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SEPTEMBER 15-22, 2011 VOL. 1 NO. 5

PEP gone blonde, Yellow

heads ready to perform page 2

NCC: Take your pick

force to reckon with

page 4

ADAMSON PEP SQUAD:

page 5

Hungry and daring: UE PEP SQUAD page 6 Bawal ang Talo FEU
cheering squad page 7

UST

SALINGGAWI Comfort Zone page 5

FEU: Ready to steal the spotlight.

UP PEP SQUAD
HAIR POWER for the champs.
PHOTOS BY AUGUST DELA CRUZ

SEPTEMBER 15-22, 2011

YELLOW HEADS READY TO PERFORM

Pep gone blonde

By Ruth L. Navarra

UP Pep Squad UAAP 74 Competing Line-up

DANCERS: 1. John Paul D. Belarmino 2. Laurence Martin S. Bautista 3. Richbert Patrick R. Asuncion 4. Irish Adrienne R. Planes 5. Jesus Mari A. Pe Benito 6. Brainard Bill Barrinuevo 7. Fiona Alexandra G. Gali 8. Kathleen Anne C. Madrigal 9. Beatrice Isabel C. Segundo 10. Kiko A. Cortez 11. Bien Joseph F. Insigne 12. Carlito N. Serrano, Jr. 13. Zar Anthony B. Semsem 14. Matthew P. Alonzo 15. Noelynne Jane N. Figueroa 16. Nesza Isabel A. Salvador 17. Marielle A. Barraza 18. Patricia Kathryn P. Paraso 19. Leann Gaudunce D. Melegrito 20. Rafaella R. De Guzman 21. Gabrielle Antonette M. Tuazon 22. Raymond R. Santos 23. Mark Louie G. Castro 24. Frances Audrey P. Munoz 25. Lara Christina M. Limjap RESERVES: 1. Maria Felicia C. Sison 2. Romeo Oscar V. Defeo Jr. COACHES: 1. Lalaine Perena 2. Nio Jose Antonio 3. Pio Nio Opinaldo

HE SECRET is out. The UP Pep Squad will channel blonde ambition. Halftime performances in the last few games of the UP Fighting Maroons have been the root of speculation among cheerdance fans.
theme will be in advance. She prepares them two years before the competition, says captain Kathleen Anne Kae Madrigal. Revealing a part of their gimmick for the competion day is almost a necessity to check if everybody got the correct hair color. One of them turned up in practice with silver hair and the treatment had to be redone. Kae admits that dyeing her hair is a sacrifice. It is something she will not do on her own. But the cheerdance competition is a time for teamwork and even a little craziness so she went with it.

At first, they saw a few platinum blonde boys in the background as spotters. Then some of the girls sported the same do in the next game. Almost all of them have been tossing their yellow heads in unison by the time they performed in the matchup against the UE Red Warriors. Instead of being a spoiler, the teasers have intensified the excitement. Fans have since been talking about what the theme of the Pep will be. Coach Lala (Lalaine Perea) has always known what our

But while the hair will make them stand out in the field, we must remember that this is the UP Pep Squad and more than anything, it is their oft-unique routine that people will look forward to. The audience can expect a higher level of difficulty in the stunts. UP parati ang nagseset ng bar. Kahit kami nahihirapan ding i-conquer ito pero we do our best to set another standard for the UAAP Cheerdance Competition, says co-captain Laurence Martin Bautista. Kae says that the lineup of the team is almost the same as last years so it helped them gauge how difficult the stunts that they are going to show on competition day. She says this years routine was a lot harder to learn for them.

They have been practicing for it since summer. So its no wonder that even if the competition were scheduled even weeks before, the UP Pep Squad wouldve been ready to perform. There are nights when they require minimal supervision as they fine-tune their stunts on their own while coach Lala looks on. On such nights, the mood is easy. They laugh and joke around. But there are nights when trainings are intense as they tirelessly work on perfecting their routine. Some of the things that fans can look forward to this year are the hair-raising lifts and the tosses. And, they can find out on competition day the significance of their hair choices.

BLONDE AMBITION for the titleholders.

AUGUST DELA CRUZ

SEPTEMBER 15-22, 2011

Tosses, stunts, lifts and pyramids

Photos by August dela Cruz and Richard Reyes

RACE IS ON for DLSU,UE performers.

