MAHARADIA LAWANA, the Maranao Epic

The Maranao people, also spelled Meranao, Maranaw, and Mëranaw, is the term used by the Philippine government to refer to the southern indigenous people who are the “people of the lake”, a predominantly-Muslim Lanao province region of the Philippine island of Mindanao. They are known for their artwork, weaving, wood, plastic and metal crafts and epic literature. They are ethnically and culturally closely related to the Iranun, and Maguindanao, all three groups being denoted as speaking Danao languages and giving name to the island of Mindanao.

“Maharadia Lawana,” as recorded in 1968, is a prose tale in Maranaw/ Maranao (from Lanao del Sur) whose text was already in madrasa when it first came to the attention of Juan R. Francisco. This was in the summer of 1968 when Prof. Francisco arrived in Lanao to conduct a research project. The text was shown to him by Dr. Mamitua Saber of the Mindanao State University, who had taken it down from Bai Pamoki of Taraka, Lanao del Sur.

Since Prof. Francisco was studying Maranaw, he asked his teacher, Nagasura T. Madale, to allow him to use the tale as his translation exercise. The professor would translate for three to four hours each night and the following morning his teacher would check on his work. By the time the professor was through with the field work of his research project, he was also through with the rough translation of “Maharadia Lawana.” He polished his effort when he returned to Lanao in September 1968 and finished it when his teacher, Mr. Mada/e, joined him in Diliman the following year.

Francisco believed that the Ramayana narrative arrived in the Philippines some time between the 17th to 19th centuries, via interactions with Javanese and Malaysian cultures which traded extensively with India.

By the time it was documented in the 1960s, the character names, place names, and the precise episodes and events in Maharadia Lawana’s narrative already had some notable differences from those of the Ramayana. Francisco believed that this was a sign of “indigenization”, and suggested that some changes had already been introduced in Malaysia and Java even before the story was heard by the Maranao, and that upon reaching the Maranao homeland, the story was “further indigenized to suit Philippine cultural perspectives and orientations.”

This epic has been posted as supplemental material for a comparative study done regarding multi-headed beings in Philippine Myth and Epics.  A connecting thread is often the Hindu epic Ramayana, the Story of Rama, about a prince and his long hero’s journey.  Ramayana is one of the world’s great epics. It began in India and spread among many countries throughout Asia. Its text is a major thread in the culture, religion, history, and literature of millions. Through its study, teachers come to understand how people lived and what they believed and valued. As the story became embedded into the culture of Southeast Asian countries, each created its own version reflecting the culture’s specific values and beliefs. As a result, there are literally hundreds of versions of the story of Rama throughout Asia, especially Southeast Asia.

Maharadia Lawana

1 Many hundreds of years ago there lived in Pulu Bandiarmasir, a sultan and his sultaness, who had a son with seven heads. The son, who was named Maharadia Lawana, did nothing but gossip among the townspeople and because of this, many people disliked him. One of his heads would tell someone that so and so said these vile things about him and then another head would accost another person and say that this fellow had cursed him and so on. Those who were short of patience naturally became irritated or troublesome and invariably, the vexations would end in the death of someone.

2 The Muna sa Kalalagan went to the palace one day to present the complaints of the people against Maharadia Lawana. “If you.do not correct him, you will have the prospect of a forsaken kingdom,” he warned.

3 The Sultan replied, “Plead to my people not to leave because I will not bear children who will destroy my kingdom and wreck the peace of Bandiarmasir. This is my order: build a raft and let Maharadia Lawana be driven away to the ocean.”

4 A raft with a shelter was made and provisions were put aboard. Maharadia Lawana was persuaded to go on board and then a ship pulled the raft to the middle of the sea. There, the raft was untied and left to drift with the wind.

5 After several days and nights on the sea, Maharadia Lawana felt his raft run aground. He stood up to investigate and seeing that he stood on the shore of an island, he went down and tied his raft to a tree. The island was Pulu Nagara. Then he gathered all the leaves he could find in the island and piled them together until the mound became higher than any tree in Pulu Nagara. Next he climbed up a tree, perched on a branch, and threw fire into. the mound of leaves. When the leaves started to crackle, Maharadia Lawana raised himself as in a sacrifice and cried out, “Oh, my Lord, what good is there to life if the world is chained to all sins?”

