Thirty years ago, a Filipino businesswoman driving through Manila’s Red-Light District could no longer ignore what she saw: children—some as young as eight—being sold for sex. Instead of turning away, she sold her business, gathered six friends, and began a mission that today rescues victims of trafficking and educates tens of thousands of children across the Philippines.
NEWS PROVIDED BY
Kanet Productions Inc.
March 31, 2026
CAVE CREEK, Ar., March 31, 2026 /Standard Newswire/ — A Calling Born on the Streets of Manila
In 1996, Corazon J. Salazar, a businesswoman from Bulacan, traveled daily along Mabini Avenue in Manila, an area known for prostitution. There she witnessed a heartbreaking reality: young girls and women trapped in trafficking, abuse, and violence. Many were exposed to disease, drugs, and unimaginable trauma. Some do not survive and die before they have had a chance to live. Deeply moved, Salazar shared what she had seen with six close friends. Together, they felt called to act—to rescue girls from exploitation and offer them a path to dignity and healing.
Seven Women, One Mission
The seven women made a life-altering decision. They left their careers and personal lives to form a small religious community dedicated to helping victims of trafficking. With no funding or formal structure, they relied entirely on faith and determination. Salazar sold her business to support the effort, and together they founded the Mary Queen of Heaven Missionaries. Their early years were marked by sacrifice and perseverance as they lived simply, trained for religious life, and spent long hours reaching out to street victims to better understand how to help them. Their mission was rooted in a simple belief: every child deserves safety, dignity, and hope.
Official Recognition and Expansion
On August 22, 2003, the mission received formal recognition from the Catholic Church when Cardinal Ricardo J. Vidal of Cebu elevated Mary Queen of Heaven Missionaries to a Public Association of the Faithful, naming Salazar as foundress. This milestone allowed the missionaries to expand their work and deepen their impact.
Through a national study, they identified a key driver of trafficking: poverty in rural communities. Recruiters often deceive families with promises of jobs for their daughters, only to deliver them into exploitation. With limited access to education, many families have few alternatives. The missionaries realized that rescue alone was not enough. Prevention would be essential.
Phase I: Rescue and Rehabilitation — The Home of Love
In 2005, the missionaries opened the Home of Love Rehabilitation and Livelihood Skills Training Center in Bagasawe, Turburan, Cebu. There, they provide a safe haven for rescued girls and young mothers.
At night, sisters walk quietly through areas known for prostitution, building trust with victims and offering them a way out. Those who choose to escape begin a journey of healing at the Home of Love. The center provides shelter, food, medical care, counseling, education, and job training. Residents learn skills such as sewing, baking, and cooking while receiving emotional and spiritual support. Childcare is also provided for young mothers.
With a capacity of 50 residents at any one given time, hundreds have been rescued while the program has achieved a remarkable 93 percent success rate in helping women rebuild their lives.
Phase II: Education as Prevention
In 2007, the missionaries launched the Regina Coeli Education Assistance Program to address the root causes of trafficking. Working with volunteer teachers and Mission Partners, they began supporting families in rural areas. The program provides school supplies, scholarships, mentoring, and family support, encouraging parents to prioritize education. Missionaries visit homes, reinforcing the message that education offers a path out of poverty and exploitation.
What began with 550 families has grown significantly. Today, the program operates in 27 provinces and 284 municipalities, reaching approximately 18,000 children annually. Since its founding, more than 60,000 children have benefited, with many going on to higher education and stable careers.
A Mission of Hope
Nearly 30 years after Corazon Salazar first encountered the suffering that changed her life, the mission she began continues to expand. The Mary Queen of Heaven Missionaries remain dedicated to protecting vulnerable children and offering them a future filled with possibilities.
Their work is a powerful reminder that even the most entrenched problems can be challenged when compassion is matched with courage.
What began with seven women has become a movement transforming thousands of lives—and for the children they serve, it means something priceless: a future. The organization is funded solely by charitable donations. Donations can be made at MQHM.org.
About Mary Queen of Heaven Missionaries
The Mary Queen of Heaven Missionaries (MQHM) is a Catholic religious institute founded in the Philippines in 1996 by Sr. Ma. Corazon J. Salazar and is a registered 501(c)3 non profit in the United States under the name of Mary Queen of Heaven Inc. The organization is dedicated to rescuing victims of prostitution and human trafficking and preventing exploitation through education and family outreach programs. MQHM operates rehabilitation programs for victims and educational assistance initiatives serving thousands of children across the Philippines each year.
Individual stories about the many who have been rescued can be found on the website at MQHM.org and below.
:Link to a comprehensive overview of the trafficking crisis in the Philippines and how MQHM work with local government.
In Darkness There is Always Light – Missionaries Who Make A Difference
:Links to success stories of victims listed below. Photos contained in the stories are released for publication in press coverage of the MQHM 30th Anniversary.
SOURCE Kanet Productions Inc.
CONTACT: Rhonda Kanet Chambless, 513-604-3442, rkanet@kanetproductions.com