Maria was born and raised in the Philippines and moved to the Central Valley, California, in 2020. She is finishing her degree in Economics and Accounting at the University of California, Los Angeles. Even though her field of profession is not directly public service, she has always been passionate about serving the community. Maria spent her childhood and teenage years in a rehabilitation and orphanage community, where her parents helped people overcome drug addictions and provided homes for youth who live on the streets.
Maria is a fan of learning and self-development, so when she’s not working, she likes studying and learning new things, whether through exploring places, reading books, watching documentaries, or listening to TED talks and podcasts.