One after the other, the book described chaotic Manila: "six-hour traffic jams, suffocating pollution, horrifying sex trade." The book described the sex industry as consisting mostly of young children “many of whom had been sold to pimps by parents who took solace in knowing that at least their children would be fed.”

The book went on to detail a turning point in Brooks’ life. “I’ve run through the gates of hell,” she said.Traumatized, Brooks “left the Philippines at once, without even saying goodbye to the other members of the group.”

The impact of Dan Brown’s "Inferno" remains to be seen. While a work of fiction, Brown again provides an introduction that confuses the ordinary reader about what's true and what's not -- just like in his popular novel "The Da Vinci Code."

"Inferno" is his take on Dante Alighieri’s "The Divine Comedy." - ABS-CBN news

Manila is Gates of Hell says American Novelist, Dan Brown

Update No.1. MMDA sends letter to Dan Brown over the controversial phrase describing Manila as "Gates of Hell"