Toasties Get Coveyfied

Last April 2, BnT launched a new series of meeting themes that highlight Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Effective People. This Leadership Handbook is an excellent learning tool for communicators. At BnT, we will apply these habits to becoming better speakers.

We kicked off last meeting with the first habit, Be Proactive. Tonight, we talk about the second habit, which is to Begin with the End in Mind. This is about having a clear understanding of your destination, whether it's to become a Competent Communicator in 2009 or to achieve a major life goal. Knowing where you are going translates to taking the steps towards the right direction.

Watch out for the next meetings as we build up the habits to becoming an effective communicator:

April 30- Habit 3: Put First Things Firts
May 14- Habit 4: Think Win/Win
May 28- Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
June 11- Habit 6: Synergize
June 25 - Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
July 9 - Bonus: The 8th Habit

One of the things that set Butter N Toast TMC apart is the way we use our meeting themes as tools for continuous learning. We've had series of themes that celebrate our values and highlight mentoring. We will continue to find better ways to help the Toasties become even better leaders and communicators.

3 Meetings in One Month on April

Because we are a special club, we will have a special meeting on April 2. To accommodate all requests for speaking schedules, we have scheduled this meeting to be a marathon of 6 prepared speakers. Each speaker will, of course, be evaluated. To manage the time, we will limit our agenda for the night. There will be no Table Topic segment, and no language evaluation. Speakers will be timed, and their language crutches counted, but there will be no time and ah-count reports during the meeting.

The meeting dates for April are:
April 2, 16, 30

Same time: 7 PM. Same place: Function Room A, Penthouse, Makati Stock Exchange along Ayala Ave.

Please tell other members and your expected guests about this change of schedule.

Another special meeting is scheduled for June.

February 12 Photos. Theme: Mentor, Teacher

Two icebreaker speeches that had the Toasties on their feet. Learning five languages in a 7 minutes. And lessons we can learn from ants. It was a great night for great speeches. Here are the photos to prove it: http://butterntoast.multiply.com/photos/album/13#

Turn Your Audience's ZZZZZs into Awwws and Wows

Do you get this reaction when you speak in front of an audience?

















Then, it's time you become a Toastmaster.

Discover the most enjoyable way to become a better communicator and leader. Join us on February 12, 7pm, at the Function Room A, at the Penthouse of the Makati Stock Exchange Bldg.

The MSE Building is the low rise building beside the Philippine Stock Exchange Tower along Ayala Ave. This is walking distance from the Ayala Malls in Makati. There is a Starbucks Cafe at the ground floor. If you're driving your car to the venue, you may park at the Gabriela Silang Parking right across the Peninsula Manila. Enter through the Makati Ave. entrance.

Call/text Gege (917-8989694) to book a seat. E-mail gevouz@yahoo.com for more information.

An Awesome BnT Toastmasters Club Year Starter

by Jun Roy

Anything but boring. Wacky and fun. That’s how guests usually describe BNT meetings. BNT’s first meeting in 2009 last January 8 was no different. And if there’s another way to describe it, Ed’s fave word that night could have easily ended up as a runaway winner. Yes, it was awesome!

It was a full house with 15 members and 9 guests who attended the meeting. Three committed to join the club and pay the membership dues. With a theme, I Find Ways, the program, ably hosted by CC Boom San Agustin, started with the members and guests taking turns in introducing themselves. To add a little twist, Boom also asked us to also complete the phrase I Find Ways to say something about ourselves. Short, simple yet creative – a dish of BnT’s brand of creativity, served ala carte.

Then there’s the prepared speech portion. Three able speakers with three riveting topics that kept the audience glued to their seats.

The first speaker, Alvin Abrantes, delivered his Ice Breaker speech. Being a Trainer by profession, Alvin is obviously not a novice in public speaking. The title of his speech, I Can, aptly described his message. He shared a defining moment in his life when he was diagnosed with a rare disease called Guillain Barre Syndrome, a non-communicable disease which paralyzed him from neck down. His I Can speech eloquently conveyed his ordeal and arduous but inspiring journey from his paralysis to his full recovery - a triumph of both body and spirit.

