As a new arrival, Rondell is tasked with fetching 100 liters of water daily from a distant station, a strenuous chore he shares with a friend. At 6:00 PM, all inmates are locked in their cells for 12 hours, a psychologically stressful period due to extreme crowding and lack of privacy.

The New Bilibid prison in Manila, Philippines, is introduced as a harsh and overcrowded facility, housing over 8,000 inmates despite being designed for 1,500. This overcrowding is partly due to a massive anti-drug campaign by former president Duterte, leading to catastrophic hygienic conditions and daily struggles for survival among prisoners.

New inmates undergo a rigorous admissions procedure, including a search for contraband and the assignment of a prisoner number. Rondell, a 35-year-old convicted of attempted murder, is one such new arrival. The prison has seven wings, each categorized for different types of offenders, with Rondell being assigned to Wing 1, known for its most violent criminals.

Rondell is assigned to Cell 119, which is severely overcrowded, forcing inmates to share minimal space, including sleeping on the floor. The conditions are tough, with only one fan for many people and strict rules of conduct to prevent conflicts, which are severely punished by guards.

The day begins at 6:00 AM with a head count, conducted multiple times a day to maintain control. Breakfast, often rice soup, is served in cells due to the lack of a canteen. Inmates learn about the prison rules, emphasizing obedience to guards and avoiding conflicts.

Hygienic conditions are catastrophic, with one bathroom for 92 people and no running water. Personal privacy is nonexistent, and only top inmates can afford tiny cubicles. Rondell, as a new arrival, gets the worst spot next to the toilet.

Between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM, all 8,000 prisoners can gather in the inner yard, a chaotic period managed by the Inmate Control Administration (ICA) – specially selected prisoners who act as assistant guards. They intervenes with force if necessary and receive privileges for their work.

Inmates prepare three daily meals for all 8,000 prisoners, serving 4.5 tons of rice. Inmates working in the kitchen are psychologically tested and monitored, as they handle knives. The prison also has a market where inmates sell food and other goods, allowing those with money to supplement their meager diets. Ranilo, an inmate serving 16 years for drug offenses, runs a successful stall.

Guards conduct regular headcounts and cell raids to prevent smuggling of forbidden items like drugs and weapons. The prison is surrounded by a 6-meter-high double barbed wire fence, watchtowers, and high-voltage current to prevent escapes. All personnel are searched before shifts to prevent contraband from entering.

Violators of prison rules face solitary confinement, known as 'bolina,' a sparse cell without a bed. Kimberly, an inmate, describes his six-month stay. The prison enforces strict rules against gang activity, even making gang tattoos unrecognizable, to maintain order and promote coexistence.

At 9:00 PM, the final headcount is conducted before lights out. Inmates then endure a long night in cramped conditions. Rondell, as a new arrival, has the special task of being the 'watcher,' staying awake to monitor sleeping inmates and wake those having nightmares, until someone else takes over.

Visiting day, once a week, is a highlight for inmates. Rondell receives a visit from his youngest sister, bringing news of his father's death, an emotional reunion after two years. He expresses his longing for his children and his determination to avoid trouble to secure an early release, despite the long sentence ahead for both him and Ranilo.

Ranilo, profiting from his prison market stall, has earned the luxury of a small, private cubicle. He relies on photos of his family—his wife and three daughters—for comfort, highlighting the importance of family connections for inmates. He also finds comfort in his cats, named Christine, Elias, and Sidos.