4th year High School Students from Davao AMA 2009 Ultimate Hi Skul Idol

A huge turnout of 4th year high school students with their family and friends cheered the 22 dance team finalists of the AMA Hi Skul Idols 2009, Season 2, Ultimate Challenge at the Araneta Coliseum recently. Flying in all the way from the South, the dance team of Erico T. Nograles High School, Davao emerged as the grand champion. 1st runner-up was the dance team from Gen. Pio del Pilar National High School in Makati while 2nd runner-up was the Las Piñas East National High School. The event was made more enjoyable with special guests Gary Valenciano, Christian Bautista, Bugoy Drilon and special dance numbers by the Manoeuvres and Streetboys. Hosts for the evening were Donita Rose, Joshua Zamora, Tuesday Vargas and Mico Aytona.

From 395 dance teams that competed nationwide, 22 dance teams were chosen as finalists. Started in 2008 by AMA Education System (AMAES), Asia’s pioneer and largest network of universities and colleges, AMA Hi Skul Idols is an invitation to different fourth year high schools all over the country to participate in a dance competition. According to Dr. Amable C. Aguiluz IX, President of AMAES, Hi Skul Idols is a “good outlet for the creative and physical energy of the young people today. The dancing contest is not only fun, it also fosters teamwork, camaraderie and a healthy competitive spirit among the different schools.” The main incentive for the youth to join is a cash prize and AMAES scholarships for the members of the champion team.

The 19 other Hi Skul Idol finalists were dance teams from Abkasa National High School Bacolod City, Barotac Nuevo National Comprehensive NHS Iloilo, Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. Memorial National High School Cebu City, Ismael Mathay SR High School Quezon City, Lucena City National High School, Malvar National High School Lipa City, Mary’s Ville Academy of Sta Rosa Laguna, Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School Cagayan de Oro City, Pangarap High School Quezon City, Pucay National High School Baguio City, Saint Genevieve School of Pateros, San Jose Community High School Cavite, Santolan High School Taytay, Sapang Biabas High School Pampanga, St. Francis Academy Batangas City, Sulivan High School Bulacan, Tanauan National High School Tacloban City, Tugatog National High School Camanava, and V. Mapa High School Manila.

The participants must be a group of eight to ten 4th year high school students performing a 3 to 5-minute dance number to music of their choice. Group can be all male, all female or a mixed group of males and females. Prior to the Grand Finals, winners were selected from 20 different areas, determined by the location of the different AMAES schools all over the country.

Judging was based on the following criteria: choreography, 30%; originality, 30%; costume, 20% and audience impact, 20%. The Board of Judges was composed of Regine Tolentino, Gab Valenciano, Carlo Orosa, Reagan Cornelio and Jhong Hilario.

AMAES has 200 campuses worldwide with eight learning institutions— AMA Computer University, ACLC, AIIT, ABE, St. Augustine College of Nursing, St. Augustine School of Nursing, St. Augustine International School (Basic Education) and AMA School of Medicine.