Sun Cellular names UP Pep Squad as its youth icons

MANILA, Philippines - No other cheering team in the country ignites with energy and passion quite like the UP Pep Squad (or simply UP Pep). Known for their breathtaking stunts and smooth moves, they rally the UP Fighting Maroons with their graceful flips, spins and tumbles. Outside the hardcourt, the UP Pep inspires loud cheer from schoolmates with the numerous accolades they have reaped for their school and the country.Young, dynamic and fierce, the UP Pep Squad has been a force to reckon with on the dance floor in the past seven years, beating other schools in the UAAP Cheerdance competition on several occasions. In fact, the squad has held the title for the years 1999, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2010 and most recently in 2011. They recently joined some of the world’s best cheering squads when they won the bronze medal in the mixed team category at the prestigious Sixth Cheerleading World Championships held at the Hong Kong Coliseum.

This time around, they will be rooting for young people as Sun Cellular’s Youth Icons, a title given to a group of young, unique and passionate achievers who epitomize the brand’s personality. “We are proud and happy to welcome the UP Pep Squad to the Sun family. It was an easy choice for us because they represent what Sun Cellular is all about insofar as the youth is concerned,” said Jocel Adorable, Sun Cellular’s assistant vice president for Marketing Services. The official announcement came during the much-anticipated “Elevate: Lift One Another Up,” a sold-out annual dance concert held at the UP Theater featuring a dance and music spectacle. One of the highlights of the event was a dance routine by the UP Pep Squad in which they performed their own interpretation of the Sun Text Unlimited (TU) Power Move, a series of hip swag moves inspired by the equally cool Sun Text Unlimited offers. Their number was oozing with style, confidence and energy, much like what Sun is all about.

“We are truly honored,” said coach Lalaine Perena, who has been at the helm since the team was formed in 1998. She added, “I do hope we live up to their (Sun Cellular’s) expectations.” Perena shared that what started out as a proposal for a one-time sponsorship culminated to a yearlong partnership. Their collaboration started with this year’s “ELEV80s Concert” and things went uphill from that point forward.  

With Sun Cellular coming in to support the UP Pep Squad’s numerous activities for a year, Coach Perena believes that communication among members will be more efficient and seamless given Sun’s unlimited calls and texts which the entire team can now enjoy. Sun Power Text Unlimited 200 comes with 30 days of unlimited Sun texts, 4 hours of Sun calls and 500 texts to other networks, enabling the team members to call each other and coordinate their schedules.

“Sun Cellular boasts of its power to improve the way people communicate and, just like Sun, I believe the UP Pep has this power.” Together, Perena said, they are a powerful team with strong and energetic moves. “That is how we will represent Sun Cellular, UP Pep with Sun Power.”