Speech # 3 Get to the Point - Final

Speech Title: Be an Ecotourist!

Imagine multitudes of birds rising from the ground and into the air. They fly above you and completely cover the sky. “Wow”, you say.”What a magnificent sight.” It is the perfect time to capture the moment on digital camera. But in some cases, these sights are “man-made”. Would you love the scene quite as much if you were aware of the fact that, hidden in the long grass are ‘beaters’. These are people who fires guns several times to raise the birds from their nests into the air.

Toastmasters, guests, my dear friends, they are disturbing these birds in their natural habitat purely to make a ‘photo opportunity for tourist. Wouldn’t it be better to wait for that time when the birds ‘flock’ naturally? Altering the birds’ natural flying pattern is not good for the ecology and risks upsetting the delicate balance of their existence.

Many ecological projects are not able to maintain the delicate balance of nature and have overlooked the fact that environmental conservation is the only way to further economic growth. A perfect example is one of the bats’ kingdom found in Subic. Increasing construction of the infrastructure and amenities required for the increasing number of visitors caused the disappearance of the bat population that used to live there. The noise coming from the transport vehicles that keep passing by, disturbed the natural habitat of these nocturnal mammals and they flew away, never to return.

Although ecotourism developers claimed to be well-educated experts and dedicated to environment conservations, they rarely understand the ecological consequences of their operations and how their day-to-day activities upset the fauna and flora present in the area. As a result the bats are leaving, the tourists stop coming and the business establishments are closing down.

The same might happen to the Banaue Rice Terraces. It has been the eighth wonder of the world and considered as one of the mankind’s greatest engineering feat. Now the terraces are showing signs of erosion with some parts untilled. The new generations of Ifugaos are migrating to the cities looking for better opportunities to earn a living and this leaves the older generation to do the hard work of maintaining these awesome works of art. As they get older, some of them find it easier and more lucrative to work in the tourism industry rather than in the rice fields. But even there, cultural extinction threatens their way of life. The dances for the Ifugao rituals which are used to entertain tourist are mainly being performed by the older women. The current generations are no longer interested in either learning the dance or performing for tourists. The rice terraces and the Ifugo culture are the main attraction of the area. If they fail it will also cause the destruction of the tourism industry, leaving them with nothing.

Ladies and gentlemen, if things go on as they are, then this wonderful place will become history and may even be forgotten.

We need to protect mother earth on our own little way. Let us make ourselves ecotourists and forget the conventional tourist that we used to be. Anyone can do this, it’s really quite simple.
Stay on designated trails during bird watching and avoid taking tours which use ‘beaters’ who disturb the wild life simply to allow you to ‘get a better photograph’.

Control your urge of taking souvenirs. Leave those rocks, plants and animals where you found them and allow others to marvel in their beauty.

If you can do these things, then you can be an ecotourist. These things seem simple and easy to do, but it can be difficult to remember the rules when you get excited and want that ‘picture perfect’ moment.

When we travel we need to show respect for the lives of the indigenous people and avoid discrimination. We might think of ourselves as ‘educated people’ but the local inhabitants are much more knowledgeable than us when it comes to their surrounding natural areas. There is a delicate balance that must be attained and maintained, for while these people need to have an alternative livelihood to live, they also have the right to share in the economic benefits gained by these ecotourism projects. Without this balance we are removing their means of survival.

Let us conserve the beauty and fragility of nature by protecting the ecosystem, promoting the sustainable use of biodiversity and sharing the socio-economic benefits with the local communities through informed consent and participation. We should strive to increase our environmental and cultural knowledge and reduced waste. We need to minimize our own impact in the environment. If we can achieve all these, then we can gain long term benefits for the environment and the local communities.

My dear friends let us all be vigilant. Let us all be eco-friendly not only in our words but also in our hearts and in our deeds. Be an ecotourist!

The Ice Breaker (Final)

Once, the great Confucius was not able to answer a seven-year-old boy’s simple question. This confident boy asked him, “How many stars are there in the sky?” The clever Confucius simply answered, “My child, if only you can ask me of things that my hands can reach, I will be able to answer your question.” So the child stared back and challenged him, “How many hairs then are there in your eyebrow?” Mr. Toastmaster, ladies and gentlemen, Confucius, the greatest in his generation got confused.

