Bruno Mars' mother, Bernadette rendered a song number to the inmates as her brother Chris strummed the guitars for her
But their disappointment turned to joy when Mars’ family members visited and serenaded them with four songs.
Strumming an electric guitar, Mars’ uncle Chris Valentine sang “Just the Way You Are,” the song that won for Mars this year’s Grammy award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
Mars’ mother, Bernadette Bayot-Hernandez, sang “Dahil sa Iyo” (Because of You) by Rogelio dela Rosa.
His sister Jaime belted out Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest Love of All.”
“He (Bruno) wanted to (come over) but he can’t make it because his show is today and he needed rest because they had rehearsals last night (Wednesday),” Jaime said.
Mars performed to a sold-out Pacific Ballroom of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino in Lahug, Cebu City, last night.
After Mars’ family sang, the inmates danced to a medley of his songs “Just the Way You Are” and “Billionaire” for at least five minutes.
Vince Rosales taught the inmates the moves for Mars’ songs.
He said they got word only last Monday from the Office of the Governor that the singer and his family requested to watch the inmates perform along with Capitol staff and a few of their family members.
“We came here to find out if we can give them clothes and whatever they need,” Jaime said in an interview.
The dancing inmates is considered one of the island’s tourist attractions. They perform twice a month or by special appointment.
The inmates prepared a 40-minute dance with a total of seven song numbers mostly from the late King of Pop Michael Jackson.
They expected Bruno Mars to arrive at 9 a.m. but the family arrived past 1 p.m. and without Bruno Mars.
“It’s a pity because we were so excited. We practiced as quickly as we could but he did not arrive,” inmate Annie Castañares said in Cebuano.
Other inmates were content to dance for the visitors as this was the only way for them to forget for a while their worries and sadness in jail.
“This is surreal. I’ve only seen this on the videos I have seen so many times. It was in the news. Bruno actually told me about the news,” said Lawrence, an uncle of Bruno Mars after the inmates’ performance.
Bruno Mars' family enjoys the performance of the famous Cebu dancing inmates.
Bruno Mars' sister Jaime (right) and mother Bernadette Bayot-Hernandez (left) visited the inmates
An inmate imitates singer Bruno Mars as fellow prisoners dance to a medley of the singer's hits "Just the Way You Are" and "Billionaire"
Jesse Bayot
April 13, 2011
the guitar player is john valentine. NOT chris.