The Philippine Jesuit Prison Service (PJPS) recognises that the journey of incarceration does not end at release. For many Persons Restored of Liberty (PRLs), stepping out of prison marks not the beginning of freedom but the start of a new struggle. They carry wounds, fear, stigma, and uncertainty, often wondering how to begin again and whether society will allow it.

It is within this reality that Ex-Preso: Your Fresh Start was born.

The initiative traces its roots to a moment of grace in 2024, when Fr Greg Boyle SJ, founder of Homeboy Industries, visited Manila. His witness in accompanying former gang members towards healing and reintegration in the US resonated deeply with PJPS. It prompted a sincere question within the community: how can individuals released from prison truly begin again and rebuild their lives?

Through reflection, it became clear that livelihood alone would not suffice. What PRLs needed was not only work but also accompaniment through healing, reintegration, and belonging. In one conversation, a friend casually suggested starting a coffee enterprise called “Ex-Preso,” a name that directly and honestly refers to former prisoners. What began as a light remark gradually took shape through discernment, as if quietly guided by grace.

The beginnings were simple. Support came in expected and unexpected ways: someone donated a coffee cart; friends stepped forward to help train PRLs as baristas. Ex-Preso was formally launched during the Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola in July 2025. What stood out the most was the community’s response – not hesitation but openness, not rejection but encouragement. People came not only to buy coffee but also to encounter, listen, and support.

One barista, Mark, reflects on this transformation:

“Unti-unti na nitong tinanggal ang mga takot at hiya namin sa malayang lipunan… dahil sa Ex-Preso at sa mga taong nagtiwala at tumaya sa amin. Nawala ang aming mga takot na harapin ang bukas na may pananampalataya at pag-asa.”

(Little by little, it removed our fears and shame in facing society… because of Ex-Preso and the people who trusted and believed in us. Our fears of facing tomorrow have been replaced with faith and hope.)

At the heart of Ex-Preso is BaLaya ni Lolo Kiko, the reintegration and formation home for PRLs. The name derives from two words: balay (house in Bisaya) and laya (freedom). Dedicated to honour Pope Francis, a steadfast advocate of prisoners throughout his ministry, BaLaya accompanies individuals as they transition from incarceration to reintegration. Here, healing begins; stories are received without judgement; and persons are gradually restored in dignity and identity.

Ex-Preso flows from this nurturing home. What is cultivated in BaLaya finds expression in the world through the coffee cart. Formation leads to mission. Healing leads to participation. Accompaniment becomes encounter. The programme is not simply a livelihood initiative but a formation-based social enterprise where PRLs are trained, supported, and continuously accompanied as they rebuild their lives. Through the simple act of serving coffee, they re-enter society, not as outsiders but as contributors.

For many baristas, this journey is deeply personal. Daniel shares how fear once kept him from even stepping outside after release.

“Halos di ako lumalabas ng bahay sa takot na mahusgahan… nawalan na ako ng kumpiyansa sa sarili.”

(I hardly left the house because I was afraid of being judged… I lost confidence in myself.)

Yet through BaLaya and Ex-Preso, something began to change.
“Sa pagbabarista, naramdaman ko na may silbi ako bilang isang mamamayan… ramdam ko na tanggap ako ng ibang tao. Nawala yung takot at agam-agam ko.”

(Being a barista made me feel valuable as a member of society… I felt accepted by others. My fears and doubts gradually disappeared.)

Melecio, also an Ex-Preso barista, reflects on the gift of a second chance and the role of accompaniment:

“Malaki ang tulong ng PJPS sa akin… ngayon may pag-asa na akong magkaroon ng magandang buhay at nakakatulong na ako sa aking ina.”

(PJPS has helped me greatly… now I have hope for a better life, and I am able to support my mother.)

For those who spent decades in prison, the impact is even more profound. Jhon Glen, who was incarcerated for 20 years, shares simply:
“Malaki ang epekto sa akin ng Ex-Preso… nagkaroon ako ng tiwala sa aking sarili… dito nabuo ang aking pagkatao.”

(Ex-Preso has had a great impact on me… I gained confidence in myself… here, I was able to rebuild who I am.)

These stories reveal that the true work of Ex-Preso goes far beyond livelihood. It restores confidence, rebuilds identity, and creates spaces where trust can grow again.

Ex-Preso aligns with PJPS’s mission. While the organisation accompanies Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) inside prison through pastoral care, formation, and support, it continues this accompaniment beyond prison walls through BaLaya and Ex-Preso. Together, they form a continuum of care, from incarceration, to healing, to reintegration.

At the same time, Ex-Preso’s journey is not without challenges. The desire to accompany more PRLs grows, yet expansion requires resources, structures, and sustained support. The programme needs further development to form, train, and offer reintegration opportunities to more individuals. Financial sustainability remains an ongoing concern, as the programme seeks to balance formation, operations, and livelihood support. There is also a constant need for more partners, volunteers, and advocates who can journey with the mission and help carry it forward.

Ex-Preso’s impact is not measured only in cups of coffee served but in lives transformed. It is seen in the gradual return of hope, the quiet rebuilding of dignity, and the willingness of communities to encounter and embrace those seeking a second chance. What began as a simple idea has become a living mission. What started as a joke has become a space of grace.

Today, each cup served by Ex-Preso carries more than coffee. It carries a story of struggle, healing, and hope. It is a reminder that no life is beyond redemption and that with accompaniment, trust, and opportunity, a new beginning is always possible. In this spirit, Ex-Preso invites others to be part of this mission. Rebuilding lives and restoring dignity is not a task for PJPS alone. It calls for a community willing to believe, accompany, and support. Whether through partnership, training, resources, or simple acts of solidarity, every contribution becomes part of someone’s new beginning. Together, we can help open more doors, create more opportunities, and transform more lives. One cup. One life. One fresh start at a time.

To support the work of the Philippine Jesuit Prison Service, visit their website or scan the QR below.