Since she was a young child, Maria Lourdes had the intuitive gift of sensing pain in others and how to resolve conflicts within communities, partnerships, and interpersonal relationships since she was a little girl.
Moving into adulthood, Maria Lourdes started understanding the injustices such as: capitalism, socio economic issues, sexism, and classism within the world when she started organizing for WWII Veterans and teaching BIPOCX youth about how to honor and have pride in their Pilipinx identity.
When Maria Lourdes learned that her grandfather had fought in the Bataan Death March, it deepened her understanding of how war and conflict can destroy not only human relationships and entire countries—but also leave lasting imprints on the environment. The injustice of him not being recognized as a veteran and receiving rightful benefits motivated her to search for ways to support marginalized communities and use her voice for advocacy.
Before she was aware of the concepts of Restorative Practices (RPs) and Restorative Justice (RJs) Maria Lourdes had served as a peacemaker, mediator, and provided insightful guidance to family, friends, and various groups.
She was formally trained in RPs and RJs with an emphasis in equity, social justice, indigenous and culturally relevant practices within schools, nonprofits, community, and organizational settings since 1999.
As she began to heal within herself, Maria Lourdes realized that her journey wasn’t only about personal restoration—it was the beginning of Healing Hearts, a calling to help others unpack their own pain. This path inward opened a deeper awareness that her purpose extended beyond her own transformation. Healing Hearts emerged from that realization—a calling rooted in lived experience, guiding others toward joy, clarity, and a renewed connection to themselves.
Professionally, Maria Lourdes has taught over a decade of early education to high school youth with experience as an Instructional & Positive Behavior and Conflict Resolution Interventions Coach, Principal, and Administrator within the San Francisco and greater Bay Area.