The Mountain Goddess

Mariang Makiling was a goddess born of the rays of the moon, the mystery of the forest and the lullaby of the lake. Si Mariang Makiling ay isang diwatang nagmula sa mga sinag ng buwan, sa hiwaga ng gubat at sa hele ng lawa.

Her hands and feet were soft and delicate. Her skin was clear and light brown. She had large black eyes and long abundant hair. Ang kanyang mga kamay at paa ay malambot at mayumi. Malinaw at kayumanggi ang kanyang kutis. Malaki at kulay itim ang kanyang mga mata at ang buhok niya ay makapal at mahaba.

She would stand at the edge of a cliff, flooded by the light of the moon and her hair would float in the air. Tumitindig siya sa isang mataas na bangin, iniilawan ng buwan habang ang kanyang buhok ay lumulutang sa hangin.

She lived in a mountain surrounded by beautiful gardens. There were tall trees with straight mossy trunks. On their branches, vines would weave into beautiful laces embroidered with flowers most rare. Nanirahan siya sa isang bundok na may magagandang hardin. May matatangkad na punong tuwid at malumot. Sa mga sanga nito, naghabi ang mga halamang may burdang kakaibang mga bulaklak.

There were various plants, from threadlike forms to broad leaves, and split or circular gigantic ferns. There were palms of all kinds, tall and graceful, with their leaves like feathers in the air. May iba’t-ibang mga halaman, mula sa mala-sinulid hanggang sa malalapad na dahon, at mayroong mga naghahati o pabilog na higanteng pako. May mga palmera na matatangkad at kaaya-aya. Parang pakpak ng ibon ang kanilang mga dahon.

Mariang Makiling would walk gracefully above the grasslands, so light and airy that not even a single blade of grass would bend. Napakagaan ng kanyang paglakad sa damuhan, na wala ni isang dahon ng damo ang nababali.

Her favorite walk was after a storm. Wherever she passed, life, order and calm was restored. The trees straightened their bent trunks and the rivers flowed back into their channels. Mahilig siyang maglakad pagkatapos ng isang bagyo. Lahat ng kanyang daanan ay muling nabubuhay, bumabalik sa ayos at katiwasayan. Natutuwid ang mga baluktot na sanga ng puno at ang mga ilog ay bumabalik sa tama nilang paagusan.

She would sit by the river for hours, as though contemplating the slow course of the water. Ilang oras siyang nakupo sa tabi ng ilog, tila pinagmumunihan ang dahan-dahang pagdaloy ng tubig.

She would bathe in a hidden spring at midnight.  The moon reigned in the midst of silence and nothing disturbed the spell of solitude. Naliligo siya sa isang nakatagong batis tuwing hatinggabi. Naghahari ang buwan sa loob ng katahimikan at payapang pag-iisa.

It has been many years since Mariang Makiling has last been seen. But the tale of the mysterious goddess of the mountain lives on in the light of the moon and in the shadows of the trees. Ilang taon nang hindi nakikita si Mariang Makiling. Ngunit ang alamat ng misteryosong diwata ng bundok ay nanatiling buhay sa ilaw ng buwan at sa anino ng mga puno.

Adapted from: 

Mariang Makiling by Jose Rizal, 23 November 1890 La Solidaridad, Warren, Arnold H.  (1968). 

http://www.theipps.info/Presentations/makiling.pdf