Month: July 2019

Contributed by: Rosemarie Holganza BorromeoIt was a bit of a cloudy day last July 11 and the skies were downcast in Cebu.But inside the Cebu City Jail, up on the hills of Barangay Kalunasan, people in the tightly-guarded prison were feeling bright and sunny.It was a Thursday, visitors’ day; and there was a long line at the gate.Personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) searched picnic baskets, cellophanes, tupperwares, paper bags, cartons and other belongings before allowing visitors into the premises.Hundreds of inmates watched the proceedings from atop a building that housed their cells.With some perched on a long ledge while others climbed walls, they were all eager to see if any of their loved ones were among those queueing at the gate.Meanwhile, a young boy turned to his brother, as they made it past the rigid checkpoint.“Makakaon na gyud ta ug manok! Makakaon na gyud ta ug manok!,” he said catching a glimpse of the small bag of chicken brought in by their mother.The boys were about to visit their dad to share a semblance of a family meal within the noisy walls of prison.SURRENDER TO GODIn another part of the compound, 75 male inmates, wearing a fresh, clean yellow prison shirt, sat waiting for a ceremony to begin.Most of them had no visitors, but they were all smiling at each other for making it through an anti-drug program.It was their graduation day after a
four-day seminar conducted by the Surrender to God (SuGod) Foundation of Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on the Laity (COL) Chairperson Fe Mantuhac-Barino.They were the 7th batch to graduate since the SuGod Recovery and Renewal program began at the city jail last year.SuGod relies on spiritual formation and a strong support system to wean drug users away from the vicious cycle of illegal drugs.“Kung wala kay kahadlok sa Dyos, kung saan-saan magpunta. Pero kung may spiritual guide ka, mag isip-isip ka. Tama ba tong ginagawa ko?” said Assistant Jail Warden Chief Inspector Asyncrito Encio in a speech before graduates.“Pasalamat kami nga maraming nag-iba ang isip, nag iba ang takbo ng buhay. Di na pasaway. God fearing na,” he added.To date, SuGod has helped reform an estimated 400 Cebu City Jail inmates.After graduation from the four-day course, a series of talks will be held for eight consecutive Fridays.“Bulahan kaayo mo kay sa tanan nga jail kamo ra gyud ang naay SuGod program,” said Barino as she took her place before the graduates to hand out their diplomas.“AMEN!” the participants responded in unison, clapping and cheering, while grateful for the opportunity.Barino recounted how difficult it was for her to watch news of drug users and pushers being killed at the start of government’s all out war on illegal drugs.She then took to the drawing board, she said, to devise a program to address not only the effects of illegal drugs but its root cause — temptation.“Ganahan mi nga duna na mo’y pagtulun-an nga makalikay na mo sa bisyo. Importante nga duna mo’y gahum gikan sa Ginoo nga dili na magpatintal,” explained Barino.On a bulletin board at a corner of the room, were displays of crayon sketches done by the inmates as part of an earlier workshop asking them to draw a picture of their lives.The stick drawings showed them reunited with their families in a loving home.“Inig gawas ninyo tanan masinati ninyo ang langit dinhi sa yuta — ang pagpasaylo ug ang pagdawat. Naa mo’y paglaum basta di na mo mubalik, “ said Barino.“AMEN!” the graduates responded, again smiling at each other.One by one, their names were called as a marching song blared across the hall from a loudspeaker.Upon hearing their names called, many inmates jumped off their seat and skipped all the way to the front to claim their certificates as fellow graduates cheered them on.With spring in their step, it was a moment of pride and fresh hope for SuGod graduates; while jail officers, led by Encio, shook their hands and warmly hugged them at times.It was a moment where all things stood equal; where there was no jailer and no prisoner — just all children of God.It was a moment of love at the Cebu City Jail — one that could lead many inmates to be reunited outside with their families to finally share a quiet meal with their children with no need for checkpoints.###