Isang Pagpupugay

I have this annual tradition to watch the UAAP cheer dance competition on TV or live (if I can get hold of tickets which are really hard to get).

the stage

Although my school spirit may be dormant the rest of the year, this is the time when I have that spirit re awakened. When I hear the deafening drums and thousands of screaming students and alumni, I can't help but join the revelry.

There are moments when I ask myself shouldn’t have I outgrown this youthful exuberance for the hallways I left seven years ago? But moments like this, I feel the student in me, wants to be a part of it again.

Last September 13, the cheering squads of the eight competing schools of the UAAP slug it out in the country's biggest cheer dance competition.

And this year is supposed to be the year UP is going to bag the crown three years in a row, a grand slam. But that dream didn't materialize. The squad got 2nd runner-up honors.

Unlike the 2006 debacle, I wasn't that devastated. Time and again, the UP PEP squad outdid themselves. Every year they set the benchmark for novelty and innovation in choreography, concept and even costumes.

Back in college, they were the first squad to wear tights instead of the usual skirts. Then almost everybody else followed suit the following year. When everybody started wearing tights (I dunno what they're really called though), they wore cut-offs and then following year, it was shorts and the next year, just body stockings with Alibata characters. This year, they sported skirts, schoolgirl skirts at that. (Note: Their costumes this year aren't that visually appealing though, red+green=brown. But it was unique alright, as one fan in a forum said, it's not layogenic though.)

In 2007, they blew me away with their “rock” theme! That was the year when they regained the crown from UST, they used the "Astig" theme. True to their tradition of bringing something different every year, the 2008 theme was tribal, Tribu Sugod.

But this year, the theme was something unique. It is more like a tribute to the UP community that supported the squad all these years (We always have the biggest contingent during the cheerdance competition). The squad used a lot of symbols only familiar to a member of the UP community. Though, some say that this UP-centric theme backfired. They used an Ikot jeepney, Sablay, blue book and songs like State U by Yano, Hari ng Sablay by Sugarfee. Some say that the use of this theme may not have helped enhance the fluidity of the entire performance. Oh well, maybe.

For me though, the PEP squad had such a unique concept but there was a problem with execution. The UP theme maybe just a sidelight, however, their execution spelled the difference. Just like in any ballgame, the coach may have the perfect strategy, a game plan but come game time, there could be mishaps in the execution.

And yesterday, it happened to the squad. A major pyramid formation wasn't completed and one toss went awry. The UP crowd gasped on those two instances (the other cheered of course), maybe, every supporter feeling the third crown slipping away with each miscue. (Every minor error in this competition gets one-point deduction.) And ironically, these missteps happened to the less difficult part of the routine. They nailed the complicated tosses and lifts with such ease. I appreciated how much effort they must have put to perfect those complicated tosses and dismounts.

And yet I still hoped that the other squads might have lapses too. But unfortunately for us and fortunately for them, FEU and ADMU almost had flawless execution. Kudos to them! In a field where there's a new set of judges whose expertise gymnastics and cheerleading, perfect execution (not just difficulty of movements) is of utmost importance. After UP PEP's performance, the crown was up for the taking.

But in a competition dominated by UST (8) and UP (5) crowns, the bitter rivals were hoping that should they not get the championship, their rival shouldn't get the crown too. So when UP was announced as the 2nd runner-up, the UST crowd cried out shouts of celebration, something that the UP crowd didn't take sitting down. So when Ateneo was called as the first runner-ups (Ateneo’s coach is a former UP PEP Squad), everyone in the coliseum chanted FEU as if to spite UST's premature celebration of regaining the crown after UP was announced.

And at the back of my mind, this mob mentality that “Kahit sino puedeng manalo, wag lang yung mortal kong kaaway”, is human nature. And what happened yesterday highlighted this bitter reality. And sadly, I shared that mentality.

But there was also a redeeming factor, a positive note amidst intense competition. Before, UP had no props when all other schools were waving colorful balloons, ribbons and banners. All we had were our fists. It was a pitiful sight at first but I got used to it, only raw voices shouting support like activists on the streets.

the banner (fine print is on the bottom right-hand corner)

But starting last year, UP banners were handed out to the crowd. (Oh yes, we commercialized this too.) And this year, there were additional paraphernalia handed out to UP supporters. But one particular banner gave me goose bumps, not because of what it “shouted” (UP) but what's on the fine print. The banner was an anonymous donation and the fine print says.....”Narito kami nagpupugay sa unibersidad ng aming buhay. I read in a forum that this was a donation from devoted UP PEP fans (aka alumni) who brought the banners to the coliseum, not even sure whether they can get them in the venue or not. Thanks to their generosity, maroon was visible this time around.

Anyway, time and again, the UP PEP squad made me proud to be part of this community, a community that I have been a part of for 8 years. Oh yes, eight years.

Though, the PEP squad ng bayan may not have defended the crown this year. What they did this year gave me more reason to look forward to this competition next year and the next.