The Mythical History of Maria Cristina Falls

Maria Cristina Falls has always been captivating people with its grandeur and power that one should need to see when visiting Mindanao. Located in Iligan City, Maria Cristina Falls is the source of power supply in most places in Mindanao, providing 70% hydroelectric power generated from the falls itself.

Iligan City is also known as the "City of Majestic Waterfalls" as it has more than 20 amazing waterfalls found on its every corner. But of all those, only Maria Cristina Falls stands out.

To date, there are so many legends that tell on the beautiful waterfall that came to existence, but here's one we found and wanted to share.

There was once a sultan named Datu Talim who gained fame in the whole town of Maguindanao to Sulu because of his daughter's unsurpassed beauty. The maiden's name is Maria Cristina and hidden from the knowledge of many, Datu Talim is not her real father.

Maria Cristina was the daughter of a humble fisherman and farmer from the province of Romblon. During the rainy season, she would always help her father plant vegetables on their small piece of land.

One day, their village was invaded by the soldiers of Datu Talim. The villagers then flee to the mountains as they did not know how to battle. Maria Cristina, who was still so little at that time, was abducted from her father who tried to save her but ended up killed instead.

Poor Maria Cristina was then brought to Datu Talim who decided to adopt her because of her amazing beauty. She was loved and fancied by the Datu and then he treated her like his daughter.

As time flew by, Maria Cristina had grown to be a very beautiful maiden and many suitors from neighboring villages wanted to court her. One of Maria Cristina's suitor was the son of another Sultan, a handsome prince named San-i.

Maria Cristina and the prince fell in love with each other which led them to get married. Soon after, a grand wedding was set. The lovers are so happy and are looking forward to their married life.

But unknown to both of them, there was a witch who was already in love with the prince and envious to Maria Cristina. So furious, the witch vowed to do everything just to stop the wedding.

Two nights before the wedding day, Maria Cristina remembered her mother who she had not seen for a very long time. Feeling sad with the memories of her mother, Maria Cristina went to a creek where she and the prince used to meet and there she cried all the sadness she felt. Prince San-i promised her that they would visit her mother in Romblon after their wedding. Maria Cristina closed her eyes to reminisce about the memories she had together with her mother and father.

At that time, the witch secretly came from behind her back and Maria Cristina thought that it was her fiancé only to be surprised by the ugly witch.

The witch then said, "Haven't you know that San-i is mind? I have been loving him even before he came to know you! Your wedding with him is not going to happen! Go ahead and continue crying!"

Maria Cristina continued to cry as she didn't realize that her happiness with her fiancé has caused someone else's heartbreak.

"You will never have the love of my life! You will not see him again! A few hours before your wedding ceremony, you are going to turn into a mountain and your tears will flow from the village towards the sea!", the witch continued.

The wedding ceremony has arrived and everyone wondered why Maria Cristina hasn't shown up yet. They tried to look for her but failed, however, they were surprised when they saw something peculiar in the village - a mountain as if in tears and it forms a river towards the city.

"Where could Maria Cristina be? Today is her wedding day!", a villager said.

The witch then answered, "You don't have to look for her! That weeping mountain is Maria Cristina. I cursed her because she took San-i away from me and now she will continue to cry and her tears will flow from the village towards the sea.

Hearing this, Datu Talim and the villagers were so angry. They chased the witch in the woods to kill her but they missed her and have never found her again.

Since then, the falls is named Maria Cristina Falls in honor of the beautiful maiden.