My Toastmasters Experience

Day 3 meant everyone was getting ready to watch the International Prepared Speech Contest. But before that happened, the organizers opted to have a discussion forum - all about the issues and concerns that all Toastmasters wanted to talk about - and we so happen to have the chance to discuss it in front of everyone from District 75 - on stage. But not just air out any complaints - but also share possible ideas to maximize our membership. I was asked to participate, and I knew this was important, so I had said yes a month ago. I was invited by Distinguished Toastmaster Reiner Dungca, and he was looking for a balance of viewpoint - mine would be the viewpoint of the seasoned (a.k.a. older) Toastmaster. With me was Past District Director Jazz Encarnacion - a good friend, International Director Hani Nur Zaihanira , and lastly... Kenley Go ( for the Millenial crowd - and according to him, the diversity representative as well (he isn't btw - it was just a joke). Our moderator was Mar...

THe idea of this thing was started in the Cebu DisCon. In the welcome dinner of the night before DisCon 2025 started, we had a little Karaoke session where each table would have a representative sing to the crowd. I was chosen to do this, so when I went to the front with a live guitarist to be my accompaniment (it was a simple set-up), I chose to sing Misty,by Nat King Cole. Despite my slight faux pas where I opted to go low when I realized singin the higher note was too hard for my relaxed manner, it turned out all right. Governor Noli Manlapaz later approached me and suggested that the next year - when the next DisCon will be held in Pampanga, with by then District Director Remy at the helm, we (meaning the two of us, plus other Toastmaster singers, will have an evening of serenading everyone.He approached me with this idea, and I automatically said yes to the idea. Since then, whenever we had a chance to sing - like in the Tamaraw TMC tunrover that same year, we sang... both with ...