UAAP Cheer Dance Competition 2007

I was at Subic doing a photo shoot of The Cliff when I received a text message from Rosahlee. It read: “Nood tayo bukas UAAP cheering competition sa Araneta, ganda mag-shoot dun!” and I replied: "Yehey! Makakanood na rin ako ng live!" I’m so excited as I only get to see it on TV.

I met Rosahlee at Taco Bell, Araneta Center past 1pm. The main gate of Araneta coliseum is already filled with yuppies lined up as early 1:00pm though the event starts at 3:00pm. You can easily identify which team or school they represent through their shirts. As usual, scalpers take advantage in selling overprized tickets. Tickets were actually sold out! Rosahlee had a pass from the sponsor, Samsung, so we came in at the production gate at the back. Inside the full-house Big Dome, the deafening beat of drums resonated as students, alumni or supporters from each represented schools cheer their lungs out. The lively crowd and colorful balloons, flags, costumes and other paraphernalia definitely add to the fiesta mood.

Schools vying for the coveted title are Adamson University , Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle Univeristy (DLSU), University of the East (UE), Far Eastern University (FEU), National University (NU), University of the Philippines (UP) and University of Santo Tomas (UST). The criteria for the competition were 50 percent for choreography, 30 percent for synchronization, 10 percent for audience audibility and 10 percent for costume.

The UP Pep Squad won the 2007 UAAP Cheerdance Competitions, dethroning, five-year consecutive champion, UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe by a mere margin. UP brought home a trophy and the top prize of P172,500. They garnered an over-all score of 92.66 points. They truly deserved the title because of their seamless aerobatics performance and pyramid styles. UST Salinggawi Dance finished second place, with measly 0.5 points behind UP. FEU Pep Squad, won third place with a score of 91.66 points. Ateneo de Manila University Blue Bubble Battalion finished fourth, Adamson Pep Squad fifth, UE Pep Squad sixth, DLSU Pep Squad seventh and NU Pep Squad eighth.

I am one lucky girl shooting like crazy on the photographers’ row. I’m grateful to Rosahlee for the opportunity to capture the event. Amazing!

Please click this link =>UAAP to see photos of competing schools.