As families across the country welcomed 2026 at home, persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in Dagupan City marked the New Year from behind bars, albeit holding on to hope, faith, and the quiet wish of being reunited with their loved ones.

Inside the Dagupan City Jail, some PDLs were able to see family members during special visitation hours under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology’s (BJMP) Family Day program. Others, however, spent the holiday without visitors, facing the New Year with mixed emotions of sadness and determination.

One of them is “Berto,” not his real name, who has been detained for nearly two years. He shared the emotional weight of welcoming the New Year without family by his side.

“Syempre hindi mawawala yung lungkot. Lalo na pag nasa loob tayo, nakahiga tayo, hindi mawala sa isip natin na walang magawa,” he said.

Berto added that he has not told his two children about his situation. Instead, he keeps himself busy by making rattan products to save money for them. His hope for the New Year remains simple.

“Unang-una po makalaya na. ’Yan po ang hiling ko sa Panginoon na mabigyan ako ng pagkakataon na maipakita ang aking pagbabago,” he said.

Another PDL, “Cheska,” has been in jail for more than three years and said she has never been visited by relatives.

“Simula po noong nakulong ako hindi na po ako dinalaw dahil po malayo, nasa Zambales. Hindi ko rin po pinaalam sa kanila na nandito ako,” she shared.

Despite the hardship, Cheska said she draws strength from fellow PDLs and continues to reassure her family from afar.

“Ma, andito ako sa BJMP Dagupan. ’Wag kang mag-alala, may mga taong tumutulong naman sa amin dito. ’Wag kang mag-alala kasi nasa mabuting kalagayan pa rin ako rito,” she said.

BJMP Dagupan officials said they continue to provide mental and physical interventions, livelihood activities, and programs to support the well-being of inmates. On New Year’s Day, the jail allowed special visitation hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., including visits by minors.

Assistant Warden JSinsp. Jayson Aquino said the activity aims to give PDLs a sense of normalcy and hope at the start of the year.

“Ina-allow namin ang mga minors na bumisita rito sa kanilang mga magulang, kapatid, relatives at maging masaya sila ngayong Bagong Taon,” Aquino said.

For many PDLs, the New Year inside jail is a quiet prayer, for forgiveness, second chances, and the hope that one day, they will welcome the New Year again with their families outside prison walls.