EDITORIAL - They’re back!

One thing that many Cebuanos greatly missed over the years was the performance of the dancing inmates who made the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center an unusual tourist attraction.

The dancing inmates, who gained international fame for imitating Michael Jackson’s steps, did not have the opportunity to continue showing off their talents during the administration of former governor Hilario Davide III for reasons no one knows.

Perhaps Davide did not find the CPDRC program worth continuing, preferring instead to focus on other things. Besides, Davide may have thought that continuing it would only create the public impression that he was just taking over a program that was not really his.

Now, after six long years, the dancing inmates are back to entertain not only the Cebuanos but the world as well. The new governor, Gwendolyn Garcia, has made the revival of the CPDRC program one of her priorities.

To recall, the dancing inmates shot to worldwide stardom after videos of their rendition of Jackson’s “Thriller” and other classics went viral on social media. This made them a tourist attraction as thousands of overseas and local visitors would flock to the CPDRC to witness their performance.

As they became famous, their presentations raised funds for the jail, supporting their livelihood programs, among others. For their achievements, the CPDRC dancing inmates have become models for other detainees, sending a message that people like them can inspire, even given the limited conditions they are in.

For attracting thousands of spectators, the dancing inmates have also helped revitalize the local tourism industry. As news about their presentations spread around the globe, foreign tourists started flocking to Cebu to witness their performance.

It was really unfortunate that the program was not sustained during the Davide administration. Had it been continued, the dancing inmates would have gained more recognition and helped improve CPDRC’s image.