College Education Behind Bars Celebrates Third Graduation at Prison Campus

SETBI’s College Education Behind Bars' third commencement at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm on April 10 marked a new beginning for 67 Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL), so that their future will now be filled with hope instead of hopelessness. Today these PDL students received a high school diploma, making both them and their loved ones proud. They did not allow the obstacles thwarting their journey to define them. Through its College Education Behind Bars program (CEBB), the Social Entrepreneurship, Technology, and Business Institute (SETBI) partnered with the Bureau of Corrections (BuCo) and Tanglaw National High School for its Senior High School classes, taught face-to-face by professional teachers. SETBI students celebrated the program’s third graduation with students earning a high school diploma from the Department of Education. This graduation ceremony was like any other with caps and gowns, joyful tears of family members, and diplomas, but with added security and PDL who now see themselves as students and graduates, not criminals. SETBI’s program at DaPeCol helps the PDL feel less marginalized and awakens in them a sleeping desire to be contributing members of society. It prepares them to make their second chance count by working toward a high school or a college degree incorporated with recovery classes and values education. As the first of its kind in the Philippines, and even in South East Asia, CEBB has graduated more than 100 students with none having returned to prison upon release, virtually a zero recidivism rate.

John, a Senior High graduate, captured the collective emotion, “My life before SETBI’s College Education Behind Bars wasn’t good. My mom was working abroad, and my Dad was a construction worker. I did not get much attention from them and so was left with emotional needs. Even though they met some of my physical needs, something was missing in my life. Growing up, I did not value education or have a role model. I gave up on myself in those years, and education didn’t seem like it was for me at that time. After dropping out of  school, I joined a group. In 2018, at age 18, I killed a guy from another group under the name self defense. I went into hiding for more than 3 years, but then I got arrested for a murdering a person. In 2021, I was sentenced to 6 to 12 years in prison. That’s something I have to live with for the rest of my life.”

“When I heard about the College Education Behind Bars program, I applied right away, and I got accepted. At the time I was admitted to the program, I had created a prison in my mind, but CEBB showed me how I could  escape from it.  It helped me not to let my past define who I am or what I can accomplish.” With a voice filled with awe and excitement he continued, “CEBB helped me be free mentally, physically, and spiritually, so that I am no longer defined by the murder I committed in 2018 when I was 18 years old. Today, I am a student, not a criminal. I am more than a PDL. Yes, I regret what I did, but I cannot change that horrible mistake in the past, but I can change my future. That is what I am focusing on right now. I actually believe the SETBI Model could work to help so many PDL to realize that they are bigger than their problem and that actual change is possible. The College Education Behind Bars program gave me a second chance, a fresh start, and helped me to find purpose in life and redemption through education. That’s why SETBI’s motto is “Education is Freedom.” I heard the saying that we graduate from childhood to adulthood by our actions. I am now an adult, and CEBB helped me grow into the man I am today.” The graduates seated in the front row rose to the their feet, proudly applauding and cheering each other, as they did throughout the event.

Dr. Edward C. Jimenez of CESO IV, the Director of Bureau of Learning Resources in Manila at the Department of Education, gave the commencement address. “You have  your diploma and that will open doors you never imagined would be opened. Education is transformative, so use this meaningful event to rewrite your narrative.” He added, “PDL students better their chances for a successful societal re-entry by increasing their employability skills, knowledge, accountability, and forgiveness.”

Graduate Jay said that he appreciated the opportunity so much because “SETBI to me means freedom, redemption, forgiveness, accountability, and opportunities; it means freedom to achieve our dreams and goals.” He was grateful for the program’s accepting PDL as they are, but still making them better in the process.

In 2016, Dr. Aland Mizell envisioned and set up CEBB with Attorney Susan Cariaga’s encouragement to provide education and rehabilitation to PDL, to redeem their sentence, and to repair their lives, so that both they and society benefit from strengthened human capacity, a greater sense of justice, and a reduction in costs. The first campus opened in the Davao City Jail, in partnership with the University of Southeastern Philippines’ forward-thinking President Dr. Lourdes Generalao and with the BJMP’s then chief, Gen. Serafin P. Barretto, Jr., now the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Public Safety. In 2018, CEBB expanded its program to DaPeCol, with the Dangerous Drugs Board funding the necessary infrastructure, Davao del Norte State College (DNSC) sending its faculty, and BuCor ensuring safety. In 2022, SETBI partnered with DepED and Tanglaw National High School.

The CEBB also offers these mostly drug dependent PDL students a recovery program and value education by collaborating with the Arrupe Group at Ateneo de Davao University, so upon release ex-offenders are fully equipped to be contributors and not burdens to their family and communities. Under the SETBI-DNSC– BuCor Model, SETBI has built a two-story building, one floor for class rooms and a second for a dormitory where students reside. During the week students go to school and on Saturday, they take recovery classes. Sunday they have their family visitation, SETBI also has a self-sustaining garden where students plant vegetables. Many of these high school graduates will continue their college program at SETBI, where they will enroll in DNSC for a BS in IT or a BS in Social Entrepreneurship.