Social Hall, New Bilibid Prison, Muntinlupa City. October 8, 2009. The Honorable Director of Corrections, USEC OSCAR C CALDERON facilitated the delivery of the relief items through the GMA-KAPUSO Foundation. Turn-over ceremonies were properly held in the Social Hall in the New Bilibid Prison where Atty. Felipe Gozon, CEO and President of the GMA-KAPUSO Foundation received the relief goods from inmates and officials of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

    It was a tragic incident of flooding in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces brought about by typhoon “Ondoy” last September 26, 2009 that elicited spontaneous show of concern and assistance from all over the Philippines. Behind the walls of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, more than 20,000 inmates watched and heard of the widespread flooding that saddened them as they felt compassionate for the victims, some of whom could be their families and friends. After consultation with inmate-leaders and with Bureau of Corrections officials, it has been the consensus that inmates may voluntarily extend assistance for the flood victims for humanitarian reasons. Spontaneous reactions resulted in a substantial majority signifying their willingness to extend assistance in whatever capacity to the victims of the flooded areas. As such, most inmates, in their humble capacities, have voluntarily opted to share a portion of their meal ration in the form of canned goods, food items, or used clothing as their donation for the flood victims. The relief donations were gathered by inmate-leaders and delivered to the visiting area, eventually filling-up half of it, and was finally transferred to the Social Hall.

    By this voluntary effort, the inmates have shown that not even confined walls can hold back their small gesture of compassion for the flooding victims. As citizens of Philippine society, it is part of our social and civic responsibility to assist those in need, especially in times of calamity. Donations are not measured by the amount, or the volume. It is the voluntary and spontaneous help from the heart that counts, from wherever it comes, even from a small cell in BILIBID with LOVE.

    "BILIBID sa MuntinLUPA" . . . sa mga taong nagbabago, MuntingLANGIT na rin," - BILIBID in this little soil . . . for people who are reforming, it could be a little heaven. (Warren Zingapan, The Philippine Corrections Journal)