ILIGAN City – For Ramil, a Person Deprived of Liberty (PDL) at the Iligan City Jail-Male Dormitory (ICJMD), the small, flickering candle he lit this morning was a powerful, quiet tribute to the loved ones he remembers.
Though still incarcerated, Ramil joined his fellow inmates to observe the second year of ICJMD’s Community Memorial Park, a symbolic cemetery created inside the facility for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.
In the Philippines, November 1 and 2 are sacred holidays, often called Kalag-Kalag, where families typically gather in cemeteries to perform dagkot — the lighting of candles and offering of prayers and flowers.
For those behind bars, these cherished traditions are out of reach.
Recognizing this emotional and spiritual gap, ICJMD reintroduced its memorial park initiative this year to allow PDL to participate.
The park, a quiet corner of the jail, features a central cross and a designated prayer area. It serves as a symbolic space for inmates to reflect, pray, and reconnect with memories of those they’ve lost.
Ramil, who first experienced the ritual of dagkot inside the jail last year after four years of longing, returned to the same spot. His candle flickered with both grief and hope as he prayed.
Jail Warden JChief Insp. Carmelo A. Corsame emphasized the importance of the initiative.
“We understand how emotionally difficult these days can be for our PDL. Creating this space is our way of helping them stay connected to their families and traditions, even while they’re here,” Corsame said.
The program is part of ICJMD’s broader commitment to rehabilitation and humane care, illustrating that dignity and cultural continuity can thrive even within the walls of a correctional facility.
The observance will continue through November 2, culminating in a Liturgy of Words to Remember the Dead, where inmates will gather in collective prayer and remembrance. (BJMPRO-X)
