A milestone behind bars, a testament to hope and transformation
When I last wrote about the College Education Behind Bars (CEBB) program of the Social Entrepreneurship Technology and Business Institute (SETBI) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), I underscored the courage of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) who dared to dream beyond the prison walls. Their pursuit of higher education was not just an act of self-improvement, but a statement that dignity and potential do not end with incarceration.
A few weeks ago, that story saw a new chapter. At the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (DaPeCol), seven PDLs walked across the stage as graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship, marking the second formal graduation under the CEBB program. It was a milestone of hope and transformation.
Dr. Aland Mizell, SETBI founder and a tireless advocate of second chances, captured the spirit of the moment: prison need not remain a place of punishment alone. With education, it can become a college, a training center, even a seminary.
“Prison can be a defining experience in your life, but not the definition of you. Your graduation from this program will redefine your destiny,” said Dr. Mizell. His words were backed not only by theory but by testimony, graduates who have already redefined their destinies and begun new, dignified lives beyond the gates.
One such story belongs to Rodolfo Tubio, Jr.,who stood before the assembly not as a PDL but as a free man and a college graduate.
Once sentenced to life for drug offenses, Tubio lost family, dignity, and years of freedom. But through CEBB and the steadfast support of its champions, he found redemption, employment, and the courage to rebuild his life. Proudly he declared, “I stand here today not as a PDL, but as a college graduate, filled with gratitude, hope, and a commitment to use my second chance well.”
Symbols of renewal
The occasion drew voices of inspiration, including actor Cesar Montano, who reminded graduates to see themselves as “a symbol of hope, and a beacon to what is possible.” He called for moral renewal as a foundation for national healing, praising the CEBB model as a low-cost, high-impact reform worthy of replication across the criminal justice system.
DaPeCol Superintendent C/SINSP Edgardo Mendoza, Jr. echoed this commitment, linking the graduation to BuCor’s mission of rehabilitation and reintegration. The milestone, he said, “represents the core mission of the BuCor, providing programs and services in collaboration with our partners to those in our custody and care so they can successfully re-enter society upon release.”
This second graduation feels like a part of a larger vision: to weave rehabilitation and education into the very fabric of national development.
A broader national mission
By equipping PDLs with knowledge and skills, the program prepares them not only for reintegration but also for meaningful participation in society. In so doing, it answers a deeper national call - how to turn broken pasts into building blocks for a better Philippines.
As Dr. Mizell pointed out, “these men have overcome many obstacles that most of us can’t even imagine. They are well on their way to being resilient, independent, and forward-living citizens, and we are very proud of them.”
It is worth recognizing the institutions and individuals that have made this milestone possible: the Bureau of Corrections under Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., SETBI through Dr. Mizell and Atty. Susan Cariaga, DNSC led by Dr. Joy Sorrosa, and generous partners such as the Davao Orchard Road Inc. and the Floirendo Foundation. Their collaboration reminds us that the rehabilitation of people is a shared responsibility, not a solitary act.
If the first CEBB graduation marked the planting of seeds, this second one shows the first fruits. But more importantly, it signals continuity. These graduates are not exceptions, they are case studies of what can happen when education, compassion, and policy converge.
In celebrating them, we affirm a simple but profound truth, that every person deserves a second chance, and every second chance strengthens the nation.
May this milestone in DaPeCol not be the last, but one of many, as we continue to invest in human transformation, even behind bars.
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