MC Bern Joshua: a rising student MC of UIC

He may be ordinary but he does the extraordinary. Metamorphosing into an excellent host usually takes place in your student life. Let's get to know Bern Joshua Alicaya, a student MC at the University of the Immaculate Conception.

I often ask out-of-nowhere questions to students and so I started to ask Bern this question:

If you are asked by a friend to emcee for her debut party, how would you deliver your opening spiels if you were from Mars?

Have a read on how witty his response was:

I would do my best to sound like someone from the planet earth so they would not feel weird with my presence HAHAHAHA! Seriously, it goes like this:

"Tonight, the whole universe has stopped and even brightest stars align in light as we welcome you all in this once-in-a-lifetime event of this young and beautiful girl from a distinct planet that's far-far away and tonight, out of the many girls living in this wonderful sphere, she shines best among them all. Help me welcome our debutant that's even more lovely than the night skies, Etchel! ✨

(PS: It looked like I am hosting for someone's debut with a star wars or with an planetarium-inspired theme! HAHAHAHA)

What incident or event sparked your interest to consider the world of emceeing? Who was there to tap your shoulder to assume the role of an emcee?

Yes, there was. And it was when the moment that everybody around me has seen a "very big" potential in me, being on-stage, carrying the microphone and even the whole show by myself. As a kid who grew up in a generation that watches TV most of the time, I find that feeling of being on-stage and being in front of many people very satisfying and very surreal. Since then, I am paving my way to finally enter the world of MC-ing and it was like "Eto na. Wala nang atrasan 'to. Kung saan ako dadalhin, go."

About who was there during the times that I realized I was a "fit" (that's what they say) in this world of MC-ing, it was my parents and my SHS Teacher.

Can you narrate to me the first social event hosting stint you had? What type of event was it? How did it go?

It was during our family reunion (reunions are social gatherings, diba? hahaha!) and the people there were not just our families, but also the families of my grandmother and of my grandmother. Not to boast but it all went well and we had fun together since I added some flavor of humor which made everyone engage and hurt their tummies because the laughter was intense! HAHAHAHA (take note that I am the family's resident clown 😂🤡)

Any struggles? Siguro it was when the microphone malfunctioned in the middle of my talking. Luckily, my natural voice is that loud so I managed to continue speaking but I had a sore throat the next day 😂

There were many to mention when it comes to this hosting job of mine. If this hosting job was like Pinterest, I would really "pin" Luis Manzano, Kris Aquino, my seniors Ate Femie and Kuya Matt and my SHS Teacher, Mr. Claide Kinneth Saludar as my "inspirations" 😆

Which event hosting you had you consider the best of all time?

As a person who believes that every moment should be cherished as it will soon linger on our memories during the times when we ask ourselves if did we make the most of our God-given lives... ALL OF THEM WERE THE BEST! 😆 WAY PABOR-PABOR 😆

What’s the biggest factor that has helped you to improve your emceeing skills?

The praises, the comments, the backlashes and the fact that only you can make the biggest chunk of improvement in your skills (whatever it is!) has helped me a lot. Of course, support always helps!

What was the hardest decision you ever had to make while fulfilling your hosting duties?

Kung anong shade ng concealer ang gagamitin ko sa event. charing! 😂

It was when it's my first time to host at UIC. Moments before my time to speak has arrived, I was thinking of backing-out or even going to the toilet as an excuse. Nakakahiya pa kasi at first kase I don't know the people in the venue yet, like they were all strangers except for the ones I knew already.

But in the end, I have finally decided to carry on despite this awkward feeling plus this feeling that you are a total stranger to everyone. Self-encouragement kumbaga. And then, there. the rest was history! 😆

Alright, Bern. I am just curious about your hosting behavior when crush is around. Would you mind sharing? 😅🤣🤣

I haven't tried that encounter yet since my crush was also a TWG at every events I previously hosted kase officer siya non eh 😆 But let me share to you this fact that I really feel so awkward in the inside eventhough people see me as that confident on the outside when I interview good-looking people. Kita tuloy na parang pinaliliguan ako ng foundation 😂

What’s one emceeing strategy you learned from another MC whose hosting you personally witnessed?

I learned this from my SHS Mentor that in order to prevent the show from being dead or dry, I should not hesitate trying adlibs that suits the nature of the event. And it worked. 😆 He also suggested that if the event is lively, so should my voice be. 😂

He even commented about making my posture proper. Though it was considered because I have a condition, I still should manage doing so. 😆

He even commented about making my posture proper. Though it was considered because I have a condition, I still should manage to do so. 😆

Though hosts should have this in common, I consider this one as my edge among the others: ENERGY, ENGAGEMENT and COMMITMENT. wow sanaol 😆

How do you see yourself in 5 years' time as an MC?

Tho I told some of the people who's close to me that I'll stop mc-ing temporarily for I have some other priorities to address and that I also want to improve myself not just as an MC but also as a person, perhaps I see myself after 5 years as that teacher who becomes an mc for every school events. 😆 Or, kung may natira pang kakapalan ang mukha ko, I auditioned for an entertainment label and be on tv or radio 😂 Only God knows what's ahead of me. I'll just leave it to him. Surprises are always awesome. ❤️😆

What advice can you give to any student who aspires to become an MC?

Be iconic not by material means but by being yourself. People will be attracted with your charisma and people will never forget you because you are being you. ☺️