Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism

The Mango Doula is a 20-minute documentary following Marie and Jay as

they welcome their newborn with the help of community doula, Bethany “The Mango

Doula” Monsrud, whose work is guided by the ancestral wisdom of pre-colonial

Philippine shamans and healers. Through prenatal rituals, breathwork, recipes, and

intimate conversations, the two women explore the intimate connection between birth

and the ongoing struggle for sovereignty and identity both in the Philippines and in the

diaspora.

As first-generation children of immigrants, Marie and Bethany’s paths crossed in their

own individual journeys toward reconnecting with their ancestral roots. Using poetic

montages of nature, archival footage, and meaningful family objects, the film will blur

past and present– illustrating