while reading somebody else’s blog, i remembered that i have some stories to tell, too. i’m getting the blog lazy bug again. we don’t want that, so here is one story:

 I’m so so nervous for tomorrow. i have never done this public speaking thing in my life. it will be only 5 minutes of my life – that’s what i keep telling myself. and also that the audience really wants me do really good and not fail….(now my nervousness is translating into my eating. i am eating my lunch while writing this and that means i keep shoving food into my mouth even if i haven’t swallowed the food i initially spooned into it…swallow, drink water.. breathe in, breathe out) i remember being in a poster-making contest and science quiz bee when i was in elementary school. in high school and college there were group contests (math jingles, sabayang bigkas, Christmas carol contest, Indakan etc.) that we were forced to join. but i have never tried or even considered joining individual public speaking, dancing, or singing contests. i am inherently shy. well, some would disagree, but i think what they currently see in me in the result of years in the industry. i had to speak up and at times i have to spill the overflowing emotion . (which by the way, i am still learning to control. – i once informed a superior about another superior’s wrongdoing with a shaking voice and tears gathering in my eyes.. darn i’m too emotional. anyway that’s another story.)

i blame all of this on my writing skills. after all, i am actually more of a writer than a speaker. hehe this was the second time i joined the company’s internal speech contest. you would have thought that i would have learned my lesson and not join again this year, but as my mind thought of a topic for the required morning meeting speech, it didn’t want to be denied the glory. ahihi if you notice, as my posts go, i am a very personal person . i write what’s on my mind, what happened to me. i can’t be blamed if i am a deep-thinking and interesting person (or atleast some things that i think are interesting happen to me) heheh actually, i’m just trying to lighten the mood here. i’m still really nervous about tomorrow’s performance.

as i was saying, this was my second time. the first time, i won a special prize award and the prizes were a mickey mouse stuffed toy and a set of japanese postcards. i actually envied the basic level second prize which was a set of origami books and paper. hehe (hi terree ) but i didn’t plan on joining again the next year. but i guess, fate had another plan. our senseis kept harrassing me to think of a good topic and to join. i didn’t resist too much since i had no one to divert their attentions to. i even got myself a talent manager (just for fun), who actually just used me to keep the onus away from him. (hi wich! ) so come the 2008 internal contest, i bagged the second prize which includes a floral set of a PC mouse, mousepad and CD album. the prizes are sooo for me, what with florals and the colors (yellow mouse, orange mousepad, and red CD album – all of which honda-sensei picked out. )

i thought my public speaking stint would end there. but then as the internal contest winners, we were required to join the manila contest. i was actually contemplating on it. it was enough for me to have won in the internal one. i didn’t need to personally torture myself for more public exposure. but i succumbed and went to the elimination contest (with only the 3 judges and fellow company contestants as audience). i was sure that i wouldn’t get in, coz i was really nervous and i kept looking at my cheatsheet for hints of what to say next. i thought it was over..but it seemed that they were willing to overlook the nevousness. they really liked my topic. darn you good writer, you!

anyway, so tomorrow is the day. i hope i survive it. coz it feels like my heart was going to burst when i do my trial speeches within the office. i have my speech memorized, hopefully i get to finish it without any hitch. God bless me!

oh, wait, it’s not just 5 minutes, they have a question and answer portion….:-S Manager, please help!!