BAGUIO CITY — The Baguio City Jail Female Dorm (BCJFD) launched on Wednesday a cheer dance competition for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) — their own version of honoring women during the National Women’s Month Celebration (NWMC).
The National Women’s Month Celebration held every March is part of the worldwide observance of the International Women’s Day (March 8), which is aimed at giving recognition to the contributions of the women in the development of the society.
Jail Senior Inspector April Rose Ayangwa told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that aside from complying with the directive from the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) to conduct activities empowering the women, the jail is also celebrating the month to boost the inmates’ self-esteem.
Ayangwa said as a result of incarceration, some inmates feel depressed and develop a low self-esteem. She said most of the inmates at the city jail for women have cases that are still pending in court and, thus, have not been found guilty.
“As part of their empowerment in accordance with the theme, we make change work for women. We want them to win back their self-confidence because some of them have already lost it. And one of our main activities during the month-long celebration is a seminar addressing depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders on March 26,” Ayangwa added.
“I am sure it (the seminar) will boost their (inmates) low self-esteem,” she said.
During the launching, female dorm inmates competed in the cheer dance competition for their physical fitness.
The inmates also competed for the most creative booth and livelihood product display during the opening. Guests from the city government and from different national government agencies served as judges during the competition.
Not known to the inmates, their cell rooms were also inspected while they were having their activity at the quadrangle.
“We wanted to check if they are complying with the standards under their Therapeutic Community Modality Program. Under this program, we are not only instilling cleanliness, orderliness, and discipline, but it is also part of their therapeutic healing to make their living areas spic and span,” Ayangwa said.
She added the winners in all competitions, including the result of the inspection of the rooms, have corresponding cash prizes given by donors as an incentive.
Councilor Lilia Fariñas, chairman of the City Council Committee on Social Services, Women, and Urban Poor, expressed her appreciation to the women inmates for achieving several awards despite being deprived of their liberty.
“It’s very unfortunate that you are inside this facility but despite that, you continue to strive to become a better person and bring out the best version of yourself. The evidence shows because you become a recipient of several awards despite being deprived of your liberty,” Fariñas said.
With the help of the inmates and their cooperation while inside the facility, the BCJFD had received awards from different bodies like the Red Orchid Award (2016 and 2017), Quarterly Best City Jail Implementer from 2016 to last quarter of 2017, Best New Concept Production for their “Anatomiya ng Babaeng Puguita”, Recognition for Commitment to the Pasadang Pambarangay Program of the city, and Outstanding Community Relations Initiatives in reaching out to inmates’ families.
For the month-long celebration, the BCJFD has lined-up various activities, which include motivational talks, “zumba” sessions, songwriting contest, free pap smear and cervical cancer screening, the BCJFD “Tiange” at the BJMP-car park, skills training on bookbinding, T-shirt printing, essay writing, poster and slogan making contest, gift giving, and the awarding and closing ceremony on March 31. (Dionisio Dennis, Jr./PNA)
