From a wide-eyed FEU cheerleader trying to mimic the high-flying routines of UST’s Salinggawi Dance Troupe and UP’s Pep Squad, Gab Bajacan has come a long way.
Back then, he spent long afternoons in FEU hallways, practicing borrowed moves and dreaming of the level of excellence he admired from afar.
Fast forward to UAAP Season 88, and those dreams have come full circle.
Now leading powerhouse National University, Bajacan has transformed from an imitator into a master architect of dominance, guiding the NU Pep Squad to its ninth UAAP cheerdance title in front of 20,129 fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday evening.
In doing so, he didn’t just secure another trophy — he helped NU surpass the very squads he once idolized, making the school the winningest UAAP cheerdance team in league history.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“To be honest, ang mga idol ko talaga nung time na nagchi-cheer ako talaga is UST and UP. Kapag nandoon ka sa likod ng classroom, sasayawin mo yung routine nila — ganon ako ka-fanatic sa kanila noon, while being a cheerleader in FEU,” Bajacan recalled.
“Yung nangyari ngayon ay sobrang hindi na talaga inexpect kasi sila talaga yung nagka-count ng tally dati — FEU, UST, at UP. May sumulpot na NU tapos kami yung nasa team na ‘yon ngayon. Iba yung dating niya sa amin dahil hindi ko talaga ma-explain, ang weird niya.”
But NU’s rise wasn’t overnight. From grueling practice sessions in Jhocson campus to scouting future leaders through Palarong Pambansa, and assembling the perfect coaching team, every detail contributed to building a program capable of dominating the UAAP cheerdance stage.
Bajacan credits NU’s sustained success not only to the shared vision of his athletes and staff, but also to the unwavering support of the school’s management — the true unsung hero behind the program’s back-to-back titles.
“Yun yung mga secret ng NU Pep Squad kung bakit ganon yung programa nila. Yung supporta talaga ‘eh, pag kulang talaga sa supporta, paano ka kukuha ng recruits mo kung wala namang supporta sayo? Paano ka kukuha ng mga coaches kung hindi naman supported ng management yung mga kasama niyo,” he explained.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Even with a historic ninth championship secured, Bajacan is far from settling. His focus is on evolving the system that brought NU back-to-back victories, pushing the program — and Philippine cheerdance — to even greater heights.
“Hindi kami magse-settle na effective ito. Laging merong mali sa sistema mo. Hindi siya pwedeng perfect yung ginagawa mo. Paiba-iba yung tao mo ‘eh, so nagde-depende rin yung gagawin namin doon sa mga generation na dumadating ngayon. Yung generation ngayon, very sensitive, so we have to adapt to that kind of mindset ng mga bata. We have to explain more,” Bajacan shared.
“Ngayon, we have to adapt sa dumadating na bagong generation and yung bago sa Worlds. Nag-iiba yung sport natin at laging nag-eevolve yon. We have to adapt also — adapt nang adapt nang adapt — hindi natatapos ‘yon hangga’t tuloy-tuloy yung pag-evolve ng sport, dapat tuloy-tuloy yung program na nag-eevolve.”
