An important work in Bicol that tells about civilization before the Spanish conquest is the "Ibalon" epic. It is a pre-colonial oral epic that narrates the adventures, culture, and beliefs of the early Bicolanos. The Ibalon epic describes how the early inhabitants lived, their struggles against natural calamities and monsters, and how they established their communities. It gives us a glimpse of their way of life, social organization, and values before Spanish influence.