Smiles returned to more than 350 women deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) after volunteers held a one-day dental mission last Sunday.

The outreach, the first comprehensive dental mission at the CIW in several years, provided oral prophylaxis, fillings, extractions and dentures to selected beneficiaries. Fifteen volunteer dentists participated in the program, which was organized by Mencius Lodge No. 93, the Manila Health Department Dentists Association and the Kababaihan Organization.

“This place has always been close to my heart,” said Justice Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez, a supporter of the Kababaihan Organization, who joined the event. “This is the first time there have been full dental services here. We had been requesting it for a long time, and now we have dentists willing to give their time and expertise.”

Gutierrez added that Kababaihan also distributed oral hygiene kits with toothbrushes and toothpaste donated by Lamoiyan Corporation.

Dr. Joan Carbonell, section chief of the Manila Health Department Dentists Association, said their volunteers responded quickly to the call for service. “We’ve always wanted to reach out to PDLs,” she said. “Dental services are rarely prioritized inside facilities like this, so we’re glad to help.”

Correction Technical Senior Inspector Christine Cenal, the CIW’s dental officer, called the mission “a big help.”

“Usually, we can only manage tooth extraction here. This is the first time we’ve had a mission that included fillings, cleaning, and dentures. This is a great help to our women,” she said.

For Mencius Lodge No. 93 Worshipful Master Neil Makasiar, the effort reaffirmed the Masons’ guiding principle of service. “When you help someone regain their smile, you help them regain a part of themselves,” he said. “That’s what makes this mission truly meaningful.”

Gutierrez thanked all the partners and volunteers, emphasizing that the simple goal was to make the women feel that they haven’t been forgotten. “Each act of care brings them closer to healing and hope,” she said.