Abusive family set-up, poverty, inability to meet the basic needs of the family, and early exposure to prostitution are some of the reasons why women and children are recruited and lured into trafficking and prostitution. Fanny, 45 years old at the time of the interview, comes from a poor family. Her mother was also in prostitution before she was impregnated by her father who is her costumer back then. Fanny is the eldest among five (5) children in a family with different fathers. She didn’t even know her real father. Recruitment and the entangling circumstances of trafficking and prostitution Women and children are trafficked and lured into prostitution because of pangkwarta (to earn money). Some are explicitly invited by friends, acquaintances, neighbors, and friends who are also in prostitution because of the availability of customers who are willing to pay for sex. Some are unaware that they are also sold by their friends, acquaintances, or family members. Moreover, they are unaware that they will work in a casa or bar to entertain local and foreign customers against their will. They were sold without their knowledge. Ria engaged in premarital sex with her boyfriend at the 10 years old. On December of the same year, she ran away from home and engaged into prostitution to support her basic needs. She reached Mati in 2012 where she was introduced to the bar/casa owner who immediately forced her to entertain, dance, and engage into sexual activity with customers. She stayed in a casa with other women and minors. They were not allowed to go outside the bar without the company of their manager or recruiter. She wanted to go back to Davao but the recruiter threatened her that he can find her anywhere in Davao if she plans to escape. Mary ran away from home due to verbal abuse. At the age of sixteen, she started to try different vices such as drinking alcohol, smoking, and tried using shabu given by her friends. Her Aunt Nina also said that she used to sniff vulcaseal and every time she sleeps, she can smell that her mouth smells vulcaseal. 13