We won’t be seeing the University of the Philippines (UP) Pep Squad in this season’s highly-anticipated University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Cheer Dance Competition (CDC), but that didn’t stop the team from giving a breathtaking performance.
Hundreds of fans cheered as the drummers and dancers of the team on Wed, Nov 16, presented the piece that was meant to be performed in the CDC. Aptly called “Thank U.Po,” the routine was the squad’s way of thaking the UP community, who stood with the team when they chose not to join this year’s competition.
“”The routine is designed for our true supporters,” said UP Pep Squad assistant coach Pio Opinaldo in a report by ABS-CBN News. “Yung mga sumusuporta, alam nila ‘yung pinaglalaban namin. So, nagfo-focus kami sa mga taong ‘yun. We treasure those people kasi we know na sila’yung kailangan namin,”
(“Those who support us know what we are fighting fot. We focused on those people. We treasure those people because we need them.”)
This squad showed off high-flying stunts and fluid movements. The routine featured The Dawn’s Salamat, Ebe Dancel, Sam Concepcion, and Gloc 9’s Ito ang Liga and Callalily’s Pasasalamat. The presentation ended with a re-enactment of UP oblation and cards that spelled “T-H-A-N-K-U.”
(Mobile users may watch the video here)
The UP Pep Squad had earlier announced on their Facebook page that they won’t be joining the Cheer Dance Competition after failing to reach a resolution with the competition’s organizers over the protest that they filed last year.
UP had placed third in Season 78, and they filed a formal protest to the UAAP Cheerdance Committee, but it was dismissed.
The multi-awarded pep squad will compete in the upcoming 2nd Asian Cheerleading Competition in Jakarta, Indonesia this year.
Meanwhile, the UAAP CDC will be held on Sat at the Araneta Coliseum.
