BY FR. SHAY CULLEN
MANY people reading could have been sexually abused and victimized as children because it happens to so many. The victims remained silent from fear and because 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, a teacher, or go to the police or contact Preda Foundation. 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, too.
Most child victims, now adults, have endured the memories of their abuse all their lives and bravely endure the pain and memories. Others succeed in repressing the memories. They might be able to share them with a trusted person and even talk to a therapist.
The hundreds of children need help and those that were healed at Preda have no fears and had the chance to fight back and convict their abusers. Many are now serving life sentences in jail and the children are free of abuse. The Preda children win 20 convictions every year with the help of the Preda paralegal team.
Then there is the victory of Rebecca (not her real name). She, like hundreds of others, is a victim of her step-father, Danilo Fortunato. One day, her stepfather took her into a bedroom, undressed her and proceeded to sexually assault 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 they, too, were being sexually abused by the step-father and she told her mother.
As a good mother, she protected her children and reported the abuse to the social workers of Morong, Bataan and they went to the police. Fortunato was arrested and the children filed cases against him. He is charged with statutory rape and child sexual abuse (RA 7610). The family tried to continue a normal life awaiting a long time for the trial to proceed.
The psychological impact of the sexual abuse on Rebecca caused her to show 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 secret memories and was looking for attention sending signals of her problem. The good teacher responded and learned from Rebecca what had happened and Rebecca was referred for healing at the Preda home. She had her therapy like Angelica and was healed and empowered to speak about the abuse and testified clearly in court. A great victory already for her. Once an intimidated child, now a strong outspoken youth. The power of Preda healing therapies developed over 50 years of Preda service saves the lives of hundreds of child victims and gives them a new start in life./PN
