Life in Manila's Correctional Institution for Women: The Struggles of Incarceration

😔The prison is overcrowded, with three times as many women living in the facility than originally planned.

🚿Water is limited, and prisoners must save and ration their water usage, even for drinking, washing, and showering.

🍽️Meals mainly consist of rice, fish, and vegetables, and prisoners often rely on shops to supplement their meals.

🤰Pregnant prisoners face unique challenges, including potential separation from their newborns and relying on fellow inmates for support.

🌍Foreign prisoners struggle with being separated from their families, limited communication opportunities, and cultural adjustments.

How do prisoners cope with the limited water supply?

—Prisoners must ration and save water for drinking, washing, and showering. They adapt to living with limited water availability and learn to manage with the resources provided.

What is the daily routine like in the prison?

—The day starts early with waking up, morning prayer, and a 10-minute shower. This is followed by a therapeutic meeting, news casting, and counting. The routine includes strict rules and limited personal time.

How do foreign prisoners cope with being separated from their families?

—Foreign prisoners struggle with being far away from their families and limited communication opportunities due to time differences. They rely on the given communication times and keep praying for mercy and a successful appeal to return home.

How do pregnant prisoners receive care and support?

—Fellow prisoners offer assistance and support to pregnant inmates. The prison provides basic care, but families are often asked if they can take care of the child. If not, the child stays in prison with the mother for up to 6 months.

What challenges do prisoners face in adapting to their new living conditions?

—Prisoners must adapt to cramped living quarters, limited personal space, and following strict rules. They also face cultural adjustments and learn to live without the comforts and freedoms they were accustomed to.

00:00Introduction to life in Manila's Correctional Institution for Women, with a focus on the challenges and struggles faced by prisoners.

02:08Discussion of the overcrowded conditions in the prison, with three times as many women living there than originally planned.

05:14Explanation of the limited water supply and the need for prisoners to ration water for drinking, washing, and showering.

08:24Overview of the meals provided in the prison, consisting mainly of rice, fish, and vegetables.

11:05Insight into the challenges faced by pregnant prisoners, including separation from their newborns and reliance on fellow inmates for support.

13:31Discussion of the struggles foreign prisoners face, such as isolation from their families, limited communication opportunities, and cultural adjustments.

16:14Highlighting the emotional toll of incarceration, as prisoners long for freedom and hope for successful appeals to return home.