UPuso: UP Pep Squad dedicates cheerdance routine to student-athletes

UP Pep Squad. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of the Philippines has been constantly leaving an imprint on the landscape of the UAAP Cheerdance Competition.

Year after year, its Pep Squad pull off routine with relevant themes that leave spectators talking for years.

The multi-titled Pep Squad bleached their hair in 2011 and shaved their heads to pay homage to the Oblation a year after and both routines brought home the gold to Diliman.

Even 2014’s #lovewins-inspired performance from UP created a buzz despite losing to National University.

For 2015, the UP Pep Squad is paying honor to the student-athletes who unite the myriad of personalities of a campus.

Assistant Coach NJ Antonio didn’t give out any specifics but said the routine is something the people should “watch out for.”

“There isn’t an exact theme but it would revolve around the phrase ‘utak at puso’ (mind and heart)… because we dedicate this (performance) to student-athletes,” Antonio said. “It’s because when an athlete gets down in an in-game situation people would usually say ‘puso lang.’”

UP’s theme may be encompassing all student-athletes but it will still have the maroon-aura the Pep Squad has always radiated.

“But for us, since we’re from UP, we also need our mind to work with our heart. It’s not always our heart that we should always use, ‘utak at puso’ that’s our homage to student-athletes.”

For more #UAAPCDC2015 stories, check out the UAAP Cheerdance Competition Special appearing on INQUIRER Varsity and the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Saturday.