Dressed in traditional attire and carrying floral offerings, persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Puerto Princesa City Jail joined this year’s Flores de Mayo through a special celebration of Santacruzan.

According to Jail Officer 3 Joefrie Anglo, Regional Information Officer of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) MIMAROPA, the celebration was held not just to mark a tradition but to reflect the inmates’ journey of change and spiritual renewal.

“This activity is not merely an entertainment showcase but a reflection of the importance of rehabilitation and turning back to God as part of the process of change,” Anglo said.

The Santacruzan reenacts the biblical search for the Holy Cross by Reyna Elena and her son, Emperor Constantine.

In their jail version called 'Santacruzan sa Pittan,' Anglo said it is a symbol of the PDLs’ hope and efforts to turn their lives around.

The BJMP said this activity is part of their rehabilitation program. It aims to help PDLs return to their communities as reformed individuals.