Miss Universe Philippines 2023 Homecoming Outfit

Maria Makiling by Lasarasu

Maria Makiling is a forest nymph associated with Mount Makiling in Laguna, Philippines.  She is the most widely known figure in Philippine mythology. This artist on Instagram 

My local version of Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)

AHHH I have three thesis proposals due in 11 days! I already know that thematically I want to explore Asian and Asian American representation in popular American media, but still have to narrow it down.

Here’s some quick character sketches from one of my ideas. I was looking up Filipino legends and found the story of Mariang Sinukuan, a diwata or mountain fairy. She got a little bit of an attitude the more I drew her which is not completely inaccurate based on the stuff I read about her, haha. I might end up doing a big visual development project on her for thesis, but we’ll see how the other two proposals pan out first!

Tres Marias: The Mountain Diwatafolk of Las Islas

Maria Sinukuan The eldest of the Three Diwata sisters and protector of her domain, Mount Arayat. One of her legend tells that she had a demon suitor who desired her hand. She gave him a test to prove his worth – to build a stone bridge without any support overnight. When the demon has almost accomplished his task, Sinukuan sabotaged the test by telling the rooster to crow early before dawn. The demon gave up, thinking that he failed.

Maria Cacao

The second of the Diwata sisters and protector of the Visayan dark woods where Chocolate Trees grow. It was believed that when the river overflows, Cacao is travelling through the river on a golden barge to personally deliver dark fruits to the river gods.

Maria Makiling The protector of her domain, Mount Makiling and the youngest among the Diwata sisters. She was also the most popular because she was more benevolent and curious of people than her sisters. She once fell in love with a hunter that caused wrath from Sinukuan. Her eldest sister reminded her of their duty as a Diwata and falling in love means leaving their mountain domains vulnerable. After realizing that the mountain needs her more, she appeared to the hunter one night – to break his heart. The unbearable pain in her heart caused her to vanish and never appeared to anyone from then on.

So judging from the amount of surprised messages I got about it, I’m guessing a lot of you didn’t know that I’m Filipina, haha. Shout out to you guys! Here’s Mariang Sinukuan, one of my favorite Filipino folk tale characters. One of my dream projects is to do a comic about her…

I realized I never really got in depth with my character designs and that left some people feeling a bit confused. This was a really fun project though, and I’m overwhelmed at the amount of positive feedback I got from it. Thank you! I hope this little explanation helps.

This is set in the Philippines during the Spanish Colonization era. I have no specific date, but it’d probably fall in the 1800s. I wanted to make it a point that they were all Christian so I made them wear scapulars. (despite how unchristian the step mother and step sisters act haha) 

The style of clothing is Maria Clara.The dress takes its name from one of the protagonists in Noli Me Tangere, one of the most important pieces of literature in Filipino History. Although not shown here, I drew Cinderella with glass bakya ( wooden slippers) To push the design more.

The step-mother and sisters were based on Doña Victorina, also from Noli Me Tangere, who was described as a social climber who would powder her face extremely white to make her look ‘mestiza’ or western. There was already that belief that being of Spanish or descent means you are wealthy. 

For the fairy godmother, I based her clothes on traditional Maguindanao clothing, although I did take a lot of liberties with it. Instead of a fairy, I turned her in to a diwata which is the closet I could think of to a Filipino version of a fairy.

Lastly, the Prince, I envisioned as someone who came from a sultanate, hence his middle eastern inspired clothing. Honestly, I just didn’t want her to end up with a Spanish prince. ( happy endings with your colonizer felt odd to me)

filipina miku (circa 1936) 🤍

//light gore

Just some dude going on a coffee date with his manananggal gf yknow.

Ditching ur arranged marriage to be with the cute farmhand

maria makiling. one of the more interesting figures of philippine mythology that i found when doing research. all of it is pretty interesting, though!! :)

time: ~3 h 30 mins