Biography
Maribel was the darling of her father and grandfather. She was the only child among her siblings who was deeply interested in the stories they told about World War II. Her grandfather, a skilled storyteller, had led an intriguing life, especially during his time with the guerrilla forces hiding in the mountainous regions of the Philippines, including Davao, Bukidnon, and North and South Cotabato.
Her father worked with the Civilian Home Defense Force and collaborated with soldiers from the Infantry Battalion. His missions were top secret, often involving efforts to uncover hidden threats and mediate conflicts between soldiers and rebels. Following in his father’s footsteps, her father dedicated his youth (ages 18 to 30) to saving civilians from kidnappings and massacres. He also fought against rebels in Mindanao and organized Indigenous tribes to help them fight for their rights.
Throughout Maribel's childhood, her family often had to relocate due to ongoing conflicts between rebels, terrorists, and soldiers. Despite owning land and livestock, they were forced to leave everything behind with no support from the government or NGOs. Her parents made it a family rule that, no matter what, all their children needed to attend school to ensure a better future. Maribel and her siblings moved to another town to stay with relatives, where it was safer for them to continue their education.
Maribel’s parents sent her and three of her siblings to live with one of her grandfathers, whose home was just 10 minutes away from their school. He believed that focusing on studies was very important. At her grandfather's place, they lived on a large farm. Every Saturday, Maribel and her siblings helped their grandfather with farm work. Sundays were worship days, as her grandfather, a pastor, also owned the church. The main reason Maribel’s father sent them there was to provide them with better education and spiritual guidance. Though Maribel missed her family back home, she had to endure the separation.
During the rainy season, life became challenging, as it was also mosquito season. After a few months, Maribel and her siblings fell seriously ill with high fevers that wouldn’t subside. Maribel’s condition was the worst, and it nearly cost her life. Her mother rushed her to the hospital, where the doctor diagnosed her with deadly malaria. He warned that if she had been brought in any later, it might have been too late. After a month of treatment, Maribel fully recovered and was able to resume her studies.
Years passed, and Maribel’s family was proud of her siblings’ achievements. Her older brother works in the government sector, helping the poor and Indigenous tribes, while her older sister is a teacher. One brother is a veterinarian Doctor of Animals and another brother runs a furniture business, and her sister works as a Nurse in a hospital. Another brother owns an Auto mechanic business. The family attended church regularly, and Maribel had been in the choir with her younger brother, who is now a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Tragically, her younger brother and nephew were killed by a drunk driver, a devastating loss for the family.
After many years passed, Maribel had no ambition whatsoever. She simply wanted to stay with her parents and live as a traditional woman in their village. She loved accompanying her father to meetings in nearby towns. Her father was one of the tribal leaders, and his role in the organization was very important. He helped teach the community about farming and development so that tribe members would not turn to rebellion against the government. He also worked to provide whatever help the tribe needed. From a young age, Maribel loved observing her father’s work. Those moments were some of the best memories of her teenage years.
One day around 1:00 in the afternoon, while the family was busy tending their livestock, her mother saw Maribel’s uncle riding a horse quickly toward them. He brought urgent news: they had to relocate immediately. Soldiers and rebels were fighting again, and gunfire could be heard from the nearby mountains. Maribel’s father called an emergency meeting and told everyone in the village to pack their belongings and prepare to leave. Maribel witnessed women and children crying. One pregnant neighbor was sobbing uncontrollably. The entire village was in mourning. Families had to leave their harvests and livestock behind.
That night, they slept in the nearby forest. Luckily, it did not rain, though mosquitoes disturbed them throughout the night. The next morning, Maribel’s family and the rest of the villagers evacuated to the next village, where her grandparents lived. They stayed there for about two weeks. After that, her family and other neighbors scattered to different nearby towns to start their lives again.
However, tragedy struck Maribel again.
On that day of her birthday around 3 pm, when she never imagined such horror would happen, five men suddenly captured her. They grabbed her arms and dragged her away. They were much stronger than she was. One of them slapped her, making her dizzy. Maribel cried and begged them to stop, but the men—who were in their thirties and forties—did not listen.
They held her down, blindfolded her, and left her in a dark, cold place. She could hear the sound of dripping water and the cruel laughter of a man. She felt helpless, exhausted, and alone. Eventually, she lost all her strength and lay in the mud, feeling as if her tears had turned to blood. It felt like the end of the world. In that moment, she did not care whether she lived or died.
Eventually, her captors abandoned her there. Slowly, she crawled toward the road. Her body was covered in mud. She managed to wash herself, she just run and run evenshe felt dizzy and her way is zigzag not straight.Her survival was the worst experience of her life. Heaven witnessed the hell she endured.
Maribel later moved to Austria, but after two months, she grew homesick and wanted to return to her family, despite her friends’ advice to stay. She was invited on a camping trip, where she felt a deep connection to nature. From that moment on, she found nature to be a powerful source of healing.
She worked full-time while studying German and acting at the Film and Media Academy Austria. She also joined the English Theater in Vienna, where she met students from the US and the UK. Her director, Janett from LA, was kind to her, even offering her a train ticket back to Graz. Maribel felt comfortable with the English-speaking group, which made communication easier for her.
A year later, Maribel participated in acting masterclasses with T.J. Rizing Productions and attended a masterclass at the Stella Maris Academy in Los Angeles, where she met well-known directors and photographers. This was a significant milestone, though she still struggled with her German language skills.
Life took a tragic turn when someone she loved, like a second mother to her, disappeared without a trace. Maribel discovered this after returning from a holiday and spent three sleepless days searching for answers. She was haunted by a dark figure and was emotionally and physically drained. After a week of sleepless nights, she decided to leave the house, unable to bear the loneliness and sadness.
Maribel later realized that her second mom had always wanted her to join a singing competition. To honor her wish, Maribel entered a major competition on RTL Television, which aired in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. She successfully passed the first two auditions but fell ill during the final round, which ended her chance at fame. Although she no longer sought fame, she was still invited to perform for special events when needed.
Maribel moved to Eisenstadt, but her grief persisted. She had to endure long commutes to Vienna every day, leaving her exhausted. After five months, she relocated to Vienna, where she found multiple jobs and quickly began to recover from her past struggles. Her career blossomed, and she soon found herself representing Austria, the Philippines, the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany in various projects.
Her hard work paid off, and she became a strong leader. Despite facing severe persecution, Maribel remained determined and grew stronger through every challenge. Her perseverance led her to success.
Today, Maribel is one of the strongest women in the Universe. She was awarded Mrs. Ambassador Universe among 119 delegates from around the world. She also represented Austria as Mrs. Austria Universe at the international event of MRS UNIVERSE held in Okada, Manila, Philippines.
She now travels across the world to fulfill her duties as Ambassador Universe.
She believes, "Those persecuted to the core you must remember: ''In the test of life and death, every action you take determines your fate. If your life is on a critical trial, remember: every storm you survive makes you unstoppable, and strength grows in the moments you refuse to quit.'
#MrsAustria#mrsambassadoruniverse
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