Beyond the dance floor: UP Filipiniana Dance Group strides against struggles

It has been over a year ever since face-to-face classes were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A lot of students were taken aback by the adjustments to the education sector, not knowing how to properly adjust to the “new normal,” including the athletic teams of different universities.

At the onset of the pandemic, most of the University of the Philippines (UP) sports teams cancelled their respective training sessions in 2020 due to the dangers brought about by the virus.

After several months, the teams slowly went back to training using online platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Discord.

This included the UP Filipiniana Dance Group who tried to apply their usual training schedule back when there were still face-to-face classes.

However, it was still a struggle to adjust for a number of student athletes like Shaira Sumagui, a member of the UP Filipiniana Dance team.

As the team moved along with their usual training, it was getting difficult for her to continue due to lack of a stable internet connection and free space where she can have her training.

Sumagui, who is also the costume mistress of the team, shared that she gets so embarrassed whenever their coach would point out that he could not see her dance movements well because she cannot freely move around her house.

She also has teammates who are struggling with the same issue, relying on network data. Their 4-day training schedule every week eats up a lot of data, and buying the required cellular load consumes a lot from their weekly allowances.

Meanwhile, UP Filipiniana dance group treasurer Kim Berona found it hard to train four times a week due to the lack of access to Internet connection and not owning the necessary gadgets to join their training.

Photos taken from UP Filipiniana Dance Group's page

Aside from rehearsals and academics, the team officers also had to go to Divisoria during the pandemic to buy storage containers for the costumes that were left in the College of Human Kinetics.

According to their coach, the gym would be renovated so they had to get all their stuff left. Sumagui, as the costume mistress, was tasked by their coach to lead the team into clearing and securing their costumes, accessories, and props.

She wished that they should not have been given such tasks during such a hazardous time, but since they were instructed by their coach, they had no choice but to adhere.

This business-as-usual behavior further worsens the mental well-being of the team.

UP Filipiniana Group’s marketing manager Angela Gutierrez said that she had struggled with juggling academics and training altogether. She sometimes felt burnout but could not skip training since it is not allowed in their team to be absent.

According to Sumagui, the coaches always told the team to always show up in rehearsals because it was prescribed in their VAAS contract. Their coach always says: “Trabaho kung trabaho, nasa kontrata na mag ttraining ka, dapat mag training ka.” That is why even if they don’t feel well, they still try their best to show up.

Second semester came and they became aware of the other teams’ training schedules and they were shocked to know that these teams are only training once or twice a week.

Hence, they tried to ask their coach if their training days could be lessened. At first, the coach agreed to reducing one synchronous training session. But after 2 weeks, they went back to their normal training schedule feeling helpless since they did not have a say in the matter.

In order to address the needs of its members, the team organized an online event called “TALIMA” which was a fundraising event dance workshop for the benefit of the current members of the UP Filipiniana Dance Group who are in need of support with online learning and training. It also aimed to secure the group’s costumes and property which were exposed to the elements since the start of the pandemic.

Photos taken from UP Filipiniana Dance Group's page

This led to the team being able to give iPads to the members who did not possess gadgets to use for online training.

This pandemic has greatly affected the UP Filipiniana members because of the different problems they are facing in their daily lives. Yet, Sumagui said they remain hopeful that they can overcome any adversity as a team, as a family.