The MHAM Upbeat in their groovy-shaky moves during the 2016 Central Visayas MGMR competition
The MHAM CM official dance team known as the MHAM Upbeat was proclaimed 2nd placer from the recently concluded MGMR competition last October 16, 2016 at the SWU Coliseum.
This was in line with the annual activities initiated by the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC) in Central Visayas hosted by Cebu City this year. MedGroove and war dance are categories in the MGMR competition.
Composed of nineteen students from first to third year level, the MHAM Upbeat represented the school besting other participating colleges and universities in the region and emerged as second.
Feel the beat with MHAM Upbeat
This year’s participating schools includes Cebu Institute of Medicine, Silliman University Medical School, SWU Phinma School of Medicine, Cebu Doctor’s University College of Medicine, UV Gullas College of Medicine and MHAM CM.
Created in 2014, the MHAM Upbeat dance group is currently handled by APMC Regional Treasurer Mel Karl P. Sabal. This year they competed with other contestants in the region using the broadway theme on, “Solaris: All the world’s a stage”.
Sabal, a third year MHAM student in a recent interview said that amidst busy schedules and class routines, the MHAM dancers did their practice every Fridays and Saturdays from six to nine in the evening.
Bringing it on during practice routine
“I didn’t expect the contest’s atmosphere was so intense considering that I was a MedGroove competitor two years ago. Every time I watch my team during practice hours my faith tells me that they are ever ready to conquer the stage and during the final showdown I was really excited coupled with ecstasy because it was my first time to watch them compete. They really gave their best for a good show and had given pride and honor to MHAM”, said Sabal.
In 2014, MHAM Upbeat emerged as 1st runner up with an ethnic theme while they bested other contestants in the region as they emerged as champion on last year’s fantasy theme.
In a separate interview with an active MHAM Upbeat dancer-member Adolf Marcus A. Roldan, he shared that he and his brother Ernest Pol Mikhail A. Roldan did the choreography in their broadway presentation this year. As MHAM’s official dancing team, they are still hopeful that they will be the winning team by next year.
MHAM Upbeat dancer-member Adolf Marcus Roldan in an interview
“My elder brother and I were part of the dancing team since last year and that was the time when we emerged as the champion. This year we did our best on pure routine but did not dwell so much on props. We weren’t expecting that other participating schools occupied the entire stage with intensely fashionable props and that’s what we lack”, said Roldan who started dancing since he was still a sixth grader until college through workshops and trainings.
2014 MGMR competition: The MHAM Upbeat in their ethnic theme presentation
“We are the Champion”: The MHAM Upbeat in their fantasy presentation during the 2015 MGMR competition
2016 MGMR competition: The MHAM Upbeat in their broadway theme presentation
The UV Gullas College of Medicine emerged as MGMR champion this year while the Cebu Institute of Medicine placed first based from the MGMR official result.
So far, the APMC Visayas is divided into three sub-regions such as West Visayas, Central Visayas and East Visayas. Line up activities including the coveted search for Mr. and Ms. APMC, MGMR, MedRythmia and MedLympics for next year are now into planning that will serve as a venue for students to have fun outside the four walls of medical school classrooms. (Ana Liza Abao)