ILIGAN CITY — Raffy never imagined that a detention cell would become his classroom. Yet on this morning, dressed in a crisp yellow shirt and holding a certificate with trembling hands, he stood among eleven other persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Iligan City Jail-Male Dormitory (ICJMD), not as an inmate, but as a graduate.
The Alternative Learning System (ALS) completion ceremony held inside the jail compound was a powerful testament to transformation, resilience, and hope. Twelve PDL—eight junior high school completers and four elementary completers—defied the odds, proving that education can thrive even in the most unlikely places.
This year’s ceremony carried deeper meaning: it was held on Nelson Mandela International Day, a global observance that honors the legacy of the late South African president and human rights icon. Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison before leading his country to democracy, once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Today, that weapon was wielded by those society often overlooks.
A joint celebration of learning and liberation
The event was a joint celebration for both the Male Dormitory (ICJMD) and the Female Dormitory (ICJFD), where the ALS program has been steadily transforming lives. Key figures from the Department of Education – Division of Iligan City attended, including Guillermo L. Fuentes, Public Schools District Supervisor for South II District, and Avemar T. Gonzaga, ALS Focal Person, whose tireless efforts have brought learning into locked spaces.
Presiding over the event were JCInsp Carmelo A. Corsame, ICJMD jail warden, and JInsp Krizza Jane C. Bermudo, jail warden of ICJFD. Both wardens spoke with pride and emotion as they addressed the graduates.
“This ceremony is a declaration that our PDLs are capable of change,” said Corsame. “ALS has given them a second chance, and we are here to support them every step of the way.”
“When our PDL learn, they begin to heal. They begin to hope. And that hope radiates beyond these walls,” added JINSP Bermudo. “We’ve seen how ALS restores dignity and purpose.”
A tribute through art and emotion
A highlight of the program was a moving dance interpretation of Gary Valenciano’s “Take Me Out of the Dark,” performed by the PDL themselves. Their graceful movements told a story of struggle, surrender, and salvation—mirroring their own journey through incarceration and learning.
The keynote speech was delivered by Blair D. Castillon, Education Program Supervisor in EPP/TLE and Assistant Chief of the Curriculum Implementation Division. Drawing inspiration from the song and Mandela’s legacy, Castillon’s words resonated deeply:
“Like the song says, we all stumble, we all forget—but learning teaches us to trust again,” Castillon said. “ALS is about reaching into the dark and finding the light. For our PDL, education is the hand that pulls them out of isolation and into hope. Today, they’ve shown us that redemption begins when we choose to believe in their future.”
Why Mandela Day matters
Nelson Mandela International Day, celebrated annually on July 18, marks Mandela’s birthday and honors his 67 years of public service. The United Nations encourages people around the world to dedicate 67 minutes to helping others, symbolizing each year Mandela spent fighting for justice.
Mandela’s legacy is especially poignant in the context of prison education. In 2015, the UN expanded Mandela Day’s scope to highlight the importance of humane prison conditions, the inclusion of prisoners in society, and the critical role of prison staff. The ALS program at Iligan City Jail embodies these values, offering not just education but dignity, purpose, and a path forward.
“To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity,” Mandela once said. Today, Iligan City Jail answered that challenge with compassion and courage.
A future beyond bars
As the graduates returned to their dormitories, the message was clear: behind every locked door, there is a mind waiting to be opened. And in Iligan City Jail, education has become the key.
On this Mandela Day, the ALS completers, aside from certificates, also received a renewed sense of self-worth and a glimpse of a brighter future. Their journey echoes Mandela’s own: from confinement to liberation, from silence to voice, from darkness to light.
