Markings of a Dreamer: Toastmasters

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4/03/2021

How to Float in the Pacific Ocean

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Note: This is my Basic Speech Project No. 8 that I delivered in the El Presidente Toastmasters Club. With my encounters in the Pacific Ocean during my "Fieldwork" in Baler, it served as my inspiration to craft the speech and use the Ocean as metaphor to my Division A contest experience.

Since the objectives of this speech project is TO USE THE VISUAL AIDS TO SUPPORT / REINFORCE THE SPEECH, I made one - and it became a source of laughing stock! my gulay. Hindi naman kasi ako marunong mag-drawing, so I made pictures using paint and with help of an officemate.

For those who are not informed about this club, I joined the Toastmasters club last 04 November 2010 to hone my public speaking skills. I would like to encourage and to invite all of you guys to be a kibitzer to a Toastmasters Club Meeting. Ours is done every first and third Thursday of the month, 7PM at Max's 2nd Floor Liberty Center, Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong City.

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Summertime of our lives, our lives! (song of A1)

Fellow toastmasters, it’s officially Summer! With the summer breeze, wonderful beach, and inviting sea, let’s satisfy our heart’s delight by enjoying ourselvesalong the shore, sipping summer shakes, and diving in the salty waves. I remember this dress; this is the same beachwear that I wore in my Baler escapade. Baler is at the north eastern part of Luzon, and it faces the Pacific Ocean. The sea, known for its wild waves and tsunami, is the same ocean that challenges the surfers and frightens the swimmers.

Me as a risk taker took the challenge of the sea. I can swim – but I am not a professional swimmer. Not even a surfer. What I can share to you is what I read and understood in ehow.com – my own “reformulated” simple steps on how to float on your back in the Pacific Ocean. These procedures helped me to stay calm and relax on its strong waves. Are you ready? Okay, let’s go floating!

Ella is floating on the Pacific Ocean. Weeeeee~!!!

The first step is to make sure that your chin is pointed to the sky. Tipping your head back positions the body to be buoyant. Next, Lift your chest and stomach up by arching your back slightly, allowing the lower body to rest higher in the water. Then, make sure that your ears are in the water. If the head is lifted, the legs will sink, making floating nearly impossible. Afterwards, lift the arms and rest them on the surface of the water. This changes the swimmer's center of buoyancy and makes floating easier. Finally, gently do a flutter kick with your legs. And now you can float!

Simple, right? Well, some would say it’s simple when you’re floating on a still water in the pool, or in the calm seas of Boracay. But the angry Pacific Ocean that is ready to engulf your being, with its waves pulling you away from the shore and blasted you with a larger-than-life-surfer-friendly push back to the shore – that’s a bit hard.

And that’s what I reflected in Baler – whether I should continue to represent the Area 5 in Humorous Speech Category or not. I was asking to myself if I am up for the challenge…

The moment I wore the medal and won that privilege, the pressure started to sink in. The weight of my “responsibility” to represent the club, the heaviness of the fact that there is a seasoned humorist as a candidate, and the anxiety that I cannot perform well in a larger audience, questioned my determination if I could re-run my speech all over again in the same stage, delivering the same message, and some are the same audience.

Questioning my ability to deliver a story that would make them laugh and impart lessons is like questioning my ability to float in the Pacific Ocean. It’s like, you want to dip your legs on the troubled ocean waves, ready to eat you whole. It’s suicidal!

But after praying and seeking advice from friends, inside and outside Toastmasters, I told myself, why not take the chance? After all, it’s like floating in the back. With my own reformulated steps and a little bit of metaphor, I think I can.

Ella is like floating on the sea of people when she delivered her story

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Pacific Ocean is like the sea of people wanting to hear my story. They are the cause of waves – both harmful and helpful. So, the first step is I made sure that my chin, in this case, is facing the chin of the audience, so that my eyes will be the same level as theirs. The face is the source of the message, and the sea of people needs to see it.

