2012, March 30. Maria Makiling,
Guardian of the Forests (Philippine Folklores and Legends)
Litho Offset.
Amstar Company, Inc. Perf 13 1/2
Singles, Sheets of 100 (10 x 10)
MARIA MAKILING - GUARDIAN OF THE FOREST
(Philippine Folklores and
Legends)
Maria Makiling, sometimes spelled Mariang Makiling has a special
place in the hearts of the Filipinos, particularly those who live in
Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. She is a guardian of the mountain,
responsible for protecting its beauty and a benefactor for the
townspeople who depend on the mountain resources.
Maria Makiling is a legend, a story and a well-known figure of
Filipino folklore that was told by many generations. In Philippine
Mythology, she was described as a fairy or forest nymph (diwata in
Tagalog) associated with Mount Makiling. Her home is an inactive
volcano, located between the provinces of Batangas and Laguna in
southern Luzon. Oftentimes, it is said that Mount Makiling resembles
the figure of a woman, said to be Maria herself. The mountain’s
various peaks are said to be Maria’s face and two breasts,
respectively and her hair cascades downwards a gentle slope away
from her body. This wonder is set out to be true from different
perspective.
According to the general belief, Maria Makiling is a young woman who
never ages. She was tall and graceful. Her color was a clear, pure
brown, “kayumanging kaligatan”, as the Tagalogs say and she has a
long shining black hair and twinkling eyes. She was described as a
fantastic creature, breathtakingly beautiful and was sought by many
suitors and was said to be more than compassionate.
There are many tales told about this guardian spirit. Most of them
are about how she helps the poor and the sick. The most common story
is the one written by Dr. Jose Rizal, Philippine National Hero. It
is about her, turning the ginger into gold to help a hunter. In this
version, she gave him some pieces of ginger. She told him to give
them to his wife for her cooking. On the way home his hat felt heavy
and took out some pieces. He was surprised and sorry the next day
when his wife discovered that what they had taken to be ginger was a
solid gold. People seldom saw her, and those times when she could be
seen were often only during pale moonlit nights.
Mount Makiling is still covered with the mysteries and superstitions
concerning Makiling. When people get lost on the mountain the
disappearances are still attributed to the diwata. The unusual
weather patterns on the mountain are also often associated to Maria
Makiling. She has been a common theme among Filipino artists. One
prominent depiction of Maria Makiling can be found on the Seal of
the Municipality of Los Baños, Laguna. It depicts Maria Makiling in
the foreground with the mountain in the background and water
(representing Laguna de Bay) at her feet.
At present, Mount Makiling serves as one of the best destinations
for hikers and a natural laboratory to study Science. Maria Makiling
may or may not be a true forest nymph but its lore may be as
majestic as Mount Makiling.