I just got home from the Ateneo-Adamson game today in Araneta Coliseum. Other than the disappointing loss we incurred from Adamson who we haven’t lost to in 14 years (Yep, no joke), the Blue Babble Battalion felt that what was more disappointing was the dead-fish crowd of Ateneo against the hyped-up Adamson crowd. 

“Mag cheer kayo!” was what a bunch of my bandmates said as they pour all their energy into their drums but the crowd remained quiet and in their seats. I’ve then realized that an Ateneo crowd during the UAAP have become a culture far too hard to change. 

Cultures vary across organization. All the schools’ crowds during UAAP games vary from each other - each with their own cultures and identities. UE, for example, has a crowd that cheers and jumps to every point whether it be a 2 pointer or even a 1. Just the mere fact that the ball is with their player, they're ecstatic. Though they lose, they don't stop creaming their lungs out. The DLSU crowd, i feel, has the best coordination when it comes to their color -green. In other schools, you see a sea of different colors but during a DLSU game, they seem to be ALL in green or at least that what it seems like to me. NU also does a lot of their hand movements during cheers. Other schools have their own gimmick and their own trip. I'd mention all the schools but i'm not quite familiar with most of them yet (Rookie). I do know however, the crowd in which i cheer with - the Ateneo crowd. 


The Ateneo crowd's identity is the quiet seated people wearing blue or at least that's what it felt like during today's game when the Adamson crowd was completely eating our crowd with their loud cheering. This culture may have grown out of the Ateneo crowd in the past who really prefer to be discreet than be all wild like the crowd of other schools. 


I'd delve deeper into this if only it would make the Ateneo crowd more alive than it was today.

One.

This week, we learned more about the Adaptive Structuration Theory. It was explained that a structure is shaped by the rules made and implemented by its members (i've talked about this in the previous post as well).

Structures don't necessarily have to be fixed or have to come in a specific form. An informal structure, like the Blue Babble Bench, can be considered a structure and in effect have (unwritten) rules too.

Babble Bench Rules:

This entry was made in the said bench with the help of other members. Pictures were also taken as the entry was made. The rules below are not official written down rules. They are only reflections of what we think the rules are based on experience.

1. All members of the Babble may sit in the bench during their breaks and free times with the freedom to do anything they want (ex. Sleep, do homework, talk, eat, and in my case write a blog). As much as possible, people who aren't part of the Babble are not allowed to sit aside from friends of members. The Sec C foyer, if not used for Tambay Weeks of other orgs, is usually our homebase in Ateneo.

2. Should anyone leave food in the bench, it is considered communal and all members may partake of it. There are times when food is intentionally brought to be shared (ex. Carlo's blueberry cheesecake).

3. It is proper to greet everyone in the bench as you come to let them know of your presence. It is highly encouraged.



4. Bags/objects that are left in the bench by members should not be fiddled with by other members without the permission of the member who owns them (Pen, laptops and drumsticks and some other misc things are exceptions). Also, members in the bench must watch over these things when the owner is not around.



5. Members can place dibs on unreturned JSEC plates that're left on the bench.



All these rules reflect one very important concept for the Babble - Unity. Unity is what makes this structure the way it is and this is where these rules are based on. Without unity, there wouldn't be a Babble so it's quite proper how these rules all work on being united and sharing what we have with each other.