| UST Yellow Jackets | |
| Abbreviation: | UST YJ |
| Formation: | 1993 |
| Type: | pep squad and drumline |
| Vat Id: | (for European organizations) --> |
| Owners: | --> |
| Affiliations: | University of Santo Tomas |
| Formerly: | UST Bangers (1993–1997) |
The UST Yellow Jackets (abbreviated as UST YJ or simply YJ) is the official pep squad and drumline of the University of Santo Tomas. Together with the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, the UST YJ form the official cheerdance team of the University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Cheerdance Competition. The UST Yellow Jackets also perform for halftime during the games of the UST Growling Tigers, the Men's Basketball team of the university in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
The UST Yellow Jackets live by the motto, "Suaviter in Modo, Fortiter in Re".
The organization was founded by Michael Ismael Flores (aka Ancient Mike) from Baliwag, Bulacan, who first joined a dedicated P.E. Class-Cheering Squad (by his mentor Mr. Mike Silbor) in 1990 as a cheerleader. He was the first official resident cheerleader from 1990-1992. In August 1993, he formed the UST Bangers. All 8 pioneering members were initially hardcore head-banging, ear-pounding cheer drummers; hence, the name "Bangers" was coined. The group was formed during the beginning of the 4-peat era of the UST Men's Basketball Team. The UST Department of Physical Education (now known as the Institute of Physical Education & Athletics) officially recognized his leadership and his team under the said name.
GO USTE! was created by Ancient Mike in 1992. The original chant had a slower tempo and lower pitch (just like that of Vanilla Ice's Go Ninja).
In 1995, the first halftime cheer was done by a lone member of the group, Richie Medalla. It was at a women's basketball game, done over a dare to do the cheers of UST, traditional style. Then soon, others wanted in the action, cheering during pregame and halftime on the court. In 1997, the group became the official pep squad of the university under the name "UST Yellow Jackets" and was placed under UST's Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA). Under IPEA, the organization was placed under the advisory of Mr. Robinson Laxa (1994-2007), Mr. Raymond Anselmo (2008–2016), Mr. Teodoro Dela Peña (2016–2019), Mr. Al Denn Lozada (2019-2020), and Mrs. Pauline Gabayan (2020-Present).
The group got its name, as suggested by Richie Medalla from the insect, yellow jacket which is part of the wasp family and known for their black and yellow stripes (the university colors of UST).
The original logo of the UST Yellow Jackets was designed by Franco Cachero (Batch '97, '99). It was a simple banner with the letters USTYJ on top and MDCXI at the bottom. The upper letters were larger than those on the lower part and the "UST" font was in white Times New Roman while the "YJ" font was in undefined yellow font. The "MDCXI" simply pertains to 1611, the year which UST was founded, in Roman numerals. This was later changed to Est. 1993, which was the original date of the establishment of the organization under the name UST Bangers. A wasp, or the yellow jacket, was then added by Alfred Tanopo (Batch 2003) beneath the revised logo to further define the identity of the group.
| Year | President | Head Drummer | Head Cheerleader | Secretary | Asst. Secretary | Treasurer | Auditor | P.R.O. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Mark San Juan | Tristan Granados | Adrian Garcia | Candice Barilea | Sam Malli | Christer Gaudiano | ||
| 2001 | Franco Cachero | Matt Santiago | Adrian Garcia | Christer Gaudiano | Candice Barilea | Froilan Pitpit & Jabo Vicente | ||
| 2002 | Franco Cachero | RJ Gayondato | Adrian Garcia | Christer Gaudiano | Vanna De Leon | Vanessa De Castro | ||
| 2003 | Billy Pineda | Errol Martin | Jepi Peralta | Joseph Silverio | Je Marquez | Jed Regala | ||
| 2004 | Je Marquez | Joseph Silverio | Jepi Peralta | Jed Velarde | Miko Livelo | Jed Regala | ||
| 2005 | Miko Livelo | Neil Tin | Jed Regala | Jed Velarde | Elyan Oblifias | Josephine Donato | ||
| 2006 | Donn Carlo Alicante | RJ Mallari | Angelo Cachero | Raymond Agustin | Babs Corpuz | Miko Livelo | ||
| 2007 | Jed Regala | RJ Mallari | Joseph Regla | Raymond Agustin | Mark Mendoza | Babs Corpuz | Ace Mendoza | Mico Letargo |
| 2008 | Raymond Agustin | Jeff Gorriceta | Mark Jimenez | Mark Lean Mendoza | Carlos Montesclaros | Ace Mendoza | Lesley Ann Vivero | Jolo Livelo |
