Hailed as the Child Wonder of Philippine cinema, his popularity zoomed when he was cast as Ding, the younger brother of Narda/Darna in the 1979 film Darna at si Ding. His cute antics and chubby cheeks endeared him to Pinoys viewers, and earned him the lead roles for Butsoy, Bruce Liit, Kowatog, Bokyo, Pepeng Kulisap, among others.

 

Unfortunately, adulthood has not favored the former child star. Niño is now facing very mature problems with his estranged wife Edith Millare and legal battles when he was charged with drug possession earlier this year.