Olongapo inmates release rap album

MANILA, Philippines - The videos of the dancing inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center may be getting close to a million hits on YouTube, but Olongapo’s detainees are also making it big with the release of their first music album.

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) yesterday announced that Olongapo District Jail inmates, who call themselves G-Town and Disipulo, released an album consisting of at least 40 rap songs they composed. G is short for Gapo or Olongapo and Disipulo means the inmates are “disciples of poetry in rap music.”

Senior Superintendent Arnulfo Obias, BJMP Central Luzon director, said the inmates dedicated two songs in the album – “BJMP, Liwanag ng Buhay” and “Salamat Sa” – to Olongapo jail personnel.            “Their first album was recently released selling 71 copies out of the 96 discs produced,” said Obias.

“FM stations like Bonggo and OK Radio are playing the inmates’ rap songs,” Olongapo jail warden Superintendent Andre Tauli said.

BJMP director Chief Superintendent Diony Mamaril said the album is the “story of how we rebuild lives inside our jails.”

“One of our commitments is to make every jail an atelier for the limitless talents behind bars,” Mamaril said.