Orange is the New Black

CEBU DANCING INMATES | CEBU

After watching two full seasons of Orange is the New Black, it feels quite surreal to step into an actual prison, and seeing the prisoners not as murderers or drug traffickers and the like, but as actual people. People who have families and are going through a rough patch in life.

DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) recently launched their "Pamilyang Pilipino para sa Pagbabago" Campaign (Filipino Family for Change) and as a part of their nationwide caravan they celebrated family day in CPDRC (Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center), home of the world famous Cebu Dancing Inmates.

It's quite a humbling experience being able to share this important day with more than 1,000 inmates in this maximum security prison. You get to see tearful reunions, laughter and smiles. A lot of people try not to humanize criminals with the justification that they deserve the worst for their wrong doings. What we don't realize is that their families are affected as well and there is never an excuse for treating others inhumanely. Having your freedom taken away from you for years on end is a slow and arduous suffering, some might even consider death than to a life in prison. With CPDRC and DSWD's best efforts to evoke change and commitment to a successful prison rehabilitation, it gives hope to the prisoners and their families alike, and consequently (hopefully) help, in it's own little way, bridge the gap to progress in our country. 

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