Oryol in Bicolano Mythology: Seductress, Warrior, and Bringer of Prosperity
Oryol is a demigoddess the daughter of Asuang the dark deity. She is depicted beautiful and alluring with half her body that of a giant snake. Her voice is said to be so beautiful and magical it can entrance and enslave for a time being animal,man,woman and even beasts. In some stories she can transform into a giant snake.
In Bicolano mythology, the character of Oryol is as a captivating and complex figure, embodying both beauty and power. As a demi-goddess mentioned in the epic Ibalong, Oryol is believed to be the daughter of the deity Asuang. Her story unfolds as a tale of intrigue, where she oscillates between the roles of villain and hero, displaying unparalleled beauty, prowess in seduction, and a vital role in the flourishing of the land of Ibalong.
Oryol's Dual Nature:
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Oryol, possessing inhuman beauty and the ability to seduce with her voice, is a character of dualities in Bikolano stories. She is both a villain who commanded monsters against human colonies in Ibalong and a hero who later imparts the secrets of the gods to Handiog, leading to the prosperity of the land. Her character epitomizes the complexity inherent in mythological narratives, where morality and motivations are fluid.
The Battle for Ibalong:
As the settlers from the sea encroached upon the mythical land of Ibalong, Oryol, a demigoddess, decided to thwart the foreign invaders. Handiog and his men attempted to trap her, but Oryol's intelligence thwarted their plans. Combining her beauty, seductive voice, and the assistance of the magindara, vicious mermaids, Oryol battled Handiog's men, resulting in a significant loss for the human colonizers.
Handiog and Oryol's Encounter:
Seeking revenge, Handiog set out alone to confront Oryol. Captivated by her enchanting voice, he discovered the source of the melody and engaged in a fierce battle with Oryol. However, mutual respect and admiration blossomed between them, leading to an unexpected twist in the narrative – love. Rather than succumbing to animosity, Oryol chose to reveal the secrets of governing the lands to Handiog.
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A Love Story and Prosperity:
Despite the potential for conflict and destruction, Oryol and Handiog's love story unfolded as they joined forces to rid the land of monsters and unveil the secrets of the gods. Through their collaboration, Ibalong flourished, and the once mythical land transformed into a prosperous realm. Oryol's role shifted from that of a seductress and antagonist to a benevolent force, contributing to the well-being of the land and its inhabitants.
Oryol as a Malevolent Naga:
In some tales, Oryol's character takes a darker turn, portraying her as a malevolent force seeking to destroy noble women possessing the secrets of the gods. In this rendition, her beautiful voice and minions are used to eliminate three of the most beautiful maidens in Ibalong, resulting in the creation of three mountains or volcanoes in Bicol. This contrasting portrayal adds depth to Oryol's character, showcasing the duality present in the mythology surrounding her.
Oryol againts the Buwaya tribe
The Buwaya, also known as Buwaya, were mythical creatures in Philippine folklore, especially in the Bicol region. They appeared in the epic Ibalong, described as a tribe of crocodile men capable of transforming into huge crocodiles. Handyong, aided by Oryol, defeated these giant crocodiles in combat, turning the Bicol River red with their blood. The survivors, along with Sarimao, were banished to Mount Kulasi.
The Buwaya infested the waters of Ibalong until the Moon god Bulan descended and tamed most of them, but most remain vicious The hero of Ibalong, with the help of Oryol, played a crucial role in purging the land and seas of the Buwaya race. They slaughtered many of the Buwaya to make way for their new colony in Ibalong.
ORYOL AS THE VILAIN IN TULONG BULOD
Long ago there was a rich land called Ibalon, where the people venerated their gods and in return was bountiful catch and harvest and fine weather. One of the colonies ruled by Datu Makusog(his name means strong) and his wife Diwani, the had two daughters named Malinao and Masaraga. Later Diwani became pregnant with her youngest daughter which they named Magayon.
The three grew up to be the loveliest maidens in all of Ibalon, specially Magayon.
The king and queen knew their daughters were special not just of noble birth but somehow they were connected to the divine. Their eldest Masaraga was of short stature and was a brown beauty, she was strong willed and industrious and prayed to the gods often. Everyone believed she was favoured by Gugurang. She wanted to learn the knowledge and secrets of the gods so Ibalon could prosper more. Malinao is lithe and soft spoken is of a different beauty and character she is very light of skin and was forbidden to go out of their abode, and when she does come out is veiled and is carried in a palanquin. Datu Makusog and Dayang Diwani believed by doing so they will gain the favour of the lunar gods. Youngest and most beautiful was Magayon Beautiful but proud and moody, some say she was blessed with having golden-copper skin and copper colored hair. She was stubborn and knows she is of noble birth therefor above others. Because of her ill manners Magayon did not have friends, and she tought she did not need friends, Since she is contented, her friends were the birds. She could talk to the small birds and they would follow her around and sing to her.
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| the birds the surround Magayaon |
The three sisters being the loveliest maidens were chosen dance for their whole colony the rituals of ''atang'' but Magayon being stubborn refuses, but is later convinced by her eldest sister Masaraga.