Next is I lifted my chest up, so that they would feel that I am confident to deliver my speech. Then, I made sure that my ears are, in this case, in the audience. I learned to listen well. I heightened my senses so that I will know when to start speaking, when to put humor, and when to end it with a bang.

Afterwards, I let my arms rest. Instead of pressuring the two upper limbs to stay on the sides, I let them join the act. With it, I was fluid in delivering the speech with the body language.

Finally, I did a subtle, but profound kick of urging the audience to listen to my story. And it worked. I was like floating the whole time when I delivered a funny speech, with some punch lines and life lessons to impart with. And yes, it felt good. I was not nervous or fearful or stressed when I shared my piece. Though I did not win, I believe I floated on my back there, notwithstanding the waves ready to engulf me.

So fellow toastmasters, whether we are in the sea full of waves or in a sea of people full of eyes to look at you, as long as you can be at ease, you can float. So, instead on pouting and complaining that the waves are big and ready to eat you whole, why not take the challenge?

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Evaluation Proper:

It was TM Tin who evaluated my speech. I am glad that she appreciated the organization of the speech, and the way of delivering them. She noted that sometimes, technicalities are sources of embarassment or fear to deliver your speech, but it did not hesistate me to do what I could (she accepted the fact that I am not good at drawing). She noted that next time, if we use visual aids, make sure that the audience will see them, and see the reinforcement it bears.

She pointed out, "It is not the visual aid that would deliver the message, rather, it is the SPEAKER". Actually, many of us (especially students) experience DEATH BY POWERPOINT, wherein the reporter / discussant read the powerpoint slides in VERBATIM, which is NOT THE PROPER THING TO DO. For a tip, the powerpoint slide should be in a 3 X 5 LINER - with three lines, at five words per line the most (read them in the internet, kindly google them, I cannot remember the source, hihihi).

Oh yeah, lesson learned. Andami kong natutunan. And natutunan kong mag-drawing. hihihihi. Two speeches to go and I'll be on graduation!

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(inputted in facebook notes last 09 April 2011)

Stressing Reality

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I totally forgot to post this at an earlier date. OMG!

I presented the speech in a "Basag-Mode" version of me, even my evaluator was not expecting my delivery. After stress in work, stress in traffic, stress in studies, I wasn't able to focus on practicing them. (I delivered them in an uninspiring-preacher-like-way, with a little-embarassing-comedy-on-the-side). To tell you the truth, I was tormented by my principals (in the office) on that same date that my speech delivery was assigned. And this served as my Basic Speech Project No. 7 (Research Your Topic) for the El Presidente Toastmasters Club.

MALAPIT NANG MATAPOS ANG SPEECH PROJECTS KO - THREE FOR THE ROAD!!! :D HAPPY!!!! :D

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Fellow Toastmasters and dear friends, YOU SHOULD ADD ME ON FACEBOOK! Because the most recent status was made at 1:48 AM, saying:

Que Barbaridad! Que Horror!

At 2:00 AM this morning, fellow Toastmasters, believe it or not, I haven’t prepared my speech for the night. Actually, what all I have are fragments – key words to craft my write-up and to prep myself up for this celebration. Since our Club President wishes to liven up tonight’s feast, I was pressured to craft a perfect speech to present to you.

Lots of crappy preparations are being saved in my laptop. What kind of topic that would interest this audience? Do I have to tell embarrassing stories? Stories of my childhood...? Stories of my frustrations to crush..?

In the wee hours of night, I’ve looked for topics that would complete this speech. However, I just cannot complete them. For Instance, my laptop has these incomplete documents entitled - My cousin’s nightmare; where voices are; forging weapons; and even Lady Gaga! All of these topics are “shelf items” because these write-ups are incomplete, and maybe, just maybe, I cannot think of ways to end them with a bang.

Fellow Toastmasters, have you experienced this kind of scenario? Whenever a speech date is coming, that is the only time that you would stress yourself to craft a perfect thing to share – and luckily, that thing you made just before the due date is “just perfect”. Maybe because you are convinced enough of the stressing reality – that a due date is coming and would lead you to think and move!

