In Anticipation of the UAAP Cheerdance Competition: UST SDT Redemption?

The UST Salinggawi's routine last year showed the squad's vulnerability. Several evident errors cost them the dream of a double grand slam. Regardless, cheerdancing standards and essentials were met and exceeded. Had the team executed without errors, it would have still kept the coveted cheerdancing title.

In about 2 weeks, another cheerdance showdown will occur in the Araneta Coliseum. I’ve already booked my flight just to see this spectacular event. None of its kind had been as celebrated as the UAAP Cheerdance Competition.

The UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe (UST SDT) will make its first attempt to recover its interrupted dynasty. During the 3-year drought, when UP had its good fortune to win the title, I was a pessimist for the SDT. I was a critic of its halftime performances. I was doing so in comparison to the SDT of the 90’s. When the group snatched the title from UP in 2002, I was dumbfounded. I thought what the heck were those halftime boo-boos for? The group made it up in the actual competition.

Since then my confidence in the SDT went up, although most of its halftime performances remained as practice sessions. They would, nevertheless, compensate for the mediocre halftimes, in the competition. They did this for 5 consecutive years prior to UP’s ‘thank God she fell’ chance for the championship last year.

As each team from the 7 universities now understand and are fully ripe for a chance for the cheerdance title by virtue of their year by year experiences, only UP has come close to Salinggawi’s legacy of cheering in the hard court. I applaud UP for coming this far in its quest to dominate the cheering arena. Every year I look at the competition only between UST and UP. The others fall behind as merely exhibition pieces. UP’s routine last year was a blast, I must admit. They were synchronized for the very first time, although not throughout the routine. Still, there were some parts where they scrambled and seemed incoherent towards the end.

UST on the other hand, capitalized on what they’re known for: excellent choreography, good choice of music, unparalleled synchronicity, perfect poise and grace. These remain to be seen in the other squads programs. Stunts and pyramids had become common ground for all, when UST used to own bragging rights for astounding execution. In fact, it has toned-down in that department as year after year, the same pyramids (although with variations) are used to the dismay of others who look forward to a certain height of caliber from these ‘used to be’ acrobatically trademarked cheerleaders. Besides, they’ve pioneered stunts and pyramids never before introduced in the country. Through the winning years, they’ve come out triumphant nonetheless.

The SDT used to be known as the fastest pyramid builders. Others caught on. UP and FEU can now brag of effecting difficult pyramids. Will this year be a comeback for the SDT in redemption to the banished marks and impressions? Can I anticipate a routine full of stunts and pyramids—another wow experience? Or will they remain compliant to the standards set up by the league and be safe in just accomplishing the requirements? If so, then I look forward to a routine similar to the one in 2004 and 2006. There were formations or parts in the routine that showed their agility and exceptional skills. No other teams were equal in that specialty. I believe that if this year’s routine involves an element where only the Salinggawi can do so well, they can seize the trophy back into their hands.

I am a Thomasian who believes in the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe. But then again, as their mentor, Ryan Silva once said: We perform with no thought of winning. We do our best, have fun and make sure that the Thomasian crowd enjoys it.

With that in mind, win or lose the UST Salinggawi remains in the Hall of Fame for cheerdancing and cheerleading. They set the trend—they made everybody stand up and get better. They spearheaded cheerleading and made everyone eager to improve. This is the legacy of the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe. Too bad, not everyone see and know this fact.

Video Uploaded in YouTube by sixthon07.

In Memoriam: Rue Ann "Jagurl" Salvador

January 1, 1979-August 18, 2008

A confidant.

An adviser.

A counselor.

A friend.

A girlfriend.

A best friend.

A sister.

A daughter.
A loved one.

These are but a few descriptions of Jagurl in our lives. She has even been more than the designation.

