Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) at the Mamburao District Jail in Occidental Mindoro marked Valentine’s season by turning trash into crafts, as part of a skills and livelihood activity inside the facility.

BJMP officials said PDLs learned how to make fuzzy flower bouquets and handmade roses using used plastic bottles and other discarded materials. The activity aimed to build creativity, teach simple livelihood skills, and promote care for the environment.

BJMP MIMAROPA spokesperson Jail Officer 3 Joefrie Anglo said the program helps PDLs regain confidence and purpose despite being in detention.

“Behind bars, hope is never lost. Through creativity and skills-building, PDLs can transform not only discarded materials into art, but also their own lives —rediscovering dignity, purpose, and the chance for a new beginning,” Anglo said.

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology said activities like this support rehabilitation and prepare PDLs for life after release by giving them skills they can use to earn a living.

Officials added that the Valentine-themed activity also helped improve morale and strengthen a sense of community among PDLs inside the jail.