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Mothers Behind Bars #11Holistic health and collective care as preparation for reintegration.Health is a means to achiev...
02/06/2026

Mothers Behind Bars #11
Holistic health and collective care as preparation for reintegration.

Health is a means to achieve greater aspirations in life. It isn't merely the absence of disease. It goes beyond the physical, mental and emotional.

We wanted to leave our women PDLs with a very concrete and specific plan for taking care if themselves and each other. In groups, they made these flowers consisting of petals that represent several aspects of health, and what to do and what to avoid.

Until we see them again. ❤️

Mothers Behind Bars #10It's hard to heal in the same place that hurt you.Changing your environment, moving away from wh...
02/06/2026

Mothers Behind Bars #10
It's hard to heal in the same place that hurt you.

Changing your environment, moving away from where you fell may not be possible for everyone. But of you have the chance, take it. Move. This is Roselyn's realization after finding herself behind bars again. "Bat ba kasi bumalik pa ako sa San Mateo eh" (Why did I ever go back to San Mateo?) she shared with a very regretful tone. She was already living a peaceful life in Tarlac then. That's why this is now her plan:

"Pangarap kong makauwi uli or makabalik ng Tarlac at mabuong muli ang pamilyang meron ako. Payak man ang pamumuhay dun, masaya at buo naman ang pamilya ko at kuntento kami sa kung anong meron kami. At gusto kong mapagpatuloy ang aking pag-aaral. At nais kong hanggang sa pagtanda ay buo at sama-sama pa din kaming magkakapatid." (I dream of going back to Tarlac and bring my family together. Our life may be simple but it will be a happy one with all of us together, content with what we have. I want to continue my studies. And I want to be with my siblings until we're old.)

As they, our instituions and service providers try to transform them from behind bars, let us, people "outside", do our part of creating an environment conducive for their healthy reintegration into society. May we all work together to change the system, so that people like them are not lured or forced into anti-social activities and harmful substances yet again.

Mothers Behind Bars #9Some still want to finish school, some want to find a decent job, but many of them want their own...
02/06/2026

Mothers Behind Bars #9
Some still want to finish school, some want to find a decent job, but many of them want their own business...

a barber shop, a carenderia (street restaurant), a sari-sari store (traditional retail store).

Before giving any practical tips, we checked how they plan to do it or how they did it in the past and one of them shared a really amazing experience. She narrated (in Tagalog):

Having just come out of prison, I had absolutely zero money. I approached a vegetable stall at the local market and said "if you would trust me, I can sell vegetables and will give you back how much it's worth (initially P200) at 5pm later. I did as I said and kept doing so until my two kids finally finished school."

The lesson: Money isn't always the answer. It's not always what allows you to start over. Sometimes, it's not even anything tangible, but rather, your heart's sincerity, humility towards others, and word-of-honor that you need to bounce back to life.

And for us people from the "outside", it's hard to trust ex-PDLs yes, let us remember that there is room for it. And let's pray and hope to have the courage to be part of their continuing transformation.

Mothers behind bars #8Dream big and specific! There is more to writing down your goals in order for you to achieve them...
01/06/2026

Mothers behind bars #8
Dream big and specific!

There is more to writing down your goals in order for you to achieve them. Writing specific, difficult goals consistently outperform vague intentions across decades of goal-setting research and is, thus, one important initial step to achieving one's goals.

One of the women PDLs wrote (translated from Tagalog to English): I want to get married to my "husband"; to have a peaceful and happy life. We don't need to get rich, just be a happy, healthy family with a good livelihood. I want to have my own barber shop and be with my children."

The drawing makes adds a couple more of specific details - the husband's name, the barber shop's name and perhaps the design/color scheme of the signage and the shop.

