Lighting up the city

UNKNOWN to many, the colorful Christmas lanterns that light up the city at night and bring smiles to people passing by were produced by the inmates inside the Davao City jail in Maa, Davao City.

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) 11 chief community relations service officer Jail Inspector Edo Lobenia, in an interview yesterday, said that the lantern making has been a tradition inside the Davao City Jail for years and it continues to be practiced by the inmates every year as part of their rehabilitation program and also as a livelihood opportunity for them.

"Sa buong Davao City, nakikita ninyo sa tulay yong mga kumikinang kinang diyan they are made b y inmates of the Davao City Jail," he said.

Lobenia said that one of the inmates told them that at least, by making the Christmas lanterns

now scattered all over the city, their families could remember them through their works although they are far from them.

"Sabi niya: Nabibigyan ako ng pagasa sapagkat ang alam ko yong parol na ginagawa naming makikita nong aming pamilya, masisilayan ng aming mga anak," he said.

This is also considered as a great avenue to showcase their creativity and for their rehabilitation process.

In fact, the city government has ordered a total of 300 Christmas lanterns but they only catered 250 due to the limited time and manpower resources. The inmates involved were about 50 who received P300 per lantern.

They also launched the Tiangge sa Piitan, a Christmas Bazaar and Parol Making contest at the BJMP compound last December 7, showcasing the products made by inmates. These products range from customized coin bank, bags, dishwashing liquids, wallets, pouch, and key chains, among others.

"Actually umabot na ng 15,000 yong sales namin from the time na we had launched the said project which is the initiative of the community relations service office naming at the same time in partnership with the Inmates Welfare and Development (IWD) under the leadership of our regional director Jail Senior Superintendent Amelia Rayandayan. Because of her we were able to materialize this kind of endeavor," he said.

It helps the inmates to earn extra income while inside the jail so they could also give something to their families outside.

He added that they will conduct a Christmas party with the inmates together with their families so they could also feel the spirit of Christmas season.

He said that influx of visitors usually increases during December and the visitors must also understand that they only entertain those who are family members for security reason during the visiting time.

Although locked up in jail, the inmates who are susceptible to judgment also deserves to be given a second chance.

"We need to create a ripple of effect from day by day kahit masasabi natin kahit masabi lang natin paano mawawala ang social stigma of jail. From time to time kahit masimulan natin sa bawat isa these people still deserves a second chanc. At the end of the day, we make a difference in one way or another. We hope that one day kahit isang inmate lang ang magbago," he said. JCR