Cape Town, South Africa  — April 2026

At the invitation of Dr. Baz, founder of the International Network of Justice Innovation (INN), Attorney Susan Cariaga, Vice President of SETBI College Education Behind Bars, and fellow delegates traveled to Cape Town to participate in a landmark moment in global justice reform.The delegation attended the United Nations–affiliated Global Convening on Justice Innovation, held from April 14–16 in partnership with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The three-day gathering brought together 34 consultants from 19 countries working across reintegration, education behind bars, community safety, restorative justice, and legal empowerment.The convening opened at the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, followed by a powerful assembly at St. George’s Cathedral—known as “The People’s Cathedral,” a historic site of resistance against apartheid and home to Desmond Tutu. Opening remarks were delivered by Verna Harris of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Abigail Noko of the UN Human Rights Office, and JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security for the City of Cape Town.The event also marked the launch of a new international consulting agency led by formerly incarcerated experts—an initiative committed to transforming justice systems worldwide. The convening united policymakers, donors, NGOs, and academic leaders to advance more humane and effective approaches to justice reform.Dr. Baz led a panel featuring global consultants, including Jazz Singh, Joel Caston, Franco Ruz, Dandara Zainab, and James Leonard, who emphasized a shared truth: college education in prison is not only a response to systemic injustice, but also a foundation for meaningful change rooted in lived experience.The third day, held inside Brandvlei Correctional Centre, embodied INN’s motto: “Education, Not Incarceration.” The visit served as a powerful reminder that second chances can redefine lives. For many incarcerated individuals, prison becomes a place not only of accountability, but also of reflection, education, and rebuilding. Continue reading →

Shaira Ocariza Arida has been selected for the 2026 MCI Student Exchange Program and will participate in a four-month structured internship program in Greenville through an authorized international sponsor.During her stay in Texas, MCI will shoulder her expenses as part of the institution’s commitment to supporting global learning opportunities for its students.Throughout the internship, Arida will gain supervised hands-on experience in hospitality operations, client services, administrative support, and cross-cultural engagement. The program is directly aligned with her academic studies and is designed to strengthen her professional development through practical international exposure.After completing the internship, Arida will return to the Philippines to continue and finish her degree. The international internship experience is expected to enhance her competitiveness in the job market and add valuable global experience to her resume.MCI officials expressed confidence that the program will further develop Arida’s skills, broaden her cultural understanding, and prepare her for future career opportunities in the hospitality and service industries. Continue reading →

From Dream to Purpose: My first journey to South Africa

EDUKAMPYON – Popoy De Vera – The Philippine Star

Our justice system is notoriously slow. For the poor, justice delayed is definitely justice denied.Noted criminologist Prof. Raymund Narag said it takes two to three months for a person deprived of liberty (PDL) to be arraigned, and three to six years for the case to be finalized. A PDL is lucky to have four hearings in a year, but usually only one gets done. As a result, most PDLs plead guilty to a lesser offense.Our prisons are overcrowded and unsafe, making them unfit for teaching and learning. They fail to educate, rehabilitate, or transform lives.So how do we fix a broken system?One answer began in 2016 when two intrepid champions of penal reform launched the College Education Behind Bars (CEBB) in Davao City.Dr. Aland Mizell and Atty. Susan Cariaga established the first CEBB program in the Philippines, which I believe is also the first in Asia. They co-founded the Social Entrepreneurship Technology and Business Institute (SETBI) and, in partnership with the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), launched and equipped the first CEBB campus at the Davao City Jail.When I learned about their pioneering effort, I immediately pledged my support. I joined Honeylet Avanceña in opening this program at the Davao City Jail.The concept of CEBB isn’t new. It was designed to lower recidivism and make better use of time spent in jails and prisons.Without support, PDLs return to the same conditions that led to their arrest.Many universities, private groups and government agencies have education programs in jails across the country.But CEBB is innovative and one-of-a-kind. Continue reading →

By Shaira Ardia 

Clear vision is essential not only for health bualso for quality of life and productivity. In the Philippines, the eyeglasses market faces challenges such as limited manufacturing capacity, uneven distribution between urban and rural areas, and high prices that make basic vision correction unaffordable for many.In a crucial role, civil society organizations can leverage innovative models to deliver affordable and accessible eye care, often filling the gaps left by public sector efforts. To fill a gap in various communities, Minority Care International (MCI) has dispensed thousands of reading eye glasses in fourteen distributions, including to the Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL) in the Davao Penal and Prison Farm (DaPeCol). Recognizing the profound impact MCI’s Restoring Vision annual eye care projects have had on individuals’ lives, we performed more than 290 eye check-ups and dispensed more than 200  reading glasses to the Cebuano Barangay in South Cotabato. Dr. Audrey Kim Delin and her husband Dr. Lendl Sam Delin joined us as hospital volunteers to conduct eye exams, having labeled all lens strengths before the distribution. Also, to further serve community needs, Nurse Andrea and 4th year Medtech student Yakup Celik conducted free blood pressure screening for the eye care donees. According to one recipient, he appreciated MCI’s community outreach project because eye checks and glasses are very expensive with the consequence that most do not have glasses and, thus, have untreated problems. Through this service MCI scholars continue to learn to give back to their community. Social work former MCI scholar Theresa Adil and Mary Rose also came to extended their for distribution of eye glasses.  MCI scholarship beneficiary currently studying tourism at the University of Mindanao in her second year, Shaira Arida is from Cebua no Barangay South Cotabato. Even as a student, she organized the MCI eye care event with her Barangay SK officials to extend the MCI eye care project to her community. Shaira gave an opening message before the distribution. Continue reading →

