School spirit runs high in this much awaited sporting event
The WNCAA Cheerleading Competition has always been the culminating and most anticipated event for the only tri-level all-women’s athletic league in the country. It is where each member school gets the spotlight to showcase its distinct school cheers and culture.
Held last March 16th, this annual sports event has become a big family or community event for friends, family and supporters packing the Rizal Memorial Coliseum that Sunday afternoon.
This season there were only two categories, the Juniors and Seniors Divisions and member schools, Assumption Antipolo, Assumption San Lorenzo, De La Salle Zobel, Miriam College, San Beda Alabang, St. Paul College Pasig, St. Scholastica’s College Manila, UST- Angelicum, Centro Escolar University, Philippine Women’s University, University of Makati, and University of Asia and the Pacific competed in their respective divisions.
A festive moment
Before the start of the competition, not to be too overpowering for the audience, the bands of the member schools took turns playing their school beats and cheers, and one school even brought a brass band and played their school songs.
In this festive competition, drums and school bands are also highlighted. The WNCAA Cheerleading Competition tries to highlight each member school’s great traditions, some of which have existed for almost a hundred years. As the Cheerleading and Cheerdance Commissioner of the WNCAA and Executive Director of Cheerleading Philippines Abigail Alvia said, “Philippine cheerleading is different and distinct, and has its unique flavor, because our educational institutions here have their own school culture. Though our manner of judging is still based on international standards, we still try to keep that local flavor, found only in the Philippines, hence drums can be part of the routine.”
Philippine cheerleading started back in the 1920s and 1930s and was originally an all-male activity— when all-boys schools like San Beda, Ateneo and La Salle came up with their own fight cheers, songs and cheerleaders to rally their crowds during basketball games.
That is why as a homage to the country’s cheerleading roots, there was a special intermission performance of San Beda Alabang, one of the league’s member schools with a rich cheering tradition happened.
University of Asia and the Pacific are champions for the third straight year in the College Division, while De La Salle Zobel bagged the High School Division championship trophy—a first for the green school. For videos of the performances of the competing teams, check out our YOUtube channel, captured using the OPPO Find X8.
Here are some of the highlights, sights and sounds from the 55th WNCAA Cheerleading Competition:
Nino Jose Antonio (Photo by Shoun Nicholas David)
