Correctional Institution Mindanao
Juan Acenas Sub-Colony (DAPECOL)
Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte

June 2, 2009
To all our brethren:

Greetings from Davao City!

I am glad to share with you an update of our present condition since we were transferred to the custody of Bureau of Corrections (BUCOR) last May 26, 2009.

Before I was transferred, the Warden and her staff and all my fellow inmates surprised me with a despedida (farewell) program. It was really an unforgettable and memorable event after four years and four months in jail. There were tears of joy and everybody was filled with God’s spirit that even though I was leaving them, the learning experiences we have gained from each other were so valuable. I considered it as the best thing that happened. As it is written in Ecclesiastes 7:8 “The end of a thing is better than its beginning…” Yes, I may consider my leaving as an end but the experience I went through had greatly molded me into who I am now. The people I was with gave me the courage to endure, though it was really terrible at the beginning. With the grace of God, I was able to withstand the hardships and tests. It is in jail that I understood the meaning of the love that Christ taught us. I made mistakes and stupid decisions but I profusely thank the Lord because it is in my failures that I become more fearful and submissive to His will. He gave me the wisdom to escape the snares of Satan and to bear the consequences. With all my shortcomings, He never left my side but guided me to the path of righteousness. He taught me to have a repentant attitude and be more sober in the deceitful ways of Satan.

After my valuable experience in jail, I realized that all my labor in the Lord was not in vain. I give glory and honor to Him who made my life in jail worthwhile and as an instrument in preaching His words through my everyday living. I felt so blessed that He turned my trials into triumph in the hope of salvation.

As I was about to leave that jail, I asked the Lord to help me understand His will and as I pondered, it made me realize that my stay in that jail has come to an end but it also marked a new start, the beginning of another journey with the Lord. Though it was painful to leave the people who became close to my heart, I can feel that God is prompting me to do another job or mission for His greater glory. And I always believed that everything works together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

At first, when we were given an order from the court that my brother and I will be transferred to BUCOR, we were disappointed because we expected that we cannot be transferred unless our petition from the Supreme Court (SC) will be resolved first. We knew that our sentence was not yet final after our motion for reconsideration was left hanging for the decision of the change of venue from the SC. Our lawyer always told us not to worry because he is doing his job but it seems we can’t be so sure if he was making the right moves. There were times when I could no longer contact him over his mobile phone. He won’t answer our call and text messages. I felt helpless and all I did was to pray harder and pour out all my anxieties to the Lord. I could not do anything nor can I foresee what was going to happen next. I always remember that worrying will do no good to me and so I lifted up everything to Him, trusting in His divine intervention that He will touch the hearts of the people handling our case and that we will be given justice very soon. There were times when I felt weak, especially when a lot of people offered their advices such that I don’t know whom to listen to. I immediately turned to God in prayer to give me the wisdom to discern. This reminds me of Solomon’s advice in Proverbs 3:5-6.

Before we were transferred, I and my brother wrote a personal request to the judge who issued the order for our transfer, to defer the order. But if he is really firm in his decision, we requested further that it be modified; instead of transferring us to Davao del Norte, we requested that it be changed to Manila BUCOR because our lawyer is from that place and most of our relatives are there to support us in all our needs. I submitted this request to the Lord that whatever was the response to our request, we will gladly accept it. When the request was denied by the clerk of court, I wondered why the judge did not make his answer but just passed on to his clerk of court. Anyway, I did not argue with the response and perhaps God has other plans for us.

We arrived safely at our new destination and it was quite a long travel from Davao City to Davao del Norte, about 2 hours.

My brother Jong was the first one who was turned over. I followed, with my data also entered for the records of the administrative office of the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, since perhaps our old records (for male and female prisoners) were kept in the previous institution which opened operations last Sept 2007.

When I first saw this new place, I can feel the soothing relief of fresh air and presence of green trees. I saw that the compound is very big and the area is clean and peaceful. God must have purposely placed us here! It was a blessed day because I was permitted to go inside the facility of male prisoners together with my escorts. We were given the opportunity to talk with my brother before we parted. As I was walking inside their facility, I saw thousands of prisoners roaming around. Some were very old and I was wondering how long will they stay in the prison! I noticed that there was tight security in going in and out, barbed wires surrounded the premises to prevent escape and we had to pass one gate into another in every compound. Nevertheless, I felt my brother may not take too long a time to adjust to the new place and the people around him.