6 The Voice heard him and it spoke, “Diabarail, go to Maharadia Lawana posthaste and tell him not to burn himself for none which causes death shall kill him. In the heart of Bandiarmasir, there is a whetstone and whatsoever tool will be sharpened upon it, that alone will kill him.”

7 In a flash Diabarail appeared before Maharadia Lawana and stopped him from sacrificing himself. The outcast descended from his perch and went aboard his raft again. He untied the leash and drifted with the strong winds until one night he found himself in Bandiarmasir once more.

8 When the people saw him, they rushed to the Sultan at once but the Sultan said, “Because Maharadia Lawana arrived, it is his fate not to die. It is bad to impose another punishment upon him. Even if it happens that all of us will perish, I will not send him away another time. It is not my wish that my son who was given to me by God be lost.”

9 In another kingdom not very far away, the two sons of the Sultan and Sultaness of Agama Niog asked their parents to allow them to journey to Pulu Nabandai, whose princess was known far and wide for her incomparable beauty. They were Radia Mangandiri and his younger brother, Radia Mangawama. The princess’ name was Tuwan Potre Malano Tihaia, sometimes also known as Potre Malaila Ganding. The Sultan and Sultaness, however, objected because Pulu Nabandai is ten years away by ship but Radia Mangawarna argued, “Father, Mother, are we women, who cannot leave house and whose destiny will come to them? If you keep on restricting us, we won’t be able to get married.”

10 The Sultan was convinced, so he said, “Because you do not wish to be detained, you wait. It is really true that if a man is kept in the house, he becomes a woman. We will construct a strong ship because the current between Pulu Bandiarmasir and Pulu Nabandai is very strong. Many currents meet there. If a ship is just ordinary, it will be wrecked.”

11 Then he ordered the agong to be struck and in no time his people appeared like returning ants. They commenced the building of a ship and when it was finished, they loaded it with all kinds of wealth, all kinds of brassware, and all kinds of food to last ten years. They also gathered the strongest men in the kingdom and put them aboard. The ship was indeed a floating palace. The people gathered together as it moved away from its moorings and praised Allah to the rhythm of the gongs. They stood there until they could no longer see the sails of the ship.

12 All was well with the two brothers until they reached the sea between Bandiarmasir and Pulu Nabandai. The waves in that part of the sea turned out to be as high as mountains and these battered the ship unceasingly until it fell apart. Everybody drowned, except the two brothers who had clung to a bit of wreckage. They floated on and on until they became unconscious and their backs became full of seaweeds.

13 One morning, which was a Friday, Kabaian, who lived by the sea, went to look for shells and ferns. While she was thus occupied on the shore, she came upon a piece of wood covered with seaweeds. She stood and stared at it, sometimes advancing, sometimes retreating, until she realized that what appeared as seaweed was in reality human skin. She removed the clothes on the two bodies and said to herself, “These clothes belong to noble people. I will take good care of them so that God as well as their parents will repay me.”

14 She lifted them a bit and feeling their navels still warm, she removed her malong and covered them. Then she ran to her house and called to the women to give her hot water. She bathed the two men and spooned what was left of the water into their mouths. After a few seconds they began to breathe.

15 A few days later, after the two men had already regained their strength, an air of excitement, coupled with music-making, called their attention. A great number of people were hurrying to town and curiously, Radia Mangandiri asked, “Mother Kabaian, what is that music playing in town?”

16 “Oh, that is Potre Malano Tihaia, the daughter of the Sultan. She will be given in marriage to anyone who can kick the sipa up to her lamin.”

17 Radia Mangawarna said, “Brother, let us go and see.”

18 “Do not go yet since I still have to sew your clothes,” Kabaian interposed.

19 “But Mother Kabaian,” Radia Mangawarna insisted, “Don’t you know that it is bad for a man to always stay in the house? He might become a woman. Even though our clothes are rags, allow us to watch the festival in town.”

20 “All right, since you do not wish to listen to me, you must wait until I can get you some decent clothes.”

21 The brothers went down to practice on their sipa. When they were ready, they proceeded to town, with the two of them taking both sides of the road and kicking the sipa to and fro between them until they reached the palace gates.

22 Two datus, who were also brothers, were already playing when they arrived. Radia Mangandiri and Radia Mangawarna smiled at them but the two misunderstood them for they saw the newcomers play while they were approaching. They thought that the new arrivals were laughing at their performance, so they stopped and sat on a bench.

