Filipino Prisoners Dance to Michael Jackson's 'They Don't Care About Us'

By PopEater Staff Posted Jan 27th 2010 03:44PM

The Filipino prisoners who became YouTube sensations for their staged version of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' are at it again. This time 1500 or so inmates from the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (under the direction of MJ's choreographer Travis Payne and dancers Daniel Celebre and Dres Reid) perform a dance number to Jackson's 'They Don't Care About Us.'

Watch the new video and see their 'Thriller' performance. >>

Sony Pictures' Fritz Friedman told USA TODAY, "We thought it would be a great idea to pay homage to MJ on the occasion of the release of 'This Is It' by going to Cebu and having Travis work with the dancers to create this piece which is from the film."

According to reports, Payne arranged a surprise visit to meet the performers in the high security prison. Once there, Payne spent two hours on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 teaching the dancers the routines from Jackson's tune.

Their original YouTube footage, uploaded in mid-July, shows the prisoners dancing to the Michael Jackson song 'Thriller' and has been viewed more than 10 million times.

Watch Michael Jackson's original videos:

Tags: michael jackson, MichaelJackson

Comments

(123)

Wednesday 27 January

By SUSANAIGNACIO

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I REALLY ENJOYED WHATCHING THOSE GUYS DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF MJ.
THANKS TO THE CHOREOGRAPHER WHO TEACH THEM TO DO THOSE STEPS.
IT WAS REALLY AN EXCELLENT CHOREOGRAPHY.

Thursday 28 January

By Louise

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

The most obvious thing about the video is that the only white guy is put right up front.

By HGregory

Love it, what a great way to show your appreciation to MJ!! RIP MJ, may his music live on forever!!

By Sarah

Supporting maximum sentence inmates by giving them a great performances, who was the brain that set this up?

By Pooh27361

The current head of the prison thought this up. When he arrived the only people in control were the gang leaders and the corrupt guards. He cleaned house and decided that the inmates exercise time could be better spent organized and disciplined by dancing. Since he took over, there have been many fewer incidences of violence in the prison. Oh by the way; many of the inmates haven't been convicted of anything, they are in jail awaiting trial. Some of them have been there for years and years. (There is a 20 minute video on you tube telling the story of how the dancing inmates came about)

By george9448

Obviously, you never worked in a jail, you as s wipe.I'm a retired correction officer and I can tell you that I like hearing stories like this.Why?Because they're channeling that negative energy and stress into something positive.By them concentrating on this,it's less likely they'd get into a fight and hurt someone, be it an inmate or an officer.You wouldn't know anything about something like that, because you dropped out of school in the 3rd grade and work at your local service staion pumping gas for a living.

By Judy

Why not? They need something to do. My son just got out of prison a month ago and he would have been glad to have something to do.Plus it keeps them from getting in trouble too.

By kayann98

this is great! itz 2 bad MJ couldn't be here 2 see it....what a great way 2 keep MJ's music alive, RIP

Wednesday 03 February

By Sherry

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I agree with the ones that are saying this is a great tribute to Michael Jackson. Also that it's a productive way to do their time for whatever they are in prison for. I think it's great and I loved the Thriller one too...
R.I.P. Michael

Friday 29 January

By liza

MJ was one of the best there ever is, and honoring him in anyway is great.. He has a great following in the Philippines and up to now, his music can be heard everywhere.. Great dance, great choreography, and more power!

By Jay

This prison is on the island and provence of Cebu in the Philippines. its a really great place to visit as well, a tropical paradise with many outter islands and lots to see and do. the guy in charge of this prison set up the dances as a way of keeping the prisoners busy with a positive activity while incarcerated...it seems to be a good thing as well for the prisoners involved?

By K.C

I LOVED THIS, THE DANCER'S WERE GREAT AND DID NOT MISS A BEAT. THEY WORKED HARD TO PULL THIS OFF. GREAT JOB BOYS. TRAVIS IS OUT OF THIS WORLD. M.J WOULD OF LOVED TO SEE THIS SHOW.

By bob

they are in jail for a reason... breaking the law. they should be in the cells that they call home, not out having a good time dancing.

By kots kalbo

don't b an a-hole.....they r humans too...why dont u jst shut up..b productive

By kz

Most of these guys are tryong to get their lives back on track, so shut up. You've been a saint all of your life????? I think not. You just haven't been caught...So shut up again.....This is something positive these folks can do....I think it's GREAT...Quit being so negative......Everyone deserves a second chance...Even you.......

By Linda

I think it was great. As far as them staying in their cells what would that do to help anyone! I am glad you live in a glass house and hope you do so for the rest of your days here on earth. We should all hope they learn from their mistake that put them in there. Locking them in a cage 24/7 is something we wouldn't even do to our animals!

By mafeca

hoy bob! this is much better than doin nothin on their cells and most of them are not guilty, their just waiting for their trial... :/

By leolux10

You're pretty slow, aren't you there, Bob? What happens when you cage-up an animal (domesticated or not), for excessive periods of time? You get an agressive animal. Ready to vent its frustration for being confined for so long. The same applies for people. A criminal is still a person. Everyone, animal and human alike, need to get out every so often. Idiots, I tell you...

If I threw a stone at your home, would it shatter? I highly doubt that. Now, SHUT UP!!!!

By Wendell

Did they use the actual words in this song that spewed hate that MJ had to change? Isn't the original version something about kikes or dykes? And all they want to do is "Jew me." Oh yes lets remember MJ's hate for Jewish people. Great job fellas. Makes my right one jealous. I'm glad this is on AOL. Thanks for exposing MJ for his true self; hater of Jewish people and a worshiper of Hitler. Keep listening everyone. Yep this IS the true Michael Joseph Jackson.

By SSBJ

ARE YOU ON MEDICATION??

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