Excerpt from Paramata Bantugan (from the Darangen)
There was a king in a faraway kingdom in Mindanao who had two sons. The elder was Prince Madali and theyounger one was Prince Bantugan. At a very early age, Prince Bantugan had shown superior qualities over his elder brother Prince Madali. Their tutors would always tell their father that Prince Bantugan was very intelligent. e was a fastlearner, even in the use of sword and bow and arrow. And he possessed such great strength that he could subdue three tofive men in a hand!to!hand combat.The first indication that he would soon be a formidable soldier was seen when he single!handedly killed a big andferocious crocodile that had killed several villagers. The villagers could not believe their eyes after the very shortstruggle."e is so strong#$
an old man
blurted out upon seeing the dead crocodile."ow could a man so young as he is can kill a killer crocodile% e must be possessed by the gods$#
another villager
said in awe."&ome on, let's thank the prince for killing the beast#$
the chieftain of the place
said to all the villagers.As years passed, Prince Bantugan reached manhood, he became the kingdom's number one soldier. e always ledtheir soldiers to the battlefield. And he always triumphed over their kingdom's enemies. is name became a word of themouth among the soldiers of the neighboring kingdoms. (oon no kingdom ever dared to conquer or make war with their kingdom. )o one would want to fight him. Peace and progress reigned in their kingdom because they had gained therespect and recognition of their neighbors.*hen their father died of old age, his elder brother, Prince Madali was named the new king. There were silent protests among the ranks and their people. They wanted Prince Bantugan to be the new king. +ven the ordinary peoplewere one in saying that Prince Bantugan was the better choice between the two princes."Prince Bantugan is brave and strong. e can really protect us from our enemies#$
an old woma
n in themarketplace said to her listeners." agree with you,$
an old man
answered.This did not bother Prince Bantugan. e knew that his brother was the legal heir to the throne because PrinceMadali was the first sibling. e even vouched for his brother."My brother deserves to be our new king because he had studied how to run the government, he told his fellow soldiersand the ministers of the kingdom. e knows how to deal with foreign relations. And he has several good ideas on howwe can improve the life of everyone#$The ministers and the soldiers -ust nodded in agreement. owever, a rift ensued between Prince Bantugan anding Madali. Because Prince Bantugan was not only brave and strong but very handsome too, several beautiful andyoung women in the kingdom fell in love for him, even the women whom his brother, ing Madali, wanted for himself,surrendered themselves under Prince Bantugan's charm. +nraged and envious,
King Madali
proclaimed an order." don't want anybody talking to my brother, Prince Bantugan. Anyone who is seen talking to him will be put in -ail or be punished severely.$Prince Bantugan felt sad at his brother's order. e found himself like a person with communicable disease. +veryone was staying away from him, even his women. +ven the people he loved. )o one wanted to talk to him for fear
of being -ailed or severely punished by the king. /nable to contain his grief, he decided one day to leave the kingdom andsettled to a faraway land where he spent the rest of his life.