Searching for the elusive CDC crown

By: Nikki Olga Patricio and John Vince Dela Cruz, FEU

All ready and good to go, there is no stopping the full throttle tempo of Far Eastern University (FEU) Pep Squad on seizing the coveted championship crown in the UAAP Season 72 Cheer Dance Competition (CDC) on September 13 at the Araneta Coliseum. Twenty-five skillful dancers and gymnasts are gearing up and getting ready to jump, toss, fly and parade the green and gold banner with pride. The team is composed of 12 veterans and 13 rookies, two of whom are from the Philippine Team.

The scheme
Last year’s theme was “Blazing Tamaraws”—signifying the squad’s burning desire and determination to grab the gold. This year, the Tams have a new concept; but, as of press time, choreographer and Coach Jacqueline Alolor refused to give their theme as an act of surprising the Tamaraw community. “I’ll give you one clue. It is related to the concept of the opening,” Alolor said regarding their concept. Team Captain Ven Mar Cudog said that the green and gold need not to worry about their surprise theme. He guaranteed that the squad will be showcasing an excellent routine with a colorful and competitive style which will bring pride once more to FEU.

The FEU Cheering Squad during last year’s competition (contributed photo) 

Precision
Pep squad’s training for perfection started since summer and they are continuously engaging in polishing their routine that would help them secure them the top spot. Their experience in joining the National Cheerleading Championship last March also helped in improving them in all aspects of cheerleading—stunts, pyramids, tosses, lifting, tumbling and dance.

According to Cudog, this season’s team is the strongest in FEU Pep Squad’s history. “Malakas in a way na lahat kasi ng dancers magaling individually. Some are even members of the Philippine Team (The dancers are individually skillful. Some members are even from the Philippine Team),” Cudog shared. Although former captain Jon Erik Reyes and former vice-captain Ghereeka Mae Bernabe already graduated, good spirits never left the blazing Tamaraws. Cudog said that even if two veterans are out, more proficient members replaced them.

In addition, every member has an excellent individual skill. However, Alolor requires the team to be superb as a group. With a lot of rookies joining the lineup, towering fighting spirit is imposed to every member. This helps boost their confidence in meeting expectations of a slaying pep machine. “Dahil sa lakas ng team ngayon, ine-expect kong lalaban talaga kami ng hindi magpapatalo (I expect our team to fight to the fullest without any chances of losing),” Cudog said. Dezerie Saldana and Rachelyn Astillar, both specializing on tosses and flexibility, are the two rookies from the Philippine team who will be joining in raising the Tamaraw pride.

Elusive crown
Tracking back, the last UAAP-CDC championship of FEU was in 1998 and it has always been the Pep Squad’s goal to have the crown back. With six consecutive years of being the third placer, the team is practicing harder than ever with eagerness and perseverance to prepare for a head-to-head battle with other squads. The team’s final pyramid last season toppled that gave FEU minus points in the overall scores. Learning from their mistakes, the squad enhanced their pyramid composing and lifting this season to avoid a repeat of Season 71’s fall.

When it comes to their strongest opponent, Cudog sees University of the Phiippines (UP) as a threat. But this does not keep the squad from backing down. Instead, it pushed them to work hard for a counter attack. “Basta alam naming lagi naming kasama si God sa bawat practice hanggang sa competition. Wala kaming dapat katakutan at walang makahahadlang sa’min na agawin ang korona sa UP (We know that God is always with us and nothing can stop us from snatching the crown from UP),” Cudog stated. Trust, discipline and exceptional skill spearheads the determined Pep Squad to clinch what they have been long reaching—the UAAP-CDC championship tiara. “Hinding-hindi kami susuko na mapatunayan na hindi lang kami pang-runner-up, kaya din naming mag-champion ulit (We will prove that we are not just for runner-ups, we can also claim the championship back),” Cudog said.

Watch the FEU Cheering Squad during the FEU Pep Rally 2009!