The theme of the epic revolves around the bravery and courage of the main character

portrayed by Lam-ang, who was gifted with speech as early as his day of birth, who
embarked on a series of adventures which culminated in his heroic death and
subsequent resurrection.

This series of adventures started with his search for his lost father who was murdered
by the head-hunting Igorots in the Igorot country. While on his way, he met a certain
Sumarang, whose name connotes obstruction, who tried to dissuade him from
proceeding and who taunted him into a fight. The fight that ensued proved fatal to
Sumarang as he was blown three kingdoms away with a spear pierced through his
stomach. This encounter led to another when he met a nine-headed serpent who, like
Sumarang earlier tried to dissuade him from going any further. The serpent having been
ignored challenged him into a fight which cost the serpent its heads.

Lam-ang went on until he found it necessary to rest and take a short nap. While asleep,
he dreamed of his fathers head being an object of festivities among the Igorots. He
immediately arose and continued his journey until he found the Igorots indeed feasting
over his fathers head.

He asked the Igorots why they killed his father, but the Igorots instead advised him to go
home if he did not want to suffer the same fate which his father suffered. This was
accompanied by a challenge to a fight, despite their obvious numerical superiority. But
Lam-ang, armed with supernatural powers, handily defeated them, giving the last
surviving Igorot a slow painful death by cutting his hands and his ears and finally
carving out his eyes to show his anger for what they had done to his father.

Satisfied with his revenge, he went home. At home, he thought of taking a swim in the
Cordan River with the company of Cannoyan and her lady-friends. So he proceeded to
Cannoyans place in the town of Calanutian, disregarding her mothers advice to the
contrary. On his way, he met a woman and named Saridandan, whose name suggests
that she was a woman of ill repute. He resisted her blandishments, for his feeling for
Cannoyan was far greater for anyone to take.

When he reached Cannoyans house, he found a multitude of suitors futilely vying for
her hand. With the help of his pets - the cock and the dog - he was able to catch
Cannoyans attention. He asked her to go with him to the river along with her lady-
friends. She acceded. While washing himself in the river, the river swelled, and the
shrimps, fishes and other creatures in the river were agitated for the dirt washed from
his body was too much. As they were about to leave the river, Lam-ang noticed a giant
crocodile. He dove back into the water and engaged with the creature in a fierce fight
until the creature was subdued. He brought it ashore and instructed the ladies to pull its
teeth to serve as amulets against danger during journeys.

Back at Cannoyans house, he was confronted by her parents with an inquiry as to what
his real intention was. He had to set aside his alibi that he went there to ask Cannoyan
and her friends to accompany him to the river, and told them, through his spokesman -
the cock - that he came to ask for Cannoyans hand in marriage. He was told that if he
desired to marry Cannoyan, he must first be able to match their wealth, for which he
willingly complied. Having satisfied her parents, he went home to his mother and
enjoined her and his townspeople to attend his wedding which was to take place in
Cannoyans town.

The wedding was elaborate, an event that involved practically everyone in town. There
were fireworks, musical band, and display of attractive items like the glasses, the mirror,
the slippers, clothes and nice food. After the wedding, Lam-angs party plus his wife and
her town mates went back to their town of Nalbuan, where festivities were resumed.
The guests expressed a desire to taste a delicacy made of rarang fish.

Lam-ang was obliged to go to the sea and catch the fish. Before going, however, his
rooster warned that something unpleasant was bound to happen. This warning proved
true, as Lam-ang was swallowed by a big bercacan, or shark-like fish. Cannoyan
mourned and for a while she thought there was no way to retrieve her lost husband. But
the rooster indicated that if only all the bones could be gathered back, Lam-ang could
be brought to life again.

She then enlisted the aid of a certain diver named Marcus, who was ready to come to
her aid to look for the bones. When all Lam-angs bones were gathered, the rooster
crowed and the bones moved. The dog barked, and Lam-ang arose and was finally
resurrected. Cannoyan embraced him. For his deep appreciation for the help of his pets
- the cock and the dog - and of Marcus the diver, he promised that each other would get
his or its due reward. And they lived happily ever after.