Midyear 2011: Run Away With us to…Boracay!

The Midyear Conference is held annually on the month of October to bring together Toastmasters from all over the Philippines to enjoy food, fellowship and healthy competition (without the pressure of winning).   Oh, and it’s also supposed to bring together the district officers for their yearly midyear meeting. But I suspect most people focus more on the partying. I should know. I’m one of those people.

That’s why when I found out that this year’s conference was going to be held in Boracay I did not hesitate to register immediately. The venue is going to be at La Carmella de Boracay Resort Hotel. It’s to be hosted by Division D and organized by Midyear Chair ACS Mhel Sillador.

La Carmella Hotel is found in Station 2 right in front of the beach. It has beautiful rooms and excellent amenities. 

For those who have yet to register do it NOW! Don’t miss out on all the fun.

Here are the registration rates, exclusive of accommodation:

Early Bird: 1,700  (May 2 – June 30, 2011)

Regular: 2,000 (July 1 – September 15, 2011)

Late Registration: 2, 500 (September 16 – October 15, 2011)

Onsite: 3,000 (October 15 – 22, 2011)

Payment may be deposited to China Bank Bacolod North Drive.

Acct name: Toastmasters International Division D

Acct number: 1610353010

For inquiries and concerns contact Midyear Chair Mhel Sillador at mhel_sillador@yahoo.com.ph or call/text him at 09052811776

The Midyear Conference: When did it all begin?

In the Toastmasters world, there are two national conferences to look forward to: The District Conference and the Midyear Conference. The former happens around April or May while the latter happens on October. Another interesting thing to note is that the Midyear Conference only happens here in the Philippines. Yes. The main reason for this conference is so that the district officers could meet in the middle of the year to discuss their progress in their respective areas of responsibility. But eventually it morphed into a national event that was hosted in turns by Toastmasters from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. After all there’s no reason why we Toastmasters can’t work and party at the same time, right?

Now aside from the district meeting, a variety of contests are included in the program. These are designed to find the best speakers, dancers and singers from each Division. Yes. We Toastmasters are very talented. (Is there nothing we can’t do?)

The first Midyear Conference was held on October 10-11, 2003 at the Orient Pearl Hotel in Manila.  It originally began as the Luzon Conference attended only by Division’s A, B, G and H. It was brought about by PDG Jimmy Pamintuan’s proposal to hold a conference that would feature games, fun, food and fellowship. What couldn’t be done in a District Conference could be done here. Thus, the Quartethlon was born. It was a contest wherein one contestant had to compete in all 4 categories: evaluation, singing, entertaining and impromptu speech. If you think competing in the District Conference is tough – think again. The first Quartethlon Champion was Grea Tulio – a Toastmaster from Harbor TMC-Division H.

It was in 2006 when the Luzon conference officially became the Midyear Convention.  In 2008, the Midyear Conference was held outside Luzon for the first time - at Bacolod City. Since the first Midyear Conference, this midyear tradition has only become more and more popular. The success of last year’s conference which was held in Cagayan de Oro City, hosted by Division F and facilitated by Midyear Chair ACS Albert Mabaquiao only whetted the people’s appetite for more. And I have no doubt that this year’s conference is going to be spectacular. Why? The venue says it all.

Midyear 2011 is going to be held at the beautiful island of Boracay. It is to be hosted by Division D and organized by this year’s midyear chair ACS Mhel Sillador.

Source: http://www.scribd.com/doc/20306823/Maharlika-Noble-Press-Issue-42

Have you ever been to a Midyear Conference? If not then this would be a great time to try. Read all about it in my post Midyear 2011: Run Away with us to...Boracay!

Competing at Discon 2011 by Alex Zeta

I have already been to three Toastmaster’s District Conferences. But this conference was special – at least to me. Why? Because this time I was competing in 2 categories. For the last 2 Discon’s I have sat in the crowd and wondered what it would be like to be on stage competing. Finally I was going to be able to find out first hand. There were four categories to compete in: Impromptu, Evaluation, Humorous and International Prepared Speech. I was Division F’s representative for the Evaluation and International Prepared Speech category.

