In celebration of Prison Awareness Week this October 21 to 27, 2024, PRESO, Inc. highlights the life stories of some of our staunchest supporters. They have chosen to devote their time and resources in helping PDL while in detention and upon their release.
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." - MATTHEW 25:34-40.
Adoracion “Mommy Dorie” De Los Santos, now 75 years old, is a beloved name among those who have met her, especially the inmates whose lives she has touched. With a heart full of kindness, she has dedicated her life to helping others. A graduate of Education, majoring in Physical Education, she once dreamed of becoming a social worker. Although that dream was delayed, it found its way back into her life in the most unexpected way.
As the youngest in her family, Mommy Dorie’s joyful and generous spirit was clear from a young age. She loved making people laugh and was always ready to give, even when she had little. "Kahit maliit lang ang pera, basta makapagpasaya," she would often say with a smile. She wore many hats in her life—teaching aerobics, selling goods from Hong Kong, even working as a telephone operator back when call centers were still unheard of. She hopped from one job to another—National Bookstore, aerobics classes, and buy-and-sell ventures became her lifeline----all to support her small family as a single mother. Every peso she earned went to raising her two children. Although her parents also helped as much as they could, she felt that she had to persevere more. Despite these countless personal challenges, Mommy Dorie never lost her Faith. Through the grace of God and small miracles that seemed to happen in her life, she managed to send her two children to school. "Paano ko sila napagtapos? Miracle," she said, as if her struggles had been lifted by divine intervention.
Mommy Dorie’s deep desire to help others wasn’t just a fleeting feeling. Growing up in a neighborhood where many families struggled, she saw how incarceration tore families apart. Some of her neighbors ended up behind bars, leaving their children without care. Mommy Dorie often found herself taking care of these children, feeding them and giving them comfort. Seeing the effects of parental absence on these kids broke her heart. This made her realize that she wanted to do more.
For many years, she prayed for guidance. She knew something was missing in her life but couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Then she joined the Apostleship of Prayer, a religious group of women, and her purpose began to take shape. As a district officer, she attended seminars and talks, and one day, during a talk by a former prisoner, something in her heart shifted. She wept as she listened to the speaker’s story. It made her realize how little she knew about the lives of people deprived of liberty (PDLs). Their stories of regret and pain stirred something in her. It was a thirst for knowledge—and a desire to help.
Designated as Manila City Jail Area Coordinator under the Caritas Prison Justice and Development Program, Mommy Dorie participated in various capability building trainings. There she found her true calling. She began volunteering in jails, offering not only paralegal aid but also providing emotional support to the inmates through her motherly counseling. Fearless and non-judgmental, she would enter prison halls without a second thought. "I'm here to serve you," she often said to the inmates. Her presence in those cold, concrete walls became a comforting sight. What once was a vague dream of helping people had now become a reality full of purpose.
In 2005, Mommy Dorie helped organized a small organization called COVENANTS. From that time and right after the Pandemic, she found herself under the guidance and mentoring of PRESO Foundation that gave her continuing opportunities for trainings and more exposure to advocacy work. She is currently head of the prison ministry of the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians. PRESO facilitates their group’s regular visits to Parañaque City Jail and Metro Manila District Jail Annex 6 in Bicutan. She invites other lay parishioners to support the Worship, feeding and gift-giving activities in these jails.
For Mommy Dorie, visiting jails became more fulfilling than attending any party. Her bond with the prisoners grew deep, and she became their "Mommy." She couldn’t stand seeing them mistreated—denied proper food or humane conditions. Her anger flared up when she saw injustice, and it fueled her determination to fight for their rights. There was no remuneration for any of her services. She felt she didn’t need any. Each day spent in jail, advocating for the marginalized, filled her with immense satisfaction.
Despite all that she has given, she still feels that there is something more to be done. "Parang may kulang pa," she often says, her eyes reflecting both the satisfaction of a life well-lived and the ever-present desire to give more. But perhaps that sense of "kulang" isn’t emptiness at all. It is simply the heart of a woman who has always been driven to serve others.
There was a time in her life when she experienced being framed for something she didn’t do. When she was managing an apartment her parents had given her, the police arrived with a warrant for her arrest, accusing her of illegal recruitment. It turned out that one of her tenants had forged her signature and disappeared. Knowing her rights as a paralegal, she managed to resolve the issue. Despite this grim experience, it didn’t make her judgmental toward those who did wrong. "Marami ang na-frame-up," she realized, "at sila ang nakakulong habang ang tunay na salarin ay malaya."
Mommy Dorie believes she was delivered from that dark time because of the power of prayer. Her family is prayerful, and she herself has always believed in the strength of Faith. That experience only strengthened her resolve to help inmates, many of whom are victims of wrongful accusations.
In her twilight years, Mommy Dorie finds fulfillment not in wealth or accolades but in the lives she has touched. She continues to serve tirelessly, finding joy in the simple act of helping others. To the inmates who call her "Mommy," she is more than just a volunteer. She is a beacon of hope, proof that kindness and love can flourish even in the darkest places.
Today, Mommy Dorie’s children are grown and very successful. Her eldest works in Washington DC, while her younger child, after working in the U.S., chose to return to the Philippines and continue her job on the area of human resource development. Despite having the chance to retire in the U.S. and be with her children, Mommy Dorie always comes back to the Philippines. "Maraming nangangailangan ng tulong dito," she says. Her children are proud of her for taking care of the inmates, and for empowering people to serve those behind bars.
Her greatest fulfillment? Seeing the transformation of inmates, their return to God, and their reunion with their families and communities. "Dati snatcher, ngayon may trabaho," she says, recalling how some still recognize her and call her "Mommy." Hearing that is music to her ears.
After 30 years as a volunteer, Mommy Dorie has received eight awards for her service. Among them are the Outstanding Senior Award in Paranaque, the NCR-Z Outstanding Service Provider, and the Gawad Parangal from the Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care. Her future plans include building "Bahay Laya," a home for inmates who have nowhere to go after their release. It would provide them with shelter, medical missions, values formation, and livelihood programs.
Mommy Dorie has no plans to retire in America. "Maraming nangangailangan dito sa Pilipinas," she says, especially the imprisoned elderly. She remains committed to serving those in need, continuing to live a life of unwavering service, with her favorite song, "You've Got a Friend," as her guiding anthem.
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