Mindanao Times Features Article on SETBI's Conference on Transformative Education

A contributing editor for The Mindanao Times recently published an in depth analysis of the conference. Reflecting on the event, Lynnyth Aguilar, an Minority Care International scholar who just returned from the US Embassy's Summer Work and Study Program working in a law office in Texas and learning the US culture, opens, "I had the privilege of joining the SETBI ‘s 4th International Conference on Persons Deprived of Liberty’s (PDL) Transformative Education for Successful Re-entry in Panabo, Davao del Norte State College, held from Oct. 9 to 11, 2025."

The article quotes from Mizell's opening remarks, “When you punish somebody, there must be something about rehabilitation, second chances, and that is the true purpose of the SETBI’s college Education Behind Bars.”

Also, Professor Emma Hughes, a Criminal Justice Professor from California State University, Fresno, "shared her experience with similar programs in the United States, such as her initiative 'Project Rebound,' which supports formerly incarcerated students in reintegrating into academic life." Besides other academic and government leaders offering their insights, two CEBB graduates, returning to their communities upon release, spoke on the program's transformative effect on their lives and their restoration to their families and the workplace.

Having done the research, Aguilar comments that in the wake of the highly successful College Education Behind Bars (CEBB), several colleges have replicated the program, aiming to offer second chances to the incarcerated through college degrees and rehabilitation. However, many other entities are jumping on the bandwagon ostensibly to seize ownership and thus to gain credit for the stellar initiative. Lynnyth skillfully refutes their claim, explaining the disservice they do to the program and to the founder, Dr. Aland Mizell. She explains, "The failure to give proper credit to an individual who has dedicated years of effort, time, and compassion to establishing such a transformative program is both disheartening and unjust. Acknowledgment transcends mere recognition; it embodies respect, integrity, and fairness."

She elaborates, "When others neglect to recognize the original founder of an initiative, it compromises the authenticity of their advocacy and calls into question the sincerity of their intentions. True advocacy must be anchored in honesty, humility, and gratitude—particularly when its aim is to promote human dignity and social rehabilitation. Hence, recognizing the vision and dedication of the true pioneer is not simply a gesture of courtesy but a moral obligation. Genuine and lasting change begins with respect, and extending due credit to the rightful originator affirms both truth and ethical integrity."

The article adds,"However, on the second day, one unforgettable and unexpected event happened during the conference—a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Davao Oriental, which was strongly felt in Davao del Norte while the sessions were ongoing."