16 months verbal communication

Hi parents, my son is currently 16months and he is able to understand simple commands, pointing, waving and showing different gestures to express himself well. However, we have noticed he hasn’t start calling papa and mama yet.. but can call both yeye and yiyi (grandfather and aunt in Mandarin), does plenty of babbling. Not sure whether babbling is consider talking.. and slowly he can converse with us?? He will be starting playgroup soon and hopefully by then he will become more verbally confident. #advicepls #firstbaby #pleasehelp