May 18, 2010

nightcrawler in jail

bago pa kayo mag-isip ng kung anu-ano diyan, uunahan ko na kayo. hindi ako nagnakaw, pumatay, o nang-rape ng sinuman, hokey? sa maniwala kayo o sa hindi, kusa akong sumuko.. este pumasok ng kulangan. it wasn't easy for me at first, nagdadalawang isip pa nga ako kung tutuloy ako pero pikit-mata akong pumasok sa loob dahil na rin sa hiya ko sa aking uncle na ilang linggo kong kinulit para makasama sa kanyang volunteer work doon. i had to check the place out para malaman kung peaceful at safe ba na magsagawa ng "encounter" doon ang aming org. pagpasok namin ng kulungan, we had to surrender our valuables including our phones and cameras(meaning, no pics). naku, strike 1. kinabahan ako bigla, nagdalawang-isip tuloy akong iwan ang sasakyan. but we had to keep on moving so i shook off all my fears and went on. pagpasok namin sa hall, may mga naghihintay na sa aming mga tao. strike 2. hindi lang sila basta nakatingin kundi nakatitig talaga. lalo tuloy tumagaktak ang pawis ko at nagmukha nang black ang kanina'y gray na damit ko. i've never been so uncomfortable in my life, dahil sa pinaghalong init, kaba, and most especially because i am in an unfamiliar territory. i am pretty sure that i was about to leave when my uncle gave me a glance... a glance that for me meant an assurance of safety. and so i decided to force it through a bit more. the program began with a prayer and i was surprised with how cooperative they were and how much they were into what we have to offer them. then we went on and watched a film called "fireproof."

ok, segue muna ako dun sa film. sobra kasi akong nabanas dun sa asawa nung fireman. it was suppose to be an inspiring film but hell, i wanted them to
break up. yung story kasi ay tungkol sa mag-asawang dumadaan sa pagsubok sa kanilang pagsasama, kaso yung babae ay nakikipag-flirt dun sa duktor during the process. haay... needless to say, nagkabalikan yung dalawa sa huli. the story is about rejection, acceptance, and finding a way rebuild relationships...

after the film, i noticed how deeply affected the inmates were and that most of them were crying or at the very least, teary-eyed. then it all dawned on me why. Rejection, Acceptance, and Starting Over... the three things that were either denied from them or they have been experiencing since their capture.. They have been through a lot outside but it never occurred to me how much more difficult it was for them behind prison bars. in an instant,
it's as if i was beginning to feel what they were feeling. I mean, if we think about it, we were never really different from them. all of us are prisoners of our own insecurities, fantasies, of our own wrong doings.. and if there is one thing that makes them a lot luckier than us, it would be the fact that they have a chance to start things over, something that is commonly deprived even to the kindest individual. After watching the film, my uncle gave a short lecture on how we should live our lives and giving importance to things that really matter. it was like seeing lives being changed in an instant. they were very appreciative and when we were about to leave, each one of them approached us and gave thanks for giving time to be with them, it wasn't really a big deal but to some it meant the world to them. i guess it wasn't really the film, or the lecture, but i believe it was more for believing in their capacity to change and instilling in them the fact that their is life after all these... we left the jail with smiles on our faces and "kurot" in our hearts.

sa sabado, babalik kami doon to give more help to these people who have been forgotten by most of our fellow kababayans. Hindi ko sinasabing tama ang lahat ng naging desisyon nila sa buhay but i believe that everyone is entitled to a second chance, and another after that, and another after that... who are we to deny a person of a chance to redeem himself, right? and besides, kailangan na rin ng kotse ng cleaning, they give the best
free carwash in town! haha. ganun pala dun, free ang carwash pag nagustuhan ka nila :P

16 comments:

  1. gusto ko rin maexperience yun tulad ng naexperience mo. :) can I join u sometime inside the jail? I mean, I love to help other people especially those who feel na hopeless na sila

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  2. yep everyone deserve a second chance. wala tayong rights para maghusga. saudo ako sayo bro

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  3. wow!...jail? Masarap ngang gumawa ng 'encounter' jan! I mean makapagpasaya o makatulong sa mga kababayan nating sabi mo nga'y nakalimutan na ng sariling pamilya.

