FOR MY “Comic Relief”, the stand-up comedy with gift-giving at the Dumangas District Jail in celebration of the National Correctional Consciousness Week, I gave away groceries, and toothbrushes.
This is Part 2 of my column called “ThePSN Goes to Jail.”
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I don’t really know why I decided to give toothbrushes, and toothpaste.
My flippant answer, if you ask me, is that I want people to brush their teeth, and SMILE confidently.
I bought the expensive toothbrushes (with hygiene caps) instead of the cheaper ones because, well, I want the toothbrushes to last at least 6 months, and for them to have the dignity of a Colgate toothbrush.
I mean, I was also looking at Oral-B, but for the same price, Oral-B does not have the hygiene cap.
And I don’t know if there are cockroaches crawling in the jails.
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I could have stuck with coffee sticks (almost P4 a stick), but I also want the inmates to enjoy creamy 3-in-1 coffee (was it P10-something for the twin pack?).
My idea: let them enjoy a perfect coffee mix for a few days, and then, when coffee is really hard to come by, they can suffer with the coffee sticks.
There’s communal sugar, after all. Haha.
***
I always tell the male inmates, Just be careful not to drop the soap.
It’s not a single-use soap like in the cheap motels, after all. Haha.
Only a few got the joke.
The rest, they were just mesmerized by my presence and kindness.
They know that I am a very busy man, and was rather important at the Haw-as Festival events going on at the same time outside the jail.
But there I was with them.
And I was there for one and a half hour minimum.
But just like in 2019, I knew it was an impressive quality time.
***
I am generous, but not in the way most people think.
I can give my time, knowledge, talent, even hard work; but I do not believe in giving away my own money unless it is a matter of life and death.
Because I have time to give, and other people don’t, I let other people become generous by giving me money so I can go to jail and distribute it for them.
I think that it is unfair to me if I give my time, talent, and money when the responsibility is supposed to be shared by the community.
And what good is my charity if it does not lead others to be generous as well?
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What I like about the whole exercise is that people trust me.
Donors give generously because they understand that every single cent goes to the recipients.
That their peso is not my gain, that I am not interested in their small change.
(Or even in their millions, if it comes to that!)
They know that I am rich on my own, wealthy all by myself.
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The recipients trust me even more because they know that everything that was supposed to be for them is given to them; maybe a little more, but never ever less.
They also understand that I do not ask or need anything in return.
If they cannot pray for me, that’s fine.
I have made it a habit to pray for them.
***
At the Rotarians’ meeting where I pleaded the case of the inmates, returning donor SB Marfito told his colleagues, “I prefer channeling my donation through ThePSN because he has social media accountability.”
I think he means that I post everything online because I have nothing to hide, and I want transparency.
Such transparency and honesty—truth in all things, is my trademark, and my currency.
Because SB Marfito said that, able people dipped unto their wallets more easily.
***
I posted online the names of donors, and pictures of the goodies, plus my pose for posterity with Atty. Malhabour.
I heard a lot of good things about the good warden, so I am committed to help in some jail programs.
I think I have even committed myself to doing literature and writing workshops for the inmates.
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Still, if you feel like donating for the cause of the inmates of the Dumangas District Jail, please use my GCash number 09458401594; and you can just put “JAIL” in the message/note line.
You can trust that your donation will be used appropriately.
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I visited my dentist Dr. Leila Datoon on Saturday, October 29.
I was worried that my gums bleed so easily when I brush my teeth.
She commented on my jail visit, and my kindness and generosity.
But she specifically pointed out the toothbrush and toothpaste in the care package.
(This is an example of the importance of my social media accountability!)
The good doctor is touched, and pledged to donate some oral care products for the inmates.
It made me smile so big!
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Oh, and the good doctor waived her fee for my dental checkup.
Because although my heart is generous, some people can be more generous./PN
