Interview with Internet Marketing Guru: Jomar Hilario (Part 2)

Alex:  So after Jars of Clay, what happened?

Jomar: So after that Bo liked what I accomplished so he asked me to promote for him again. This time it was Reuben Morgan.  Eventually I became Bo’s internet marketing consultant. I was responsible for planning and deciding what content would go in Bo’s online promotional materials. I did everything – except for actually doing it. Bo had other people for that. I created Bo’s online store, video podcast and kerygmafamily.com.

Alex: How long have you been internet marketing?

Jomar: Since January 2005. 

Alex: What was the first thing you did on the net?

Jomar: The first thing I downloaded was a Sailormoon calendar. 

Alex: A sailormoon calendar? Why?

Jomar: (laughs) I don't know. It was the first thing that entered my mind.

Alex: Was it your intention to do online marketing?

Jomar: At the back of my mind, I wanted to earn online. I tried to earn for several years through blogging through Adsense. I earned several cents.

Alex: When did you start giving live seminars?

Jomar: I’ve always enjoyed teaching and speaking in front of people. When I was still with the bank I used to make powerpoint presentations. I would conduct office seminars and create a powerpoint teaching people how to use powerpoint, excel and word. I was asst manager of IT then so I had to deal with programmers and analysts. As for the live seminars, it was actually Bo’s idea. I wanted to give seminars. And at the time I was promoting a lot of seminars like the Think Rich Pinoy seminar of Larry Gamboa. So Bo suggested that I conduct my own seminar. He gave me 2 months to prepare. He managed the event and the promotion. I just showed up and did it.

Alex: How did you feel about your first seminar?

Jomar: I was very excited. I had more than 50 participants. Each had his own computer. It lasted for 2 days.

Alex: How did it go?

Jomar: I had a hard time. I did a dry run where I practiced with other people. Unfortunately most of the participants weren’t able to understand me towards the end. The topics were blogging, autoresponders, Adsense and online promotion. I tried to make it as simple as I could but there where people who didn’t even know how to use a mouse. They’d slow everyone down. It became a lesson. On my next event I said, if you can’t prove you know how to use a computer, don’t attend.

Alex: I heard you speak during Trace Trajano’s, Think Rich Quick 2 Seminar last Oct 2009. And my first impression was that you have stage presence. You can really get the audience’s attention. Plus you’re funny. Have you always been able to talk like this? How did you come to be such a good communicator?

Jomar: I got used to talking in front of a lot of people early on. I’m naturally talkative. I don’t mean to be funny either. It just comes out.

Alex: Do you think good communication skills are important in putting up and running a business?

Jomar: Absolutely. If you know how to speak well people perceive you as trustworthy. They think you’re saying the right things, they think you’re honest. There are techniques to learn in dealing with people. One of the first books I’ve read on that was How To Meet Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie. For those who want to pursue a career in public speaking you should master the principles in this book.

Alex: Have you used the principles in the book?

Jomar: Of course. The principles are pretty basic but very effective. Smile, remember people’s names, make them talk about themselves…It was when I got to college when I started becoming very talkative. I was an active member of the church choir. I got my training in terms of dealing with people at church.

Alex: Well you certainly have come a long way. What do you think is the best way to improve one’s speaking skills?

Jomar: Practice. Give free seminars. If you are given the chance to speak in front, go and speak. Or make your own event. I did a seminar on how to invest in the stock market for free. I prepared everything. If you want to improve in public speaking, make your own powerpoint presentation regarding something you’re good at, dress up and present.

Alex: What is the best thing about running your own business?

Jomar: Your imagination is the only limit to your earning. You can create things. If you use your imagination enough you’ll be able to create new products and services….You can have fun. In the office there’s a format you have to follow or else your boss might get mad at you. But when you have your own business nobody can tell you what to do.

Alex: How many employees do you have?

Jomar: No employees, only 4 VA’s.

Alex: Why are you teaching people how to do online marketing?

