By Xander Ledesma
Cebu Technological University (CTU)-Danao Campus held an art exhibit on Sunday, November 10, at its main campus, featuring handmade bags and bonsai decorations crafted by Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL). Organized in partnership with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the exhibit showcased the creative talents of incarcerated individuals and aimed to promote rehabilitation.
The exhibit displayed a range of items, including intricately painted bags and cultivated bonsai trees, all produced by detainees from Danao City Jail. Visitors viewed the colorful bags, each crafted from different materials and reflecting the skills of their creators, while the bonsai trees represented the patience developed through these programs.
This event is part of a broader initiative to provide vocational training and rehabilitation within Philippine correctional facilities. Through partnerships with institutions like CTU-Danao, these programs aim to equip detainees with skills to support their reintegration into society.
Under the guidance of CTU-Danao and in cooperation with BJMP, the university has incorporated educational initiatives for incarcerated individuals. The event was the result of months of training and collaboration between the university, local authorities, and the PDL community.
The CTU-Danao and BJMP partnership is part of a national effort to employ education, vocational training, and art as tools for rehabilitation. By providing skills such as bag-making, painting, and bonsai cultivation, the program aims to support detainees’ transition back into society.
The exhibit underscored a shift toward rehabilitative practices within the Philippine justice system. According to BJMP, involving detainees in constructive activities like art and vocational training helps to lower recidivism rates and improve the mental and emotional well-being of inmates. For many, art offers a way to process past experiences and develop new perspectives as they prepare for reintegration.