Ang Kalatas February 2016 | Page 6

06 FEATURE THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 6 | Number 5 | FEBRUARY 2016 SEX, DRUGS AND ALCOHOL A quick trip into an author’s mind HER parents’ separation in the Philippines when she was two years of age led to the vulnerable 11-year-old being put on a plane to Australia all alone. By MITCHELL BADELLES MARIA is a proud Pinay as you can see from her book with the Filipino flag. She has persevered through her recovery from spending 25 years in depression, anxiety, addictions and being bipolar. She has written about her tumultuous journey within several No. 1 best sellers, highlighting spiritual practices that catapulted her to wholeness. Maria has fo V