MANILA, Philippines - Meet Ghicka Bernabe, the charming lady who unleashed the fierce roar of the NU Bulldogs Pep Squad in the last three years.
Her closest friends dub the former FEU Tamaraw star flyer as a born winner who has a penchant for untested formulas and interestingly succeeds in it.
“She’s got a creative mind. She explores new things which others never tried before,” said Gabby Bajacan, NU’s assistant coach and Bernabe’s former teammate at FEU Pep Squad.
“If we don’t get a routine right on the first try, she’ll find other ways to achieve the same result,” he added.
That’s why if you look at what NU’s doing, you’d think it’s impossible to execute it and we ourselves say ‘Ghika, that’s impossible’ but she insists we do it,” added Bajacan, who has been with Bernabe at the helm of the NU coaching staff since 2011.
Bernabe’s unconventional cheerleading philosophy was clearly evident when they broke the championship monopoly of UP, UST and FEU in the UAAP cheerdance tilt with a landslide 696.5-point victory.
“She and her group were highly recommended to us,” recalled NU Pep Squad team manager Patricia Chunsim. “And true enough, interview pa lang namin she already elicited a tough persona.”
“When we met her, she not only presented her program. She gave a clear cut plan on how we will go about that program. Not unlike others who are good only in making a presentation,” she added.
And after stunning the country with their breathtaking act last year, the SM-backed NU Bulldogs are now gearing up for a more dazzling performance in their UAAP title defense, which Bernabe vows will be another milestone in Philippine cheerdancing.
“Every year our aim is to beat our own standards, nagpakita sila ng magandang performance last year. So we want to show a better routine ngayong taon,” she said.
“Every year dapat mag level up kami. And since champion na kami last year, we want to aim at a bigger target, bark-to-back championship,” said Bernabe of the NU Pep Squad which took the biggest jump in the UAAP Cheerdance hierarchy after finishing sixth in 2011 and third the year after.
And now that all eyes are on the Bulldogs, the charming former Palarong Pambansa gymnast from Bulacan vows to protect the title against tough teams like 8-time champion UP and perennial rival UST.
“I am confident at our chancers kasi mas maganda ang ipinapakita sa ensayo ngayon ng mga bata, at ayaw nilang tumigil,” she said as they gear up for the September 14 UAAP Cheerdance wars at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“In fact, we reviewed our routine and stunts last year and hindi pa sila kuntento, which is very positive lalo’t our critics claim na nagkataon lang na nakapag execute kami ng near perfect routine last year, we want to prove to them that NU’s championship is no fluke,” added Bernabe.