“It is not often that a charitable organisation gets the opportunity to celebrate 50 years of service to the Filipino people,” writes Columban Missionary Fr Shay Cullen, founder of the PREDA Foundation.
This year is the golden anniversary of the founding of the People’s Recovery, Empowerment and Development Assistance (Preda) Foundation in Olongapo City. The work of Preda is focused on promoting human rights and dignity. It does this by campaigning for children’s rights; rescuing abused, neglected and trafficked children; and protecting, healing and empowering them in our three residential facilities.
After 50 years, the Preda Foundation still provides education, support and daily legal assistance to hundreds of abused and needy boys and girls in Luzon and the Visayas. It has also helped abuse victims in Mindanao. This was only made possible by the dedication and commitment of Preda’s courageous Filipino staff, who work day and night in our facilities in Zambales and Cebu, supporting the children and continuing the foundation’s work.
It all began in 1974, when, at the height of martial law — imposed in September 1972 — many innocent young people were being arbitrarily arrested and jailed. Some were tortured and killed without due process, while others were persecuted for illegal drug use — issues similar to those being investigated now in the Senate.
Preda was founded in Upper Kalaklan, Olongapo City, to provide shelter, protection and a chance at recovery for male youth at risk and suspected of wrongdoing. This was the first sanctuary where young people with family and emotional problems also found safety, therapy and protection. Many were and are being healed through our effective Emotional Release Therapy program.
Over 2,000 boys have passed through Preda’s homes since 1974. Today, at least 60 new boys are saved every year from the streets, youth jails and abusive situations, and they get healed, empowered, educated and a better start in life.
The youths respond positively to the support and friendship offered by the Preda family and welcome their respect and encouragement. They realize that Preda workers are good persons with dignity and rights, and a positive future. Many of these youngsters have endured rejection, neglect, physical and sexual abuse, exploitation, and hunger in their own homes or community. Some were abused in government detention centres before they were released to Preda through a court order.
The negative behaviour the boys had displayed was understood as rooted in child abuse and neglect. Authorities blame the youths but ignore the causes: negligent parents, broken homes and much abuse. At a Preda home, they experience the happy childhood that was denied to them. That is why they freely choose to stay. If authorities detain a teenager in a Bahay Pag-asa facility, the youths feel branded as criminals, and their only thought is to escape.
At a Preda home, a family-like welcome and a happy community life await those who come there. Most of these youths freely choose to join there and stay. They cooperate and do good. All are free to leave at any time since a Preda home is free and open. Preda homes are surrounded by trees and streams.
At the Preda homes, boys and girls alike feel respected and treated as intelligent and are affirmed as good. They continue their education and are taught their rights and dignity as humans, citizens, and children of God. There is no scolding or punishment; disputes are resolved in a family meeting.
The homes for boys and girls are in different locations. All are encouraged to develop their talents and abilities. They constantly receive positive affirmation, reinforcement and spiritual values. They are encouraged to believe that goodness can overcome and defeat negativity. All their needs are provided. They eat healthy meals several times a day. Our Emotional Release Therapy helps restore their self-respect and dignity. In sessions using this therapy, those undergoing it release and deal with all their pain and trauma caused by the sexual, physical and psychological abuse they suffered.
Preda Foundation, Philippines
Many success stories
One of them was Albert, an emotionally troubled boy from a broken home. He found acceptance and understanding at the Preda home. He eventually confronted the deep internal pain and suffering he felt and let them out during therapy. As a result, he was healed, became strong-minded and determined to succeed in life. He went on to study aeromechanics in an engineering school and graduated as a highly skilled aero mechanic. Today, he is a very successful, well-placed aero inspection engineer and businessman. He is one of Preda’s many success stories.
The Preda home for abused and trafficked girls was opened in 1996. As many as 1,400 girls between 6 and 17 years old have been healed and empowered there, thanks in part to the foundation’s affirmation, understanding and Emotional Release Therapy. They found the courage to file charges against their abusers, testify in court and have the offenders convicted. Twenty convictions, on average are secured every year from just judges, freeing the girls from living in fear and allowing them to lead independent lives.
Saving and healing teenage girls who fall victim to human trafficking poses the greatest challenge to restoring their dignity and self-worth. They are forced to do sex work by their traffickers or bar owners. These girls’ parents are sometimes held in debt bondage with no escape. They have been robbed of dignity and self-worth. They can be saved and healed, too, if authorities stop protecting the traffickers.
Fr Shay Cullen at Preda
One of them was Juanita. She was raped by her biological father when she was 14. She fled to the streets, was trafficked and landed in a sex bar in Angeles City. After Preda’s social workers rescued her, they paid her debts and brought her to Preda. She worried about her younger siblings, so one day, she left to help them. Sadly, she invited two other girls from Preda to go with her. They were victims of domestic sexual abuse. We feared they would be trafficked into the sex bars.
We went to Angeles City immediately to look for the girls. We printed photos of them, called “Missing Children,” passed them to tricycle drivers and posted them on shop windows. That was enough to deter traffickers. The children saw the posters and, having stayed with relatives, returned to Preda voluntarily.
After returning to Preda, they underwent Emotional Release Therapy. They soon recovered and felt empowered. Juanita filed a case against her biological father, who went into hiding. He was smarter than the police, eluding them like thousands of other suspected child rapists. As for Juanita, with Preda’s help, she attended college, graduated, found a job, and now helps her mother and siblings. She is now a strong public speaker at Preda seminars.
After 50 years, the work of the Preda Foundation continues. The children continue attaining justice in court. Everyone can report child abuse to Preda for immediate action.
If you would like to support the work of Fr Shay Cullen and the PREDA Foundation, you can donate online at: https://preda.org/donate/ or send a cheque to: ‘Columban Missionaries’ to the Far East Office, Dalgan Park, Navan, Co Meath C15 AY2Y or Tel: 00353 46 9098275. Thank you!