PERSONS deprived of liberty (PDLs) are often a forgotten population. Many think of them as separate from the rest of society. But they are not. Many PDLs will be released sooner or later. Therefore, what happens during their incarceration matters for public safety, our communities, our streets, and human dignity.
Demonstrating the power of sports to bring joy to PDLs, studies show that sports contribute to the physical and mental health of PDL, reducing stress, depression, and anxiety. SETBI organized basketball games between its PDL students and the “The Fraternal Order of Eagles Philippines “team because one of the best ways to break stereotypes is to use sports to bring outsiders into contact with the PDLs.
Not only does this exposure alter outsiders’ conceptions of them, but the PDL also benefits from their wider social and psychological exposure, and sports bolster their social reintegration and rehabilitation process. Some of the members of the Eagles team donated shoes and uniforms to the SEBTI basketball players and, subsequently, voiced a willingness to play more games and to help in the future.
The tournaments were realized through the help of Jaime De Gorostiza, president of the Davao Orchard Road; Andrew Bautista, vice president of the Davao Orchard Road Company; Andrew’s son Alyandro Miguel Bautista, his daughter, Aliyah Gabrielle Bautista; and the entire Fraternal Order of Eagles Philippines team for coming and sharing their love and joy with the SEBTI PDL students.
The students loved the camaraderie and sportsmanlike atmosphere. Meanwhile, Senior Inspector Edgardo F. Mendoza Jr. also supported the program and threw the first ball to inaugurate it. His leadership has been significant in allowing the PDLs to have a second chance to be transformed and rehabilitated to become better than when they came in.
The goal of such sports programs is to create linkages between those outside and those inside, to connect the PDL with society and community services, and to support PDL with education and employment opportunities upon their release.
The primary purpose of prison is to restrict the movement and access of PDL, but implementing sports programs is a way to reconnect them to society through individual empowerment. Sports can bring social cohesion on a societal level. Sports relieve tensions and stress and can help alter the oppressive environment of prison. In addition, sports can teach teamwork and facilitate sportsmanship. Many lessons can be learned from sports, including conflict resolution, abiding by rules, teamwork, competition for fun, and enjoyment of the game over winning.
Sports tournaments, when properly used, are a great way to fight against the stereotypes outsiders have regarding people inside prison. In keeping with SETBI‘s goals to reform, restore, reconcile, and reintegrate, the sports program helps transform PDL into better people, improves prison conditions by giving them an outlet, and makes our community safe by normalizing their activities while incarcerated to condition them to become active community participants when released.
Some of the players expressed their feelings about the basketball tournament saying, “I never experienced this kind of activity before; it brings unity, it brings love, it restores trust and understanding between outside and inside people.” Sports and sports-based programming, when properly set up, can effectively support the social reintegration of PDL, especially the young ones, and can reduce recidivism. I personally witnessed the novelty of sports tournaments between insiders and outsiders and believe that it will make a lasting impact on the PDL in that it helps reduce their mental stress, subvert the pain of being in prison and away from their loved ones, and restore their hope.
We believe rehabilitation and transformation is a process and fighting against stereotyping is also part of that process. The beneficial role of sports in community settings and in prison cultures, including its subsequent impact on rehabilitation and behavioral change, is crucial. The recently organized SETBI basketball competition showed that the best way to fight against stereotyping of PDL is to bring people from the outside to the inside and to organize sports programs for them to play together. Biases and stereotypes are heavily influenced by certain factors, such as social class, religion, and environment, and these perceptions have caused the judicial system to make many mistakes.
However, the games between The Fraternal Order of Eagles Philippines team and the SETBI College Education Behind Bars PDL players brought so much joy and is all the more remarkable because it happened inside prison.
If any basketball team in the region would like to join the sports program and thereby give our PDL joy and contribute to the prison environment as well as the eventual community safety, please get in touch with us. We would love to play with your team for a cause.