Jomar: When I was still working at the bank my time for my family was very limited. And I couldn’t do the stuff I wanted to do because of work. I don’t want that to happen to other people as well. I want them to experience the same financial freedom I am enjoying right now.

Alex: If you could name the top 3 things you think are essential to succeed in business what would they be and why?

Jomar: First, learn how to sell. Selling is a personal skill that can only be learned by doing. Second, learn how to market. Third, know why you are doing what you are doing. Know why you’re in business in the first place. You need to be sure why you are in business so that you’ll succeed. If you’re not sure you won’t last 5 years in any business. 

Alex: What are you passionate about?

Jomar: Surfing the net for technology news.

Alex: What is one thing you’d do for free?

Jomar: Delivering presentations.

Alex: Did you have any fears when you started your online marketing ventures?

Jomar: I had a lot of fears, mostly about “financial security”. I was scared to resign because I was used to employment. I wasn’t prepared to get out of it.

Alex:  So when did you resign?

Jomar: I didn’t. I prayed and God fired me. I got retrenched. Ang galing ni God. It was a blessing in disguise.

Alex: When you got retrenched what was the first thing you did?

Jomar: I went to the mall. I went shopping. I didn’t even look back. Most of my co-workers were afraid and angry. But I didn’t have the same problems. I was ready. At the time I was earning online already through seminars, blogging and affiliate selling.

Alex: What is the most surprising experience you have had in your online marketing business?

Jomar: It was when I joined an affiliate contest. I didn’t really expect to win because there were a lot of really good internet marketers who joined. But I was able to join the top 10. I was the only Filipino there. I won an Ipad for that.

Alex: Do u know any other Pinoy internet marketers?

Jomar: Yes but not much. There are only a few of us because it takes a lot of time and motivation to learn. You have to show yourself to people so they’ll believe you. You have to dress the part and speak the part. I don’t know if you can find an internet marketer who doesn’t know how to speak. Speaking is part of the whole thing. Whatever you do, you will need to speak sometime.

Alex: Who or what inspires you and why? 

Jomar: Bo Sanchez. He’s very dynamic and creative. He can do a lot of things. He runs a lot of businesses plus ang payat pa niya. He takes care of his health. If you can attend the feast, he really knows how to put on a good show. But one of his greatest strengths is that he listens. And that’s why he’s very powerful. And of course,Tony Robins. I want to be as good a speaker as him someday.

Alex: Any last words to your students in online?

Jomar: For whoever is listening bumili ka nang mahal na notebook na walang laman. Then write down why you want to be successful. Fill up the entire notebook. Then move towards your dreams.

Alex: Thank you for your time Coach Jomar. I know that you have inspired a lot of Filipinos to follow in your footsteps and earn online. I guess the internet is good for more than just online gaming and Facebook after all.

PS

Do you want to work from home and earn more at the same time? Jomar Hilario can help you out. You can sign up for his online coaching program HERE

Interview with Internet Marketing Guru: Jomar Hilario (Part 1)

Earning online used to be something that seemed hard-almost impossible to do. But times have changed. More and more people are now starting to discover that earning online is not rocket science. It is doable and achievable. Last October 2010 I met, Jomar Hilario, one of my online marketing mentors at Trace Trajano’s Think Rich Quick 2 Seminar. Jomar Hilario is an internet marketing guru, endorsed by Larry Gamboa and Bo Sanchez. For many years he has taught online marketing concepts to thousands of Filipinos. He can teach you how to earn dollars through internet marketing, blogging, being a Virtual Assistant and more. He is touted as the Tim Ferris and Tony Robbins of the Philippines. His success in this field has inspired many people (me included) to learn how to earn through the internet. It has also prompted me to ask, “How did he do it?” “Where did it all begin?” “Did public speaking skills play a role in his success?” With this in mind I decided seek an interview with the internet marketing guru of the Philippines, Jomar Hilario.

