Maria Makiling

María Makiling, more properly Mariang Makiling, is a diwata in Philippine mythology, associated with Mount Makiling in Laguna, Philippines. She is the most widely known diwatà (deity) or lambana (fairy) in Philippine mythology and was venerated in pre-colonial Philippines as the goddess Dayang Masalanta or Dian Masalanta, invoked to stop deluges, storms, and earthquakes. Maria Makiling is the guardian spirit of the mountain, responsible for protecting its bounty and thus is also a benefactor for the townspeople who depend on the mountain's resources. In addition to being a guardian of the mountain, some legends also identify Laguna de Bay—and the fish caught from it—as part of her domain. She was sent by Bathalà to aid the people of the area in their everyday life. Mount Makiling resembles the profile of a woman, said to be María herself. This phenomenon is described as true from several different perspectives, so there is no single location associated with this claim. The mountain's various peaks are said to be María's face and two breasts, respectively, and her hair cascades downwards a gentle slope away from her body. María Makiling is a prominent example of the mountain goddesses motif across Philippine mythology, others being María Sinukuan of Pampanga's Mount Arayat and María Cacao on Cebu's Mount Lantoy.