Ibong Adarna

by Virgilio S. Almario (Retold by), Jordan Santos (Illustrator)

Tatlong prinsipe ang naglakbay upang hulihin ang mailap at kabigha-bighaning ibong Adarna, upang malunasan ang karamdaman ng kanilang amang hari. Isa sa mga kilalang kuwentong-bayan sa Filipino, ang kuwento ng Ibong Adarna ay puno ng abentura at mahika.

Genres: Classics, Fantasy, Childrens, School, Short Stories, Fiction, Poetry

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Virgilio S. Almario, better known by his pen name, Rio Alma, is a Filipino artist, poet, critic, translator, editor, teacher, and cultural manager. He is a National Artist of the Philippines.

Growing up in Bulacan among peasants, Almario sought his education in Manila and completed his degree in A.B. Political Science at the University of the Philippines. A prolific writer, he spearheaded the second successful modernist movement in Filipino poetry together with Rogelio G. Mangahas and Lamberto E. Antonio. His earliest pieces of literary criticism were collected in Ang Makata sa Panahon ng Makina (1972), now considered the first book of literary criticism in Filipino. Later, in the years of martial law, he set aside modernism and formalism and took interest in nationalism, politics and activist movement. As critic, his critical works deal with the issue of national language.

Aside from being a critic, Almario engaged in translating and editing. He has translated the best contemporary poets of the world. He has also translated for theater production the plays of Nick Joaquin, Bertolt Brecht, Euripedes and Maxim Gorki. Other important translations include the famous works of the Philippines' national hero, José Rizal, namely Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. It was deemed as the best translation by the Manila Critics Circle.

Almario has been a recipient of numerous awards such as several Palanca Awards, two grand prizes from the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Makata ng Taon of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, the TOYM for literature, and the Southeast Asia Write Award of Bangkok.
He was an instructor at the Ateneo de Manila University from 1969-1972. He only took his M.A. in Filipino in 1974 in the University of the Philippines. In 2003, he was appointed Dean of the College of Arts and Letters in the said university. In June 25 of the same year, he was proclaimed National Artist for Literature.

Almario is also the founder and workshop director of the Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika, at Anyo (LIRA), an organization of poets who write in Filipino. Award-winning writers and poets such as Roberto and Rebecca Añonuevo, Romulo Baquiran Jr., Michael Coroza, Jerry Gracio, and Vim Nadera are but some of the products of the LIRA workshop.

Reviews

[K.D. Absolutely · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of Ibong Adarna is a required reading in many freshmen high school students in the Philippines. I think this version of the National Artist for Literature Virgilio S. Almario is the illustrated version but it sufficiently captured the essence of the story as far as I can still remember.

Isang mahiwagang ibon sa Bundok ng Tabor na kapag umawit ay makakatulog ka at kapag naiputan ka ay magiging bato ka. Nakakalungkot isipin na madalang na madalang nang makarinig ka ng huni ng ibon dito sa Maynila bukod sa mga cooing ng kalapati ng kapitbahay mo sakaling pinakawalan ito sa umaga bilang ehersiyo ng mga ibon at maging ng may-ari. Sana'y may makaisip mag-record ng huni ng Ibong Adarna para maging gamot sa mga may insomnia na kagaya ko.

At nagiging bato ang naiiputan? Naranasan mo na bang maiputan ng ibon? Mabaho at kung sa ulo ka maiputan siguro gugustuhin mong maging bato sa sobrang hiya hehe.

Yong plot simple lang. Yong pangatlong prinsipe ay tumulong sa isang mahiwang pulubi kaya siya ay pinag-adya. Tapos siya ang nagtagumpay sa paghuli sa Ibong Adarna para gumaling ang kanyang amang maysakit. Yong ama naman, nakarinig lang ng huli ng ibon, di nakatulog bagkus ay gumaling? Parang may process flow lang siguro. Maysakit? Wala - makakatulog; Meron - gagaling.

Hindi ko masasabing original ang kuwento dahil marami na akong nabasang ganito: tatlong magkakapatid na prinsipe, di nagtagumpay ang unang mas nakatatanda at ang nagtagumpay ang ikatlo at pinakabunso. Dahil ako ay may dalawang kuya, pakiramdam ko bida ako lagi pag ganito ang plot. Pinaka-guwapo, pinaka-mabait at siyang tiyak na magtatagumpay sa buhay.

