Two artist inmates of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) San Juan continue to give new meaning and color to their fellow persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) with their acrylic paintings after the facility introduced a program that will give inmates an honest and noble way of living even behind bars.
In an interview with ABS-CBN, BJMP San Juan Community Relations Service Officer Jail Officer 1 Angeline Silencio said that the two inmates, aged 30 and 44, started painting and were mentored through the "Likha Laya" program.
Since Likha Laya's inception, BJMP San Juan had already sold around P100,000 worth of paintings.
Silencio explained that 60 percent of the program's profits go straight to the families of the PDLs while 40 percent is used for the facility's operating expenses.
Some of the profit is also used for the bail of PDLs who are candidates for bail or those who have bailable cases that are usually around P10,000 to P30,000.
The jail officer said that the 7th inmate who benefited from the program is now due for release.
The two artist PDLs said that they are extremely happy that their works of art not only help their fellow inmates but also their families.
The 44-year-old painter is due for release in the next two years and said that he will continue to pursue painting for his family.
Silencio said they are currently training more PDLs who have the potential in painting.
The inmates' paintings cost around P5,000 to P12,000. Interested buyers may message BJMP San Juan's official Facebook page or contact 09153455310.
Inmates' parol products
Aside from their paintings, PDLs in San Juan have also started their “parol” (Christmas lantern) making since August in preparation for the yuletide season.
San Juan City Jail Warden Jail Senior Inspector JM Sabeniano said that around 150 PDLs in the facility are participating in the “parol”-making program.
Sabeniano said that since the inception of the program, PDLs have already earned around P500,000 and sent their share of the revenue to their families.
“Ito ay isa sa mga paraan para maipakita sa ating mga kababayan na meron silang ambag sa lipunan. Pwedeng ang mga preso pala ang magbigay ng liwanag sa kanya-kanyang tahanan ng ating mga kababayan sa labas (This is one way of showing our people that the inmates have a contribution to the society. That they may be the ones who can bring light and joy to every Filipino home),” Sabeniano said.
“Higit dito, ang gusto nating maituro ay ang kahalagahan ng marangal na trabaho. Hindi madalian. Hindi mabilisan. Ang ilan sa dahilan kung bakit sila nakulong. Kalakip din nito ang pag-asa na sa mga susunod na Pasko o Bagong Taon, sila na mismo ang magsasabit ng parol sa kanilang sariling tahanan (Most of all, we want to teach them about the importance of having a decent job. A job that doesn’t make you earn so quick and easy, which are some of the reasons as to why they were arrested and are now behind bars. This program also gives them hope that maybe in the next Christmas or New Year, they themselves will hang the lanterns in their own homes together with their loved ones),” he said in his Facebook post.
The price of each parol ranges from P350 to P450 which can also be purchased through the facility's official Facebook page.