I saw this video embedded in an article at the Defamer which talks about the "dancing inmates" of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC). While quite a number marvel at this innovation of the yard exercise inmates are required to do, there are those in the U.S. who see this move by the warden, Byron Garcia, as a violation of human rights.
One such article that explores the question of human rights violation is on the ABC News website. I find myself amused by the reporters that say that the only reason these inmates are doing this is because they are afraid of Warden Garcia. What they fail to take into account is that the Philippines is a very musically ingrained country. Dancing and singing is something we like to do and is a great way to pass the time. It sure beats fighting and killing people when you're bored, don't you think?
One reporter even goes so far to say that "unconfirmed" reports from inside the jail say the inmates are forced to dance whether they want to or not, to the point of making their feet bleed into their shoes. SHOES. Shoes, he says. What shoes? In most of the videos the inmates were shod in slippers (that's flipflops to the fashionistas). But then, he did also say "unconfirmed reports" as a disclaimer in case his source is just lying through his teeth or is disgruntled and has a beef with the warden or the other inmates who enjoy the exercise.
I remember a few years ago, when I joined Fitness First the class that I enjoyed the most was bodyjam. It definitely beat aerobics hands down as far as I'm concerned. What was bodyjam exactly? Basically, dancing in time with the music but with integrated aerobics movement, geared towards giving the members a full body cardiovascular workout.
In my opinion, Warden Garcia just made sure that the inmates would have fun while they exercised. And with the dawning of digital equipment and the internet, he has also brought global attention to his "neck of the woods".
Here is the latest performance clip of the inmates of CPDRC taken last August 2007.
I'd rather have inmates worrying more about keeping to the rhythm than about how they'll slip an improvised shiv between someone else's ribs. :) Besides, what else are they going to do? It's a prison-- they're not exactly going anywhere. Still reserving final judgment on whether or not this is the brainchild of a power-tripping warden who decided to get "creative." For now, I think this is a good thing.
"Dancing and singing is something we like to do and is a great way to pass the time. It sure beats fighting and killing people when you're bored, don't you think? " --> quite true. As long as there was no drinking going on before.. Else it turns into a knife fight when one tries to sing My way :P