23 Just then the Sultan of Nabandai looked out of the window and when he saw that nobody was playing, he called his chief minister and asked him to inquire. When the minister returned, he informed the Sultan that the game stopped because Radia M,agaiag and Radia Mangarib felt that the two newcomers were laughing at them. The Sultan then told the minister, “Tell the newcomers that they should continue the game.”

24 Radia Mangawarna played first and as he played, he screamed to give vent to his enthusiasm. The crowd was delighted and everyone agreed that he was an expert. Radia Mangawarna went round and round the yard and as he did so, his handkerchief flicked behind him and it would whip Radia Magaiag. When he became tired, he kicked the sipa towards his brother, who likewise amused the spectators no end with his versatility. He also played the sipa screaming around and even the ladies who (lid not show their faces looked out of the window. Like his younger brother, his handkerchief would also flick each time he kicked and it would whip Radia Mangarib. After turning around the yard three times, he kicked the ball so hard that it went into the lamin.

25 The women with the princess recovered the rattan ball, cut a betel nut into pieces and put them inside the ball. The princess herself took her ring, her handkerchief, and her betel nut case and placed them inside. Then the ball was thrown back into the yard. It fell exactly where Radia Mangandiri was. He took the ring, the handkerchief, and the betel case but he scattered the pieces of betel nut in the yard. The crowd rushed to pick up the betel pieces while the two brothers went home to Kabaian.

26 When the commotion subsided, some people held up two, some three pieces of betel nut and they argued among themselves, saying that they were the ones who kicked the sipa to the lamin. The disputes became so heated that it seemed as if a fight was about to break out, so the Sultan went down and said, “Do not fight because I am not convinced by the betel nut. Anyone who can produce the ring, the handkerchief, and the betel nut case of my daughter, is the one who kicked the sipa to the lamin.

27 Since nobody could produce any of the three items, everybody went back to his ship. After three days, they returned with all kinds of rings, handkerchiefs, and betel cases. The Sultan brought them to his daughter but Potre Malano Tihaia said, “Remove these things here, for these are not mine. I suggest that if you plan to search for my ring, handkerchief, and betel case, look for them within the kingdom.”

28 The slaves were sent to hunt for the property of the princess in the kingdom but they returned empty-handed. When Friday came, the Sultan took a walk on the seashore as was his wont. But as a change from his routine, he went up the house of Kabaian who warmly welcomed him. When the Sultan turned, his daughter’s handkerchief and betel case hanging from a peg on the wall caught his eyes and he asked, “Whose are those?”

29 Kabaian replied, “Radia Mangandiri, I think.”

30 “Kabaian, these are the things I’m looking for,” the Sultan said.

31 Fearfully, Kabaian excused herself and hid but not long after the two brothers appeared at the door “Why, Datu, you are here!” they exclaimed. “Mother Kabaian, has he been served already?”

32 “I am ashamed to give him betel chew because my case is dirty.”

33 Radia Mangandiri brought out his case and as he did so, the Sultan saw his daughter’s ring flashing on his third finger. After the Sultan had taken his chew, Radia Mangandiri continued, “Datu, how come you paid us a visit? Our humble home is truly honored.”

34 “I came to invite you, Radia Mangandiri, with your ring, handkerchief, and betel case.”

35 While they were already walking towards the palace, the Sultan stayed behind Radia Mangandiri, while Radia Mangawarna brought up the rear. It turned out that the Sultan was studying the movements of Radia Mangandiri and after a while he became convinced that the Radia was indeed a refine person.

36 When they arrived, the Sultan said, “Radia Mangandiri, I think you should do your ablutions since, you are going to be wed.”

37 After the Radia was through, he was followed by the Imam. The Bai of Pulu Nabandai, however, said, “I will not have Radia Mangandiri wed if my vow is not fulfilled. My vow is that whoever kills the big snake in the mountain to the east will be wed to Tuwan Potre Malanao Ganding. This snake is so big that when the sun shines, its rays do not show. When you go there, Radia Magandiri, take care for many did and they met their end. If you are fortunate, it is doubtless that you will be married.”

38 Radia Mangawarna responded, “Now that the vow of the Sultan of Nabandai has been said, it is fitting that the vow of the Bai be fulfilled. Even if the size of the snake is half of the world, we’ll do it.”

