CEBU, Philippines - They once shared the spotlight with hundred others, but today, 12 former inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center are trying to make a mark of their own. This time, without the thick, concrete walls around them.
The 12 former members of the CPDRC dancing inmates have formed a group of their own under the guidance of former Capitol security consultant Byron Garcia. They now accept bookings and invitations.
Yesterday, the group performed at a program that Garcia organized at the Cebu CFI Cooperative Building inside the Capitol compound, in time for the first year commemoration of the death of pop superstar Michael Jackson.
The former inmates performed to Jackson’s “Thriller”, “Dangerous”, and Black Eyed Peas’ “I Got a Feeling”. They said the performances were their own tribute to the king of pop.
Garcia, for his part, said they decided to include a routine on the Black Eyed Peas song because its lyrics mirror the feelings of the former inmates – that is, that Jackson is still in their hearts.
“I saw in the lyrics of the song thriller the similarity between that song and the life of the prisoners. I bring them along whenever I do some talk in the prisons all around the country. Well, you would notice, they get inspired. I see a lot of hope in their eyes,” Garcia said.
Garcia also said many other inmates are now inspired to leave jail so they could join the group. The group reportedly will have three more new members soon.
“Ganahan na mugawas ang mga inmates sa CPDRC aron muapil sa among organization,” Garcia said.
The dancing inmates gained worldwide popularity in 2007 after Garcia posted on YouTube a video of their dance rendition of Jackson’s “Thriller.”
The dance routines at CPDRC were first conceived as a way to make the inmates’ physical exercises enjoyable until the video generated at least a million hits on YouTube. January this year, the CPDRC inmates hit it big once more on the Internet with a performance of Jackson’s “They Don’t Really Care About Us.” The 1,200 dancing prisoners was led by no less than Jackson’s choreographer Travis Payne and dancers Daniel Celebre and Dres Reid.
Most of those who performed yesterday were part of the 2007 video. (FREEMAN NEWS)