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Niño Moreno (4 AB EC) is no stranger to the OrSem community with three years of experience as an O-Host. In his final year of hosting OrSem, this “kengkoy buddy na sobrang pogi dahil sabi ni mommy” looks back on how he started as a wide-eyed boy-next-door, to a senior reminiscing his life in the Ateneo and his hosting journey.
VANT: Hi Niño! How are you? Have you been busy with intersession?
NIÑO: It’s been one of my busier sems because I’ve been juggling my minors–six units lang naman, but I guess the brunt of the work is mainly from O-Host training. It’s different from last year. It’s a lot of shooting and it’s not something I’m really comfortable with. Oh, and I’ve been doing an internship na rin under the Office of the Secretary at NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority).
VANT: Cool! Okay, let’s take this back to your first decision here in Ateneo. Why did you choose to come to Ateneo for college?
NIÑO: I didn’t want to go to Ateneo talaga. My first choice was to go to PMA (Philippine Military Academy). I wanted to join the military, because both sides of my family were military, and I was convinced—I really dreamed of it until senior year high school. Since I came from LSGH (La Salle Green Hills), if hindi na PMA, La Salle Taft. Honestly, Ateneo was my last choice. [laughs] Ang daming rason ‘eh, a lot of factors that just played in. Siguro at that time, let’s just say it wasn’t a whole-hearted decision. Wow!
VANT: In line with entering Ateneo, what memories do you have of your own OrSem?
NIÑO: I hated OrSem! [laughs] Don’t hate me! But my best memory of my OrSem is a real story, and it’s a very “full circle” moment: The only reason why I enjoyed OrSem [is] because I saw the O-Hosts.
When I entered college, I didn’t know what I wanted because I had always wanted to be a soldier. One thing I would always make gago in the house and to my friends was that “I’ll be a host na lang!” There was this very kilig conversation my mom and I had that I always look back on when I’m being senti. She asked me what I wanted to be and I said,
“Soldier. I really want to be a soldier.” She responded, “Okay. If not a soldier, then what?” And I said, “I just want to talk,” Because my dad was a speaker on some things! “I want to do what dad does. I want to be a speaker.”
Then, mom was like, “Mag-hosting ka kaya!” and I was like “Sige, sige, sige!” [laughs]
It was just funny. I thought when I went to Ateneo, wala na ‘yon, because I thought it was a COM major thing. And then when I saw the O-Hosts tapos iba’t iba yung mga courses, I was like: [nods excitedly] “Yooooo, okay, that’s cool!” You don’t have to be a COM major.
VANT: So was it the O-Hosts that prompted you to sign up as a host as well, or was it something else?
NIÑO: Hindi naman, kapal ng mukha lang. [laughs] I never had hosting experience prior to Tayâ (OrSem 2018).
VANT: Wow! And look at you now: You’re a veteran O-Host. Can you share with us your thought process in deciding to join Orsem in your senior year?
NIÑO: Because of growth! [laughs] From hating OrSem, I’ve learned to appreciate the meaning behind [it]. I wanted to come back because I wanted to have another chance at welcoming [the freshies], lalo na in this pandemic. I just feel na it’s going to be a hard journey, but I want to make sure na [freshies] are going to have fun pa rin.
VANT: How have you been preparing given this online setting?
NIÑO: Ginagawa ko lang, I change my shirt and then ligo, shoot a video and then that’s it. Hassle kasi it’s not like hosting before: We used to train with a script and how we’re gonna do it on stage then we’re done. Sa amin, we’re training for the script, and then we’re shooting, but then if it’s a bad take we have to shoot it again. And siguro doon ako na-tire, kasi hindi ako sanay. It’s all so fast-paced, honestly.
VANT: Another thing that’s been pretty fast-paced is your life as a student, I’m sure. So far, how has your Ateneo experience been?
NIÑO: I want to graduate! [laughs] It’s so weird kasi I never really took my acads seriously until I went to Ateneo. I’ve been humbled by meeting a lot of personalities. I’ve learned that there’s really a world outside of high school. And [through]—what do you call this—Tayâ, I learned how to “love.” [laughs] Joke!
NIÑO: Siguro, the most important thing lang from Ateneo is you’re always given a chance to grow. […] I think Ateneo has made me realize that there’s so much opportunity but you’re the one who has to take it. If you don’t put in the work, you won’t get the results you want.
VANT: You were saying na you’ve learned a lot and you’ve experienced a lot. I just wanted to ask, since you’re entering your senior year: What is something you miss about going to school physically?
NIÑO: My friends, honestly. ‘Yon talaga yung backbones ko sa Ateneo. I would not have survived acads or stress if it really weren’t for my friends. I’m really gonna miss seeing people and being with people because that really is—for me—one of the best things about college. In high school, you get to meet your best friends and everything, but college is a whole different fun. I just miss the people. I miss my orgs; I’m most active in Ateneo CODE and ARSA (Ateneo Resident Students Association).
VANT: What are some memorable experiences you’ve had on campus?
NIÑO: In my freshman year, I went down to ARSA Fest in my pambahay with my roommates. Our dorm was apparently the backstage for the performers. In our pambahay, we literally bumped into Ben&Ben! And we were like [feigns shock] and they were so lowkey pa. We were saying, “You’re Ben&Ben! Can we take a picture?” And my roommate kept asking who they were. I said, “Just take a picture! Let’s take a picture!” We like looking back on that photo.
VANT: Solid! On a more serious note: How has Ateneo changed or challenged you?
NIÑO: It helped me discover myself more. There were a lot of moments of introspection, asking myself, “What are my values?” ‘Di naman sa akong walang values. [laughs] It taught me how to really become a grown up kumbaga. […] Ateneo was a good environment for me to accept the fact that growing up is really a part of life, but it’s not something that’s sad. Growing up actually helps you know who your real character is and how your character can become, because growing doesn’t stop at college. It’s given me a lot of insight on how I want to go about my life. I ended up taking a minor in data science and analytics. And after discovering my minor, it’s something I really want to do na.
VANT: Do you have any advice for the incoming freshmen who are bound to have similar thought processes as you?
NIÑO: To the freshies: This new normal may have brought extra uncertainties, but this won’t stop you from making your Ateneo story. Kumbaga this is just a part of your whole story not just in Ateneo, but of your whole life. If you’re worried about not socializing or experiencing new things, this isn’t your last year in Ateneo, but it’s as much of a new story for you as much as it’s a new part of mine. You’re not alone in facing this. An Ateneo story and an Ateneo experience is not confined to the campus; it’s all about the people you’re with and the people you learn from.
VANT: Since you’re a graduating student, I think our last question is: What are your sentiments towards OrSem now?
NIÑO: It’s really been a fun ride. It’s not something that I expected because every year our old hosts would say, “Never expect a comeback.” When you audition, audition like it’s your first time. That was the mindset every year. It’s been nice, seeing the freshies enjoy [themselves]. Sana naman naka-relate sila sa akin—sana naman Barbs and I, along with our other co-hosts, really get to bring OrSem to them. OrSem has been such a great project with a really beautiful meaning.
I remember OrSem Tayâ, when I saw all the volunteers packing up the chairs because naging one day na yung OrSem. I was like “Yo, ang lakas ng dedication nila.” These are my same batchmates [who] are now part of OrCom, [who] are still three-timing in their own departments, and I really want to thank them for all their hard work, because host lang ako. They’re really the people who deserve all the credit for the stuff that they’ve been doing. I’m gonna miss this project, honestly. It’s been a fun thing to be a part of for three years, and I’m lucky enough to get to do it one last time.
