As fans around the world continued to mourn the death of pop icon Michael Jackson, and musicians at the Glastonbury music festival in England covered his songs in tribute, a group or prisoners in the Philippines have re-enacted their own special dance to honour the memory of their musical king.

Inmates at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation centre in the Philippines have performed their famous version of the dance featured in Jackson’s groundbreaking Thriller film clip.

The prisoners’ version was originally posted on YouTube in July, 2007, and became an international hit after it was watched by over 24 million people.

On Saturday hundreds of locals and foreign tourists crammed into a viewing area of the prison yard on the island to watch the 1,500 inmates re-enact their performance of the famous Thriller zombie dance, as well as routines to his other hits including Ben, I’ll Be There, and We Are The World.

The Filipino inmates – including murderers and drug traffickers – performed the routines after hearing of Jackson’s death in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Under the guidance of choreographer Gwendolyn Lador, who was hired by the prison to teach the inmates the dance, they hit the exercise yard to practise for nine hours on Friday night, taking breaks only to eat or when it rained.

“I felt sad because we lost our idol,” said inmate Wenjiel Resane, who, adorned with face paint and dressed in a black and purple singlet and leggings, played the role of Jackson's girlfriend in the Thriller video.

Crisanto Nieri, 38, who performed Jackson’s part in the dance, complete with a copy of his famous red and black leather suit, said he was nervous at playing a role originally filled by such iconic dance shoes.

“Even as a kid, he was already my idol,” said Nieri, who is serving seven years on drug charges. “I am happy that our video became famous, but I feel some pressure to perform well.”

The hour-long tribute – watched by over 700 visitors to the prison - began with a prayer and ended with an eternal repose of Jackson’s soul.

Coffins were used as props and a series of flags from around the world and posters of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the late Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King were held aloft by inmates parading around the yard as Jackson’s songs were blasted out of a PA system.

The inmates, dressed in orange prison T-shirts and tracksuit pants, stomped and clapped in unison to Jackson’s songs in the confines of the hilltop prison, set behind thick stone walls topped by electrified razor wire.

Tears were shed after a giant 5-by-10 foot tarpaulin featuring a picture of Jackson - wielding a sword - was brought into the quadrangle as the inmates performed a choreographed routine to the Jackson Five ballad I’ll Be There.

“I was sad because one of the songs of Michael Jackson, Thriller, made us famous around the world,” said Francis Mercader, 36, who has spent a year in detention while on trial for drug charges.

Byron Garcia, the Cebu provincial security consultant who came up with the idea of adding synchronized dancing to poorly attended exercise sessions, said he was surprised by the popularity of the 2007 video — one of more than a dozen inmate dance numbers he has posted on YouTube.

The clip has become a viral phenomenon watched by over 24 million people – including a million who watched it in the 24 hours since Jackson’s death.

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