Iligan jail reopens Memorial Park for inmates’ Kalag-Kalag observance

The Community Memorial Park returned to the Iligan City Jail-Male Dormitory (ICJMD) on Friday as part of the facility’s observance of Kalag-Kalag for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.

‘Ramil,’ a person deprived of liberty (PDL) at ICJMD, lit a candle this morning in tribute to loved ones he continues to remember. He joined fellow inmates in the second year of ICJMD’s Community Memorial Park, a space created to honor the departed during the annual November observance.

In the Philippines, Nov. 1 and 2 are traditionally sacred days when families gather in cemeteries to perform dagkot—lighting candles and offering prayers and flowers. For those behind bars, such traditions are normally out of reach. Recognizing this gap, ICJMD reintroduced the memorial park initiative to allow PDL to participate in Kalag-Kalag within the facility.

The park, located in a quiet corner of the jail, features a central cross and a designated prayer area. It serves as a symbolic cemetery where inmates can reflect, pray, and reconnect with memories of lost loved ones. Ramil, who first experienced dagkot inside the jail last year after four years of longing, returned to the same spot—his candle flickering with both grief and hope.

Jail Warden JCINSP Carmelo A. Corsame said, “We understand how emotionally difficult these days can be for our PDL. Creating this space is our way of helping them stay connected to their families and traditions, even while they’re here.”

The initiative is part of ICJMD’s broader commitment to rehabilitation and humane care, highlighting that dignity and cultural continuity can thrive even within the walls of incarceration.

The observance will continue through Nov. 2, culminating in a Liturgy of Words to Remember the Dead, where PDL will gather for prayer and remembrance.