27/07/2026
Even with overcast skies and light rains last July 25, 2026, the spirit of the Metro South Alabang Toastmasters Club remained bright at Coffee Syndicate for our meeting featuring the theme, The Story Behind Every Bloom. 🌿
Just like a sapling growing quietly in the dark before breaking through the soil, our members and guests reflected on the droughts, storms, and changing seasons of life showing how we can always turn over a new leaf and start anew. 🍂
Toastmasters at Work testimonies from Raul, Jen, and Adah, kicked off the afternoon with their inspiring stories about how our supportive environment helped them cultivate their personal and professional growth. We were also thrilled to welcome a new face to the club, inducting Arlene right before she stepped up to deliver her Icebreaker! 🌸
Our prepared speech lineup was packed with awe-inspiring stories that truly left an impression:
Vice President for Membership, Mitch, reminded us that growth requires consistency, urging us to keep our Toastmasters Promise by showing up, preparing, and nurturing our potential to build a brighter future.
Arlene delivered a heartwarming Icebreaker, sharing her journey from humble roots, starting from selling chicharron, polvoron, and folding pizza boxes to becoming an Operations Manager, web developer, and Million-Dollar Round Table awardee. Although, her proudest moment wasn't a job title; it was how she financed her siblings' and child's education to give her family a prosperous life.
Albert regaled the room with a highly captivating speech about acting as a mediator during a heated debate among friends, leaving everyone in stitches as he reminded us that preserving the roots of friendship matters more than being right.
Noah inspired us with his evolution from a reluctant Table Topics participant to a confident speaker, showing that every seed blooms with courage.
In Table Topics, second-time Topicsmaster, Ria, took charge by challenging speakers to use a Past-Present-Future framework. We witnessed incredible stories, from Raul’s career leap from a bowling center manager to corporate trainer, to guest Ashley’s journey to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai that sparked her wanderlust.
Our functionaries kept the meeting running seamlessly.
Grammarian, Adah, introduced the Word of the Day, ambivalent, which seven attendees successfully wove into their responses as they navigated ambivalence about life's changing seasons.
Timer, Edison, kept everyone on track so no one went overtime, while, Wizard of Ahs, Rus kept careful count of crutch words.
General Evaluator, Beng Mortel, summed up the afternoon with elegance, likening her visit to a peaceful walk in a garden surrounded by flourishing trees, blossoming flowers, and colorful butterflies.
A big congratulations to the awardees who truly outperformed and bloomed during this session:
🏆 Best Table Topics: Raul
🏆 Best Prepared Speaker: Noah
🏆 Best Evaluator: Marge
Special thanks to our evaluators: Raul, Heather, Jen, and Marge. For providing the thoughtful feedback that helps our members prune away weak spots and reach new heights! 🌳
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Ready to turn over a new leaf and kickstart your journey in public speaking? Send us a message to guest at our next meeting and start growing with MSATC! 🌿✨
📌 Take note! Our next meeting will be on August 8, 2026, at our new venue: Fujifilm Office, Alabang. See you there!