Hi Coach Jomar, good evening. First of all I’d like to thank you for granting me the honor of interviewing you. I know you’re such a busy person. So as you know I have a public speaking blog. The aim of my blog is to inspire people to become the speakers and leaders that they are meant to be. We all know how crucial good communication skills are to success in life and in business. Not many people really take the time and effort to improve their speaking skills. The reason why I’d like to interview you is because you have achieved so much in the online marketing industry. You have online marketing seminars and you have live VA and marketing seminars. These seminars have helped a lot of people learn how to do internet marketing and how to basically make a living online.


Alex: How did your journey as an internet marketer begin?


Jomar: I started off as a bank employee. I worked in the bank for 15 years. I discovered the internet by myself. I started to play around with it. That was way back 2001. I began blogging and talking to people online. That was also the time when Kiyosaki’s book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad became popular so I started in real estate. I joined an investment club and met Bo Sanchez through that. I found out that Bo was bringing Jars of Clay to the Philippines. They were scheduled to perform at the Araneta. So I volunteered to promote their concert. Since I had a day job then, the only way I could really promote it was online. That was my first try in online marketing. I had 1 month to promote the concert. I did it on Friendster, Multiply and Blogger. The thing I didn’t know was that I was the main promoter. Bo was promoting it mostly inside Kerygma. Araneta’s capacity was 20,000 people. We managed to sell about 5,000 tickets.


Alex: 5,000 tickets in one month? Not bad.


Jomar: Yes. It wasn’t bad at all.


Alex: How did you do offline promotion?


Jomar: After prayer meetings, I would talk about the concert. Before revealing who was going to perform I would ask people if they knew this song, then I would sing. As for the online promotion, since I didn’t have an internet connection at home, I would go out and work in cafes.


Alex: Did you have any fears when you were promoting Jars of Clay? Like maybe the fear the people wouldn’t listen to you or that you’d get rejected.


Jomar: I wasn’t really concentrating on my fears. With the concert only a few weeks away I felt that I didn’t have the time for that. So I was just concentrating on selling tickets – on getting the message across. Also, this was the first time that a foreign artist was going to hold a Christian concert in the Philippines. So I was very excited. During Sundays we would go to the Alabang New Life Church and we would meet people on their way out of church and offer to sell them tickets.


Alex: How did that go?


Jomar: Merong natuwa, merong hindi. But at that time I was really focused. I didn’t care whether I’d get rejected or not anymore as long as I sold tickets. If you have a goal, the goal becomes more important than shame or anything else. So it really helps if you have a big goal to believe in. And I believed that Jars of Clay could inspire people. I started promoting the concert online as well. It was my first time to promote anything online but somehow I knew what to do. We promoted the concert like crazy and as a result, we sold 5000 tickets in a month. And I was glad to do it for free. My reward was getting to meet Jars of Clay in person.

Alex: So how were they?


Jomar: They were very American. They were also very serious people. They kept on talking about the metaphysics of the church and stuff like that. But they were also a lot of fun to be with.


Alex: So after Jars of Clay, what happened?


...Find out what happened in Part 2 of the Jomar Hilario Interview. 


PS

Do you want to work from home and earn more at the same time? Jomar Hilario can help you out. You can sign up for his online coaching program HERE

Coming Out Of My Shell: Eric Marcelo

Contributed By: Eric Marcelo, CC

                      Automation Specialist

1st Place - 2007 Area International Speech Contest

1st Place - 2007 Area Table Topics Contest

1st Place - 2008 Area Evaluation Contest

3rd Place - 2009 Area Table Topics Contest

If there ever was an unlikely person to be a public speaker, it would probably be me. On the other hand, if there ever was a person who needed Toastmasters, it would also be me.

I happen to be a very quiet person. In the words of a friend, “a man of the fewest words.” Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a generally quiet person. It’s just that Toastmasters helped me be a speaker if I had to be or if I chose to be.

It all started when I was signed up (read, forced) to attend a Speechcraft training seminar in 2003, sponsored by my employer. I found I seemed to have a knack for it so when the company formed it’s own club, I was one of its first members.

