This is the story of the rescue, recovery and empowerment of Angelica, an 8-year-old girl from Orani, Bataan. She was abandoned by her father and then physically and psychologically abused by her mother and stepfather Glen Rivera. They beat her with a bamboo stick, constantly cursed her, and pinched her so hard she could hardly stop crying. One day, they locked her in a room without food or water and left her there all day. Her crying alerted neighbors, and she was rescued and brought to the municipal social worker. When the social worker was told what had happened to Angelica, she realized the girl was at grave risk. The child was brought in March 2023 to the safe and protective care of the Preda Foundation’s home for abused and trafficked children to heal and recover.
She had severe bruises and other marks resulting from beatings on her legs and thighs, which were all recorded as evidence. Angelica was glad to be in a safe and happy home. There, she cried out about her hurt and pain while undergoing Preda’s Emotional Release Therapy, young as she was. She was healed and became emotionally stronger, and her self-confidence grew day by day at Preda with 50 other children, all recovering from sexual abuse and human trafficking.
Angelica also became a strong-minded and courageous young girl, and she bravely told her story to the judge in court and was believed. This past week, the family court in Bataan found both Angelica’s mother and stepfather guilty, and they are now in jail. That is 14 convictions already attained by Preda children in 2024.
Despite her trauma, Angelica has recovered and now has a life free from fear, adult tyranny and abuse, thanks to the help of Preda’s dedicated care workers and therapists.
In the world today, no one can be complacent, ignorant, neglectful or unaware of the extent of human trafficking and child abuse. The United Nations Children’s Fund says there are at least 7 million children who are abused in some way in the Philippines every year. However, that is just a wheelbarrow of dirt from the enormous mountain of abuse existing there. Let’s face the painful truth: one in every three girls and one in every five boys are sexually abused and raped every year. The challenge for all good people is to help these children and speak out and act against child abuse and trafficking. Anyone can report child abuse by contacting the Preda Foundation Facebook page.
Many people reading this could have been sexually abused and victimized as children because it happens to so many. The victims remained silent out of fear and because they thought no one would believe them. They could not ask for help. We need to persuade children that if abused, they will be believed. They can run and tell a trusted person — a relative or teacher — or go to the police or contact Preda. That is why children can report the abuse to Preda social workers and get immediate help and protection and stay in the Preda home until they win justice.
Most child victims who are now adults have endured the memory and pain of their abuse all their lives. Others succeeded in repressing them. They might be able to share them with a trusted person and even talk to a therapist.
Hundreds of children need help, and those healed at Preda now have no fears and have the chance to fight back and see their abusers convicted. Many are now serving life sentences, and the children are free of abuse. Preda children win 20 convictions every year with the help of the Preda paralegal team.
Another of these convictions was won by Rebecca (not her real name). She, like hundreds of children, was victimized by her stepfather, in this case Danilo Fortunato. One day, her stepfather took her into a bedroom, undressed her and sexually assaulted her. Rebecca was too scared to tell her mother since Fortunato threatened to kill her and her two younger sisters if she told anybody. Later, she found out that her stepfather was also sexually abusing her sisters, so she told her mother.
The mother was a good one, as she protected her children, reported the abuse to the social workers of Morong, Bataan, and went to the police. Fortunato was arrested, and the children filed cases against him. He is charged with statutory rape and child sexual abuse. The family tried to continue leading a normal life while waiting a long time for the trial to proceed.
The psychological impact of the sexual abuse on Rebecca caused her to display sexualized behavior in school by trying to expose herself and sending nude photos to her classmates. This was a cry for help. She could not endure the memory of the abuse and was looking for attention by sending signals of her problem. A good teacher responded and learned from Rebecca what had happened, and the girl was referred to the Preda home for healing. She underwent therapy like Angelica and was healed and empowered to speak about the abuse and testified in court, which was already a great victory for her. Once an intimidated child, Rebecca is now strong and outspoken. The power of Preda healing therapies developed over 50 years of service save the lives of hundreds of child victims and gives them a new start in life.
