Celebrated Freedom: The Manila Prayer Gathering 2025

20 March 2025, THE PHILLIPINES – Over 320 church partners, government partners, law enforcement partners, and survivor leaders gathered at Greenhills Christian Fellowship on March 13, 2025 for the annual Manila Prayer Gathering hosted by IJM. Celebrating answered prayers and praying expectantly for greater success in the fight against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) in the year to come

The event began with a warm welcome from IJM’s National Director, Atty. Samson Inocencio. This was followed by a time of worship led by the Gloryfall band, featuring songs that celebrated freedom in Christ. And we were honored to have survivor leader Theia as the emcee of the event.

Celebrating answered prayers

We looked back together at the answered prayers of the year 2024, which highlight what God has done in the Philippines’ fight against OSAEC.

• One hundred eighty eight (188) victims and at-risk individuals were rescued by the Philippine government and law enforcement authorities, supported by IJM.
• Forty nine (49) suspected traffickers were arrested.
• At least 40 perpetrators were convicted and sent to prison, among them a trafficker sentenced without the child survivor having to testify, an example of trauma-informed justice.
• Survivor leaders co-authored a guide to working and interacting with survivors, an insightful and practical resource for partners.
• Survivors, advocates, and leaders helped drive a national summit against OSAEC, in which His Excellency President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. took part.
• A national campaign was launched, challenging cultural norms that prevent people from reporting OSAEC.
• More anti-OSAEC ordinances were passed in various local governments, giving them additional resources to combat OSAEC.
• Prosecuting Online Sexual Exploitation (POSE) Fundamentals Online training platform enabled the scaling of training for prosecutors and law enforcement officers.
• IJM worked with financial institutions for greater vigilance against illegal OSAEC /CSAEM-related transactions.
• Various collaborations with faith communities expanded the work and united the church in constant prayer.
• Greater awareness and support for anti-OSAEC work and IJM’s work was achieved when Atty. Samson Inocencio, VP of IJM’s Program Against OSEC was honored as a TIP (Trafficking in Persons) hero by the United States State Department.

We are grateful to our partners for supporting the event and the Philippine Survivor Network for providing survivor’s perspectives to many of our initiatives. We celebrate that “restored survivors are leading the way in shaping the very systems designed to protect them.”

United in prayer

Gigi Tupas, the Head of National Activation and Partnerships of IJM Philippines, led the prayer session, encouraging everyone to pray boldly, with a posture of freedom, and from a deep desire for freedom for those held captive by OSAEC.

Participants walked together in groups from one prayer station to the next, guided by prayer points. Participants united in prayer, crying out for the children being exploited.

At the end of the event, guests were invited to take home an origami bird as a token and reminder to continue praying and supporting our efforts to end online sexual abuse and exploitation of Children. The origami birds were made by IJM staff, served as symbols of freedom and hope.

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