The Legend of Maria Makiling
Many who have lived in Los Baños, Laguna have a special place in their heart for THE mountain. Bundok Makiling. Mt. Makiling. The cradle where Los Baños lies. Where mossy forests stand strong, and hot springs abound. The home of the lady Maria Makiling.
Who is she, this woman for whom the mountain was named? She’s a legend. She’s a story. She’s a well-known figure of Filipino folklore.
According to eyewitness, she was a young woman, tall and graceful with big black eyes and long and abundant hair. Her color was a clear pure brown, the kayumangging kaligatan, as the Tagalog say. Her hands and feet were small and delicate and the expression of her countenance always grave and serious. She was a fantastic creature, half nymph, halves sylph, born under the moonbeams of Filipinas, in the mystery of its ancient woods, to the murmur of the waves on the neighboring shore. According to general belief, and contrary to the reputation imputed to the nymphs and goddesses, Mariang Makiling always remained pure, simple, and mysterious as the genius of the mountain. An old maid servant we had, an Amazon who defended her house against the outlaws and once killed once of them with a lance thrust, assured me that she had in her childhood seen her passing in the distance over the reed grass so lightly and airily that she did not even make the flexible blades bend.
There are many tales told about her. Do you know of any more stories about Maria Makiling?
credit: as retold by Dr. Jose Rizal
Tags: Los Baños, Laguna, Mt. Makiling, Maria Makiling, Philippine folklore, Philippine legends
62 Comments
didn’t she have an affair with oble?
just kidding… a contemporary story passed around during our college days…
yeah, and in his anguish that they can’t be together, he tore up his clothes and cried out to the gods, who immortalized him as the “guardian” of UPLB
… much to the delight of hundreds of other girls 
and to the jealousy of Maria. HAHAHA
I’ve forgotten about that! Thanks for reminding me, Ruth!
Didn’t their statues supposedly had trysts in the middle of the night? :O … another topic for another post maybe.
[...] My recent post about Maria Makiling made me realize how there is always a landmark that brings back warm thoughts of our hometowns. For me, it’s Mt. Makiling. [...]
[...] to normalcy a bit difficult. Add to the fact that I’m sad to have said goodbye once more to Mt. Makiling, which cradles my home and people I love. But I’m getting back to a routine slowly, and am [...]
yeah………..i think its not true coz its only a legend
why does this legend have many versions??
She’s great
Wala koy alamag ana.
wala koy alamag ana………
mmmmm……i love the story!!!!!!
50{ph}BoRdZ
Is it true Maria curses those unlucky in love? If I go to Mt. Makiling and plead my case with her will my life get better, or will I just be laughed and pointed at by the locals?
why is she mad at the people?
hi,i need someone who can help me to find my friend name CRISTY URUGA shes living near by the mt.of maria makiling.please help me to find her
i din’t know this legend before.
) i mean, i know Mt. Makiling but not the story behind it. yeah, the legend thingo. i find it quite interesting. and know what, i kinda believed it, hella weird 
) but yeah, they said din kasi diba na the mountain is Maria’s body in lying position. so isn’t it quite disturbing?! oh gosh, i’m disturbed haha 
well anyhow. whatever
i like that
lht ng mga nagkakalat ay kanyang nililigaw…
Do you have any Tagalog version of the Legend of Maria Makiling?
Its a very interesting story. but i could find a angle that i can see the shape of Maria Makiling i mean the mountain shape
this is the reAL STORY …!
maria is a fairy one night theres a soldier who was lost maria saw them and the soldier saw her they have been fall inlove in each other the soldier stay for many days.but the soldier have to leave and he promised too maria he will get back he forgot his wallet w/ picture .but the soldier did not get back now maria was alone.when maria got die her puntod turned into a big mountain look like a girl.! thats it my name is not samantha = p
she`s only a legend she`s not true and its not true that she`s beautiful its an ugly story duh!!!
hazel,is so baduy iw yuck ang papangit nyo
i loved Samantha`s story too but i loved my friend`s stories 2 unforgettable stories just reply here if you want to hear it oh..by the way my friends name i mean best friend who told me the most unforgettable story is miss sun charmed kc
i like the story so much…………………..
gusto ko sanang humingi ng help about this legend of maria makiling…need lang kasi sa skol namin eh,sa subject ko sa phil.literature…pls send me a copy ng values na akukuh sa story at saka yung culture ng story…thanks
Why Did the guys kill Maria Makiling’s love one?
