Opening the 75th Dia de Zamboanga week-long celebration is the annual Open-Cheerdance Competition. Held at the City Coliseum last February 22, 2012, the competition is one of the sought-after events participated by different schools and universities. This year, 5 teams battled out to show their best stunts, choreography and gimmicks. At the end of the day, CET Hawks Pep Squad of WMSU bagged 1st place with CME Sailor Squad of ZSCMST and PCA Huskies of Pilar College, placed 2nd and 3rd, respectively. Here's a photostory of the event's highlights. More photos after the jump.


The ZNHS Main Squad was up first


Showing some latin flavor in a cultural setting


Raising the banner of ZNHS Main, representing the only high school pep squad to join this year's competition


Second to perform are the Hawks of WMSU-CET, shouting "Ciudad de Zamboanga! Setenta y Cinco Años!"


Hawks soaring high


Clean, precise and high-energy performance delivered by the Hawks.


Guys linked the colored beads representing the different cultures in Zamboanga


The Hawks ending their performance with a solemn portait, showing the religious side of Zamboanga with the oversize rosary.


Keeping up with the competition are the Juggernauts of WMSU-BSN, opening their performance with dynamic stunts and choreography


Juggernaut flyers sweeping everything on their path with their in-sync and sharp performance.


Delivering more intricate stunts


Showing the 75 years as a Asia's Latin City through dance


PCA Huskies of Pilar College is up next, keeping the energy high opening their routine with a bang


Huskies showing their prowess with linked scales


Showing their trademark move - jump landing on splits


All guys up in the air with a toe touch


Depicting a scenery of Zamboanga with colorful sails and the Lady of Pillar, the city's patron saint.


Last but not the least, the Sailor Squad of ZSCMST-PME (Fisheries).


Sailors became krumpers as they infuse cheerdance with hard-hitting hiphop moves


Entertaining the audience as they switch it up showing their feminine side


The girls showcasing the City of Flowers, streetdance style


Paying homage to their chosen career, the guys show some military swag to the beat of the drumline


The Sailors squad wraps up the day with a hair-raising salute. The audience roared with this simple gesture


Mr. Jay Silva, host of this year's competition


Mayor Celso Lobregat announces the third Place: Huskies of Pilar College, former champion of the competition


Second Place: Sailors Squad of ZSCMST-PME.


Sailors pointing out to Hawks while waiting for the winner to be announced.


And this year's new champion are the HAWKS of WMSU-CET. Their energetic moves, intricate and high-precision stunts, and over-all excellent performance brought them to the top.


Hawks giving an encore performance of their winning routine


Towering with honor and pride, the Hawks soar once again


The champs showing off the product of their perseverance, hardwork and sheer talent


The team lifts up a member cheering in joy for victory


The day ends with flying colors.

Here's a video of the winning routine by the Hawks courtesy of carlomoratalla:



It's one heck of a show and we were really entertained with all the performances of the participating teams. The heat between the squads are getting higher and the competition is far from over. Next year, we are expecting comebacks from the non-winning teams as they try to win back the title. A relatively new squad gave us a fresh sight on the field and im hoping there will be more of this stuff next year. As of now, let the Hawks celebrate and remember the essence of this event, to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the city. Adelante Zamboanga!

Piso fare is so tempting. Last New Year's eve Cebu Pac have it's usual holiday piso fare so i grabbed the opportunity to book a flight. My first choice is Cebu since it's been three years since my last trip there. I chose the date, Feb 19-22, so i can be with my sister on her birthday (21). However, we got so busy so we didn't have an itinerary for the three-day trip. So this is how the trip rolled.


Day 1: Ayala Mall. feels like Greenbelt. We're so busy coz we have to finish some editing deadlines.We just had coffee at Starbucks and worked our ass off the whole afternoon. I didn't even have a photo there. Then we went home.


We stayed at Palmas Verdes Subdivision, thanks to Ate Gladys ^^,


Day 2: Went to SM Mall, Lunch at Pizza Hut, Shopping, Went to Ayala Mall, Dinner at Casa Verde.


Me and Ryann, and our sisters, Ate Gladys and Ate Chen. Had Casa Verde's specialty, Baby Backribs. Cool place, too!

Pre-birthday Celebration :D free sundae for ate!


Had a good laugh at 22nd Street Comedy Bar at Mango Square.

 
Ate Gladys and his buddy, Mark, on stage. :)


With Miss Ethel Booba :D She's always at Cebu because of her boyfriend. She sang Adele's "Someone like you" and "Rolling in the deep".

 
Im so red. Haha


Day 3: Did nothing the whole day. Went to Cebu IT Park late in the afternoon already. Took this photo of the backlit church on the way.

 
Had some coffee at McCafe at The Walk, then checked out the little stands in the middle of the park.


Bought some KK for pasalubong.


Timer - 10 seconds. Pose.


Headed to Port Seafood Restaurant for dinner. Ate is not yet there so we left our things and went to the casino area just behind the restaurant.


Inside, there is a strip of restaurant lined up outside the casino area. Every resto represents different countries. From Japan to Greece, from Italy to China. It's like traveling the world in one place.

Photo session with Ate Gladys. :D


Dinner Time! Ate treats us with an eat-all-you-can buffet! :D


Happy Quarter of a Century Birthday Ate!

 Went to ate's workplace near Mango Square at Northern Works. Time to say goodbye :)   Long-exposure photo at the roadside :)
Then we headed to Royal Spa at Lahug. Thnx to Juhan for the GC's!  
 Then, back to Zamboanga first flight in the morning :D

Twas a short but nice trip :) More food trip and just spending time with Ate :)
I wish we could've visited more places but no worries imma be back on April :Dhaha

~le fin.