Mountain bike event within prison walls

CEBU, Philippines — A mountain bike competition within the prison walls?

Yes, you read it right.

The Lapu-Lapu City Jail-Male Dorm (LCJMD) behind the dynamic stewardship of its warden Supt. Jessie O. Calumpang will be staging its 1st Warden’s Cup Mountain Bike Mini Trail Challenge under strict health and safety protocols  inside the jail facility in Sitio So-ong, Barangay Mactan on October 25.

A first in Cebu sports and perhaps in the entire country, the ground-breaking activity is LCJMD’s relevant and meaningful way to celebrate National Correctional Consciousness Week (NACOCOW) later this month.

It aims to promote public awareness and participation in the effort of re-socialization and reintegration of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) to the mainstream of society.

“Aside from promoting fitness and health through this sport, this is also aimed to boost PDL’s morale and uplift their spirit in their quest for reformation. This will show that they are not left out.  Further, this promotes public awareness and enjoined participation of the citizenry to extend support, understanding and sympathy to PDL and the people working in jails, as both public and private sectors are equally responsible for a successful correctional system,” said Jail Chief Inspector Bryanroy A. Mercado, LCJMD’s assistant jail warden and one of the organizers.

“My role here is to organize the race and egg on all stakeholders to support and cooperate with our noble endeavor with the help of our very active Jail Welfare and Development Staff,” Mercado continued. “I am also coaching the PDL for them to be adept and motivated to win the race.”

Mercado said they are doing this also in keeping with Calumpang’s advocacy to help transform their brothers and sisters behind bars to become productive and law-abiding citizens upon release.

“The warden Supt. Jessie O. Calumpang always believed in the saying, “Ang personnel nga malipayon sa trabaho makugihon”,” Mercado said. “As we enjoy this very exciting sporting event, this will raise our level of camaraderie as co workers in the government and improve our work ethics through the spirit of cooperation.”

“Supt. Calumpang is also very compassionate and has the heart to transform PDL for the better by providing many activities such as this which promotes wellness and development physically, mentally and spiritually. Also, this is  a part of his advocacy, the “Katambayayong sa Kabag-ohan” and in line with the jail bureau’s mantra that is “Changing Lives, Building a Better Nation.”

Meanwhile,  Mercado said they are expecting 21 jail personnel and the same number of PDL to participate in the competition. “We also have gay challengers as we did encourage LGBT PDL to join the race as this challenge is not just for straight men. We do not promote discrimination, we show equality.”

The bike challenge will be conducted inside the jail compound.

“We have some rough roads and challenging areas that are very suitable for mountain bikes,” revealed Mercado. “We will also be mounting obstacle courses and tracks where the challengers will pass through.”

The one-day contest features Category 1 (personnel challenge), Category 2 (for PDL) and Category 3 (personnel vs PD relay (winners vs winners).

Each challenger will be timed while taking two loops in the trail. The challenger with the shortest time will be declared the winner.

For the PDL side to be competitive, Mercado said they briefed them about the route of the mini trail and a schedule a regular practice for them.

“We let them use our mountain bikes and make sure that they will be familiar with the obstacle courses and the trail to also ensure their safety,” Mercado shared. “On race day, we will have a medical emergency team composed of jail nurses, mechanic pit-stop for bike repairs, umpires,  sports committee and a security team. Basic health protocols will be strictly observed even if all our PDL are fully vaccinated.”

Trophies, medals and goods will be given away to the top three winners in each category. There will be special awards for the best in costume, oldest player, and Warden’s choice among others while all participants will receive consolation prizes.