06/08/2026
August 7, 1987 was the day three women started an NGO in Davao City that provides reproductive health specifically HIV and AIDS prevention information to women in the entertainment industry and visit them in night clubs, massage parlors, and karaoke joints to know them. Church people and other development workers supported this new NGOs through immersing and attending activities of women, a physical indicator that these women are not alone and there are other people who understand their plight.
Thirty nine years later, Talikala still do the same prevention education among women in an exploitative situation but with added value because Lawig Bubai, a self-help organization of victims-survivors of s*xual exploitation in Davao City and Tisaka Tsk in Cagayan de Oro City are now in the forefront of organizing and educating their peers. For the longest years Talikala concentrated its efforts to recovery and reintegration of women and it recognized the importance of prevention against s*xual exploitation. Now, the organization is working with women and girls who are vulnerable to enter s*xual exploitation in different barangays in Davao City. There are organizations of community women and girls which helped in educating communities on prevention of s*xual exploitation. Balay Banaag Center was also established to assist daughters of survivors and protect them from being preyed into s*xual exploitation.
It also addressed the missing link in anti-prostitution advocacy, who are the buyer and potential buyer who unfortunately, the men. To sustain its effort in reaching out to men, Talikala helped the formation of Men in Valuable Partnership with Women and Children, a community-based organization of grassroot men in different barangays in Davao City.
As Talikala celebrates its 39 years of existence, the organization is truly grateful from its humble beginning that there are many groups and organizations which support its programs and services. Talikala is truly blessed for these fruitful partnerships though they are not perfect, but helpful in improving the lives of women and girls.
Thank you to women and girls who trusted Talikala to assist them, to women and girls in barangays who are part of our community-based organizing, and to men who are trying to unlearn their machismo. Thank you to all government agencies barangay councils which partnered with Talikala in women and children protection and participation advocacy. Grateful to private, religious, academe groups and other NGOs that believe and support our work through the years.
Thank you to our benefactors and funding agencies DKA/KfB, Manos Unidas, and Tdh-Germany Southeast Asia for helping us sustain our work.
Thank you for helping Talikala reach its 39 years!
