TOTAL CHANGE: Towards 2015 Best City Jail Management in Region 10, Northern Mindanao I was invited by Pastor Alfred Obina, the Pastor of our Iligan City Jail Ministry under Metro-Iligan Bible Baptist Church, who was requested by the teachers with their 51 4th year high school students, Matatag Section of the Iligan City East High School in Barangay Sta. Felomina to facilitate their Gift Giving Activity to the inmates. According to the teachers, they have been doing this activity for four (4) years already but only resumed 2014 after Typhoon Sendong hit our city. Another faculty said that they want to expose their students to these people with the purpose of inspiring them the values of giving especially to those who cannot repay back their kindness no matter how little of value their gifts are. We were surprised to see the inmates inside their cells with their very courteous gestures and greeted us with Good Morning Sir, Good Morning Mam. I was deeply touched to hear them those greetings which I usually hear in Jollibee and McDonald food chains. I remember before for quite some time that jail inmates kept asking from visitors for money or begging for their personal necessities. Instead, I saw their arms reaching out towards us not to ask money but showed us their being productive even inside their cells with their ingenuity of making souvenirs for their livelihood. Among these are the cute key chain turtle and heart-shape coin purse made of beads I bought from them. One inmate even asked the students who has no money and when one raised her hand, the inmate gave her for free a cute key chain slipper made of beads also. Another good condition we observed during our visit is that as we enter the hallway with their respective cells in both sides, we never smelled anything foul. I went nearer to the steel bars of the cell and see them closely while they are just sitting on their double deck beds but the place is really clean. We had a short program in their multi-purpose building with a billiard table, small grocery store, carenderia, bakery, barber area, pharmacy, and a wide television showing NBA game. The Deputy Warden gave his heartfelt thanks to our visit and gifts of the students and teachers. One inmate also gave his emotional message to the students that made him cry being also a former teacher. After the program, the students sang Christmas songs with the Video Karaoke in the area while the male students played billiard. When the team left, me and Pastor Alfred took our lunch in one of the carenderia operated by an inmate with skills in cooking for his livelihood. Indeed, the Iligan City Jail was awarded as the 2014 Jail of the Year in Region 10, Northern Mindanao for having Totally Change (TC) the image of our inmates who are victims of bad influence. Before they were isolated and feared but now they become a Family and Community with their restored right of being a part of the Society. Its because BJMP lead them with respect and discipline for their own good. Subsequently, I was humbled to know Mr. Robert Schappert of New York, USA, (from this website at liveinthephilippines/content/hey-joe-got-soap/#jp-carousel-34669), who has been one of the major catalysts of the Total Change (TC), a term mentioned by the Deputy Jail Warden in his message during our visit. I learned from Kuya Bob, as he is fondly called, that the success was a collaborative efforts of the donors and contributors to the Multi Award Winning Iligan City Jail. He said that many organizations, individuals, businessess as well as BJMP and Iligan LGU have helped to make this possible under the leadership of Iligans Award Winning Warden Omar Jalagat. Similarly, in Kuya Bob recent visit he was very impressed with the pride the inmates are taking in their community behind the jail walls. “Iligan City Jail and its Warden were awarded Best Jail in both 2013 and 2014. With this enthusiasm in the mind of the inmates, jail staff and contributors, lets hope we can make it happen for 2015 making it 3 in a row!” the exciting and hopeful words of Mr. Schappert. He thanked me online on the report on our visit to the jail. “You have confirmed the feelings and impressions I had on my visit this year about the pride the inmates are taking in their community behind the jail walls. This tells me that the donations I have and will try to continue to make have had the effect I originally intended. Additionally I think the fact that the inmates know that someone from the opposite side of the world has taken the time and interest in visiting all of them for the past several years has had a positive impact. May the Warden, his staff and the inmates of Iligan City Award Winning Jail set the example for other jails in Region 10 and beyond, to follow.” Mr. Bob deep expression of hope and encouragement to the project. I also thank God for all sectors for being the Catalyst of this Change. Indeed their heartbeat for others in need is the Lords Channel of His blessings. Absolutely, this is the True Religion as Jesus said in His Word and the purest way of showing our Love to Jesus, being a Good Samaritan to our neighbors - needy of help. Mr. Schappert also informed, “Iligan City Jail also serves as a place for students studying Criminology and related courses in many of the schools, colleges and University in Iligan. In one of my visits I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with criminology students from Iligan Medical Center College (IMCC) and another time I think there was a group of students from MSU-IIT. This may be a form of some kind of OJT for them but I am not sure. I think they are there for a week at a time or more.” Congratulations to Iligan City Jail Stewards and Staff of your actions and aspirations for the Inmates to live better lives within your community. Teamwork Makes Dream Works. My Salute Sir!
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 15:55:18 +0000
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