A conference on how to provide safer cyberspace and safe internet interaction on social media for children. It was held at Bunting Elementary School Gym in Pasig, Metro Manila, on November 23rd, 2024.
It was attended by high-profile speakers named below that gave strong relevant messages to the conference on the urgent need to safeguard children in all sectors where the internet is available, in the home, family, schoolroom, and in society.
The Preda Foundation founder, Father Shay Cullen, as a guest speaker, spoke about the work of Preda in combating child abuse and convicting 27 child abusers in 2024 alone, but that was a tip of the iceberg of child abuse, he said. The greater criminals, Father Shay said, are the online pedophiles aided and abetted by irresponsible telecommunications corporations that allow the transmission of the child abuse material to flow freely through their servers.
Also attending from Preda were Ms. Rose Casta, Preda social worker and survivor as a public speaker and child rights advocate, and Ms. Princess Ledesma. They presented an important message on the dangers of misuse of the Internet, and Father Shay called for teamwork among government officials and agencies and the non-government organizations to fight for a safer Internet, free from child abuse materials and streaming child abuse sex shows. He said all must join in challenging the telecommunication corporations for safer child-protective social media and cyber security for children and youth.
Pointing out the vast amount of child exploitative material, images, and videos passing through the Internet server providers without control, filters, or monitoring, Father Shay told the conference that the ISPs were aiding and abetting the flow of child abuse materials and live child abuse sex shows for pedophiles around the world.
He pointed out that recent arrests and convictions of pedophiles in Switzerland, France, and elsewhere who had sexually abused hundreds of Filipino children on line in collaboration with the parents and relatives of very young children is irrefutable proof that the telecommunication corporations are not installing blocking and filtering software to detect aiding and abetting the expansion of crimes of child sexual abuse.
Princess as a victim of sexual abuse by her own family. The audience sat in solemn silence, mobile phones put aside, as she listened in shock as she recounted the horrific abuse she suffered by her family. They no doubt had been viewing child abuse materials on their mobile phones during the years she suffered abuse from a young age. She was even offered to neighborhood pedophiles who also came into their house and sexually abused her and her sister Maria.
She told how she was rescued by Preda Foundation social workers and given care, full support, protection, and emotional release therapy, which empowered her and enabled her to have confidence to testify in court. She was able to win her three cases with the help of Preda legal assistance to convict her father, uncle, and brother. They were all sentenced to many years in prison.
Princess is now studying to be a social worker. Both Princess and Rose departed on a travel speaking tour in Germany on December 6, sponsored by the Space Llama. This child rights organization is spreading awareness and knowledge of the cybercrimes that are abusing children in the Philippines.
The speeches were given during the 4th National Youth Leadership Summit on Safer Cyberspace and the CGPH-PASIG City’s Partnership Project.
The purpose of the summit meeting was inspirational practices drawn from success stories shared by organizations and individuals in helping combat OSAEC and co-create safer cyberspace for children and youth. To develop critical collaboration between young people, church authorities, private sectors, and government entities in co-creating a safer online environment. Also to engage duty-bearers and stakeholders from multiple sectors to share their best practices and open opportunities for collaboration. PAGYABONG, highlighting stories of hope and courage of young changemakers and dutybearers across the country to inspire multi-sectoral action and sustainable programs in co-creating cybersafe homes, schools, and communities for the protection of children and youth from all forms of cyber threats.
Distinguished guests:
- MARY JOHN MANANZAN, OSB, Chairperson, CGPH Incorporated
- MRS. TERESA BRIONES, RSW, Pasig CSWD Department Head
- REV. FR. FLORDELITO C. DADOR, JR., Assistant Director of Social Communications Ministry of the Diocese of Pasig
- .His Excellency MOST REV. GERARDO A. ALMINAZA, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of San Carlos
- HON. EMMELINE AGLIPAY-VILLAR, Undersecretary for International Affairs and Attached and Supervised Agencies, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
- ATTY. RENEE CO, Executive Vice President, Kabataan Party List
- REV. FR. ROBERT REYES, Parish Priest, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish
- Father Shay Cullen, Founder Preda Foundation, Ms. Rose Casta (Social Worker) and Ms. Princess Ledesma
