WE ARE moving toward Christmas time and some people have initiated preparations to welcome the coming of December which is considered as the most wonderful time of the year.
Persons who are deprived of liberty (DPL) detained at the Negros Occidental District Jail in Barangay Tabunan, Bago City, started to make parols (lanterns) or Christmas decorations as part of their institutionalized livelihood.
The colorful stars always carry the charm among the Christmas ornaments.
Redalyn Pascaran, the parol seller at Barangay 9 said, it is her yearly endeavor to sell Christmas parols which are the handiwork of those persons deprived of liberty.
The provincial jail was formerly situated at the current location of the 888 China Town Premiere mall and they used to get their parols there.
But now that the jail was relocated at an area in Bago City, they were the ones who go there to place their orders.
The persons deprived of liberty made use of their time making the parols and other Christmas decorations as a form of livelihood.
“They are busy making these parols and we are the ones who dispose of it to convert their efforts to money. This is the time of the year where they can make a profit with the use of their skills and quality time,” she said.
She said that they started as early as last October and now schools, churches, hospitals, and other enthusiasts have started to buy star-shaped parols and Christmas decors from them.
They have a variety of small, medium and large stars that are adorned with Christmas lights.
It looks stunning in the evening, the reason that the Christmas decors have its corresponding glimmers.
“It is like giving happiness to others while helping the persons deprived of liberty and at the same time, also an income generation for all of us,” she said.