I HAVE taught for 17 years. Standing in front of an audience was never a problem for me. My students for the most part led me to become what I would come to be. For the early part of my public career other than teaching.
My baptism of fire was to stand alone in the middle of a crossroad, with a microphone and introduce myself as a newbie in public service. Sometimes in a waiting shed, when raining. It had to be in Ilokano.
Invitations local or nationwide were received by my office for me to speak. There too were some international invites. Some of the most prestigious was a scholarship to some Executive Course by the United Nations in Geneva in Switzerland. It was this that changed my total outlook and ideals for serving the community. It was from a speech I delivered that made me deserve it. I spoke about neutrality and non-partisanship.
Another was for me to deliver a speech in the World Water Forum in Istanbul in Turkey. It was here where I related the problems faced by Baguio and all other similarly situated communities from lack of water. A debate ensued after.
For some tourism conference I was asked to speak about Beautiful Baguio in Hangzhou in China. Here I was asked to showcase our city, the topic was about branding. At least my background as a marketing person came in handy. I was even asked to be the official tour guide and accompany the President to Hangzou at one time.
I declined an invite to Tehran in Iran. Sometimes I wished I had confirmed for this Conference for City Executives. Many times I had to go to South Korea, to find solutions for some problems that beset the city.
It was K-Water for water sourcing and Incheon Landfill for waste management. Both would have also been connected to Energy. Hydro-electric and waste to energy, both were possible. For these I had to impress on them a city in need. I always had an interpreter.
In the resort city of Taebaek in South Korea, I was privileged to ribbon cut for a newly opened ski resort as their honored guest. A speech and toast was also given by me. In South Korea and China, every speech by anyone will have a customary drink with alcohol and until everyone is drunk. Easy.
Spain sent an indecent proposal for a Tram System for Baguio, after I spoke in a Forum for Clean Air hosted by USAID in Yogyakarta in Indonesia. I was expected to visit Spain accompanied by Ambassador Bernardo for it. It took NEDA forever to give a GO for this. A British company also offered to solve our garbage problem. It was Gov. Chavit Singson who offered this for us. He spoke in our behalf for this. It was to have been at no cost to the city. The Council shot it down. The invites also cancelled.
I was flown by helicopter just to return back to Baguio to deliver a talk before the Bankers Association of the Philippines. Once to give inspiration to some city employees, we drove to the Batangas Port and took a RORO to Calapan in Mindoro before heading to some far and isolated resort. Just to speak.
As a guest of a Mayor I was given a police escort just to catch a flight despite the traffic, and made the flight just in time. Advice was given to airport officials that a VIP will board. This takes the cake, I had the privilege of being escorted by the Presidential Security Group to catch a flight just after the Presidents SONA. A call was even made to GM Cusi of NAIA to prepare our boarding passes and get in straight to the plane. Wow!
I was given the privilege of opening the Cabinet Meeting held every summer in the Mansion House in behalf of the President. This was also the same accorded to me by the Chief Justice for the Supreme Court during the start to their summer sessions. Indeed we are recognized as the Summer Capital of the Philippines.
Every year as the Mayor I was to give the Mayor's Saber in PMA to the most outstanding athlete. An inspirational speech expected and lunch with the cadets was to be had after. Voltes V was one of those speeches I can recall.
In most cases I would share a story that I have archived through the years. Surely rehashed but seldom heard by the same audience. I made sure every time I had to use a story, when it was delivered and to whom. I will also at times print out a copy of my speech as in some cases it was requested.
Finally I successfully delivered a traditional Ugayam (chant) before Jaime Zobel de Ayala during the opening of the Advertising Congress. This was accompanied by a Tayaw (dance), instead of a speech. Easy.