How can an old notebook shape one’s future? How can some pieces of cardboard help one to think of bigger and bolder dreams? Fuzzy as they sound, the questions posed by TM Judith Jarabello in her introduction captured our attention. As she went on delivering her speech, the message became clearer. It’s not about notebooks and cardboards, after all. It’s about taking charge of one’s future. Yet, as Judith passionately shared, her notebook and cardboards helped her concretize her dreams for her future. Writing one’s goals, according to Judith, is a powerful symbol of commitment. And even if the title of her speech, You Want A Bright Future? Set Your Goals Now, doesn’t say it, “Write Your Goals” seems to be what she always wanted to add.

The title itself, Awesomeness, is, well, awesome. Being a TM can be awesome, ACB Ed Ebreo repeatedly said. He undoubtedly hit his mark – that is, to uplift our spirit with his awesome speech. He shared with us fours ways to become an Awesome Toastmaster: 1.) Be hungry for learning; 2.) Be brave; 3.) Be a leader; and 4.) Be here. His speech was an exhortation, but it was effective for he was able to connect to us. Despite the seriousness of his speech, Ed he managed to create some HahaHa moments with his good humor. “Don’t aim for becoming an Advanced TM of PM Gold, or Advanced Timer, or Distinguished Ah Counter.” Ed’s words resonated well with the audience with their humorous yet striking effect.

Instead of the usual Table Topics portion, BnT found a way to make the session a little different. DTM Michelle Lim, the club’s Charter President, facilitated a special segment with a topic, Moments of Truth. As she clarified it, the segment wasn’t a speech, but more like a workshop. And it was. The audience was divided into six groups. Each group was asked to rate the level of satisfaction for each key touch point in the life of a member and then to come up with suggestions on how to improve each touch point. True to its title, it was a highly engaging, productive, and yes, a special, segment.

With the fun, learning, and a number of guests who committed to join the club, the future seems to augur well for BNT. Definitely, BnT will again find ways to make its next meeting a worthwhile one.

BnT's first Toastmasters Meeting: January 8 at the Makati Stock Exchange Bldg.

The Toasties say: I Find New Ways
as they celebrate the value of INNOVATION.

Join us on January 8, 2009, Thursday at:
Function Room A, Penthouse
Makati Stock Exchange Building
Ayala Avenue, Makati

The meeting officially starts at 7PM, but the officers will be there by 6:30 PM to answer any questions you might have about the club.

Charter President and international speaker Michelle Lim will share an educational Moments of Truth speech.

Toasties, please pass on the link.

If you need further convincing, here are 3 good reasons why you need to become a Toastmaster. http://grammar-pulis.blogspot.com/2008/12/three-good-reasons-to-become.html


The Butter N Toast Toastmasters meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month.

Teaching a Horse How to Fly

I felt it was a Christmas gift intended for me! – to have taken the role of "Table Topics Master" in the last regular meeting of Butter N’ Toast for 2008. It may not be something that other members would consider a great achievement, but for me, it was a major breakthrough.

I’ve always been afraid of stepping out of my comfort zone. Come to think of it, I feel that I haven’t even defined my comfort zone yet as a member of Toastmasters. The roles of Toastmaster of the Evening and Table Topics Master are two roles I couldn’t imagine myself doing. And right after screwing up with my last two speeches? “No, I don’t think I can do it.”

I was a bundle of nerves when I agreed with my mentor Alvin Tan, to do the Table Topics Master. Actually, I didn’t remember agreeing with him! Aha, he coerced me, he volunteered me without my consent and left me with no other choice. “Kasubuan na”. I didn’t exactly know what he was up to, but maybe he had that gut feel that only a mentor would know.

To console me and show his support, he announced to take the role of the Toastmaster of the Evening, only to tell me later that he won't be able to attend the meeting for some reason. As the thoughtful guy that he is, he didn’t leave me in the lurch. He sent me some tips condensed from an article about Table Topics he got from the TM website. I learned later that he spoke to Boom, who, took over the role of “TM of the PM.” Boom’s reply to my email when I told him I was going to be late: “If you come late, we’ll do Table Topics after the Prepared Speeches. Alvin said that you need it.” Alvin was really insistent to put me in that role.

