UST, UP cheer for each other

MANILA, Philippines - This you’d rarely see in regular UAAP outings: Rival sides cheering, not jeering, the other.

When the maroon-clad portion at the Big Dome did its Unibersidad ng Pilipinas chant to pump up the UP Pep Squad, the yellow-wearing crowd at the other end joined in unison.

All along, the Thomasian side used its yellow hotdog balloons to form the letters U and P, an effort appreciated no doubt by the Iskolars ng Bayan, who twirled their right arms while shouting “Go-Uste” when it was University of Santo Tomas’ turn to trumpet the entry of the Salinggawi Dance Troupe minutes later.

“UST chanting Unibersidad and UP returning the favor by cheering #GoUSTe is sportsmanship at its finest!” said a twit from moonleafteahouse, embodying the sentiment most people felt by this twin gesture.

UP and UST are perennial rivals in cheerdance, disputing the bragging rights as to which is the best of ‘em all. Salinggawi has won eight CDC titles overall, just one title ahead of UP Pep Squad’s running count.

This rivalry carries with it mutual respect.