Bukas Loob Tungo sa Bagong Pag-Asa Batch 2 Concludes: Empowering Second Chances Through Community and Hope

For many persons restored of liberty (PRLs), freedom marks not the end of a journey, but the beginning of a difficult path toward rebuilding life, restoring relationships, and reclaiming dignity. Through its Better Versions Initiative, the Prisoners Enhancement and Support Organization, Inc. (PRESO, Inc.) continues to walk alongside these individuals through Bukas Loob Tungo sa Bagong Pag-Asa: a reintegration program rooted in compassion, empowerment, and second chances.

Last April 28, 2026, PRESO, Inc. successfully concluded the five-day empowerment sessions for the program’s second batch, attended by ten participants and held at the Centro Divino Building in Quezon City. Made possible through the support of Megaworld Foundation and other committed partners and volunteers, the program provided participants with holistic formation sessions designed to strengthen both practical life skills and personal transformation.

The journey began on March 11 with opening remarks from Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento, President of PRESO, Inc., who reminded participants that reintegration requires not only opportunities, but communities willing to believe in redemption. Former Person Deprived of Liberty (PDL) Mike Bartolome of the CBCP-ECPPC shared his life story and lessons from incarceration and recovery, offering participants a powerful testimony that change is possible. Rev. Fr. Bok Arandia of the Philippine Jesuit Prison Service (PJPS) then led a motivational session focused on mindset transformation and finding purpose beyond one’s past.

On March 19, participants received training on basic financial literacy through Carlo Capacillo of JCI Manila and SparkPH. The session equipped them with practical knowledge on budgeting, saving, and responsible financial decision-making, essential tools for stability and independence after incarceration.

The third session, held on April 9, focused on entrepreneurship and small business development. Facilitated by Enro Mendoza of JCI Manila and SparkPH, participants explored ways to transform their skills, interests, and experiences into sustainable livelihood opportunities. For many, the session opened doors to possibilities they had never imagined for themselves.

On April 17, Sr. Tammy Saberon of the Missionary Sisters of St. Columban led deeply reflective formation sessions entitled “From the Womb to the Tomb” and “The Power to Change.” Through personal reflection and dialogue, participants were encouraged to confront their past wounds, rediscover their worth, and embrace the belief that transformation remains possible at every stage of life.

The program culminated on April 28 with a session on the importance of family support led by Marlon Manaol of the Knights of Columbus and Treasurer of PRESO, Inc. Participants also presented their microbusiness proposals, concrete plans born from weeks of learning, reflection, and renewed determination. Their presentations reflected not only entrepreneurial ideas, but stories of resilience, accountability, and hope for a better future.

More than a training program, Bukas Loob Tungo sa Bagong Pag-Asa has become a space where individuals once defined by incarceration are reminded that they remain capable of growth, contribution, and leadership. Across five sessions, participants gained more than technical knowledge; they found encouragement, community, and the confidence to begin again.

Yet the journey toward reintegration does not end with graduation. Many PRLs continue to face overwhelming barriers after release—including unemployment, stigma, unstable housing, and limited access to livelihood opportunities. Sustained support remains essential to ensure that the progress made during the program translates into long-term transformation.

PRESO, Inc. therefore calls on partners, organizations, faith communities, and individuals to continue supporting future batches of Bukas Loob Tungo sa Bagong Pag-Asa and to help provide reintegration opportunities for participants as they rebuild their lives. Whether through livelihood assistance, mentoring, employment opportunities, or financial support, every act of solidarity helps turn second chances into lasting change.

As PRESO continues its mission of restorative justice and community reintegration, one truth becomes increasingly clear: when society chooses to open its heart, hope becomes stronger than stigma, and new beginnings become possible.