Hard work, discipline key Perps’ roll in cheerleading

MANILA, Philippines - Winning five straight and eighth overall in the first 10 years indeed makes Perpetual Help the toast of the NCAA Cheering Competition. But the amazing Perps said there are no secrets to their success but hard work, discipline and faith in each member.

“From the start, we always preach the words hard work, discipline and faith in each other’s ability,” said Perpetual Help coach Ruf Vandolph Rosario, who transformed the Altas Perps from a struggling cheerdance group into an unbeatable crew the last five years.

Rosario also cited the school’s all-out support, including its athletic department headed by the father and son tandem of Antonio and Anthony Tamayo.

“But all of these will not happen without the support of the school, Perpetual Help, and our officials who all made sure that we got what we needed,” said Rosario.

Every year, the Perps squad has made sure it came up with new routines and tougher stunts to keep in step with the rest of the competition and remain on top of the heap.

“We know that the other schools have improved so we made sure our routines and stunts will be more difficult this year,” said Rosario.

In their latest feat at the MOA Arena, the Perps again enthralled the judges and the fans with their routines, even stepping up a notch or two in every toss, acrobatic stunt, pyramid, cartwheel, dance and jump for another performance to remember.

They bucked a slip midway in the routine and came out of the battle triumphant for the fifth straight time, scoring 480.8 points, thwarting the Arellano U Chiefs, the Mapua Cheerping Cardinals and the Lyceum Pirates.

Arellano U ended up runner-up for the second straight year with 468 points while Mapua and Lyceum finished third and fourth with 460.5 and 450.5 points, respectively.

Next for the impeccable Perps is the National Cheerleading Championship, which features the top teams from rival UAAP, set tomorrow, also at the MOA Arena.

“Hopefully, we can make the school proud again by winning this next event,” said Rosario.