TO BE DEPRIVED of liberty is a somber fate, especially in a season that is as freezing as the absence of love’s warmth. And yet, grim their reality may be, Lingkod Laya, a flagship project by the Junior Bedan Law Circle (JBLC), driven to act in discernment, reminds us that compassion transcends boundaries, reaffirming how the essence of Christmas unfolds even behind bars.
Dreams of brighter days often gather during Christmas time. A time that brings a distinct shade of light that revolves around the radiance sourced from the confluence of emotions we experience together as a community.
The season of giving is just the right time to search for such light, for it is a season when the needs of the helpless glow faintly, flickering through even the gloomiest corners of a city’s precinct.
Granting hope behind bars
Since its establishment, Lingkod Laya has actively pursued its primary objectives of alleviating jail decongestion and improving the lives of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) as they carry out different activities and targeted initiatives aimed to “address the inefficient disposition of cases.”
Led by students from the College of Arts and Sciences’ (CAS) Department of Legal Management, Lingkod Laya’s foundation was first centered upon educating PDLs through the knowledge they’ve acquired in their program. Little by little, as they took concrete steps, like visiting city jails and inquiring what help could still be offered, their purpose evolved beyond teaching.
Rheanna Yazmin Melanis, Lingkod Laya’s Chairperson, discussed the remedies provided by Lingkod Laya in the problems present behind bars, as she cited specific programs they conducted such as “case consultations and court follow-ups,” which over time, with the intention to progressively meet the PDLs’ needs, progressed to include “paralegal training sessions and marketing livelihood products” crafted by the inmates.
“So, what we do to achieve our goals is to go talaga mismo sa jail and tatanong kung ano ‘yung pinakakailangan. From there, we address each problem one by one. From knowing kasi kung ano ‘yung kailangan nila, doon natin magagawa ‘yung activities or projects na makakapag-address ng need nila,” Melanis expounded.
During The Bedan’s visit to the Parañaque Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) City Jail-Female Dormitory, some of the PDLs, were holding their modules provided by LL members and other partner organizations with the same vision, which contain the information they need to understand their rights and how to navigate the laws relevant to their cases.
Moreover, the project had also launched the “Handog Pag-asa” program, providing livelihood opportunities for PDLs nearing their release, assisting in eradicating the negative societal factors that make it difficult for them to find jobs after life behind bars.
Now in its seventh year, Melanis noted that approximately 250 PDLs have been released through the activities held by LL, a testament to how this flagship project has served as a “steady beacon of hope,” offering enduring support to the rehabilitation of inmates.
Confronting an unfortunate reality
For most, the holidays are a time when families come together, wrapping each moment in the warmth of love and shared memories. However, for PDLs who we’ll call Janet and Yang—names chosen to protect their identities—the holidays carry a different emotional weight.
While both Janet and Yang, along with the majority of the PDLs, face the challenge of being separated from their loved ones, each has a unique perspective on the meaning of Christmas when celebrated behind bars.
Janet and Yang both shed tears whenever the thought of celebrating the coming Christmas crosses their minds. They have both been incarcerated for less than half a year, making it their first time celebrating inside the prison walls. Moreover, both of the PDLs interviewed were overcome with emotion as they expressed how painful it is to miss a loved one and to celebrate Christmas with them. “Syempre, masakit, sa buong buhay ko kasi, ngayon lang talaga ako nahiwalay sa dalawang anak at sa asawa ko,” Yang stated.
Yang further cited the shared sense of mournfulness within the jail, saying “Hindi mawawala ‘yung lungkot naming mga magkaka-inmates na gusto namin makasama talaga ‘yung family pero, laban lang.” Furthermore, she told her children to “stay strong” in these difficult times, “pag nakakausap ko ‘yung mga anak ko at tsaka ‘yung ate ko sinasabi ko na pagsubok lang, kailangan natin harapin.”
Despite the pain evident in their statements, both illustrated a positive outlook as they narrated how they are still looking forward to celebrating Christmas together with their co-inmates. “Kasi dito po, wala ‘yung pamilya namin… eh, sa laya, nandun kasi sila lahat… Dito kasi, solo lang ako. Bale kasama ko ‘yung mga kapwa preso ko,” Janet emotionally reiterated.
Janet then underscored that life in prison is not as difficult as it would seem as “napakaluwag at tsaka nabibigyan naman kami ng kailangan namin,” and that their respective community was very “hospitable,” “’yung mga empleyado dito mababait naman sa amin, pati ‘yung warden namin, naibibigay naman po lahat.”
From a different perspective, for a PDL called Bibe, the holiday season inside the confines of a detention facility is a mix of “bittersweet moments and quiet hopes.” However, Bibe is one of the few inmates possessing a reality that the life within the prison walls is way better than the liberty in the life outside, saying “mas okay dito kasi ‘di ko naman kasama ang pamilya ko eh.”
Warmth in the hope that lingers
Amid the melancholic tone shared by the PDLs, the hopeful backdrop of Christmas does not diminish, letting these individuals remain optimistic in their quest to find peace and justice. Yang wished profoundly, as she hoped to achieve a tranquil state of being amidst her faced conflicts. “Peace of mind lang. Kasi once na meron kang peace of mind, daig mo pang nanalo sa lotto eh,” she expressed.
Meanwhile Bibe hopes to reconnect with her lost daughter, “Wish ko lang po sana, makontak na po nila ‘yung anak ko.”
Lastly, Janet wishes for a hopeful reconciliation with her family after her imprisonment, “Sana sa paglaya ko, ay mapatawad po ako ng pamilya ko dahil dalawang beses na po akong nakulong rito – at ‘yung makita ko po ‘yung mother ko na buhay pa kasi na-stroke po siya. Gusto ko lang po talaga siyang maabutan na buhay.” Further emphasizing a turned leaf, “kaya kahit kailan po hindi po ako nagawa ng masama dito sa loob,” aspiring for an early release.
Behind bars, the lights may flicker, but the spirit of Christmas still burns bright. While the camaraderie with fellow PDL’s and the lively celebrations offer a sense of belonging, the absence of family serves as a poignant reminder of the life waiting beyond the prison walls.
As this season brings us together, may the stories present within the corners of the prison make their way to the hearts of the people, serving as a reminder of what Christmas is truly all about—faith, hope, and love. May the essence of this season thrive and unfold even in the most unlikely of places, especially to the last, the least, and the lost.
(with Samantha Calderon and Prince Piolo Tagarino)