In the famous online encyclopaedia called the Wikipedia, the scenario of inability to write something new can be referred as the writer’s block. “Writer's Block is when you want to write but can't”, according to an American Author Kate Withhelm.

Patricia Huston, MD, MPH, describes writer's block as a "distinctly uncomfortable inability to write," and categorizes the severity of as mild, moderate, and recalcitrant. Mild blockage, Huston believes, is easily resolved by revising expectations, breaking big projects into small ones, and giving oneself positive feedback, among other things. Moderate blockage can be addressed by practicing creative exercises, talking about your work with another supportive writer, or taking a break. In her experience, unmanageable blockage can often be resolved with medical intervention or cognitive restructuring, i.e. therapy. So ladies and gentlemen, this experience can be trivial, temporary, or extreme, that some have been unable to work for years on end, and some have even abandoned their careers!

If you have this kind of “problem”, how do we resolve it? Actually, through my research on the internet, there are lots of writers and experts who have suggested some solutions to this kind of “situation”. Let me mention two.

American author and Smithsonian professor Julia Cameron advocates the practice of morning pages as a remedy to writer's block. Morning pages are 3 handwritten pages of free writing where the purpose is to write without the intention of using the writing for anything. It is a practice that can bring your thoughts to the surface and allow you enter a more creative zone.

And Dr. Robert Boice, a professor emeritus on psychology at Stony Brook University in New York suggests a five-step treatment program. The first is scheduled free writing, which can help a stalled writer gain momentum. The second: contingency planning, which involves setting up schedules and contingencies that force a writer to write at pre-arranged times. Third is to consciously abstain from "maladaptive self-talk," such as telling yourself something will be rejected, while replacing negative statements more positive ones, such as telling yourself how much you enjoy writing. Fourth is establishing a social support group, such as a writing group, that focuses on writing and support. Fifth is to periodically reorder the above to keep these treatments from become habits.

So, fellow toastmasters, the next time that you have this Que Horror scenario, the first thing to remember is not to become discouraged. And remember, there are solutions in solving this kind of problem. Maybe, you need inspiration at the moment, or maybe you need something to eat. As for me, since I end this speech with lots of information, I think I need lots of sleep, because I’ve been awake from 4AM. Goodnight everyone!

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I'm expecting lots of points that I need to improve on, but the evaluator maybe understood that I wasn't myself when I presented the speech project. The audience was expecting an alive performance, and I just cannot do what they requested me to do. Siguro dahil na-swoosh na lahat ng sigla ko noong araw na iyon, walang natira for the dinner time. I ate lots of foodie in that place, my bill reached Php348! @_@

But I have to change my perspective, I need to practice, and I need to put my heart on my Speech Projects. This is for me rin naman. AT HINDI DAPAT AKO PADADALA SA STRESS!!! :D

Oh yeah, the bonus - I WAS SURPRISED THAT I WAS ABLE TO TALK WITH SIR ED FABONAN,
and asked some points on being a CHAMPION in humorous speech category. :)

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(inputted in facebook notes last 03 April 2011)

Is this okay for Speech 101?

Jester. Free-writer. Whistler. Dreamer. These are the four adjectives that could describe a commediene, a storyteller, a singer and a kid. Four personas in one - and that is Ella's persona.

Ladies and Gentlemen, as Demi Lovato sings it, this is real, this is me... I would like you to give a glimpse of who Ella is.

A descendant of a chinese race, mixed with a race of a pure Boholano that migrated to Leyte and then to Manila, a name Maria Ella was born in Pasay City. The name was of a wondrous history, a biblical first name, and a romantic yet ironic second name - which came from the first love of her father.

She grew up in Makati, a privileged town, which she claims as her province since time immemorial. She was fortunate enough to experience an affordable education - tuition, as well as books and school supplies were free. She finishes her elementary and secondary education here, and decided to take the Certified Public Accountant race through enrolling the rigorous BS Accountancy course at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Fortunate events came, after receiving the CPA certificate no. 125082, she decided to be a public servant - a Financial Analyst in the Department of Finance.

