#wip: mariang makiling

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Excerpt from Mariang Makiling

Maeri Keith was a blessed child. Or cursed. It’s all relative. Her first friend was a farmer boy named Martin. She was five years old when they met—Martin swinging himself on the mango tree in the backyard of her new home. He looked older than her, taller too, and for almost a year Martin had taught her lots of games to play, tricks to climb a tree better, and a mouthful of words she’s yet to comprehend—You’ll understand me one day, Mae. Some day, he said, ruffling her hair with his cold hand, when she looked at him confused the first time. It never occurred to Maeri Keith how unusual it was when Martin always wore the same clothes, often soaked as if he had been swimming in the river before visiting; how distressed and tiresome he looked when the sun began to set; or how her parents looked too concerned when she introduced Martin, her new friend, sitting under the shade of their mango tree. Her grandmother spoke to Martin a day after, a few hours before sundown. [—]. Martin stopped visiting since.

Notes: Thank you so much for reading!🙇🏻‍♀️ I hope you're doing well.💖 It's been a while since the last draft excerpt I shared here, and I'm happy to say that writing has been going well lately. I haven't missed a day.🎉🎉🎉 This excerpt is a new scene I added at the beginning of Mariang Makiling, as part of Maeri Keith's introduction. It's subtle, but telling.

Have a great day/night!👋🫶

[maguayans]

MARIANG MAKILING | Introduction

Genre: Supernatural Synopsis:

Maeri Keith and her friends had an annual tradition—an overnight stay at a beach, island hopping on long academic breaks, or walk miles and miles to reach the highest point they could endure inland during a weekend. For this year, they all agreed to visit the Municipality of Maquiling and see its mystical falls for themselves—a more or less three-hour hike after entering the fall’s district.

To escape the scorching heat, the group decided to take a shortcut through another desired path, unknowingly entering a restricted area. Somehow failing to complete the three-hour trip by sun down, they found themselves beaten to camp in a glade—Maeri Keith distressed by the foreboding presence of the surrounding hills and forestry; the subtle, eerie whispers in the wind; occasional apparitions; and the sudden presence of a man named, Carlos.

Inspired by the Legend of Mariang Makiling.

EXCERPTS | Pinterest

The Legend of Mariang Makiling tells us of a goddess who had a heart for the poor and vulnerable. She was beautiful and kind; and had shared the abundance of her mountain but mortals took advantage of her. Betrayed, she retreated deep into the mountain never to be seen again.

In other versions, Maria would punish the people for their ungratefulness. She would cause heavy rainfall and whip ferocious wild carabaos in the forest to cause lightning; or a diwata haunting the forest of the mountain. People may pick fruits from the trees, but they must not take them home, lest she would lead them astray and play tricks on them. If they return what they had taken, only then will Maria relent and set them free.

Notes: Thank you for reading! I hope you're doing well today. (It's been a while. :D)

I am not sharing anything new, this is a mere reintroduction of my little novella, Mariang Makiling. You may have seen this before or read some of the excerpts. My main goal for the year is to finish the first draft, so wish me luck. (Please.)

Taglist: Kindly ask or reply to be added/removed.

[maguayans]

Excerpt from Mariang Makiling

Behind the nightmarish imitations of her friends stood a shadow. A faceless puppeteer; a shifting, dark figure at the corner of the hiking trail. “Leave.” Its voice echoed in her head, guttural and deep. Nico’s head fell to the ground again, unable to bear the weight of it. For a moment, she hoped for the sweet relief by Sidapa’s hand. Slowly, the pressure disappeared, her breathing now audible to her ears, no more pin-pricks inside her chest; her friends' voice finally reaching her consciousness, calling out to her again and again. “Nico!” “Nichole!” What was I doing? Kit reached her first, hands tight on the other's shoulder, ushering her up. When she caught her slightly crazed eyes, she knew something had happened—to Nico, herself, and everyone present…but what?

Notes: Thank you so much for reading!🙇🏻‍♀️ I hope you're doing well.💖 This scene was a revision. I realized I couldn't get over this chapter specifically because there was something missing and I believe this was it. I was pretty proud of myself when I wrote the rest of the scene. Still, there's a voice inside my head saying, "Not scary enough. Go back to this on the next draft." Haha—

Have a great day/night!👋🫶

P.S. Did you see my Mariang Makiling photoset?🤭

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"Mariang Makiling haunts the mountains to this day."

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I opened my files (after some months.) Here are some of the last lines I wrote for the following WIPs (without context):

Red Complex (aka Red Strings of Fate WIP):

Don’t Fall Asleep (aka Sleep Paralysis WIP):

Mariang Makiling (aka Mariang Makiling Retelling WIP):

Lethal Bloods (aka Aswang WIP):

Maharlika (aka PH Mythology WIP #1):

Thanks for reading friends. :D

[maguayans]

A little something from today’s session, aka a moment before disaster. I could’ve have made this wholesome and sweet all the way through, but the voice in my head said otherwise. Although, I think I need to add more scenes like this.ヾ(￣ω￣; ) Thanks for reading. <3 (Transcript under the cut.)

“Kit?”

“Yeah?”

“You okay? You’re too deep in thought.”

“Tired. My feet feel like jelly. I might just drop to the ground in a second.”

He laughed.

“I’ll be here to be sure you don’t hit your head.”

