SM Hotels & Conventions Corp. (SMHCC) is using hospitality training to help Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) build skills, find jobs, and prepare for reintegration into society.
The initiative, which began in Quezon City through the local government’s No Woman Left Behind and No Juan Left Behind programs, is now expanding to Cebu. It combines rehabilitation, TESDA-certified skills training, and private-sector employment to address a key challenge for PDLs after release, finding sustainable work.
At Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA, SMHCC launched housekeeping training for women PDLs in 2024. The program expanded to men in 2026 with training in food and beverage operations.
The program’s impact is measured not only by the number of trainees, but also by whether graduates move into actual employment.
Severino Montallana II became the hotel’s first hire under No Juan Left Behind after completing training at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory. Marissa Basa became the program’s first female graduate to secure employment at the hotel.
The initiative is also being implemented at Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu through its Skills Behind Walls program. Its first batch produced 24 graduates, including Kimberly Cabahug, who subsequently joined the hotel as a public area attendant.
“These stories remind us that rehabilitation becomes truly meaningful when it leads to a real opportunity beyond the walls,” said Park Inn General Manager Reycie Gutierrez.
SMHCC Executive Vice President Peggy Angeles said the program could be expanded to more cities through the company’s nationwide hotel network.
The initiative shows how partnerships among local governments, TESDA, rehabilitation facilities, and private companies can help PDLs turn training into employment.
For SMHCC, the goal extends beyond teaching hospitality skills. It is helping create a practical path from rehabilitation to work, independence, and reintegration.