Jagurl was an extraordinary person who had a knack in making friends. I got acquainted with her in the company I'm working at right now. We were transferred from different accounts to a newly opened Line of Business (LOB) in a Sales/CS account. I was a newbie in this call center industry and I was only a week old in my previous account. I was nervous to take calls & terrified by the fact that I have not fully internalized my product knowledge. She was a veteran. At that point in time I was somewhat standoffish. I only talked to my batchmates who were transferred along with me. I couldn’t forget how she started talking to me & making me feel comfortable. She was an initiator, a proactive type of person—especially when it comes to friendships. She was thoughtful & very sensitive to one’s feelings.

Eventually we became good friends. We had a great time being team mates in the first part of the LOB we pioneered in. I learned from her. She was a very good communicator. With that talent, I looked up to her & did my best to communicate with my callers in the same way that she did. I had the opportunity to listen to her calls many times and her callers just loved her. She knew how to build rapport in a timely manner. She brought gladness to her calls the same way she brought sunshine to the team.

She was a happy person—someone you can take on to brighten up any gloomy day. She can also be a wacky kind of individual. She can take you out of depression & bring you to a totally different world of excitement & fun. She was much uncomplicated—very simple, yet she could always dress up in style, & can be classy. With that, however, you could notice her innocence to subjects carnal in nature. She was a very religious person. She valued spirituality in a different level—a higher level than those who share the same lifestyle. She employed life with great sensibility, maturity, & responsibility.

She did not deserve the kind of passing she stumbled upon. Those cruel bandits didn’t have to kill her. She died in the arms of cold blooded, selfish individuals who disparaged her plans, obligations, & loved ones—let alone the value of her life.

We see and hear about crime all over. Murders, fatalities, all manner of horrible exploits flash through media every day of our lives—even accidents that involve the loss of thousands of lives. Every time we see the remains of the victims & reactions of those left behind, we feel an affinity with them. We feel for them. We ultimately pray that none of the same nature will happen to our loved ones.

If it does happen, even to a beloved friend, it can be as heartbreaking as losing a dear family member: painful & distressing. Once you hear the news, you wouldn’t believe such brutality would occur to someone we dearly love. At times like these, we come to realize how subtle life is—that in one quick & small moment, it can be taken away from us. How evil are those perpetrators who played in being god in taking away somebody else’s life. They didn’t have the right to do so.

It was Edwin Markham who said: There is a destiny which makes us brothers; none goes his way alone. All that we send into the lives of others comes back into our own.

Those who did this merciless act to Jagurl will have no where to run. If their conscience had been numbed with their repeated commission of crime, they will surely be pursued by life’s boomerang.

Speaking about the subject, the apostle Paul in Romans 13 discusses that this type of crime can not be set aside. In verse 4 he explained about God’s avenging authority: that He “executes wrath upon him that does evil”.

We, the friends and family whom Jagurl left behind, can only be consoled by the fact that she had already passed on to a better life. She lived a life of principle. She feared & loved God & devoted a considerable portion of her life demonstrating that love. In modern scripture found in the Doctrine & Covenants 42:46, the Lord said: And it shall come to pass that those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them.

I couldn’t even bear to imagine the details of how Jagurl died. It must have been physically grueling and painful; but I know as soon as her spirit left that mortal body, a feeling of sweetness & joy enveloped her soul as she was taken back to God who gave her life.

Jagurl had finished her earthly journey and has moved on to the next sphere in the eternal scheme of things. We are all part of this journey together. We were born, as was Jagurl, to experience mortality—to obtain physical bodies & to prepare to meet God. Now that our dear friend, Jagurl had passed on, may we make her memory our inspiration to live our lives in such a manner that we may be worthy & be granted the privilege of meeting her again in the eternities. This reality, therefore suggests that that we consider the real meaning of “goodbye” as an interjection. It means “see you later”. The word “goodbye” or “farewell” appropriately, should be succeeded by phrases such as, “we’ll see each other again”, or “we’ll meet again, some time”.

However, no matter how we look at it, the word “goodbye” is a sad word. I would rather look at it the way Tasha Yar of Star Trek: Next Generation, explained it—she said: Death is when we exist only in the memories of others. So this is not goodbye, but good memories.

Good memories, Jagurl! We love you. We will miss you. We shall see each other again.