UP Pyramid

ADAMSON formation

Editor in Chief

Chito dF. dela Vega

Desk editors

Dennis U. Eroa Francis Ochoa Romel M. Lalata

Graphic artist

Ritche S. Sabado
Telephone No.: (632) 897-8808 connecting all departments Fax No.: (632) 897-4793/897-4794

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4
Compiled by NCC judges and instructors

SEPTEMBER 15-22, 2011

UAAP CHEERDANCE COMPETITION PREVIEW

NU BULLDOGS
STRENGTHS: Creativity, Gymnastics, Management The Bulldogs are coming to this years CDC with a new team, a new coaching staff, and a new attitude. Dismayed by their 7th place finish last year, team managers decided to revamp the squad, recruiting top gymnasts from the Philippine National Games in Bacolod this year. Coached by former FEU stalwarts, expect the team to bring a new flavor to their routine. Like all the other teams in NU, they are in a definite rush to get to the top. This is step two of that climb. PREDICTION: 6th

UP PEP SQUAD
STRENGTHS: Athleticism, Creativity, Dance, Coaching This squad seems to be made for this competition. In the history of the UAAP CDC, no other team has developed such a fearsome reputation. They are the team to beat every year, including this year. A lethal combination of experience, talent, and skills, back-stopped by bravado and swagger. The members of the squad are handpicked by the eagle-eyed head coaches and put through a rigorous training regimen. You have to earn your invitation to try out for this squad. These days, more alumni look forward to watching this squad perform rather than their basketball team. It will take a perfectly awesome routine to unseat the champs. PREDICTION: 1st

Take your pick

ADAMSON U PEP SQUAD

READY TO SURPRISE: Ateneos Blue Babble (left) and DLSUS Animo Squad.
STRENGTHS: Creativity, Tosses, Costumes, Coaching Staff The Falcons come into this years competition with a winning attitude. 3-time National champion Arnold Villanueva lends his expertise to the team, which means only one thing: higher expectations. Though this is a rebuilding year for the Falcons, we expect Villanueva and his team to chisel away the rough edges, slowly honing a championship-caliber squad. Unfortunately, all squads have leveledup, so although we expect marked improvement, we are also realistic. If Villanueva remains at the helm for at least three years, expect them in the top three soon. PREDICTION: 7th

FEU CHEERING
STRENGTHS: Stunts, Dance, Creativity, Gymnastics, Costumes The Tamaraws are hungry. They feel theyve been robbed of hard-earned victories in the past and are out to prove they deserve to win. Mixing theatrical flair and hard-core gymnastics skills, the squad has been preparing for this moment since they came in second last year. If they can hit their stunts, stay in their spots, and capture the crowd, this may be the year. But theyll have to earn it. Perfect synchronicity is the key for them. The Tamaraw faithful will be there in full force. PREDICTION: 2nd

PHOTOS BY AUGUST DELA CRUZ AND PAUL TAN.

teeth. Their prized recruit is 5time NCAA competition champion coach Rhufa Del Rosario so you know they mean business. They are consistent top 10 finishers in the Nationals, so they know their stunts and tosses. Expect more dance and creativity from the normally traditional routine. Coach Rhufa is known for spectacular tosses and a real flair for the dramatic, so we expect surprises. PREDICTION: 3rd

DLSU ANIMO SQUAD

STRENGTHS: Stunts, Tosses, Gymnastics, Coaching The Animo squad comes into this years CDC armed to the

UST SALINGGAWI DANCE TROUPE

STRENGTHS: Dance, Creativity, Costumes The Tigers, like UP, are always in contention for the top spot in the CDC. There was a time when it seemed there were only two squads competing. Re-

cently, the Salinggawi seemed to taper off from the CDC, allowing other squads room to rise. Although one of the early pioneers of stunts and tosses in the country, most of the teams have already surpassed them in terms of skill, as they only compete in t h e UA A P. N o n e t h e l e s s , t h e Tigers are still as talented as they come, recruiting the best and brightest from the high school ranks. And because the UAAP CDC still emphasizes dance and props, they might just have enough to stay in the top four this year. PREDICTION: 4th

