Lapu inmates help out by getting haircuts

INMATES of Lapu-Lapu City Jail lined up yesterday for haircuts at the prison basketball court.

Josephine Abella, 44, had the longest tresses ––- two feet long curly hair.

“I never had a haircut for four years but I want to help in saving our environment so I volunteered,” she said in Cebuano.

Five inches were trimmed off.

Some male inmates who alread had short crops still fell in line like Jason Amodia, 23, from Basak, Ibabao, Lapu-Lapu City .

“Bisag piniriso mi, at least naa mi natabang nga kinasing-kasing alang sa atong kinaiyahaan.”

(We may be in jail but we can still give sincere help.) he said.

The inmates were not paid for their contribution but snacks of juice and bread were provided by Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza.

Clad in yellow prison shirts, 500 men and 81 women volunteered to donate their cut hair to be made into oil spill booms to clean up the sea pollution caused by bunker fuel leaking out of the sunken MV St. Thomas Aquinas in Talisay City.

The program “Buhok sa Piniriso Halad s Kalibutan” coincided with the weekly Family Day for inmates.

The event was proposed by the jail personnel and the mayor immediately supported it, Chief Insp. Reynante Rubiotold Cebu Daily News.

An inmate’s son, Mateo Malingin also had his hair cut.Insp. Jonnabelle Roiles said the female inmates immediately volunteered upon learning about the oil spill.

Four gay inmates also volunteered to be the beautificans to cut the hair of their fellow inmates. Correspondents Michelle Joy L. Padayhag and Norman V. Mendoza