An Extraordinary Experience: Sunday in Bilibid Prison Maximum Security

It’s been a long time since I last wrote an article for my blog due to busy schedule. But a while ago inside the Bilibid prison, I committed to myself that I will find time to write for this no matter what- this experience was worth sharing.

Some of you might have a question in your mind, “what the heck is she doing inside the Prison?” Okay. Let me clear my article title. No-  I don’t have any case, neither my friends nor family.  In fact, it was my first time to go in that place. I was there with my Missionaries of Charities family, Augustinians Brothers and the two Vietnamese boys who are also in the seminary, and Fr. Peter- the priest in-charged.

The new Bilibid Prison located in Muntinlupa is the main insular penitentiary designed to house the prison population of the Philippines. It is maintained by the Bureau of Corrections under the Department of Justice. I heard that it has an inmate populations of almost 16k and more.

While we’re on our way to our destination, I helped them prepare the prayer leaflet that will be distributed to the prisoners. Fr. Peter led a prayer for the success of the activity. I have mixed emotions while I was in the van. 

Nervous?- not really. God is with us and guiding us so that we can do all things for His glory.

Excited? -new experience excites me all the time.

Happy?- of course. I am blessed to have the opportunity to serve the people of God, it doesn’t matter who they are.

Our goal is to bring back their faith to the Lord and ask them to repent and remind them that Jesus loves them, to pray for them. I’m so glad to be part of the team, to be a volunteer, to have an unforgettable and worth sharing experience inside, to realize a lot of things.

We got our pass at the Philippines Jesuit Prison Service Foundation Inc. Afterwards, we went to the Bilibid Prison Maximum Security. According to sister Kidushin, there are three classifications of the Bilibid Prison: the minimum, medium and the maximum security. For this week, the assignment is in the maximum security. From the words itself, these are the inmates who are mostly in life sentenced, have big cases, etc. I thank the Lord for the strength he gave me during my stay in the prison. Firstime, maximum agad. Haha.

Finally arrived!

We surrendered our electronics device before entering the prison. It is strictly prohibited.  (So, I’m sorry guys I can’t show you what I saw inside. Haha). Registration, checking of bags then eto na! entrance na. Whoaah! It’s not what I expected to see. Yung imagination ko, ibang iba sa reality. Haha. Akala ko when you say prisons, literal na selda, nakakulong, just like what I see in the movies but I was completely wrong. There is basketball court in the gymnasium. There is catholic chapel wherein masses held daily. I’ve read that there are also educational facilities inside the compound that provides elementary, highschool and vocational training and adult literacy program. The new Bilibid Prison also housed a talipapa (market) where the prisoners can buy commodities. Cool! Hindi ko alam kung ako lang ba talaga yung may hindi alam na parang village pala ang bilibid prison. Halos kompleto sila. At na-amazed ako when the guitar string was broken (to be used in the mass) and we were informed na meron bilihan ng string ng gitara! Haha. Ayos. I just pray na sana lahat ok na sa pagbabagong buhay. As I said in one of my article,  God allows U-Turns :)

I know there are a lot of bad vibes inside. Gang issues, Drugs, etc. but I didn’t look on that. I focus on the Lord want me to realize and see.  I wasn’t able to go around the whole area, sobrang laki na parang sa Disneyland ata. Haha. We were there to go to the Bilibid Hospital and visit the sick prisoners. Yes, I know itong mga taong to probably murderers, rapist, drug lord, at kung ano ano pa.. but my heart is not a stone para hindi makaramdam ng awa for them. I erased all the negative emotions and tried to be like Jesus most especially during that time; to see them not with what they did wrong but with what they can do right. Tinanggal ko lahat ng judgement and ung mga negative emotions. Marami rin naman akong pagkakamali sa buhay ko.. and siguro ikaw din. Halos lahat naman tayo.. pero God forgives. Mahal tayo ng Diyos. Lagi nating tatandaan yun. He’s always waiting for us. Na tumawag. Na Magdasal. Na Manalig.

