\However, when diagnosing the problem Maria recognizes the signs of malnutrition and poor diet

rather than a disease or sickness and gives them ginger to take home. Invariably, by the time they
get home the ginger has turned to gold which they can then sell or exchange. One foolish villager
finding the ginger becoming heavy threw it away rather than carry it home.

In some traditions, Maria is a well-loved and respected part of the local community for her kindness
and help. However, there is also a tradition that says that the villagers became greedy and went to
her garden pulling up plants to see if they were gold. This distressed her so much that she ran away
to live on the mountain.

A Loser in Love
In many legends, Maria Makiling is cast as a rejected lover. One story tells how she had fallen in
love with a hunter who had wandered into her territory. The two soon formed a relationship and
became lovers and the hunter would climb up the mountain everyday to see her and they promised
eternal love to each other.  However, Maria was shocked to discover that her lover was being
unfaithful and had married a mortal woman.

Naturally, Maria was devastated and concluded she could never trust the local people again
realizing she was so very different to them and came to believe that they were just taking advantage
of her good nature. Therefore, she withdrew her consent which allowed the trees and bushes to bear
fruit and she stopped the animals and birds roaming the forest for the hunters to catch and stopped
the fish from breeding in the lake. From then on she withdrew to the mountain and was seldom seen
except occasionally by the light of the pale moon as she wandered through the forest alone.

Another legend tells how Maria would watch over a farmer she had fallen in love with. Because of
this protection, the people said the farmer was living a charmed life or had a mutya that protected
him. He was a young man of good nature though rather shy and reserved.  He would never reveal
anything to his family or friends of his visits to Maria. Then one day the army came into his village
recruiting single young men to fight a war. So that he would not have to enlist he decided he would
marry a village girl.
Visiting Maria for the last time he tells her of his decision. She tells him,

“I believed you to be devoted and in love with me. I have the power to protect you and your family, but I now
see you lack faith in me and need and earthly woman for your earthly needs.”
After telling him this she left and was never seen by the villagers again and no trace of her hut could
ever be found.

The Curse of Maria Makiling

Another version of the story was supposed to have happened during the later years of the Spanish
occupation. This tells how Maria was wooed by three suitors. One was a Spanish soldier named
Captain Lara. Another was a student named Joselito who was studying in Manila and the third was a
poor farmer named Juan.