Journal of Discourse Review
Open Access Humanitarian Scholarship
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Open Access Humanitarian Scholarship
Time to first decision
Volume: 1 Issue: 3
Year: 2025, Page: 252-261,
Received: Sept. 14, 2025 Accepted: Oct. 19, 2025 Published: Dec. 31, 2025
This paper examines the representation of the ma-aram—a local term denoting a person who is wise and knowledgeable in indigenous thought—in Alice Tan Gonzales’s “Sa Tagu-angkan Sang Duta” and articulates an ecofeminist framework grounded in indigeneity and spirituality. Drawing on Alicia Magos’s (1992) definition of the ma-aram as one who can communicate with ancestral and environmental spirits, the study analyzes the character of Elena, the story’s protagonist, who, although not an actual ma-aram, embodies its residual characteristics. Through thematic and textual analyses, the paper identifies key themes in the narrative and juxtaposes them with real-life contexts, while offering a close reading of Elena’s actions and traits to uncover her relevance as a contemporary ecofeminist figure. Anchored in Agnes Miclat-Cacayan’s (1998) ecofeminist theory—which integrates women’s ecological concerns with indigenous spirituality—the study demonstrates how Elena’s familiarity with local knowledge and her intimate connection with nature reflect the persistence of ma-aram traditions in Western Visayas. Ultimately, the paper contributes to discussions on ecofeminist representation and female identity in West Visayan society by illustrating how the text challenges patriarchal exploitation of nature and local resources, and by extending scholarly conversations on women’s spiritual leadership and ecofeminism in indigenous contexts.
Keywords: Ma-aram, Ecofeminism, Representation, Spirituality, Short Story, West Visayan literature
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