Mariang Sinukuan is the diwata, or mountain goddess, associated with Mount Arayat in Pampanga, Philippines, and is a prominent example of the mountain-goddess motif in Philippine mythology, other examples being Maria Makiling of Los Baños and Maria Cacao of Cebu.
Sinukuan is associated with the unusual bounty of the forests in Arayat, and with the profusion of animals there.
The Story of Maria Sinukuan
Once upon a time, they say that Mt. Arayat abounded in all kinds of fruit trees. Aside from the fruit trees, it is said that animals of all kinds once roamed this mountain. The strange thing about this fruit trees and animals is that the fruit trees bore exceptionally big fruits all the year round and the animals was no other than Mariang Sinukuan. These fruit trees and animals, Mariang Sinukuan used to distribute to the poor. Needy families often woke up on the morning to see at their doorsteps fruits and animals for their needs. They knew it was Mariang Sinukuan who left this foods while they were sleeping. How grateful the people were to be graced by the enchanted lady. And to show their gratitude and respect they never tried to go to her hide-out in the mountain. The people considered her home as a sacred place.
But such was not always the case. There came a time when the people were no longer satisfied with what the enchanted lady left at their doorsteps. They wanted to get more.
One day, some young men decided to go up Mt. Arayat. They wanted to get more of Mariang Sinukuan’s fruits and animals. They started for the mountain early at dawn. They reached the base of the mountain at sunrise. Guavas bigger than their fists dangled from the guava trees. Pomegranate branches almost reached to the ground because of the many and big fruits they bore. Ripe mangoes were just within one’s reach. Fowls of every kind were plentiful. Pigs, goats and other animals roamed around. The young men were still viewing this wonder of nature when from nowhere came Mariang Sinukuan. They were dazzled by her brilliance. They could not find any words to say to her. It was Mariang Sinukuan who first spoke to them.
” Welcome to my home, young men. Help yourself to the fruits. Eat as much as you can but I’m warning you not to take anything home without my knowledge.” With this, the enchanted lady departed.
After recovering from their amazement, the young men started to pick up fruits. They ate and ate until they could not eat any more.
“Let us pick some more fruits. I want to fill this sack which I brought,” said one.
“No, let’s not do that. Let’s go home now,” said another. “I’m scared.”
” Why be scared? Did we not come to get more fruits and animals?”
” But the lady warned us not to take anything home without her knowledge.”
“Oh, come on. She won’t know we took home fruits and animals. They’re so plentiful, she won’t know the difference.”
And so the young men started to fill their sacks with as many fruits and animals as they could get hold of. Then they started for home. As they were about to begin their descent they felt their sacks becoming heavier. They didn’t mind this, but they had not gone ten steps farther when they felt that their load was pulling them down. Putting the sacks down, how surprised the young men were to find that the fruits and animals had become big stones. They remembered Mariang Sinukuan’s warning. The young men became terribly frightened. Leaving their sacks behind, they ran as fast as their feet could carry them. But before they reached the base of the mountain whom did they see blocking their way? It was Mariang Sinukuan who was very angry.
“You ungrateful wretches! I help you in times of need. But how do you repay me. You are not satisfied with what I leave you at your doorsteps. And now you even try to steal my things! Because of your greediness I’m going to turn you all into a swine.” With the wave of her wand, Mariang Sinukuan changed the young men into swine.
This was not the last time that people tried to get hold of Mariang Sinukuan’s fruits and animals. Again and again they tried to steal them. At last, fed up with the people’s greediness, Mariang Sinukuan stopped leaving food at their doorsteps. She caused the fruit trees and animals in the mountain to disappear. She no longer showed herself to the people for she was disgusted with their greediness.
Birth of the Maria Sinukuan Legend: In what has been documented of ancient Kapampangan folklore, and in the research gathered by Kapampangan students of Henry Otley Beyer in the 1940s, Mount Arayat is only known as the abode of Apung/Aring Sinukuan (sun god of war and death, taught the early inhabitants the industry of metallurgy, wood cutting, rice culture and even waging war). Although early beginning of this legend were documented in the travel diary of Italian adventurer Gemelli Careri, 1696.
Documented legend says Mount Arayat is the home of the god/sorcerer named Sinukuan/Sinukwan or Sucu, which could mean “the end” or “he who others have surrendered to.” The mountain was said to have been located in the swamp to its south but relocated because of the evil ways of those who lived there, in addition to which, the people of the swamp were made to suffer numerous misfortunes. Sinukuan is believed to be able to transform and do as he pleases at will, his only real rival being Namalyari of Mount Pinatubo. The waterfalls at Ayala in Magalang, Pampanga is said to be his bathing quarters, and it is often visited by tourists and natives alike. Sinukuan is said to live at the White rock, a Lava dome possibly formed by the last eruption, where its glimmering properties were most likely to have inspired the legend. Contrary to reality, the mountain is believed to be several mountains merging at the center including the tallest two peaks.
In other legends, Sinukuan is said to have bested Makiling of southern Luzon almost effortlessly, unlike his arch rival Namalyari. Sinukuan is believed to have daughters who come down only during time of grace and are disguised as humans, Sinukuan himself can be disguised as human. The day he comes back is believed to either be when he responds to the attack of Namalyari on Mount Pinatubo’s 1991 eruption or when the time to call his servants upon the end of the world has come. In other tales, Makiling (as a goddess instead of her modern incarnation of a diwata) is the love object of Sinukuan.
“Mariang Sinukuan“ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.
ALSO READ: The DIWATA of Philippine Mythology | Forest Spirits & Goddesses
Speculative fiction writer. Philippine folklore and heritage researcher.
Author of The Spirits of the Philippine Archipelago.
Currently in the middle of fixing up an encyclopedia of Philippine Mythical creatures.
