DEPRESSION is arguably the No.1 killer in life behind the lonely cold bars.
Research studies have it that depression is the most prevalent mental disorder among prisoners, and is the second leading cause of disability worldwide.
“Ingon ni Kuya ma-depress gyod ka sa kalaay sa sulod plus ma low-morale kay every now and then naa gyod maghikog sa mga piniriso,” then said grizzled nurse Lira, whose older brother Raul Zapatos Jr died, some weeks ago, after he suffered a stroke inside the Lumbia City Jail in Cagayan de Oro.
After visiting the wake of Zapatos, who used to work at the Regional Trial Court's Branch 40 before his incarceration due to drug-related charges, fellow Eagle Franco Catajoy had suggested to Green CdeO Eagles Club president Jaime Joshua Frias II for them to come up with a meaningful project that would benefit sports-driven individuals that formed part of around 2,000 inmates inside the city jail.
In partnership with the Junior Chamber International led by JCI Kagayhaan Gold President Kitty Tiukinhuy-Piol and JCI Regional Vice President for Northern Mindanao Jett Yaranon and the Prison Ministry of Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, the group band stormed the Lumbia Jail on April 21.
Brandishing JCI tarps with the slogan “Chess Champs Beyond Prison Walls,” they donated several chess books, chess sets, and basketballs, among others, for the purpose.
“By October this year, we’re hoping that we could facilitate a chess training seminar and tournament among the Lumbia inmates for them to counter the idle and (boring) minds in the most effective and productive way,” Catajoy told Gold Star Daily.
Apart from advocating human rights for the accused as well as their livelihood program inside, Catajoy said embracing chess discipline would empower them to be reflective always in every action and to appreciate life no matter what station they are in.
“Most importantly, it would make them feel that they belong to a community, the chessboard of life,” Catajoy said.
For Frias, who is a chess champion himself, the movie “Life Of A King” with the chess-inspired motto “Think Before You Move” had encouraged him to support the JCI program all the way.
“In that movie, 18-year jail veteran in bank robber Eugene Brown was able to turn a life around for the juvenile kids on the streets by establishing the Big Chair Chess Club. Through chess learning, he helped the troubled youth to have something that he never had: a future.
“It is a very interesting program for them (Lumbia inmates). Who knows like Filipino chess legend Eugene Torre, they will be able to redeem themselves through chess or cope up for lost years when they're already free by imparting chess knowledge to their children's children. Who knows,” was Frias’ parting shot.