39 Immediately the brothers went down and returned to Kabaian. They made bows and arrows and then left to climb the mountain. It did not take them long to find the snake which was asleep. Since Radia Mangandiri felt that it would be cowardly to kill man or beast while it was asleep, they climbed up the lawaan tree and waited. “It will soon smell us and wake up. You aim for the right eye and I will aim for the left,” Radia Mangandiri told his brother.

40 Soon enough the snake smelled them and when it looked up, the brothers trained their arrows at its eyes and gouged them out. It moved like a chicken and then later died.

41 “I will not believe until I see the bloating body of the snake,” the Sultaness announced.

42 “Let us wait till seven days and then you will see,” Radia Mangawarna answered.

43 On the third day, they saw that the mountain appeared bigger and on the seventh they could no longer bear the stench of the decaying snake.

44 “All right,” the Sultaness said, “look for Radia Mangandiri and tell him to remove the snake lest we be poisoned.”

45 The two brothers were assisted by the Sultan’s men but they still could not budge it. Thus they cut it into pieces and brought its parts to the sea. It took them seven days to finish and after they were through, the sun rose early in Pulu Nabandai. Radia Mangandiri was wed on that same day.

46 The newly-weds were indeed very happy but after a few days, Radia Mangandiri felt homesick for his parents and Agama Niog. One morning, when he could not find the appetite to eat anymore, his wife said, “Why don’t you go and visit your parents?”

47 Radia Mangandiri looked at her and replied, “And leave you here?”

48 “We can go to Father and Mother and ask them to let me go with you.”

49 The Sultan .consented but he said, “It is lawful for a man to bring his wife to his village when he marries. But I feel sad because it is dangerous to go by boat. The currents meet between that kingdom and mine.”

50 “If you are anxious about our safety, then we will walk,” offered Radia Mangawarna.

51 “I will not allow you to walk. I will have a covered carriage constructed so that you can ride.”

52 The carriage was built, the things of the princes were loaded on it, and much food was stored. Half of the men of Pulo Nabandai attended on the royal party. While they were traveling, however, Radia Mangandiri saw a spot which he liked very much, so he ordered the men to halt.

53 He looked around and said, “We stay here. The land is very fertile.” He had the men cut wood, gather rattan, and build a house. Then he told them to plow the land, plant crops and they waited for the harvest. At this turn of mind of the Radia, many servants left but the trusted ones remained.

54 As the days sped by, the couple would look out of the window and watch the palay ripen. One afternoon, after they had said their prayers, Potre Malaila Ganding saw a deer with golden horns grazing in the cogonal area. She pointed it out to her husband and told him, “Radia Mangandiri, if you cannot get that deer for me, I will die.”

55 “Why do you have to die? It is good that we get it, so that our prestige in the bangsa will rise.” He called his brother and said, “Do not leave Potre Malaila Ganding. Even if I beg for help, do not leave her.”

56 When Radia Mangandiri approached the deer, it. attacked him and they struggled. Realizing that it was no ordinary deer and that he could not subdue it, he cried out to his brother but his brother did not succor him. Potre Malaila Ganding said, “Radia Mangawarna, you help your brother!” But Radia Mangawarna did not move. Not long after, Radia Mangandiri shouted, “Radia Mangawarna, how can you endure watching me in a situation like this!”

57 Radia Mangawarna stood up and told his brother’s wife, “Potre Malaila Ganding, when I go down, close the windows. Whoever comes, do not open.”

58 When the deer saw Radia Mangawarna, it retreated and then ran away. The two brothers gave chase and seeing that there were already two deer, they ran after each. When darkness fell, they lost track of both. From the seventh range of the mountain where they lost the two deer, Radia Mangawarna ran around and around and then he found himself approaching the house.

59 When he arrived, the women were crying and he asked, “Why?”

60 “Potre Malaila Ganding is gone,” they chorused. “She was taken by Maharadia Lawana of the seven heads.”

61 Turning around, Radia Mangawarna saw that a wall of the house had been destroyed. He immediately realized that the deer they were running after was Maharadia Lawana in disguise. He rushed back to the mountain to look for his brother. He searched and searched but his brother was nowhere. Tears welled in his eyes because he was starting to fear that his brother might have been devoured by a beast.

