A Voice Once Silenced, Now Singing with Hope: Cielo Calderon’s Journey with PJPS Musikalayaan
October 21, 2026 | Third Day of Prison Awareness Week
For Cielo Calderon, a PJPS scholar alumna and member of PJPS Musikalayaan, these words tell a story of faith, courage, and transformation. Her journey is a reminder that when a young person is given the opportunity to grow and a community chooses to believe in them, even the quietest voice can find the courage to sing.
A Little Girl Who Found Her Voice
Cielo’s story with the Philippine Jesuit Prison Service Foundation, Inc. (PJPS) began in Grade 3, when she became a scholar. Back then, she was painfully shy, struggling to speak to others and express herself.
But PJPS saw a spark in her that she could not yet recognize.
In Grade 4, she joined the choir and experienced her first major performance at Benteng Salamat, PJPS’s 20th anniversary concert. Surrounded by music and the joy of performing, something changed within her. For the first time, she discovered the beauty of sharing her voice with others.
The following year, she joined the PJPS dance group. Through rehearsals and performances, she gradually grew more confident, learning to stand before others with her head held high.
Little by little, the girl who once struggled to speak began discovering the gifts within herself.
For Cielo, PJPS became more than a scholarship program. Through family formation activities, she strengthened her relationships with her loved ones and deepened her faith in the Lord. She was growing not only academically but also emotionally and spiritually.
When Life Became Difficult
Her journey, however, was not without pain.
During high school, Cielo experienced relentless bullying because of her weight and appearance. The confidence she had worked hard to build began to crumble, and she withdrew from the world, struggling to see her own worth.
Yet PJPS did not turn away.
Even when Cielo felt invisible, the people who accompanied her continued to recognize her potential. They invited her to leadership seminars, encouraging her to discover the leader she could become.
Her experience reminds us that sometimes, the most powerful thing we can offer another person is the assurance that their story does not end with their struggles.
When Cielo found it difficult to believe in herself, others continued believing in her.
Through their support, she began finding her way forward again.
A Song That Became a Prayer
Through every season of joy and difficulty, music remained Cielo’s sanctuary.
PJPS Musikalayaan gave her a place to sing, build friendships, express herself, and praise the Lord through music. She humbly acknowledges that she may not have the perfect voice, but the choir fulfilled her deepest wish: to sing freely and connect with people who helped her grow.
Musikalayaan is more than a choir. Composed of PJPS scholars, children of Persons Deprived of Liberty, it offers young people an opportunity to nurture their talents, strengthen their confidence, and share their stories through music.
Every performance reminds audiences that a family’s struggles do not define a child’s future. Beyond the challenges they face are young people with gifts, dreams, and the capacity to flourish when given the chance.
For Cielo, every song carries the memory of a community that stood beside her and the faith that sustained her along the way.
Living the Life She Once Prayed For
In July 2026, Cielo graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. Today, she is working as an IT professional.
From a shy Grade 3 student to a college graduate pursuing her profession, her journey reflects what education, encouragement, faith, and consistent accompaniment can help make possible.
Looking back, Cielo describes PJPS as the anchor that held her when she felt like drifting away.
“They believed in me until I was finally strong enough to believe in myself.”
These words capture the heart of the PJPS mission. True service means more than providing assistance. It means recognizing each person’s dignity, walking beside them through difficult seasons, and helping them discover the gifts and possibilities within themselves.
Cielo’s story is also a reminder that children affected by incarceration deserve opportunities to learn, grow, and dream without being defined by their family circumstances.
Help Hope Find Its Voice
On this third day of Prison Awareness Week, Cielo’s journey invites us to look beyond prison walls and recognize the dreams of children and families affected by incarceration.
Every scholarship represents more than financial assistance. It is an opportunity for a child to continue studying, discover a talent, strengthen family bonds, and build a future filled with possibility.
Yet many children still need someone to believe in them.
Through your generosity, PJPS can continue providing educational assistance, formation opportunities, and a community of support for children of Persons Deprived of Liberty. Your contribution can help another young person find their voice, discover their gifts, and pursue dreams that once seemed out of reach.
Cielo once had a future she could only pray for. Today, she is living it.
May her story inspire us to accompany more young people with compassion, recognize their inherent dignity, and believe in their potential even when they struggle to see it themselves.
Because sometimes, the greatest gift we can give is the belief that someone’s future can be brighter than their past.
Help more children find their voice and build their future. Support the PJPS Scholarship Program and Musikalayaan.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam. For the greater glory of God.
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