Having dived into the pool, I suddenly got cold feet. It took me a year and three months to get the courage to deliver my first speech as a Toastmaster. After that first one, however, I began delivering a speech every month or two, gaining confidence and skill as time went on. I joined my first contest in a division speechfest where I delivered my Basic Speech Number Eight. I didn’t win but I got a tremendous boost out of it.

I had not prepared to join the area speech contest so all I did was watch. Looking around, however, I noticed that the crowd was four to five times the number of attendees in our club and since Speech Number Ten was about inspiring people, I resolved to deliver my graduation speech during the division contest as the test speaker for the division speech-to-evaluate contest. I did well enough that then District Governor, Elisa Tay, invited me to the 2006 District Convention in Davao, to re-deliver the same speech (On Being a Toastmaster) as a guest speaker, not as a contestant.

Attending the convention was a great experience for me. The quality of the speakers was amazing and I decided I’d want to try competing in the next convention. I continued honing my skills and began venturing into other clubs to attend their meetings and deliver speeches. Almost a year later, I won at the area contest but got first runner up at the division level. The champion, however, would be out of the country during the district convention so, as the second placer, I got my chance to compete.

I can’t say that I am not nervous about delivering speeches, especially at a contest but the jitters only last until I start talking. After that, it becomes easier. There was, however, one instance where I got lost. I forgot the next line! Fortunately, Toastmaster training came to the rescue and I jumped to the next sentence. No one noticed. I didn’t win at the district level but I got a lot of compliments about my speech (Opportunities and My Dad).

Competing has done wonders for my confidence in addition to honing my public speaking skills. I’ve had occasion to use these skills several times outside of Toastmasters.

Once, I attended a seminar-workshop where I presented the result of my group’s activity. The others listened to my presentation with elbows on the table and chins on their hand. I thought they were bored but when I asked for questions, the first one was, “were you ever a teacher?” They remarked that the presentation was so clear and easy to follow.

In one other instance, the factory manager wanted the supervisors to make a presentation about how we use contractors. Two presenters would be invited every week at the top management meeting. I was one of the first.

Using tips from numerous speeches (my own and others, I listen to their evaluations as well), I decided on three points: How many contractors I used, what they do, and what time they worked. My presentation was all of three slides, took about 15 minutes to deliver and I only had a few questions to answer. The next presenter had no less than 15 slides, took more than 30 minutes and had to answer dozens of questions and clarifications. At the conclusion of the meeting, the factory manager instructed the other managers to prepare the presenters for next week and to, “use Eric’s template.” For the next two days, I distributed copies of my presentation to the other supervisors. Following this, I was tapped to make presentations on safety and environment and to conduct training-seminars for other employees.

I have been a technician for almost 30 years. Since I became a Toastmaster, however, I’ve found that I had a teacher’s heart. It’s manifested in the seminars I’ve conducted, in presentations I’ve made, but most of all, it’s manifested in a Toastmaster’s meeting when I do speech evaluations. I just love helping people learn.

Learn how to speak like a champion. Check out my interview with Public Speaking Champion Stephen Michael Lumanlan

The Brave Neophyte: Andrienne Enrique Boado

I’ve always thought that public speaking was exclusive to political leaders and to those who had big names in the society. Years back, I perceived speeches as boring monotonous narrations made by zealous and brainy individuals regarding topics that people were already so sick of. I believed that they were almost always delivered to listeners who could hear but didn’t understand or who could understand but didn’t bother to act.

Delivering a speech was a no-no for me until I was forced to do so, years ago in our public speaking class. I learned that there were different kinds of speeches and the boring ones I usually heard during graduation/closing ceremonies were just one of the many types of speeches. I learned that speeches did not have to be monotonous narrations but, if constructed properly and delivered effectively, could be persuasive and entertaining enough to leave a mark in the hearts of listeners. Since then, I started to look at public speaking from a different perspective. 