“Thanks, Lee.” Maeri Keith entwined their hands, the warmth of him comforting her, easing the mind away from what had happened and what might.

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I’m hoping to reintroduce Mariang Makiling (again) when I finish Chapter 3 or reach 5k (whichever comes first.) Also because I want my WIP banners to match. 🥹✨

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PENGUIN CLASSICS COVERS | Tag Game

Tagged by @writingbyricochet. Thank you! I hope you’re doing well. This was fun. I’m featuring four WIPs I don’t talk about often. (And also because they fit the Penguin Classics vibes more than the others.)

Here’s the website. Tagging @houndmouthed @sleepy-night-child @chauceryfairytales @mary-is-writing @witherednightmare @moonscribbler (If y’all haven’t done it yet. Hope you guys are having a great day/night!)

Open tag! Let this be your invitation to create a Penguin Classics Covers for your WIPs. Tag me, I’d love to see them. :)

Visuals:

Bathing by the Stream (1955), Fernando Amorsolo

Still Life with Dead Heron and Swan,  Elias Vonck

In the Dusseldorf Court Garden, Gustav Marx

The Nightmare,  Henry Fuseli

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30 DAYS, 30 LINES CHALLENGE: DAY 27

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FROM MARIANG MAKILING:

However, as they crossed the covered walk, Maeri Kit looked back. She couldn’t help herself. The shadow was still there. It manifested inside an occupied classroom, peeking at her through the glass windowpane, showing half a chilling grin while hovering behind a student.

Notes: Thank you for reading! Is this particular entity relevant to the story? No. (Not yet.) To Maeri Kit’s life? probably. But mainly, it’s there because it’s fun for me and I keep thinking about the old building at my former university. Have a great day/night!

[maguayans]

Last ramble. Drafting Mariang Makiling has been great so far. I’m about to start the part where the characters get lost in the forest. It’s challenging because there are seven active characters and I sometimes forget one (1)—I’m sorry, Nico. Sharing new excerpts soon.

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I’d give my OC some serious name like ✨Ernest John✨ as if they’re some rich old person who spends a lot of time in their study, but in the dialogues other characters would call them 🤪Ernie🤪 It sounds like they’re a child who got lost in the rich old person’s garden chasing a butterfly or something. 😩😆

[maguayans]

30 DAYS, 30 LINES CHALLENGE: DAY 22

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FROM MARIANG MAKILING:

She held the child towards the sky, an offering to the dark and unholy. Entrails hanging and blood running, painting her face an alluring crimson shade, streaming along the streak of her tears.

Notes: Thank you for reading!

[maguayans]

Excerpt from Mariang Makiling

The season’s heat warmed the campus; air crisp, a little dehydrating. Shades were darker; colors more vibrant, and flaring. Everyone hustled through dropping sweats. And yet, Maeri Keith was frozen in place.

Her hands curled into fists, arms stiff on both sides of her body. The chilling pressure caused goosebumps on her fair skin. Something burdened her chest, challenging her to breathe. Her eyes intensified, locked at the distance across the covered walk. And tears pooled at her eyelids, trapped in the gaze of a looming shadow.

It didn’t have shape, endlessly shifting still, like a heavy cloud hovering. It did have a face, menacing and dark like coal, burned; eyes deep red and fierce. The shadow was muttering something. Lips moving at a speed she couldn’t cipher. With its distance, Maeri Keith shouldn’t hear any of it. But its words were as clear as the sky; as if it was right there next to her, whispering—voice devious and hoarse—You’re next.

Note: Maeri Keith is our main character and she has a gift. Thank you for reading! Have a great day/night.

[maguayans]

30 DAYS, 30 LINES CHALLENGE: DAY 10

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FROM MARIANG MAKILING:

Prayers sung to the dark massed heavy clouds overhead, a tell-tale of danger and malice.

Note: Thank you for reading!

[maguayans]

Excerpt from Mariang Makiling

Before the group could disappear behind the bushes, Liza ran after them—she gave in. The girl needed to say something lest she’d regret it. It didn’t matter to her now if her superiors would find out and give her another earful. “Make sure to follow the trail, okay?” she started, heaving a little from the sprint. “It’s charted and clear, so you guys should be fine. Don’t stray from the path. Don’t go over fences and follow directives. Don’t be disrespectful, and remember, tabi-tabi po, okay?” They nodded and left. Words and interactions like this fueled countless unnecessary rumors about the municipality and this district. However, Liza couldn’t let them pass without some words of advice. She felt responsible for their safety, hearing spine-tingling stories from her great-grandmother and other older locals, especially after speaking to Maeri Kit.

Notes: Thank you for reading! We say tabi-tabi po to announce ourselves when we pass through unpopulated areas; to let spirits know, if any, that we are here and we mean no harm, etc. Have a great day/night!

[maguayans]

30 DAYS, 30 LINES CHALLENGE: DAY 29

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FROM MARIANG MAKILING:

Maeri Kit shrugged, unsure what to say. Then Gabrielle stepped closer, lowly saying, “You guys fought? Want me to knock some sense into hi—”

“Hey.” Lee cut her off. “There was no fighting. Why is that your always go-to? I’m a very good boyfriend, saboteur.”

He then turned to his girlfriend saying, “Right, Kit?” and winked.

Gabrielle grimaced.

Notes: Thank you for reading! Have a great day/night!