Nina Bantoto was only three years old when she was diagnosed with autism. Despite the initial pain of shattered dreams upon learning of her condition, her parents resolved to love her even more and help her become the best that she can be. This love nurtured and paved the way for their daughter to fully realize her gift.

As a child, Bantoto struggled to speak and when she finally did, she still could not fully express herself. What she lacked in verbal articulation, however, she more than made up for with her immense talent in drawing, sketching, and painting.