I have prepared for this moment for months, from the club contest up to the district conference. On the first day they had all the contestants register for the categories each one would be competing in. After the briefing, which was done by PDG Gina Mapua, they had us pull out our speaking order. I got number 8 for the Evaluation contest. Perfect! I was visualizing number 10 but, as long as it wasn’t number 1, I’ll take it. For the Prepared speech I got number 5. It was good enough.

The Impromptu and Evaluation contest was scheduled on the first day – April 29. The Humorous and Prepared Speech contest was set on the next day. The morning went swiftly by. Before it knew it the Impromptu Speaking Contest and the election of the next set of district officers was over and it was time for the Evaluation Competition. We were all asked to sit at a table in front so we could listen to the test speaker. Then the martial escorted us to a holding room to wait for our turn.

Finally, I was up. The stage looked scary to me. I started walking towards the platform. The room was deathly silent. It was like everything was happening in slow motion. My heart was beating so fast I felt like I was going to have a heart attack any second. My mouth was dry and my hands were cold and clammy. Then I started to speak. And it felt like I was back were I belonged. Once the first few words were out I began to enjoy myself. Adrenaline rushed through me and I thought, this is why I love speaking. There’s nothing quite like the rush of nervous excitement when you’re on stage.

Competing for the International Prepared Speech Category was even more nerve racking for me. My mouth was so dry I had a hard time pronouncing the words at first. But I had memorized my speech so thoroughly I couldn’t have forgotten it if I wanted to. But after those first few seconds I began to feel my speech come to life. I had poured my heart out in that speech. And now all those feelings that I put in it: anger, betrayal and finally, forgiveness came rushing to the surface. Tears threatened to fall and my voice began to reflect the rawness of the emotion I was feeling. At that point I no longer thought of winning. What mattered to me was that I shared my story and maybe, through that, I could uplift someone who was going through the same experience.

I won 1^st place in the Evaluation Category. As for the Prepared Speech, I didn’t even place. But I still felt like a winner. Just being able to compete among such amazing speakers was an immensely humbling experience for me. This experience taught me so much.

I have been a Toastmaster for over 2 years now and although this was my first time to compete at the District level, I’ve competed several times in club and area competitions. And I can honestly say that after ever competition, win or loose, I’ve grown as a speaker.

Winning is an amazing feeling. But what makes it so special is the person you have grown to become. Success is never accidental. It requires passion backed by hard work. It’s not easy. But it’s definitely worth it.

Have you ever wondered how the Midyear Conference began? Read my post on the The Midyear Conference: When did it all begin? to find out!

Toastmasters Discon 2011 Contest Results

Every year, District 75 holds a national conference to showcase the public speaking prowess of Toastmasters from all over the Philippines. This year it was held on April 29 – May 1 at Manila Ocean Park and was organized by DTM Voltaire Victoria. The main event of every district conference are the speaking competitions. There are four contest categories: Impromptu, Evaluation, Humorous and International Prepared Speech. Each category has 10 contestants one representing each of the ten divisions in the Philippines: Division A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and K.

The first two days of the conference were packed full with activities. All the contestants gave the audience a show and everyone enjoyed themselves. For those who weren’t able to go to the conference, here are the Contest results for Discon 2011.

Contest results for Discon 2011:

Impromptu Speaking Contest

1^st place: Philipp Matthys, Division D-Iloilo Executive Toastmasters Club

2^nd place: Alvin Neil Gutierrez, Division A-I-Connect Toastmasters Club

3^rd place: Mark Novem Grageda, Division F-Iligan Toastmasters Club

Evaluation Contest

1^st place: Alessandra Victoria Zeta, Division F-Iligan Toastmasters Club

2^nd place: Jenny Monastrial, Division B- TOPS Toastmasters Club

3^rd place: Stephen Michael Lumanlan, Division g-Baguio Living Synergistically Inc. Toastmasters Club

Humorous Contest

1^st place: Mark Novem Grageda, Division F-Iligan Toastmasters Club

2^nd place: Adrian Alo, Division C-Queen City Toastmasters Club

3^rd place: Eduardo Catayoc III, Division A-Camanava Brunch Toastmasters Club

International Prepared Speech Contest

1^st place: Michael Del Rosario, Division G-Pines City Toastmasters Club

2^nd place: Darwin John Moises, Division C-Lexmark Toastmasters Club

3^rd place: Ma. Cecilia Onate, Division A-Metro Manila Toastmasters Club

Analysis (courtesy of Discon Chairman, DTM Volts Victoria)


