The annual Toastmasters International convention was held on May 18-20, 2007 at Cebu City. Being the Area 32 Governor of all Toastmasters clubs, I represented Panay Island and the Kalantiao Toastmasters Club of Kalibo, Aklan in particular to the convention. There was overwhelming support from all Toastmasters all over the Philippines that made the convention very successful and memorable. I, likewise, was one of the judges in the International Prepared Speech Contest, one of the highlights of the convention.
Megs Lunn and daughter Clouds with Toastmasters Internnational President Johnny "Pawe" Uy, the 1st Filipino Toastmasters International President from Cebu City.
The highlight of the opening ceremonies was the keynote speech of International President Johnny ‘Pawe’ Uy. He was humorous and eloquent at the same time. There were whirlwind of events from Lance Miller’s talk, the humorous speech contest, and the fellowship at Slabadu.
Everyone was decked out in their sexiest black or white, the music was great, the fun, dancing and San Miguel beer flowed non-stop.
Notwithstanding the late sleep, people showed up at 8:00 am for the Impromptu speech contest the next day. The evaluation speech contest followed and then the Governor’s Ball in the evening. Almost all the past district governors were present to meet the new successors to the leadership of District 75 which all toastmasters clubs in the Philippines belong.
On the final day, everyone woke up very early for the International Speech Contest. They enjoyed the beach party at Portofino as we ended well before 12:00 noon! The fun... the lechon... the beer...up to the beach.
The most exciting parts of the Discon are always the contests. This year, the audience unanimously agreed that all contestants had raised the bar several notches! The
winners for the HUMOROUS SPEECH CON-TEST are: 1st - Josef Chiongbian of Sinulog TMC, Division C; 2nd - Amanda C. Echevarria of Durian TMC, Division E; and 3rd - Marjorie Olorvida of Harbor Community TMC, Division K.
Jotjot Chiong-bian’s speech, entitled Me and My Good Looks, boasted about his irresistible looks. He even boasted of allegedly seeing LGM Deling and LGET Gina Mapua fighting over him at a mall.
Mandy spoke of her misadventures with various boyfriends in her speech, "Love Is All We Need." One particular BF was baptized ‘the butiki" by her mother, Celia Castillo - a speech contest champion herself!
Marjorie drew early laughs in her speech entitled "Oxymoron," especially when she noted that the words ‘happy’ and ‘marriage’ made the perfect oxymoron. The winners in the IMPROMPTU SPEECH CONTEST are: 1st - Rona Joy Alderite of Durian TMC, Division E; 2nd - Ma. Agnes Garcia of Pines City TMC, Division G; and 3rd - Riza May Duran of Achievers TMC, Division B.
The author with the with the 2nd runner up winner International Prepared Speech Competition, Division D, DT Greg Vallejera, Jr. of Barangay Toastmasters Club, Bacolod City.
When confronted with the topic "What The World Needs Now,?" Rona declared most emphatically that "the world needs me!" That certainly caught the audience’ and judges’ attention. And the amazing thing is that Rona is a 6-month old Toastmaster!
Beng Garcia declared that "the world needs holiness and excellence," while Riza sang that what the world needs now is love! The winners of the EVALUATION SPEECH CONTEST are: 1st - Herminigildo Garrobo of Pines City TMC, Division G; 2nd - Eduardo Fabonan of Maharlika TMC, Division B; and 3rd - Ann Carmel Valencia of Molave TMC, Division A.
Aimee Yu of El Presidente TMC was the test speaker in a speech entitled, Leave Me Breathless. She spoke of her travels and how certain locations were so breathtakingly beautiful and how some travel problems can leave you equally breathless. The winners in the INTERNATIONAL SPEECH CONTEST are: 1st - Lourdes Felix of Fort Bonifacio TMC, Division K; 2nd - Randy Cabahug of San Miguel TMC, Division I; and 3rd - Gregorio Vallejera, Jr. of Barangay TMC, Division D.
Doddie Felix, in her speech: "One Fleeting Chance" spoke humorously and eloquently of how we must ‘clear the aisles of emotional baggage, straighten our priority seats and fasten our relationship seatbelts.’
Randy, in his speech "G and I," spoke humorously of how genius and intelligence writ very large in his family, while Greg spoke of how things come right back to us in his speech "Life Is An Echo." (Contest winners’ names are with Lt. Gov Education & Training Gina Mapua, Manila)
We truly enjoyed Cebu City. Its people’s warmth from the honest taxi driver, to our very kind tourist guide, Mr. Joel Pineda, the delicacies, eat-all-you can food, and shopping galore, not to mention the historical places like museums and old churches within the city. It was indeed a very beautiful city and an unforgettable trip. /MP
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