In A League of Their Own: The UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe and the UP Pep Squad

Pride runs deep in this exclusive triangle of dance champions. Will the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe finally rise from its modest runner-up finish and turn the highest tip back to its side? Not if the defending champions UP Pep Squad can help it. Or will the FEU Cheering Squad spoil the party once again? Ever since the birth of the UAAP Cheerdance Competition (CDC) in 1994, a total of three squads have earned the right to call themselves cheering champions. The University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe leads the pack with a total of eight championships, the University of the Philippines Pep Squad bagged the title six times (the most recent one being last year) and the Far Eastern University snatched the crown from both teams twice. And like any other good 'ol competition, there stemmed a rivalry. Of course there was a rivalry. But before we get to that, let’s talk about this cheerdance thing that has students camping outside of ticket stands just to be able to watch and support their schools. The people who participate in these competitions are cheerdancers or more commonly known as cheerleaders. During any school sport or festivity that requires cheering, they initiate the hand movements, gestures and get the audience to follow suit. They do more than just teach cheers, they have the ability to boost morale and uplift the spirit. How different is a cheerleader from a regular dancer? Issa Fernandez, a former DLSU Animo Squad member (who was part of the infamous AL SALLE routine three years ago) turned La Salle Street Dance Company member differentiates the two. “Cheerleaders are already considered athletes," she says “They’re subject to intense training for lifts, gymnastics and cheers." Issa couldn’t be more right. Plus the fact that there is a bunch of people in the team, it is considered a group sport. “Dancers are more of artists because they express themselves through the form of dance." Being an athlete then, these cheerleaders worry about more things when it comes to their craft. There’s a disciplined training schedule, an agreement to common goals and of course, winning. It is very much apparent that the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe or the SDT and the UP Pep Squad have been doing just that and more by wowing their audiences with their creativity and grace for a little over a decade now. They have set ridiculously high standards in terms of cheering technicalities, dancing styles and gimmicks. Take the CDC two years ago, for example. How awesome was that thousand armed cheerleader from UST? Plus I bet you thought there really was a naked man standing in the middle of Araneta after the UP Pep Squad's performance. It is hair-raisers like these that make a normal college student from either school go "Bam! We're the best." But ask any member from either team about a rivalry and they'll look at you like you're crazy with an "Eh? May ganon pa ba?" And that is exactly what F, a former member of the UP Pep Squad, said when I brought up the topic. "We perform for God and the UP community. Never naging goal ang talunin ang isang team. The goal is to have a perfect run." Even S, who is a former president of the SDT sheds some light on the said dispute. She says that it has and will always be a secret fulfillment to win over a champion team but just coming out on top is what matters the most. "Both teams have equal chances of winning," S says. "We have different ways of showing school spirit. Labanan lang ng puso." This year, UP Pep Squad has pulled out all the stops in terms of stunts, props and even their hair. This year's theme is something everyone can relate to and is "sobrang fun lang talaga," to quote team captain Kae Madrigal. Will the blondes have the most fun on Saturday and keep their CDC crown? We shall see. Meanwhile, the SDT is putting on a fierce show for the Araneta Coliseum with a yellow, black and white color themed routine. Not another word will be said, you will just have to bask in the glory of both squads yourselves. It's almost always been about those two squads in the CDC but don't place your bets just yet. Not until you've seen what the other teams have been up to in preparation for September 17. Some teams have new coaches calling the shots for them. The two-year cellar dwellers Adamson Pep Squad have acquired a new and veteran coach by the name of Arnold Villanueva. “My main goal is to pull us out of the bottom and eventually be at par with the stronger teams," Villanueva says. Ghereeka Mae Bernabe (the new NU Pep Squad head coach) on the other hand says that after this year, everyone will be looking forward to watching the NU squad perform. The DLSU Animo Squad is looking to carry momentum from their championship in the Filoil Cheerleading Competition, which took place last summer. Also with a new head coach in Coach Rhufa Del Rosario, this is rumored to be DLSU’s best routine yet. The Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion will be taking on a theme for the first time in years. Team Captain Jesse San Juan says that this year will be fun and celebratory. "We believe that this will be good for us since we work well when the aura is happy," she says. As for the FEU Cheering Squad, they've been losing cheerleaders in their lineup to sicknesses and injuries but team captain Ven-Mar Cudog has been picking up her squadron telling them "We are tamaraws and by reputation, we are strong. Hindi tayo susuko sa kahit anong laban." Expect these teams to pull off their signature "bone-less" gymnastics again on Saturday. - OMG, GMA News