Every dawn brings a quiet promise. No matter how dark the previous night was, the canvas of tomorrow arrives blank,waiting to be rewritten. For those starting over, true transformation requires more than just a second chance. It demands an open door and a tangible path forward.
That promise of a fresh start is taking tangible shape through an innovative initiative by SM Hotels & Conventions Corporation (SMHCC). By bringing specialized hospitality training to Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) across properties like Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA and Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu. SMHCC is bridging the gap between incarceration and opportunity.
In partnership with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), TESDA, Radisson Hotel Group, and local government units. This movement turns skills acquisition into actual employment. With the right support, every story can find a powerful, dignified second chapter.
Roots in Quezon City
This nationwide initiative originated in the Quezon City Government under Mayor Joy Belmonte. Her No Woman Left Behind and No Juan Left Behind programs provide PDLs with practical training to prepare them for reentering the workforce. SM Hotels supported these measures by contributing its hospitality expertise and facility access. Allowing qualified graduates to apply their skills in a live hotel environment.
In 2024, Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA introduced Basic Housekeeping Skills Training for women at the Quezon City Jail Female Dormitory. The initiative expanded in 2026 to the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory. With Basic Food and Beverage Operations Training, delivering operational instruction tailored to industry standards for both men and women.
Turning Training into Real-World Careers
For SM Hotels, the core measure of success lies in whether graduates can convert their training into gainful employment. Recently, Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA hired Severino Montallana II. The first graduate employed through the No Juan Left Behind program.
Montallana completed his Basic Food and Beverage Operations Training while detained at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory. Before securing his freedom and joining the hotel workforce, he joins Marissa Basa. The first female graduate of the hotel’s Basic Housekeeping Skills Training to gain employment at the property following her release.
The stories of Marissa and Severino remind us that rehabilitation becomes truly meaningful when it leads to a real opportunity beyond the walls. We are proud to be part of a program that gives people the chance to move forward with dignity and purpose,” stated Reycie Gutierrez, General Manager of Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA.
This initiative relies on joint efforts among the Quezon City Government, BJMP, SM Hotels, Radisson Hotel Group, Multi-Access Cooperative, and participating training partners. Establishing a practical model that connects rehabilitation with career opportunities.
Expanding the Framework to Cebu
The operational framework has expanded beyond Quezon City to another SMHCC destination. At Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, a parallel hospitality program operates at the Cebu City Jail Female Dormitory in coordination with BJMP, TESDA, and local partners.
Through the Skills Behind Walls program, participants complete hands-on housekeeping instruction within a mock hotel room constructed inside the detention facility to meet hospitality standards. The initial Cebu cohort graduated 24 participants. Including Kimberly Cabahug, who secured a position as a public area attendant at Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu.
This is not just about giving a job. More importantly, it is about giving people the skills, confidence, and opportunity to rebuild their lives and become productive members of society,” said Ann Olalo, General Manager of Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, emphasizing how stable jobs assist former PDLs during community reintegration.
A Scalable National Model
The initiatives in Quezon City and Cebu highlight how SM Hotels leverages its venues, operational resources, and industry knowledge to offer job-ready training. Because hotel operations require trained staff across housekeeping, food and beverage, public area maintenance, and kitchen divisions. The industry offers a direct avenue for qualified PDLs to enter the workforce.
This model can be adapted by other municipalities according to local demands. With available training resources, and labor requirements. The core framework focuses on teaching industry-relevant skills. Delivering practical experience, and guiding graduates into jobs.
With a portfolio spanning major destinations, SMHCC utilizes its footprint to scale this advocacy across new regions alongside local governments, BJMP, TESDA, and corporate partners.
Mayor Joy Belmonte started this effort with a clear vision of leaving no one behind, and it has now grown into an advocacy with the potential to reach more cities across the country,” stated SM Hotels & Conventions Corporation Executive Vice President Peggy Angeles.
As one of the country’s leading hospitality groups with a nationwide footprint, SM Hotels is in a unique position to help turn this vision into reality by bringing together our properties, partners, and stakeholders to help more PDLs gain skills, find meaningful work, and move forward.”
By applying its commercial capabilities outside standard operations, SM Hotels continues to convert vocational instruction into tangible employment for former PDLs. Demonstrating how hospitality can foster inclusive workforce development.
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