And so it was. Last Thursday was one of the rare evenings when Table Topics came after the prepared speeches because I was late. I felt relieved, that at least, I would only have a few more minutes left to sulk in embarrassment if I mess up again. It was also a rare night when my prophecy of failing was not fulfilled. Instead of being messed up, it was probably my best speaking performance as a Toastmaster. I had the usual grammatical lapses, few awkward actions, but those were easily shrouded by some humorous lines.

I passed a new milestone in my Toastmaster career. I proved to myself that I can handle the role of a Table Topics Master and that I can make my audience laugh. Immediate Past District 75 Governor, Gina Mapua, who served as the General Evaluator that night, also made me realize I can get my message across, when she commented that my explanation about Table Topics and its importance was one of the best explanations she’s heard so far. I was in an overwhelming natural high after the meeting that I missed to congratulate the other speakers for the great speeches they delivered. I couldn’t believe I didn’t mess up, and that I actually did well. It was the happiest, most glorious night for me at the Old Makati Stock Exchange as we rode our way down in the elevator and to Starbucks.

It was exactly a year ago when I first attended Butter N’ Toast. It was also their last regular meeting for 2007. I had second thoughts of not joining because I was really intimidated when I saw how good these people were. I couldn’t see how a jargon-filled, stiff, and aloof individual like me would fit in.

Well, let me say this now -- joining Butter N’ Toast Toastmasters Club was probably the best decision I made last year, and it was all worth it. It was worth the time I spent preparing for my speeches and rehearsing them, worth the money I paid for the membership, fuel, toll fee, parking and coffee, worth driving from Bulacan to Manila only to find out that I am one week early for the meeting, worth sacrificing meetings and going out with friends. Toastmasters is a school worth attending, a school where we learn lessons, face challenges, learn to lead, achieve goals, receive rewards, sometimes bullied (that's if either Ed or Boom is around.. hehe.. peace Bros) and more importantly, make friends.

In the world of public speaking, it’s hard to teach a horse how to fly, but if there are people who can teach you how, they are in Butter N’ Toast. I haven’t flown yet, but with a mentor like Alvin to stretch my limits, the support of intelligent but down to earth club officers, and the camaraderie exuded by old and new members alike, its only a matter of time before the horse that I am sprout wings and fly! – Thank you, Alvin, and thank you Guys! See you at the Christmas party!
:owenbraveheart

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November 27 Meeting at the Makati Stock Exchange - Photos at Multiply

Photos of the November 27 Meeting. A Toast to Diversity!

Check them out here.

Toastmasters Derek and Diane Break the Ice

Newbie Toasties Derek Dee and Dianne Tang wowed the crowd during our last meeting with their powerful and engaging Icebreaker Speeches! Their styles of speaking were oceans apart, yet they managed to reach the same end -- a thunderous applause!

Derek’s speech, “My Journey”, gave us a peek into the journey that was his life. Reflecting the styles of poems and sonnets from the seventies and eighties, Derek’s speech was almost melodic! With his calm and relaxed voice, he took the audience on a journey with him. His vivid use of words painted a picture of growing up during the “Martial Law” era, producing his first rock concert at the age of 13, his career, his failed marriage, his children; his life! As he spoke, you could almost feel like you were being taken back in time with him. Even his attitude exuded that 1970s aura! Some would call it his “Rock Star” attitude; but, come to think of it, he may just be BNT’s version of a Rock Star!

In stark contrast, Dianne’s Icebreaker speech was a witty and humorous discourse of why she loved “Romance Novels”! Her speech captured our hearts from the get-go! She talked about how those sometimes sappy and cheesy romance novels have actually influenced her life! She had the courage, the gumption to connect her life’s learnings with the novels she read! In a witty and endearing manner, she explained that she learned about the way men think and how to use this to her advantage; about sex (not that she did it, of course) and even about true love! Dianne showed all of us that those romance novels we sometimes look down on can actually be good for the soul!

But what was most impressive about Dianne’s speech was that she was not scheduled to deliver a speech that night, This is not to say, however, that she gave her speech night yet she gallantly volunteered to deliver her speech anyway! She exuded an attitude that has been infecting BNT and its members for several months now; a “gung-ho” attitude that has made every member of BNT go beyond their best to ensure that we “MAKE THE MOST OF BUTTER N’ TOAST!”