A natural comic, she loves to tell stories with a sense of humor, never tires herself from laughing, and never stops talking and telling jokes. She's a crowd pleaser, although some of her jests are not a humor anymore, leading to a pinch of sarcasm in few. She always has her gaga moments, both consciously crafted and unconsciously created. Humor, as if defines, brings laughter to the one you're giving it to.

She spends her free time on social networks, updating with her friends in the world wide web. She loves free-writing and online blogging, creating literary pieces. She also loves to comment on topics relating to public finance, economics and governance - since she was applying what she is learning and what she would like to learn on those aspects.

She loves to sing, as much as she wants to, whenever and wherever she was. She would not contain her thirst for singing as she claims it, and for every opportunity that music is giving her - she would love to take it, challenging the notes - beaming the souls of the sounds at the top of her lungs. She has seen in different places singing with confidence, and she doesn't care whatever the world tell her - she would no stop even the world tells her to.

A wild dreamer, she keeps on believing that teaching is her calling. She perceived that once she attained what she is tasked to do, the fate will do everything to challenge her to this race, pursuing the change in every student she will be teaching thereto. She believed that it is in the teaching profession that you would not only share what you learned in books, but also what you learned through life as a whole. She would like to entice the students to aspire and inspire. She would dream of a Utopian sort - a nation without corruption, dirty politics, crimes and other societal cancers - and she is willing to be one of the tools to attain it.

She will be a catalyst of change.

[Hi Toastmasters, I want to be a kibitzer for your forums first, I want to see how your "club" works, and please allow me to simmer the moments of being an observant to your group, while being cognizant to your activities for the members. Pwede po bang makita ko muna kayo in action?]

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(inputted in facebook notes last 15th October 2010)

3/25/2021

My Athlete's Foot

This is my Basic Speech Project 5 for the El Presidente Toastmasters Club and my contest piece for the Division A contest (representing Area 5). I wasn't able to bring home the bacon, but at least (being a novice in this field) I enjoyed sharing the stage with the champions. The experience was exhilarating. The competition was stiff. The improvement was drastic (even Mama was surprised).

Hindi ako kinabahan when I delivered my speech. I just told myself - don't be intimidated, in the first place - you have your own story to tell - and to make them see the humor is an added bonus!

Ako si
Ella, at ito ang aking kwento. Enjoy. 😀
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Day in, day out – I still love my athlete’s foot. Eeew, right?!

Do you know why I love my Athlete’s foot?

Mister contest chair, Ladies and gentlemen - It all started one night. With bright stars in the sky, gentle breeze in the air, and! Lots of hunks along the street – it inspired me to do night jogging. And let me recommend – jog in the places where there are lots of hunk and babes, so that you will be stirred to get fit, and shop for the perfect mate!

I discovered this chance when I was jogging in the Fort Bonifacio High Street. Wow! So many hunks! My mind couldn’t focus on whom to look at first. Nevertheless, there was one particular Eduardo (the first name of a contestant in the same speech category) who approached me and said, “Hey”.

I replied, “Hi.” (whisper: Hi handsome!)

He asked, “May I join you in your jogging?”

“Sure.” (whisper OMG three times)

After a few minutes of jogging beside me, he asked, “Are you here with friends?”

“No. How about you? Are you here alone?”

“Yes I am. I have a condo over there. Would you like to see it?”

“Uh? Come again?”

He repeated, “Would you like to go over to my place?”

(Shriek for kilig)

“Of course!” (whisper for the record, I’m still a SSSB: Status Single Since Birth)

“Wait, let me adjust my shoes and socks, I need to air my athlete’s foot.”

Hearing that statement, he ran as fast as he could, away from me.

“Hey!” I called out, “I meant my foot as an athlete! NOT THE DISEASE!”

I felt bad. I got picked up at that moment. I could have a lovelife!

But, I also felt good. I didn’t know. I just sweat sexily...

