Mary Bernard Jimenez
Sister Mary Bernard Jimenez, CM was a Filipina Carmelite Missionary and educator best known for her humanitarian work with the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines. She was one of its earliest volunteers when it was first organized by the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines in 1974. She eventually became TFDP coordinator for Metro Manila.
Work with Task Force Detainees of the Philippines
She was already 50 years old when she first joined the TFDP, but still managed to be a frequent visitor to the Marcos regime's various detention centers, particularly those at Camp Crame, Camp Bagong Diwa, and the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa, and even Camp Olivas in Pampanga.Among the personnel detention camps, she became was known for her "gentle ways and cheerful disposition," helping her convince officials to let her bring food, medicine, and other supplies to political prisoners when they needed it. She also helped many unjustly detained prisoners to finally be released.
And despite the fact that her humanitarian work was motivated by what researcher Mina Roces describes as "a strong sense of justice and a desire to help those who were unfairly treated," rather than by any ideology, she became so beloved among political detainees that they composed songs about her.