BY MAE SINGUAY

Parols, or lanterns, displayed during the Christmas season are not only decorations.

These Filipino ornamental lanterns are made using bamboo for the frame; and paper, shells, plastic, or recycled materials.

Parols could be illuminated with candles, oil lamps or electric bulbs.

Although they are made of different colorful materials, one thing is for sure: It is a craft emitting light from the hearts of those jailed in Negros Occidental.

For some persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at Negros Occidental District Jail (NODJ) in Bago City’s Barangay Tabunan, parols have been a vital part of their lives.

The Christmas decor has inspired them to continue living a normal life even if they were in jail.

Its shine is a symbol of them looking forward to the day when they will be freed.

As part of the rehabilitation and reformation of PDLs in NODJ, the facility initiated the Parol Making Program.

There were 54 of the 261 total PDLs currently in the program.

Two of them shared their sentiments after being qualified for the initiative.

One of them was a 42-year-old man who had been in jail for eight years after he was caught in 2015 in a drug bust operation.

According to him, it was difficult to fight the feeling of loneliness.

But with parol-making, he enjoys his time together with several PDLs.

“It makes me busy and provides me income. Even when I am inside, some of my income I spend for myself, and some I send to support my family,” he said.

Another is a 49-year-old man who was jailed for the same offense.

He has been at the facility for four years.

He said that he loves what he is doing as it diverts his mind to avoid thinking that he was there.

They both said that when they are out of the facility, they will use what they have learned in the parol-making program for their livelihood./MS, WDJ