Philippine literature, The Story of Maria Makiling

The Story of Maria Makiling

Based on many tells about how the story happens about a fairy who fall inlove with a hunter who become the cause of her anger as she knew that the man had a wife.

Long ago in Mt. Makiling, a place located in Laguna, Philippines. There lived a beautiful mysterious woman named Maria Makiling. She was believed as a fairy, a goddess, a nymph or anything that made her identity into extraordinary dweller of the place. She was a daughter of Gat Panahon and Dayang Makiling who was also known in the place.

Maria has extraordinary beauty. Her long, black and abundant hair grows very long that was said to be up to her heel decorated with pomelo flowers as it extends downward. She has a beautiful bright eyes which makes her become attractive. She was admired even on her fellow women who loved to see her. She is tall and she was always wearing white dress as she wanted to appear to everyone.

People often see her as she goes down to buy everything she needed along with her two helpers that carries all things they have brought. As people saw her, they bowed down to greet her.

One day, a young hunter named Juan was lost in the forest and wondered and saw the hut where Maria lived. He gets into the house to ask which way to go out from the forest. Maria lets him get inside the house to eat for she found out that the man was thirsty and starving. The man fall inlove with Maria. They have developed an affection until they became lover.

But one day, one of the villager approached to Maria and tells her that the young man was married. For an unknown reason, Maria suddenly stopped appearing to anyone. The only remembrance of Maria is the mountain as people always saw her setting beside the river under the moonlight with her long black hair. Until then, Maria's existence still remains mysterious and no one knows the reason of her sudden lost.