    Isa sana to sa pagtuunan ng pansin yung mga bagong halal na pulitiko jan!- na tulungan naman sila dahil talaga namang kalunos lunos ang kalagayan nila!

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  4. matagal na ako facinated sa buhay sa jail... natatandaan ko palagi ko proposal nun sa design... penitentiary architecture... hindi lang ako pinayagan ng professor ko kasi delkado daw lalo na sa pag conduct ng research.

    nice experience... sorry nagskip read ako... ewan, naduduling ako magbasa sa lahat ng blog ngayon... tamanders

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  5. @xprosaic nice.. double nice. hehe

    @shiena we accept more volunteers... sabihan mo lang ako kung gusto mo sumama :P

    @kikilabots tama ka jan parekoy :P

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  6. @vonfire una, ang cute naman nung bata jan sa picture mo. hehe. dun sa mga hiling mo sa presidente, wag ka magalala. ipapadala natin yan sa kanya. haha

    @roanne haha... ok lang yan. naintindihan ko naman na medyo tumatanda ka na :P wahaha. biro lang, peace tayo.

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  7. gusto ko ring makaranas ng mga ganyan outreach program ang sarap kasi sa pakiramdam eh..kapag nakaktulong ka sa iba..at marami kang natututunan..

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  8. Berinays parekoy!Dapat binibigyan k ng award eh hehehehe...

    Dakila kang bata! hehehehe...

    O wag kang maxadong maoverwhelm kasi nagjojoke lang ako hahahaha Joke lang pre...totoo kaya ang mga sinsabi ko hehehe peace!

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  9. Napakabait na bata mo namang parekoy! Saludo ako sa iyo!naks ikaw na ang bayani ng bayan.

    Hayaan mo ipepeptisyon ko sa korte ang pagiging bayani mo bro!

    Joke lang parekoy! Nice work pre sana marami pa ang gumaya sa mga ginagawa mo!

    Ingat

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  10. http://www.stories.pk i have visited to this site and found to get the interested story which is very impressive and entertaining.

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  11. Naniniwala pa rin ako na gaano man kasama ang isang tao, may kabutihan pa ring nagtatago sa kanyang puso. Hindi lahat ng nakukulong ay may nagawang mali or masama. Ang iba ay biktima lamang ng maling pagkakataon. Hindi lahat ng mga bilanggo ay halang ang bituka... marami sa kanila handang magbagong buhay. Magabayan lang ng tama at mahusay ^_^

    nice outreach program parekoy!

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  12. gusto ko rin makapunta sa kulungan. pero hindi yung ikukulong ha. yung parang experience mo lang.

    pero actuually, ang pag-aabroad dito sa disyerto ay parang kulungan na rin. yung nakikita mong nag-iiyakan na lalaki dahil sa experience nila sa asawa, normal ko nang makita dito. akala ko dati ay sa pelikula at kuwento lang yung ganun. nangyayari pala talaga.

    kahgit ako, 'di ko alam ang gagawin ko kapag nakikita silang humahagulgol sa harap ko.

    nice post

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  13. @superjaid tama lahat ng sinabi mo. tara, sama ka sa amin :P

    @jag haayy grabe... pupuri ka na nga lang babawiin mo pa. i hayt chu. hehe. at kailangan talaga bago ang picture every week? hahaha

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  14. @drake sabi mo yan pareko ah... sabay-sabay nating hintayin ang desisyon ng korte. hehe. salamat parekoy :P

    @nadeem1414 good to know :P

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  15. @feilkun Amen sa lahat ng sinabi mo parekoy. hehe

    @nobenta yeah... nakakalungkot at nakakapagpabagabag ng loob pag nakakakita ka ng mga taong humahagulgol sa harap mo... haaayy... salamat sa pagdaaan parekoy :P

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