To remove all your confusions about me, tonight I will formally introduce myself. I will be breaking the ice to mark the commencement of our lifetime relationship and camaraderie.

All my life, I lived in Danao City. I love my heritage and I am very proud of my home place. For that, I will not live anywhere but only in the home of the Danawanons. Growing in a small city is simple and with less worries. I had a perfect childhood even in poverty. My thoughtful parents, being aware of the malady of ignorance and mindful of the future sent me to college. I finished my Bachelor of Science in Accountancy with flying colors at the University of the Visayas. After that, I had been employed from one company to another in various accounting positions. Currently, I am a finance staff of PS & SD Finance handling the rebate claims of North America. Toastmasters, fellow guests; I am Asteria Flores Tacumba. You can call me Aster for short. I am 30 years young, still single and available.

My father influences me in everything. No wonder, I become his favorite daughter and the apple of his eyes. He was a firefighter in Danao City and every time he came home every other day, he brought with him the latest issue of newspaper. When he was home, he read newspapers, listened to news over the radio or watched it on television. As a Papa’s girl, I stayed on his side reading newspapers too, even if at that time I didn’t know how to read. My older brothers and sisters used to laugh at me especially when I am holding those papers upside down. But it never bothered my father. Looking back at those moments, I admire him for behaving that way. Silently, he was teaching me the “love to read”.

When I was a child, I always throw questions to everybody about everything. My older siblings hated answering those questions because once started, it’s never ending. But my father was different, he always have answers on everything I asked. Though later I realized that he was just making them up, still I learned a lot from him because he is an avid reader. I also learned a lot from my grandfather. He was smart and to me he was a “wonder old man”. He asked me questions instead of the other way around. He taught me how to answer his questions and asked me again and again every time he got a chance. He will then give me money for every right answer to the envy of all my cousins. When I was in grade 3, my teacher asked a question in our class. It was one of my grandfather’s question but I hesitated as my grandfather was very old (sorry Lo). Nobody knew the answer until the teacher called my name. I stood and recited the definition my “Lolo” taught me and alas I was right! I will never forget it in my entire life. Both sides of my ascendants are really great. I am very proud of them.

I began writing when I was in grade five. I wrote short poems but my father didn’t appreciate them. He saw that I was rewriting only the phrases I read from somewhere. He explained to me something about copyright law which I never understood at that time. The only thing that was clear to me was that, I will be jailed if they found out that I am incorporating their work on my composition. So I stopped.

During my third year high school, a subject about journalism revived my passion to write. I told my father that I want to be a journalist someday. But he said that if only I was a boy, he would let me. He explained to me the risk that evolves in that kind of job. He was right… I will not go to Mindanao and risk on being kidnapped by the Abu Sayaff or bombed by the MILF.

To sum it all, I ended up as an Accountant. After years of accounting works, I met the word blog. It was my younger brother who introduced it to me. He encouraged me to visit Yahoo 360 and from there I believe I’ve gone a long way. I started up composing poems again. I meet friends who also write and I enjoyed reading their blogs. When the news that 360 was going to close down, sparked; a friend invited me to join multiply. I then transferred to multiply, then joined the Yahoo 360 refugee group and then learned the features of the site with them. My writings are mostly about myself, the neighbors I love and my home place.

As I stand here in front of you, I am confronted with mixed feelings. I’m nervous, as I am right in front of the toastmasters and toastmasters to be. At the same time, I am exultant in the sense that I am now on my way to equal your level. It’s like coming from a long and drastic journey and finally reaching to a place you can call home. Ladies and gentlemen… Yes, at last, I’m home.

Project 2 Organize Your Speech ft. "Danao City"

Are you terrified when you hear gunshots? That sound is music in Danao City. It gives life and why not when money in the making. Danao City is known in the country or even in some parts of the world as “The Gun City” but ladies and gentlemen, Danao City is more than that. Tonight I will put my home city into its rightful pedestal. I will share to you the humble facets of my beloved city, the city of Danao.

