SM Hotels & Conventions Corporation (SMHCC), through Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA and Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, is using hospitality training to help Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) gain industry-relevant skills and transition into employment.
Working with local governments, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Radisson Hotel Group, and other partners, SM Hotels is helping connect rehabilitation and skills development with real opportunities in the hospitality industry.
The initiative traces its roots to the Quezon City Government under Mayor Joy Belmonte, whose No Woman Left Behind and No Juan Left Behind programs provide PDLs with practical skills and preparation for their return to the workforce.
Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA began supporting the initiative in 2024 with Basic Housekeeping Skills Training for women PDLs at the Quezon City Jail Female Dormitory. In 2026, the program expanded to the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory through Basic Food and Beverage Operations Training.
For SM Hotels, however, training is only the beginning. Its impact is measured by whether graduates can apply their skills and secure meaningful employment after release.
One such success story is Severino Montallana II, the first hire of Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA under the No Juan Left Behind program. After completing Basic Food and Beverage Operations Training while at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory, Montallana regained his freedom and joined the hotel workforce.
He joins Marissa Basa, the first graduate of the hotel’s Basic Housekeeping Skills Training for women PDLs to secure employment at Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA 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,” said Reycie Gutierrez, General Manager of Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA.
The initiative is built on collaboration among the Quezon City Government, BJMP, SM Hotels, Radisson Hotel Group, Multi-Access Cooperative, and other training partners, demonstrating how public-private partnerships can connect rehabilitation with skills development and employment.
The model is now being extended beyond Quezon City.
At Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, a similar program is being conducted at the Cebu City Jail Female Dormitory in partnership with BJMP, TESDA, and other stakeholders. Under the Skills Behind Walls program, PDLs receive hands-on housekeeping training in a mock-up hotel room within the jail facility, with training aligned with hospitality industry standards.
The first Cebu batch produced 24 graduates, including Kimberly Cabahug, who secured employment as a public area attendant at Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu following her training.
“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.
The programs demonstrate how the hospitality industry can provide practical pathways for qualified PDLs to return to the workforce. Training in housekeeping, food and beverage, public areas, and other hotel functions can be directly aligned with actual operational requirements, giving graduates skills they can immediately apply.
For SMHCC, its nationwide portfolio of hotels provides an opportunity to bring the model to more destinations while allowing each program to respond to the needs of its local community and employment market.
“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,” said Peggy Angeles, Executive Vice President of SM Hotels & Conventions Corporation.
“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,” Angeles added.
From Quezon City to Cebu, SM Hotels is demonstrating how hospitality can become a platform for rehabilitation, skills development, and inclusive employment—turning training into practical opportunities for people ready to rebuild their lives.