Division F = 7 points
Divisions A, C & G = 4 points
Division D = 3 points
Division B = 2 points

According to Discon Chairman, DTM Volts Victoria, this is Division F's highest standing over the years :)


P.S

Next year’s District Conference is going to be at Samal Island, Davao. We’ll be able to enjoy the sun, the beach and the company of our fellow Toastmasters. For those who haven't registered yet please send an email to tmdiscon2012@gmail.com or call 09177008891. 


Look for Discon Chair DTM Elisa Tay. 


 See you all there!


Read my next post Competing at Discon 2011 by Alex Zeta.

How to Use Gestures in Public Speaking

Have you ever tried cooking without the use of salt and pepper? How did the food taste? Bland would probably be an understatement. Perhaps tasteless and unsavory would be more appropriate. Seasoning is what makes food delicious and tasty. Without it mealtime would be a dull affair.


When it comes to public speaking, our gestures are the seasoning that we can put in to add zest and life to our speech. The art of public speaking is more than just you talking in front of a bunch of people. It’s about communicating to them. It’s about imparting your thoughts in a way that the audience can understand and appreciate.


A speech done without using the appropriate gestures leaves much to be desired. However, don’t get too carried away in using gestures either. Just like seasoning, too much of it can ruin the entire meal.


What are gestures exactly and how can you use them to improve your speech? A gesture is a form of non-verbal communication which conveys specific messages and a wealth of meaning. It can be used together with spoken words and body language. Gestures permit speakers to express different kinds of thoughts and feelings, from affection to anger to scorn. Gestures are considered as the most basic form of body language.


Most gestures are limited to the hands and arms. They can help place emphasis on the most salient points of your speech. However be cautious. Using the same gestures too often can end up distracting and irritating your audience.


There are two main kinds of gestures:

·         Emphatic gestures are more subjective in nature. They communicate the things that you feel. They give force and power to a speech. In using emphatic gestures, be more spontaneous. As you speak, let your emotions guide you. Make sure that it blends in with your message. Otherwise, your gestures may end up looking stiff and out of place. If you are not accustomed to using gestures, don’t despair. Look at videos of public speakers and see how they use their hands and arms to convey their message. Then practice until it starts to feel more natural.

·         Descriptive gestures are by nature, more objective. They convey size, location, position and direction. For example in describing an elephant you can open your arms wide to express to your audience how large it is. Descriptive gestures make the characters and objects in your speech appear more vivid and lifelike.

The use of the right gestures in delivering a speech is vital because it communicates your conviction and enhances your point. You might feel a bit uncomfortable in the beginning but as you make it a point to use it often it will slowly start to become second nature.

Got stage fright? Read this post and learn How To Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking

How to Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking

Have you ever experienced the feeling that the moment you stand up to speak in front, your heart starts pounding like crazy, your hands get all clammy and you seem to lose all train of thought? If so, then you are not alone. According to most studies, glossophobia or the fear of public speaking is the number one fear that most people have. Yes, people fear public speaking even more than they fear death!

 We all know that the most successful people, whether in business or any other field, are also the best communicators. And for this reason alone many people desire to become better speakers. But how does one eliminate the fear of public speaking?

The answer is that you don’t. I have been a Toastmaster for over two years now. I regularly give speeches during club meetings and I have joined numerous speaking contests. You’d think two years of speaking would have made the fear disappear, right? Wrong. You can’t totally eliminate your fear of public speaking. You can only conquer it. As someone once said, if you can’t get rid of the butterflies in your stomach, at least get them into flying formation.

So how do you conquer your fear of public speaking?

You can conquer your fear of public speaking the same way you would conquer any other fear. You have to face it. How? Speak in front of an audience – regularly. Or better yet, join Toastmasters. The more you speak in front the less you’ll find doing so “scary”.  Most people are afraid of the unknown. Once you get accustomed to speaking in front you’ll discover that it isn’t that bad after. In fact, public speaking can actually be enjoyable.

