KTV Learnings

We had the despedida for R and R, r and r for Ted and Yann and Tony's B-day celeb yesterday at Music-Match over at Hobbies of Asia. I got there early at around 6:40 having left the office at 5:35pm. Dada and I left at 10pm.
Some learnings:

Why my Old Toastmasters Club Folded Up

A few times, I've been asked by toastmasters in my present club why my old club, the ON Semiconductor Toastmasters Club died. Typically, they'd ask after they learn I used to be in another club with Doc Noy.

I suppose there are several reasons why that club just couldn't sustain itself. Here are a few that I could think of:

  1. Demand for good communication skills in the company is just lip-service. I don't think anybody gets rewarded because of the skills. It's appreciated, yes, but recognized and eventually rewarded? Ha!

  2. There are only a few employees who'd want to put in the time and effort to improve. Sure, many want to improve - but they don't want the effort involved. Yeah, what the heck is that? Some mistakenly expect a teacher to come in and lecture them - classroom style. But Toastmasters doesn't work that way.

  3. The present management, in general, will discourage taking even a little of company time for Toastmasters meetings. In other words, management won't actively influence the sustaining of a Toastmasters Club.

Given the above, who'd want to "waste" time for meetings. There are probably just a couple of us still dedicated and committed, but with so few attendees, what's the point in regrouping the club?

My swim today was mostly freestyle and it helped clear my sinus. It also made me feel a little better as I've been having colds since Tuesday. There was a lone PE stude today.

She must've been wondering why there was no PE class. I've begged off for tonight's Toastmasters meeting as I probably would strain my voice and worsen my throat.



Blue Corner Blowout

We were supposed to go swim yesterday but the kids have so much to do: Dada has exams, Che has her egg Science project, poems, etc.

And so we settled for Blue Corner as my treat for my ACB graduation. And it was the better decision coz it was very windy with the impending typhoon Goring.

Here's what we had: Sizzling Pusit, Sizzling Liempo x2, Sizzling Blue Marlin and Pinakbet. Renz is happy and shows it.

Che's First Groceries

When Che was about to leave for Math Review today, she was was asked by DH today to buy crab meat. Che scoffed at the idea and was protesting.

Well, DH reminded her that at Grade 5, DH was already commuting by jeepney to go to Paco market. After being told that it's only at Save More in Festival Mall, Che relented.

Che just had to write it down though. And soon, the grocery list became longer. Here's Che with her grocery bag after getting home. Renz always wants to be in the pics.



Djok Taym
It was a special Mass (Our Lady of Sorrows?). And it was a con-celebrated mass. One assistant was carrying that incense thing and was swinging it everywhere: to the altar to the people, to the priests.

Incense smoke was everywhere. Finally, the assistant was swinging it to the bible at the lectern, just before the Gospel. Renz noticed the smoke.

Renz:Sinisiga po nila?
DH:(half laughing) Anong sinisiga? Bine-bless muna nila, bago basahin.
Renz:Ah... Para pong 'magic spell'?



Camwhoring at Physical Education Classes

Went for a swim today coz I was feeling lethargic and I have a pingpong game later in the evening. I can't understand these PE studes. They come early and those in the pool either play or camwhore. Those out of the pool either text or camwhore. But all of them understand that they need to get the swim skills to pass! Maybe their PE should be called PE-Camwhoring and not PE-Swimming.

Every PE day is typical. There's lots of playing, laughing and teasing and little learning. Then there's the squealing and hooting when one is forced to get into the pool. WTH? Maybe they ought to just break into groups of 2, like buddy-buddies and seriously try to swim. None of this "hey-we're-a-gang-let's-party" attitude.

My ACB Graduation at Toastmasters

Tonight I was overjoyed as I received my Advanced Communicator Bronze Award in Toastmasters. Firstly because I've been anticipating the TM pin for sometime now.

Secondly, I was so excited (not nervous) to deliver my graduation speech. This is Advanced Speech #5 from the Storytelling Manual - Bringing History to Life.

