Miss Universe PH 2024 candidate Stacey Gabriel launches advocacy for elderly women deprived of liberty

Miss Universe Philippines 2024 candidate Stacey Gabriel just launched her prison ministry advocacy that aims to empower women, especially the elderly, deprived of liberty.

Called the Daisy Legacy Prison Ministry,  the advocacy started as an outreach program by her late grandmother, Lola Daisy Gabriel, which helps elderly inmates from the Correctional Institution of Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City. 

“It’s just my life honor and privilege to be a vessel, to be the spokesperson through which we can give the lola inmates a voice,” the Rizaleña beauty queen said during her press launch on Monday.

The advocacy involves paying regular visits to the institution with activities such as feeding programs, offering prayers and counseling, and supporting the inmates with their special needs.

According to Stacey, the Daisy Legacy Prison Ministry has a profound commitment to acceptance, inclusivity, and hope, and aims to create a world where every prisoner is treated with dignity and respect.

“I want to champion the belief that everyone deserves second chances and that there’s hope in holistic transformations and a better life after incarceration awaits,“ she added.

A life long promise to her grandmother 

The outreach project was spearheaded in 2011, but it all started when her Lola Daisy, a Christian faithful, joined her community church in Mandaluyong City in 2008 to visit the Women’s Correctional. There, Lola Daisy saw the grandmothers had many needs left unfulfilled and felt sorry for those who had been neglected by their families. 

“Her philosophy in life is ‘love the unlovable’ kaya sinimulan niya ang pagpunta doon regularly because her of her love and compassion sa mga lola [na] walang dalaw,” Stacey said. 

What began as a little community became a ministry with 700 elderly inmates who have been supported and taken care of by her Lola Daisy. 

Stacey, who was 14 years old then, would often visit the Women’s Correctional with her grandmother, and through the years, her family has developed a special bond with the elderly inmates. 

When her grandmother passed away in 2014, the Gabriel family fully embraced the responsibility of carrying on with this outreach program as a life-long promise.

“On her death bed when I was 17 years-old ang nag-iisang kabilin-bilinan niya ay wag kakalimutan ang mga lola sa correctional. So how could you not honor that? So it is my reason why I’m doing what I do,” Stacey said. 

The ministry has been thriving for 13 years, thanks to the donors and continuous fundraising efforts to support the needs of the lolas. 

Now that she has a much “incredible” platform, Stacey said that she wanted to use this platform to “touch more hearts” and “bring people into the ministry.”

Love those who are unlovable

Working with the ministry for 13 years, Stacey said the most important lesson she learned throughout the years is that “No one is beyond redemption in God’s eyes.”

“We don’t know what brings people to the life of criminality,” Stacey began. “They have done their crime, and now they are doing their time. I don’t believe that they should be outcasts forever.” 

According to Stacey, her grandmother taught her to “love those who are deemed unlovable” to reach out to the marginalized, and bring “God’s redemptive love” to the prisoners. 

“We hope to be the light in the darkness of prisoners,” she added. 

On forgiving

According to Stacey, forgiveness must be the “most universal thing in the world.”  

“If you are a human being, then you have been forgiven,” she said. “The most universal thing in the world is to have been forgiven,” she shared, adding that only the love of Jesus can redeem those who have “fallen short.” 

Involvement 

As the Director of the Daisy Legacy Prison Ministry, Stacey said she hopes to be able to take her advocacy to the legislative level. 

For now however, their main goal is to make sure that these elderlies have access to their necessities and healthcare 

“My main goal is to make sure the lolas have three square meals a day, make sure they have their basic necessities. If anyone needs cataract surgery, they can access that. If anyone needs chemotherapy, they can access that,” she said. 

Through her advocacy, she also wants to show people that the community they have built is not a “scary place” after all.

“I hope that with this advocacy, shows people that it is not a scary place and it is an accessible place and these lolas are humans. They are human. They have made mistakes, and have fallen short just like we have but I believe that no one is beyond redemption in God’s eyes,” she said. 

— LA, GMA Integrated News