A former detainee in Oriental Mindoro has turned a difficult chapter of his life into a milestone achievement after becoming the first college graduate under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology’s (BJMP) “Education Behind Bars” program at Bansud District Jail, Oriental Mindoro..
French Ismael Forca-Guillan, who was previously detained at Bansud Jail in Oriental Mindoro, earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management degree while awaiting trial, eventually completing his course through online learning arrangements supported by jail authorities and partner institutions.
Now acquitted and free, Forca-Guillan said he completed his studies through determination, institutional support, and limited but structured access to online classes while in detention.
“I just graduated last May,” he said, recalling the four-year journey he began shortly after finishing senior high school in 2022.
He said he initially had no idea that college education inside the jail facility was possible until he requested permission to continue his studies, which was approved under the supervision of jail officials.
With approval from Bansud District Jail authorities, he was allowed to use a laptop and access learning materials, enabling him to attend online classes for several hours a day depending on his schedule inside the facility.
He studied at Pinamalayan Maritime Foundation and Technological College in Oriental Mindoro, choosing hospitality management in line with his long-term goal of working in the cruise industry.
Despite the challenges of studying inside detention, he described the experience as structured but difficult due to limited resources and the constraints of jail routines.
“There were times I had to go back inside after classes, but I continued,” he said.
Forca-Guillan also credited private supporters, who helped fund his tuition and educational needs after learning about his situation.
He said the program not only helped him complete his degree but also inspired other detainees in the facility to pursue basic and secondary education through partner schools and programs.
While he remains the only college-level participant in his facility’s education program, he said others have since enrolled in elementary and senior high school courses.
During detention, he shared living conditions with more than 300 persons deprived of liberty, with about 40 to 45 inmates per cell, though he said the environment remained orderly and non-violent.
Forca-Guillan has since taken the Penology Officer Examination, with results expected in July, as he explores career options in public service while still hoping to work in the cruise industry.
“My parents were very proud,” he said, reflecting on how education helped reshape his outlook despite his legal ordeal.
Now free, he says his journey is far from over, but his experience inside jail has become a foundation for rebuilding his future beyond it.