THE Christmas lanterns that are currently lighting up the streets and parks of Davao City have been giving joy to Dabawenyos and tourists alike.
The people who made the colorful lanterns, the Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) inside Davao City Jail, share the same hope. And sometimes, their hopes can be more profound than those who run free.
43-year-old Roy (not his real name) was convicted because of using illegal drugs. He is sentenced to be rehabilitated for six months but since the public rehabilitation center in Bago Oshiro is always full, he stayed at the City Jail. Until six months grew into three years and a month now and for three Christmas celebrations already, he has longed to be with his family.
“Karon muabotayng Pasko, muhilak na sad ko ani, mga alas dose kay dili nako sila makauban. Gwapo unta og makauban nako sila (I might cry again this coming Christmas because I cannot be with them. I would be happy if we were together),” he said, letting out short sighs in between.
He got involved in making lanterns at the City Jail, which started a year after he entered the facility in 2016. Lantern-making is one of the livelihood programs given by the City Jail management to empower the PDLs like Roy.
This year, he participated in the making of 150 Christmas lanterns commissioned by the City Government of Davao. The program has been helping him earn enough to fulfill his duties as a father while in jail.
“Makatigom kasagaran di gyud muubos sa P1,000. Naa pay mutaas ana, mga P1,500. Basta, ihatag nako tanan sa ilaha. Bisag mabinlan kog P10, okay na sa akoa, makit-an lang nako sila paggawas (I can usually earn around P1,000 to P1,500 daily but I give it all to them or leave just P10 to myself. I’m fine with it as long I see them happy),” he said in an interview with SunStar Davao.
Davao City Jail Warden Ian Glenn Ocmen said at least 10 PDLs were tasked to create the 150 lanterns that are now being hung at the streetlights of McArthur Highway and at Magsaysay Park.
He said the regional offices of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police also ordered some lanterns from the PDLs.
“Dako kaayo siyag tabang kay naka-augment gyud siya sa financial needs sa atong mga PDLs ug ang makabenefit gyud ani ilang mga pamilya (It is really a big financial help to our PDLs especialy to their families),” he said.
Recently, a plea bargaining agreement was offered to PDLs with drug-related cases and Roy was one of those who pleaded.
“Nagbuhat mi og motion nga kung pwede sa among halangdon nga judge nga kung pwede pagawason na mi kay over na man kaayo mi sa among sentence (We pleaded to the judge to release us because we have been staying longer than our supposed duration of our sentence),” Roy said.
There was no feedback yet but he is hopeful that it will be released next year. He even planned to make parol-making his business outside the jail.
“Puhon. Puhon. Unta kaluy-an didto na ko sa gawas makabuhat ani, makabaligya-baligya, naa na man koy idea (Someday, when God permits, I will continue to do this outside and sell it because I already
know how to do it),” he shared.
He also realized the importance of going back to God.
“Panghinaot nako nga sunod 2020, kung kaluy-an, makauban nako sila unta. Hopefully, pag gawas nako, tarongon na nako akong kinabuhi (Hopefully, in 2020, I can be with them. When I go out, I will fix my life),” Roy said.