The University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (UPHSD)-Bilibid Extension School held its 34th commencement rites on Wednesday, September 20 at the College Building, Camp Sampaguita, Medium Security Compound, New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
This year’s graduation theme was “Wholistic Approach Towards Excellence and Resurgence.”
The graduates, who received four-year degrees and diploma courses inside the Collegiate Extension School, received their certificates from UPHSD President Dr. Anthony M. Tamayo and Vice Chair Dr. Daisy M. Tamayo.
Of the 57 graduates, 12 completed their full Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship degree, while 45 others finished their senior high school program inside the national penitentiary.
Associate Justice Karl Miranda, Senior Member of the Sixth Division of the Sandiganbayan, was the guest of honor and speaker, before the inmates, faculty, and relatives of the graduates.
“Reformation through education really helps you PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) to downgrade your sentence,“ Justice Miranda said in his speech.
“Ito ang magbibigay ng pag-asa sa mga hindi pa napasok dito sa eskwela, like this extension school here Bilibid. Hopefully more PDLs will enroll here and also more teachers will volunteer here,” he added.
More than 700 student-inmates have advanced from the extension school since it was established in 1985. Some who completed the program and were released from prison and now employed outside the NBP.
One of the graduates of the degree program of batch 2023, alias Jimmy, who was freed three months ago, thanked the program of both institutions.
“I was released in June 2023 at the same time as I graduated from Perpetual, I just came back today to attend graduation and now I’m working,” he said.
BGen/Dr. Antonio Tamayo, who is the chairman, chief executive officer, and founder of UPHSD, said the prison extension school is one of Perpetual’s corporate social responsibility programs together with the Mangyan Mission School in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro.
Usec. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., Director General of the Bureau of Corrections, was represented by Chief Superintendent Maria Fe Marquez, who gave the welcome address.