In addition to sending short-term trips to Thailand and Cambodia, Adventures has a long term presence in Southeast Asia in the Philippines, where our missionaries partner with Wipe Every Tear, an organization committed to facilitate hope and healing in the lives of sexually exploited women.
In the 1960’s, Angeles City was called “Sin City” – the Las Vegas of the Philippines.
The Vietnam War raged in Southeast Asia and US troops were stationed at Clark Air Force Base in Angeles City (roughly 40 minutes from the capital city of Manila). Like in nearby Thailand, the men needed an outlet, a diversion, a way to kickback and unwind from the horrors of war.
Simultaneously, bars and brothels opened for business right down the street.
Long after the war ended, the region thrived. It wasn’t until 1991 when volcano Mount Pinatubo erupted and destroyed much of the base that the US pulled the troops from the city. The loss of GI’s in the area meant most of the sex trade in the area closed – until former GI’s returned as tourists.
With over 15,000 women exploited daily, Angeles City is one of the largest sex tourist destinations in the world.
The Philippines also has another distinction: being a major player in the transit and final destination of human trafficking. Meaning, sexually exploited women and children are more likely to be taken across international borders either to or from the Philippines.
Culturally, being a sex worker isn’t as big of a deal in the Philippines as it is in other areas of the world. The stigma of shame isn’t as pervasive. The reality of poverty and the priority of perceived wealth – no matter the cost – as well as the social acceptance of the full spectrum of alternative lifestyles.
Because in the Philippines, wealth is culturally more important than morality.
And once a woman leaves the sex industry, unlike Patpong in Thailand, she cannot be re-hired in a different bar. Pressured by family, a wealth-obsessed culture, and knowing that if she leaves she cannot work in the industry ever again, she essentially feels like she has no other choice.
It’s the perfect storm of opportunity: the presence of Western tourists (demand), the abundance of women and children looking for instant wealth (supply), and a culture saying, “Everything is okay.”
Only, all the money in the world can’t dispel the shame, restore self worth, or repair the untold damage of abuse.
That’s where Wipe Every Tear (WET) comes in.
Wipe Every Tear is committed to facilitating hope and healing in the lives of women and teens who are being sexually exploited in Southeast Asia. Through safe houses, education, and aftercare, women looking to leave the sex industry find restoration, a way out, and a new start.
Adventures partners with Wipe Every Tear through sending World Race squads, Parent Vision Trips, and long term missionaries to minister with them.
They have some pretty amazing stories:
- Like bar ministry which has resulted in girls leaving the bars for good (one of many),
- Hearing the stories of the girls,
- The Racer who took her parents out to bar ministry,
- The Kingdom Journeys team in Thailand who God used to lead to WET, and so many more.
Currently, there are over 40 girls in the Wipe Every Tear’s three safe houses, girls who are realizing their real value, learning new skills, and dreaming for their futures. Through a conversation over a cup of coffee, house-wide games of charades, continuing education/skill training, and the deep relationships made with the WET staff, God’s work of restoration and healing in the lives of these women and teenagers is unmistakable.
From the City of Angels to Sin City, the story of Angeles City is still being written – just as with the sexually exploited, the pimps, and the johns themselves.
May the captives be set free, hope restored, and darkness turned back into light.
*All photos by Wipe Every Tear
*Info gathered from CNN, Wikipedia, and WET
Is your heart broken for the vulnerable and sexually exploited? Do you feel called to minister long term in the Philippines? Click here for more information on long-term missions.
Participant Login
Donor Login