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.
One time, the children of a farmer got sick. When he went to Maria to seek help, he was given a bilao full of ginger.
Maria was a great beauty. She was sought for and wooed by many suitors. Three of them were very much determined to have her. One is Captain Lara, a Spanish soldier who always brought her gifts from Europe. The other is Joselito, a Spanish mestizo who was studying in Manila.
he was greatly surprised: the ginger had turned to gold! Because of Maria’s kindness, the townsfolk had grown to love her.
The farmer sadly went home carrying the bilao of ginger. When he reached his hut,
Of the three, it was Juan who is the most industrious. He is a common farmer. But he is so hard working, and his fruits and vegetable grew fat and juicy. He also had many pet animals and birds. But if truth be told, it was Juan who Maria secretly admired.