I began constructing and delivering speeches with zeal until it became something I learned to love. One time, we had oral examinations in public speaking and it was about impromptu speaking. Given a limited time to prepare for the topic I picked, I was shocked at how I was able to speak spontaneously without running out of words. After the exam, I was surprised that I got a perfect score. But I did not love myself for that. I hated myself instead because I felt that I really missed the right course, the one that suited my likes and interests best.

I was in my second year in college but still, I had yet to love the course I was in – Nursing. I wanted to take up Mass Communications because I believed that I was more inclined to it. But I was already stuck in my nursing course which was a lot different from the one I really liked. Having a subject like public speaking as part of the Nursing curriculum only intensified my desire to pursue my course of choice. 

After a few months, the semester ended with a written examination for the finals. And I could hardly accept that I could no longer deliver speeches in my other subjects and enjoy them as much as I enjoyed public speaking. And as I walked from my chair to my instructor’s table to submit my answer sheet, I recalled that he mentioned about an organization for public speaking called Toastmasters. Too bad he didn’t tell where we could find it. Perhaps he thought that none of his students would be interested to join such a club. But I was interested. I wanted to ask him but I was afraid he might find it funny that someone like me would be interested in joining a club which (I thought) was exclusive for professional speakers. Love for speaking and the fear of ridicule battled in my mind until I recalled my instructor saying that FEAR is an acronym which means FANTASIZED EVENTS that APPEAR REAL. With that, I mustered the courage to ask my instructor where and how to find the said organization.

In the afternoon of that same day, I attended by first Toastmaster meeting. It was held at the basement of a McDonald’s store in the city where I lived. There, I found my instructor, Mr. Hermie Garrobo, emceeing the program as the Toastmaster of the Day, in a very exciting and thrilling way. People delivered speeches in their own styles which were not at all boring. Every speech had its own punch and every speaker had a kind of charisma that was distinct and unique. Right there, I said to myself that I would be like one of them someday. I too, will express myself in my own way, with my own charm (if I had such).

At the age of 17, I started to faithfully attend club meetings and deliver impromptu speeches. Patiently, I waited to turn 18 in order to be recognized as an official member of the club. Months passed and my passion for public speaking only escalated. Two months after I turned 18, I received the Competent Communicator award as a reward for my “hard work” in delivering speeches. Months later, I was thrown into the Lion’s Den. I was asked to represent my club and city in the impromptu speech category. (Un)fortunately, I made it to the national (district) level and had to face the speaking beasts. Speakers who had a wealth of ideas and experience gained through years of training. I felt like I was doomed (in a good way) for the sequence of events made it impossible for me to escape my fate which was to compete against 9 other national contestants from all parts of the country during the Toastmasters District Convention in Bohol.

The theme which was “Unleash your X-Factor” made sense to me. Being in the convention alone was already a sign that I had taken the first step in unleashing my x-factor. Just by being in this competition, I was already getting out of my comfort zone. With only the Lord’s promise in my heart, I stood on that stage mustered all the courage I gained through prayer, and began speaking. I spoke as if I had a contagious disease called “passion” and an obsession with personal growth. But it was true. I had a passion for growth; and taking a step away from one’s comfort zone meant taking a step towards one’s growth. And that’s what I did.

The Lord has always been faithful and He rewarded by faith with a “yes” to my prayers. He gave me the 2nd place trophy and I was very happy because my only prayer was not to go home empty handed. Alas! I can say to my mentors that their labor in training me was not in vain.