62 He carried on with the search, nevertheless, and at length he reached a river. He swam across but the current was very strong and because he already felt exhausted, he fainted and was carried away. His hand, however, got caught in a root of a tree and his head lifted a little. Soon he regained consciousness and he rose. Going up a gindolongan tree to survey the surrounding area, he espied a man sleeping and sweating profusely. He went down and quietly approached him. “Probably this is my kaka because when my kaka sleeps, his perspiration seems like rolling stars.” He did not wake him up though, but just sat close by.

63 Meanwhile Radia Mangandiri, the sleeping man, was having a dream and in it he fought a carabao. During the fight one of his testicles was thrown to the east. Thinking that it was a precious stone, Potre Langawi, Queen of the East, swallowed it. Not long after , she became pregnant and she gave birth to a monkey-child. It was named Laksamana.

64 Just then, Radia Mangandiri woke up and feeling his private parts, he found that he really lacked one and it seemed to hurt. He sat up and seeing his brother, he embraced him and they wept together.

65 After a while Radia Mangawarna told him. “I have been looking for you because the deer that we were running after was really Maharadia Lawana of seven heads. When we lost track of it, it went to our house, destroyed one of the walls, and ran away with Potre Malaila Ganding to Pulu Bandiarmasir.”

66 “Oh, why did I follow a woman’s mind?” Radia Mangandiri cried out as he placed a hand to his forehead. “I do not know how we can attack Bandiarmasir since we have no men, no arms, and no ships!” Then he fainted.

67 While these things were taking place, the monkey-child, Laksamana, was asking his mother who his father was. “I don’t know,” she answered.

68 “What do you mean, ‘I don’t know’? You mean I was born without a father? That is very strange.”

69 “Oh, will you stop asking?” his mother angrily retorted. “I said I don’t know and that is enough!”

70  Laksamana did not say anything anymore and went to the window. Feeling hungry, he said to himself, “I have consumed all the fruits in the forest. Now, what shall I eat?” Looking out, he saw something red in the west and thinking that it was food, he began jumping from tree to tree. On his way, however, he slipped and he fell right between Radia Mangandiri and Radia Mangawarna.

71 “Father, uncle, what is bothering you? What made you cry?” Laksamana asked.

72 Radia Mangandiri ignored the monkey, so Radia Mangawarna said, “Why is this monkey calling you father and me, uncle? We might be enchanted.” Both became afraid but they did not say anything.

73 The monkey repeated, “Father, uncle, do tell me and you are not enchanted.”

74 Radia Mangawarna turned to his brother, “Answer him, brother. Even though he is an animal, it is bad if you do not answer.”

75 The monkey again said, “If you tell me, I may be of help.” Facing Radia Mangandiri, he continued, “I am your son by Potre Langawi.”

76 Then Radia Mangandiri remembered his dream and he said, “That is true. What bothers me is my wife, Potre Malaila Ganding, daughter of the Sultan of Pulu Nabandai. She was abducted by Maharadia Lawana of seven heads and brought back to Bandiarmasir. The kidnapping happened because he changed himself into a deer with golden horns. And now we cannot attack because we have no men and no weapons.”

77 “Do not despair,” Laksamana assured him. “I will help you.”

78 “Laksamana, we cannot fight them. We are only three.”

79 “Father, many can attack and few can also attack. Do not worry for I will call all my carabao-subjects in the forest. Wait for me.”

80 When Laksamana reappeared with his carabaos, he said, “Father, help us gather rattan.” When they were through, rattan could be seen on the entire slope of the mountain. They tied the rattan together and holding the other end of the rattan. Laksamana said, “Father, support me on the palm of your hand.”

81 “Let the mountain be your support.”

82 Laksamana went to the mountain and stood on its top, but it fell apart. He went back to his father and repeated his request. His father held out his palm and standing on it, Laksamana leaped and landed on Bandiarmasir. He tied the rattan to a gindolongan tree and went back and forth between the two banks of a rivet. After some time, a bridge took form. “No, father, we cross to the other end, where they are having a festival to console Potre Malaila Ganding. Everytime Maharadia Lawana tries to go near her, a fire, reaching up to the roof, appears.”

