INSIDE INFORMATION
Rene (not his real name) is only 24 but in serving 10 of his 12-year sentence at the New Bilibid Prisons, he already personifies the platitude in 'wisdom beyond his years.'
Convicted of drug charges at 14 upon moving to Manila from his hometown of Cebu, Bilibid's Juvenile and Youth ward for now is home, and his fellow inmates family. As the group's appointed chairman, Rene has their back—encouraging them to study, attend Church or play sports, and even offering legal advice. Anything to stay out of trouble.
The other day he was talking to their youngest inmate, a 14-year-old convicted of rape. The kid was giving the visiting teacher a tough time. Rene invited him to serve during Sunday mass. "Hindi siya nag-aaral, minumura niya 'yung teacher," shares Rene. "Sabi ko sa teacher, kukunin ko siya sa simbahan bilang sacristan. Susubukan ko lang. Bibigyan ko siya ng isang commitment. Pinakabata namin siya kaya 'di pwedeng pabayaan."
Though possibility seems constrained by the bars of a jail cell, the realm of Rene's hopes is less finite. Some of his dreams are no different from yours: that he gets a college degree (He has two more years of study in Sociology inside Bilibid.); that he begins and ends the day with his family; and that his Mom can become proud of her son. With his own life as learning, Rene takes us to school on survival:PRISON ISN'T A ROBIN PADILLA MOVIE. Rene and the rest may not be so different from you. It's both a scary and comforting thought. "Pag sinabing bilanggo, may stigma na tinatawag. Malaking bagay yun na makwento mo sa kaibigan mo na hindi pa nakapunta dito, sabihin mo ang nakita mo dito,ang naramdaman mo dito. Nakakalungkot, kung tulad ko, nagsasalita ako tungkol sa kagandahan, sa pelikula naman, puro kaguluhan. Kung sabagay may positive, may negative din—pero sana manaig yung katotohanan."
Think less of yourself. In Scarface's romanticized template of thug life: "The world is mine." But the tragic end should tell you otherwise. "Nung nasa layaako, wala akong iniisip kundi sarili ko lang, paano ako sumaya. 'Di ko alam nakakasa-gasa na ako ng ibang tao, ng ibang damda-min. Wala akong pakialam basta ako, masaya. 'Di ko akalain na pagkakulong ko pala, malaking tulong sa akin. Hindi sa nagpapasalamat ako at nakulong ako, pero malaki ang pinagbago ko."
Be your own man. Sometimes our legal system works, so you can't count on somebody else taking the fall. "Nung nasa laya ako 'di ko ini-expect na makulong ako kasi meron akong lolo na kapitan ng pulis. So malakas ang loob ko na gumawa ng kalokohan. Akala ko sasanggahin ako. Yun pala walang kama-kamag-anak sa ganun, naunawaan ko rin."
Taking the lead isn't easy. Owing up to the challenge of leadership can change you. "Kumbaga kung 120 sila, 121 dapat ang ugali mo. Bawat isa sa kanila may ugali na, yung pang-121 ikaw yun. So ganun ang pinag-aaralan ko, mahirap magdala. Minsan sabi ko sa sarili ko na mas maganda pa siguro na sumunod na lang kaysa sa magpasunod. Minsan umiiyak ako. 'Di ko naman sila pwedeng pagsalitaan ng masakit kasi magdadamdam sa akin."
If all else fails, keep trying. Despite your good intentions, accept that you can't win them all. "Kahit paano, may nakikinig, may natutunan. Meron pa ring sumusuwag pero expected na yun. Kahit naman saang organisasyon, ganyan ang problema pero doon ka tatatag, e. Huwag mo lang ayawan."
Change people's minds. You can't rewrite your past; but you can still work on your future. "Oo, naging masama ako, addict ako. Pero subukan n'yo 'ko bigyan ng pagkakataon. Andun pa rin ang pagalinlangan ng ibang tao, pati pamilya ko—pero 'di ko sila masisisi. Pero ako, nagsisikap ako. Alam ko ang gusto kong gawin. Sabi ko nga sa magulang ko, 'Nay, sana maipagmalaki n'yo rin ako.'"
» Guy Wisdom archive
Men's Health Philippines - August 2005 Issue
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"Pagka-oras ng hapon, naiisip ko parang nasa kulungan pa rin ako."
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