Ambahan: Birth and infancy

Since the aim of this collection of ambahans is to present a cross-section of the Mangyan poetic verse with respect to the life-cycle of the Mangyans, the first ambahans, to be chronological, should pertain to the first chapters of human life.

The following series of common cradle songs in ambahan style might be a fine illustration of how the songs can be different in rhyme and metaphor whereas the underlying theme is the same.

Ambahan 3
Hanunuo-Mangyan	English	Filipino
	My dear baby, do not cry 'cause the wild cat might hear us! The big one from over there, with his awful long-stretched howl! Helpless are we if he comes. Our spear is broken still and our bolo bent and blunt!	Huwag ka ngang umiyak Hala ka at mapukaw Pusang-ligaw sa gubat Ngumiyaw, maghihiyaw Wala kitang pambugaw Sibat nati'y nawasak Gulok nati'y nabingaw!

Ambahan 4
Hanunuo-Mangyan	English	Filipino
	Don't be noisy, baby dear! The wild iro might come here. The one out of the deep woods. How to fight him when he comes? Broken is our spear in two and our bolo disappeared!	H'wag ka ngang magulo May laog nanunubok Mula gubat susugod Wala kitang panghamok Sibat nati'y napulpol Itak ay anong purol!

Ambahan 5
Hanunuo-Mangyan	English	Filipino
	You, my baby, don't make noise! Some strange animal might come, coming from across the streams. Knocking on the house, he will, with his glittering sharp claws, No weapons for us to kill; our bolo we cannot use, rusty is our spear and blunt.	Anak, 'wag kang ngumalngal Hala ka, may bakulaw! Sa dahilig do'n buhat Tutuktok sa suliras Kay tulis ng galamay Wala kitang pamatay Tong itak walang saysay Kinalawang 'yang sibat!

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