I was overwhelmed with the warmth of the PDLS (persons deprived of liberty) when I came out to sing and do my stand-up comedy in Visayan,Tagalog and English. There were shouts of joy, laughter, claps and when I called for several volunteers to join me onstage, almost 70 percent raised their hands. According to Deputy Warden Erwin Esden, “Because of the pandemic, our events are limited here at the Maa City Jail. Giselle, you and Katya Santos, are the first celebrities to set foot again in a Davao penitentiary to entertain the PDLS after three years. You can imagine the joy you brought to our PDLS. We are so happy that the National Correction Consciousness Week is a success this year.”

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Nat Coco Week was celebrated yearly during the last week of October to give awareness to the public about the correctional facilities all over the Philippines. Every year, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) together with the Department of Justice (DOJ), conduct activities inside and outside the prison to raise funds to improve the facilities inside the Jail and create programs for the welfare of the PDLS. I was able to interview the chief administrator of the Maa City Jail Ellen Rose Saragena who happens to be the Community Relations of the entire Davao BJMP region. “During the Nat Coco Week we conduct entertainment programs inside the jail, just like what you did for them, Giselle, to alleviate their loneliness inside the penitentiary. Outside, we also organize fun runs, school visits, medical missions and bazaars to involve the public. Our aim is for the public to find out what is really happening inside the jails. Television only portrays half of the truth. You yourself Giselle saw how it is inside. Our facility can only hold six hundred PDLS but in Maa City Jail, there are currently 2,852 PDLS, that’s a 480 percent congestion rate.”

I was really trying to stop my tears from rolling down, seeing the PDLS packed that they can only sit on the floor and not be able to stand up until it is their turn to come out in the yard to get some sun.” But Deputy Warden Erwin Esden gave some hope and good news. “Because of the efforts of Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (FPRRD), a new correctional facility is now being constructed that can house 5,000 PDLS in an eight-hectare lot in Brgy Wangan. Once completed, we can transfer 80 percent of the PDLS there then both facilities will get to enjoy the programs we have prepared for them, especially the learning programs. Our aim for every PDL is to erase illiteracy and have the PDLS possess skills like welding, carpentry, hair cutting, massage, all types of skills so that they can be ready to take on any job when they go out. We also make sure that their basic needs are provided for inside - nutritious food, hygienic kits, even their spiritual needs are taken cared of here. That is why we have all these programs during Nat Coco Week, so we can tap private individuals to help us because funding is always the problem because of the over-capacity of the jails. We also need more businesses to hire our PDLS once they come out of our facility.”

“It is quite sad that the stigma of a person deprived of liberty still sticks with them even when they have been given their liberty already. I am so happy that one of our captains here in Maa City Jail, Captain Ed Lobeña, established a non-profit organization called Second Chance Philippnes which gives second chances to our PDLS that have served their terms," admin Ellen Saragena adds.

After my performance, I asked former Viva Hot Babe Katya why she accepted this prison ministry.

“Everyday in my life I always want to be a blessing for others, no matter where, no matter what the reason, gusto ko nakakatulong ako sa iba kasi hindi lang naman pera ang puwede mo ibigay. Yung simple happiness na nabibigay mo sa ‘pag perform is already a lot. Going here nagdasal ako, Lord, what is there for me to learn? I know there is always something that I will learn or that will touch my heart. What life lessons will I learn today. There is always a reason for everything, and today there is a reason why I am performing for the PDLs in Davao. Probably, the life lesson I learned today is that we should not discriminate. Some that are here today are just victims of circumstance. At the end of the day, we are all humans, only God has the right to judge.”