^_~* pls answer the question mail me the answer at kim_aila@yahoo.com cuse i need it we are studing about her and the mountain or pls comment at my friendster the answer pls…. my friendster is kimaila_3@yahoo.com pls… i realy need the answer its ok if tagalog pls.. and thank you ^_~*
pls………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… answer my question pls.. and thank you ^_~*
This Story is so SAD T_T when u read the full story T_T
It would be more appreciated to have more pictures of maria makiling, the mountain…
wahahahah!!!
I really like the story…how I wish it’s true!
Ireally love the story… How I wish it’s true!!!
i like the story of maria makiling,coz she’s genius,remain simple,and shes sophisticated girl in a mountain fantastic creatures ……………………..hehehe,
required ng teacher n min s lit……………
aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh totoo yan
Please send me some other versions of that story or other stories send this on my friendster Princess_belle11@y.c.
Thank you
^_~* IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIi
Confushion
()I()I()I()I(I)(I)
the story of MARIA MAKILING is so nice and its related the filipino values.
i love the story………
i want 2 go at mt. makiling
marami ma ako napakinggan tongkol sa story na ito………….its very wonderful
maraming nagsasabi na hindi ito totoo,but i wish na sana nagkakatotoo ito sa real life…………..
i love it…..so much,parang true
i wonder y,dr. jose rizal wrote this.
i wonder of this story,
where this come from?
meron poh ba kaung ibang legend about sa mga lugar sa clungsod ng calamba,,,???
meron pa po ba keo mg almat/kwento tungkol sa mga lugar sa lungsod ng calamba…??
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Little Mermaid 1 and 2 and 3 is the best than this!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tangina nyo!!!!!!gao kau!!!!!!!!!ang babaduy nyu
hi…i like the story bout mariang makiling ryt????…till nxt tym!!!!!
hi…i luv it!!!
i know Maria,pinag lalaruan niya ang mga tao at she kills them too…
gs2 k sng mging isang maria makiling kasi napaka ganda nia ka 2lad ko!!
I have loads of stories about maria makiling to be posted in my site since im writing a research paper about her. (aiscracker.com)
for me maria makiling is not just a legend, she is a real life story! i believe in this idea because i belong to los banos, i had saw her statue changed the position, and it was really impossible to changed. but many people of los banos noticed the changed of its position in many way. that is why we believe that maria makiling is not just a legend, and we believe that maria makiling is still living,she is just around, she is the one protect our environment especially the mt. makiling.
jenz anong year ka na?
i wish i can see maria makiling pls i wish the internet will let me.
ang galing talaga ni maria mikiling.
ang galing talaga ni maria makiling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!yeah……………………
Once upon a time, a diwata lived in a mountain of Laguna. She was called maria makiling. She has light olive skin , long shining black hair and twinkling eyes. She was breathtakingly beautiful beautiful. Maria was always helping other people.S he is young woman who never ages.
MARIA MAKILING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ASAN KA NA BA????????????????????????????????????????????????
GUSTO KITANG MAKITA NGAYON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i really appreciate these site because, i was able to researched my daughter’s assignment in school. she is in grade 4 and I have tried so many sites other than yours but guessed what you are the best of all…. very short but its complete and meaningful….thanks so much…
hello tahaks sa inyo >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> i love this story may umhhhhh ……..???? basta ewan ko . thanks na lang sa inyo …..???????? salaamt jeje ay haha pala
kung nabasa nyung nasataas bobo
,. the story of Ma. Makiling is very nice and it is interesting. Godbless
i love it…
really
hmm ?? actually last night august 30, 2009 !! may sinaniban po sa bundok ng maria makiling !! we dont know what is the reason behind that kc may oras na bigla nigla nalng mag hahamog at babagyo ka2lad kgabi ! till hir..
gurl, sana nilagay mo yung credits nung sumulat nung legend na naka-quote sa taas. ito ay orihinal na galing kay jose rizal. sinulat nya yan sa La SOlidaridad. nakakahiya naman sa pambansang bayani kung hindi mo sya babanggitin. may mga nagreresearch akala nila ikaw sumulat. tsk. ako nga pala ay nagsusulat ng thesis tungkol kay mariang makiling. Ai, UP diliman
hindi husto ang link.
Hi Aimac, fixed both issues. Thanks!