Heroes and folk in Francis Lambrecht's Hudhud of Dinulawan and Bugan at Gonhadan and Adriana Saquing's Hudhud of Aliguyon and Dinoy-Agan: A critical analysis using Florentino Hornedo's aesthetics of persona

• Main Author: Jimenez, Ruby Rosa A.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2005
• Subjects: Chants—Philippines—Ifugao; Heroes—Mythology—Philippines—Ifugao; South and Southeast Asian Languages and Societies
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/6479; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/12800/viewcontent/CDTG003874_P.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

This paper, which focuses on a critical analysis of The Hudhud of Dinulawan and Bugan at Gonhadan and The Hudhud of Aliguyon and Dinoy-agan using Florentino Hornedo’s Aesthetics of Persona, asserts that these Hudhud stories are not just ethnopics as Dr. E. Arsenio Manuel has affirmed but also Alamat and Kwentong-bayan. As Alamat, they narrate “acts of heroes.” They glorify and legitimate the position and power of the ruling class – the kadangyan. As Kwentong-bayan, they narrate “acts of people.” They proclaim and avow the prominence and heroism of the namatuk and nawatwat. As a consequence of the stratification reflected in these Hudhud, two contrasting sets of values and attitudes are demonstrated as exemplary by each class persona. The kadangyan persona, on the one hand, indoctrinates values that advance the interests of the kadangyan class; on the other hand, the namatuk/nawatwat persona inculcates the values that the common folk deem essential to their survival. Hence, contrary to the common belief, chanting the Hudhud is not just a form of entertainment. Chanting the Hudhud of Dinulawan and Bugan at Gonhadan and Hudhud of Aliguyon and Dinoy-agan produces and infuses beliefs, values, and visions that can promote and perpetuate the kadangyan’s authority or affirm the supremacy of the namatuk/nawatwat over the kadangyan. These Hudhud, therefore, are not merely innocent and fantastic narrations of the adventures of Bugan, Dinulawan, Aliguyon, and Dinoy-agan. They are meant to shape the consciousness of the people who chant and listen to them. More importantly, they do not only reflect the lifeways of the Ifugaos but also interrogate Ifugao social relations.