The title of my speech is "A Painting on a Plate". Why was I excited? Well, I've researched a lot for this speech project.

That included finding out the works of Juan Luna, his biography and the details surrounding the controversial Juan Luna painting bought by GSIS. I learned so much about the man.

But my biggest challenge was weaving my fictional Dinner story with the entire Juan Luna backdrop (paintings, exposition, awards). The way I've heard the story before was very simple and straightforward in a dinner setting.

For this speech project though, I had to put some embellishments to make the story so believable. These are the small details that I thought of to make the story interesting and blend logically with the background historical setting.

These included details like:

  • Big studio bag to conceal the painting he did on the plate.
  • His leaving a business card to show he was no "balasubas" and that he intended to pay.
  • The JLUNA signature below the painting.
  • The snobbish attitude of the Spanish waiter.
  • Research on the Spanish phrases used in the dialogue.

Another challenge was segueing the Juan Luna story with GSIS controversy which I used as introduction AND THEN relating it back to the controversy towards the end.




I must admit it took me a while to come up with the appropriate message for the conclusion. I thought I really uplifted their spirits on how it is to feel like a proud pinoy. Here's some of the feedback from the group:

Alfred: As usual, it was very enjoyable. The story was very good.
Henry: I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Neil: You mean it was a ficitonal story? Wow, I really thought it was real! It's very good. I've always thought that your best speech was "That Extra Mile". Now, I think this is better! (note: After some alterations, "That Extra Mile" eventually became my contest piece in the 2006 Quartethlon where I became Area 78 Champion.)
Lolet: It captivated me that I just couldn't write the evaluation just yet. I didn't want to miss a single detail. Your gestures, vocal variety to depict the waiter and Juan Luna were excellent! You were so creative for tying a fictional story with these historical events.

Wow, I felt so amply rewarded with their evaluation. I did tell them that I felt like writing a mini-play for this speech project - complete with the dialogue and scenes.

After all the prepared speeches, we had a brief awarding ceremony with Gov. Lolet awarding me with the ACB pin. Gov. Lolet was also happy coz our pictorials now show our club banner. Too bad, Ann couldn't make it last night. We were supposed to discuss a demo meeting for a proposed TM Club over at Cummins.


Here's a part of the group we had last night.


Here's the new pin (bronze) as pinned on my clip. The picture is a bit fuzzy, I know.


See all my Toastmasters Speeches online here!



Improvised Clip for Toastmasters Pins

In recent weeks I've been wearing the pin on the collar and it's quite a hassle pierce clothing. Over time, I suspect the sharp point of the pin will eventually become dull.

So, I've devised a clip so that the pin need not pierce clothing and it cost me Php14. It's actually an ID holder. I cut out excess plastic sheet and then punched a couple of holes for the 2 pins.

A Toastmasters pin actually has 2 pins, one to punch the clothing to where the clasp is fastened and another pin to latch on to the clothing so the whole TM pin doesn't rotate. Here's how the improvised clip looks like.

The GM Update and Two Coke Plastic Bottles

I suppose the PE studes are gone for good. So today, I used 2 empty coke plastic bottles for practicing flip turns. When I put them in the pool, the wind just swept them away. And when I tested them, they were much more buoyant than I thought and so I put pool water inside - maybe halfway.

Of corz there's still the initial pain in the sinus. But the bottles work well. I still have this problem of not turning into a tight ball and end up still too deep.

There was a couple there today with a kid. Looked like the lady had bronchitis as she kept coughing really bad.

Sinusitis Overload

There were no PE studes today. Just three Grade 6 kids from La Consolacion. How'd I know? Well, Dada didn't have school today and I was wondering what these kids are doing swimming on a weekday.

So I asked one if they were from Laco. Turned out they where and 2 of them knew Dada from a previous school club. "Yung nakasalamin po?", asked one. Yup that's her alright.