angkinabuhi

A man was dancing to the beat of “electric dreams” and with all his might, he was swaying his hips, lifting his hands in the air, intently counting and murmuring 8, 7, 6, 5… His eyes were looking straight forward with eyebrows crossed; in full concentration to perfect his dance moves. As I saw his body sway, his arms lifted up high and shirt soaked in sweat under the steady heat of the sun, I was moved by his piteous face. One can barely notice how he was giving his best shot to make no mistake despite the fact that he is not endowed with the gift of dancing. It was heartbreaking and compelling. Yet, as I took a closer glimpse of him, I saw happiness in his eyes. His smile apparently showed calmness and bliss.
Imagine walking past police officers in a secured and tight area along with guns on their side; standing in front a humongous railing and eyes fixed at all men wearing orange. Men who call themselves as inmates- with counts of multiple murder, rape, homicide, illegal possession of drugs and everything you could think of. Imagine men and women, all with the same shirt and sneakers who spend four hours every day to practice varied dance steps and showcase their talents in front of people from different cultures and races all over the world. These men offer an hour and a half of their time to entertain the crowd and cheer up a multitude. An applause from the audience motivates them to perform well. All you could hear are the sounding laughs and cheers of inmates and viewers shared in one single arena.
About fifteen hundred men danced before me. But that one man inspired me and moved me. That single man made me believe that there’s hope, that there is life out there waiting to be embraced. You can still do something out of your life regardless of the offense one has committed. Even if society condemned these men of committing heinous and dreadful crimes, it did not stop them from believing. It did not stop them from looking at life with a peaceful heart full of hopefulness and optimism. In a way, dancing not only showcased their talents but it transformed their lives and their whole being. I know how much these men have worked hard enough to clear their names; how much effort they have buckled down of getting back their reputation and dignity. In the face of all these, their heads are held up high with confidence and assurance that life doesn’t end within the four corners of those steel railings. It made me realize that one single chance can make a difference. One chance is a lifetime of putting back together what has been destroyed and starting up a new.
I wonder what his life story could be. I wonder what all these men conceal underneath their smiles, beneath their eyes...
My CPDRC experience was astounding. The inmates made our country proud. I suppose that I’m not the only person who look up to these men, the whole world does.