02/08/2025
From Confinement to Compassion: BPSU-CEBB Midwifery Students Recognized in Marilao
In an event that brought tears, pride, and hope to all those in attendance, the Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU), through its pioneering College Education Behind Bars (CEBB) initiative, held the Midwifery Completion and Recognition Ceremony on July 25, 2025, at the Marilao Municipal Jail, Bulacan. With the theme “Empowering Hands, Compassionate Hearts: Embracing the Calling of Midwifery,” the occasion stood as a remarkable testament to how education can transform not only minds but also destinies.
The day began with a solemn Thanksgiving Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Romulo M. Perez, setting a reflective tone for the milestone. The formal procession of the graduates and the dignitaries followed, with an air of solemnity and purpose—each step representing a journey of courage, change, and relentless hope.
The university was well-represented by a powerhouse of leadership and compassion. Present were BPSU President and Health Beyond Bars (HBB) Project Leader Dr. Ruby B. Santos-Matibag, VP for Research, Extension, and Technology Transfer and CEBB Project Leader Prof. Monica B. Tanchiatco-Hipolito, VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Lara Velasco-Dela Cruz, and School of Midwifery Dean Dr. Christian Jay S. Orte. Also in attendance were RLE Coordinator Prof. Aiza Lyn D. Pagilagan, SOM Cluster Head Prof. Ruth Banzon, University Registrar Mr. Ferdinand M. Santos, and CEBB Extension Head Prof. Ma. Theresa D. Morales—each of whom played a vital role in sustaining the heartbeat of the CEBB program.
President Dr. Ruby Matibag, in a moving and inspiring address, highlighted the historical importance of Marilao as one of the roots of the CEBB initiative. She reminded the graduates that BPSU’s Midwifery program stands proudly as the top-ranked in the country—a testament not only to academic excellence but to the human capacity to transform pain into purpose. Her words resonated deeply: “You may be confined by walls, but your minds and hearts have been set free by learning. You are proof that compassion, once ignited, cannot be caged.”
The event’s guest speaker, JSUPT John Paul DG. Borlongan, MD, MPA, Medical Division Chief of BJMP, delivered one of the most heartfelt speeches of the day. He emphasized that education is one of the strongest antidotes to cycles of crime, despair, and marginalization. His words—filled with empathy and belief in second chances—brought tears to both the audience and the students.
