As colorful as the Christmas lanterns that they are making, are the lives of the Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) inside the Metro Bacolod District Jail (MBDJ)
Among them is 52-year-old Ronie of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, who have been in jail for almost five years for a simple case of malicious mischief.
A former cook at a restaurant in Bacolod, Ronie was the only one remaining in his batch who were trained to make Christmas lanterns since some of his companions have already been released from jail.
He is now in-charge of training other PDLs who want to learn how to make Christmas lanterns.
The PDLS are given their shares from the sale of the Christmas lanterns which they also give to their loved ones, Ronie added.
More than the financial aspect, he said that by making Christmas lanterns he is able to forget his problems and the sad reality that he is deprived of his liberty.
“Every time I see the lanterns, I remember the joyous celebration outside (the jail) and it brings me hope that soon, I will be able to get out and reunite with my family,” he quipped.
For another PDL, Mario, 57, who have been inside the jail since 2019 because of illegal drug charges, the Christmas lanterns symbolizes repentance and a new beginning.
“I hope that I will be able to go back to my family one day and spend time with them again,” he said.
Meanwhile, Janjan, who serves as the chairman of the PDLs, told Sunstar Bacolod that currently, there are about 800 inmates detained at the MBDJ facility.
He said that 42 to 70 inmates are packed in 17 cells, adding that the challenge that they face is how to keep themselves alive daily.
Despite that, they are thankful that the management of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) are supportive and always look after their welfare.
In fact, the budget for the purchase of materials they use for the Christmas lanterns came from the jail guards’ cooperative.
The Christmas lanterns are sold at P250 to P1,500 depending on the style and sizes.
For her part, Jail Officer 2 Jasmin Batadlan, who is the welfare and development officer chief operations, said that Christmas lantern making is only one of the many livelihood programs they offer for the PDLs.
“They have a lot of clients like the city government of Bacolod and other private firms,” Bataldan said.
She said that this is the only time that PDLs can earn and financially help their family while they are incarcerated since the BJMP aims to transform and rehabilitate the PDLs and for them to develop discipline.
“Every December, the BJMP maps out different activities like variety shows to somehow twist their emotions (recognizing) the importance of their mental health,” Batadlan also said.
During these activities, jail guards are also joining so the PDLs will feel that they are important and they have a family inside the facility.
One notable activity Batadlan shared is the putting up of a Christmas tree where the PDLs’ wishes written in a piece of paper are hung.
“We invite stake holders to pick one piece of paper and grant the wish of the PDL,” the jail officer said.
On regular days, PDLs are also taught how to make rugs, dish washing liquids, bags and MassKara garland as part of their livelihood program.
Others are enrolled at the Alternative Learning System (ALS) so they could finish their studies.
As SunStar Bacolod caps its week-long 14th anniversary celebration with the theme “Shining Brighter Amidst the Darkest of Times,” its staff member wanted to illuminate its light to lives of others who are also passing through a path of darkness like the PDLs of the MBDJ.*