83 While they were crossing, however, the bridge of rattan swayed to and fro and they all fell into the river. The crocodiles, infesting the river, swarmed around them but they fought the reptiles and while they were fighting, the king crocodile tried to devour Liiksamana but he could not swallow him. At length Laksamana said, “King of the crocodiles, do your best for you are about to die!” Then he took hold of the crocodile’s eyes and forced them out. The king crocodile cried out, “Stop it! I surrender to you.”

84 Then Laksamana answered, “I am your king now. I order you and your followers to bring us to the other side and help us fight.”

85 Big and small crocodiles came up and carried them across. The carabaos also swam and ·after they had assembled, Laksamana spoke, “My orders are — crocodiles, when the fight has begun, all the people of Bandiarmasir, who run to the river, eat them! Father, and you, my carabao-subjects, stay here. I go ashore to let them know that today, we fight!”

86 Laksamana left and proceeded to the palace. There he saw that a fire immediately sprang up when Maharadia Lawana approached Potre Malaila Ganding. Sitting on the bed, Laksamana said, “Maharadia Lawana, why does the fire separate you and Potre Maila Ganding?”

87 “Monkey, this has happened since we were together.”

88 “That is because her parents did not consent to your marriage.”

89 “I abducted her from Radia Mangandiri.”

90 “That is true,” Laksamana answered. “In fact I was sent by Radia Mangandiri to fight you and right now he is waiting for you by the river.”

91 The monkey went over to Potre Mailala Ganding on the other side of the fire and told her, “Prepare betel chew for Radia Mangandiri. Since we arrived, he has not chewed.”

92 “Me too.”

93 Then Laksamana brought Potre Malaila Ganding to the river and ordered his carabaos to the village. “Kill all men, women, and. children! You, crocodiles, those who will come, eat them!”

94 The wise men rushed to Maharadia Lawana and told him what had happened. Grabbing his kampilan, Maharadia Lawana leaped and ran after the carabaos and attacked them right and left. When he saw Radia Mangawarna, he engaged him in combat and the Radia fought back. He could not overcome Maharadia Lawana, however, and so Radia Mangandiri took his brother’s sword and relieved him, Still he could not defeat Maharadia Lawana. Seeing that his father could not kill his opponent, Laksamana took the kampilan of his father and sharpened it on a whetstone nearby. Then he gave the kampilan to Radia Mangawarna who went back to the fight.

95 At length Radia Mangawarna announced, “Maharadia Lawana, if you value the world and its pleasures, surrender!”

96 Maharadia Lawana answered, “You double your efforts for I will not surrender.”

97 Radia Mangawarna then pulled his brother aside and fought. In no time he hit Maharadia Lawana fatally and the man with the seven heads collapsed.

98 Now it has been twenty years since the two brothers left their palace in Agama Njog. Laksamana said, “I will bring you back to Agama Niog.” ‘

99 “How?” his father asked.

100 “We ride on the backs of the crocodiles.”

101 Each of them chose a crocodile whose back suited him and for Potre Malaila Ganding, they selected the king crocodile. Small and big crocodiles escorted them. As they neared Agama Niog, the waters rose as if whipped by strong winds. The people became terrified. Just then, the thousands of carabaos began rising from the sea and the forest shook. In their fright, the people shouted, “Slaughter all your animals for it’s the end of the world. Take your last chance to eat!”

102 While all these things were taking place, Radia Mangawarna appeared anxious, so Laksamana said, “Do not worry, I’ll calm the people.” Then the monkey leaped ashore and proclaimed, “O people, do not be afraid. You will soon meet Radia Mangandiri, Radia Mangawarna, and Potre Malaila Ganding, daughter of the Sultan of Nabandai.”

103 In relief, the people shouted with joy and they brought out the royal carriage and the royal chair. After the initial glad tidings were over, the people cleaned and festooned Agama Niog for a big festival. To cap it all, Laksamana was transformed into a tall, dark, and handsome datu. **

* In the primary source, Maharadia Lawana has eight heads at the start of the story, but since the narrative gives no reason why he lost one head, the author dropped the reference and mentions only seven heads all throughout for consistency.

 

SOURCE:
Adapted from .Juan R. Francisco, Maharadia Lawana (Quezon City: Philippine Folklore Society, 1969) https://www.asj.upd.edu.ph/mediabox/archive/ASJ-07-02-1969/franciso-maharadia%20lawana.pdf