"Hudhud ni Aliguyon" stands as a renowned epic originating from the Ifugao province, located on the island of Luzon within the Philippines.
This epic serves as a comprehensive narrative, offering insights into the cultural and traditional facets intrinsic to the Ifugao community, alongside chronicling the heroic exploits of their revered figure, Aliguyon.
Classified within the genre of "Hudhud di Ani," intended for recitation during the agricultural harvest season, this epic fulfills a multifaceted role characterized by three distinct functions.
Both forms are virtual anthropological documents that orally record through time the changes that took place in Ifugao social organization, structure, and tradition.
[3] Typically, the rendition of this chant finds expression through a female ensemble, presided over by a soloist, often a proficient vocalist who may have assumed the role voluntarily.
These cue words serve to introduce elements such as character names, village references, geographical features, and familial connections within the narrative.
Born as the son of the village leader, Amtalao, and his spouse Dumulao, Aliguyon exhibited remarkable intelligence and an insatiable thirst for knowledge from a young age.
Aliguyon's early manifestations of promise and leadership did not escape the notice of the villagers, including the younger generation who held him in awe.
In his adolescent years, he embarked on a daring endeavor: a direct confrontation with the adversary of his father, Pangaiwan, hailing from the neighboring Daligdigan village.
This exchange continued unabated, with the two combatants alternately hurling spears at one another in a relentless bid to claim each other's life.
It was during this protracted struggle that Aliguyon and Pumbakhayon, bound by a mutual respect and admiration for each other's prowess, arrived at a profound realization.
In a historic turn of events, Aliguyon and Pumbakhayon collaborated to forge a comprehensive peace treaty between the villages of Hannanga and Daligdigan.
An episode narrates that after a long fight between the two men, who are unable to defeat each other, the conflict was permanently resolved through exchange marriage among the families of the two warring protagonists.
The predominant theme of the Hudhud stories is exemplifying romances praising Ifugao ideals of love, marriage and wealth.