I thought we already
talked about this?
I'm sick and tired
of this life, Rico.
Sally, I promise to look
for a better job.
I'm sick and tired of
your empty promises!
You keep saying that,
but nothing's changed!
Don't leave!
I promise to look
for a better job!
- I'm tired of your promises!
- Sally, your cab's here!
Dear Charo,
ever since I was young,
Mama and Papa would
always argue about money.
But I never thought
Mama would leave us.
I was really sad
when she left.
But Papa never taught
me to resent her.
He kept saying that Mama
was just working abroad
and would come
home eventually.
Dear, I'm off to work.
My mother is
working abroad.
She's a gold digger, preying
on Australian men!
She's worse than
a prostitute!
Who are you calling
a prostitute?
Mama?
Well, who here's been knocked
up by different foreigners?
Wow! You're one to talk.
You people look filthy.
At least my stomach's
always full,
unlike you people, you
look like walking corpses.
Why you--
I'd think twice about
hurting me if I were you!
You have some nerve
treating Maria this way!
I'm the one who's
been supporting her!
Not you!
And certainly not Rico!
Come on, Maria. I'm
taking you to Australia!
You can go and sell
that yourselves!
Come on, Maria!
Ma!
Ma!
Ma, here's my report card.
My teacher said my grades are
impressive for a transferee.
Here.
Can you get me a tissue?
Here you go.
What were you saying again?
Uh...
I got my report card.
Just leave it there.
Hey, darling! Yes, I am.
Wow! You look so hot.
Thank you, darling.
Let's go.
You know what? Your lip
color is so unique.
- Yeah.
- Thank you.
Where'd you get that from?
I got it from a local
store near our place.
- Really?
- Wow.
Here.
You're have nice taste.
If you want, I can get you some.
- Really?
- Yeah.
That would be awesome.
You're so sweet.
- This one's color blue.
- That's my favorite color.
Excuse me, miss.
Empty your pockets.
Why? What's wrong, sir?
We caught you on camera.
You were shoplifting!
How could you do this?!
I've been trying my best
to provide for you.
I'm sorry.
I only did that because
I want to make friends.
I brought you here
to study,
not to make friends.
I don't want any
problems, Maria.
- I'm sorry.
- Pack your bags.
Ma.
I won't do it again!
- Cheers!
- Cheers!
What's wrong, mate?
My mom hates me.
Same old, same old.
Here, have one.
I found comfort in the company
of other people,
thinking that they'd take
care of me no matter what.
I learned to smoke and drink
all my troubles away.
My life slowly slipped away
as I became a slave
to these vices.
Woooh!
Mama, please,
I want to go home.
Just go back to
the Philippines
and waste your
life away there.
Mama, I don't want
to go back there.
Well, you better start
fending for yourself!
Ma!
You get a client and
do what you got to do.
Then, you'll get paid for it.
350 bucks for one hour
service, 60% of it is yours.
Remaining 40% to the brothel.
Strip.
- Hey, baby.
- Yes, babe?
I'll show you something.
You're going to try this.
- Babe, no! I'm good!
- No, baby.
I'm okay. I'm fine.
- You'll like it.
- You're going to love this.
- Yeah!
- No, babe.
Come on. Try it just once
for me, baby.
- No, I'm fine.
- Just one.
- You're going to enjoy this!
- Okay.
That's my girl!
My life with Cheng revolved
around parties and drugs.
I could also buy all the
expensive things I wanted.
But I wasn't happy.
Who the hell are you?!
- Come here!
- Ouch!
- Oh my god!
- Maria, stop!
Cheng, I'm your girlfriend
- No, you're not.
- Huh?!
Not anymore.
Look at yourself.
You look like trash
because you're a drug addict
and an ugly slut!
You ruined my life!
You introduced me
to drugs!
And now, you're going
to dump me like this?!
You're such a loser!
Let's go.
Ma!
Mama...
What are you doing here?
I have nowhere
else to go, Ma.
Mama...
A prostitute and a
drug addict like you
has no place in my house.
Ma, please...
Ma!
Mama!
Ma!
Maria took a chance
on love yet again
when she met Stefan.
She strived to change and
live without her vices,
all for the man she
thought would save her.
She also returned to school
where she majored in
Philosophy and Psychology.
Um, love...
We'll be celebrating our third
anniversary next month.
Do you have any plans?
Plans like me finally
meeting your parents
and talking about
settling down.
My parents don't
want me to marry
a woman from a different race.
