Category: Prison Ministry

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Articles Prison Ministry

CARRYING THEIR CROSSES By: RJ Limpo

IMG_4899Here is a quick look into the day-to-day crosses that a prison inmate carries:

ACCOMMODATIONS
The average size of a prison cell is about 30 square meters (about the size of a condo studio unit) Each cell usually houses about 50 people, sharing 1 bathroom. Beds are arranged in double decked and in some cases situated inside the bathrooms.

MEALS
All meals are single pitched, either sautéed vegetables or fried fish at best. Rice is of the lowest quality and the utensils of the worst kind. Plastic plates and unmatched silverware and thick-lipped glasses are what are normal in jail situations.

RECREATION
Some jail cells have it better than others. But during the Christmas Outreach in Taguig City Jail (TCJ) last December, one inmate was thankful for our mass and activity at the quadrangle as she said she has not been outside her cell since 6 months prior to our coming.

MASSES
In TCJ, due to the absence of a chapel, masses are only held once a month. And attendance is also by chance as only about 20% of the population can be accommodated to hear mass at the quadrangle.

THE ICING ON THE CAKE
All these crosses though weigh much less than the cross of judgment. Living with guilt and the feeling of being judged is perhaps the heaviest cross anyone can bear. Ours is a harsh society —quick to judge and convenient to neglect. Some inmates experience abandonment even from their own family members. There are inmates who do not have “dalaw” from years on end.

This Lenten season is a reminder of the aftermath of judgment. The result of judgment is the cross itself. Jesus reminds us not to condemn but to forgive so we too may make our own crosses lighter for ourselves.

Should you wish to donate or participate in any of the Prison Ministry affairs please get in touch with RJ Limpo () or Teng Jorolan ().

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JPIC Prison Ministry

“BRINGING THE FIESTA IN TAGUIG CITY JAIL” By Alli Raval – Prison Ministry Head

The Prison Ministry together with Fr. Reu Galoy, the SYA Volunteers and JPIC Scholars brought the fiesta to Taguig City Jail by having a “Master Chef” cooking challenge last May 30, 2015. For one day, inmates bring back happy memories of cooking for their loved ones. A total of 400 kilos of vegetables, 120 chickens, 25 dozens of eggs, and so much more were given for them to cook a 3 course meal to share with their fellow inmates numbering to about 1,000.


This cooking challenge is the jump start of more activities for the TCJ inmates. We are currently in the process of helping them build a “Multi-faith Purpose chapel.” We are finalizing the plans and will start construction soon.

This will be the second chapel that the Prison ministry will help build. The first one was in Makati City Jail completed last 2013. This chapel will enable the residents to have a venue where they can have catechism lessons, recollections, teachings and the like. We will help them build not just the chapel but also their relationship with God.

We would like to appeal to you and to your generous hearts to support our Francisfest 2015, a fund raising project featuring CECILE B. LICAD with the ABS-CBN Philhamonic Orchestra for the benefit of Santuario de San Antonio Parish Foundation’s outreach and charity programs.

“COOKING FROM THE HEART”
by Marco Joson Merencillo – SYA Member

Life can be tedious at times. The daily grind to work can drain the energy we have. That’s why we look forward to the weekend because it’s the time to unwind, meet friends and eat out. But for a moment, imagine yourself in jail… what will you look forward to? Your freedom? Your visitors? Or your food?

In Taguig City Jail (TCJ), I found out that the inmates are fortunate enough to have breakfast, lunch and dinner. Surprisingly, the menu changes everyday, which consists of chicken, beef, pork, fish, vegetables and rice. A variety of Filipino staples such as tinapa, menudo, chopsuey, adobo, lomi, sinigang and tinola are served. All of these seem nourishing enough but I believe it’s not as satisfying as a homemade meal nor even surpass a restaurant dish.So imagine the delight of the inmates upon learning that they will have a cooking competition called Master Chef, a contest organized by the Prison Ministry together with Single Young Adults (SYA) with the participation of JPIC scholars of Santuario de San Antonio Parish.

May 30, 2015 was the day of the cooking competition. As I went inside the jail premises,the entrance was decorated with bamboo sticks and flowers made from colored paper. Moreover, rainbow-like flags hanged above the tents to create a fiesta atmosphere. The place did not resemble a prison at all.

Piece by piece, our volunteers brought inside the penitentiary all the items for the contest. We unpacked and distributed the ingredients into 12 tables. Each working area has a team of 5 members of the same gender. Hmmm… will the men win? Or will it be the females who are mostly the cooks in the house?


Following a few words of encouragement from our leader Jolly Gomez, our host Alli Raval started the contest by shouting “Game on!” Then the participants rushed to finish a minimum of three viands: appetizer, main course and dessert. After more than an hour of cooking, each team presented their dishes to the judges: Chef Nino Laus and Chef Isaac Bravo. Suprisingly, the meals looked and smelled delicious. At the end of the taste test, the judges declared Table #9 as the winner of the competition! Later on, I asked the judges why did that group win? For them, the team’s menu of pinakbet, pochero and turon stood out from the rest, which can even be served in a restaurant.