Derek and Dianne, YOU ROCK!

- Enrique Salvador E. San Agustin

Toastmasters to meet tonight at the Makati Stock Exchange

I RESPECT DIFFERENT FOLKS.

Another fun night will be had by all tonight, 7PM at the Penthouse of the Makati Stock Exchange. See you all for the last regular meeting night for 2008. It's been a fun and fulfilling year! And tonight will be a celebration of the different folks who make BnT special.

I Create Excellence! (BNT’s Return to the MSE Penthouse)

By: Enrique Salvador E. San Agustin

Finally, near the end of the year, we’ve returned to our usual meeting venue at the Penthouse of the old Makati Stock-Exchange (MSE) Building! While this venue was being refurbished, we have had to hold our meetings on the 4th Floor of the same building and in the, now famous, Rocci Café! Though I will miss our alternative venues, somehow, it feels right to be back here!

Our theme for the night, “I Create Excellence”, couldn’t have been more appropriate! Not because we had a perfect meeting… we all know that this particular meeting was far from being perfect… but because we witnessed once again how every member was eager to make this meeting another memorable and fun BNT meeting! The great artist, Michelangelo, once said “The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we hit it.” Our eagerness may have been the cause of some of our little mishaps that night; but we aimed high; and we still had one rockin’ BNT night!

The Table Topics Session...

Poor Christopher Siena! He was left holding the bag after I had passed off the duties of Table Topics Master to him. We felt that, since I would be giving a speech that night, it would only be fair to pass off my other duty to Chris! But like the trooper he is, Chris, bravely accepted the role on short notice. There is an ancient Samurai saying that goes “Warriors take chances. Like everyone else, they fear failing, but they refuse to let fear control them.” And, Chris proved to us that he was a true warrior of the old “Samurai” code!

Chris’ Table topics session was rather simple. Participants would simply complete a statement which began with our night’s theme “I Create Excellence…” and continues with a phrase that the participant would draw from a bag; phrases like “In the Work Place”, “At Home”, “Amongst my Peers”, etc. and ends with the participant’s speech.

First up to bat was Ton Villanueva who commented on “I create excellence at Home”. Somehow, Ton was able to divert his speech from the “home” to the perfect woman; or should I say three perfect women? What we all remembered about Ton’s speech was, when he described the three characteristics of his “perfect” woman, it sounded like he was talking about three different women! We all had a good laugh at this! But in the end, Ton still managed to bring it back “home”.

Next was Marlito Sy, who tackled the statement “I create excellence as a Filipino”! At first, I thought Mars was selling us insurance; but as his speech went on, I realized that he made a valid point. He made us realize that it was his patriotic duty to make sure that every Filipino should learn the value of being insured and that it was something we owed to our loved-ones.

I was the last to participate. Frankly, I volunteered because I was nervous about the humorous speech I was going to give that night and I needed to blow off some of that nervousness. My statement was “I create excellence in the office”! Since I didn’t have an office, this was a difficult subject to comment on. But I answered it the best I could. My point? I create excellence in the office by making sure I communicate effectively to each and everyone there… that is if I had an office.

The Prepared Speeches…

Our first speaker, Derek Dee, was a big hit with his Icebreaker speech “My Journey”! Indeed, he took us with him into the journey that was his life. Being a child of the seventies and eighties, Derek’s speech was delivered in the tradition of the sonnets and poems of that period. Some would comment that his speech was almost melodic! You could have placed some music from the band “Bread” as the background of his speech and its rhythm would’ve fit right in! Bravo Derek! That was a powerhouse speech!

Our next speaker, Dianne Tang, delivered another Icebreaker speech. But what was unique about it was that she was not scheduled to deliver a speech that night, yet she gallantly volunteered to deliver her speech anyway! This is not to say, however, that she gave her speech impromptu; Dianne actually had a prepared speech, she just wasn’t scheduled to deliver it that night. Nonetheless, her speech, which was a witty and humorous repartee about why she loved “Romance Novels”, captured our hearts! She dared to connect her life’s learnings with the novels she read and showed all of us that those romance novels, which we sometimes think of as cheesy, can actually be good for the soul!

