Last Friday, I was unwinding and watching TV Patrol when the newscasters featured a YouTube video posted just last July 17, 2007 by Byron Garcia, prison supervisor of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRV), Cebu, Philippines. Byron Garcia himself was interviewed by TV Patrol as he explained that he simply posted this video on YouTube to share his innovation with the rest of the penal community, not expecting the international hit that it would become.
You may ask — what’s so unusual about this YouTube video?
* It features about 1,000 neon orange-clad prisoners from CPDRC doing their morning exercise
* These inmates all dance, without missing a beat, to the song of Michael Jackson’s Thriller in amazing choreographed moves
* As of this posting, this video has had over 2.3 million views (talk of a video epidemic!)
The video got its share of positive and negative reactions from viewers and media around the world.
Those who did not approve of this mass gathering of inmates for dancing gave reasons such as it being a security nightmare, a disaster waiting to happen, etc. Most of the reviews were positive though and I was delighted to see my dear friend Noemi blog about this video too.
Byron Garcia himself was interviewed on TV Patrol last Friday. Jessica Soho of GMA also featured Byron, CPDRC as well as Dodong and Wenjell (the 2 main dancing stars of the Thriller video). In the days after his Thriller video came out on YouTube, Byron was interviewed by international media like Reuters, BBC News, ABC News, as well as local major dailies. Byron himself told Reuters, “I want the prison system to learn from this. The inmates are after all human beings and the inmates after all, once inside, know that they have committed mistakes, let them enjoy their stay.”
It’s not the only video posted by Byron. Prior to the “Thriller”, he had already posted other similar videos of the inmates doing Sister Act (I Will Follow Him), Sister Act (Hail, Holy Queen), Radio Gaga, Algorithm March, Dayang Dayang-Sister Act 2 and Jumbo Hotdog.
To us Pinoys, these videos comes as no surprise (though the international response is delightfully surprising). We love music, we love to dance. We are good at these, as evidenced by the dominance of Filipino entertainers in international hotels and in the music industry here and abroad. Why begrudge our inmates this chance to let out steam?
Being cooped up for a crime for who knows how long can be terribly boring and without a constructive outlet for this pent-up energy, it is even more likely that these inmates would channel their boredom into destructive activities like gang wars, mutiny, etc. I view this dancing program as a great way to rechannel all that energy. Those guys are great dancers! That could not have just come from great choreography. It is the natural grace of Pinoys!
This program is a wonderful way to make all these inmates more healthy. Knowing how our prison cells are usually overcrowded and tiny, these inmates would welcome this chance to get out into open air, dance (which comes naturally to us) and just have fun. In fact, it seems the inmates are now very interested in what the latest statistics are on the viewership of their videos. If ever there is anything inmates need now, it is an uplifting sense of self-esteem that they can be useful and creative even while serving time.
Byron Garcia has more videos in mind. His next project? A Vanilla Ice classic …Ice, Ice Baby. Yes, looking forward to watching that as well!
And to those who think this unique idea is dangerous and unwise, all I have to say is….
CHILL OUT AND UNWIND, MAN! These guys also have to have a LIFE, for goodness sake.
Only in the Philippines? Well, I am glad this happy side to us exists. All the more, I am proud of the Filipinos‘ resiliency — to find a light in darkness, to create hope where there is despair, to smile when there is little to be happy about. That’s what makes me proud to be Pinay!
They look like they are having so much fun. If they had intentions to be security risks, they wouldn’t be that focused.
Jane: You couldn’t have said it better, Noemi. This is probably one of the better things that have happened to these inmates in a long while. They may even make it to the Guinness Book of Records as the largest gathering of people dancing to “Thriller” at the same time and same location.
Now that’s the right way to rehabilitate! Kudos to the warden for being innovative and open-minded.
Jane: I’m with you on this, bro!
everybody appreciates a well planned party… with synchronized dancing of course