| 2009 | Jeff Gorriceta | Marco Carlos | Edan Andan | Carlos Montesclaros | Miko de Vera | Patrick Isla | Angelo Genuino | Chris Gerard Ortiz |
| 2010 | Gian Rosanes | Marco Carlos | Patrick Peñacerrada | Art Villaluz | Roy Robles | Neil Zorilla | Vernice Ortiz | Chris Gerard Ortiz |
| 2011 | Miko De Vera | John Raymond Roque | Jimson Mirador | Art Villaluz | Leo Marco Adriano | Neil Zorilla | Renz Garcia | Raymund Salumbides |
| 2012 | Marco Roberto Carlos | Irvin Jason Layno | Jimson Mirador | Leo Marco Adriano | Edmir Capuno | Ver Gabriel Bedaño | Gilbert Campos | Raymund Salumbides |
| 2013 | Leo Marco Adriano | Irvin Jason Layno | Jimson Mirador | Edmir Capuno | Jerica Dela Cruz | Gilbert Campos | Joseph Tan | Raymund Salumbides |
| 2014 | Judd Usita | Joseph Tan | Shan Mercado | Aries Annang | Rallion Bautista | Gilbert Campos | Christian Esmael | Raymund Salumbides |
| 2015 | Alvin Tong | Rallion Bautista | Shan Mercado | Aries Annang | Patricia Viola | Joshua Coronel | Edward Pancho | Louie Espejo |
| 2016 | Judd Usita | Rallion Bautista | Noel Zorilla | Patricia Viola | Myka Ibarrola | Edward Pancho | Junel Fronda | Raymund Salumbides |
| 2017 | Lorenzo Galvez | Earl Ello | Jerome Gulinao | Seatiel Chavez | Myka Ibarrola | Junel Fronda | Paolo Hilario | Edmer Diaz |
| 2018 | Eriko Macatangay | Earl Ello | Jerome Gulinao | Ezra Viola | Juan Hizon | Chile Chaguile | Jude Acibo | Sean Abela |
| 2019 | Earl Ello | Angelo Abella | Mark Lopez | Juan Hizon | Adriene Alladin | Bryan Collantes | Isaac Nuque | Randonn Belen |
| 2020 | Isaac Nuque | Ervin Cruz | Randonn Belen | Adriene Alladin | Joel Baquiran Jr. | Alyssa Libed | Kathleen De Ramos | Roshir De Castro |
| 2021 | Isaac Nuque | Ervin Cruz | Randonn Belen | Adriene Alladin | Mikhaela Ballano | Janaya Manalad | Adriane Sudla | Mark Rafer |
| 2022 | Isaac Nuque | Anton Mata | Adriane Sudla | Mikhaela Ballano | MJ Torres | Janaya Manalad | Myka Adriano | Charm Torres |
| 2023 | Anton Mata | Ralph Calas | Raeza Jacob & Joe Montoro | Rikka Parafina | Virgo Viola | Ingrid Villaruz | Dhea Sillano | Charm Torres |
| 2024 | Adriane Sudla | Ralph Calas | Joe Montoro | Virgo Viola | Gelene Pesico | Ingrid Villaruz | Stephanie Veloso | Charm Torres |
The UST Yellow Jackets and the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, jointly, are tied with the UP Pep Squad for having the most number of UAAP Cheerdance Competition championships. As of today, both UST and UP have won 8 championships.[1] [2] They also have the longest championship run in the said competition with 5; from 2002 and 2006.
| Event | Year | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Jollibee Chi-Cheer Kayo Challenge (UAAP) | 1994 | Champion |
| Jollibee Chi-Cheer Kayo Challenge (UAAP) | 1995 | Champion Best Jollibee Cheer[3] |
| Jollibee Chi-Cheer Kayo Challenge (UAAP) | 1996 | Champion |
| Jollibee Chi-Cheer Kayo Challenge (UAAP) | 1997 | Champion Hall of Fame Awardee |
| Nestlé Magnolia Crunch Cheering Competition | 1999 | 1st Runner Up |
| Nestlé Non-Stop UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2000 | 1st Runner Up |
| Nestlé Non-Stop UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2001 | 2nd Runner Up[4] |
| Puspusan Sa Busan Cheering Competition | 2002 | 1st Runner Up |
| Nestlé Non-Stop UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2002 | Champion |
| Nestlé Non-Stop UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2003 | Champion[5] |
| Nestlé Non-Stop UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2004 | Champion |
| Nestlé Non-Stop UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2005 | Champion[6] |
| UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2006 | Champion[7] |
| Samsung UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2007 | 1st Runner Up[8] |
| Samsung UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2008 | 1st Runner Up |
| Samsung UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2010 | 2nd Runner Up |
| UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2014 | 2nd Runner Up |
| UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2015 | 1st Runner Up |
| UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2016 | 4th Place |
| UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2017 | 2nd Runner Up |
| UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2018 | 4th Place |
| UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2019 | 4th Place |
| UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2021 | 4th Place |
| UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2022 | 2nd Runner Up |
| UAAP Cheerdance Competition | 2023 | 2nd Runner Up |