They say that preparation is the key to success. This applies to public speaking as well. Before you even think about speaking in front you should learn your material. You should know it so well that you can speak without having to think of what’s next.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself – especially if it’s your first time to deliver a speech. We learn by doing. And we’ve all got to start somewhere. So don’t expect your first speech to be perfect. Practice and then deliver it as best as you can. The best thing about being part of a Toastmasters club is that you get evaluated every time you deliver a speech. Thus, you’ll know which things to improve to make your next speech even better.

The worst thing you can do is to disregard your fear and pretend that it doesn’t exist. No matter how much we try to avoid it there will come a time when we will have to stand up and speak in front. Personally I think it’s better to be prepared so that when that time comes, we will be able to speak with such eloquence and conviction that we can get our point across effectively. 


Do you want your speech to come to life? Read this post and learn about the power of Using Gestures in Public Speaking.

Top 10-Real Estate Brokers Exam Passers

No exam would be complete without top notchers. Here is the complete list of the TOP 10 Real Estate Brokers Exam passers

 Rank 1

ADRIENNE RUIZ DY

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA

88.50

Rank 2

JOSE ROMMEL CENTINO ORILLAZA

ADAMSON UNIVERSITY

88.25

JOHN VICTOR ZALAMEDA UNTALAN

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-MANILA

88.25

Rank 3

HERBERT PHILIP CELESTE ALBA

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-MANILA

87.75

VERONICA DUMLAO SERRANO

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN

87.75

RENE AMANDO FELIX TAGLE

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-MANILA

87.75

Rank 4

CHRYSLER BAYAN ACEBU

PHILIPPINE STATESMAN COLLEGE

87.50

CARRIE MAE CHEONG BANGAYAN

ATENEO DE MANILAUNIVERSITY-Q.C.

87.50

CHERRY SALDUA CASTILLO VI

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN

87.50

RUFFA DEUNA EUGENIO

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN

87.50

Rank 5

SPIKE ALPHONSUS SY CHING

ATENEO DE MANILAUNIVERSITY-Q.C.

87.25

MARIA SOCORRO ISABELLE ARAGON GOBIO

ATENEO DE MANILAUNIVERSITY-Q.C.

87.25

MARINESS LIO LEDESMA

ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY

87.25

DENNIS DESOLOC LIM

ATENEO DE MANILAUNIVERSITY-Q.C.

87.25

ZADA ABIGAIL SY ONG

FOREIGN UNIVERSITY

87.25

ROMERICO SIOZON RUSTIA

ATENEO DE MANILAUNIVERSITY-Q.C.

87.25

MARIA TZARINA GIMENA SALDAÑA

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN

87.25

LYNN ONG-SIONG SY

ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

87.25

Rank 6

JENNIFER VILLAMAR BULUSAN

PHILIPPINE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION-QUEZON CITY

87.00

JOSE NARICO MASANGYA CATINDIG

PHILIPPINE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION-QUEZON CITY

87.00

SUSAN JULIET JALBUENA CORONA

UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LA SALLE

87.00

DENNIS JOSEPH DAVID JUDAN

ATENEO DE MANILAUNIVERSITY-Q.C.

87.00

CHARLENE CAMILLA BAUTISTA LAO

ATENEO DE MANILAUNIVERSITY-Q.C.

87.00

HELEN BENIGRA MOZAR

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN

87.00

FREDERIC MARK SY OH

ATENEO DE MANILAUNIVERSITY-Q.C.

87.00

ANTONIO LIMBONHAI REYES JR

XAVIER UNIVERSITY

87.00

JOHANNES LAWRENCE CENIT RIÑEN

UNIVERSITY OF THE VISAYAS-CEBU CITY

87.00

GWENDOLYN KU WONG

ATENEO DE MANILAUNIVERSITY-Q.C.

87.00

DENIECE SY YUSUN

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN

87.00

Rank 7

JESUSITO MAGNO DOMINGO

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

86.75

REYNALDO CABULLOS ESPINO

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN

86.75

ROY AMADO LOCSIN GOLEZ JR

ATENEO DE MANILAUNIVERSITY-Q.C.

