Cheering Squad - College of Education (S.Y. 2009-2010)

This is the video of last year's performance from the College of Education. They got the second place for this after the grand champion, the College of Arts and Sciences. :D

Go for Gold

"Aiming to win in a competition is a good thing. However, there would always be separate feelings between being a spectator as well as a supporter and being a participant yourself."

Inasmuch as I wanted our college to win in the Cheering Squad, I still cannot disregard the preparation of the other colleges. I know all of us are aiming to win, considering the many tedious mornings and afternoons spent just for the routines to be mastered, to the point of making it a natural rhythm already. I know it wasn't only our college who thought Cheering Squad is only simple and easy to memorize yet realized that one needs to have the talent, patience, persistence, and discipline in order to attain that level of perfection. And that level of perfection, as far as the performances I saw last year and the videos I reviewed on YouTube are concerned, has not been reached yet. There would always be glitches, late turns, mistaken actions, wrong alignments, defective props, and distractive audience boos. Nobody seemed to care anyhow. What they wanted are the energetic yells from their colleges and the not-so-obvious-they-committed-a-mistake-on-that-part routine. I know how often other squad members are scolded by their instructors for misbehavior and slow memorization of the actions. I know how, at the end of the day, they all look flustered, livid and weak, just as how Death Eaters suck good memories out of their preys. I know how intimidated yet challenged they are upon hearing comparisons between their performance during practices and other colleges'; so similar to how we felt the moment we heard that other squad teams are doing well while we are still having a hard time moving our heads from one direction to the other together and struggling to maintain power and persistence from the beginning to the end. I know, right? :D

I tried to calm down during our rehearsal but as the time slowly consumed our moments of rest on the bleachers, my heart began to thump. Fifteen minutes of executing the entrance formation, the marching synchronization, and the exit seemed very small for us to make it errorless. And though many were watching coming from other colleges and squad teams, we still managed to get applauses from them. Maybe it was some sort of discrimination for not having a smooth-flowing entrance and exit, or perhaps an encouragement, that although we had countless mistakes during the rehearsal, we still kept our smiling attitude apparent to the crowd, or maybe, just maybe, we really have shown our edge already to them.

This isn't bragging. This isn't saying that we will defeat the defending champion, College of Arts and Sciences, or the potent College of Tourism and Hospitality Management. They are good, many said, far better than our performance and power. I even have reservations on how our ending would turn out with those unsatisfying and damaged-na-wa-pa-gane-competition "seedlings."But many are saying, " Stay strong. Stay positive. Kaya nato ni."

We only have a few more hours before the big body painting day and competition gala. We still have one more final practice session. We still have a few more moments of bonding as a Teacher team. And if it would mean win or lose at the end, no amount of trophies or plaques or cash prices could surpass the experience of getting nervous and yelling for five minutes with synchronization and beauty to a large bunch of judgmental crowd.  

A Testimony From a Fighter

With God, all things are possible. 

This morning, while preparing myself for the Sunday service, I cannot avoid myself from anticipating to see a sister in Christ who has missed fellowshipping with us for quite a long time now.

A couple of months ago, she has been feeling random headaches and nosebleeds that disturbed her pretty well. With that, she has to stay home, tolerate the pain, and even miss Sunday services. She then decided to see a doctor for possible complications. To her terror, she found out that she has a brain tumor and that it has been growing ceaselessly. The doctor told her to have it removed or else her head would pop and bigger problems might occur later on.

The discovery itself was a big problem for after several check-ups and C.T. scans, she was given two tough choices -- to have it operated and lose her memory for good or to let it grow and wait for her time to arrive. 

She sought for her pastor's advise and was offered prayers by all the church members. At first, she decided to try to go natural and slashed meat and hard foods from her diet. However, as time went by, the pain persisted and she has to return to that tough decision that she has to make.

