She studied composition at the Philippine Women's University, and in 1977, she moved to the United States, where she studied at Eastman School of Music and The Catholic University of America.
Ta õppis kompositsiooni Filipiinide Naiste Ülikoolis ning 1977 kolis ta Ameerika Ühendriikidesse, kus ta õppis Eastman School of Music ja katoliikliku ülikoolis Ameerikas.