86.75

FLOREMAR MANGUERA GUTIERREZ

PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA

86.75

MARIA IDA CREDO HIMAN

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN

86.75

JONATHAN MARTINEZ JERUSALEM

UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST-MANILA

86.75

MICHAEL ROSS INSAURIGA LIMOSNERO

ATENEO DE MANILAUNIVERSITY-MANILA

86.75

BASILISA PALENCIA PADUA-MACARANAS

ATENEO DE NAGA

86.75

BENSON LIM PERELONIA

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN

86.75

CHRISTINE DY REYES

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-MANILA

86.75

ARMI KATRINA SAMALA SANTOS

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-LOS BAÑOS

86.75

BENIGNO AFAGA TATUNAY

PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA

86.75

Rank 8

EDWARD THOMAS VILLAFUERTE BERNAS

ATENEO DE MANILAUNIVERSITY-Q.C.

86.50

FRANCIS VILLAHERMOSA CEBALLOS

ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

86.50

LANCE PATRICK JISON LEDESMA

ATENEO DE MANILAUNIVERSITY-Q.C.

86.50

REYNAND CASTILLO MACAISA

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN

86.50

ALICIA YSAIS MANABAT

FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY-MANILA

86.50

LAWRENCE ANTHONY DY ONG

ATENEO DE MANILAUNIVERSITY-Q.C.

86.50

JAMES BAUTISTA PALIT-ANG

PHILIPPINE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION-QUEZON CITY

86.50

RAUL PULUMBARIT REVENTAR JR

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN

86.50

ELDIVINO ALLAN LIWANAG SOLA JR

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

86.50

MA MICHELLE PARANE TIBON-JUDAN

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN

86.50

VOLTAIRE SY UY

SAN BEDA COLLEGE

86.50

Rank 9

JANETTE RAPISTA ANCOG

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN

86.25

MARIBEL ROLA ANDRADA

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-VISAYAS-ILOILO CITY

86.25

MARIA DULCE BUMANGLAG CALIJA

DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF LAOAG

86.25

DINDO MARCO MERIA DIOSO

SAN BEDA COLLEGE

86.25

LIEZL SUAREZ MACAS

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHEASTERN PHILIPPINES-DAVAO CITY

86.25

NAOMI TIONGSON MARIN

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN

86.25

RHANDELL ALVIN BAUTISTA MATULOY

SAN BEDA COLLEGE

86.25

ANGELO CARLO PHILIP EUGENIO REYES

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-MANILA

86.25

PATRICK CO RODRIGUEZ

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-MANILA

86.25

EDUINO LEONIDES FRANCISCO DE LEON TAN

UNIVERSITY OF ASIA & THE PACIFIC-PASIG

86.25

RONAN YAP VILLAGONZALO

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN

86.25

Rank 10

ELIZABETH DEMDAM AUSTRIA

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MAIN-STA.MESA

86.00

ZSYIVETTE OH CHUA

ATENEO DE MANILAUNIVERSITY-Q.C.

86.00

JORGE SANTOS DAVIDE JR

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-LOS BAÑOS

86.00

OSCAR DAMES MANANSALA

UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST-MANILA

86.00

MARIA TERESITA DELFINO PEREDO

LYCEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES UNIVERSITY-MANILA

86.00

JOSELITO LACOSTA PINTOR

ADAMSON UNIVERSITY

86.00

JESER MEDALLE REVALDE

CEBU STATE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM(for.CSAT)

86.00

MA RICA GEOTINA SAMSON

ATENEO DE MANILAUNIVERSITY-MANILA

86.00

MANUEL JONATHAN NOLASCO SEE

SAN BEDA COLLEGE

86.00

DON LORENZO PEREA SORIANO

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-MANILA

86.00

FERDINAND RAYOS DEL SOL STA ANA

FEATI UNIVERSITY

86.00

JERMY MILLETE TABUZO

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN

86.00

AMITY KATHLEEN ONG TAN

ATENEO DE MANILAUNIVERSITY-Q.C.

86.00

JOEMI MASUKO TAN

UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES

86.00

MARIE BLESEE ALEXYS MERCADO TECH

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-MANILA

86.00

LOWELL LAGOS YU

SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY

86.00