THIRTY-five inmates of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) based in Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City have started practicing their dance steps for the first BJMP indoor MassKara dance competition.
This was confirmed Monday, October 8, by BJMP Singcang-Airport warden, Chief Inspector Ruth Garcia-Estales, who said the competition was tentatively set on October 22 or onwards.
She said this will be the first time the annual MassKara Festival will have a new category, which is the BJMP category wherein the dancing inmates of BJMP Barangay Singcang-Airport will compete with the dancing inmates of BJMP-Barangay Handumanan.
"We already made talks with the Silver MassKara Foundation Inc. headed by Festival Director Eli Francis Tajanlangit and Streetdance Chairman Rudy Reveche and we also wrote Mayor Evelio Leonardia about this proposed participation of the inmates because we want to become part of the celebration of the 39th MassKara Festival and also the 80th birthday of the City of Bacolod," she said.
A former MassKara dancer, who is currently among the inmates, served as the MassKara dance choreographer.
On condition of anonymity, the choreographer inmate said they are excited to participate in the MassKara Festival.
Although indoor, the celebration continues. It does not matter that their freedom is limited but their celebratory spirit goes on in and out of jail, the inmate said, adding this is one way of contributing to the tourism promotion of Bacolod City.
He said they practice every night and he is grateful that his fellow dancing inmates are also cooperative with him.
The inmate said he missed his life as a MassKara dancer but still, life goes on.
Moreover, Estaless said they are just finalizing the schedule of the competition but it will also be an opportune time to showcase the Christmas lanterns made by the inmates during the period of competition.
Security measures will be observed during the competition wherein the BJMP will be placed under red alert status to ensure orderliness and safety inside the compound while the competition progresses.