ATENEO BLUE BABBLE BATTALION

STRENGTHS: Creativity, Pyramids, Tosses, Coaching

The Blue Babble has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, finishing well in the UAAP and the Nationals. But unlike their counterparts in basketball, theyve yet to reach championship air. Like their basketball team, they remain unbowed and full of fight. Head coach Randell San Gregorio always handles this team well, entering each competition with the confidence and energy. This year, Ateneos recruits include members of TEAM PILIPINAS, which won the Southeast Asian Cheerleading Open in Singapore, so expect the development to continue. People are still talking about the moonwalk in last years CDC. Lets see what they come up with this year. PREDICTION: 5th

UE PEP SQUAD
STRENGTHS: Creativity, Dance The UE Pep Squad is coming into the CDC with pretty much the same members as last season. While other squads have beefed up their rosters, hired veteran consultants, and recruited heavily from the high school ranks, the UE Pep Squad seemed content to stand pat. However, this does not mean they wont pull off any surprises. PREDICTION: 8th

WHAT IS THE NATIONAL CHEERLEADING CHAMPIONSHIPS (NCC)? The NCC is the Philippines first and only cheerleading organization that is nationwide. For the 2010-2011 season, the NCC offers 7 divisions: College Coed, College All-Girls, High School Coed, High School All Girls, Junior All Girls, Groups Stunts Open and Partner Stunts Open. The NCC is also launching its All-Girl Dance division, featuring Hiphop and Jazz categories. The NCC conducts camps and competitions in provinces and cities all across the Philippine archipelago, leading up to the countrys biggest competition, called the Nationals.

The NCC Season takes place annually from October-March. It is usually Qualifiers from October-December and the Nationals from January-March.divided into two partsthe Regional conducts regular cheerleading camps. The NCC alsoand the NCC International Cheer CampThese include private coaching and skills training, oneday mini-camps, Series, which features American instructors and coaches. It is the mission of the NCC to establish a world-class cheerleading program that allows athletes to excel internationally.

DISCLAIMER: The predictions were based on a combination of observations, information, and random skills assessment. The outcomes may vary slightly or otherwise, depending on the judges chosen for the competition and the criteria employed by the UAAP CDC board. As with any judging competition, the composition of variables-category scores, crowd participation, props, and other intangibles will also determine the final scores, and thus the final standings. All in all, this preview was designed to provoke discussion and debate, in the spirit of friendly competition. Good luck to all teams! NCC

SEPTEMBER 15-22, 2011

UST SALINGGAWI

Comfort Zone
By Ruth L. Navarra

F
HAPPY and confident.

OR others this is cramming, but for the winningest cheerleading team in UAAP its a com, fort zone. The UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe (SDT) is still on the stage of practicing their stunts a couple of weeks before the competition.
Natatalo sila ng isang dance troupe na ang forte ay hindi naman cheering. Marami kaming ginagawa (na iba sa cheering) the whole year. Mas nakikita ko ang value ng Salinggawi as a dance troupe and not just a cheering team. Nakakaadopt kami sa mga kailangan naming gawin at yun ang ipinagmamalaki namin, Silva said. The troupe does its best with the little time that it has. They spend four to eight hours every night for their routine. They divide themselves into small groups. They have one area for the dancers and another for those who will do the stunts.

We just finished organizing Danscene. Its a university-wide dance competition and were incharge of it. That took up a lot of our time, says SDT vice president Anna Camille Cruz. She said that theyve only started focusing on the complete routine a little over a month ago. But if theres anything that SDT is good at, its pulling flawless, heart-stopping miracles in a few weeks time. Its worked for them for their previous eight titles. For choreographer Ryan Silva this tells a lot about the character of the team.

One of the biggest assets of the team every competition season is the supporters who rally behind them. They dont get allowance for food but each time Fr. Rolando dela Rosa, OP visits them, they are given a dinner treat. A restaurant inside the university recently pledged to SDT president Adams Aaron Bernabe to provide food for their practice nights. When their alumni visit, they bring them sweet pastries for the team. This is a tradition. This is what we call the sugar rush to perk the dancers up, says former president Marvin Wynant. Watching the sugar rush tradition is fun to watch. The dancers circle a box of cake where they talk and encourage each other to give their best. They bow their heads and pray. Then they share a few forks to attack the food in front of them.