They want me to marry
a Serbian, like us.
Love, maybe if I get
to meet them,
they might change their minds!
Love, you don't
know my parents.
That will just
complicate things.
So, all these years, I was just
wasting my time for nothing?
Just because you are
not man enough
to fight for me and our love?
Or maybe it's just because you
don't love me anymore
because I was a prostitute--
You know I don't care
about your past, Maria!
I love you!
Then prove it.
Marry me.
Love...
I respect my parents too much.
I can't marry you.
Love...
Are you okay?
Oh, no. I'm sorry!
What's wrong?
What did I do?
I'm a Filipino too.
Sorry. I didn't mean to
make you cry harder.
I just remembered
my ex-boyfriend.
This is how we met, too.
He also gave me
his handkerchief.
- I'm Ma--
- Maria.
You're Cheng's
ex-girlfriend, right?
I wasn't sure it was
you at first.
You look so different now.
But...
I would never forget...
...those sad
eyes of yours.
There was no one
I could turn to.
I had no one.
But Karlo was there for me,
and I tried to trust again.
So, babe, how do I look?
You are perfect.
Relax, okay?
Where are your
business partners?
I think we should go
down to the lobby.
They're right on time.
Huh?
Is that her?
- Join us, miss.
- Yeah.
Come on.
No, thank you.
- What's you deal?
- What?!
Don't be rude
to my guests.
I thought we came here
for a business meeting?
This is the business
I was telling you about.
Of course, we have to
sample our product.
It's not like you've
never used drugs.
I don't use drugs
anymore, Karlo!
I won't do drugs
ever again.
And I will never sell them!
I'm a changed person!
I'm leaving.
Hurry!
Karlo!
- Come here!
- Let go of me!
Stop resisting!
- Shut up!
- Let me go! Karlo!
I'll bring you
to heaven, okay?
Cut it out!
The customer's here.
Sir, help yourself.
She's all yours.
Let's go.
Please, no...
I'm going to kill you!
Ma!
Ma...!
Please help me, Ma!
Look what they've done
to me, Ma!
Please help me!
- What do you mean?
- Look at me, Ma!
You're a prostitute, right?
And a drug addict, to boot!
So stop acting
like it's their fault!
Please believe me, Ma!
I'm not a drug addict anymore!
I was drugged!
I couldn't do anything!
- You did this to yourself!
- But, Ma!
They did this to you because
you have no self-respect!
Please believe me, Ma!
I'm begging you!
You chose to throw
your life away, Maria!
You chose to be a drug addict!
You chose to be a prostitute!
No, Ma! You're no
different from me!
You're wrong, Maria!
Because I never sold myself
to earn a living!
I came here to find
a man who will love me,
not to be some prostitute!
No, you left Papa
for every other rich man
yo can get your hands on!
You used them for money!
I did what I had to in order
to give you a better life,
Maybe I shouldn't have
had you in the first place!
I need someone
whom I can turn to...
Someone I can cry on
when I'm down..
You were never there for me!
You've always turned me away!
You're right, you shouldn't
have had me.
Because you are
a worthless mother!
I was wrong to think
that I have finally
left all my suffering behind.
For some reason, I still had
the will to live.
But I was on my own
from then on.
Oh, my god!
It is you!
What happened to you?!
Daisy...
Help me...
I was diagnosed with borderline
personality disorder.
Once my condition improved,
thanks to the help of
some specialists,
Daisy brought me to a place
which she hoped would
help rebuild my spirit.
For the very first time,
there was a person who listened
to me and believed in me
without passing judgment.
He opened my mind
to the importance
of accepting, forgiving, and
loving yourself wholeheartedly.
As well as the importance
of having a peaceful mind
and a peaceful heart.
But my journey
didn't end there.
I went back to school
and graduated college.
I then took a master's degree
in public health and
addiction studies,
so I could have a
better understanding
of the things I went through and
am currently going through.
Um...
I won't stay long, Ma.
I just want to...
...thank you and ask
for forgiveness.
Congratulations, dear.
Mama.
Sometimes, God leaves us
with nothing to hope on.
He only does this so that
we'd learn to seek His wisdom,
and find strength in Him.
Thank you very much.
I now work as a motivational
speaker and life coach,
helping others who have
gone down the wrong path,
as I once did.
I also wrote a book called,
"Kill Your Addiction
Before it Kills You".
I chose to share my story
in order to
inspire those who have
lost all hope for redemption.
Yours truly, Maria