Sinama ako ni Sister Kidushin na maglibot to visit each room. There was an old man who was in a wheelchair who welcomed us. Kilala na nya si Sister because she is almost there every week to visit them. I gave him his request: adult diaper. Sobrang happy nya nung inabot ko. He couldn’t stop thanking us. May area na nakabukas ung room, may area na nakalock, yung mga nakalock yun ung mga pasaway at hindi gumagawa ng maganda when they’re outside. We went there also. The lady who was crying so hard caught our attention. Visitor pala sya. Nabaliw kasi yung kapatid nya sa loob. Sabi nga nya siguro sa depression at matinding pag-iisip. Sister Kidushin get his brother’s name to include him in the mass. Naginvite kame to those who can still walk, who want to hear the mass. Happy naman na madami pa din ang nag-attend. Fr. Peter encouraged them to have their confessions and he also anointed the sick in the area with a severe disease. Nakakaiyak talaga to be there! There was a man who was shouting, nakaawa yung condition nya.. “Father! Ako po si ___. Nagsisisi na po ako sa aking mga kasalanan! Maraming salamat po sa pagpunta niyo dito samin.” Fr. Peter anointed him with oil and reminded him that God forgives and loves him. He was crying and thanking the Lord. The other prisoner told his other prisoner “Pede na ko mamatay. Natanggap ko na ang huling sakramento”. Sad : ( You know what sadder? Sabi nila.. halos lahat daw ng mga nasa area na yun, after a week wala na sila T__T Ang saklap siguro mawala ng hindi mo man lang kasama ung pamilya mo. : (

The mass started. I couldn’t stop my tears when I saw them praying, placing their hands to the left part of their chest. Para bang may background music playing tapos tuloy tuloy na ang luha ko. Masaya lang siguro talaga ako to see people like them na alam kong kahit paano, may Diyos pa din silang kinikilala. Na may goodness pa rin inside their heart. I wonder ano kaya yung mga pinagdadasal nila bukod sa paglaya nila at paggaling.. Yung safety ng family nila. Yung success ng mga anak nila. O siguro ung bagong buhay! ;) Let’s all pray for all the sinners including ourselves. Na totally masubmit natin ang sarili natin kay Lord. Na sana mas makagawa pa tayo ng mga kabutihan at ng may kabuluhan. Napakabless natin. Wag nating kalimutan magpasalamat. If you can see their situations, siguro mas maapreciate mo yung buhay mo. I did. : )

After the mass, they introduced me to them since it was my first time. Sabi nila sana daw lagi ako sumama to visit them kasi it feels good na may dumadalaw sakanila. We taught them a song of praise titled “Manalig ka”.

“Iluom lahat ng takot sa iyong damdamin… Manalig ka, tuyuin ang luha sa mga mata.. Hindi sya panaginip. Hindi sya isang pangarap. Siya’y buhay, manalig ka.” 

It’s really nice to see them participating and singing : ) Then, namigay kame ng bread. We said goodbye after. Yung mga ngiti ng pasasalamat, sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam. Ni hindi nga ko nakaramdam ng takot or feeling of harm..

A man named Kuya Roly introduced his self to me, mejo matanda na rin sha.. mga late 50s. Hindi ko talaga alam na isa sha sa mga inmate. Napakabait nya kasi samin. Pinapayungan pa nga kame ni sister. Kinwento nya na malapit na daw syang lumaya and he asked me to pray for him too. Pinapirma pa nga nya ko sa bible nya. And he praised me for being brave for a first timer in maximum security prison because usually daw lahat ng first timer, kabado at takot. Sana hindi daw ako tulad ng iba na sobrang baba ng tingin sa kanila and mapanghusga. Marami daw sa loob na mababait naman talaga. My perception changed.

Before kame umalis, one of the inmates showed us their handicraft. I bought one; it was made of a coca-cola 1.5 bottle. It was very creative. Remembrance na din.


Overall: It was a day well spent with the prisoners.

'It's better to light one candle than to curse the darkness'
-Proverb

Become a faithful prayer warrior lifting up the needs of prisoners and speaking blessings into their lives. Prisoners have many prayer needs. They desperately want prayer for themselves, their families, and their future reentry back into society.  Prayer touches the deepest hurts of those who feel so lost, lonely, and unwanted by the world.

Even if you’ve never been inside a prison or jail, you can be a prayer warrior.

May I ask you guys a favor? Let's all offer a prayer for the prisoners:

Father of Mercy, the secrets of all hearts are known to you alone. You know who is just and you forgive the unjust. You alone are the Almighty Judge. We are not worthy of judging anyone. Your mercy is enough for sinners. Hear our prayers for those in prison. Give them repentance and let them believe in you. Give them patience and hope in their sufferings, and bring them home again soon. Comfort their near and dear ones. Let them trust in Jesus Christ and live with hope. Amen

Godbless us all :)