UAAP Season 73 (Sept. 12, 2010)

Cheerdance Competition, it is something to look forward to every intramurals. When I was in high school, my friends and I used to go to school early to reserve seats on the staircase to the third floor library. We were prohibited to watch on the rooftop. That part of the event was always blockbuster.

I was lucky to be one of the enthusiasts to watch such an event as big as University Athletic Association of the Philippines. The week before, I invited my beloved friends from high school who studied in Manila to watch UAAP Cheerdance Competition live at Araneta “Colishum” (instead of Coliseum. Man, i love poking fun at this! Haha!). Only one responded, that was KP.

Six days before the said event, I went to the PE Dept. to buy tickets. But my PE prof said it was available on Wednesday. Then Wednesday came. But our prof said it was SOLD-OUT! But we said even general admission tickets were fine. Then our prof sold us those “hidden” tickets.

The event came. I came from Nueva Ecija that time. I waited for KP at the Tayuman Station (LRT). After several minutes, KP came. Antagal niya as always! Haha!

Then we went to Araneta early, however the crowd told us we’re late! I peeked on the tickets’ prices. Wow! They were more than twice the original price! I’m telling ya, even the rich Atenistas and La Sallites bought General Admission tickets!

Ang pogi kong ticket. Kahit mura iyan, sold-out iyan!

As we entered, blood came rushing through my veins! I was that excited that time! The General Admissions corridor is much different from the usual corridor. You couldn’t see food stalls there. *sighs*

We entered the first entrance we saw. Whoa! We barely saw anything! It was full of Tomasians (UST students)! Then we went to the second one, it was full of La Sallites! Then the third, it was full of Peyups (UP)! The view was kinda okay. We saw some of the court. We heard that on the next one, the views were fine. So we went there. We had no idea it was the AdU’s spot! Haha!

Even though I’m an Adamsonian, I went there to watch the phenomenal UST’s piece. They have the legendary Salinggawi Dance Troupe!!! (FEU was the champion last year.) So, we cheered for “uste”, as we fondly call it.

University of the East (UE) Pep Squad started. Followed by (not in chronological order though, I forgot, sorry) the 2009 1st runner-up, Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Babble Battalion, De La Salle University (DLSU) Animo Squad, University of Santo Tomas (UST) Salinggawi Dance Troupe, Far Eastern University (FEU) Cheering Squad, University of the Philippines (UP) Pep Squad, Adamson University (AdU) Pep Squad, and National University (NU) Pep Squad.

The Salinggawi Dance Troupe’s routine was breathtaking! Their uniform’s cute! Even their props were. I barely blinked an eye! I love it! So much! For you to agree with me, watch this:

FEU’s routine was another one. But I prefer USTe’s hehe.

UP’s oriental-inspired routine was–wow! Still, USTe pa rin! Haha!

At the end, the results were:

UAAP Cheerdance Competition 2010 Results:
Champion: University of the Philippines (UP) Pep Squad
1st runner-up: The Far Eastern University (FEU) Cheering Squad
2nd runner-up: University of Santo Tomas (UST) Salinggawi Dance Troupe
Samsung Stunner Award: Nikka de Dios(DLSU)

(source: http://teampilipinas.info/2010/09/uaap-cheerdance-competition-2010-kicks.html)

What an exhilarating experience! I love it! SOOO MUCH though USTe didn’t win! I’m looking forward to next year!

UAAP Season 73 (Sept. 4, 2010)

(Yet again, another reaction paper for midterm grades… Good thing we have this, or else I’m dead. Haha!)

On September 24, 2010, for the first time in my life, I traveled alone to Araneta Coliseum through jeepney and MRT. (I brought Konkon with me every time I watch there. Too bad I couldn’t have Kon-chan. :() When I set foot on Farmer’s Plaza (Cubao, Quezon City) and searching for the way to Araneta, I got lost. The mall served as a labyrinth to me. When I finally got out, I was relieved to see my classmates at the entrance of the Big Dome.

Buti hindi na sinira ng admission guy. Haha!

Just like what we did the last time, we sat on at the upper box-b near the thunderous drum beats of the DLSU (Animo, La Salle!) since we sat near them.

The La Sallites really were rich! They rival the wealth of Atenistas! (Or they were much richer) They occupied three-fourths of the Patron Box (the front seats) and the upper box-a (to those who were out of tickets)! They scarcely seated on the upper box-b in contrast of the UE students and us.

We started the first game of University of the East Red Warriors and De La Salle University Green Archers. I cheered for La Salle for I feel like it. No reason at all. Hehe. But when my classmate explained to me why we should cheer for UE, I commenced to do it so, albeit we seated next to the Archers. Hehe. My classmetes felt like annoying the reserved Archers. They keep on shouting purposely, “UE!!! Galingan niyo!!!” or “Go UE!!!” La Sallites looked at us every time we did so. They didn’t cheered for them, maybe they were but silently. They were really reserved! Calm and reserved, just like what a true heir of a large company behaves. If La Sallites were to win, they would tie our standing, and we didn’t want that to happen. Fortunately, UE won.