Acknowledging once again the San Mateo Gender and Development Office for allowing this activity, most especially to their ever dedicated staff, Princess supported by Ja, for this great idea, and of course to the local taxpayers for the resources that made it happen!
-
Reference
Landes, R. (n.d.). Journaling for goal achievement: what the research actually shows. https://goalsandprogress.com/journaling-goal-achievement-research/

Mothers behind bars #7We can't show their faces but we want the world to hear them and know their thoughts and aspirati...
01/06/2026

Mothers behind bars #7

We can't show their faces but we want the world to hear them and know their thoughts and aspirations. Here's another from them (translated from Tagalog to English)

--
When Father God grants me my freedom

I promise I won't waste any more time and chance to be with my child and family. I will put my life in order so I won't be separated from them again. I will fix my life and really, really make it up to them. I miss you all and I hope that you are doing well. I love my family ❤️❤️❤️. "
---

Besides wanting their voices to resonate behind bars, we also wanted to prepare them for reintegration. Last month, we asked them what they'd do first the moment they get out of the "bakasyunan" (vacation place, a gentler word they use in place of "prison"). This time, we went a bit bigger: their immediate life goals.

When you write down your goals, you store information outside of the brain, something that your eyes can easily see, something that reminds you and reinforces your commitment to the goal, and in turn further engrains it to your memory.

Dominican University in California paychology professor Dr. Gail Mattews' study involving participants from various backgrounds, (e.g., entrepreneurs, educators, healthcare professionals, artists, lawyers, bankers) found that those who wrote down their goals and dreams regularly achieved them at a significantly higher level than those who didn’t. By simply writing down their aspirations, participants became 42% more likely to realize their dreams.

Thanks to the San Mateo Gender and Development Office for allowing this activity, most especially to their ever dedicated staff, Princess supported by Ja, for this great idea, and of course to the local taxpayers for the resources that made it happen!

UPM Communications Paper (16 Apr 2024). https://www.upmpaper.com/knowledge-inspiration/blog-stories/articles/2024/the-power-of-putting-pen-to-paper/

Mothers behind bars #6Research shows that "upon experiencing repentance and assimilating theological principles, incarc...
31/05/2026

Mothers behind bars #6

Research shows that "upon experiencing repentance and assimilating theological principles, incarcerated individuals' lives can acquire a newfound sense of purpose and direction.This catalyzes a vital shift away from criminal behavior and towards adherence to lawful precepts."

This is evident in these women PDLs' writings about their goals:

"Ang aking gagawin kapag pinagkaloob na sa akin ang kalayaan, kami ng aking minamahal na asawa kasama ng aming mga anak ay magsasama-sama ng payapa, plano naming lumagay sa tahimik na buhay malayo sa bisyo at lalaban ng patas..."

Mothers behind bars #5Writing bible verses and healing.A systematic review from 2022, published in the International Jo...
30/05/2026

Mothers behind bars #5
Writing bible verses and healing.

A systematic review from 2022, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, found compelling evidence supporting the idea that practices such as scripture memorization can lead to reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression (Jahn et al., 2022).

Research has also consistently shown that individuals who interact with spiritual texts report improved coping skills (Koenig, 2020).

https://www.mystillwaters.org/post/mental-health-benefits-of-scripture-a-scientific-perspective

Mothers behind bars #4Try asking these women different questions about how they cope and one of the most recurring answ...
29/05/2026

Mothers behind bars #4

Try asking these women different questions about how they cope and one of the most recurring answers you'll hear is: praying to God. They have spiritual "service providers" and copies of the Bible enough for everyone. These have been undoubtedly helpful as evident from their laughters, high energy, and stories of regrets and hope.

Spiritual care plays an important role in PDLs' lives. Lucero et al, in a fresh (2026) study showed that "spiritual involvement provided emotional grounding, stabilizing structure, moral guidance, and renewed personal responsibility. Institutional support, organized religious activities, and volunteer facilitation further strengthened participants’ transformation. The study affirms the role of faith-based initiatives as a complementary component of correctional reform by supporting rehabilitation, family reconnection, and societal reintegration."

Study: https://jippublication.com/index.php/jip/article/view/2827?articlesBySimilarityPage=75

Mothers behind bars #3.How does one heal after arrest and repeated incarceration? How does a mother heal from the guilt...
28/05/2026

Mothers behind bars #3.

How does one heal after arrest and repeated incarceration? How does a mother heal from the guilt of being unable to take care of her children?

"I regret not being there for my baby - not being able to breastfeed her, change her diaper, sing her to sleep..." Gwen (not her real name) said.

It starts with recognizing, confessing, accepting, and asking for forgiveness for one's mistakes. Many of them have done so, along with surrendering their past, present and future to The Lord. Some have yet to heal. But as one of them said, "trust the process".

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