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by lostcase.
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The Jail Experience
Monday, November 09, 2009 @ 5:03 PM
I never imagined myself of visiting a jail once. Especially when I have someone related to or that I have met that is in the jail. But, today, I experienced it, but for a different reason - it was for our outreach.

Two years ago, I've shared my experience regarding our outreach within a barangay here in Pasig City. Last year, it was in a drug rehabilitation center for teenagers here in Pasig as well. But, this year, it was a different experience. Like what I've mentioned above, it was in a jail, a real-life jail.

At first, I was scared. No, terrified. Me? A 16-year old, entering a jail. It's just unbelievable. Especially when we reached the place. Its surrounding was really like a jail because of the circular barbed wires. But once I've entered and saw who the inmate who would be my partner (yes, we were paired with an actual prisoner), I was somehow felt relieved.

Ate Ligaya was the inmate I talked with. A nice and a jolly person. She's 41, married with three children (3 adults and 1 teen). Her husband has another woman now, though I'm not actually sure but she said he has his own kids with that woman or whatever. She's from Cebu City, stopped school when she was Grade 6 then moved to Bohol. I'm not sure why she really stopped school but she said it's because she married her husband. And since her family's in the province, they cannot visit her. It's because the fare's around PHP 2,500 or more. They communicate each other through cellphones and snail mails.

She said, the reason why she was imprisoned is because of drugs. I think it was shabu. Her family was poor, so she got involved with selling illegal drugs. She was put to jail last 2005, first in Bohol, then last year, she was transferred to the jail we visited today. What amazed me was that she was thankful that she was jailed. She said it was God telling her to change, reflect, and become a better person. She also told me that it was an opportunity for her to become closer with God even more. Every person in that prison is required to pray every morning or so. And, that just made me grateful. That even in that place, God's love still spread among them. And, that's just what they need, God's love and words.

When the talk and all of those things that we did ended, I thanked her and hugged her. It was the first time I hugged someone I just met an hour ago. But, I know she needed a hug. I mean, no one in her family visits her (because of the fare). And it's just one of the things she need - a simple hug from a person she just met. Even though she didn't give me a gift (she would've had actually, but we didn't pass by their dorm/a bigger prison cell), I was still happy that I met someone like her. Although I may not visit her in the future, I still hope that she'll remember me through the gifts I gave her and the prayers that I will offer for her.

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