UP pep squad retains crown

By Francis Santiago - Manila Bulletin - September 8, 2008

University of the Philippines Pep Squad produced another awe-inspiring performance yesterday to retain its title in the 2008 Samsung UAAP Cheer-dance Competition yesterday before a record crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.

Highlighting its tribal war-theme performance by forming an oblation that saw the crowd of 23,000 explode in approval, the 25-man squad beat fierce rival University of Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe and FEU Cheering Squad to capture its fifth overall crown since the event was established in 1997.

For its feat, the UP Pep squad received P195,000 cash prize plus MP3 players for each member.
"I think yung pagkakaroon ng theme, sobra ng pagkakaiba from the other routines," said UP Pep Squad co-captain Angelica Sison, one of the oldest members of the cheerleading group.

Sison’s fellow member Francis Fleta was named as the Samsung Stunner.

The win was a fitting reward for the Lalaine "Lala" Perena-mentored squad as UP is celebrating its centennial anniversary.

With a tribal war story and a "Tribo Sugod" sign to show off during the routine, Sison believed the theme was one of the factors that decided their victory.

"Sa routine namin may preparation for war, gathering of troops tapos yung sugod effect parang makikita sa whole routine namin na may storya in a tribal way," 22-year old Sison, a graduating communication research student who is a candidate for Cum Laude this year, said.

UST, which was dethroned as champions last season after winning five straight title since 2002, overcame a slow start to claim second place for the second straight year.

FEU, which performed with a fire-blazing theme, captured its seventh third-place finish.

The Ateneo de Manila Blue Babble Battalion placed fourth for the second straight year followed by Adamson Pep Squad and University of the East. De La Salle Animo Squad and the National University Pep Squad wound up seventh and eight, respectively.