BALANGA City– The Bataan District Jail on Wednesday displayed an eye-catching giant Christmas lantern or locally known as “parol” near its main gate at the capitol compound in this city. At the center of the parol is a small “belen” with miniature 3 Kings represented each by a BJMP detainee.
Adjacent to the Christmas lantern is a Christmas and New Year’s greetings from inmates and prison officials. Supt. Clarence Mayangao, jail warden of the Bataan District Jail, said the Christmas lantern measures 21 feet in height by 18 feet wide and made from recycled materials like old iron pipes from junk shops, empty sacks from the National Food Authority, twigs and hay among others.
“Ginawa ito ng mga inmates sa hangaring ipakita sa Bataan community na sila’y nakikiisa sa Kapaskuhan. Ang parol para sa kanila ay simbolo ng bagong pag-asa,” the jail warden said. Mayangao said 10 detainees assembled the parol for seven days.
There are 1,450 male inmates and 150 female detainees in a separate ward at the Bataan jail. The former Bataan Provincial Jail is now under the supervision of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