Our third speaker was none other than the “braveheart” himself, Owen Cruz! With yet another powerhouse speech, Owen delivered the goods! At first, his opening had me cringing in my seat! Had Owen, somehow, been brainwashed by Karl Marx? His opening was almost like the Marxist preachings I remembered so well during my youth in the seventies (yes, Derek and I belong to the same era). Then, suddenly, Owen took it all back and delivered a powerful message; that we are Individuals, not automatons; and that we are what we make ourselves to be! His delivery and style were, at the very least, courageous! But isn’t this what the “braveheart” is all about?

Edwin Ebreo took the fourth slot with an advanced project speech! His evaluator, Fred Castro (who was also our General Evaluator), would pick among four topics given to him and Ed would have to speak on the selected topic “Off the Cuff”! The topic selected was “How to have Creative Ideas”. Ed began his speech with a powerful statement “We are all creative!” and followed this up with several tips on how to harness our creativity. By doing so, Ed proved to us once again that he is the “master trainer”! Though he was speaking off-the-cuff, his delivery was nearly flawless. In fact, he was so comfortable with the topic that he had one of his lowest “Ah” counts ever!

The last speaker was me. Sometimes, I look back at my speech and wished that I never volunteered to speak that night! Prepared humor was never one of my strong suits and it showed as I tried to deliver the third project from the “Entertaining Speaker” Manual which tasked me to “Make them Laugh”! I think that the only thing funny about my speech was its title “Why I couldn’t prepare my humorous speech”. Though you can accuse me of not being funny, no one can accuse me of being a coward! I delivered my speech and near the end, I finally got one “gut busting” laugh! Redemption is mine! That being said, I will continue to try to give more humorous speeches until I get it right or until everyone in BNT threatens to shoot me if I don’t stop!

The Evaluation Session…

I simply love this part of meeting! And again, we were treated to some really great evaluations! Ably led by General Evaluator Fred Castro, our evaluators that night came out swinging!

Table Topics Evaluation was done by Tisha Timbang. What I like about Tisha is the way she drives home her point. She uses simple and easy to understand words and her evaluations are always very practical and to the point. Tisha never goes for the theatrics; yet, she delivers one heck of an evaluation!

As in our previous meeting, our Prepared Speech Evaluators were, again, top-notch! Who could’ve asked for better evaluators than Sheila dela Cruz, Alvin Tan, Syril Tolentino (of Blue Swoosh), Fred Castro (of Managers for Christ) and Mike Jacinto! Again, they were all on the money!

Some notable evaluator antics would be how Sheila did a funny “tough-guy” routine while trying to imitate Derek’s mannerisms; or how Alvin couldn’t help but take pot shots at my speech even though he was evaluating Dianne’s speech; or how Mike was funnier in his evaluation of me than I was in my speech! And who could forget the “tell it like it is” evaluations of Syril and Fred? They all made for a lively and educational Evaluation session!

Leading off the Technical Evaluations was our Grammarian for the night, Club President, Gege Sugue. Another good thing about Butter n’ Toast is that we seem to have cornered the market on great grammarians! Gege, in particular, writes a blog called “Grammar-Pulis” wherein she enumerates and gives advice on the “Pinoy” grammatical norms and fallacies. With Gege as our Language Evaluator, how could we go wrong?

Christine Dapa and Ton Villanueva rounded off out Technical Evaluators roles as Timer and Ah-countant respectively. And in true BNT tradition, they played their roles to the hilt! No small roles for us!

Toastmaster of the Evening…

If you know Jun Roy like I do, you know that he takes any role given to him seriously! I saw him preparing rigorously for his role as “TM of the PM” before our meeting started. I’m also sure he had prepared for his role long before that. But nothing could have prepared him for the constant role changes and sequence changes that happened that night! Undaunted, however, this seasoned trainer showed a lot of dignity in handling his role in-spite of the confusion!

Jun is a class act! Not many people can carry a meeting, without panicking from the chaos happening in the background, like Jun can. He deserves a thunderous applause!

Round up…

We were excited! We wanted to give our best! We wanted to achieve excellence! For the past several meetings now we’ve witnessed, what could only be called, a true Toastmasters’ spirit sweeping over each and every member of BNT! Members lining up to deliver speeches, accepting any role given to them and making the most of Butter n’ Toast! But sometimes we make mistakes.

