Letters from Prison (Part 1)
Ohmygosh. I received four letters from the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) within the last six days or so. On Thursday the 2nd, I received a letter from Ate L, my new friend on Medium Security who is expecting to be released this year (please, God). Yesterday, I received three letters from Ate V, Ate S, and Ate H, my close friends on death row.For those who may be wondering how I ended up corresponding with incarcerated women (as if I haven't blogged about them or mentioned them in passing one time too many), I used to volunteer in CIW before I came to the U.S. in September of 2002. I became really close to the inmates on death row. Whenever I'm home, I make it a point to visit them. During my recent vacation in the Philippines, I ended up spending most of my time with them. I visited them during the holidays and several other occasions, and I even slept on death row twice. And so I renewed old friendships and made new friends, like Ate L, along the way. (Para sa mga kaibigan ko sa Pinas, 'pag mahirap akong hagilapin, iisa lang ang ibig sabihin n'un: nasa CIW ako. Bawal magdala ng cellphone doon kaya hindi ako makasagot agad sa mga text niyo. At para naman sa blog-friends ko, alam niyo na kung saan ako naglagalag at kung bakit bihira akong mag-blog noong nasa Pinas ako.)
No words can adequately convey how I felt while reading their letters, and how I feel right now. I'm so humbled and touched by their actions. Mahal kayang magpadala ng sulat dito, lalo na't wala pa silang pera. Ate L actually took time out to write me the day after I left for the States. And in their letters (dated January 31st), Ate V, Ate S, and Ate H expressed their concern about how I'm doing now, gave me advice, teased me about the current state of my love life (or lack thereof) to make me laugh, and assured me that they were okay. They all told me that they miss me. Aww...God bless them. They lift me up when I'm down and keep me going.
I keep their letters by my bedside at night and carry them with me during the day, so I can read them over and over again. I also framed some of my pictures with them and placed these on my desk and my night table, so I can see them all the time. And right now, I'm wearing the bracelets given to me by Ate H and Ate G, another inmate on death row, to remind me that we'll always be together in spirit.
I miss them so much. Not a day goes by when I don't think of them or lift them up in my prayers. I just wish life would be kind to them, and that they would be released in time (especially those who are innocent). My friends in prison, especially those on death row, are so close to my heart. I would give my life for them, just for them to be free.
Five years ago, I would never have thought or expected that I would end up in this kind of ministry. But life has its surprises. And God never fails to surprise me by sending people my way to transform me and draw me closer to Him/Her. I want to pass on the love I've received.
***
I came across this article in the Inquirer website. I can only hope and pray that the 53 elderly inmates pardoned by GMA include those languishing in CIW. The last time I went home, I got to talk to several of them the day after 11 elderly (and sickly) women inmates were freed through executive clemency. Their situation breaks my heart.
(To be continued...Abangan...susulatan ko muna sila.)
found herself @ 10:57 AM
10 Comments:
Hey Di!! It`s been a while...pasensha na,masyadong busy ngayon dahil school year ends after a month or so...too much things to do...ang dami kong namissed...
You are really one of a kind.I`m pretty much sure that God is watching you.And you deserve something for all these heroic acts of yours.These women love you and will love you till the end of their lives,even after life after death.I can feel your passion and your eagerness to help them,to give them hope and inspiration...Carry on,young woman...Always bring your "torch"and light them............:)
ghee
nice!! yan ang blog! :)
Ate Ghee: Uy, long time no hear, ah. Sus, okay lang, naiintindihan ko kung busy ka. Ako rin, maraming ginagawa.
Touched naman ako sa sinabi mo. Salamat ha! :) Lahat naman tayo, may kanya-kanyang calling at mission sa buhay. Let's just say I found my calling in this kind of work and I'm simply following my heart. I love my friends in CIW sooo much, and I want to be there for them as much as possible. And I also owe them a lot because they've been there for me in so many ways.
Thanks again for your very touching comment!
Melai: Haha, 'yan ang long overdue post ko. Salamat sa pakikinig mo sa mga kuwento ko. And thanks for encouraging me to write about it. Sige, itutuloy ko ang kuwento ko 'pag natapos ko ang sulat ko para sa kanila. Ingat!
nakaka touch naman... tunay ka ngang kaibigan nila dahil di birong sakripisyo ang ginugol mo sa kanila sa CIW.
sana mapalaya na nga si Ate L para kahit papano maibsan ang kalungkutang nadarama mo sa 3 na nasa death row.
huh! ayan ka nanaman tumutulo din luha ko dito, isang tunay kang kaibigan Di, pagpalain ka ng Diyos.
huwaw!! ang bait mo naman para dumalaw at magbahagi ng iyung panahon para sa mga babaeng nasa death row... sana ipagpatuloy mo lang iyan mabohay ka!!!
ur truly great lady my dear!!!
thumbs up! pinahanga mo ako :)
wow D! ang bait mo talaga hanga ako sa'yo. God bless you always!
Take care!
a lot of people don't realize that people in prison aren't necessarily bad. some were victims themselves and some didn't have much options in life.
thanks for sharing this diane. it was a very touching entry.
Ate Malaine: Touched naman ako sa 'yo. Thank you po. Hmmm...mula kasi n'ung nakilala ko sila, naging magkaibigan kami kaagad dahil mga totoong tao sila. Kaya gustong-gusto ko silang kasama. Tinanggap pa rin nila ako ng buong-buo, kahit ilang beses rin akong nagkulang sa kanila. Ipinakita rin nila sa akin na tunay silang kaibigan.
Oo nga, sana makalaya na si Ate L...pati 'yung ibang mga nasa death row na wala namang kasalanan. Ipagdasal na lang natin sila.
Nang Ethel: Uy pasensya na, naiyak ka tuloy. Salamat sa comment mo, touched naman ako. Basta, mga tunay na kaibigan rin ang mga dinadalaw ko. Give and take kami, I guess. God bless you too.
Basilisk: Salamat sa dalaw at sa sinabi mo. Haha, bumait ako nang dahil sa mga kaibigan ko sa death row. I owe them so much. Thanks for encouraging me to keep on. Itutuloy ko ang pagdalaw sa kanila 'pag nasa Pinas ako.
Take care! Come back!
Mommy Neng: Thank you po. Haha, wala 'yun. It's the least I can do. 'Yun na siguro ang misyon ko sa buhay. To God be the glory.
Ghie: Thank you. Haha, I'm trying to be good. *wink* God bless you always rin. Ingat ka lagi!
Karen: My sentiments exactly. I used to be so indifferent to the plight of prisoners and there was even a time when I was in favor of the death penalty. But all that changed when I started visiting Bilibid and CIW as part of my first job.
I've come to realize that people in prison are human, too. A lot of them were the product of the circumstances from which they came. And as you said, some of them were victims themselves. At any rate, people can be better. I know that now.
I'm honored that you like this entry. There's more to come. *wink*
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