The Irony of Life Has Brought Me Here

CEBU, Philippines -  A weekly journal of toastmaster international Philippines Metaphil-Kauban Toastmasters Club When we were kids, parents would usually pose this one-billion dollar question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” to which kids would respond - doctor, pilot, engineer, police officer or sige, artista na lang.  Well, those were the normal kids.  I was not. Good thing my parents did not raise the question. Otherwise how would they have reacted if I told them, “I want to be a drug lord and operate the largest shabu laboratory in Mindanao. I will plant acres and acres of marijuana, BWAHA!”. And if anyone would ask for my occupation, I would tell them I’m a businesswoman and a farmer. Cool, huh?

Just like our dreams, nothing in life is certain and predictable. I hate Math more than anything else in the world, I don’t like crowded places and I feel uncomfortable in the spotlight. Remember: Math, crowded places and spotlight. And where and what am I now?

1. I am a Certified Public Accountant crunching numbers every second of the day;

2. Currently working in Metaphil with a population of more than 7,000 employees, and

3. Even joined Toastmasters, which constantly puts me in the spotlight – delivering speech after speech as if I am enjoying any of it.

What the heck! Could anything be more ironic than this? The way I see it, life is making fun of me. Nothing, I repeat, nothing seems right.

It may sound weird, but I participated all along in this irony. I have realized long ago that my decisions in the past were just stepping stones for me to be here: as in NOW, to convince each of you to join and appreciate Toastmasters.

I wish I could say something inspiring from my life - that maybe I was once a welder before I climbed the corporate ladder. But I am an accountant so expect boring things from me. However, I am also a Toastmaster so this will be a roller coaster ride. Are you ready? Game!

I officially joined Metaphil Corp. in September 2011, clueless and aimless as to where my life was going. As Finance Analyst, I was charged to report directly to the most dynamic and tireless people I know –Stephen Tan and Richel Mahayag. Our triad forms the Finance Department – Management Reporting Team. Both of my bosses have strong personalities that I really admire. Next to my parents, they have my highest respect. By being themselves, no one can say “NO” to them. I learned that hard fact when Ma’am Rich asked me to join Toastmasters.  At that time, I only had two options: join Toastmasters or join Toastmasters. Just like everyone else, I had the wrong idea of what the club is and who should be in the group – that it is for the elite and those who are fluent in English only. At that time, I felt inadequate standing next to good speakers.

But with the convincing power of soon-to-be-fellow Toastmasters, I finally gave in with the condition that I would just write speeches and other Toastmasters would deliver. But that would be utterly ridiculous for I discovered later that a Toastmaster’s weapon is his voice and his voice is his speech. Remove that voice and that Toastmaster will be mute.

I’m no mute so I joined Toastmasters and was even elected secretary of the club. My life thereafter was never the same again. Akong gi-career ang Toastmasters that I participated actively in any event. One advantage of being a Metaphil-Kauban Toastmasters member is that almost everything is free. I haven’t spent a dime ever since. I also visited other clubs and joined workshops and seminars despite my busy work schedule. I even joined speech contests immediately after delivering my first basic speech. To my surprise, I advanced to the Area level, the Division level, and even to District (national) level! I did not win the nationals, but that certainly was not the end of my Toastmasters career. That experience was priceless.

“Toastmastering” is addictive; you can’t seem to have enough of it. And I will bring the name of my club proudly in future contests. Bring it on! (FREEMAN)