The same discovery was made when I was jogging on a particular Sunday, on the same place and another guy approached me. This one is a bit old, but he’s tall and very handsome – like a GREEK GOD. We hit it off nicely and after jogging, we went shoe shopping for his athlete’s foot. There was a store called RUNNR with lots of you know (long pause) running shoes, and he would like to buy one.

During his test run, (Beeped like the 3310); I got a text message. As I was reading my message, this guy stared at it for a long time, surprise in his face. I asked quickly, “WHAT?” He said, “Nothing, I’m very impressed (long pause) with your cell phone.” (PAUSE)

“It’s very (LONG PAUSE) antique.”

HMP! (angry face) I ran off after we shopped, AND I NEVER SAW HIM AGAIN. (PAUSE)

Not that I care, A OLD, GREEK-GOD-LIKE, LOOKING DOWN ON MY JURASSIC CELL PHONE, HELLO! Isn’t he one?

Anyhow, with all the encounters of meeting my potential mate, I learn to love these feet. I learn to love jogging across the streets, and how these (show foot) seem to have a mind of its own, even this (touch forehead) mind does not. I love it when I project myself as a health-conscious girl determined to get fit.

And I love how my body projects as Pamela Anderson on the Baywatch! Ooh! (running across the stage) I am the sexy lifeguard in the Baywatch series (hand showing boobs).

With all these blessings from my athlete’s foot, I told myself, why not continue jogging? Why not continue to get fit from this? After all, we can say it’s officially summer; and I am determined to reach the 24 waistline – and complement the wonderful views of the beach, rather than to wreck it. I remember when I was younger; I posed in the shores of Batangas wearing my ultimate swimsuit. And when I saw the picture, Aahhh…perfect (wonderful sigh).

But two weeks ago when I saw myself in the shores of Baler wearing a tankini – AHH! (Shriek) OH MY GOSH! tsk tsk tsk…

I need to be sexy! Hmp, for your information, when I was in high school, I have the 24 waistline; I was in ultra-shape. But yesterday night, I heard my mom said,

“Anak, why don’t you run more to get yourself in shape?”

“Mom, I am in shape. Round is a shape? Isn’t it?”

I swore that I will improve, seeing my mom’s waist at 24. Seeing her bust size of 28, and I promised this frontal asset that I CAN DO BETTER.

That is why, I JOG!

And I urge to do the same. Discovery the views. Explore the hunks. Love - your athlete’s foot.

Ladies and gentlemen, as we see life, it’s like a long street to jog. With focus to your goal, with faith to your ability, and with fervor to your feet, I believe you will attain the ultra-shape. It doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the track, or last. Once you reached that finish line, AAAHH!!! (shout) “I did it”.

Just don’t forget, love your athlete’s foot; because with bright stars in the sky, gentle breeze in the air, and Hunks along the street, love life is just around the corner. Mister Contest Chair!

(inputted in Facebook at 03 April 2011. A video was included as my piece in the District A Competition in Toastmasters)

SSSB (for the record, it's Triple S - B)

Note: This is my Basic Speech Project 4 for the BUTTER N' TOAST TOASTMASTERS CLUB. Thanks for the hospitality and allowing me to be your Guest Speaker (aka Training Ground for my Club Contest). It was a privilege to meet the TM of the PM - Sir Ed Ebreo, ACS (who maybe was a bit angry because I've got more HA-HAs than the host himself! hehehehe), Sir, saludo ako at nakilala kita (sa blogsite kasi ko first nakita ang name mo). I am glad also to be "screened" by a Seasoned Toastmaster, DTM Pat Pascua. Thanks for the reinforcements - and don't forget - I'll be seeing you in the DISCON! (SELF-DECLARATION)

Oh yeah!!! Nakita ko run yung friend sa review school na si JM Guevarra! JM, join the association of the Public Speakers! Paramihin natin ang mga CPAs by Profession sa ganitong field! :) Magsama ka pa dali!! :)

The Butter N' Toast TMC conduct their meetings every 2nd and 4th Thursday Nights at the Makati Stock Exchange, Penthouse level, Activity Room A. I would encourage you to at least see the sights on how they conduct their events.

