prisoners..

a few years back I volunteered as paralegal in Quezon City Jail for our RELS subject.. some people told me that that's usually the last option they choose for that particular RELS subject.. well, I tell them I'm different. It was actually my first choice. Why? I don't know also. I guess, it was because of the excitement I felt when I thought about it when we were choosing what we wanted to do for RELS. Also, probably because I was ma-arteh as usual!!

You see, I don't like animals. Was never a fan. So I definitely didn't wanna go to an animal shelter to make them poo, give them a shower, and stuff like that! I also didn't wanna sweep the streets of Metro Manila. I kinda wanted to go to Zambales (where we ended up also anyway) but the thought of talking to actual prisoners and going to an actual jail was wayyyyyyy more exciting for me. Believe me!! It was one of those things you kinda dream of getting the chance to do. So when I got the opportunity, I brought some friends along and signed up immediately!!

The jail scenario was soooo heart-warming. I felt sooooo lucky and realized a whole lot of things! Too bad though my two friends who were with me backed out. I wanted to continue but didn't wanna do it alone. My mother, was beyond furious when I called her up after my visit to the jail and told her:

Me: Ma, alam mo isang prisoner dito theft lang case nya, napagbintangan na nagnakaw cp, kawawa naman di alam ng family nya na nakakulong, 200 lang fine nya di nya mabayaran!!

Mama: and so??

Me: pwede ba ako nalang magbayad pyansa nya??

Mama: sira ulo ka! tigil-tigilan mo nga ako ha! pag ginawa mo yan, baka ikaw pa nakawan nyan!!

Me: pero ma, innocent sya sabi nya!

Mama: lahat yan sasabihin sayo innocent sila!

Me: sabi din nga ng police pero kawawa eh..

Mama: tumigil ka nga jan!! umalis ka na jan sa program na yan!!

Me: alam mo ma, mata-criminal ka!! totoo!!

The last line made that unforgettable for me! When I told my mom that she was "mata-criminal!" Even the coordinator, when I explained my situation to him, laughed at me!! Because in the end, mom won. And so I ended up in Zambales, planting instead with the farmers!! cool din!!

So I was really glad and happy when I saw this video of the Cebu Dancing Inmates! It feels soooo good to know that people actually care about them and that efforts are actually being made so that they will have something productive to do while in jail! So thank you Sony for initiating. The warden is probably good too!! and Travis, oh I heart you!! esp. when he was kinda crying!! nakakiyak nga the jail situation talaga when you get the chance to see it!!

On the side though, this particular jail in Cebu, kinda looks like the QC jail. only this is cleaner I think.. and hopefully, the conditions of the prisoners, better. After all, they deserve it! They're some kinda popular na kaya!!

;-)