Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. expressed his gratitude to the Supreme Court for its all-out support given to persons deprived of liberty by providing them the platform to showcase their talents in painting.

The SC under Chief Justice Alexander Germundo held a Valentine’s art exhibit and sale entitled “Mga Pinta ng Pag-asa Mula sa Puso ng mga PDL” last February.

The exhibit featured 116 paintings, the artistic products of PDLs from the Kulay Group of Artists, Maximum Security Compound; School of Fine Arts, Education and Training Section, Medium Security Compound; and Work and Livelihood Section, Medium Security Compound of the New Bilibid Prison.

Catapang also thanked Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez who spearheaded the project and selected the art pieces for exhibition and whose office has been tasked with organizing and curating the artworks.

The SC turned over to PDLs a total amount of P653,500 as proceeds from the sale of 100 paintings showcased during the SC art exhibit and sale. The paintings in oil and acrylic covered a variety of subjects and were displayed in the SC lobby from 13 to 16 February.

“Napakalaking bagay nyan para sa ating mga PDL dahil ang perang pinagbilhan ng kanilang paintings ay makakatulong ng malaki sa  kani-kanilang pamilya at bukod dyan yun kanilang ginagawa ay nakakatulong para maiexpress nila ang kanilang sarili sa pamamagitan ng pagpipinta na sya namang nagiging parte ng kanilang reformation,” ("It huge opportunity for our PDLs because the money bought from their paintings will help their families a lot and besides that what they do helps them to express themselves through painting which in turn becomes part of their reformation,") Catapang said. 

Of the 116 paintings of PDLs, 38 were done from the Maximum Security Compound and 78  from the Medium Security Compound.

To recall, SC was also the driving force behind the Justice Sector Coordinating Council that spearheaded the National Decongestion Summit last December attended by the three branches of the government - the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judiciary to unravel solutions to jail and prison overcrowding.