Meeting their children again after a long time on an early Christmas gift-giving program has made the event memorable for persons deprived of liberty (PDL) at the Mandaue City Jail Female Dormitory and at Danao City Jail Female Dormitory in Cebu.
The "Give a Gift Alay sa Batang Pinoy" of GMA Kapuso Foundation has made it possible for PDLs to be with their children. The children are so-called special visitors. Their arrival has been welcomed gladly at the facility.
The children’s moms entertained them through songs and dances in a showdown of talents.
The women-PDLs demonstrated excitement to perform for their audience.
About 80 children received early Christmas presents. The Christmas gift packs contained food items, toys, and hygiene kits that delighted the recipients. But the highlight of the event was the opportunity given to PDLs to spend time with their children despite the short period.
Mom-PDLs shed emotions at the sight of their special visitors. They ran toward them to greet them, hugged them tightly, showered them with kisses. Conversation between the mothers and their children seemed unending.
A 13-year-old and 11-year-old siblings last saw their mother personally in 2019. They are left to the care of their grandparent and an aunt, respectively. Their father is also a PDL in another facility.
When asked what they feel about the occasion, one of them said that it is nice to say "I miss you" and "I love you" to their mother.
As for their personal struggle at having a mother behind bars, the child said that it is when classmates ask them on the whereabouts of their parents that pulling out an answer becomes the hardest thing to do.
"Moingon na lang ko nga tua sa abroad," the child said.
Jail Officer 1 Ralph Enojo, chief of the Community Relations Service of Mandaue City Jail Female Dorm (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology), said that officials of the facility are overjoyed at the gift-giving program of GMA Kapuso Foundation because it inspires PDLs to look forward to meeting their children on Christmas.
"Importante kaayo na nila, kay matambalan ilang kamingaw, dako kaayo ni nga tabang," JO1 Enojo said.
“Give a Gift Alay sa Batang Pinoy” was also carried out in Danao City Jail in north Cebu for women-PDLs so that they can be with ther children as well.
The PDLs said they are grateful that an activity of such nature is conducted annually because it makes their celebration of Christmas extra special.
The gift-giving was led by Amabelle Rusiana, regional coordinator of GMA Kapuso Foundation, who emphasized the colors of the season - red and green - which remind us always of the pure joy there is in giving.