The Legend of Ibong Adarna
The Legend of Ibong Adarna, once upon a time, in the Kingdom of Berbanya…
There lived a wise and kind king named Don Fernando who ruled the prosperous kingdom of Berbanya with his loving wife, Queen Valeriana. They had three sons: Don Pedro, Don Diego, and Don Juan. Each prince had his own strengths: Don Pedro was strong but arrogant, Don Diego was clever but sly, and Don Juan was pure-hearted and brave.
One day, King Don Fernando fell gravely ill. No physician in the land could cure him. The queen, desperate to save her husband, summoned wise men from distant lands. One old hermit finally revealed the cure: the song of the mystical bird called Ibong Adarna, which lived on the peak of Mount Tabor. This bird’s lullaby could heal any illness, but it was a creature of great magic and danger.
The Quest for the Ibong Adarna
Don Pedro, the eldest, volunteered to find the bird. After a long journey, he reached Mount Tabor but failed to resist the magical sleep induced by the Adarna’s song. Each night, the bird perched on a tree that bore silver and gold leaves. It sang a lullaby so enchanting that any listener fell into a deep sleep. Worse, after singing, the bird defecated a substance that turned its sleeping audience into stone. This fate befell Don Pedro.
Next came Don Diego, who also tried his luck. Though he reached Mount Tabor, he too succumbed to the same trap—enchanted sleep and petrification by the bird’s magical excrement.
Finally, the youngest prince, Don Juan, was sent on the quest. Before leaving, he sought the advice of a hermit, who gave him a knife and a belt made of vines. The hermit warned him: to resist the bird’s spell, he must cut his arm with the knife every time he felt drowsy during the song.
Don Juan reached the mystical tree and followed the hermit’s advice. Though he nearly fell asleep, he wounded himself just in time to stay awake through the seven songs of the Ibong Adarna. When the bird finished, he caught it gently using the magical net provided by the hermit. He also discovered his two brothers, now statues beneath the tree. Using water from a sacred spring, Don Juan restored them to life.
Betrayal and Redemption
On their journey home, jealousy brewed in the hearts of Don Pedro and Don Diego. While Don Juan slept, the two elder brothers beat him and threw him into a ravine. They took the bird back to the kingdom, claiming they had captured it.
Back in Berbanya, the bird refused to sing. The king’s condition worsened. Only when Don Juan, who had survived the betrayal with the help of another kind hermit, returned to the palace did the Ibong Adarna finally sing. Its voice healed the king instantly. The truth of Don Juan’s bravery and the betrayal of his brothers came to light.
King Don Fernando was saddened by the treachery of his elder sons but forgave them at Don Juan’s request, moved by his compassion. Don Pedro and Don Diego were sent on a long penance, while Don Juan was named the future king.
The Legend of Ibong Adarna: Continuing Journey
Some versions of the tale say the story continues with even more adventures. Don Juan goes on further quests involving magical princesses, enchanted kingdoms, and battles with monsters. He eventually wins the heart of Princess Maria Blanca, a powerful and wise woman from a faraway realm, whom he marries and brings back to Berbanya.
Moral of the Story
The legend of the Ibong Adarna teaches lessons about:
- The danger of pride and envy
- The power of kindness and forgiveness
- The importance of perseverance, courage, and humility
- In the end, it is not strength or cunning, but a pure heart and noble spirit that earns victory and love.
Learn more about Famous Legends in The Philippines.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_mythology