As a volunteer, I was fortunate to witness such a rare day of camaraderie amongst the prisoners and guards. The officers enjoyed taking pictures of the festivities and mingling with the participants.There were no rowdiness or fights that occurred. Smiles and laughter filled the premises. It was apparent that the inmates enjoyed the Master Chef competition. I saw how they lovingly prepared the meals as if they were cooking it for their own family. At the end of the day, what mattered most was the event reminded the inmates of their own home… where in the food is more delicious when you cook from the heart.

“ANG AKING KARANASAN SA TAGUIG CITY JAIL”
By Albert Puyoc – JPIC Scholar

Isang magandang karanasan ang aking nakamtan nong panahon ng kami ay pumunta sa Taguig City Jail. Excited at may halong kaba at takot ang aking naramdaman nang kami ay papunta pa lang sa aming distinasyon. Noong kami ay papasok na sa Taguig City jail unting-unting nawala ang nararamdaman kong kaba dahil sa aking mga nakita. Tinutulungan kami ng mga preso buhatin at ihanda ang mqa gamit para sa aktibidad. Ngunit hindi pa rin nawala ang nararamdaman kong takot sa maaring mangyari sa aming sa loob ng preso. Nang nagsimula na ang aming aktibidad para sa mga preso, unting-unting napalitan ng saya ang takot na aking nararamdaman. Napagtanto ko na hindi naman pala ganuon kasama ang mga taong nasa loob, tulad ng aking inaakala. Kinalaunan may mga preso kami nakilala at nakausap. Sa naramdaman ko habang kinakausap sila, sila ay simpleng tao tulad natin na nagkamali lamang. Kaya dapat nating silang patawarin at bigyan ng pagkakataong magbago. Kung ang Diyos nga ay pinatawad tayo sa mga kasalanan ating nagawa, tayo pa kayang mga tao. Masaya at naging matagumpay ang aktibidad na ginawa ng Prison Ministry at ng SYA at ng Santuario De San Antonio Parish. Dahil sa aktibidad na ito nalaman ko na myroon din palang aking galing sa pagluluto at iba pang mga bagay ang mga preso katulad nila. Nabago ang aking paniniwala at pagtingin sa mga preso dahil sa karanasan na iyon. Napagod man sa huli, naging masaya pa rin ako dahil naging bahagi ako sa aktibidad na tulad nito at nakatulong ako sa aking kapwa.

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Prison Ministry

“Makati City Jail – Master Chef Season 3” by Alli Raval

Last February 22, 2014, Prison Ministry held an event MASTER CHEF SEASON 3 in Makati City Jail. This event is the most anticipated activity by the residents and the Single Young Adults (SYA) as well. We have been doing this for three years now and the residents want another one next year. This activity give the residents a sense of freedom . . . choosing their own ingredients, cooking their specialty dishes and sharing it with their cell mates. They are very competitive with the choice of dish and even the presentation. The top 3 winners were given cash prizes and all of the participants – 5 residents per cell representing the 12 cells were given food and toiletry items as well. It was one fun and exciting Saturday for all of us. Tiring yet fulfilling.

The Prison Ministry has many activities lined up for MCJ residents such as Lenten Recollection, Santa Cruzan, Barrio Fiesta, Film Showing, Sportsfest, Medical and Dental Mission and Christmas gift giving. We also have Catechism classes for them every Monday. It has been a challenge for us earlier on looking for Catechists and “Biyaya” to give them after every lesson and after every activity, but God provides. In behalf of the Prison Ministry, we would like to thank you, our dear Parishioners for your donations that support this program. We look forward to be with you in our activities.

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Family and Life Ministry Hospital Ministry Prison Ministry

SSAP Ministries Celebrate FLORES DE MAYO 2014

Family Life Flores de Mayo
May 31, 2014

“SANTA CRUZAN IN MAKATI CITY JAIL”
by Alli Raval
May 30, 2014

“FLORES DE MAYO IN PGH”
by Shen Sol
May 26, 2014

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Articles Prison Ministry

“SANTA CRUZAN IN MAKATI CITY JAIL” by Alli Raval

Last May 30, 2014, we had the Santa Cruzan in Makati City Jail. 40 Residents joined the procession dressed in beautiful gowns and barongs donated by our parishioners. They all looked so different . . . not wearing their usual yellow shirts with BJMP stamped on them. They have smiles on their faces, looking proud of what they were wearing and the roles they were portraying for the procession.

Nowadays, others think of the Santa Cruzan as a fashion event. . . but this year, in MCJ, the participants gave a description of the Saints they were portraying. It gave a deeper meaning of what the Santa Cruzan is all about. Atty. Jolly Gomez gave the residents the history of Santa Cruzan in one of the Monday Catechism classes.

