Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF)

It was a perfect, sunny day on January 8, 2025, when our team of volunteers represen;ng

The Way to Happiness Philippines Founda;on arrived at the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor),

beHer known as Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DPPF). Located in the heart of Davao City, it is

a secluded facility housing approximately 7,000 incarcerated individuals.

Inside the high walls of the Bureau of Correc;ons (BuCor), after rigorous planning and

coordination, along with light security arrangements managed by those in charge within the

facility, our team from The Way to Happiness (TWTH) Philippines embarked on a mission to

enter a place rarely visited by many. I considered it a privilege to have the opportunity to

share and distribute our TWTH booklets inside the prison camp and to witness a truly unique

experience, different from any training sessions we had conducted in the past.

On the BuCor grounds, unspoken mixed feelings of courage and fear enveloped us as we

began our visit. We were rigorously searched, instructed to leave behind our cameras and

cellphones, and advised not to speak to anyone once we entered the facility’s high gates.

Indeed, it was a far-reaching journey for all of us—our team’s very first visit to such a distant

place from Manila, where I come from.

Leaving Manila early in the morning to catch our Cebu Pacific flight, we arrived in Davao City

at around 8:00 a.m., and reached the BuCor facility by 9:30 a.m. We were picked up by the

lovely couple, Mr. and Mrs. Chief Ojie Solitario, who graciously drove us to Hotel Madonna,

where we would stay for the next two days.

The following day, greeted with smiles and hot coffee, we were warmly welcomed by the

BuCor heads and supervisors. This trip was made possible through the efforts andunwavering support of Sultana Remy Pastor, Co-Founder and Chairman of The Way to

Happiness Philippines, in coordina;on with her counterpart in Davao, CT/SINSP Ojie

Solitario, with his dedicated team, which includes the security personnel in brown uniforms.

From left to right: CT/SINSP Ojie Solitario; Sultana Remy Pastor, Co-Founder and Chairman, The Way to

Happiness (TWTH) Philippines; Valerie Anne Estares, TWTH Volunteer; CINSP Manuel Roxas, Chief, TADECO

Escorts; CO1 Rufino Veraque, In-Charge of Worship Services; CO1 Mark Montero, In-Charge of Administration

We were given a heads-up on the protocols and how our planned training should be

conducted separately from the training workshops in each ward for security reasons.

While going through all of this, we felt compassion and empathy in our hearts that day as we

moved in, though a bit scared.

We started our rounds from the “maximum-security hall,” where inmates are sentenced to

life imprisonment. Then we moved to the “medium-security hall,” where those serving

sentences of 15 to 25 years are held. Finally, we visited the “minimum-security hall,” where

inmates are soon to be released, having passed the designed program and with proven good conduct, making them eligible for parole. Each ward has its own main hall where inmates gather for programs. What struck us the most was seeing the same eagerness in their eyes in every hall we visited. One could tell they were all hungry to learn what we had to offer. They must have been wondering why we brought boxes and boxes of books. Is it for extra knowledge? That’s what I thought.

Being inside a prison facility for the first ;me in our lives and in close proximity to convicts

and prisoners who had committed crimes was surreal. It felt almost absurd to us. Yet, we

chose to be there and to share our message.

The ques;on was: Am I ready for this? And more importantly, would they be willing and able

to receive it? But regardless of their security level, in my mind, we were there to distribute

5,000 of The Way to Happiness (TWTH) booklets at the very least, something to spark their

interest in what we were about to share with them that day, but a huge breakthrough to the

lives of those whose hearts and minds would be opened.

The morning program began with Chief Ojie’s greetings and acknowledgements to all and

his introduction of Chair Sultana Remy. She shared her personal story about the tragic loss of

her son and how that devastating event led her to seek refuge. At the lowest point of her

grief, a good friend handed her a copy of The Way to Happiness book. That moment changed her perspective entirely.

She went on to share the 21 precepts of The Way to Happiness and spoke with remarkable

courage about how this dark chapter in her life one that could have consumed her with

anger and hatred instead gave her a reason to ask what she could do for others. Through The Way to Happiness, she was able to transform her personal tragedy into a mission: bringing light to people experiencing their own darkness.

Her words were powerful as she read each precept, each one resonating deeply with her

own experience of finding truth and meaning. She had turned her grief into purpose, helping others find light even in their darkest moments.

I saw the inmates listening intently, visibly moved by her testimony of transformation.

After Remy’s inspiring sharing, Chief Ojie Solitario took the stage and discussed the 21

precepts with the inmates in their own dialect. He explained each precept in a way that the

prisoners could easily relate to, based on their current situation inside the facility and their

previous situation in life. He also noted that the training would continue for several weeks to

explore each precept in detail.

With the help of an AVR screen, and with the same compassion and prac;cality, we were

able to demonstrate how these precepts could be applied in their daily lives even while

serving their sentences within the prison cells.

AOer comple;ng the main program in the main hall, we began distribu;ng the 5,000 The

Way to Happiness (TWTH) booklets. We took the ;me to visit individual cells outside the

ward, going from cell to cell, making sure every inmate received a copy. We ensured no one

was leO behind and that each person had the opportunity to receive the educa;on we were

offering or at the very least, hear about The Way to Happiness program personally by

reading the booklet.

Following PNP Ojie’s talk about the 21 precepts and aOer confirming that each inmate

understood them, we organized an ac;vity where the prisoners acted out various precepts

from The Way to Happiness. They were divided into groups, with each group selec;ng one

precept to demonstrate through pantomime.

Some acted out Precept #1, “Take Care of Yourself,” showing how they take baths and

maintain cleanliness inside their cells. Others lay down on a long bench, pretending to be

sick, while a co-inmate played the role of a physician, holding a make-believe stethoscope tohis leO ear and placing his other hand over the pa;ent’s chest. Others performed skits about

honesty, demonstra;ng how being mindful and truthful with fellow inmates and guards

helps create a beHer environment for everyone.

That day turned into a meaningful and educa;onal visit, filled with fun ac;vi;es, learning,

and genuine connecWith the help of an AVR screen, and with the same compassion and prac;cality, we were

able to demonstrate how these precepts could be applied in their daily lives even while

serving their sentences within the prison cells.

AOer comple;ng the main program in the main hall, we began distribu;ng the 5,000 The

Way to Happiness (TWTH) booklets. We took the ;me to visit individual cells outside the

ward, going from cell to cell, making sure every inmate received a copy. We ensured no one

was leO behind and that each person had the opportunity to receive the educa;on we were

offering or at the very least, hear about The Way to Happiness program personally by

reading the booklet.

Following PNP Ojie’s talk about the 21 precepts and after confirming that each inmate

understood them, we organized an activity where the prisoners acted out various precepts

from The Way to Happiness. They were divided into groups, with each group selecting one

precept to demonstrate through pantomime.

Some acted out Precept #1, “Take Care of Yourself,” showing how they take baths and

maintain cleanliness inside their cells. Others lay down on a long bench, pretending to be

sick, while a co-inmate played the role of a physician, holding a make-believe stethoscope tohis leO ear and placing his other hand over the parent’s chest. Others performed skits about

honesty, demonstrating how being mindful and truthful with fellow inmates and guards

helps create a better environment for everyone.

That day turned into a meaningful and educational visit, filled with fun ac;vi;es, learning,

and genuine connection.

The highlight of the program was when the inmates’ choir performed a special number

dedicated to us. Their voices filled the en;re hall with such beautiful harmony that it gave

everyone goosebumps. You could feel the genuine joy and peace in their singing a song

composed and written by one of the inmates. It was truly a heartfelt and moving moment

that touched all of our hearts