fray Bernardino de Melendreras, O.F.M. penned the Hispanic Ibalong epic, emphasizing the complex interplay between indigenous and colonial influences in literary traditions.