The 2009 cheering season of the Animo Squad competing team has officially ended. I must say that it was an awesome experience from beginning to end. So many life lessons learned, and so many obstacles gone over, and most were very much worth it. :)
Much thanks to the De La Salle University Manila Office of Sports Development and the university official sponsors Adidas, especially Bro. Bernie Oca, FSC, and Sir Edwin Reyes, for the incredible support and love you two have shown to our squad, and the countless advice and opinions to make us a better squad every year.
To the coaches, Sir Peter Alcedo, Jr., Coach LA Garcia, Coach Ajjie Mendelebar, and Coach Mycs Villoso, thanks for the skills and abilities you have all imparted on this still-learning dancer/cheerleader. Just a little over 2 years ago, when I was still a bass guitar addict, I would never have thought of learning and doing all the things all of you have taught.
Thanks to all family (especially Mum and Pops) and friends for the prayers and support. Never would have done the performance we did, if not for all of you. :)
Finally, thanks to my Gaylie for her love and understanding, even when I had not much time due to all the training and practices. :) <3
To my beloved Animo Squad, a lot of us will not be competing for La Salle anymore. Our captain and co-captain have worn the green and white for the last time, and I'm glad we gave them something to remember fondly. I probably will not join next year as well, as I am graduating in 3 terms. :( Thanks for the love and friendship, and most especially the sense of camaraderie that we all shared. We have given blood, sweat, and tears for our university and the Green and White community, and we can all truly call ourselves Lasallians. I love you all. All the best next season!
Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 CDC. :) UP Pep Squad, you guys are my heroes. :D
Until next year, keep the faith, and ANIMO LA SALLE!!
Academically, the past term has been the best term I've ever had in university. :) I have been blessed with awesome group mates (CITIGOV "Supergroup" Danica, Denise, Marianne, Queenie, Rhona, and Angelique) and hardworking, responsible, and absolutely reliable thesis research mates (Chea and Bea). It's nice to be dancing with Animo Squad and Skittlez Crew, AND get awesome grades as well.
Without further ado..
Citizenship and Governance: 4.0 History of Civilizations: 3.0 Research Methods for IS: 4.0 US Foreign Policy: 4.0 Statistical Literacy: 3.0 Race and Gender in America: 3.5
GPA: 3.583 First honors, baby. :D
Non-academic subjects: Personal Effectiveness 3: 3.0 Lasallian Recollection: P (Passed)
Captain Obvious says Jay is very happy. :D
From Coach Carter: "..they are student-athletes. Students before athletes."
I would like to thank my university, De La Salle University Manila, and our official sponsors, Adidas, for the very generous amount you gave to get some gear. :) It was fun to shop, knowing it's all sponsored. :D
Trying on my DLSU track top. Gayle. <3 My CDC 09 black polo shirt. Black Climacool training shirt. I love this one. Us. :D Some funny posts on the "Why do you run?" wall at Adidas. Thanks again, uni and Adidas! :D
I just finished possibly the busiest and most jam-packed term I've ever had in university. As you guys can see, my blog died. LOL. I am hopefully back though.
Up and coming events I am involved in:
September 13 UAAP CheerDance Competition
September 17 REMIX 09 Elimination round
Still a busy bee this term break, and still waiting for some grades, but I hope to update this blog a lot more. Sorry readers. I saw that from over 300 views a week, I dropped to 80! That's horrible. Sorry again.
I'll be posting up some pictures of happening things, and some shopping (thanks sponsors!). Check back soon! :)
I am in a very good mood. Perfect grade in US Foreign Policy class. :D A 4.0 is always sweet to have!
Never before has it happened that Skittlez had too many dancers for Remix. It sucks to cut people, because as much as we do not want to, feelings would be hurt. :( It sucks that only twelve dancers are allowed. *sigh* Sorry newbies. :( Next year okay? I waited a year as well (I didn't dance in Remix 07).
Presenting, the Skittlez 2009 Remix team.
Jason Cruz* Ann Chua* Nicole Carlos* Elana Cabrera* Jake Go* Cheng Ortaleza Chynna Sing* JC Velasquez Danny Moynihan of Leeds Cesca Rivilla Innah Gan Angel Noel
* members of the 2008 Remix champion team
Pressure on the newbies, but I know they will step up. Let's do this, Skittlez!
