Cebu City jail inmates welcome Sto. Niño

The Sto. Niño offers hope to inmates as it visits the Cebu City Jails —the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center and the Operation Second Chance Center at barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City today.

Over 160 minor detainees yesterday welcomed the image of the Senor Sto. Niño at the Operation Second Chance Center, the first stop of the activity called “Duaw Niño”.

Yearly activity

The activity initiated by the priests of the Basilica del Sto. Niño which was started last year.

The activity aims to give prisoners hope with the visit of the Sto. Niño in the Cebu City jails.

The Operation Second Chance Inmates welcomed the Sto. Niño at 1 p.m. with a presentation.

Young inmates showcased their talents in dancing and theater arts in their 10 minute presentation prior to the celebration of the Eucharistic Mass at 3 p.m. yesterday.

A 17-year old boy who is charged with murder said he hopes that he will be released from prison. The boy, a resident in Mandaue city has been in prison for two years.

“I miss my parents,” he said adding that he is willing to mend his ways if given the chance.

At least 20 elementary students of the Colegio del Sto. Niño opened the program with a dance interpretation of the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo song.

Jail Supt.Bartolome Sagadal, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) chaplain, officiated the Mass.

Overnight stay

At 4 p.m., the Sto. Niño image visited the Cebu City Jail Female dormitory where it would stay overnight.

At 8 a.m., today, the image of the Child Jesus will be transferred to the male dormitory where it will stay until 12:30.

At the female dormitory, Elsie, 48, who is facing charges of illegal possession of drugs, said: “The Sto. Niño never failed me. Even if I’m imprisoned, he still blesses my family.”

“I know one of these days, I’ll get out from here,” she said.

Elsie, a Cebu City resident, has been in detention since 2008.

Chief Insp. Corazon Noel, warden of the Cebu City Jail Female Dormitory, said she was happy that the “Duaw” has drawn the inmates closer to their faith.

“Dakog kalipay kay ang mga inmates walay higayon nga makaduol sa Sto Niño (I am overjoyed because they don’t usually get the chance to touch and be with the image of Sto. Nino),” Noel said.

She said she hopes that blessings would be given them.

This year’s theme of Senor Sto Niño is “Uban sa Pagpanaw sa Pagtuo dinha kang Sto. Niño.”

A Mass will be held at 10 a.m. today inside the BBRC male dormitory, a few hours prior to the image’s departure at 12:30 p.m. The image is expected to arrive at the Basilica del Sto. Niño at 1:30 p.m.

Life changes

“The visit of the Sto. Niño will give them hope in their lives. Despite their physical absence for the Sinulog religious activities, they can still see that Sto. Nino is still part of their lives. Through Sto. Nino, they will see changes (good) in their lives,” said Fr. June Saladaga./Correspondent Tweeny M.