Ibong Adarna
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| Author | Anonymous |
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| Original title | Korrido ng Pinagdaanang Buhay ng Tatlong Prinsipeng Magkakapatid na Anak ng Haring Fernando at ng Reyna Valeriana sa Kahariang Berbanya |
| Country | Philippines, Spain, Mexico |
Ibong Adarna is an epic written in the 15th Century about an eponymous magical bird. The title's longer form during the Spanish Era was "Korrido at Buhay na Pinagdaanan ng Tatlóng Principeng Magkakapatid na anak nang Haring Fernando at nang Reyna Valeriana sa Kahariang Berbania" (Filipino for "Corrido and Life Lived by the Three Princes, children of King Fernando and Queen Valeriana in the Kingdom of Berbania"). The author of the widely known epic has been claimed to be José de la Cruz or "Huseng Sisiw", but until now the real author was never known. The legend says that the story was written in Spain during the mid 15th century by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. The epic was brought in the Philippines during 1565.
King Fernando and his wife Doña Valeriana ruled the kingdom of Berbanya. They have three sons: Don Pedro, Don Diego and Don Juan, of whom the latter is his favorite. One night, he dreamed that two traitors conspired against Don Juan, and the king became so frightened and depressed that he did not even want to eat or take a rest. He fell sick with a malady, of which none of the physicians of the kingdom were able to cure. An enchanted old man however advised that the Adarna bird was the only creature which could restore his lost health and tranquility by its marvelous songs. Acting on this advice, he sent out his eldest son Don Pedro to look for this coveted animal. After three months of wandering through the dense forests and extensive thickets when his horse died, he came to a tree of diamond (Piedras Platas), at the foot of which he fell down tired and thirsty. He never suspected that it was this very tree in which the famous bird was accustomed to pass the night; and when the night was setting and the Adarna flung into the air and sang the first of its seven songs, its melody was so softly sweet that Pedro was lulled into a profound sleep. After emitting its seventh melody for the night, the bird allowed its dropping to fall on the sleeping prince who was thereby converted into stone.
When Don Pedro had not returned after the lapse of one day, the now-weakening king asked his second son Don Diego also to launch out in search of the same bird. Don Diego underwent the same vicissitudes and hardships and came to exactly the same fate as Don Pedro - converted into a stone at the foot of the enchanted tree. At last Don Juan, the youngest and most favored son was sent forth, after his elder brothers in search of the treacherous bird. Don Juan, however, had the fortune to meet on his way an old hermit who was impressed by the virtues and good manners of the young prince, and knowing the mission on which he embarked, put him on guard against the treacheries, intrigues and cunning of the famous bird. First, he provided him with a knife and key lime, warning him that if he wanted to free himself from the irresistible drowsiness induced by the seven melodies of the Adarna, he had to open on his palms seven wounds and distill into them the juice of the fruit. The pain caused by this might prevent him from sleeping. Next, the hermit warned him to avoid any defecation that might fall from the bird after it sung its seven songs, so that he would not suffer the fate of his brothers. Lastly, he told him that after finishing his seventh song the famous bird would fall sleep and that the prince should take advantage of this occasion to take the bird prisoner. The hermit gave him a golden shoe lace to tie the bird when caught and two pails of water to pour over his two petrified brothers which would bring them back to life. Don Juan did as was bidden and soon found himself in possession of the desired bird and on his way back to his home country with his two brothers, Don Pedro and Don Diego.
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