THE FAR Eastern University cheering squad clinched second place in the UAAP 82 Cheerdance Competition, grooving to Michael Jackson's music and pulling off his iconic moves. But did you know that it's the same strategy that brought the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion a second place victory in 2009 (its first and last podium in the UAAP CDC) — and also won the Philippines a gold in the Hip Hop International 2012?

Meet the man responsible for all three: Randell San Gregorio.
In this Facebook post, San Gregorio poses with the FEU Squad.
For almost a decade, Michael Jackson's moves have been one of the cheerdance coach's go-tos when it comes to dance competitions.
"Michael Jackson talaga na tema will never fail — it's timeless, very flexible, danceable and relatable. Kahit di mo siya kilala, imposibleng di ka iindak sa music niya eh," he said.
This year is also the 10th anniversary of the passing of the King of Pop.

In 2009, San Gregorio choreographed the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion as they paid tribute to Michael Jackson, who died earlier that year. Their dance earned them their first podium in the CDC, finishing first-runner up — trailing, coincidentally, behind FEU's Sarimanok routine.
The Philippine dance squad The Crew also pulled off elevated moonwalks at the 2012 Hip Hop International, where they won gold.
Xernan Alfonso, The Crew's head choreographer, confirmed in a tweet: "Yung man behind FEU's 3 level moonwalk, is THE SAME GUY that is responsible for our 2 level moonwalk. Sya po si Randell San Gregorio, he trained us to do that move. He was head of The Crew during our time and is now coaching FEU."
San Gregorio, however, explained that it was not FEU's first time to do the routine. It was the Morayta-based squad's winning entry in the 2019 National Cheerleading Championship College Coed Competition, which happened in March.

"We had a Michael Jackson theme last NCC. Luckily, we won. After last year’s 70s funky theme, parang sabi ko, ‘Paano natin ita-top yun? Eh kung dance lang, parang ang hirap i-top nung 70s.’ Sabi ko, ‘Eh di si Michael Jackson na lang,'" he said.
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