As I went back to Baguio and back to my life as a nursing student, I felt something inside me change. This time, I didn’t hate my course anymore. Toastmasters gave me a chance to pursue my passion without having to leave my course. I don’t really need to be a Mass Comm. student in order to learn how to speak effectively. And I didn’t need to be a politician or have a big name in society to get people to listen to me speak. And I didn’t have to be older or have a higher educational attainment than my audience in order to be listened to by them. All I needed was the right words to speak…a good story to share… 

We often place ourselves in a self-assembled box called “limitations,” thinking that we know very well what lies in the world outside the box and believing that we are not fit to enter that world. Because of that, we have made the center of the box our world and its corners our sky. We all have different kinds of boxes. Some operate inside huge boxes while others inside tiny minute boxes. But when it comes to overcoming limitations, the size of our boxes doesn’t matter. What matters is that we learn how to get out of our self-assembled boxes and discover that outside our boxes lies our true potential. I am not saying that I have gotten out of my box completely. Personal growth is a process. But I see myself ready to take on the biggest role I can possibly take, for after all, I am bigger than my box…and so are you. Shalom!


Contributed by: Andrienne Enrique Boado

                 1st Runner Up-Impromptu Speaking Category

                 2010 Division F District Conference

Learn how to speak like a champion. Check out my interview with Public Speaking Champion Stephen Michael Lumanlan

Interview with a Public Speaking Champion: Stephen Michael Lumanlan

They say that speakers are born, not made. But from what I have seen and experienced as a Toastmaster, that is simply not true. Speaking is an art that has to be honed with practice over time. Some people may have a knack for speaking but no one is born a good speaker. Effective communication is a skill that has to be developed. I have been a Toastmaster for almost two years now and I have seen many speakers deliver speeches, both in club meetings and competitions. Some of them were obviously beginners while some were seasoned public speakers. I have been to two Toastmaster District Conferences. In 2009 it was held in Marco Polo Hotel, Davao. This year (2010) it was at Bohol Plaza. If you have never been to a District Conference before I’m telling you it is one of the best experiences ever. The venue, the people and most especially the competition itself is really something else.

A lot of people ask: What does it take to become a public speaking champion? Having joined a few speaking competitions I have pondered over this question myself. What sets champions apart from the rest? How do they prepare for the competition? What set of rituals do they follow? To answer these questions I decided to interview the 2010 Public Speaking Champion of the International Prepared Speech Category, Stephen Michael Lumanlan.

Alex: When did you join Toastmasters?

Stephen: I joined Toastmasters last November 2009. But I got invited way back in college by one of my professors, Ms. Sonja Chan. She’s a DTM and one of the pioneers of the very first TM club in Baguio, the Pines City TMC. She invited me to join right after college but at that the time I wasn’t interested. DTM Chan was actually one of my mentors back in college when I was a member of the Forensics Society.

Alex: Forensics Society? It sounds like something out from CSI.

Stephen: It’s actually a discussion and debate society. We have internal debates and as we go on we follow a certain format. Every year there’s also a contest between schools.

Alex: So did you join any of these contests?

Stephen: Yes, I did.

Alex: How’d that turn out?

Stephen: (laughs) I don’t know. Not so good. I was just one of the back-ups then. After a while I became an officer of the club; Then came my fifth year. I got so busy so I had to give it up entirely. They asked me to become president but I was so busy I had to decline. I found another person to be president though. And she was good-Shiela was an excellent president.

Alex: Well I see you started your public speaking career back in college. So what do you do now?

Stephen: I’m in the human resources department. I do communications. I’m the PR guy.

Alex: On a regular work day, what do you do?

Stephen: There’s no such thing as a regular work day. Everyday is quite different. Generally I handle everything in our company that has to do with internal public relations. I make the official memos, I’m in charge on the in-house paper and sometimes I ghost write for the president and managing director of our company. One of our big events is the site meeting every quarter. I assemble the program work up the agenda, talk to the big bosses, put it all together, package it and invite people. On the day of the event I’m kind of like the floor director. I facilitate the entire event to make sure that everything goes smoothly.

Alex: Do you also host the event?

Stephen: I used to do the hosting too. But now I assign it to other people. I enjoy teaching others. Hosting can really give you the opportunity to grow as a speaker. Actually I found someone who sounds like me.

Alex: Good! You should invite that guy to Toastmasters.