Sa kasamaang palad, iba ng fairy tale sa totoong buhay hehehe.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great read for me way back when I was first year highschool or grade 7. I remember having a tagalog dictionary beside me because blood always threatened to gush out my nose while reading this. It was magical but still lacking. And Juan is a man whore okay. LOL

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this book when I was a kid. Back then I was really impress of its very simple plot. The typical pattern of if you are kind you are rewarded kind of idea. But thinking back now as an adult, the book isn't so magical anymore because the hero was too glorified by making the other characters too terrible. But for the sake of my good childhood memory I'll give this book the stars it deserve.

[Rachel Detera · Rating 3 out of 5]

classic =)

[kb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Philippine literature classic, one I've read a couple of times already—in school and for leisure. Why I decided to return to it now that I'm a *coughs* young adult is to be reminded by kindness, perseverance and selflessness, which can all be found in this masterpiece.

[Christof Gapul · Rating 5 out of 5]

babasahin ko

[Mä RK · Rating 5 out of 5]

its good

[Rommil Ebdalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

PROJECT !

[Tnecniv]

wew

[Elaine Pacios]

read

[Claire, The Slow Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I encountered this book when I was a freshman high school student, as part of our school curriculum. And a lot of reminiscing moments from the past, haaayyy..

Itong "Ibong Adarna" na isinulat ni Virgilio S. Almario, lubos akong natuwa sa pagbabalik-tanaw sa isa sa mga klasikong alamat ng panitikang Pilipino. Ang adaptasyon ni Almario ng kuwento ay nagdulot ng bagong perspektiba at damdamin sa karanasang ito.

Sa aking palagay, ang paglalarawan ni Almario sa mundong kathang-isip ng "Ibong Adarna" ay nakapagbigay ng bagong buhay sa mga karakter at pangyayari. Ang makulay na wika at mga detalye sa kuwento ay nagpabuhay muli sa mga eksena at nagbigay-daan sa akin upang mas lalong maunawaan at mahalin ang kahalagahan ng alamat na ito sa ating kultura.

Ang kuwento ng "Ibong Adarna" ay puno ng kababalaghan, pagsubok, at pag-ibig. Sa pamamagitan ng paglalakbay ni Don Juan at ang kanyang mga kapatid upang hanapin at pigilan ang awit ng Ibong Adarna, natutunan ko ang kahalagahan ng tapang, tiyaga, at pagtitiwala sa sarili at sa mga kasama.

Isa sa mga bagay na lubos kong na-appreciate sa adaptasyon ni Almario ay ang pagtutok sa wika at kultura ng mga Pilipino. Sa pamamagitan ng mga salita at pahayag na tiyak na nauunawaan ng bawat Pilipino, naging mas malapit sa puso ko ang kuwento at ang mga mensahe nito.

Sa kabuuan, ang "Ibong Adarna" ni Virgilio S. Almario ay isang mahusay na pagtatanghal sa klasikong alamat ng panitikang Pilipino. Ito ay isang napakagandang paalala sa atin ng yaman ng ating kultura at ang halaga ng mga kwentong nagbibigay-kahulugan at inspirasyon sa ating mga buhay.

[Verity Moon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this better than the author's Ang Alamat ng Ampalaya. There's not much of a message in this book but just a simple quest of a plot. I didn't quite like the art style, although I appreciate the vibrant coloring.

[Earl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This fairy tale (or folktale) has been around for hundreds of years and is originally an epic poem. This retelling focused on the first half of the story with the three princes trying to cure the king's illness by capturing the magical Adarna bird.

[Triffymirella · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book...

[Oscar Maquito · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.8/5

[Jade Carlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is fun.Its about love and fighting for the crown and the girl.

[Spens (Sphynx Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure this isn't the edition I read for school. We read the complete unabridged one in verse and I absolutely loved it. A timeless classic.

[Joi Irong · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beloved classic written in a simplified version. A must-read for younger kids.

[Eya Lizette]

Uhm

[star slayc · Rating 1 out of 5]

don juan sana di ka nalang naging chickboy pinahirapan mo kami

[Kris Bautista]

My book on my younger times

[Jehan Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

hi

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grew up with this.
As a child, I love the lesson of the story and all its colors.

Can’t wait for women/girls/lgbtqa+ version

[chloue ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don Juan would've loved tinder

[Han · Rating 4 out of 5]

would've been 5 stars if filipino wasn't pushy 😭

(yes almost the whole month)

[chloe margareth · Rating 1 out of 5]

WHY was it even required to read this back at middle school 😭

[daughterofallworlds · Rating 4 out of 5]

the first book that I have read (and its for school lol)

[Kluwie Lyn]

nice

[Arnie Ancheta · Rating 5 out of 5]

good