The prince Malecadel had a desire to get married. What he did was he threw a ball and invited all the ladies in the kingdom. He said he wanted the most beautiful to be his wife. As soon as Damiana and Rosa found out all the ladies were invited they immediately started discussing their outfits for the ball.

While Maria was doing her chores a crab walked up to her and talked to her. The crab turned out to be her mother. Her mother asked what's wrong and she could tell her anything since it's her mother. Maria told her how she was being treated by her step mother and her step sisters. Maria's stepmother was angry and ordered her to catch the crab and cook it for their dinner. The crab talked to her and told her "Maria don't eat my flesh but collect my shell after I am eaten, and bury the pieces in the garden near the house. They will grow into a tree, and you can have what you want if you will only ask the tree for it."

After their supper Maria did as the crab ordered and collected the shells and buried it in the garden. The next night was the night of the ball and Rosa and Damiana were headed their way to the ball. She asked the tree what she wanted and the tree magically changed her into a beautiful like princess. The tree gave her a warning to be back before midnight or she will get changed back.

At the ball, the prince's eyes were immediately caught by Maria and all the ladies were shocked. The prince continued to dance with her the whole night but Maria realized it was half past eleven. She quickly ran away from everything back to her house. The next morning the prince had another ball. And like the night before Maria snuck out as a princess and the prince was amazed by her beauty. While she was dancing with the prince she heard the clock strike realizing she forgot all about the warning the tree had given her. She ran away quickly but as she was running she left one of her golden slippers. The prince was determined to find out what happened to his princess.

The next morning the prince searched the whole village to find Maria. The prince finally reached their house and had Damiana and Rosa try on the shoe, But none of them fit them. The prince's eyes were sooner caught by Maria even though she was in her dirty clothes. Her step sisters laughed at the fact that the prince wanted Maria to try it on. So Maria tried on the shoes and it was a perfect fit.

After all this Maria became the wife of the prince.

• The talking crab, This is a symbol of her mother. This is a significant culture reference and one of the most important because in the Philippines people see deceased relatives in animals and can actually talk to them.

• The golden slipper, Gold to Filipinos is one of the most special things to them because its valuable, and has the power to uplift and empowers everyone around you.

• Being kind, Yes everyone should be kind but known to the Philippines and Filipinos are one of the most nicest people in the world. They have the ability to do everything with kindness and always forgive everyone around them.

"Normal girl, oh, ah
(No magazine, no fantasy)
I really wish I was a normal girl
How do I be, how do I be your baby?
Normal girl, oh, oh, oh, oh
I wish I was a normal girl, oh, babe
I'll never be, no, never be a -, oh"

"I wanna be the type of girl you take home to your mama
The type of girl, I know your fellas, they'd be proud of
Be proud of, be proud of, be proud of, boy, you know"

These two verses from the song reminds me of Maria because of how she wished to be treated better and equally by her stepmother and step sisters. Not only that but also how she found a love but never thought she was good enough for him because of the things shes going through and the lie that she put up to impress him.