For those who are not informed about this club, I joined the Toastmasters club last 04 November 2010 to hone my public speaking skills. I would like to encourage and to invite all of you guys to be a kibitzer to a Toastmasters Club Meeting. Ours (El Presidente) is done every first and third Thursday of the month, 7PM at Max's 2nd Floor Liberty Center, Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong City.

Good evening, fellow toastmasters.

Let me give you a itsy-bitsy information that would either make or break you: 27 days has passed since New Year’s Eve; 7 days before Chinese New Year (mouths Keung Hee Huang Chai) – and 18 days to go before Valentine’s Day! Weeh! (ironic tone of excitement)

If you are single, then Valentine's Day may not be your favorite time of the year. Seeing couples, young and old, celebrating their love for each other can make you a bit envious. At my age, some of my friends are just starting to look for their respective dates for the V-Day; some are starting to look for their soul mate for life. Some are thinking of settling down while some are just starting to bring the house down.

(Audience did not laugh, dead air for three seconds)

Oh, the jokes on me then! (ad lib)

(Audience laughed)

As for me, I am still a SSSB. What’s a SSSB? It’s

STATUS: SINGLE SINCE BIRTH!

Any other brave soul who belongs to this club? Come on, don’t be shy!

(If someone raises, congratulate; if none, say, OH SAD! The joke is on me then)

Luckily, for the fun of the night, TM Ton and TM Alvin raised their hands, ALTHOUGH EVERYONE knew they are definitely in a relationship!

Given that I am a SSSB, Should I be frantic? Should I panic? Should I feel pressure? Should I feel unsure? Or Should I feel none of the above? If I say “I am as happy as the sunflower smiling to the serene sunshine”, would you believe it? (laughter from the audience) If I say “It’s a nightmarish nightmare gnarling over my weepy heart”, would you second it?

So the million dollar question now is how should a SSSB handle the situation? Let me share a secret with you! This secret would not only be the answer to your questions, but will also help you get through the day when all you can see are pink and red! This secret would change your SSSB life forever. This is a powerful tool that would make you see things in a different light. And it will only cost you five words! Listen closely:

IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD!

(Audience, in their faces said "WHAT?")

I just told you, Ladies and Gentlemen – It’s all in your head!

It’s all in your thoughts.

It’s all about the way you think and the way you see things.

It’s all about perspective.

Whenever you start internalizing, it is slowly going to the visualizing stage, and then you go actualizing it.

Last week, I attended as a guest in a Table Topics Contest. Yeah, I felt the blood racing and heart pumping hype during the program, but that’s another matter. What struck me is the table topic itself –

“Our language reveal our thoughts; our action reflect our character; our habits predict the future.”

So you might now be asking, “What does have to do with Valentine’s Day or the membership in the SSSB Club?” Can’t you see? There’s a catharsis: IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD! It’s all about you and it depends a whole lot on you! Now, let’s apply this cathartic understanding: Sir JM, throw me a question, if I feel the pressure of having no date in the coming valentines. Come on, don’t be shy! (JM, being the shy type, aids no reply)

Oh, you're shy. How about TM Ton, throw me a question, if I feel the pressure of having no date in the coming valentines.

(Ton, being the jester type, said May I take you to dinner?)

That's another question! So, TM Ed, throw me a question, if I feel the pressure of having no date in the coming valentines. (Ed, being the kind type, said "Do you feel the pressure of having no date on Valentines?")

“No, not really.”

(Dead air for three seconds)

Of course I feel the pressure! But then again, it’s all in the head!

I would rather think that valentines day this is the perfect time to party with friends, do some tugsh-tugsh gimmicks, or do some lalalalala sing-along. Or this is the perfect opportunity to date yourself – let your body go aahhh (relaxing tone) to the wonders of the spa.

Does it sound bitter or better? Again, it’s all in your head.

If you let yourself be overwhelmed with the sudden influx of flowers, balloons, chocolates, and stuffed toys everywhere, then you’ll definitely be bitter, envious, and feel bad about being alone. And if you focus on what you don’t have, a “boyfriend / girlfriend”, then you’ll miss out all the other great things that you have.

