Horizon of Hope: Stories of Dignity and Transformation at the Likhalaya Arts and Crafts Fair
On October 04, 2026, Mary the Queen Parish Hall in San Juan City became more than a place for people to gather after Sunday Mass.
The Likhalaya Arts and Crafts Fair, under the program Horizon of Hope, brought together the PJPS community, volunteers, partners, parishioners, families, and friends in a celebration of creativity and transformation.
The day began with a community prayer led by Atty. Philip T. Gan, Executive Director of PJPS. Together with the PJPS staff, volunteers, and partners, the prayer offered the day to God. It reminded everyone of the heart of the ministry: that every person deserves to be seen, heard, welcomed, and given the opportunity to begin again.
As visitors arrived, they were welcomed by the warm smiles of PJPS staff and volunteers. Displayed throughout the fair were artworks and handicrafts lovingly created by Persons Deprived of Liberty and Persons Restored of Liberty.
Each piece carried more than creativity.
Each piece carried a story.
Behind every work of art was a person who continues to discover his or her capacity to create, to contribute, and to hope. Through Likhalaya, their talents are given a place to be seen, while their dignity is given a space to shine.
Outside the parish hall, the PJPS Ex-Preso team welcomed those attending the Sunday Mass with freshly prepared coffee. Their presence was a beautiful reminder that restoration is possible. People who have experienced life behind bars can become people who serve, work, welcome, and give back to others.
Inside the hall, Chef Jessie and her team generously shared their food with everyone. Their presence added warmth and joy to the gathering and reflected the spirit of partnership that makes moments like this possible.
At 2:30 in the afternoon, the community gathered for a short program led by Fr. Dom Bulan, SJ.
The atmosphere became even more meaningful when Musikalayaan took the stage.
Composed of PJPS scholars, the sons and daughters of Persons Deprived of Liberty, Musikalayaan filled the room with music and hope.
Guided by their music conductor, Marites Panaligan, with the support and guidance of Lourdes Levita, the young scholars showed that their circumstances do not have to define the limits of their dreams.
Their voices became a reminder that hope can be inherited, nurtured, and shared.
Among the stories shared that afternoon was that of Mark Domingo, a Person Restored of Liberty who is now working as a barista at Ex-Preso.
Mark spoke about how his life was changed through the help and accompaniment he received from PJPS.
His journey is a powerful reminder that transformation does not happen overnight. It happens when someone is given another chance. It happens when a person is accompanied instead of judged. It happens when communities choose to believe that a different future is possible.
Jerica, one of the PJPS scholars and a member of Musikalayaan, also shared her story.
She took the opportunity to express her gratitude to everyone who continues to support the ministry and the young people whose dreams are being nurtured through education and formation.
Her story reminds us that when we support one person, we often touch an entire family.
A child receives an education.
A parent is given renewed hope.
A family discovers new possibilities.
A community becomes more compassionate.
This is the horizon that Likhalaya invites us to see.
The fair was also made more meaningful by the continued support of those who visited and supported the Likhalaya Fair at Ateneo Rockwell on September 26, 2026. Their encouragement did not end with that gathering. They continued to walk with PJPS, helping carry forward a mission centered on dignity, compassion, restoration, and hope.
We are deeply grateful to Mary the Queen Parish for opening its doors and providing the venue for this meaningful gathering. We are equally grateful to Chef Jessie and her team, the PJPS Ex-Preso, Musikalayaan, our volunteers, partners, supporters, parishioners, families, and every person who stopped by, supported the artwork or handicraft, listened to a story, shared a smile, or simply chose to be present.
Because every act of support matters.
Every act of support can help sustain a livelihood.
Every scholarship can open a door.
Every word of encouragement can strengthen someone who is trying to begin again.
Every gesture of compassion can remind a person that they have not been forgotten.
Likhalaya is not simply an arts and crafts fair.
It is a celebration of what becomes possible when people are given opportunities to create, to learn, to work, to heal, and to hope.
It is a reminder that behind every label is a human being with a story.
And sometimes, all a person needs is someone willing to see beyond the past and believe in the possibility of a new beginning.
As we continue building a Horizon of Hope, we invite you to journey with us.
Support the mission of PJPS. Help provide opportunities for Persons Deprived of Liberty and Persons Restored of Liberty. Help children of PDLs pursue their education. Help create spaces where people can rediscover their dignity and build a future beyond confinement.
Together, we can continue turning stories of hardship into stories of hope.
Together, we can help make transformation possible.
Together, we can create a horizon where no one is forgotten and where every person is given the chance to begin again.
For every person who supported Likhalaya, visited our fair, shared our stories, prayed with us, and believed in this mission, thank you.
Your presence tells someone that their story matters.
Your generosity tells someone that their future matters.
And your compassion helps us continue the journey.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.
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