Physical Education: Cheerdance and Philippine Festivals

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering fundamental arm and leg motions, pyramid structures, and terminology in cheerdance, along with major religious and non-religious festivals of the Philippines.

Cheerdance

A physical activity combining gymnastic skills and different dance genres that ranges from team motivation and yelling to intense physical competition between cheerleading squads.

Cheerleaders

The dancers and yellers involved in cheerdance who perform routines to motivate sports teams and compete.

Touchdown

A basic arm motion where the arms reach straight up and vertical above the shoulders.

Low Touchdown

A basic arm motion where the arms reach straight down and vertical below the shoulders.

Table top

A basic arm motion where the hands are placed in front of the chest and the arms are down at the sides with elbows bent.

High V

A basic arm motion where the arms are held straight up, reaching diagonally over the shoulders.

Low V

A basic arm motion where the arms are held straight down, reaching diagonally under the shoulders.

T motion

A basic arm motion where the arms are extended horizontally and held straight out to the sides at shoulder level.

Half T

A basic arm motion where the hands are held in front of the shoulders with the elbows bent inward.

L motion

A basic arm motion where one arm is positioned in a T motion and the other arm is in a Touchdown.

Clap

A cheer motion where the hands are held straight and placed together in front of the chest.

Clasp

A cheer motion where the hands are held together with fingers wrapped around each other.

Clean

A fundamental cheer leg stance characterized by standing upright with the legs and feet positioned together.

Hitch

A leg motion where the legs start together and one leg is raised so its foot meets the knee of the standing leg.

Front Lunge

A leg motion where one leg steps forward and bends with the knee directly over the ankle, while the back leg stays straight and both feet remain perpendicular to each other.

Basic Pyramids

A multi-person cheer stunt consisting of foundational bases on the floor, an elevated flyer, and a back spot providing support and stabilization.

Flyer

The athlete in a cheer stunt or pyramid who is elevated, lifted, or thrown into the air.

Base

The athletes in a cheer stunt or pyramid who remain on the floor to lift and support the flyer.

Back Spot

The athlete in a cheer stunt or pyramid who stands behind the formation to assist the bases, provide stability, and protect the flyer.

Fiesta

A traditional Filipino cultural celebration held by cities or provinces to honor a patron saint or celebrate a bountiful harvest, featuring banquets, parades, music, and camaraderie.

Religious Festival

A category of Philippine festivals centered around faith, patron saints, the Infant Jesus (Santo Nino), or Christian historical traditions.

Non-Religious Festival

A category of Philippine festivals celebrating local culture, historical milestones, bountiful harvests, city anniversaries, or community resilience rather than religious devotions.

Pahiyas

A colorful feast celebrated every May 15 in Lucban, Quezon, in honor of San Isidro de Labrador, featuring a grand display of kiping, fruits, vegetables, and handicrafts adorning houses.

San Isidro de Labrador

The patron saint of farmers honored annually during the Pahiyas festival in Lucban, Quezon.

Sayaw sa Obando

A fertility dance ritual celebrated annually in May in Obando, Bulacan, where townsfolk dance to bamboo instruments while singing 'Santa Clara Pinung-Pino.'

Patron Saints of Obando

The three patron saints venerated during the Obando Fertility Dance: San Pascual Baylon (St. Paschal), Santa Clara (St. Claire), and Nuestra Senora de Salambao (Our Lady of Salambao).

Moriones

An annual festival held during Holy Week in Marinduque where participants wear masks and attire replicating biblical Roman soldiers to reenact the story of St. Longinus.

St. Longinus

A Roman centurion who was blind in one eye, pierced the side of the crucified Jesus with a spear, and was healed when blood and water fell into his eye.

Ati – Atihan

An annual feast concluding on the third Sunday of January in Kalibo, Aklan, held in honor of the Santo Nino with indigenous tribal costumes, weapons, music, and street dancing.

Sinulog

An annual religious festival held every third Sunday of January in Cebu City and other areas, commemorating the Filipino people's animist origins and acceptance of Roman Catholicism through rhythmic dancing to drums, trumpets, and gongs.

Sinulog ng Kabataan

A youth competition held one week prior to the main Sinulog grand parade.

Dinagyang

A religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City, Iloilo, held every fourth Sunday of January in honor of the Santo Nino and to commemorate the arrival of Panay settlers.

Flores de Mayo

A month-long festival celebrated in May by Catholics and Aglipayans in honor of the Virgin Mary, translating to 'Flowers of May.'

Santacruzan

A religious pageant held on the last day of Flores de Mayo honoring Reyna Elena (St. Helena) and Constantine the Great finding the True Cross.

True Cross

The cross believed to be the one upon which Jesus was crucified, commemorated during the Santacruzan pageant.

Panagbenga Festivals

A month-long flower festival in Baguio meaning 'season of blooming,' celebrated in February as a tribute to the 'City of Flowers' and demonstrating recovery from the 1990 Luzon earthquake.

Masskara

A festival in Bacolod ('City of Smiles') held every third weekend of October nearest October 19, established in 1980 during an economic crisis and after the MV Don Juan disaster to showcase positive community spirit.

MV Don Juan

An inter-island vessel that sank in 1980 after colliding with the tanker Tacloban City, causing the loss of an estimated 700 lives and prompting the establishment of the Masskara festival.

Kadayawan Festivals

A Davao festival that originated from the late 1980s 'Apo Duwaling' celebration under 'Unlad Proyekto Davao' and was renamed in 1988 by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to celebrate flowers, fruits, and ethnic culture.

Kaamulan Festivals

An ethnic cultural festival in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, held from late February to March 10 to celebrate the foundation of the province in 1917 and its original settler traditions.

Cultural-Linguistic Groups of Kaamulan

The seven original settler groups honored during Kaamulan: Bukidnon, Higaonon, Talaandig, Manobo, Matigsalug, Tigwahanon, and Umayamnon.