PRISONERS ARE humans, too. With this belief in mind, the Ateneo Lex launched Baliklaya Week, an awareness program aimed to redefine society’s common perspectives of prisoners.
“When you look at normal society or us people, many think of inmates as bad… [that] they will never change, and they will always continue to live a criminal life,” said John Jeremiah Rimando (IV AB Eco), Lex’s Vice President for Social Concerns and Involvement.
Baliklaya Week provided avenues for students in the Ateneo to build an atmosphere that accepts prisoners more, added Rimando. From December 2 to 5, Lex held an exhibit that featured information on prisoners from New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
The week also included a souvenir sale of products made by prisoners, and a fashion show showcasing clothes designed by inmates.
The Apart Visual Arts Collective also painted images of freedom through the “Laya” graphic exhibition.
Not gangster at all
Rimando said that he was surprised at how the community responded to Baliklaya Week.
“I’ve been talking to a lot of people, I’ve seen lots of people going to the booths and seeing what’s there sa (in the) information,” he said. “It shows that every Atenean is capable of being involved, it’s just a matter of them finding where they can be involved.”
For Ruth Valorie Catabijan (I BS LM), Baliklaya broke her common stereotypes of prisoners, “that they’re all gangster, the evil type of people.”
“They’re really nice, like us. They’re really special, really wonderful people,” she said.
Catabijan is also one of the models in Baliklaya’s fashion show on December 5, held at the MVP Center’s first floor area. She wore a floor-length evening gown designed by an inmate in Bilibid for the fashion show. “I like it [the gown],” she said. “It’s like a prom dress!”
“I feel really proud for them [the inmates], because they don’t really get to see what’s outside. So it’s really surprising…[I] wonder where they get their inspiration for clothes like these,” Catabijan added.
Creativity plays a role
After the fashion show, Lex played videos showing activities done by inmates inside Bilibid—which included singing and group dancing.
Audience member Phillip Don Recentes (IV AB PoS), who was part of Baliklaya two years ago, said the activities were a creative way of doing the program again.
“It’s great to see that the organizers for this year…were able to integrate, for example, a fashion show and the Baliklaya,” he said. “I never would have imagined that two years ago.”
Recentes added, “Masaya palang ma-recreate ‘yung mga projects na ganito, para mas ma-enjoy siya ng mga students (I found it nice to recreate projects like these, for students to enjoy them more).”
A community inside Bilibid
Baliklaya Week is part of the Baliklaya Prison Service Program, a yearlong outreach program that aims to build a community inside Bilibid, said Paul William Mayuyu (IV BS ME), Lex president.
The program starts with exposure trips to Bilibid in July. These exposure trips open lines for interaction between Lex members and the inmates.
“We asked them their expectations, what they actually want [for the Baliklaya program], said Rimando.
He added, “We’re geared for development. We know we just can’t go there and drop our goods. We have to build a community.”
With a report from Sasha D.P. Lim Uy
