Beyond the gifts, holiday carols, and delicious feasts, Christmas is about families and loved ones coming together to create memories during the most festive season of the year. Unfortunately, this is not a luxury for some Filipinos, such as the inmates of San Juan City Jail. They must spend their time away from their families, with some serving lengthy prison sentences. Hope is not lost, however, and this season, they too are spreading Yuletide cheer through dainty holiday ornaments crafted with their own hands.
The San Juan City government, together with the Caring Keri Foundation, non-profit organization Spark Philippines, Filipino designer Zarah Juan, and SM Supermalls, offers the city’s persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) a gift of hope and a sense of belonging through the Barong Project. Through this initiative, the inmates of San Juan City Jail underwent training to produce Christmas ornaments using scrap materials and pre-loved barongs.
This is not the first time Zarah Juan and Spark Philippines have partnered with local government units to lead a project emphasizing community support and environmental sustainability. Much like their Tarp Project with Quezon City and with Tagbilaran City, the Barong Project centers on LIFE—livelihood, innovation, financial sustainability for communities, and environmental awareness.
“The Barong Project is very close to my heart because it reflects our humble brand,” Zarah says. “The Zarah Juan brand fights for LIFE. It is very important for me to work with like-minded people on sustainability projects. Collaborating with others enables us to help more and create a greater impact.”
The Barong Project was conceptualized by Zarah, Maica Teves of Spark Philippines, and San Juan City First Lady Keri Zamora in August. Through the Caring Keri Foundation, Keri called on the public to donate their pre-loved barongs for the cause.
“The objective is to empower and uplift our PDLs in San Juan City Jail while upcycling old barongs into beautiful Christmas ornaments,” Keri explains. “This is the very first livelihood project of the Caring Keri Foundation in partnership with the PDLs of San Juan City Jail. With your support, we hope to launch more projects in the future.”
According to Zarah, the process of creating the Christmas ornaments involves two stages. First, the male inmates make the metal framework of the tree. Once the framework is ready, the female inmates take over, working with the pre-loved barongs to decorate the trees. Zarah ensures that every part of the donated barongs is used to minimize waste. The back portion of the barong is used to wrap the metal frame, while the embroidery and buttons adorn the trees. Each ornament is topped with a star made from Capiz shells. Proceeds from the sale of these Christmas ornaments will support San Juan City’s PDLs, giving them a chance to provide for their families from afar.
“The barong is part of our national identity. It symbolizes who we are as Filipinos, and I want to ensure it is given the respect and attention it deserves,” Zarah reflects. “The barong deserves more love, and through the Barong Project, we give pre-loved barongs a new life.”
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora is also a driving force behind the Barong Project. For him, the initiative helps boost the morale of the city’s PDLs and makes them feel they are still part of the community.
“We value our PDLs because we want them to reintegrate into society. Being in jail doesn’t mean they cannot live meaningful lives,” Mayor Zamora tells the Manila Bulletin. “It’s not just about the financial aspect but also about making them feel important and recognized, even while they are inside San Juan City Jail.”
The Barong Project Christmas ornaments, currently on display at Outside the Box stores at SM Mall of Asia, mark just the beginning of this collaboration. Zarah, Spark Philippines, and the San Juan City government plan to further showcase the talents of the PDLs by launching more products in the future, such as bags and lanterns made from pre-loved barongs.
If you wish to donate your old barongs, you can drop them off at Zarah Juan stores or at inside Outside the Box branches.