Nueva Vizcaya — Inside the walls of the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Jail, a powerful shift unfolded during HLAF’s most recent Paralegal Aide Training—a training that not only imparted legal knowledge but also restored dignity and strengthened the voices of those often left unheard.
The training focused on modes of release for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs). For participants, it wasn’t just about learning the law—it was about reclaiming agency, confidence, and the hope of freedom.
“Before this, I thought only lawyers could understand these processes,” said Jose (name changed for privacy), one of the trainees. “Now I feel that I can read my papers, ask the right questions, and maybe even help my fellow PDLs.”
Empowering Peer Educators Behind Bars
The heart of HLAF’s Jail Decongestion Program lies in the belief that legal empowerment can start from within. Through the Paralegal Aide Training, participants were equipped not only with legal knowledge but also with the confidence to serve as peer educators for others inside the jail.
Maria, a female PDL who joined the sessions, shared:
“Sometimes we feel lost when it comes to our cases. With this training, we can guide each other instead of just waiting. It gives us strength knowing we are not powerless.”
By building a network of PDL-paralegals, HLAF ensures that legal literacy doesn’t stop with one person—it multiplies, creating ripples of empowerment across the detention facility.
Warmth, Support, and a Handcrafted Gift
The success of the training was made possible by the openness and collaboration of the facility. HLAF was warmly welcomed by Provincial Warden SFO4 Carmelo B. Andrada (Ret.), jail officers, paralegals, and staff, whose commitment to humane treatment reinforced the program’s impact.
In a deeply touching gesture, HLAF received a beautifully handcrafted wooden clock, made by the PDLs themselves. The gift symbolized more than time—it was a reminder of patience, perseverance, and the belief that transformation is possible.
“This clock is our way of saying thank you,” shared one of the PDL artisans. “You gave us your time, and in return, we want to give something made with ours.”
In exchange, HLAF presented the facility with a token of appreciation and distributed copies of the Mandela Rules and Bangkok Rules handbooks, reaffirming a shared commitment to humane treatment and the rights of persons in custody.
Toward a Future of Justice and Second Chances
The Paralegal Aide Training in Nueva Vizcaya is more than a one-time event—it is part of a larger movement by HLAF to reduce jail congestion, protect due process, and promote restorative justice. By equipping PDLs with knowledge and skills, HLAF lays the groundwork for reintegration, rehabilitation, and second chances.
“Our goal is not only to decongest jails, but to empower people,” said an HLAF program officer. “When PDLs learn to understand their rights and advocate for themselves, they are no longer just cases in a system—they become individuals with dignity, agency, and hope.”
As the day closed, the handcrafted wooden clock remained as a symbol of gratitude and resilience—marking time not as wasted years behind bars, but as moments of learning, growth, and the possibility of renewal.
For HLAF and its partners, every tick of that clock is a reminder: justice delayed must not mean justice denied—and every person deserves the chance to turn their time into transformation.