So everyone, especially if you have the same situation as I am, have to yet experience relationships, heed this simple tip. If someone asks you – do you feel lonely when you’ve got no date on Valentine’s Day? First, think of all the blessings and opportunities you have received throughout the year. (ad lib, I passed the Board Exam, weeh! I belong to DOF, weeh!! Benefits are being paid, weeh!! First time having credit card, weeh!!! Allowed for Graduate Studies and to Teach, weeh!!!!) Then, think of the things you may enjoy even without a date. Finally, declare,

“No, not really. I've got lots on my plate. I am still savoring it, eating it all, before that dessert comes. And yes, it will be the sweetest dessert of all.”

See? I told you, it’s all in the head.

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Evaluation Proper:

I thought TM Ton is tasked to do that; but nevertheless, it was DTM Pat who made some notations on my speech. :)

STRONG POINTS:

You "owned" the stage. You feel comfortable with the audience. The title is catchy and attention-getting. Vocal variety, animation, and body language are all present. You have a way of working with words (i.e. "perspective" "bring the house down", "internalizing, visualizing, actualizing", "savoring before the dessert comes") and you used the power of repetition (i.e. "It's all in your head") and alliteration ("sunflower smiling to the serene sunshine").

AREAS TO IMPROVE:

1. Work with pronunciation: Catharsis is pronounced with accent on the second syllable, not on the first. Same as cathartic. Also, information is an abstract noun. put more appropriate prepositions ( i.e. pieces of)

2. Remove the article (i.e. the New Year's eve, the Valentines day, the couple)

3. Next time, do not wear clothes (i.e. jackets) that have side pockets. Hands tend to be placed there, whether intentionally or not, to remove the pressure during the delivery of the speech. (napansin pala niya yun? ako nga hindi ko alam na ganoon na ginagawa ko! hihih)

4. You have an impact to the audience, not to the notes - SO DROP THE NOTES! (I will, I will...)

ENDING AFFIRMATION - GOOD JOB! :)

(inputted 27 January 2011)

The Little Thing (aka The Fairy Tale Lover)

Some side notes — I was trying to locate my Toastmasters Speeches in Facebook Notes from way back 2011 and for some reason, the notes themselves are very elusive. Was the Facebook notes section archived or deactivated? I was not even aware of this shift, really. In the meantime, I shall copy and paste whatever transcript that I can find.

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Here's the deal: These are not the exact words that I rendered in the speech tonight!

Don't expect anything, because I rearrange some statements and concepts. Maybe its the effect when you are nervous. But whatever, this is my contest piece. And this serves as my Basic Speech Project No.6 (Vocal Variety) for the El Presidente Toastmasters Club. Today is the celebration of the Chinese New Year, and today is an auspicious night. Happy! :D I won the second place. (considering that this is my first time to do public speaking). I also happy that some of my classmates in MBA are there to support me, and able to record my contest piece (and this is the first time I see myself in a video! Weird... just weird!) Sayang wala yung ibang mga officemates ko to see me rendering the piece. At least they could have explained why I go out of the office early on Thursdays.

For those who are not informed about this club, I joined the Toastmasters club last 04 November 2010 to hone my public speaking skills. I would like to encourage and to invite all of you guys to be a kibitzer to a Toastmasters Club Meeting. Ours is done every first and third Thursday of the month, 7PM at Max's 2nd Floor Liberty Center, Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong City.

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Madam Contest Chair, fellow toastmasters, and welcomed guests: I have a confession.

At this age, I am still a poignant fairy-tale lover.

I love it when stories begin with “Once Upon a Time” and end in “Happily Ever After”. I love majestic castles and magnificent sceneries; happy songs and jolly dances. I love the stories of beautiful princesses and charming princes. I love watching them in mushy scenes and hearing their cheesy lines. I love them riding on a noble steed and doing the tiring chase, heart-pumping battles and blood-rushing encounters.