Stephen: Yeah, I would have. Except that he lives far from Baguio City.

Alex: Oh well, maybe some other time. So why did you join Toastmasters?

Stephen: It just made sense at the time. I didn’t have anything to do and I had a lot of time on my hands. So I thought, why not? It seemed like something I could shine and excel at.

Alex: So what is your norm now?

Stephen: Competent Communicator. I got it in less than two months.

Alex: Really? That’s amazing! How did you do that? Most people get it in 8-12 months.

Stephen: What can I say, I was inspired by Toastmasters. I set a goal. I told myself that at the end of the year I should be able to deliver my 10 speeches. I looked at the schedule of other clubs (we have around 7 or 8 clubs here in Baguio), delivered speeches there, and challenged myself. And it worked. I delivered by graduation speech in one of the classes of my mentor, Dr. Sonja Chan.

Alex: So how are you doing with your ACB (Advanced Communicator Bronze) tract?

Stephen: (laughs) I’m currently off track. I’ve already finished 4 advanced speeches but I haven’t been that focused on delivering speeches right now. My focus right now is on reviving my club. We need to get more members in. One of the challenges is that the venue is quite far. So we need to find a place in the city proper.  But anyway, I’ll get back on track eventually.

Alex: You were the champion of this year’s District Conference in Bohol last April. Again congratulations for winning. Who encouraged you to join?

Stephen: My boss at work. She’s also a Toastmaster, she’s now a DTM actually. She’s had experience in competing since she was also a national winner.

Alex: When she asked you to compete, how did you react? What first came into your mind?

Stephen: I was neither excited nor hesitant. I just thought, Ok I’ll try and see where this goes. So I did. I just wanted to do it for the experience. During the Area competition I was 1^st runner.  But I was still allowed to compete in the Division level since they allowed at least 2 contestants per area.

Alex: When you won in the Division contest, how did it feel?

Stephen: It was a very happy experience. It was mind blowing. In the Area level I wasn’t that prepared. Somehow my heart wasn’t set at wining. But when I was told that I could advance to Division that was when the passion to compete in the district started. So when I won that was really something.

Alex: Maybe it really was for you to win it. You mentioned that FLEX (Foundations of Leadership Excellence) and ALC (Advanced Leadership Course) helped you win the international prepared speech contest. Why is that?

Stephen: It allowed me to go deep down to myself. It allowed me to get my identity and know who I am. To believe in myself. To be confident. To find my essence. FLEX is a 2 day activity. ALC is 3 days. So it gave me sufficient time to contemplate and really get to know myself.

Alex: Who or what was your inspiration in making the speech?

Stephen: My dad of course. My speech is all about him. He had colorectal cancer. He passed away two years ago but I can still remember that day like it was only yesterday. It was a Sunday. I looked at the heavens. There were no birds, no planes. The skies were clear with no cloud in sight. It looked like heaven was opening up to welcome him. And in my minds eye, I saw my hero going there.

Alex: I’m sure your dad is happy wherever he is. In TM, they say that everyone has his/her own time. Going to Bohol, did you feel like you were going to win? Did you feel like this was your moment?

Stephen: I felt it when I delivered my speech. Before my I spoke, there was a tug in my heart telling me that this could be my moment. But it was during the time that I delivered my speech that I really felt like I was in my moment. When you do something and you know that you just did great, you don’t think about winning or losing. I felt like I had a chance of winning. But it didn’t really matter anymore. My goal was to get the chance to represent the country and to relay a message.

Alex:  If you could sum up the message of your speech in one sentence or word, what would it be?

Stephen: LOVE.

Alex:  That’s a strong word.     

    

Stephen: When I delivered by speech in Bohol, that was where I was coming from. I delivered it coming from the heart. There are so many ways you can interpret my speech. It could be understood as honoring or loving your dad, the influence of a dad’s love, or that of a son being able to conquer sickness and difficulty in life. There are many messages you can take out of that speech. But if you ask, I’d just say love. I believe it doesn’t sum up just my speech but of everyone who presented there at the District Conference. Love is the universal truth in everybody who presented there.

