Niño Moreno (2 AB EC) is ready to take the Tayâ stage just one year after his own OrSem experience. His “your one and only kenkoy buddy na sobrang pogi (dahil sabi ni mommy)” branding easily garners him the title as one of the goofiest members of this year’s O-Host roster.
It only takes a short conversation with Niño to know that he proudly wears the kenkoy (i.e. Filipino for “funny” and “playful”) label like a medal. It is especially evident in the way he carries himself and with the way he interacts with the people around him. “I just love to lighten up the mood. Puro [good vibes] lang,” he shares.
Who he is as a host doesn’t stray too far from his real personality. “I’m not really [a] serious [person],” he continues. Niño’s happy-go-lucky nature makes him a natural in the spotlight. However, there are also times when he sees his silliness as a double-edged sword. “I [have] to tame myself,” he adds. “I’m worried kasi na puro joke lang ako [on stage] (I’m worried that all I’ll do is joke around on stage).”
Niño is your typical college student when he isn’t busy hosting. He spends his free time hanging out with friends, playing football for fun, and being active in retreats such as Search-In and Days with the Lord—all of which contribute to his boy-next-door vibe.
However, a lot of people might not know that Niño originally dreamed of becoming a soldier—a far cry from his laid-back, easygoing persona. This dream was cut short after his father urged him to look into other alternatives. After being asked what else he wanted to be, Niño quickly answered, “Talk. I just want to talk.” With this in mind, his mom suggested giving hosting a go, and the rest was history.
Niño began hosting family events and gradually moved on to hosting for the Ateneo Economics Association (AEA), his home organization. Now, Tayâ is his biggest gig so far. Niño’s interest in becoming an O-Host began during his own OrSem, which he enjoyed because of the hosts. “When I found out [my O-Hosts were] from different courses [and] not just [from] AB COM, I realized that I [had] a chance [even] though I’m [in Economics],” he says.
With OrSem 2018 on the horizon, one message Niño has for the freshies is to do things that make them happy. “Make sure [that] at the same time [it] makes you grow [as a person], [it] helps others grow as well,” he adds. “It’s Ateneo; just be happy [and] be [friendly] with everyone. You’ve got nothing to lose.”
