Discon 2012 Speech Winners

The 2012 district conference showcased the best speakers in the Philippines, from division’s A-K, compete for 1^st place in three categories: Table Topics, Humorous and International Prepared. All of them were amazingly talented communicators. However, there can only be one champion for each category. The winners for this years discon are lucky because, aside from the usual trophy, they also get to receive a perpetual trophy. This is one additional baggage the contestants were happy to lug around, I bet. The perpetual trophy contains the names of the past champions for each category. The champions get to keep it for 2 months after which they have to surrender it to the district governor so that it can be passed on to the next speech champion. There is one perpetual trophy for each category – International Prepared, Table Topics, Humorous and Evaluation. All four trophies have been given to the district by TM Khris Albano. District 75 thanks you for your generosity Khris!

Here is a list of the winners for the 2012 Speech contest.

Table Topics Speech Contest

1^st Place: Richard John U. Cua-Ho – Division C (Taipan Toastmasters Club)

2^nd Place: Daryl B. Ponard – Division G (Pines City Toastmasters Club)

3^rd Place: Amanda Fe C. Echeverria – Division E (Durian Toastmaster Club)

Humorous Speech Contest

1^st Place: Carminia M. Borja - Division C (Aboitiz Toastmasters Club)

2^nd Place: Michael Benedict J. Unson – Division H (Alabang Community Toastmasters Club)

3^rd Place: Maria Teresa S. Chiew – Division E (Durian Toastmaster Club)

International Prepared Speech Contest

1^st Place: Herminigildo V. Garrobo – Division G (Pines City Toastmasters Club)

2^nd Place: Celia Castillo– Division E – (Durian Toastmaster Club)

3^rd Place: Meg Angela Amores – Division I – (MEZ 1 Toastmasters Club)

Congratulations to all the contestants who fearlessly competed in 2012 Discon. Kudos to Division C for winning two categories – Humorous and Table Topics and to Division G for winning the International Prepared Speech category – for the fourth year in a row! I wonder what Division can break this streak? See you in next year’s district conference!

Discon 2012 List of Contestants

The sun, the sand, fantastic food and a parade of the best speakers in the Philippines - the perfect ending to any summer. For those who were able to attend the 2012 Discon in Samal Island with me, I’m sure you would agree that this was one of the best discon’s ever. It wasn’t just because of the great venue or even the good food. The real stars were the 29  contestants for all three speech categories – International Prepared, Humorous and Impromptu. I’ve attended several discons already and this year was one of the best contestant-wise. All of the contestants were so good. It was truly a battle of the best of the best. For me, they were all champions.

To give credit to all the contestants, here’s a list of who competed in this years district conference:

Table Topics Speech Contestants

Division A: Miriam Jane R. Santos – Presidents Toastmasters Club

Division B: Arthur Bhenedict K. King – UECP

Division C: Richard John U. Cua-Ho – Taipan Toastmasters Club

Division D: Jared Karl Ulric D. Rubin – Riverside Toastmasters Club

Division E: Amanda Fe C. Echeverria – Durian Toastmaster Club

Division F: Stefanie L. Uy – Iligan Toastmasters Club

Division G: Daryl B. Ponard – Pines City Toastmasters Club

Division H: Jean Marriell R. Cetra – Abojeb Toastmasters Club

Division I: Alpha Mae A. Del Mar – MEZ 1 Toastmasters Club

Division K: Rowena Micah R. Sula – Spi Global Toastmasters Club

Humorous Speech Contest

Division A: Jeffrey H. Garcia – iConnect Toastmasters Club

Division B: Andrew Gonzaga - UECP

Division C: Carminia M. Borja - Aboitiz Toastmasters Club

Division D: Leandro L. Severino – First Farmers Toastmasters Club

Division E: Maria Teresa S. Chiew – Durian Toastmaster Club

Division F: Alquine Roy Taculin – Iligan Toastmasters Club

Division G: Regina T. Pedrono – Pines City Toastmasters Club

Division H: Michael Benedict J. Unson – Alabang Community Toastmasters Club

Division I: Eugene Tan – MEZ 1 Toastmasters Club

Division K: Marilyn M. Mercado – IAME and Associates Toastmasters Club

International Prepared Speech Contest

Division A: Rey G. Pineda – Greenhills Prime Toastmasters Club

Division B: Louie John M. Banta – TOPS Toastmasters Club

Division C: Darwin John N. Moises – Lexmark R&D Toastmasters Club

Division D: Meliton E. Sillador Jr. – First Farmers Toastmasters Club

Division E: Celia Castillo– Durian Toastmaster Club

Division F:Ramonette L. Olandesca– Golden Friendship Toastmasters Club

Division G: Herminigildo V. Garrobo – Pines City Toastmasters Club

Division H: Maria Lourdes E. Ranario – Metro Lipa Toastmasters Club

Division I: Meg Angela Amores – MEZ 1 Toastmasters Club

Division K: Votaire R. Victoria – PHILCOMAN and Associates Toastmasters Club

Dont Plan Your Life

It's funny how life often turns out differently from what you've planned it to be. Ever since i was a kid i never wanted to manage our hardware store. Ive always thought it to be too complicated and cumbersome. You had to constantly monitor prices, run after those indebted to you and sucker up to your suppliers. Plus it entailed a huge capital while the margin to earn was very little - at least with the fast moving items. Ive always dreamed of starting my own business and going my own way. But then things started happening. Things that were beyond my control. Banco Filipino closed down and my mom had to go away to the States. Since my two little brothers were still in college i found myself left with my Father. There were only two of us left. There was no one else to help him manage our family business but me. My mom had been pleading with me for months to help dad out in the store. But i resisted. I thought, i dont want to. I dont want to be stuck inside a store the entire day. Thats too boring. Im a free spirit. I wanted to be out in the field conversing with people. At first i tried to ignore it but then the guilt got to me. I couldnt turn my back on family. It just wasnt right. That night i couldnt sleep. I tossed and turned all night long. My thoughts were as tumultous as the sea on a stormy night. But when dawn broke I made my decision. Family first.

The first few months were hard. I wasn't used to being enclosed in a store all day long. But eventually I got used to it. I started to have fun. I began to learn the tricks of the trade. Managing a hardware store, I discovered, wasn't boring at all. In fact, it was rather challenging. And the best part was I became closer to my dad because now we were spending at least 8 hours a day together.

It's funny how life often doesn't turn out as you expect it to. Sometimes, just sometimes, it turns out even better.