Inside the jail, inmates adhere to strict routines while exploring opportunities to earn money through various livelihood projects within the facility, such as rag-making, beaded bag and wallet-making, and furniture display-making.
Among these initiatives, 15 out of the 74 persons deprived of liberty (PDL) at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Dagupan City Jail-Female Dormitory (DCJ-FD) have found new hope and purpose through making “Cherry Balls.”
This project not only provides a potential source of income but also offers a chance to transform their lives both while in the detention facility and during their reintegration into society.
However, Cherry Balls are not edible sweets—they are not meant to be consumed.
Rather, they are essential soft fabric pieces used in the medical field, especially during operations to clean wounds for dialysis patients and for maintaining hygiene.
Jail Chief Inspector Noemi Sabalbro said this initiative was launched on June 18 through a partnership of the BJMP with the Inner Wheel Club of Downtown Dagupan, aiming to provide practical skills and a sustainable livelihood for PDLs.
Sabalbro told the Philippine Information Agency-Pangasinan the dual benefit of this project, “Workers kami rito ng isang company sa Pangasinan. Ibinigay sa amin ‘yan (materials) para at least man lang dito sa jail ay may maitulong sila. Nandito man sila (PDL) pansamantala ay kumikita sila.”
(We are workers for a company here in Pangasinan. They provided us with these materials to help in the jail. While PDLs are here temporarily, they are earning.)
Each box of Cherry Balls, containing a hundred pieces, is sold for P21, directly benefiting the PDLs who diligently craft them.
The Cherry Balls also instill a sense of accomplishment and self-worth among the participants.
Cherry, not her real name, dreams of turning this newfound skill into a livelihood once she is out of jail.
With her eyes gleaming of hope, she shared, “Nakakatanggal ng buryo dito sa loob ang proyektong ito. Paglabas ko nga rito ay gusto kong gawing hanapbuhay ito.”
(This project relieves stress inside the jail. When I get out, I want to make a living from this.)
Similarly, Dayanara, not her real name, said she sees the potential of making Cherry Balls as a profitable business venture.
She stated, “Kami ang pioneer na gumagawa nito. Naisip ko rin na ituloy ito paglabas namin, at nagtanong kami kung puwede. Puwede naman daw po.”
(We are the pioneers who make this. I also thought of continuing it once we were out of this jail, and we asked if it was possible. They said it is.)
The gratitude of the five PDLs extends to the company supplying the kits, which has given them not just training but a lifeline to a better future.
Meanwhile, Jail Officer 1 Rachel Dahlia Raquedan, skills enhancement officer, observes significant progress among the participants.
She proudly shared, “Simula nang magsimula silang gumawa ng Cherry Balls, kapansin-pansin ang pagbuti ng kanilang mga kakayahan at tiwala sa sarili, na makakatulong sa kanila na muling makabalik sa lipunan nang mas maayos kapag sila ay nakalaya na.”
(Since they started making Cherry Balls, there has been an improvement in their skills and self-confidence, which can help them reintegrate into society upon their release.)
The Cherry Ball project is a symbol of hope, showing that even in tough situations, people can grow and find a better future.
Through this initiative, the women of DCJ-FD are not just providing support to dialysis patients by ensuring a steady supply of essential medical supplies, but they are also creating new opportunities for their lives after prison. (MTJAB/JCDR/PIA Pangasinan)
