THE PRESIDENT

GHEREEKA MAE TOLENTINO BERNABE

Ghereeka Mae T. Bernabe, fondly called as Ghicka by her family and friends, was born on May 9, 1988. She is the sixth
among the brood of seven of Alejandro M. Bernabe and Rosario T. Bernabe. Ghicka spent her grade school years in
Norzagaray Elementary School and graduated in 2001. In 2005, she completed her secondary education at the Norzagaray
National High School. In 2009, Ghicka Mae earned her college degree, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major
in Legal Management, from Far Eastern University.
In her family, it was a must that every child receives either an academic or athletic scholarship in order to enter college. It was
also required that one must take a good course to get a good job in order to help the next sibling get to school. So Ghickas
gymnastics coach in elementary, the late Julian Indon, helped her and brought her to FEU where he was also a coach.
Studying in FEU was the first step of her dream to land a good job. And she enrolled to take up Legal Management, a course
she did not love at first, at least not until her third year in college. After her graduation in 2009, Ghicka was facing a
predicament whether to pursue law studies or find a job to support her younger sibling in sending to college. Afraid of cutting
the long-time family tradition and returning the favor her older sibling has done to support other needs while studying, Ghicka
chose the latter, finding a job that will sustain the college education of her younger brother.
Ghicka was a standout gymnast for FEU so after college, she immediately received offers to coach. She took the head-
coaching position of San Sebastian College in the NCAA and St. Marys Academy in Caloocan City. During her two years as
coach, San Sebastian Colleges Pep Squad finished fourth while St. Marys Academy won in a Milo competition. After that,
National University, ready and dead serious to give its cheering squad program a facelift, came calling. Again, another
predicament is courting Ghicka. It is whether to accept a temporary offer of her alma mater FEU as head coach, or the
permanent one being offered by National University. Heart and mind are on its way on another collision course that will
confuse Ghicka. Right decision has to be made in order to get the needed funds for the schooling of her younger brother.
Forget about the law dream, it can still wait because Ghicka is still very young. What matters at the moment is the future of her
brother. Family tradition has to be preserved and continued. It is rewarding anyway to practice charity in the family and much
more blessings from the Lord will come back. With all these considerations, Ghicka chose the NU head coach job. It is better
to build something from nothing rather than gradually sinking from huge achievement that cannot be sustained.
Year 2011, UAAP Season 74, 1st year of Ghicka as head coach of NU Pep squad, they landed the 6 th spot from traditional
cellar finish of 8th. 75th Season, Year 2012, 3rd Place Finish under head coach Ghicka. First time in the history of UAAP
Cheerdance Competition that NU took a podium finish. Year 2013, Season 76, Champion at last! This is the first championship
trophy of NU in the entire history of UAAP Cheerdance Competition. Then another championship trophy in Season 77, Year
2014 for a back-to-back, another championship in Season 78, Year 2015 for a Three Peat, and lately in Season 79, year 2016,
after a near- flawless performance became the undisputed champion for Four-Peat Achievement of NU Pep Squad in UAAP
Cheerdance Competion with our very own Ghereeka Mae T. Bernabe at the helm. No other head coach of any Pep Squad of
the university has ever achieved what this young lady from Norzagaray has already imprinted in the annals of UAAP
Cheerdance Competition. The International Cheerleading Union-World Cheerleading Championship in Florida, USA in April
2015 of 19 Nations Bronze Finish by NU Pep Squad-Team Pilipinas is another feather on Ghickas cap. What a lady so young
yet bold and brave named Ghicka. The most illustrious young lady head-coach is not stopping here. After receiving the 3-Peat
Coach of the Year Award given by the National Cheerleading Championship organization of the Philippines in recognition of
heading NU Pep Squad to championship in 2014, 2015, and 2016. And the 4-Peat is on its way. Everything goes well for
Ghicka and she just want to keep improving. Being at the helm for 4 consecutive years and keeping the rivals at bay is a task
Ghicka wants to maintain. So far, no other NCC Head-coach has matched what Ghicka has attained in terms of coaching,
much less at a very young age like her. And her feet are always kept firmly on the ground despite all the accolades she is
getting.
The reason of Ghickas achievements that made her a national figure in her own right is her focused in every ideas she
executes. She is always hungry for a new ideas to ensure they will break away from the rest of competitors. But Ghicka is
always humble in other to draw more ideas from each and every member because she keeps the love and caring relationship
among them. Her colleagues are always astonished of very good ideas. Although very young, she is very creative and has the
capacity to teach. To have very good ideas is one thing a person is gifted to explore and develop, and to teach is another thing
to share. Not all coaches are gifted with these two very essential qualities. And Ghicka has tremendous patience. That is what
makes Ghicka an ideal coach.
And NU Pep Squad bosses will always express that when they took the chance on Ghicka, they made the right choice! And
Norzagaray Smiles Club 2017 too! . . .