Preda: 50 years of service and helping abused children

by Fr. Shay Cullen

| Photo courtesy of Preda Foundation

A charitable organization rarely gets the opportunity to celebrate 50 years of service to the Filipino people. This is the golden anniversary of founding the People’s Recovery, Empowerment, and Development Assistance (Preda) Foundation in Olongapo City. Preda’s work 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. It 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 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 people with dignity, 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 centers before they were released to Preda through a court order.

The negative behavior 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. Everyone can leave anytime since a Preda home is free and open. Trees and streams surround Preda homes.

“At the Preda homes, boys and girls feel respected, treated as intelligent, and 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.”

At the Preda homes, boys and girls feel respected, treated as intelligent, and 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.

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 studied aeromechanics in engineering and graduated as a highly skilled aero mechanic. He is a successful, well-placed aero inspection engineer and businessman today. 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 partly 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. On average, twenty convictions are secured annually by 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.

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. Having stayed with relatives, the children saw the posters and 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.

The Preda Foundation’s work continues after 50 years. The children continue attaining justice in court. Everyone can report child abuse to Preda for immediate action.

For more information, contact Preda Foundation president Francis Bermido Jr. at 0942-9913785 or fbermido@gmail.com.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shay Cullen is a Missionary priest from Ireland, a member of the Missionary Society of St. Columban, and the Founder and President of Preda Foundation since 1975.

This column is from the Preda Foundation website. It is reposted with permission of the author.

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