Ron is now a DTM

"You deserve it and it's been long overdue". I smiled as an utter those words to TM Ron Jacobe.

Ron finally received his Distinguished Toastmasters (DTM) from the headquarters of Toastmasters International. "He deserves it" is actually an understatement. Ron is known in the Toastmasters circle as the best speaker of Saudi Arabia aside from being a proven leader. "It's long overdue", simply because Ron achieved all the requirements for DTM since 2005. All he has to do, actually, was file the form and submit it to TI, but he didn't do it.

The people behind it

Three years ago, when I asked him why, he simply answered "I lost faith on the norms of Toastmasters." I couldn't blame TM Ron for thinking that way. When I look around Riyadh and gauge the quality of DTMs, I was just disappointed. None of them bears a semblance of a good quality speaker and none of them has the caliber to be a good leader. Ron explained, being associated to these DTMs "kuno" is what he fears most.

Then two years ago, I made it my mission to convince him to get the DTM norm. I want to prove to the Toastmasters community that there exists a "real" DTM in the person of DTM Ron. At first, I was polite in asking for his records and certificates of which he responded with a smile and a promise to give it to me. And yes, I waited but only to be frustrated that after a year, no paper ever arrived on my hands.

Finally last year, I decided not to wait anymore. I actively search his records from the archives of the club and sent numerous communications to the TI headquarters. We complained on the error of his CL norm which was rectified by TI on Feb 2010. Next step was to verify the year he served as Area Governor for Area 5. By May, the TI headquarters rectified their records and officially recognized that Ron served as Area Governor. Sometime in August, I started searching for High Performance Leadership Program manual. I tried contacting TM Jay Magh of Area 1, TM James of Area 5, and even talk to division governor TM Abraham Daniel. Nobody help me get one. Left with no choice, I ordered the manuals from Toastmasters International headquarters – using my own monies.

I talked to Ron about my plan of using the Ginoo and Binibining Pilipinas 2010 pageant as his project for HPLP. Again, he just smiled showing a hint that he agrees. I took it as a yes, having heard no objection at all. After the pageant night on October 17, I started working of the paper works of Ron's Leadership Excellence norm. I asked TM Roi Ontiveros, TM Gerry Villaraiz, TM Perlito Amarante, and TM James Taruc to sign the papers and pose as assistance coordinators for the project.

By Nov 10, I asked TM Reina to submit the papers via email and attached the scanned copies of the HPLP project. A week later, I saw from the TI website that TM Ron was awarded with the LDREXC norm. I immediately instructed TM Reina to submit the application for Advance Leader Silver. By Nov 28, we filled the Distinguished Toastmaster norm for TM Ron. Since the application is online, we received the confirmation right after.

Finally, Ron is now a DTM

2nd in Table Topics

There is a saying that goes: "A prophet is often not recognized in his land"

I think this is true. TM Reina beat me in the recently concluded Table Topics Club Level Contest. To make it worse, my moles said that I won over TM Ruben by barely one (1) point. Gee, is that how bad my performance was? What hurts the most was for my always supportive wife to declare "Your answer was far too off".

Arggg…. That nailed it. I don't have my touch anymore.

The question

As technology increases, our capacity to experience life to fullest diminishes.

Whoever coined this question must have gas spasm and diarrhea. I hate you TM Willy. Hehehehhee. Seriously, the question was indeed challenging and thought provoking. I didn't know how the contestants answered the question because I was the last speaker. What I was more interested was to learn how TM Reina and TM Ruben answered the question. Bitter! weehehe…

My answer

Anyway, I attacked the question using my signature chronological + contrast and comparison technique. I started with Alexander-the-great complaining that he is running out of "worlds" to conquer and fears that he may not experience life's full potential. I jump to Roman Empire when emperors declared Pax Romana with a subtle message that they achieve life potential in the absence of war. Lastly I cited the British Golden Era when the great minds of the time declared that human civilization reached its peak because they discovered everything there is in the world.

I made a contrast and comparison that the definition of "experiencing life to the fullest" varies from one era or civilization to another. What was defined before as "life to the fullest may not be applicable in today's setting"! Travelling across great seas was the "ultimate experience" in the Victorian era. That is just a day's experience in today's standard. To experience playing basketball with the pro would be an "experience" 10 years ago. Today, you can do that over Playstation or Nintendo WII player.

Summing it up, I discuss that: technology therefore does not diminish our capacity to experience life to the fullest. It changes the context, the level, and the definition of experiencing life to the fullest.

I parting, I challenge the audience with the following lines: I have live my life to the fullest according the definition of my era – the 80s. I would not expect and will certainly not force my son and daughter to go walk the path that I took because I know they will have their own definition of what is life to the fullest. The challenge therefore is… are you aware of their needs. Are you sensitive enough to understand that our ways is not the ways of the new generation? Can you accept that we are already outdated?

You got it?

See… I didn't mess up with my answer. Perhaps, they are just too naïve to understand my awesomeness! Wahahahhaa… bitter! Weeeee