The University of the Philippines (UP) Varsity Pep Squad gathered together online to cheer for Philippine General Hospital (PGH) health workers who are in the frontlines of the country’s battle against the coronavirus disease pandemic.
The champion UP Pep Squad video cheer, which put together the individual members, was edited by Erin de Guzman from photos and concept by coach Brent Viray, himself a PGH worker.
Viray posted the video cheer on April 12, 2020, on Facebook with a breakdown of the Unibersidad ng Pilipinas cheer usually heard at UAAP games.
“UP Pep Squad sending forth the UP community in this trying times of COVID-19. Thank you for all the efforts in uplifting the country.
“Breaking down the UNIBERSIDAD NG PILIPINAS cheer with the PGH call as the COVID-19 Center,” Viray wrote as he quoted the letter of Dr. Gerardo Legaspi to the PGH community before it became a COVID-19 center.
“The letter was the inspiration kasi parang in-embody ng letter yung Unibersidad ng Pilipinas na cheer. And during this lowly times, a word or a cheer of encouragement is very much fitting,” shared Viray to Good News Pilipinas.
UNIBERSIDAD NG PILIPINAS !!!
— “To the People Giving Hope (PGH)”… I have had to make one of the most difficult decision as Your Director.”
4 rim shots (tak-tak-tak-tak)
U-NIBERSIDAD NG PILIPINAS (8x)
–“This task is daunting but it will be surmountable if we band together AS ONE””
MATATAPANG
—“It was a decision, nonetheless, that had to be made amidst the rapidly rising threat of COVID-19. Communities and hospitals around us are being inundated with patients. The resulting panic and confusion were palpable and paralyzing, both for the common person and the health workers who will care for them.
MATATALINO
–“What is our beloved PGH, the largest, better-funded, cradle of scholars and idealists, to do?
WALANG TAKOT, KAHIT KANINO
–“Amidst, this chaos, order had to be established. And we have to, lest the enemy-was was not ony COVID-19, but fear itself- decimate the services that were on the verge of collapsing as the crisis continued. We have always responded, time and again, to the call our countrymen when needed, either through training, research, and most especially service.. THIS IS THAT TIME AGAIN!”
HINDING-HINDI MAGPAPAHULI
–“ We have been serving the country for 112 years, being the only hospital that remained open during the WW!!.”
GANYAN KAMING MGA TAGA UP
–“ Let us do this because, through urgently needed, not everyone would want or will be capable to. Let us do this because deep in our hearts – devoid of fear and anger – it is the right thing to do. ”
UNIBERSIDAD NG PILIPINAS (4x)
–“Let us do this for the patients. Let us do this for the students, and for our senior staff who have opted to remain in PGH and continue to serve despite the clear and present danger. Let us do this for our comrades who have fallen, taking to heart the oath we all took.
Taka-tak-tak-tak-tak-tak-taktak – UHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
UP FIGHT!!!
Bayanihan na
The video started with PGH director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi signaling the start of the UP cheer.
“thank you to all our frontliners and to everyone in the UP community who is helping out during this crisis in one way or another ❤️💚 #ParaSaBayan #UPFight,” posted Erin de Guzman.
“Magkikita kita din tayong lahat pagkatapos nito na MAS MATATAPANG,
MATATALINO, WALANG TAKOT KAHIT KANINO (kahit sa COVID)!
Ganyan tayong MGA PILIPINO!” Amity Trono commented.
UP Fight cheers have been sounded off loudly in UAAP games with the resurgence of the UP Fighting Maroons Men’s Basketball Team.
UP College of Medicine doctors also released a video tribute to encourage fellow doctors while singing the UP PGH Hymn.
The Washington Post featured Pinoy health workers at the PGH who are in the frontlines of the Philippines’ battle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The UP-PGH also recently set up an electronic visitation called Tele-Kumusta to address the loneliness of patients and their families. PGH also released a COVID-19 test kit explainer as the Philippines started mass testing in communities.
Among the COVID-19 responses of the UP community: the UP National Institutes of Health-developed first Philippine COVID-19 Test Kit, UP Manila’s low-cost ventilator and UPLB’s ventilator caps, UP Manila and UP Diliman collaboration on the RxBox vital signs monitor, UP Diliman’s ultraviolet cleaning chamber for PPEs, and the UP Visayas alcohol from molasses, among many others.
WATCH the video cheer here and send your own UP Fight cheers to the UP PGH and the UP community for its various responses to help address the COVID-19 pandemic.
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