Maria Makiling is the Diwata or the guardian of Mount Makiling in Laguna Philippines. Some people say that the mountain resembles Maria Makiling lying down. Her head and breasts are said to be some of the mountain peaks. She was believed to be very beautiful and a woman that never gets old. Some say that she was light brown skin (morena) and black eyes and sparkling eyes. The mist also believed to resemble Makiling. Some say it's because of her white skin but others say it's her lacey dress. Sometimes travelers have mistaken this mist to be Maria Makiling.
It is believed that if a man disappeared in the forest, that man was taken by Makiling because she has fallen in love with him. It is also believed that a person can eat anything he likes in the forest but he can never take any of it home. If the person tries to take it home, he is at risk of making Makiling mad and he will get lost and be cursed inside the forest. The only thing the person then do is leave the fruit behind and wear its clothes inside out to prove they are not carrying any fruits from the forest anymore.
Her story is said all over the province. It is believed that she turns the ginger to gold to help the natives and is said that she used to visit regularly to socialize with the villagers and that she leaves near the village like a normal person. But when some of the greedy people from the village break into her house, she got angry and runs up the mountain.
Maria Makiling fell in love with a hunter that is hunting in the forest Soon, the two became lovers but soon Maria Makiling found out that this man fell in love with another woman and married that woman. Maria Makiling was hurt and realizes that she can't trust people because she's different and that people are just using her in their benefits. She got angry and refused to give fruits to the trees and she let animals catch hunters who went inside the forest. Some stories also say that Makiling fell in love with a farmer and that farmer was forced to an arranged marriage so he can stay safe at the village when armies came to their village recruiting unmarried men. And there's also a story that Makiling has three suitors: a Spanish soldier, a Spanish mestizo studying in Manila, and Juan who was a common farmer. The two suitors framed Juan for setting fire to a Spanish barracks. He shouted Maria's name when he was shot by Spaniards. Maria then quickly came down the mountains and the two Spanish suitors escaped to Manila in fear of Maria's rage. She cursed the two suitors along with all men that cannot accept failure in love. The two suitors soon died.
Mount Makiling is still an outstanding view and still has many superstitions surrounding it. It is said that sudden rain when travelers are noisy around the area. And say that sudden noise is heard in the mountain that symbolizes Makiling's emotions
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