The UP Pep Squad together with their coach, Lalaine Juarez-Pereña and Prof. Rubén D.F. Defeo, director of the UP Diliman Information Office (UPDIO) and the Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts (OICA) paid two separate courtesy calls to UP President Emerlinda R. Román and UP Diliman Chancellor Sergio S. Cao on May 27.
The UP Pep Squad made the call after emerging 1st place in the regulation division and third place in the international mixed group division in the recently concluded 3rd Cheerleading Asia International Open Championships held at the 1st Gym of the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan from May 16 to 17.
The squad’s first call was to the UP President at her office in Quezon Hall. They later trooped to the South Wing and made their courtesy call to Cao.
Competing as Team Philippines, the squad vied with counterparts coming from seven other countries that included China, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand in four categories, namely: regulation, international mixed group, and two stunts divisions, i.e., all female and mixed.
The competition was authorized by the International Federation of Cheerleading and the Asian Federation of Cheerleading. It was hosted by the Foundation of Japan Cheerleading Association. The Philippines participation was organized by the Cheerleading Philippines Federation under President Evan Alvia.
The members of the UP Pep Squad who went to Japan led by Coaches Pereña and Niño José Antonio, and accompanied by Defeo, included the following: Therese Nicole Aguinalde, Richbert Patrick Asunción, Raphael Paolo Arguillo, Laurene Martin Bautista, John Paul Belarmino, Kiko Cortez, Anna Francesca Cruz, Pauline Melisse del Rosario, Andrea Kristela Gonzales, Bien Joseph Insigne, Monalyn Luna, Jens Audric Mempin, Pio Niño Opinaldo, Irish Adrienne Planes, Carlito Serrano, Ma. Angelica Sison, Juan Carlos Serrano, Ivy Noreen Tabares, and Brent Andrew Viray.