The support they receive extends beyond the food. The universitys gym is under construction. There is currently a shortage of venue for practice for other teams but these teams easily give up their slots in the Central Seminary Gym so that SDT could perfect its routine. An alumnus based in South America annually sends money to his friends to buy props for the crowd. One of his most memorable ideas was the giant t-shirt that stole the show last year. Obviously, hearts have already been won. They are tirelessly waiting, praying for another championship crown. But even without the title, they remain proud of The Troupe. SDTs supporters still excitedly move their fingers in the air in circular motions while they sway their bodies to the timeless beat of Go Uste!

Adamson Pep Squad: force to reckon with

By Jun Veloira
They were in last place in last years UAAP Cheerdance Competition, but now theyre back to turn things around. An Adamson Pep Squad with an overhauled roster vows an explosive and clean performance when it tries to conquer the field in the 2011 UAAP Cheerdance The Adamson Pep Squad means serious business this year, restocking a crew pillaged by graduation and hiring a proven coaching staff--moves that have infused confidence that the team can finally vindicate itself and crawl out of last place in a slam-bang fashion. In fact, the change has started to yield results. The squad rode a perfect run en route to third place in the 2011 FilOil Flying V Cheerleading Competition last June 12 at The FilOil Flying V Arena, where eight schools from UAAP and NCAA participated. And they dont plan to stop there, hoping to ride that wave of momentum into a dominant performance in the UAAP cheerdance showdown. "Adamson is a very strong team. They [didnt] have proper training before but they [managed] to do technical skills and pyramids. The fundamentals are there. They just need a new direction, said head coach Arnold Villanueva, who steered the Central Colleges of the Philippines (CCP) Bobcats to three national titles in the National Cheerleading Championship. But it certainly wont be a walk in the park for Adamson. The team now mostly consists of new members as it lost majority of its squad to graduation. They also lack gymnasts--which some schools have utilized to great success. And, aside from the pressure of unloading the eighth-place burden on their backs, they will be the first to perform in this years competition. But the team is still optimistic and plans to use these challenges to its advantage.

AUGUST DELA CRUZ

IMPROVING: Adamson Pep Squad ready for action.

Getting out of last place has been our major motivation. Well just try our best to give a clean run and put the pressure back on the other schools. Well just have to trust God, trust ourselves, and do our best, said Adamson Pep Squad president Karlo Lazana, one of the teams few veterans who will be making his final performance this year. The team is also getting a lot of school support nowadays. Before, the little funding they get, translated into an absence of formal training from professional coaches. They relied on alumni pep squad members for their choreography. Members would then brainstorm moves into their routine, often inspired by cheerdance videos siphoned off the Internet. That lack of funding, they

RICHARD REYES

believe, made them fall behind in competition. This year, they are now enjoying tremendous support from their school. They now have coaches who give them an added edge and are now being treated as varsity athletes by the school--enjoying benefits like scholarships, dormitories and equipment. Now they feel confident and are more prepared than ever.

SEPTEMBER 15-22, 2011

UE PEP SQUAD

Hungry and daring

By Din Villafuerte

TS BEEN eight years since this squad had a taste of whats it like to be at the top of the pyramid. Figuratively, that is.
year. Like what Joana said, all they need to do is perfect their routine. They need to be flawless. And they need to sustain their energy level. It has to be consistent from the beginning up to the end of the routine, said Yee, who is confident of a podium finish for the squad this year. This years cheering competition is doubly exciting for Coach Yee as it is her first year with the team. The UE alumna used to be a member of the pep squad when she was in college. The job to coach the team was offered to her before but she begged off as she was newly married then. But when it was offered to her a second time, she didnt hesitate anymore and grabbed the opportunity to pay it forward to her

After placing first runnerup in the 2002 UAAP Cheerdance Competition, the University of the East Pep Squad has since been left behind by other schools, which benefitted from incorporating gymnastics into their routines. To make matters worse, their own gymnasts transferred to other universities. The UE Pep Squad is one of those teams that has, time and time again, fallen short of leaving a strong impression with the crowd that looks forward to the UAAP Cheerdance Competition every year. This year, the Warriors have given hints that an improved squad could change that. UE Pep Squad captain Joana Jane Hipolito says the team has high expectations for this years UAAP Cheerdance Competition. Our routine is harder this year, said Hipolito in Filipino. We will be doing more stunts unlike before when we were more on dance. Hipolito, a senior, has been with the pep squad since 2008. Lovelyn V Yee, UE Pep . Squad adviser and head coach, also has high hopes about UEs performance this Saturday. I think our pep squad has a winnable routine this