She finally made a great leap of faith. She told the congregation in the church that she is attending that she has decided to have her head operated. She was so willing to go for it, and was hopeful that it would be the solution to her problem. I can see the conviction in her eyes that day. She was still smiling when she shared it to all of us. She seemed not to be affected for, according to her, she has a strong faith in God and that if ever He will allow her to lose her memory, then she knows that her kids and her husband is in good hands.

She was operated in Cebu and we prayed without ceasing for her recovery. She wasn't afraid of anything at all, well except perhaps the hospital bills. This was evident in her face moments before her operation started. The doctors were even surprised with the high spirits she has been exhibiting all throughout her existence in that hospital. She seemed not to have any ailments at all.

The operation lasted for four hours. Then, her daughter called up our pastor saying that she had undergone a successful procedure. Our main concern yet was her memory. Did she lose it? Would she remember she has three kids and a hopeful husband abroad? Would she even remember her name? Questions ran through my head. What might happen next?

To make it short, she has come home after months of confinement and has attended the Sunday service again. But she has to return to Cebu for more radiation therapies. Well, she did not lose her memory, if that was what you think. Another answered prayer once again.

On her testimony before the worship service this morning, she said that she was never afraid of what the surgeon did to her. She knew that if the Lord will allow her to be gone for good in this mundane earth, she will be with her Heavenly Father, enjoying an eternal life in that place He solely prepared for all of them who believed in Him. She has even managed to make a joke out of it. "May pay nalimot na lang gani ko para wala na koy problemahon." Then, her eyes turned watery. A smile followed.

There, I realized how God gave her that second life she requested. And not only that. He gave her a firm spirit through that tough time. He knew she could make it because He promised not to leave her nor forsake her. She already has this assurance on where to go after Death will eat her up. The scars on her head are still there but the stitches are slowly healing. It really made a mark on her skull and she has to have her hair cut. But now, she's as normal as she looks with those jovial smiles and words of inspiration for all of us.

"We will all die but the extension of our life is always a great blessing."

Not All First Impressions Last

Some of them would only last for a minute or so.

I was riding a jeepney to school one Thursday morning and I was not in the mood to mind the people around me. However, one guy caught my attention -- not him really, but the shirt he was wearing. You see, I have this attitude of reading t-shirt prints especially when it is embossed in a colorful manner.

Anyway, he sat across my seat and what made me react silently was the "No guts, no glory" cliche on the upper portion of his shirt. Then, I stealthily inspected the logo below it. It was already a blur on my mind but I think it was of a lion or an eagle of some kind. On the lowest portion was an unclear print yet I was able to read it -- Kappa Alpha. I immediately concluded that he was a fraternity member. I glanced at his face. He looked intrepid and silent. But I know that he is hiding something from within his face that made him a member of that certain brotherhood.

After making that concluding statement, I shifted to watching the views outside. Moments later, however, my eye redirected me to that shirt. I reread the print. To my surprise, the message below was not the same message that I read earlier. Now, it was "CVIRAA Meet 2010." I don't know if I will still believe what I just saw but it was really it. I tried to stop smiling and moved my lips in an ostentatious manner so that no one would think that I have gone crazy for laughing without a reason.

My intrepid impression of him lasted for almost ten minutes. This time, I would be cautious in reading things and putting conclusions in them. Maybe my eyes have defect already or maybe I was just preoccupied by something. I don't know. What I know is that I read it wrongly and I would try my best not to do it again.
*smirk*

In Christ Alone

Be strong and take courage!

Two in one. My frustrations came in uninvited and I cannot just shoo them away. I have to face them or else I would crash. I have to deal with these things for I know I can do this. I have SOMEONE who can help me. All I need to do is call on HIS name. They might seem minor bitterness but if I worry much about them, they become major ones. Worrying so much won't give me any good so I'd better not. I have to proceed, correct the mistakes that I did, try not to do them again, and lean on the only SOLID ROCK for strength and protection. I mustn't give up, for in CHRIST alone, have found my strength. ♥