Last
March 6, 2014, we had the chance to pay visit and personally see this famous
maximum prison in Muntilupa City where prisoners who committed heinous crimes
are being detained to serve their long years of sentence. That unforgettable experience
we had with the inmates was made possible through Sr. Anthony Ma. Kaspar, OSM, our
professor in Developmental Psychology, who organized the said school activity
in order for us to have a first-hand experience with the inmates and somehow
prepare us in our future pastoral ministry. We were assisted also by someone, a
good friend and generous benefactress of ours, who is a religious volunteer in
that detention center.
Nine
in the morning, we did our entrance to the maximum jail after having carefully
inspected by the officers assigned in the entrance. It was an SOP for all the
visitors. I was quite impatient and nervous while still in the process of
examination. However, when we set foot inside the maximum compound I was caught
by surprise. The sight was so unfamiliar to me. We were fetched by men in
uniform. They did a very kind gesture of hospitality which is common to us
Filipinos - protecting all the visitors from the heat of the sun with their big
umbrellas full of love and joy to see us. These friendly people, I once thought
policemen, are also convicts. We were overwhelmed by the view of the place
especially for us who were first time to enter in such usually conceived as
dangerous and very unwanted place to live. After witnessing those welcoming
smiles and gestures, I gradually changed my prejudgment to these people and the
place where they are unfortunately incarcerated. Honestly, I felt guilty of
having such negative preconception concerning these people and the place, the
reason why I was somewhat afraid and reluctant to participate to that
benevolent act. I was truly ignorant!
While
making our way to the specified area wherein we can talk to the inmates, we saw
prisoners engaged in different activities. Many were chatting and unwinding in
the mini-park. Some were playing volleyball. You can see kids (children or
relatives of some of the prisoners) playing around. Others were busy in their
jobs. You can see inmates who were vendors, drivers, etc. There are chapels,
mosque, Buddhist temple, hospital, market, school, and other establishments
inside the compound which really caught our attention. It was just like a small
city surrounded by concrete-high walls with barbed wires and courageous jail
guards who keep their vigilant eyes over the four corners and are responsible
to secure always the perimeters- ready to fire anyone who would attempt to
escape.
We
waited for few minutes in the office of the chaplain. After a while, someone, who
is in charged, (member of the pastoral security group) gave us a short
orientation before he let us talk to the prisoners. The idea was to initiate a
friendly conversation with the inmates and create an atmosphere wherein
everyone can freely share and know each other. They assured us that these
people are sociable and harmless, and so we had nothing to worry.
We
were divided into groups and the sharing begun immediately right after the
opening prayer. In our group, we were three. I led the opening prayer and
directly introduced myself to my group mates. I felt comfortable when each one
started to talk. They spoke in a very calm and soft voice that eradicated my
uneasiness.
I
did not ask them questions but what I did was I just share my life to them.
Where I came from, my present state of life, about my family, my dreams and
some of my positive traits were the topics of my sharing. I was successful in
getting their attention and was able to establish friendship with them. Hence,
they were eager to share their life story with me.
The
first inmate who mustered the courage to open up his story to us was Mr.
Vincent Guapao who hailed from the province of Ilocos Sur. According to his
sharing, he was incarcerated for almost 12 years for a crime of which he is
innocent. The case is murder. While sharing, I could sense that he was sincere
on his words. I was touched by his heartbreaking story. I was teary-eyed while
listening to his narrative. He was very unfortunate that because of poverty and
ignorance, he was helplessly put into jail.
However,
you could not see that sadness on his eyes. At first glance, he looked like a
happy person. Then, I had proven that he is really a cheerful person. He
remained to be incredibly optimistic in spite of his misfortunes in life. In
fact, he said to us that he had already forgiven the people who caused him such
misery. And his great realization: “God has a reason why I am here in this
place.” Besides, he was thankful to God since because of his present situation,
he was able to know who is God and he has developed strong faith to Him. In his
sharing, he told us that he is able to keep his sanity and psychological
well-being through participation in institutional programs, religious
activities, and the good news that he has never experienced victimization
inside the jail. As a matter of fact, he has finished four vocational courses
and is about to graduate on his fifth vocational course this end of the month.
That is quite impressive! Isn’t it? He is making his stay valuable in doing
good things unlike some of them who are hopeless and are indulged in vices. He
is very hopeful and positive that someday he will be freed and can establish
his own family with her long time OFW girlfriend.
The
second inmate in my group was Mr. Renaldo Tungao of Taguig City. He is a father
of five siblings and his case is also a murder. He admitted that he committed
the crime and deserved to be in jail. He said he was just forced to kill
someone whom he once respected. It was a painful story but at the end of his
sharing, he said he has no regrets for such person deserved to be killed for greater
good. He did not elaborate the story because he became emotional and I was
carried away by my emotion to the extent that I shed tears with him. When asked
how he is now, he responded, with a smile on his wrinkled face, that he is
happy despite incarceration. He continued that he only learned to praise and
trust in God when he was already in jail. He cannot imagine his life outside
since before he had all the vices. His family frequently visit him. He also
participated in the varied institutional programs and religious activities in
order to avoid boredom. Similar to Mr. Vincent, he is also optimistic and
believes in God. They were so religious! After 18 years of stay in the prison,
he has realized that if you have God, life is always meaningful. He never loses
hope that in the near future he will be living together with his family and he
will start all over again, a life with God!
These
people have developed healthier attitudes and positive perspective in life
primarily because of the Holy Spirit that continues to give them hope and
inspiration to live a righteous life in spite of the unpleasant situation they
have in the present. I could say that they are psychologically and spiritually
healthy based on the fact that they are doing well inside the prison.
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