BY ALAND MIZELL
ENTERING the Social Entrepreneurship Technology and Business Institute (SETBI) and College Education Behind Bars facility within the Davao Prison and Penal Farm (Dapecol), it’s immediately apparent what the goal of this place is.
Emblazoned on the wall, it says, “Education is Freedom.” It was college graduation day for a handful of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), and they were in for an exciting commencement ceremony because they had an acclaimed actor and politician
Cesar Montano is giving a speech. Many thought it was only a rumor, but Mr. Montano entered the facility that day, silencing any doubt about his presence.
Once within those particular walls, a group of PDL students was waiting on the second floor of the building. When Mr. Montano stepped out of the car, there were cheers, naturally. There was an immediate camaraderie between him and the group, trading greetings and remarks. Mr. Montano was quite comfortable and showed no prejudice against them, treating them like anyone else he met.
Another notable person in this group was Pastor Gary Galvas, the person who was going to introduce Mr. Montano as a speaker. Pastor Galvas, a former PDL himself, was jovial and cordial with the PDLs, mildly joking around with them as the group entered the building.
Later on, before leaving at the end of the ceremony, Pastor Galvas commented that the program felt “completely supported and really organized.” Furthermore, he said that the program SETBI provided gave PDLs a sense of purpose, more than anything else. This was made more evident as the ceremony started and progressed.
Cesar Montano gave a spectacular and thoughtful speech, all the while keeping it light with his natural humor. He spoke about the good that this program was doing, not only to the individuals graduating and still on the way to graduating, but also to the country at large. He expressed that our country was in dire need of healing. This program was the first step to that.
He commended Dr. Aland Mizell and Atty. Susan Cariaga, as well as the various staff and teachers involved, made this program what it was. On top of that, he commended the graduates for reaching their current goal. Towards the end, he led the attendees, including and especially the PDLs in the audience, in a prayer that praised the Lord, asked for forgiveness, offered forgiveness to others, and, finally, promised to serve the Lord moving forward. This was soon followed by the awarding of the diplomas.
It was a short procession, with only six graduates, but monumental nonetheless. A couple of these graduates had family members walk them up the stage to accept their diplomas. Afterwards, one of the graduates, Rodolfo Tubio, went up on stage and shared his story. He started it off by saying, “A judge gave me a life sentence. SETBI gave me a life contract.”
What followed was a touching story of regret, perseverance, and hope. Mr. Tubio earned a life sentence for selling drugs, but with the help of the College Education Behind Bars program and SETBI, not only did he earn a college degree, he earned his freedom, becoming the first person to be released from Davao del Norte Davao Penal Colony under RA9165. The speech was met with resounding applause from everyone in the audience, and later, one of the teachers would say that she had started shedding tears as Mr. Tubio spoke on stage.
When the ceremony was done, the fun wasn’t over. Naturally, with a very important speaker in the midst, everyone wanted to take a picture. Mr. Montano even encouraged it, requesting the PDLs, who were separated from the audience at the time, to join them in the picture taking. This was met with no resistance from the officers.
Everyone was all smiles as various groups took pictures in front of the stage with the speakers and the leaders of this program.
Before Mr. Montano departed for the day, he sat down for a brief interview to comment on what had happened today. He expressed that this program was a “great blessing,” and he prayed that this sort of program would multiply to other penal colonies and other jails to help PDLs move forward.
Truly, this was the goal of SETBI and College Education Behind Bars: to set an example for all the world, not only this country, to see. That despite mistakes and hardships, there was always a hope for the future. That PDLs deserve a chance and
forgiveness as much as anyone else who wasn’t incarcerated. Education led to freedom; it was as plain as day in the graduates and the students who were on their way. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that everyone in that community was doing the right thing.
