'Pangalawang Pagkakataon', dokumentaryo ni Sandra Aguinaldo, ngayong Sabado sa I-Witness

I-Witness: Pangalawang Pagkakataon
Dokumentaryo ni  Sandra Aguinaldo
January 18, 2020

Walang tao ang hindi nagkakamali. May nagkakasala. Pero may mga pagkakamaling mabigat ang kabayaran. Para sa ilan na bumagsak sa loob ng piitan, habang binibilang ang tila di maubos-ubos na araw na kailangang bunuin, napakadaling magpakalunod sa kadiliman ng kawalan ng pag-asa.

Sa Tagaytay City Jail, sinisikap ng warden na si Aris Williamere Villaester na palakasin ang loob ng mga PDL o Persons Deprived of Liberties sa pamamagitan ng Sponsor-a-Release Program kung saan mabibigyan ng pondo ang mga karapat-dapat na PDL na makalabas agad ng kulungan.  Ang pondo ay galing sa mga ipinipinta at ibinebentang obra ng mga PDL para makapag-piyansa o makapagbayad ng multa sa kanilang plea bargaining agreement. Sa loob ng dalawang taon, nasa pitumpu na raw ang napalaya ng Sponsor-a- Release Program.

Isa rito si Sherilla Lalas na ngayong January 6 lang nakalaya mula sa 8 taong pagkakakulong sa kasong may kinalaman sa droga. Napag-iwanan na nga raw siya ng lahat ng kanyang kasabayan. Pero dahil sa isang “mother & child” painting na gawa ni Jason Bautista, isa ring PDL, ang inang ito, muling nakapiling ang mga anak.

Si Arnel Lumpiado, nangangailangan ng P20,000 multa para sa kanyang plea bargaining agreement. Itong nakaraang taon pa sana siyang handang palayain mula sa Tagaytay City Jail pero kapos na kapos pa ang pera niya.  Umaasa siya na sa tulong ng Sponsor-a -Release program, makakamit din niya ang kalayaan.

Para kay Alfred Cordoves, dating coordinator ng mga artist sa loob ng kulungan, minsan na raw niyang naisip na wakasan ang kanyang buhay pero ang pagpipinta ang nagbigay sa kanya ng pag-asa tuwing nakikita niyang may nakakalaya sa tulong ng kanyang mga obra. At ngayong nakalabas na siya, determinado raw siyang mamuhay ng marangal at hindi sayangin ang pangalawang pagkakataong ipinagkaloob sa kanya.

Ngayong Sábado sa I-Witness, papasukin ni Sandra Aguinaldo ang mga selda para sa mga kuwento ng pag-asa at pagbangon.

English:

Everybody makes mistakes.  But for some mistakes, you pay a heavy price. For those who end up inside the jail, while waiting for the seemingly endless days, it is easy to get lost in the darkness of hopelessness.

In Tagaytay City Jail, warden Aris Williamere Villaester encourages the PDLs or Persons Deprived of Liberties to hang on to the promise of a second shot at life through his Sponsor-a-Release Program that aims to raise funds needed for bail or fine for their plea bargaining agreement. The funds come from paintings created by some PDLs themselves. In a span of two years, the program was able to make possible the release of 70 deserving PDLs.

One of the beneficiaries of this program is Sherilla Lalas who was released last January 6 after serving 8 years in jail for drug-related cases. She says she was the longest-staying PDL there that is why the warden was determined to help her through the program.  A “mother & child” painting created by another PDL Jason Bautista made it possible for this mother to be reunited with her children.

Arnel Lumpiado needed P20,000 as fine for his plea bargaining agreement. He should have been released last year, but because of lack of money he is still waiting for his time of release from jail. There is hope for him still as he is next beneficiary of the program. 

And just like any person who has served time, Alfred Cordoves, former artist coordinator in Tagaytay City jail,  also thought that life was not worth living under lock & key. But he says painting has brought light in his desolate life, especially when he sees other PDLs walking out of the jail because of his paintings. Now living a free man, he says he’s determined to live an honourable life and make the most of the second chance he has been given.

Sandra Aguinaldo gets to know the stories of people who have gone astray, and why they deserve a second chance, this Saturday on I-Witness,  on GMA.