The Legend of Maria Makiling

Faith Esquillo 5D

Maria Makiling is a myster ious fa i r y w h o g u a r d s M t . M a k i l i n g . I t i s believed she is as old as the mountain itself. There were few people who h a v e s e e n h e r wondering around the thick forest of M a k i l i n g , w i t h brown skin, deep black eyes and with a very long hair and tall and graceful.

Maria Makiling usually appears after a storm she also strolls around the woods to check on the broken trunks, replace nests on the branches of trees, m e n d t h e w i n g s o f butterflies and clear the streams of fallen twigs and logs.

Maria Makiling is known for being kind-hearted. She loves helping people who needs her help. She is also generous for she loves giving gifts to people that she invites to her house. These gifts are so magical because they turn into gold once they open it at home. Those people who experienced Maria Makiling's generosity knows well how to repay her kindness. Some of them gave her white hens because they are her favorite treats.

Maria Makiling loves disguising as an old woman because she wants to test their kindness of people around her. But as time went by people saw less of Maria Maki l ing. She no longer appears to people to bring them gifts of gold and jewels. Hunters have no one to turn when they are hungry and thirsty.

Many blame Maria Makiling's disappearance from the forest on the people who do not return her generosity. Many people say that cutting of trees and of hunting of wild animals made Maria Makiling disappointed and has decide not to come out anymore.

One day Maria Makiling invited a hunter to have supper and a place to rest for the night. The hunter felt humbled because of Maria's kindness, and she still found in her heart to be gracious. The hunter made a vow to Maria that he will no longer hunt and living creatures in her mountain ever again, or cut trees from its forest.

She was pleased for what she heard, Maria gave the hunter a "salakot" or buri hat filled with ginger, to take home for his wife. When he went home, he opened his backpack to get the heavy burden off his back. The "salakot" fell off with a heavy thud and became golden nuggets instead of ginger.

However, sometimes the hunter forgets his way going home. And what they just remembered that there was a beautiful lady who fed and gave them a place to rest. And also other hunters have a chance

Filipino literature is rich with their myths and legends. So the story of Maria Makiling was also intended to scare. And her story also gives a lesson to other people.