Bantong

Bantong is the last of the three heroes of the Ibalong epic, renowned for cleverness and agility rather than raw strength. A close friend of Handyong, he was entrusted with a thousand warriors to hunt down Rabot, a half-human, half-beast creature who petrified everyone it met. Rather than assault the monster directly, Bantong observed that it liked to sleep, and when it slumbered he killed it single-handedly, severing the body in two. The corpse was so hideous that when it was brought to Ligmanan even the great Handyong recoiled at the sight. Bantong's victory closes the surviving epic on the restoration of peace to the land.

Domains

• heroism

Powers

• to slay a magical monster single-handedly

Relations

• slayer of: RabotBantong studied the monster's habits, waited for it to sleep, and killed Rabot single-handedly, cutting the body in half.Espinas, Merito B. (1968). Ibalong: The Bikol Folk Epic-Fragment. Unitas 41(3), University of Santo Tomas. (secondary)
• enemy: RabotThe stone-cursing monster Rabot is the final adversary Bantong is sent to destroy.Espinas, Merito B. (1968). Ibalong: The Bikol Folk Epic-Fragment. Unitas 41(3), University of Santo Tomas. (secondary)
• subordinate to: HandyongBantong was a trusted companion who acted within the kingdom of Handyong and was commissioned by the elder hero to rid the land of Rabot.Espinas, Merito B. (1968). Ibalong: The Bikol Folk Epic-Fragment. Unitas 41(3), University of Santo Tomas. (secondary)

Sources

• Bantong is the third hero of the Ibalong epic, companion of Handyong, who single-handedly slew the stone-cursing monster Rabot.: Espinas, Merito B. (1968). Ibalong: The Bikol Folk Epic-Fragment. Unitas 41(3), University of Santo Tomas (reissued 1996, UST Publishing House). (secondary); Eugenio, Damiana L. (2001). Philippine Folk Literature: The Epics. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press. (secondary)