For the love of the (OrSem) stage: Pao
by Maxine R. Ang on June 25, 2009
With his wayfarers perched atop his semi-wavy hair and tanned skin, senior Paolo Salapantan looks like the easy-going kind of guy you would expect to see on a beach, not onstage.
But that is where Pao has made a name for himself over the years. Pao is one of the four OrSem hosts to be coming back again this year.
“I share in the same fun-loving, steady-eddy nature of a lot of us. I feel like I typify the typical Atenista, like I can be with a group that’s studying, or jocks, or even the arts. Like they say, jack-of-all-trades, master of none.”
Armed with his easy banter and charm, Pao would often be the one assigned the wireless microphone and given the chance to roam around to dance and talk with the audience.
For Pao, hosting remains an art, which he constantly hones. “I’m trial and error when I say stuff, so I try different things,” he says.
Sometimes, Pao would go for slapstick humor if that were what the crowd finds funny. “There’s really no formula when it comes to hosting,” he says with a shrug.
On one occasion, Pao had been asked to host a School of Science and Engineering (SOSE) seminar. Only when he got there did Pao discover that the seminar was on computers. Slightly panicky, Pao tried to maintain his composure. In between breaks, he researched by checking some of the computer terms in order to better relate with the crowd.
Through those kinds of experiences, Pao got a little more selective about the kinds of hosting gigs he took on. You would never, for example, catch him hosting a religious seminar.
Indeed, hosting is more than just presenting; it’s selling yourself as you are to an audience. According to Pao, hosting brings out your true self.