Alex: Were you nervous while performing?

Stephen: Of course! I was shaking in the beginning. But when I got through the first few sentences, I was so into my speech everything flowed naturally. At the very last part I almost blacked out. Instead of plan A I went to plan B. And plan B worked. Plan A was a prepared part. I had the words to tie up everything. Plan B was something I devised when I found out I was number 10. I thought: Hey, I have the chance not just to wrap up my speech but all 10 speeches and the whole event as well.

Alex: How did it feel to win?

Stephen: Unbelievable. It’s like I was on top of the world. You can’t believe you’re there but you’re there. I was happy. I was excited.

Alex: Who do you wish to thank for your success?

Stephen: Everyone – especially the toastmasters who helped me prepare. But of course I’d like to thank my dad most of all.

Alex: What did you get out of that experience?

Stephen: I got a trophy! Haha. I never won a national competition before. Winning this competition helped me reinforced my being. It told me that there’s something that I could actually be good at. It made me feel complete.

Alex: I hope I can also win a national trophy someday. ^_^ Anyway let’s go to the world speech contest. You competed in the International Toastmasters Conference in California last August 2010 where you battled it out with Toastmasters from all over the world. Did you make a new speech for the international competition?

Stephen: Well I used the same speech but changed it a little. I polished the delivery. I tried to tailor it to an international audience. I prepared 2 speeches. But I wasn’t able to make it thru the semifinals.

Alex: Well you are still a champion to us. Just making it there is pretty amazing. So how was the experience?

Stephen: The nice thing was at that level, I was able to deliver my message. It didn’t matter anymore if I would win or not. The feeling was nice because everyone there had his own story to tell. It didn’t feel like a competition. All of us were just people who had a story to share. It was just amazing getting to hear the stories of these people from all over the world. Me sharing me story and getting to learn from their stories, I was floored. I was amazed by the experience. I was in the company of real people with real stories and real emotions.

Alex: Coming back to the Philippines after the international competition, what do you think changed?

Stephen: The appreciation or the realization that right now, I feel like I’m not just a citizen of my country but a citizen of the world. I feel connected to the rest of the world. You can’t just say I’m a Filipino, a German or a Japanese. Everybody is interconnected. People are becoming global and interactive. The world is becoming smaller. During my set, I met the champion – Linus Chang. Just by hearing his last name, I knew he was Chinese. But he was there and he was representing Australia. And then there’s this other guy, when you look at him, he’s black. His name is Elom. He looks like he’s from Africa. But he’s actually representing Germany. So you can’t judge a person by the color of his skin or his name because we’re so global right now. Technology allows us to interact from people from all over the globe. Look at social networking. Look at Facebook. I connect with my friends half way across the globe at home.

Alex: What would you say to Toastmasters out there who also want to conquer the stage and be a champion?

Stephen: Do not think of being a champion. Think about the message that you can give, the value that you can add to your audience. And when you share that message, speak from your heart. Don’t think of winning. Just deliver your message the best way you can.  

Alex: Any other tips or advice?

Stephen: Be open. I went to different clubs and they all gave me feedback. I had to be open enough to see were they’re coming from. We all have different perspectives. And when you talk to a large crowd, you are talking to a lot of people. So you have to find a way to touch everyone in some way. Being open allows you to learn.

Alex: Thanks for the tip. I’ll definitely keep that in mind. Do you want to leave last words of inspiration to Toastmasters out there?

Stephen: You really don’t need a trophy to be a champion. A trophy is a nice bonus. When you go out on stage and deliver a message, and it touches even just one person, then you are already a winner. When you speak you have the power to touch a life. When you are able to touch a life in a positive way that makes you a champion. 

Here's a link to his winning speech entitled, Real Power:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=490817019781

Check out the experience of a Brave Neophyte in the competition arena of public speaking.