I Stand All Amazed: An Apostle In Our Midst

“I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me…. Oh it is wonderful that He should care for me, enough to die for me”.

This is the central point of the hymn our choir sang during Stake Conference this morning. Sally Deford’s arrangement of “I Stand All Amazed” is definitely moving. If you listen to it, you can’t help but exclaim, “wonderful”, “amazing”.

Having the hymn rendered by a youth choir is even more significant.

It wasn’t an easy task to help these young men and women learn their parts in the choir. It took 8 weeks (Sundays) to have them fully internalize the hymn. It wasn’t a perfect rendition, but the spirit of the hymn made up for the lack. These were young people ages 13-17. During practice one can say that these kids aren’t too interested in singing, that they’re too indolent & would rather do something else. Most of the time, they’d talk and talk & not focused on what they came for. Ate Neng, our choir directress, had some grueling moments with them along the way.

I was privileged to accompany the choir in the piano. During the week, we were worried as to how the choir would turn out. The last practice was last Sunday and that meant a full week of no follow-up practice. However, when the time came to perform, the choir sounded great! There’s a part in the music where the choir sings a capella. I usually play the notes in the piano during practice so the choir wouldn’t lose their bearing. At times when I don’t play their parts, they’d get lost. This morning I was thinking of playing their parts when they sing a capella just so their tunes are guided. I also thought of just playing their first notes. I didn’t. They sang exceptionally well in the first part of the song that I trusted they’d be able to make it throughout, even through the part when they sing a capella. That was an incredible moment! The a capella part was the most moving moment of the song:

“I think of His hands, pierced and bleeding to pay the debt. Such mercy, such love, and devotion can I forget? No, No, I will praise and adore at His mercy seat. Until at the glorified throne I kneel at His feet”.

When you hear these words sang & expressed by these young men and women, ages 13-17, with such emotion & conviction, you’d forget about how uninterested & unruly they were during practice. You can say that they love the Savior, after all; that they KNOW what & Who they’re singing about—that they’re actually communicating their testimonies by their singing about Christ’s atonement.

This brings me to relating a truly wonderful spiritual experience this weekend.

I learned much about the Atonement of the Savior, among other things. This is one subject I want to focus on because it brought so much light to my understanding. What’s more remarkable about it is that it was taught by an apostle of the Lord.

The last time I saw an apostle, in person, was in 1996. 6 months before I left for my mission, Gordon B. Hinckley, who was then the President of the Church, The Prophet, visited the country and held a special conference in Manila.

Now that an opportunity to be in the presence of another apostle has come, I wouldn’t let it pass. In fact, this is a very special situation because I, together with the other members of the Stake, will have the occasion to be in the presence of Elder David Bednar up close and personal at Stake Conference. Such intimate setting to be with an Apostle of the Lord is rare. We are blessed in the Stake to have an apostle preside over our conference.

What I enjoyed the most this weekend is the abundance of the influence of the Spirit. One wouldn’t miss it around a special witness of Christ.

I learned from an Apostle today, about the 2 elements of the Atonement of Christ. The first element is common knowledge: The atonement brought about cleansing from sin. The second, however, can only be pointed out & explicitly explained by a true servant of the Lord. It is the strengthening & enabling power of the Atonement.

Christ paid the price for our sins. Because of who he was and how he lived, he became the perfect offering for sin. The truth of the matter is, he did not only pay for our sins, he also suffered our afflictions.

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
(Book of Mormon, Alma 7)

This is comforting knowledge, unequivocally explained by Alma, a Book of Mormon prophet.

As we obey, strive to be good, and become better, we increase our faith in Christ and make use of His atoning sacrifice to strengthen us. The Lord knows perfectly how to strengthen us because He knows what we’re going through & because he experienced our pains and infirmities. But what does strengthening means?

Elder Bednar made use of Nephi’s suffering from his brothers Laman & Lemuel as an example.

