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.

IJM's National Director Atty. Samson Inocencio welcomes guests and partners.

Worship ministry and band Gloryfall led the time of worship, with songs expressing freedom in Christ.

Galatians 5:1 says 'It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.'

Gloryfall

Survivor leader Theia and Raymond Diosdado Eruma of IJM emceed the event.

Raymond Eruma and Theia

Celebrating answered prayers

Before praying, 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 PLDT, Smart, PIMAHT (Philippine Interfaith Movement Against Trafficking), NBI (National Bureau of Investigation), PNP (Philippine National Police), PICACC (Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center), DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government), OSG (Office of the Solicitor General), DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), IACAT (Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking), and DOJ (Department of Justice).

We are grateful to 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.”

Restored survivors are leading the way in shaping the very systems designed to protect them.

United in prayer

IJM's Gigi Tupas 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.

Participants stop by various prayer stations around the room with Gigi Tupas guiding from the stage

Many prayer points focused on community reporting, national and local leadership, partner organizations, and survivor advocacy, all of which contribute to the strengthening of the Philippine criminal justice system and the rescue and protection of children.

At the end of the event, guests were invited to take home an origami bird as a token and reminder to continue praying. The origami birds were made by IJM staff.

Thank you to Greenhills Christian Fellowship, Gloryfall, and our faithful partners from the community, churches, fellow NGOs, corporations, and government. We were honored and blessed by your presence.

We are incredibly proud of our OSEC team and partners for their unwavering commitment, dedication, and excellence. As we declared, "last year was a year of great impact in our shared mission. This new fiscal year brings fresh opportunities and challenges, but with collective prayer and action, this year may yet be our most transformative year.”

Visit this page for the prayer list.