Laguna's Legendary Makiling

Like in most things in Filipino culture, we can always begin with Jose Rizal. As the foremost Philippine folklorist, he penned in La Solidaridad in 1890, the story of the young woman who would become a hometown legend. 

In various versions of her myth, the maiden known as Mariang Makiling, is described in Damiana Eugenio’s Anthology as “a fairy,” “a goddess,” “a fantastic creature, half-nymph, half sylph.” “Whatever she was,” says the translation by Guadalupe Fores-Ganzon, “she was not mortal.” 

Before there was the movie, Fame in 2009, which was based upon a 1980 film about young talents attending the New York City High School for the Performing Arts, there was already the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA) back in the 1970s. 

Meet Lydia Floro Cruz, entrepreneur, retired corporate executive, faithful wife, loving mother, super grandma, devout Catholic, generous philanthropist, loyal friend and pride of Hulo, Meycauayan, Bulacan.

Her life story has been a steady source of awe and inspiration for countless immigrants in the US particularly middle-aged working Filipino mothers. It portrays the sometimes under-appreciated role of a working mother, her difficult struggles in a male-dominated corporate culture, and her incredible ability to overcome overwhelming odds and eventually become the greatly admired and highly respected woman that she is now.

Let us revisit Lydia’s focused journey.