Danao comes from a Cebuano Dialect “Danawan” which means a small lake where the carabaos love to bathe. During the Spanish regime, a Spanish captain named Aniceto del Rosario was commissioned to create municipalities in the province of Cebu. The captain was said to be resting in our place and talking to a native bathing his carabao. Capt. Del Rosario asked this native the name of the place by pointing to the ground. The native unable to understand the stranger thought that he was referring to the small lake. He then answered “Danawan”. The captain named the place as “Danao” for easier recollection.

Danao became a city way back June 07, 1961. It has a total land area of 107.30 sq. km. The city is about 3.43 meters above the sea level. Most of the flat or nearly level areas are found along the narrow coastal plains running from north to south and estimated to be 36% of the total land area. Most of these areas are planted with sugarcane that serves as raw materials for the local sugar mill.

Danao City lies on the northeastern part of the Island of Cebu. It is bounded by the Municipality of Asturias on the west, Municipality of Catmon on the North, Municipality of Compostela on the southeast, City of Cebu on the Southwest, and Camotes Sea on the east.

Just like other cities, our famous land mark is our church. The Sto. Tomas de Villanueva parish church of Danao City would have stood out as a historical relic were it not for the number of renovations made by the proactive parishioners which resulted in material departure from its original architecture when the church was built in the middle of 1700. A tale of long, long ago said that the old wall that has long been replaced reminds us, the Danawanons, of the painful sufferings of our forefathers in the hands of the Spanish encomenderos. When the Spanish built this church they forced them to do the hard labor. The hardest task was to gather those stones from the mountains; carved them using poor tools; bring them down to the city and build it there. All these were done either under the fierce heat of the sun or on cold rainy days. No matter how tired they were they were not allowed to rest nor drink water; and if they do they received hard beatings and cruel treatments. The Spaniards were very stringent and maltreated them until the last blood drops and for this reason they try to forget history by letting those walls out of sight. This is only a tale, it may not be true or just long forgotten but still it touches my very heart and in my every vein within.

Local fishermen used the three towering mountains of Danao City as a guide on going home. When old navigators were using the Polaris as guide in navigating the oceans; my dear friends our local fishermen were using the lighted cross on top of our church to find their way back home. Three towering mountains with a cross beneath them, they will surely not miss it during those old times.

The most essential asset of Danao City is the individual that constitutes the community. The city’s population is approximately close to 150,000.00 and is expected to grow in the years to come.

Danawanons care about each other. In my home place it is true that it takes the whole community to take care of a child. Everyone shows concern over the others that the spread of news, gossip or hearsay is faster than any high-tech communication standards. When someone snatches your bag or cell phone while you are in Danao City, your cry for help can get the whole crowd go after the suspect. One time, an offensive collector has been beaten by the neighborhood when the debtor shouted “kawatan” or thief.

Good relationship between neighbors makes your home unforgettable. That is why no matter where your fortunes bring you, you always goes back to a place you call home. Danawanons who reach the other parts of the world love going back to Danao City every September to celebrate the annual feast, to reunite with their friends and relatives and most of all to give back to the community. The Danao Association USA, Inc. is now on its fifteen years and has been known in the Filipino communities all over the U. S. for its very active and consistent help for its people back home. Formally organized in late 1993, this small group of Danawanons has gone a long way from just holding a pot-luck during the city’s feast to conducting annual medical-surgical mission, free dental clinic, adopt-a-student, adopt-a-school programs and forming “Little Leagues”.

Yes, Danao City is “the gun city” but we, Danawanons are God centered, service dedicated and family oriented individuals. We are gentle, peace loving and useful citizens of our beloved country, Philippines. We defy violence and concentrated our endeavors for the good of ourselves, our families, our neighbors and others. We value democracy and have proven our capacity to stand and fight for our beliefs. We love and preserve our landmarks and heritage. We never forget our home.

Danao is more than a city because of its community. It is glorifying to realize that aside from the careful nurturing hands of my parents and relatives, the whole community is watching over me, safeguarding and protecting me from harm and most of all, they are always ready to celebrate with me and help me in times of need. Toastmasters, guest, ladies and gentlemen, Danawanons form a big family and I am so proud to say that I belong!