Famous LA Lakers coach Pat Riley said that “Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to be the best we can be…” and from my point of view, this is just what happened in our last meeting. In our excitement; in our quest for excellence, we made mistakes. But I am more proud of the mistakes we’ve made in our club than in the undeserved successes I’ve witnessed happen to other people in my life. For as we walk from mistake to mistake… WE CREATE EXCELLENCE! Rock on!

I Create Excellence

At Butter N Toast, Excellence is not a buzzword. It's a reality. It's something we value. Every meeting is an opportunity to create and exhibit excellence. The preparation that goes behind every speech reflects excellence. The camaraderie and the fun manifest the behind-the-scene efforts to provide an environment for learning. The evaluations motivate people to improve.

Join us on November 13 to witness BnT's brand of excellence.

We start on time at 7 PM, but you can come a half hour before to meet the members. We will meet at Function Room A of the Penthouse of the Makati Stock Exchange.

Makati Stock Exchange is the low-rise building beside the Philippine Stock Exchange. There is a Starbucks Cafe at the ground floor. Along Ayala Avenue, it is is between Makati Avenue and Paseo de Rosa. It is easily accessible by public transport. If you're driving, you may park at the Gabriela Silang parking across The Peninsula Manila.

We are looking forward to seeing you and creating excellence with you. You may call or text any of the officers for more information. The numbers are on this page.

See you!

BNT's Night out at the Rocci Café...

Rocci Café…
The down side? The place was cramped…
The up side? The place was cramped!

Last October 23, Butter n’ Toast decided to hold it’s meeting outside of the usual MSE Building; perhaps to, somehow, break the monotony of always holding it in the same place. We picked a quaint little café on Jupiter Street called Rocci to hold our meeting.

When I arrived at the Café, I had two initial reactions… the first was that I liked the ambiance; the second was that it was cramped! The second worried me. I kept thinking thoughts like; “Where is the stage? How will we fit the guests? Oh no… A Powerpoint Presentation! I hope we don’t break anything!”... But when they started to serve the crispy, tasty and oh so heavenly sandwiches, I started to calm down. It just goes to show you that my stomach… which is already infamous amongst BNT’s long-time members… actually dictates the way I feel!

When we started the meeting, however, my initial fears disappeared! As in true BNT Tradition, our meeting was all about fun and learning and learning to have fun… and we had an abundance of it that night! Here’s why…

The Table Topics Session…

In an amusing twist, Table Topics Master (and our club President), Gege Sugue, came up with an activity that involved each and everyone in the meeting that night… much to the dismay of the Table Topics Evaluator (me) who would, later, simply chose to evaluate the entire session rather than the individual speakers.

Gege’s little twist was to have us all complete a story she started by contributing one sentence each until we reach the last person in the room; who will, in turn, wrap up of the story. The story, which started out about a King who wanted to have a sex transplant, took many funny twists and turns as it got passed around from person to person. It finally culminated in an ending that had absolutely nothing to do with the beginning… and we all had a good laugh!

The Speeches…

The first speaker, Ton Villanueva, made me feel a little guilty, initially, when he spoke about “Software Piracy”; yet he left me feeling inspired to try to do more to stop this ever growing threat! Ton’s point? If we don’t stop the piracy, we may end up with no new software anymore; and in so doing, hinder the world’s growth altogether. This, for me, is a valid point indeed!

Christine Dapa’s speech, which asked the question “Are you Brave Enough?” left me with a “lump in my throat”! I honestly didn’t expect this type of a speech from Christine… it was a pleasant surprise! Christine had built up a reputation as a cerebral and oft times humorous speaker, so this speech about her friend who spent his birthday on a charitable cause… and her inability to follow suit… left me feeling sad for my own inability and inspired me to, at least, try to follow the example of her friend.

The most difficult speech of the night was given by Judith Jarabelo. Yes, you guessed it! This was the Speech with the Powerpoint. Initially, due to the cramped conditions, setting up the presentation was becoming a challenge for everyone. But accidentally, something unexpected happened… Teamwork! During her speech someone manned the laptop, someone held the projector steady, someone manned the lights… and… the waiter (who is not a club member) held a picture frame steady so as not to obstruct the projector. Teamwork at it’s best!