I’m looking forward to each story as it unfolds a wonderful, awesome adventure. Don’t you?

I especially love the scene where…

Ariel, the first time she saw Prince Eric, sang with excitement (♪♫ I don’t know when, I don’t know how, but I know something is starting right now… Out of this sea, wish I could be part of your world ♪♫) And when Belle, at the ball, Mrs. Potts sang (♪♫ Tale as old as time, true as it can be… barely even friends, then somebody bends, unexpectedly ♪♫)

It’s you know… it’s that warm, fuzzy feeling. Don’t deny it; you feel those goose bumps too!

And as you immerse yourself in its story, you would only sigh and say, “Awww, everything is so perfect!”

And you believe that this is the happy ending.
But then suddenly, something goes wrong.

The witch placed a curse, and thus, a series of unfortunate events happened. A dark secret resurfaces. And then you would hear wistful whimpers and hurtful sobs. And you would hear a wicked, devilish laugh! (Wicked laugh) It overpowers the castles, sceneries and moments, and you would feel that all hope is lost.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you would feel that everything is impossible, that there’s no way to bring back things the way it should be. And yes, one point in time, in my life, I felt that too.

When I was ten, I dreamed of having a beautiful sister, a princess in the family, gifted with utmost beauty and golden voice. And then she was born! She was perfect! It’s a wish come true. She had the rosy cheeks, a perfect nose, and a pair of charming eyes. Everything was just perfect.

Suddenly, a witch came and gave her a curse.

Three months later, she was diagnosed with sepsis – a poison in the blood; a deadly poison that would kill her at a young age! It’s like the moments when Princess Snow White ate the poisoned apple, and when Princess Aurora pricked her finger in the spindle.

The moment when the antagonist bestowed that blight, everything fell down – everything was lost.

But no, we never gave up. We did not lose hope. We believed that she would be well. And through our prayers and deepest wishes (of course, with the help of the doctors), a miracle happened.

It was like; she wakes from a deep slumber. Today, she is a teenager, aspiring to be the next broadway sensation. She is fit as a fiddle. So, what is the lesson of this story? Let me tell you this: LIFE IS NOT A FAIRY TALE! LIFE IS NOT A FAIRY TALE!

You are not a prince (points to a man), and you are not a princess (points to a woman)! Your do not live in royal castles and in cave of wonders.

Rather, your life is a journey.
You are a traveler over ups and downs.
You are a dreamer.

So the question now is if life is a journey, not a fairy tale, is it possible to transform that journey into a fairy tale? I DECLARE, YES!

Dreams may not always have a happy ending, but you have this powerful thing. The little thing called faith. And this little faith will take you to greater heights, to breaking limits, to defying gravity. So, you’re not a prince, not a princess, but if you have faith – in God and in yourself, you have the ingredients to living happily ever after.

Believe, everyone, Believe! Through believing, you’ll know that everything will fall into right places. That everything is just right.

It’s what Cinderella sings it:

♪♫ No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true… ♪♫

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EVALUATION PROPER:

Improvement on:

1. Reorganizing the speech - One said that parang dalawang beses kang nag-open at nag-close ng speech. It's supposed to happen only ONCE.

2. Pauses and Poses - Whatever you say, it should reflect on the posture, and on facial gestures.

3. Do not question the audience. If you always ask the lesson / morale in your speech, some would dare answer: WALA! It would be better if you urge / challenge them. You can shift the question to match up your expected response.

4. Encourage yourself to practice more, and to let your story be known. It is better if you share lots of your personal experiences in the speech, because these are the plus factors in the "substance" of your speech.

Positive Note:

1. YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE A DISTINGUISHED TOASTMASTER! (Nothing and Everything follows! heheh)

BASTA HAPPY AKO TONIGHT! THIS IS A VERY FRUITFUL EVENT! :D

Oh yeah, I'll be seeing you all in the District 75 Convention in the Manila Ocean Park! Looking Forward to it!

(inputted: 04 Feb 2011; contest happened at 03 Feb 2011, 7PM)