Alias “Jun,” a person deprived of liberty (PDL), considers his daily life in prison his Calvary.

He was incarcerated for a case related to the illegal drugs trade.

During the observance of Holy Week 2025, carrying the Holy Cross on his shoulder is his way of expressing remorse - a penitence.

“Nalaman ko sa sarili ko na hindi lang ito para sa akin, sakripisyo ko ito para mabawas-bawasan rin ang kasalanan ko,” Jun said.

Jun is a PDL at the Iloilo City Jail Male Dormitory. 

He portrays the character of Jesus in the reenactment of the Christ's Passion and Death staged in the Iloilo City Jail Male Dorm.  

“Na-feel ko talaga na nandito si Jesus Christ na tumutulong sa akin araw-araw at sa amin dito sa loob, alam namin na si Hesukristo nandito lang,” Jun expressed. 

Jun is just one of several PDLs who participated in the said passion play. Even during the rehearsals, the PDLs have always been in character because they know the presentation is not ordinary but their “panata” (spiritual vow) every year.

"Mayroon na silang pag-amin, ibig sabihin hindi na sila iba doon sa karakter. For example, yung isang PDL na humahampas sa Panginoon, nagkakaroon siya ng realization na ito pala ang ginagawa ko, ito pala ang ginawa ko so from now on I will try my best para mas maging mabuting tao pa,” Jail Senior Inspector, Rev. Fr. Ricardo Panghulan, chaplain of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 6 Regional Chaplaincy Service, elucidated.

No prison walls will ever become barriers for Jun and his fellow PDLS, for as long as the goal is to come on bended knees before the Lord, with a broken and contrite heart.