It took about 20-30 minutes travel time from my brother’s new detention facility to the Correctional Institute for Women Mindanao (CIW Mindanao). I was caught by surprise to see that our new facility looks like a school building. It is also surrounded by barbed wires but I was more captivated with the peaceful view of the environment, the presence of green nature and colourful flowers. The place does not look like a detention center at all.

After my things were inspected, I was brought to a comfort room for body search and immediately I was asked to change clothes where I was given the official uniform for convicted prisoners. It felt strange wearing the tangerine-colored dress for the first time, but deep inside my heart, I felt I have a greater responsibility not just to be considered as a convicted prisoner, but a prisoner of Jesus Christ; to walk worthy of the calling which I was called into. I remembered the apostle Paul identifying himself as such in a letter to the Ephesians. (Ephesians 4:1)

As I was entering the main building, I noticed that there are benches and nipa huts and also a flagpole in the facility. It looks like a park!

When I entered the dorm for new arrivals, or the so-called Reception & Diagnostics Center (RDC), I was surprised to see that we have spacious quarters which were clean and neat. A television set, a DVD player, and a sound system were provided for every dorm, but unfortunately I can’t play my religious songs and video sermons because they seemed to prefer worldly entertainment. I am hoping they will give reconsideration to my first request to be allowed to use my portable DVD player every Saturday. Only the electric fan was allowed. Anyway, I know God will make a way for this matter. For now, I can play the songs sometimes for a limited time only. I just focused myself on studying the Bible, sharing the word of God with some of my fellow inmates, and writing my valuable experiences. I spend most of my time reading the books our brethren gave me and learning new skills here.

Generally speaking, our place is really wonderful, and God is truly amazing that He provided such comfort to convicted prisoners. The serenity of the place is absolutely conducive for spiritual growth, and the presence of nature gives a soothing relief to the emotional and mental emptiness experience by most prisoners.

We are required to obey the rules and regulations, and discipline is a must for every prisoner, or else we end up in an isolation cell.

With God’s grace, the management is giving us the privilege to exercise our rights to practice our religion, and pursue some education and self-development. We also have medical and dental services. Some of the prisoners who have lighter sentences and have passed the qualifying requirements are given the opportunity to work in the banana plantation where they earn P240 (about $5) per day on a contractual basis. It is also worth appreciating the efforts of personnel who painstakingly risk their welfare in escorting the inmates to work outside the facility!

My present situation has given me so much time to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. I become more disciplined physically, mentally, emotionally and most of all spiritually. I developed good habits and proper time scheduling. I have more time talking to the Lord because I sleep early and wake up as early as 4:00 a.m. I got enough physical exercise and proper diet. Now I realized why God did not allow us to go to Manila!

As of this writing, I have not yet encountered problems with my fellow inmates or personnel. Though there were a number of them who spitefully judged me because of the case charged against me, but with the grace of God, I take this patiently and positively instead of arguing to justify myself. After all, Christ told us in Matthew 5:44 “…Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for them who spitefully use you.” I know I have no obligation to explain to them because only God can judge me fairly (I Corinthians 4:3-4). I could not also condemn them because they don’t know me. I just ask God to guide me in everything I do and say that I may fulfil the words in Titus 2:7-8 “In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.” I remember a quote from the book, Apples of Gold which says. “If anyone speaks evil of you, so live that none will believe.” This is really a challenging line and I found it the best way to be at peace with the people who have nothing good to say about you.

Regarding practicing the Sabbath and food laws, I am thankful that I am given exemption to do work on the Sabbath. I am allowed to cook my raw ration provided by the government. I am very happy and ever grateful for the support of our brethren especially Mr. & Mrs. Edmond Macaraeg and family for doing errands, and as well as other church members of Davao City.

My dear fellow brethren, please continue to pray for me and my brother. We are fighting the good fight. And we are called to take His Light no matter how hard our struggle is in these four-cornered walls.

We want to let you know that all your prayers, kind deeds, and heart-warming messages, have made us stronger in the faith, and trust that soon we will find justice in God’s own time.

Meantime, being blessed with the gifts and calling of God which are irrevocable (Romans 11:29), we strive to endure to the end and take up His cross daily (Luke 9:23-24).

Let me leave you with the whole chapter of Romans 12. This chapter is my guiding light while living in prison, and of course the Bible as a whole.

God bless! Your sister in Christ,

Jed Sy

© 2009 United Church of God, AIA - Pilipinas