Christmas lanterns in jail

BACOLOD CITY – The spirit of Christmas knows no boundaries, even if you are behind bars.

A ray of hope shone to the 830 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) of Metro Bacolod District Jail Male Dormitory Annex in Brgy. Handumanan, Bacolod City as they lit up the Christmas Village within their compound this week, illuminated by lanterns or parols they made from recycled and indigenous materials.

Not only do they give them hope, the lanterns also bring income.

Jail warden Norberto Miciano said that this is one of their rehabilitation programs for the PDLs to help them boost their creativity by using resources available to them and make them feel that it is already Christmas season.

“We want them to feel that they are still important to the society, that when they get out of the facility they will be accepted,” Miciano said.

This is the first time that the annex compound put up a Christmas village that features the fancy parols of each of the 11 dormitories that are lit up every night, starting Dec. 4 until the first week of January.