Though what was happening around Judith’s speech caught my attention, it did not diminish the power of Judith’s delivery or the message she wanted to send to us about “Diligence”! Judith, like many of our newer members, is the type of speaker who likes to speak about self-improvement and improvement in the workplace. This is good since we usually get to take home a lot of practical learnings from these types of speeches… and in Judith’s case; she diligently drove home her message! Hmmm… maybe I can borrow your Powerpoint one of these days, Judith!

Another pleasant surprise for the evening was Ed Ebreo’s “Tirad Pass Story #2”. Many of Ed’s antics on stage are usually humorous, but, when he gives a speech, he can be very inspiring! Such is the case of this speech! In his incisive retelling of General Gregorio H. Del Pilar’s historic confrontation with American forces in Tirad Pass, Ed actually brought a tear to my eye… and then… in typical Ed Ebreo manner… he spoils the moment by saying that it may have been all a lie! But… towards the end of his speech… he again rebuilt the reputation of the Country’s youngest General (which he tarnished in the first place)… by saying that details don’t matter… General Gregorio H. Del Pilar is still a hero, not because of the manner in which he died, but because of his decision to stay and fight against tremendous odds…

The Evaluation Session…

We were treated to a true showcase in our Evaluation Session! Perhaps by mere coincidence were they selected to be the night’s Evaluators… but, in my opinion, with the likes of Jazz Encarnacion, J-jay Letargo, Tisha Timbang… and Division A’s Champion Evaluator… Carmel Valencia, we may as well have witnessed a District-Level Evaluation Contest! All the evaluators were right on the money! In fact… I, as General Evaluator for the night, had hardly any suggestion to give them… at all!

Carmel, in particular, showed us just what a Champion Evaluator was supposed to do! Her concise, practical and inspiring evaluation of Ed’s speech brought thunderous applause! Her performance is actually giving me second thoughts about joining in the Evaluation Contest again next year… Great job Carmel!

Not to be outdone, however, are the Technical Evaluators! Again, they read like a “who’s who” in Technical Evaluations.

We couldn’t have picked a better person to be our night’s Grammarian than Sheila Dela Cruz! She simply loves this role! Even when she’s not the Grammarian, she still takes notes of everyone’s grammatical germs and gems! So, make her the official Grammarian and what do you get? A class act!

Our Timer is no push-over as well. I believe that Marlito Sy is one of the few persons I know who actually takes the Timer job seriously! It shows in his detailed reports of our timing and when he constantly reminds us when break’s over… Strict guy! Mars epitomizes William John Bennett’s saying that “There are no menial jobs, only menial attitudes!”

But the star of the Technical Evaluators would have to be our Area Governor, Alvin Tan! Alvin took another underrated role… the Ah-Countant Role… and turned it to gold! He not only counted the Ahs and Hahahas… he added a new category… another BNT first… and another Alvin Tan original… the “Awww” count! Yes people! Alvin also counted the number of times we made the audience feel all “fuzzy” inside! The moments when we all went “Awww”… Now ain’t that just the cat’s meow…

The Toastmaster of the Evening…

Aha! I’ll bet you thought I forgot this again! Well I didn’t… so there!

Our hard working Sgt.-at-arms, Christopher Siena must’ve taken lessons from Alvin Tan! I mean he is so animated in his speech and movement that you can’t help but keep your eyes on this guy! But being animated isn’t his only strength! What I liked about Chris that night was that he came prepared! He showed us how to do it! He didn’t just wing it!

I saw him take a few small notes with him and read them while he wasn’t on stage. He had obviously written down his intros and lines and basically what he needed to do that night and delivered them perfectly on stage! The meeting may have been chaotic if he hadn’t handled it well! Good job Chris!

The Entire Night…

Looking back at it all, I’d have to say that the cramped situation at Rocci’s brought out the best in each member of BNT! I didn’t see individuals that night… I saw ONE TEAM! I saw people… on stage and even seated… waging a kind of battle against the obvious logistical obstacles in that meeting so that everyone could enjoy and learn! Did we win? Resoundingly! For, of all the nights we’ve met, this was truly a night where we proved that we were… TEAM WARRIORS!


By: Enrique Salvador E. San Agustin