16 And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken these words unto my brethren, they were angry with me. And it came to pass that they did lay their hands upon me, for behold, they were exceedingly wroth, and they did bind me with cords, for they sought to take away my life, that they might leave me in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts.
17 But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound. (Book of Mormon, 1st Nephi 7)

Most often than not, we have the habit of asking the Lord to get us out of a difficult situation, or trouble. Sometimes He does, but most of the time he operates by not taking the trouble or difficult situation away, rather He gives us the wisdom and strength to overcome, according to our faith.

In the example above, Nephi understood the atonement of Christ can make him stronger. He knows that in order for the Lord to deliver him “from the hands of his brethren”, he had to do his part, but with the help of the Lord. Thus his plea—“O Lord, according to my faith [which is] in thee…. give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound”.

18 And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet…

Elder Bednar emphasized that the bands weren’t taken off or loosened just like magic. Nephi had to do his part—he had to struggle & work according to his strength & the extra strength that came from the Lord before the bands were loosened.

In Mosiah 24 we find Amulon persecuting Alma and his people. The suffering became so hard that they “poured out their hearts” unto the Lord. This is His response:

13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

Notice how covenants come in, in the process of the how the Lord delivers his people from bondage, suffering, pain, etc. A covenant is a promise from the Lord that He will do His part as we do ours. He made the terms and conditions of that covenant, not us. This is why keeping our covenants is very important if we ever need the help of the Lord.

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

How did the Lord ease the burdens of the people?

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

If one becomes stronger, the burden is still there, but has only become light.

Understanding the atonement of Christ not only gives us hope & knowledge of repentance and forgiveness. It also brings about strength to overcome.

It was amazing how Elder Bednar linked this magnificent lesson of the Atonement to President Montera’s (Stake President) message. He said that if we LISTEN, UNDERSTAND, & OBEY, our lives will change, to a better life, more than we can imagine.

What a timely message it is from an apostle of God, in this most difficult moment in our lives. His coming is a manifestation of God’s love. It shows that our Heavenly Father is mindful of His children, that He sent one of His apostles to raise a warning & teach a lesson about being strengthened in the midst of adversity.

I learned again that this life isn’t about the pursuit of worldly success; it isn’t about doing what I want to do. All around me is the threat of temptation, the voice of peers, the cunnings of the Devil—all these can mislead and confuse me, & can eventually take me off from my purpose & mess up my sense of direction.

One other substantial lesson I learned this weekend is about the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This is different from the power of the Holy Ghost. The power or influence of the Holy Ghost can be available to all people, regardless of religion. The Gift of the Holy Ghost, on the other hand, is only given to those who are baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ. Once this gift is bestowed, one is entitled to the constant companionship of this 3rd member of the Godhead. What a reassuring thing this is, to have the 3rd member of the Godhead be a constant companion. This would mean in every second of every minute of every hour of every day, one can receive guidance from the Holy Ghost. However, this can be only true to one who keeps his baptismal covenant, puts off the natural man & become a saint through the atonement of Christ. As one uses his agency to listen, understand, & obey, he can attain happiness in this world, that kind of happiness that lingers in the eternities.

Elder Bednar said that the sole purpose of the church is that through the atonement of Christ, families can live faithfully & inherit eternities together. All roads lead to the temple. It is the capstone of all the things we do in the church. When a couple understands & put into effect the atonement in their lives, they can kneel across each other in the temple and be married for time and for all eternity. Covenants dominate the lives of families & individuals borne out of the temple. By keeping these covenants & by living worthily, there comes a protecting power.

Elder Bednar reminded us of the temple that’s being constructed here in Cebu. He admonished us to attend regularly & keep our covenants & live worthily so as the protecting power of the Temple can keep us away from harm & from the fiery darts of the adversary.

My weekend was a singular experience. It was spiritual in nature because I got to see and be with an apostle of the Lord & fed by the words of Christ. It was reassuring to hear this apostle bear his testimony as a special witness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me. Secure in the promise of life in His victory. Thus, ransomed from death I will live to my Savior’s praise and sing of his goodness and mercy through endless days. Oh it is wonderful that He should care for me, enough to die for me. Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me”. (“I Stand All Amazed”, verse by Sally Deford, original words & music by Charles H. Gabriel)