PH
Among the Talaandig Manobo of Bukidnon, Ulaging is an epic cycle traditionally performed through chanting.
The epic begins with an invocation called pamada, followed by the description of the mythical place known as Nalandangan.
According to the documented tradition, the singer is believed to receive guidance from spirit teachers called mulin ulin. Obtaining this guidance is associated with a ritual known as paulin.
The story follows Agyu and his people as they face threats and seek their way toward Nalandangan.
The performance therefore combines storytelling, music, sacred invocation, and traditional beliefs rather than functioning simply as entertainment.
Different southern Philippine groups have preserved versions of the epic with variations in their narratives.
© UNESCO-ICHCAP