THE female inmates at the Davao City Jail cannot ask for more for Christmas, except for their liberty, as they will be celebrating the holidays at the Ray of Hope Village.

The Ray of Hope Village is a new facility worth P8 million. It was built through the concerted efforts of the City Government and the private sector through the Gawad Kalinga. It is located just across the male prison inside the Davao City Jail compound.

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Since its completion in March this year, all 110 female inmates have made the Ray of Hope Village into a community where everyone's talent is enhanced and made them productive citizens while waiting for the resolution of their cases.

Here at their new jailhouse -- their new "home", there are no more unpleasant smell, no prison bars, just colorful painted cottages with mini gardens and a bigger space to move around and do their daily activities.

"Mas malaki na ang space namin dito. Pag tingin mo sa taas makita mo na ang sky hindi katulad doon sa kabila," said Gina Talingting, 43, who after four years is still waiting for the resolution of her drug charges.

According to Senior Inspector Grace S. Taculin, warden at the Davao City Female Jail, this village is far different from the reformatory environment.

"Holistic ang activites nila dito to balance their life inside jail," she said. In fact it's like they are not in jail anymore except of course for the perimeter fence surrounding the 'village'.

"Meron na silang meat processing dito. Inmates make tocino and longganisa, which they sell for P35 per pack. Meron na din silang dressmaking and laundry shops while other inmates make crochet products like wallets, cell phone pouches, blouses and bags," Taculin said.

"They now earn money. Instead of depending on their relatives for their daily subsistence, sila na ngayon ang nagbibigay sa pamilya nila," Taculin added.

The Ray of Hope Village, Taculin said, is considered to be the best facility of its kind in the Philippines and other regions would want to duplicate it.

Taculin said she even overheard an inmate's child saying, "Ma, diri nalang ko puyo mas guwapo man inyong balay (Your house is better than ours, why just not let me stay here)."

Christmas decors made from recycled chips wrappers, plastic cups, bicycle tires, newspapers, and used gift wrappers are all over the 20 cottages inside the female jail. Taculin has discouraged readymade Christmas decorations.

"Here at the Ray of Hope Village, we make sure that inmates talents are tapped and enhanced," she said.

For most women spending Christmas Day at the Ray of Hope Village, the time spent marking the holiday also came with a resolution.

"This is a one-time deal that will never happen again," said Mary Joan Ticay, 38, a female trustee (an inmate who is permitted greater freedom) and is now assigned to do clerical work at the female jail's administration office. Ticay is also part of a fund-raising musical show dubbed "Jailbreak Concert" slated in April next year.

Ticay enrolled in the Alternative Learning System and plans to stick with the program. She focuses on her spirituality too. Though a Muslim, she joins prayer meetings of any religion inside jail. "It's been an awakening for me this time," she said. "This is my first time here and this is the time that's going to make a difference."

Thirty-three-year-old Jed Sy has been incarcerated for almost four years and serving time for drugs manufacturing. On Christmas morning, she said she doesn't know if her seven-year-old daughter can visit her as the latter has to travel all the way from Surigao with Jed's mother. She added that their conversation typically ends in tears and it would bring her down.

"Everything that I took for granted outside I have a whole different outlook on it now," she said. "Mas free man ko diri, naa ko'y peace of mind. Na-sacrifice mi pero na-enlighten nako akong mga kauban. Since we were sentenced, I dedicated my life to the Lord. Gigamit ko niya para sa kaayuhan. Daghan nako pasalamat sa Ginoo (He used me for the better. I have a lot to thank the Lord for)," Jed said.

A former accountant, Jed works as a trustee at the jail canteen.

Evelyn Asa-ali, 47, who has been in for almost eight months now for drug possession charges, hopes to see her nine children during the holidays, although that's all hope. "Lisod na makaanhi sila sabay kay mahal ang pamasahe (But they can't come here all together, transport fare costs a lot)."

"It's harder than usual today being Christmas," she said. "Na miss nako sila (I miss them)."

Taculin said there have been many recidivists, but with expanded treatment, therapy and other rehabilitation programs in place to assist the inmates, there's more chance now that they will stay out of trouble. This is aside from the better facilities the jail now has for the women inmates.

"It's not that depressing today because my three children have already accepted what I'm in here for," Talingting said. "They have also seen how I have changed since before I was jailed."

Daily programs and visitations are suspended on Christmas Day, though other aspects of the corrections facility go on as usual.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte will host a Christmas party for all inmates, male and female, on December 24. The party goes with the traditional gift giving.

Jail personnel are also on watch for any signs of depression among the inmates so as to prevent any suicide.

"We've taken the philosophy that their punishment is being away from their family, not that we have to punish them," a personnel said as she moved around the jail.

Inmate Joan hasn't seen her sons -- 17-year-old Mavric and three-year-old Eldric -- since she was jailed for illegal recruitment charges three years ago.

"Nakiki-join na lang ako sa sa mga kasama kong may bisita. Nag aalaga ng mga anak nilang maliit na bumibisita. Iniisip ko na lang na anak ko inaalagaan ko," Joan said. Prison visits reach their peak during the Christmas season.

Most families come to see inmates on Christmas Eve or earlier.

"It's very good for us inmates to get visited. It gives us some kind of hope that people on the outside care about us," another inmate said.

Over at the male jail, Chief Inspector Ferdinand Pontillo said inmates have a long list of activities to look forward to during the Christmas season. These activities are all aimed at uplifting their dignity because it is only their liberty that has been curtailed.

According to inmate Glenn Basmayor, program coordinator of this year's Christmas celebration, his fellow inmates have been supportive of all the events including new contests like 'Doble Kara', comic skit and Choral singing.

Though Christmas will have to spent again in jail, it's another year of hope that the coming year will bring good news of freedom.

The prison tries to add a few touches of Christmas cheer to its lockstep routine. Inmates can receive gifts such as soap, shampoo, and shirts. Prison cooks also serve something special for Christmas dinner.

Still, when Christmas arrives at the Davao City Jail, it would be just another day because for sure inmates will miss their mother or wife's home-cooked food. Most of all, they will miss playing with their kids or merely sitting lazy on the couch with their love ones.

Nonetheless, for all inmates, time is valuable and they choose to live life and have experiences now, and never take a beautiful blue sky for granted until the next Christmas comes.

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(December 22, 2008 issue)
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