The Legend of Maria Makiling

SCENE 1 [ANIMATION]

NARRATOR: Once upon a time, there lived a “diwata” in a mountain of Laguna. She was a fair maiden
with light olive skin, long shining raven black hair and dazzling eyes. Her name was Maria Makiling. She
was breathtakingly beautiful and earnestly compassionate.

SCENE 2

Maria was always about helping other people… One time, the children of a farmer got sick. Poor and
helpless, the farmer implored to Maria for remedy.

SCENE 3 [FARMER POV]

FARMER: Oh Maria, please hear me out. My children are sick and their conditions aren’t getting any
better as the days pass by. I don’t know where else to go! I need your help.

SCENE 4 [MARIA POV]

MARIA: How unfortunate! But worry not, mister. [hands out a bilao full of gingers] Here, take these
gingers. These should aid you.

SCENE 5 [FARMER POV]

NARRATOR: She was confused and clueless with what to do with the gingers. When she reached her hut,
she was astonished.

SCENE 6 [FARMER POV]

FARMER [shocked & overjoyed]: Goodness gracious! The ginger has turned into gold! Thank you so much
Maria! Now I’ll have the money to buy medicine on the village. The townsfolk should also hear about
Maria’s wonders and kindness!’

SCENE 7 [BG POV]

NARRATOR: Stories have passed the town speaking of Maria’s vaunted benevolence and the townsfolk of
Laguna had grown to love her.

SCENE 8 [MARIA POV]

NARRATOR: Maria, because of her captivating beauty and pleasant personality, was sought for and
wooed by many suitors. Three of them were very much determined to have her. One is Captain Lara…

SCENE 9 [CAPTAIN LARA POV]

CAPTAIN LARA [arrogant]: Hola, soy Captain Lara! I’m an illustrious soldier from my motherland, España.
I have brought to you the finest gifts and jewels fresco from Europa just for you, milady

SCENE 10 [JOSELITO POV]

NARRATOR: Captain Lara always gives Maria ostentatious gift from Europe whenever he visits the lady.
The other is Joselito, who is a Spanish mestizo.
JOSELITO: Ehem, ehem. Good afternoon my fair lady. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Joselito. I’ve
travelled across the seven seas and traversed a lot of foreign countries. I’ve come here in this poor third-
world country just to see you Maria, and if you would allow me, I would take you around the world with
the stories I have to tell.

SCENE 11 [JUAN POV]

NARRATOR: Joselito is a wealthy well-educated man. He has ventured many places and he doesn’t like
the Philippines. Often, he would tell Maria about other countries and the stories he read in books. Last
one is Juan, who is a hardworking and humble farmer.

JUAN: My name is Juan, I may not be as prominent and affluent as these two but I’ve work day and night
just to offer you the best harvests of fruits and vegetables fresh from my farm, in hopes that it would
please you, my lady.

SCENE 12 [MARIA POV]

NARRATOR: Of the three, it was Juan who is the most industrious, and truth be told, it is him whom
Maria secretly admired. As time passed by, her suitors grew impatient and demanded that Maria tell
them who she loves. So, the diwata was forced to promise

MARIA: By the night of the full moon, I shall tell you my answer.

SCENE 13 [MARIA POV]

NARRATOR: On the night that the full moon rose, all her suitors climbed up the mountain, eager to know
her decision

MARIA: All of you are wonderful young men but I can only love someone whom my heart truly desires.

SCENE 14 [CAPTAIN POV]

CAPTAIN LARA: And who is it that you love, Maria?

SCENE 15 [MARIA POV]

MARIA: The one that I choose is…

FLASHBACK:

MARIA: Juan. I love Juan. Juan rushed to hug Maria tightly)

SCENE 16 [SUITORS POV]

SUITORS: [Whispers & violent reactions] What? No!

SCENE 17 [JOSELITO & CAPTAIN LARA POV]

NARRATOR: Joselito and Captain Lara were infuriated with what happened. They walked away in
frustration. They reviled Juan and cursed at him.

