Answer:

The Legend of Mount Banahaw

Long ago, in a small village nestled at the foot of Mount Banahaw, there lived a beautiful and kind-hearted woman named Maria. She was known for her compassion and her ability to heal the sick with her herbs and natural remedies. One day, while gathering herbs in the mountain, Maria stumbled upon a hidden cave. Inside, she found a glowing stone that radiated a warm and comforting light. Maria knew that this was a special gift from the gods and she took it home with her.

The villagers soon noticed a change in the mountain. The air was fresher and the water was purer. Crops grew bountifully and the animals thrived. The villagers attributed this to the presence of the glowing stone and believed that it was a blessing from the gods. They named the stone the "Banahaw Stone" and built a shrine around it to honor and protect it.

Years passed and the legend of the Banahaw Stone spread far and wide. People from all over the land came to the village to seek its healing powers. Maria became known as the "Miracle Healer" and her fame reached the ears of the Spanish conquistadors. They came to the village to take the stone for themselves but Maria refused to let them have it. In a fit of anger, the conquistadors burned the village to the ground and killed Maria.

But the Banahaw Stone was not destroyed. It rose from the ashes and flew back to the mountain where it belonged. The villagers saw this as a sign of Maria's spirit protecting the stone and they rebuilt their village. From that day on, the mountain was known as Mount Banahaw, in honor of the miracle healer who had protected its sacred stone. And to this day, the Banahaw Stone continues to radiate its warm and comforting light, a reminder of Maria's selflessness and the power of nature.