As the DLSU Animo Squad marched onto the rubber floor of the Mall of Asia Arena in their camouflage soldier uniforms for the UAAP Cheer Dance Competition (CDC), it seemed like the least likely place to find the “Stunner of the Year”. What with the glamorous cheerleaders and dancers from other schools dressed in more conventional and traditional cheer dance outfits, it seemed far fetched to imagine a Lasallian in camo pants and a vest taking home the crown.
Despite having the odds stacked against her, the Animo Squad’s Ana de Leon proved that it does not take a revealing outfit to catch the eyes of the people. The third year BS Psychology major took home the 2013 Samsung Stunner of the Year award over the other finalists from National University and University of the Philippines in a decision predetermined by the board. La Salle was eventually crowned second runner-up in the CDC, trailing just eventual champion NU and UP.
Her award has not gotten into her head though and she remains grounded, insisting, “My dream for my team is simple and it is to keep improving every year and to be able to win the CDC championship someday!”
The demands of being a member of the Animo Squad have actually made her consider quitting the team several times in the past, and she describes their rigorous training saying, “We train for more than three hours a day everyday after class hours and during weekends. We not only try to improve our stunts, flying skills and gymnastics but we also do run-throughs everyday to clean all our traditional cheers.”
“It is really hard to balance school plus cheering but then I try to study during my break or after I get home from training,” shares the diligent de Leon.
She has indeed come a long way from when she started cheerleading during her high school days in St. Paul College Pasig where she graduated in 2011. Curiously, cheerleading was not her original passion and she shares that she was a member of her school’s volleyball team during her grade school years.
After high school, her choice to go to La Salle was an easy one and she shares, “I chose DLSU because I know that it is one of the best schools in Manila and also because I love my course here.”
“Honestly I was really hesitant at first [to join the Animo Squad] because I wanted to focus more on my studies but then my heart fell for it again so I tried out during my frosh year,” adds de Leon on her mindset as a freshman.
Despite her success with the Animo Squad and her newly-found fame, her dreams remain far from the world of dancing and cheerleading. As a matter of fact, she proves to be one of those rare people who has a combination of both beauty and brains.
“I really want to be a dermatologist or a pediatrician after I go to medical school [following graduation from DLSU]. Hopefully I’ll graduate [from La Salle] by next year since it is my third year already. I will take up medicine after I graduate, or travel first and find time for myself,” concludes the ambitious de Leon.