SCENE 18 [CAPTAIN LARA POV]

CAPTAIN LARA: Dies mio! How could she choose such a lowly Filthy Farmer?! He is not, in any way,
worthy of her love..

SCENE 19 [JOSELITO POV]

JOSELITO: I agree with you, Captain Lara. That incompetent garbage does not deserve the love of a
“diwata.”

SCENE 20 [CAPTAIN LARA POV]

NARRATOR: It only took some time before their jealousy and hatred turned into a deliberate crime.

CAPTAIN LARA: [ponders for some time and then, grins alyly] I just thought of something. Are you
guessing what I’m thinking, Joselito?

SCENE 21 [JOSELITO POV]

JOSELITO: [responds with a smirk) Indeed captain. What shall we do to Juan?

SCENE 22 [CAPTAIN LARA POV]

CAPTAIN LARA: Come and enter my house, my friend, I know we’ve been one rivals for her love, but the
enemy of my enemy is a friend. Let’s plan this out together and make it happen.

NARRATOR: And so Joselito and Captain Lara brewed up a heinous plan, which soon shall befall upon
Juan.

NARRATOR: One day, all was surprised when a huge fire devoured the cuartel of Captain Lara.

SCENE 23 [CAPTAIN LARA POV]

CAPTAIN LARA: What madness is this?! Who started this arson?

SCENE 24 [JOSELITO POV]

JOSELITO: It couldn’t be a Spanish because we never betray our fellow men. It must be a Filipino!

SCENE 25 [CAPTAIN LARA POV]

CAPTAIN LARA: It seems that we have been double-crossed! Our kindness for this country have been
repaid by such unforgivable cruelty! Arrest all the Filipinos in this village! We must find this arsonist.

NARRATOR: Many Filipinos were arrested and Imprisoned. The prisoners were also tortured inside the
cells.

SCENE 26 [JOSELITO POV]

JOSELITO: (whispering to a prisoner] Tomorrow, you must testify against Juan. Tall the officials that it vas
Juan who caused the fire. We’ll release and pay you in return. Do otherwise and you’ll dig the graves of
your family.
SCENE 27 [ALL POV]

NARRATOR: And so, these two masterminds framed up Juan by bribing and threatening the prisoners
into accusing him for the crime. Everything. Happened as it was planned. Juan was sentenced to death.

SCENE 28 [JUAN POV]

JUAN:(desperately shouting and fighting for his life while being dragged to the center of the plaza where
he will be shot] I didn’t do it!! Why will you act slaves to these Spaniards? Why will you sell out your own
country man? I didn’t do it! I could never de such act! I promise, please!

[The Spanish stood proudly and hocked at Juan]

[Juan cries out for Maria with his last breath and he was shot]

SCENE 29 [MARIA POV]

MARIA: [Heard the gunshot and rushed down from the mountain] [upon seeing Juan, pauses for a
moment and tears fell down her eyes] [she rushes to hold his body by bar arms] Oh, Juan! What has
happened to you? [Cries out] Why did you not take care of him? Why did he have to die?! Tell me what
he did that he deserved to be murdered?

SCENE 30 [CAPTAIN LARA & JOSELITO POV]

NARRATOR: Captain Lara and Joselito fled to Manila because they were afraid of Maria. When she
learned of this, she cursed the two.

SCENE 31 [JOSELITO POV]

Joselito suddenly became ill. There was no cure for his lines.

SCENE 32 [CAPTAIN LARA POV]

Captain Lara, on the other hand, was called back to Laguna when the Filipinos revolted against the abuse
that the Spaniards. The revolutionary killed Captain Lara.

SCENE 33 [BG POV]

From then on, Maria never let herself be seen by the people. Every time somebody got lost on the
mountain, they remember the curse of the “diwata”. They remember the great love of Maria Makiling.