The Gaddang Legends in the Lens of Structuralist View

Gaddang literatures as part of the Gaddangs' cultural heritage depict the Gaddangs' ways of life as people, along with work, fun, and frustrations. This study aimed to analyze and interpret the Gaddang literature particularly the legends. This provides a broad interdisciplinary understanding on regional culture and to determine the functionality and significance of the Gaddangs in the province of Isabela. It describes the narrative functions employing the methods by Vladimir Propp as to how the selected Gaddang legends be read in terms of narrative structure, and how these selected literary works be used to inculcate Gaddang identity and worldview. The common narrative functions found were: meditation, exposure, delivery and punishment. The Gaddang legends reflect the historical improvements in their being. The legends have become functional in the conservancy and transmission of the Gaddang culture. Through them, the Gaddangs have been cognizant of Magat, Battalan, Bayun, and all their legendary heroes who epitomize their beliefs and unconventional behavior. In Cauayan City, the Gaddang literatures were preserved and have historical value. It is then compulsory to look back into the richness of the oral literary past in which traditional values, traits and cultural practices are reflected.