Ma. Collecta

I have a Maria in my name but my name is not Maria.” So goes the story for many a Filipina. For most, Maria or Ma. exists as a prefix, an extra word that teachers know to ignore during roll call and omit on name tags. However, ‘Ma.’ represents a history and culture that spans generations of tenacious Filipinas. Sitting undercover in the names of many influential and ‘ordinary’ Filipinas, ‘Ma.’ carries with it the powerful stories of our shared narrative. “Ma.” is dedicated to celebrating the story of the collective Filipina; by highlighting details that are often oversimplified, reimagining the trends of our titas, lolas, and the many ‘Marias’ before us. Whether you are a Maria by name or by heart — Ma. represents the “Maria” in all of us.