Being a third-year student is tough on blogging. My online times are dominated by research (twenty-one new sources alone today, for thesis research), and some chilling out on Yahoo Messenger or shooting up some players on Call of Duty 4.
I'll try to blog a little more, because so many things are coming up, exciting and fun things, and they simply must be shared. :D
I have been with Skittlez Crew since late 2007, and my, what an evolution the crew has gone through.
I really had nothing to do for about half an hour a few days ago, and I compiled an interesting data base about the crew. From the ten original members who competed in Remix 2007 (3rd place), it has seen MANY more new members. After Remix 2007, two new members joined (Jake and myself), thus making up the second generation of Skittlez Crew members.
For Remix 2008, we saw a whole lot of new faces join. 2008 in general saw a lot of members who danced with us in gigs, and generally showed a lot of support for the development of the crew. Out of the ten original members, only six competed again in Remix 2008. We acquired quite a lot of new talent (Elana, Migz, Chynna, Cyrene) and Skittlez would end 2008 as La Salle champions (1st place in Remix 2008).
We had a few members who joined us in on gigs (Cheng, Jess, Brent, Gayle, Maicah, Angel), and now, as we prepare for Remix 2009, we see a whole lot of new faces (JC, Robi, Pao, Cesca, Innah, Rocky, Stephanie), and I can assure all of you that we have some serious talent in the crew this year.
We've also danced in eight gigs (Rock Candy, CBE Oscars, Luminous, MaFia, Green Giant Launch, Danz Dish 4), two of them very special to us (Kundirana Concert 07 and 08, Dagupan). We've performed with some of the best dancers in the region, and we cherish those memories.
We are seeing the evolution of the crew, in terms of dancers, and in terms of styles. This is the third year of Skittlez, and I am so proud and touched that a lot of new and up-and-coming freshman dancers see Skittlez as a place not just to make new friends, but to grow as people and as dancers. To see and hear these new guys want to join Skittlez really touch my heart, because we've done something that a great many crews will not be able to do, ever; to inspire others beyond ourselves, and to show that a crew can be a family as well.
We are a diverse group. We have an engineer now (Decky), we have a Philippine All-Stars dancer (Matt), we have La Salle cheerleaders (Jake and I), we have a school athlete (Pao), just to show some examples. We are achievers, not just as dancers, but as people and students. We give everything we can in everything we do, and as our older members start living lives separate from Skittlez, we thank you for all that you have imparted to us. This may well be my final Remix, but Skittlez Crew will never ever suffer a lack of members or of inspiration.
To our faithful and loyal supporters (Gayle, Maicah, DJ Jet, Zee, Cheng, Sam, plus many more), thanks for the prayers and undying support. :) We are this crew because of your love for all of us.
We are Skittlez. We are diverse. Different flavors, different colors, different styles, but one love. As our awesome DJ Jet did in his special Skittlez mix:
We dance for laughter, we dance for tears; We dance for God, we dance for fears; We dance for hope, we dance for screams; We are dancers; we create our dreams..
An advocacy project for Citizenship and Governance class. Please show your support! Spread the link of this post to as many people as you are able to! We are targeting a few thousand views before the month is out. :)
To the late former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino, Godspeed and may your family be comforted by the love that the people of this country have given, and will continue to give, you for all your efforts and services to this nation.
You have helped toppled a dictator and create a lasting democracy in a country reeling from the terrifying regime of the president before you. I am proud that the green and white of my university flies your yellow for the past week or so.
May you rest in peace, and thank you for making us Filipinos proud of what you've done.
Former President Cory Aquino, wife of Filipino icon and hero Ninoy Aquino, died at 3:18am this morning due to complications from her colon cancer, which was diagnosed last year.
I am supposed to be writing up sources and references for our thesis paper's first chapter, and I had to line up rather long to get access to a computer.
Why?
Because there are a lot of unsympathetic and selfish idiots who feel it is their God-given right to use the campus facilities for Facebook games which - may I remind every university student in the world - are supposedly mainly for academic purposes.
I agree, not specifically for academic purposes, but if there are people lining up, holding books, research materials, and USB drives, kindly understand that these people are actually making use of their tuition payments to be productive.
I say ban Facebook on the campus computers. This post has taken approximately 3 minutes to type, and there are four empty computer terminals around, so I am not shooting myself in the foot. :P
