post-UAAP cheerdance compet thoughts.

So by now I think everybody already knows that UP Pep Squad won this year’s UAAP Cheerdance Competition. I won’t be extending my congratulations anymore since everybody already did. It’s my little way of breaking conventions.

***

Objectively, there were glaring errors in the routine. But because the routine was unique and creative, the combinations of stunts, lifts, and tosses were amazingly complicated, the transitions were magical, and the UP crowd was so pumped up, there was no way to win against UP’s squad (unless, others cheat).

In these times when the trend for uniforms is to use metallics and geometrical patterns, UP chose to wear something skin-toned. I didn’t like it that much. It seemed more of like a costume. But I understand that they’re going for that overall tribo (tribal) effect. Imagine how silly they would look like if they wore something else.

I think that there is something about that Oblation guy at the end that made me feel queasy. He seemed … left out and perky in an odd way. I don’t know.

Before I forget, I also think some squads weren’t able to get much merit because some of the techniques were highly cheated, like the penche, arabesque, and even splits. Jumps are highly learnable, but it will boil down to the height and execution. Constant stretching for good extensions and count, count, count.

***

I had all the reasons to believe that God really loves me. Mind you, last Sunday, my mind was conditioned enough to accept that I won’t be going to Araneta just to try and buy that elusive ticket. But I guess that ticket isn’t that elusive especially when you have a generous friend and orgmate to help out – Bea.

Thanks again.

***

I realized that it is utterly yucky to feel an older woman’s boobs brush against your arm. I realized that it is easy to know when somebody yawns when you’re in a crowd – the smell of the air changes. I realized that some people can watch a high energy event, such as the cheerdance competition, and still end up with a face with no emotion. I realized that La Salle pompoms are soft, fluffy, and cuddly. No wonder the female La Salle cheerleaders never dropped it. I realized that times are changing. People bump you first, before the say “excuse me”. I realized that nothing can be cornier than umbrellas.

***

UP crowd doing the wave***

In terms of cheers, Adamson is the least advantaged. Notice that UP is just U-P. FEU is just F-E-U. NU is just N-U. UST is USTE. UE is just U-E. La Salle just rolls because of the dominance of laterals, say La Salle. We all know that Ateneo is usually pronounced as Atneo or Arneo. But Adamson is A-dam-son. Gets? It’s hard for their crowd to say it again and again.

***

By the way, the guy who was standing beside me was trying to figure out why Ateneo had this rolling “A”. He said maybe it means “A! A for effort”.

***

I’m in great need of a topic for my Creative Nonfiction class. Suggestions?