Where do broken hearts go? Trekking the beautiful sceneries in Sagada?

Canyoneering
and whale shark watching in Cebu? Picking strawberries and making jams in Baguio?
Binge watching Game of Thrones, F.R.I.E.N.D.S, The Golden Girls at home? Drinking
tequila shots until sunrise in a club nearby? Or does the heart just creep in a place no
one else knows? In my case, I joined Toastmasters International.

Good evening, fellow toastmasters and guests.

Last month, Davao Aguila was encouraged to join the Echo Training for Club Officers.
During the training, I was asked by our Division Director, Toastmaster Maico
Aperocho, why I joined Toastmasters International. Today, while I was writing my
speech, I realized that I gave him a mediocre answer. I was not forced, intimidated, or
coerced to join by our former Division Director, Toastmaster Dimpna Dulay. It recently
came to my senses that I joined Toastmasters International based on my own free will.

I remember that Davao Aguila started last year. The club was formerly known as
PICPA Toastmasters Club which is exclusive only accountants. Toastmaster Dimpna
then, asked me and some of my colleagues to help her revive a dying club because she
does not want any dying club during the course of her term as Division Director. We
joined several meetings with the former members of PICPA Toastmasters Club so we
could have a grasp about the internal matters of the Club. Later, we all decided to
change its name. Thus, Davao Aguila Toastmasters Club was born which was open for
all young professionals. We named the club Aguila because like eagles, we are born to
soar high. We just need a little motivation to help us spread our wings.

I am happy that I have decided to join Toastmasters International. For Aguilas, we are
lucky enough to be mentored by two of the best toastmasters in Division E. Our
former Division Director and our club mentor, Toastmaster Betchay Bangoy. They
became the pillar the club has been leaning on in the past year. They have shared
countless knowledge to the club, pressured us to go out of our comfort zones and
nurtured our skills. I am not afraid anymore to speak in a crowd. I have finally
outgrown that fear.

Imagine, I was able to do things I thought I cannot do. In a year, I was able to finish
two levels of Pathways. I was able to do something I thought I could not find time
doing anymore because school and other extracurricular activities made me busy.
Toastmasters brought me back to my first love, writing.
One cannot only make oneself better in writing when joining a toastmasters club. It
has also helped me with my public speaking skills which is essential in my chosen
future career. I motivated and pushed myself to go out of my comfort zone. I joined my
first ever toastmaster speech contest last year. I did not win but it was a fulfilling
experience to compete with veteran toastmasters.
When I was going through something, my friends would always ask me how I was able
to cope with my anxiety, I told them that I searched for something that would distract
and nurture me at the same time. Toastmasters is a distraction from a piece of my
stressful environment. It did not only make me move outside my box, it has also
helped me fill the box with colours. It became my antidepressant.
Toastmasters brought back my sanity. I have done a lot of wrong decisions in my life
but joining Davao Aguila Toastmasters Club is not one of those. I have said it before
and I will say it again, Toastmasters is something that I will always be part of in this
lifetime. I hope others will see how joining became beneficial to me.
Once again, a beautiful evening.