alma mater. Yee said people should watch out for a more daring squad. Theres a big improvement in terms of the members movements, and to think that 60 percent of the squad are rookies. People will be seeing a more exciting dance routine. They will see a new squad this year, a warrior whos grittier and even more determined than ever, added Hipolito. She gave hints of a more modern and futuristic routine. The squad captain said theyll make up for last years slip-ups, where some members got injured a day before the competition. As a consequence, the team had to leave off some parts of their original routine. They finished sixth last year. Weeks before the competition, the whole team is in the mindset that they are all winners. These kids are dedicated to what they are doing and they have this hunger to win. Those two things make them a strong squad, said Yee.

REACHING for the top

CAPABLE: UE Pep can surprise the favorites.

PHOTOS BY RICHARD REYES

SEPTEMBER 15-22, 2011

FEU CHEERING SQUAD

Bawal ang Talo

FEU Cheering Squad UAAP 74 Competing Line-up

1. Astillar Rachelyn 2. Asoi Mark Kazuyoshi 3. Aya-ay Ian Paul 4. Bugtai Karl 5. Buluran Lester 6. Bombales Bryan 7. Briones Joseph Buck 8. Caluscusin Jean 9. Cerda Rochelyn 10.Copada Kevin Chiel 11.Cudog Ven-Mar DS 12. De Borja Ronilyn 13. Foronda Kernell Marphil 14. Go Shairelle 15.Glena Mark Lowie 16. Mateo Trishia Raye 17.Palad Marvin Robert 18. Perez Annievi 19.Reyes Ron Rudolf 20.Rivera Francis James 21. Santiago Iris 22.Santos Shaun Ethan 23. Singson, Isiah Joshua 24. Verceles Jovilyn 25.Zuniga Eileen Mae COACHES: Mrs. Jacqueline A. Alota Mrs. Marilou Santos Mr. Peter Padilla Mr. Arthuro Saagundo

lationship. They are given a break while their coaches convene and discuss their props. On this few minutes of freedom, they sit around in group and watch the routine they just performed. We already know what our theme will

be sa umpisa pa lang ng second sem. Lahat ng dancers nagcast ng vote kung ano gusto niyang theme pero si coach Jacq talaga nagdedecide kung ano yung gagawin, said coach Peter. Theyve been practicing the core of their stunts since

summer. Now, they are just counting the days to show it off to the crowd. Keep your eyes open for their tumbling passes and the first pyramid. You wouldnt want to miss out on something awesome.

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DETERMINED: FEU wants to shed bridesmaids tag.

AUGUST DELA CRUZ

By Ruth L.Navarra

HEY are not settling for anything less than perfection. The words Bawal ang Talo is written on the white bulletin board in the gym where the FEU Cheering Squad practice on.

It was coach Jaqueline Alolors words for them before she took a pregnancy leave a few months before. She made them read it again like a stern school teacher when

she visited to watch them finished routine. This is a squad tired of being a bridesmaid. They have only been champions twice, more recently in 2009 but they have always been a contender since 2002. Talo means to be delegated to second or third place, again. Three weeks before competition day, the squad has completed its routine. Yet, they still meet every day to perfect the stunts which they want to execute flawlessly. We want to keep doing it until we get to a point where we

no longer have to think about what were doing because were just doing it. We want it to come naturally to us, says captain Ven-Mar Cudog. They have been nitpicking for weeks. They start their training by looking for weak spots on their lifts, toss, and pyramids. The members are not allowed to stop until they get it right. If they do get it right, their facial expressions are then scrutinized. Dapat makasanayan niyo na yang mga ngiti ninyo. Hindi yung sa competition niyo pa lang

gagawin yan, coach Jacq yells to them. They run through the whole routine all smiles and giving their 100 percent for a crowd of at least 20 that included their coaches and members of the FEU Boosters who do the drums for them. When they finish, the members gasp for air, sweating heavily, devoid of any smiles. Then they are asked to do it again so they revert to their perky selves and do it without complaints. The intense practice showed how strict coaches Jacq and her assistant Peter Kriz Padilla could be. The mood changes once theyre done. They joke around and tease their coaches that meant that outside the dance floor they have an easy re-