The Santa Pick-a-Wish project in 2022 were able to bring happiness to 186 PDLs who had their Christmas wish granted. (Photo courtesy of San Jose District Jail)
SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) — The San Jose District Jail (SJDJ) will be launching its second ‘santa pick-a-wish’ project on October 15.
This project started in 2022, where Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) are given a piece of paper to write their Christmas wishes, “Usually po mga hygiene kits, gaya ng mga extra yellow t-shirt, jogging pants, toothpaste, sabon, toothbrush, o mga pangangailangan nila habang nasa bahay kanlungan at kung ano pa yung wish nila para sa pasko,” District Jail Warden Bryan Rañada explained.
The papers are then used to create a small Christmas tree that will be displayed at the SJDJ’s stall at the San Jose Night Market. Those who want to grant a PDL’s Christmas wish can pick a paper from the tree and give the gift personally during Christmas or through the SJDJ.
Last year’s santa pick-a-wish brought success in bringing joy to 186 PDLs, particularly those who are rarely visited by their families, “Marami po ang natuwa at nasiyahan kasi kahit hindi nila kakilala ay [binigyan] sila tulong. Medyo nag-elevate ang tingin nila sa kanilang sarili. Talagang nandoon yung hope ng pagtulong sa mga PDLs”, Rañada shared.
The District Jail Warden is inviting everyone to visit their stall in the night market and encourages other jail facilities to do the same “so that the spirit of Christmas is truly expressed para sa PDLs natin.”
The Santa Pick-a-Wish christmas tree will be displayed until December, catering 190 wishes from PDLs housed in the jail facility. (DSG/PIA Mimaropa – Occidental Mindoro)
