Dr. Bernadeth Gabor: “We should not condemn those who are in jail”

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – “Many of those in jail are hopeful that there will be life after detention. We need to accept and support them”, said Dr. Bernadeth Gabor, Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) Dean of College of Technology, one of the four honorees of this year’s “The Many Faces of the Teacher” national campaign, an initiative of Bato Balani Foundation and Diwa Learning Systems that pays homage to educators whose exceptional deeds transform students and communities.

Gabor was chosen for helping inmates at Bataan District Jail establishing TESDA-accredited training courses as volunteer instructor since 2010.

She first taught bread and pastry production 7 years ago and expanded as years go by with trainings in food and beverage services, housekeeping, rescue and first aid, automotive, welding, and refrigeration, among others.

Dubbed “Hope Behind Bars”, it is now a full-blown program with about 50 fellow volunteer- educators providing inmates skills trainings.

Many former inmates who underwent training already returned to the society and currently working are helping back the program. “They are returning and helping me with the project. This is really very inspiring”, she said.

“We should not condemn those who are in jail. We should support them so that they could become productive citizens again” she said.