Masaraga was favoured by the gods for her deeds and her plans for Ibalon, but it was also the thing that would lead to her demise and her sister Malinao's demise. Favored by Gugurang she had learned the secrets of herbs and potions and practical healing. But this angered Oryol who was the daughter of the deity Asuang. Oryol sang and her lovely voice called the Banog. The Banog was winged monster half-man and half-bird. Oryol commanded the Banog to fly and kill Masaraga for she had learned the secrets of the gods. And so the Banog did as commanded and went to where Masaraga was and scooped her and flew high. When they were high enough the Banog dropped Masaraga.
Oryol thinking that Masaraga had told the secrets of the gods to her sister Malinao also plotted to kill her. Malinaw was a maiden who rarely leaves their abode, and when she does she is always carried in a hammock or a basket by their slaves. She was well kept for because she is much favored by the god of the sea Magindang. For her light skin reminds the sea god of Bulan, the god of the moon. ever since Malinao was born their had always been a bountiful catch from sea, and when Malinao is sad their fisher men could not catch fish. Oryol had to think of how to kill Malinao. She transformed herself into a appearance of Masaraga. Masaraga(who was Oryol in disguise) tricked Malinao into coming with her to the shallow waters. She carried Malinao on her back, Oryol sang and her beautiful voice called the vicious Magindara (mermaids) She threw Malinao to the water and the vicious mermaids did the rest.
So lastly Oryol had to deal with the proud Daragang Magayon. Magayon had many suitors. Among her many suitors were nobles, and one of them was Datu Pagtuga(Eruption) of the Iraga. Datu Pagtuga brought with him many baskets filled pearls dived from the deep sea, and as many gold as his servants could carry, he thought that he could win over Magayon's heart with riches. But Magayon was proud of her beauty and of her status, she rejected Datu Pagtuga and her other suitors. One day a young noble and his men arrived in Datu Makusog's territory. It was Gino(prince) Panganoron or as his men called him Gino Ulap (Ginoong Ulap/Prince Cloud) to seek a bride. Ulap has heard of the beauty of Daragang Magayon and has come a long way just to see her. Panganoron had light skin and the people said that it is because his mother was of the wind people (tawong lipod)
some say his mother was a mermaid. So Gino Panganoron was captivated by Magayon's beauty, Panganoron was patient with Magayon. One day Magayon went to the river called Yawa. Oryol was waiting for Magayon, She used her voice to charm Magayon into going to the river and had made sure that the stones were slippery, Oryol also had mermaids there to drown Magayon once she fell on the river. So as planned Magayon came and and slipped into the river where she almost drowned if not Ulap(Panganoron) who saves Magayon
He carried her home, When they arrived he threw his spear in front of Magayon's abode proclaiming he wants to marry her. The proud Magayon now humbled accepts the proposal, grateful that the noble Ulap saved his remaining daughter Datu Makusog agrees to the wedding. Ulap must return to his land for the preparation of their wedding, and also to bring treasures from his land as a gift to his soon to be bride.
Oryol angered that her plan to kill Magayon failed thought of another plan. She sang, her beautiful voice implanted evil thoughts on Datu Pagtuga's head.
When Datu Makusog was hunting Datu pagtuga and his men abducted him
He threatened Magayon telling her he will kill his father and wage war if she refuse to marry him.
Against her will and her heart she agrees.
Ulap heard of the horrible news and he wasted no time returning to Rawis On their wedding day
Ulap and his men arrived and rained arrows over Pagtuga and his men. A great battle instead of a wedding feast took place. Ulap was able to defeat Pagtuga
Magayon jubilant runs over to her beloved but as she was about to hold him, an arrow struck her from behind. Ulap shocked by this let his guard down which Linog (Pagtuga's most loyal warrior) saw as his chance, he struck Ulap using a spear Datu Makusog killed the man who struck Ulap using his bolo(large single-edged knife).They buried the two young lovers together
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The gods had saw what had happened to the three sisters, In remembrance to the ground where Masaraga fell to her death Mount Masaraga appeared, and in the place where Malinao drowned Mount Malinao appeared. Lastly where Magayon and Panganoron were buried Mount Magayon now called mount Mayon is now located.
People believe that when clouds cover the top of Mayon volcano, it signifies that Ulap is kissing Magayon
Oryol's presence in Bicolano mythology transcends simplistic characterizations, embodying the multifaceted nature of mythical figures. From her initial role as a villainous seductress to her transformation into a benevolent contributor to the prosperity of Ibalong, Oryol's story reflects the dynamic and nuanced narrative traditions of the Bicolano people. Her character serves as a reminder that within mythological realms, as in life, individuals and deities alike can undergo profound transformations, challenging conventional expectations and contributing to the rich and ever-evolving tapestry of folklore.
REMINDER
The orally transmitted mythology of the Philippines is intended for sharing and understanding, not for appropriation, commercial exploitation, or the promotion of foreigners and foreign products. It is a dynamic narrative tradition that evolves over time, distinct from the standardized mythologies found in Western and European cultures. Unlike these established mythologies, the Philippine government has not mandated standardized versions of stories and legends.
Orally transmitted stories undergo variations and evolve over time, resulting in numerous different versions. There are many different version told by Filipinos,and retold by Filipinos.
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