WORLD · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
UP Law School Unveils Mural by Former Inmates, Highlighting Rehabilitation Through Art
WHY IT MATTERS
It humanizes former inmates, demonstrates art’s role in rehabilitation, and reminds law students that the justice system affects real lives inside and outside prison walls.
What happened
On September 18, the UP College of Law presented the mural "Buyon," created by the Bagongbuhay Group of Artists (BAGA), a collective of former Persons Deprived of Liberty. The artwork, part of the UP Law Class of 2001’s 25th‑anniversary celebration, depicts the cramped shared bathing area inside a detention center, illustrating the daily routines and humanity of inmates.
BAGA, founded in 2021, uses art to give former prisoners a livelihood and to help current inmates cope with incarceration. Key artists include founder Joey de Leon, former inmate Danilo Faustino—who painted Lady Justice—and Leo Eroja, who shows how education and creativity persist behind bars.
The mural serves as a reminder to law students that justice extends beyond the courtroom.
PRIMARY SOURCES
These former inmates turn life behind bars into art
Rappler · Arabella Grace Sta Ana · Discovery only; publisher copyright terms apply
CORRECTIONS & UPDATES
- Revision 1 · Initial ingestion · Oct 3, 2026, 9:45 PM
- Revision 2 · Source update detected · Oct 3, 2026, 9:45 PM