Toastmasters: Ice Breaker

My first speech for the Toastmasters Club
Basic Manual: Ice Breaker
Evaluator: ATM-G/CL Ditas Tiamzon

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The Adventures of Jorge to Nathaniel

I remember it vividly. It was March 5, 1985, a day shy to be exact 23 years ago. I had this big predicament. I don’t have a JS Prom partner. I already approach a lady that morning, but was rejected on the simply grounds that I was not "cute" enough to merit as her consort. She said, "You are not tall, you're skinny and you belong to the bottom 10 of the graduating class."

That was hard and I took it seriously and when I saw my mom, I confronted her “Nay, bakit si tatay ang napili mo, di ka na naawa sa akin, kamukha nya ako”. Loose translation: “Mom why did you marry a gorilla, look at this monkey”?

My mom was shock of course. My father – I was afraid my father would punish me for insulting my mom and putting a bad light on our family name – simply said: "My son, the measure of a real man is defined not by his riches nor his achievements and certainly not his looks". "A real man is that person who has a large heart to understand what is right and what is wrong, and stand for it".

Hah big words, but that did not answered my problem. I don’t have a partner.

On the JS Prom night, I was surprised to realize that my partner was no other than the girl who rejected me – my Aphrodite, the apple of my eye. She was my first dance and my fist kiss. I don’t how it happened but surely my father pulled some strings. My father was a soldier and the girl’s father was a soldier too.

Fellow Toastmaster, guest, lady and gentlemen, good evening! Tonight I am going to bring you to my world of Jorge and his journey to Nathaniel. So sit back, relax, and fasten your seat belts. Let’s enjoy the ride.

I spend my formative years in the military camps of Cotabato provinces. We chase amphibian tanks and slip on the firing range just to watch the 105 howitzer cannon bombardments. Unlike my sister, I was never good in class. And during report card submission, my father would simply say with a wink: "okay lang anak, memorize ko na grade mo – it’s straight 75 or 76". But I would gleefully cut him, "tay, may 78 ako".

My mom would just smile and she would gesture: Jorge in school (thumbs down), responsibility (thumbs up). She would tell to her friends that Jorge could take care of his sisters, do household chores, and she could leave the house with Jorge in charge and never worry a bit.

Towards the end of elementary, I bribed my best friend – a son of a prominent family – to take his slot on the USAID scholarship. I don’t know if he was just naive or I was a sweet talker that he agreed. And to my surprise, I passed the scholarship and was rewarded 4 years free tuition, allowances and uniforms.

I was a scholar! Hah, big deal! Let us see the whole picture. There were 120 freshman students – all scholars – and I was ranked 117^th in the class. Not bad, I quipped, I can still beat 3 other boys. To compensate for my perceived handicap I join extra curricular activities. I joined theater, dance troupe, baseball team, tae kwon do & aikido, became famous and have many friends.

Then one day my teacher Sister Norma Aleman told me: “Nathaniel, you are not an idiot. You just don’t know how to focus. Set your mind on your goals and put your heart on it then you’ll succeed.” She was the first person who called me Nathaniel – my second name, and first person who believes in me aside from my father. And those words leave a big print in my heart.

And on May 4, 1985, m

My father and I had a manly talk. He said “my son, I want you to get out of my wings and find yourself in the real world”. “Be a man, and be a strong man”. “Never look back, and make me proud”.

That day, Nathaniel was born.

I created Nathaniel in the next six long years: number 4 in the dean’s list, student body president, joined LFS and lead a contingent during the siege to Malacanang on Feb 25, 1986. I almost got drunk with the power of fame had it not been with the intervention of a good friend Adora Lacson. She enlightened of what Nathaniel should be and gave me a poem IF by Rudyard Kipling that challenges Nathaniel to soar to greater heights.

I completed my BS Comp Sci, BS ECE, and not yet contented, took up MBA and joined the supervisory training program of Del Monte. I became a manager in a telecoms company, and I got my niche in the upper management when I was offered senior manager to manage 1500 agents for a call center.

I also took PhD just to please the “gods” of my workplace.But one day, I look in the mirror and ask that gentleman in front of me

“Are you happy? He didn’t answer

“Did you miss Jorge”, he blinks.

From that moment, I just realize, Jorge was knocking to get out. I was afraid. I don’t know him anymore, and he eventually got out. In a blink of an eye, Jorge changed what Nathaniel built for twenty years.

I gave up my management career, went abroad and work as technical consultant where I was naturally good. Along the way, I pick up photography – mastered it, traveled to places and meet new people, and was truly happy. Today, I am here in Riyadh. I met Ditas who opened the door for me to Toastmasters and Archie who lead me to get inside the door.

Riyadh is just a bus stop on this journey called life. The road ahead is still far and long with many bus stops to go, and I have many adventures yet to experience.

As I look back, I remember three people who made me what I am today: My father who told me the measurement of a man; Sister Norma Aleman who believes in Nathaniel; and Adora Lacson who told me that Nathaniel could soar to greater heights.

In parting my fellow Toastmasters, I want you to look at this gentleman speaking in front of you. Could you see the Nathaniel in him? Could you sense the Jorge in him?

I want you to look back onto yourselves. Is there anyone or someone knocking?

Back to you Toastmaster of the Evening!