The Cheerdance & Lifters of the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion are led by five captains: Arthur Alianan, Tristian Santos, Blaise Buendia, Patricia Gumaru, and Elena Villanueva. The five look to combine their experience and hunger for success with the incoming fresh talent in order to climb up the ranks of the UAAP Cheerdance Competition. Overall, they know that hard work will help them succeed both in competition, and in hyping up the fans in every game they cheer for.
“I’m expecting us to be better than previous seasons. Everyone will be seeing a different Babble this time around,” Villanueva says.

Villanueva has built up an all-around cheerleading skill set through her 4 years as part of Babble. She will be called upon for the more difficult tumbling pass sequences and stunts the team aims to perform this season.

Alianan, on the other hand, is specialist at stunts, as this is where he contributes to routines best. Alianan prioritizes this so cheerdancers need not worry about falling and focus on executing their stunts to perfection.

The four girls serve as the four crucial cheerdance recruits of the team heading into this year. Balburias, Turano, and Reynoso are St. Paul College, Pasig alumni and last year’s National Cheerleading Competition champions. The latter two and Nolido, an Assumption College Makati alumna, have all spent time on the national team. Together, they all serve as essential pieces for a team looking to rebuild from the ground up.

Program Head Ralph Aligada has overhauled the Blue Babble program in hopes of laying down the foundation for better results this season.
“There is an evident focus on building the basics and the need for dance skills to be taught. With the new systems, coaches, recruits, and members in place, we expect to place higher than last year – no place to go but up.”