Rhea Bebero Caserva, fondly known as Yang or Lang in her neighborhood and as Rhea or Ate Rhea within MCI, was born on November 6, 2003, in Poblacion, Loreto, Agusan del Sur. She spent most of her childhood in Barangay Basa, Trento, Agusan del Sur. Her family frequently moved from place to place because of her father’s work, which prevented them from having a permanent home. Rhea is the youngest of six siblings and grew up in a close-knit family. Rhea is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Mindanao (UM), where she dreams of becoming a registered nurse and traveling around the world. Despite coming from a modest background, Rhea remained committed to her education. She walked long distances to school, often taking 20 to 25 minutes, and remained active in academic and extracurricular activities. Although it was tiring, her parents always reminded her that “life in the countryside is hard without a degree,” which kept her motivated to study. An introvert by nature, she preferred spending her time playing chess, studying, and helping her classmates. Mathematics and Science became her favorite subjects, and school became a place where she felt inspired, motivated, and supported. School played an important role in shaping her character, as it was where she learned, grew, and developed a strong sense of belonging. Continue reading →

Some stories are not just about where a person was born or how they grew up. Some stories are about transformation, about falling, learning, losing, and rising again. The life of Arlyn Casipe, lovingly known as “Ate Ar” in her MCI family, is one of those stories.Arlyn was born on September 21, 2001, in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat. As the youngest among five children, she grew up surrounded by the love and protection of her parents and older siblings. Life in Kalamansig was sim. She became stubborn and disobedient at times, making decisions that did not honor her family. Deep inside, she knew she was not living the life she was meant to live, but she did not know how to change. She felt lost, pressured, and unsure of her direction. In August 2020, during the height of the pandemic, a time when the world itself seemed uncertain, Arlyn entered MCI as a scholar. What seemed like a simple decision became the turning point of her life. Entering MCI was not easy for her. The transition required discipline, humility, and the willingness to accept correction. She struggled at first. There were moments of self-doubt, and emotional battles. But MCI did not give up on her. Through the guidance of her mentor Dr. Aland Mizell, she slowly began to see herself differently. She learned that her past mistakes did not define her future. One principle that deeply impacted her, taught by her mentor, was: “No matter how hard the past is, you can always begin again.” That truth became her principle. Instead of being ashamed of her past, she began to learn from it. Instead of running from responsibility, she started embracing it. MCI became her place of renewal. It reshaped her character, strengthened her discipline, and restored her confidence. She learned accountability, leadership, and service. The program did not just educate her academically; it transformed her mindset and her heart. Continue reading →

Last week, I highlighted an excellent initiative happening in the Davao area – the College Education Behind Bars (CEBB). Dr. Aland Mizell and Atty. Susan Cariaga from the Social Entrepreneurship Technology and Business Institute worked with public universities and government agencies to create the CEBB at the Davao City Jail and the Davao Prison and Penal Farm. The CEBB experience demonstrates that while justice holds individuals accountable, it must also enable them to change. It requires responsibility for misconduct but also trusts in a person’s ability to start anew.There is a champion for penal reform in the judiciary – Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl B. Miranda, who has dedicated himself quietly, away from the spotlight, to penal reform ever since he was with the Office of the Solicitor General. Karl Miranda and I served in the office of senator Nene Pimentel from the 11th to the 12th Congresses, often called “mga anak ni Tatay Nene” (children of Nene Pimentel), because we worked alongside him and aimed to emulate one of the few incorruptible national leaders. I was a professor at UP NCPAG, while he was on detail from the Office of the Solicitor General to the Blue Ribbon committee during this period. Continue reading →

Happy Founding Anniversary to DPPF with the strong leadership of Acting Superintendent Edgardo Flores Mendoza Jr, the officers, and Staff of DAPECOL!  Under the directorship of Director General Gregorio Catapang . Your dedication to the reformation total transformation and support SETBI College Education Behind Bars  and rehabilitation of PDLs is an inspiration. May this 2026 celebration strengthen your commitment to service and public safety.

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I hope this message finds you and your family healthy and safe. As we bring 2025 to a close , my heart is filled with deep gratitude for the shared experiences and connections that have enriched us. Every moment, every encounter, has left an indelible mark, and each individual has contributed to a collective triumph that we will cherish. The resolute determination of our PDL students, the selfless dedication of our team, the generosity of our benefactors, and the collaboration of government representatives, Bureau of Correction Leadership  have all been instrumental to the accomplishments we celebrate. Together, we have reached heights that honor God’s purpose in our lives. As we look toward 2026, I urge us to continue with the same fervor and commitment to God  that has guided us thus far.  Prisons and jails  are some of the darkest places on the earth. We are the light and we carry the Light which brings life , grace, redemtion and restoration to prisoners and their families, their children.lives can transformed by perspective, understanding, and generosity. We are seeing great cultural shift in jails and prisons accros the Philippines, and we are continuing to expand on the founder vision of restoration today. We are reframing thenational  international  conversation through ourt 4^th anunal confrences on higher education inside prison and jails, and advocation for justice system that refelct every Person’s has internal values and God’s given dignity. I believe many of tomorrow’s leaders are at the SETBI right now for a great purpose. SETBI is paving patways to tranformation, equipping the leaders, prepare community , raise a voice for justice that restores  and igniting hope I this generation of culture changers. God continues to transform the hearts and soul of men and women in programs like the SETBI/ MCI . infact , we now have more than 25 universities replicate the SETBI College Education Behind Bars in 11 regions. The numbers are encouraging, but they are not nearly as powerful as the personal stroies behind those numbers. The most of new year’s resolutions are short lived, and may of these resolutions end up being temporary chnages rather permanent changes. Our SETBI graduates, however, are quipted with life changing values that set them on a lasting trajectory with hope and purpose. Continue reading →