We started the event with a mass, celebrated by their Chaplain Fr. Bouban. In the sermon, he talked about embracing and carrying our own cross, as Jesus Christ did. Words cannot express the crosses being carried by the residents of MCJ. Some have been there for more than 10 years and their cases have not been heard. Others are proven innocent after 2 years of being in jail. They are away from their families, they are forgotten and abandoned. They are confined within the 4 walls of Makati City Jail, uncertain of what tomorrow brings.

We, we who are outside those walls, have our own crosses too. . . yet we are reminded and called by Jesus Christ to follow His example and help carry the crosses of others who have lost their freedom , who have lost hope, who are alone. . . those hardest to love . . . those who are imprisoned.

“For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’

-Matthew 25:42-43

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Articles JPIC Prison Ministry

“Being Called to God’s Mission” by Maevie Ortiz

Every Friday night young adults like me would just like to relax, grab a drink and rant about epic failures of the week. Normally, after these Friday night-outs with friends, I would extend my sleep the next day. But when asked by one of my friends, what my agenda will be this Saturday…I proudly said I will be visiting friends from MCJ (my 2nd time). Lo and behold judgments came after my statement. One of my friends said, “I’d rather go on an outreach with orphans or old folks than sinners”.

Instead of defending the residents I’ve encountered in MCJ, I just asked if they would want to try it themselves so that their perspective towards these “least brethren” would be different than the usual stereotyping. I’m not sure how I handled that awkward situation but I knew in my heart that tomorrow’s experience would be something worthwhile. Initially, I was a bit swayed by the idea of extending my sleep. I was still deliberating before going to bed until finally I woke up early the next day with a 6am text message. Thanks to one of my SYA friends who texted me to be reminded of the extra red shirt she requested and informed me that she is already on her way to our agreed meeting place. Besides this anonymous guardian angel from SYA, the recent learning I gained from Thursday’s prayer meeting certainly gave me that push and natural high to obey God’s call to do His mission.

And so we arrived in MCJ that Saturday morning. What kept me curious is the thought that this has been an on-going contest 3 times in row. Being an avid Master Chef fan, I wondered how it would look like if I am physically present, witnessing the thrill of cooking and (best part) tasting.

For this year, 12 cell groups participated. Specific ingredients were distributed per table and a communal area was provided for other condiments/supplies that all groups might need as they prepare their sumptuous meals. It was an exciting sight seeing them strategically dividing their group members in the preparation of their three entries: appetizer, main dish and dessert. I assumed the role of an “all-around” runner and I LOVED every single part of the experience. No one dictated or even limited me to do certain tasks and I just followed what I thought seemed appropriate given a certain situation. I willingly assisted in the fair distribution of ingredients while joyfully giving words of encouragement to the residents. At the same time, I was injecting humor through dancing to the groove while the cooks and prepare their appetizing meals.

These maybe simple gestures that were left unnoticed, I am not even sure if they remembered who I was. But regardless, what mattered most was that I left the place with a full heart. I knew right at the moment I stepped out of MCJ that “going beyond the usual Saturday” and going beyond my comfort zone was definitely well worth it. My trust and commitment towards service worked and I thank God for the experience of His mission through my experience of what it is like to willingly share time, talent and treasure without even waiting to be acknowledged or thanked. I am truly grateful to God for this beautiful experience of community. Cheers to more service! 

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Articles JPIC Prison Ministry

“Christmas at the Makati City Jail” by Jolly Gomez

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The Single Young Adults and the JPIC Prison Ministry held their annual Christmas gift giving activity with 600 male and female inmates at the Makati City Jail. The activity started with a mass officiated by Fr. Joel Sulse OFM and attended by SYA members together with PPC President Jayme Blanco.

During the homily of the mass, members of the SYA community were able to share their stories of conversion on what Jesus had done in their lives and why they are active in church. One of the inmates gave a response which was as follows: “My crime was carnapping, I would use duplicate keys to open cars in a parking lot and drivethem away. I was a poor man that had very few opportunities, when I would walk in the mall, I see rich people who look at poor people like us like we were invisible. This is why I did not feel bad about stealing their cars. In MCJ I have realized that Jesus still loves me. I met members from SYA who are from Forbes Park who take time out to talk to me and share about Jesus. Maybe this is why I was caught and put in jail, I am sad that I am not with my family but happy that I have found Jesus.”

The message of Fr. Joel was about the celebration of the incarnation of Jesus and how this doesn’t just happen during Christmas but every day of the year. This is why the parish continues its ministry all throughout the year with masses, bible class, special events, and legal assistance. This ministry does these activities all year round and not only during Christmas time.

Each inmate received a plastic box with a T-shirt, slippers, towel, toiletries, a few snacks and a rosary. We were also able to provide each cell with pancit and one lechon. Much of these funds were raised by SYAers who set aside some money every month for the Prison Ministry. Other funds came from the Parish through the different fund raising activities throughout the year. The gifts may have been very small to us but meant so much to many inmates who have very little and for some who did not have any visitors this Christmas.

Like in the gospel story of the Multiplication of the Loaves, after giving every one their share (including the prison guards) we had 40 packs left over. We decided to share it with the security guards and maintenance personnel in our parish. God is truly generous and his graces are bountiful.

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