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Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Darasa Ward, Lipa Philippines Stake reached out to a marginalized sector of society by providing compassionate service to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Tanauan City Jail-Female Dormitory in Tanauan City, Batangas last July 22, 2026.
Bishop Veecarl Alvarez of Darasa Ward along with other ward officers comprising the Darasa Ward council spearheaded the outreach program titled "Hope Behind the Walls: Finding Faith, Hope, and New Beginnings Through Jesus Christ", which was marked by gift-giving, Christian service, and spiritual upliftment.
“Sharing love and hope with all people lies at the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Alvarez expressed. “As disciples of the Savior, we are called to bring light, lift burdens, and help others feel God's love through our words and actions.”
The initiative was initially suggested by a Church member, Brother Alvin Alcantara, and resulted in a strong collaboration with the facility’s leadership under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)-Calabarzon, namely: Senior Jail Officer II Lorena B. Gayodan, Officer-in-Charge; Senior Jail Officer II Merry Ghey Payap-a, Deputy; and Jail Officer 1 Samantha Andrea R. Citron, chief of the Welfare and Development section.
Full-time missionaries Elder Hollingshead and Elder Pahilona shared inspirational messages centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ, reminding them of the unconditional love of God and Jesus Christ towards them.
Many of the women expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to hear the Church’s message, noting that it brought them a renewed sense of hope, peace, and the reassurance that, in the words of one PDL, "someone remembered us.”
As followers of Jesus Christ, Latter-day Saints worldwide provide compassionate service to individuals and communities through a variety of initiatives, actively responding to a key scriptural injunction from the Book of Mormon: “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17).