SEE THOSE hundreds of colorful, gigantic parols – star-shaped traditional Filipino Christmas lanterns – glowing at night along major thoroughfares of Iloilo City? They make the holiday season metro move lively.
Do you know that deft hands of 815 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL, the politically correct term for prisoners or inmates) crafted them?
You read it right. These our brothers doing time at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Male Dormitory in Barangay Ungka, Jaro, Iloilo City were commissioned by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Iloilo and Zonta Club of Iloilo City which were helping the city government spruce up the city.
According to Jail Superintendent Mary Chanette Espartero, jail warden, the inmates were pleasantly surprised when told that they were being tapped to make the parols. The initial order was for 1,000 Christmas lanterns.
“I asked them kung kaya nila. Nagulat sila. Pero the deadine na-beat man nila. In just a month they finished the lanterns. They were very dedicated,” says Espartero.
The PDLs of the BJMP Male Dormitory have long been known to make colorful Christmas lanterns and other handicrafts. It’s their livelihood while undergoing rehabilitation.
“They are very creative,” says Espartero.
Do you know that the PDLs also do t-shirt printing? They make vases, too.
For the parol project, the PDLs first made two prototypes and tested them.
“They turned out okay man,” says Espartero.
The parol has become an iconic symbol of the Filipino Christmas and is as important to Filipinos as the Christmas Tree is to Western cultures. PCCI and Zonta were pleased with the prototypes and the project pushed through.
Additional orders were placed. The PDLs made a total of over 1,500 parols.
Espartero admits she was initially apprehensive. Making the parols would mean the PDLs would be using sharp, pointed and bladed objects such as a pair of scissors, cutters and knives.
“Basi bala maagawan sila,” says Espartero.
BJMP came up with security protocols on the issuance, use and return of the tools.
“The PDLs are very cooperative,” says Espartero.
The design of the parol evokes the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Kings to the manger where the Baby Jesus was born.
For the PDLs, these parols symbolize the victory of light over darkness in their lives, and their hope and goodwill during this Christmas season./PN