This was what we’re waiting for, the second game, of course, of our beloved alma mater, Adamson University Soaring Falcons versus National University Bulldogs.

Every time our team scored, we cheered on the top of our lungs that strained my voice box! I barely sat on my seat as I watched painstakingly. I, together with my fellow Adamsonians, were so full of energy cheering for them. We were really nervous as the fourth quarter came. It was a close fight, so close that no one could predict who would win and who wouldn’t.

My heart thumped as the last seconds of the game approached hoping that our team scores. Unfortunately, Bulldogs scored three points as our team’s defense shattered.

National University Bulldogs won over Adamson University Soaring Falcons with a score of 62-59. We were all depressed and disappointed of the outcome of the game.

God was still with us for we are still enthroned to the third place of the Final Four (1st-FEU, 2nd-ADMU, 4th-DLSU). I do hope and pray for our team to win this season.

UAAP Season 73 (Aug. 5, 2010)

(This is originally my reaction paper for Physical Education as a requirement for preliminary grade. And since I forgot my supposed-to-be-draft, here I am, thinking of what happened on that day. Here it goes:)

As a student of Adamson University, I was lucky to watch University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 73 at Araneta Coliseum. And that’s my favorite part.

This ticket was kinda ruined by the careless officer in the gate!

As I, together with my classmates, set foot to Araneta Colishum (that’s how my prof in PE pronounces “Coliseum”), I saw only two colors, blue (AdU) and red (UE).

Well the first game was of AdU Soaring Falcons and UE Red Warriors; the second game was of ADMU Blue Eagles and UP Fighting Maroons, anyway.

As we entered the Coliseum, the roaring students overwhelmed me. Men, they’re cheering on the top of their lungs! Not to mention the earsplitting drumbeats of, of course, drummers of each team. Whoa! I felt like joining them.

We seated on the upper box-b near the thunderous beats of their drums. Yeah, it was deafening at first, but when you got used to it, it’s not blaring anymore. Trust me. 🙂

I noticed that both schools gave their all in cheering, for they were both answering each other’s cheers. Say, it was like a debate or Balagtasan. When my classmates started yelling, (yes, yelling, as in cheering or better yet, shouting) I started to yell on the top of my lungs.

Since I was kind of snob during my first months, (yes, I WAS, I’m inept to crowds or strangers. I think I’m demophobic.) I didn’t talk to them that much. But because of the overwhelming cheering crowds, I was at ease and yelled on the top of my lungs, liver and intestines until I ran out of voice! I rested for a while for the game wasn’t starting yet.

Then the game started. AdU scored 2-points first! Yay! Every time AdU scores or our player held the ball, I could’t help but yell, scream, and shout! Men, I never felt this ecstatic before for a basketball game, really.

AdU won, of course, with a score of — *I forgot, sorry. Hehe*

After the game, both schools sang their respective school hymns. I proudly sang Adamson Hymn, head held high!

After that was ADMU, my favorite, and UP’s turn. I noticed, since I was next to Atenistas, that most of them occupied the front seats which were prone to “accidents” like ball hitting an audience or two. Something like that.
Man, I could feel the difference between our statuses! If I were to be a scholar in Ateneo or La Salle, I’m sure, my life’s going to be like Boys over Flowers without F4 (though I hope there was). I’m in my threadbare backpack, they are in their Louie Vuitton bags. I eat my “baon” or budget meal worth the cheapest price in canteen or outside the campus, they eat French cuisine that I never heard of.
While I was in my PE uniform, the Atenistas were in their signature or branded “civilian” clothes. That’s reality, peep. I was out-of-place! So hierarchy exists?

With that thought, I turned to the UP’s side just in front of us “Atenistas”. Oh, they weren’t that supportive of their team. There were approximately less than one-fourth of the upper box-b “cheering” for their players. And of course, they were scattered, most were occupying upper box-b.

Then, before the first half ended, I went around the circular corridor. And then, I saw the Ateneo Souvenirs Stall. I saw T-shirts, caps, and other keepsakes for a high-price (for me). And I saw a key chain of it for only PhP60!!! Gosh! I wanted it badly! But then, I was in a state wherein I was outta cash! Unlucky me!

It’s already getting rush hour! The horror! The horror! Although it was already the horrifying rush hour, I boarded that stupid train… And as expected, I was sandwiched between workers and students. Poor me. 😦

But the best part was I got a souvenir!!! Haha! Aside form the ticket that was partly ruined by the officer, of course! (but I want the ADMU one!)