It was an unexpected, but very pleasant surprise, when the Metro Manila Toastmasters Club (MMTMC) received news that on April 12, 2009, it had been recognized with the President’s Distinguished Club (PDC) award by the US-based Toastmasters International (TI). What’s more impressive is that MMTMC is the first Toastmasters Club in District 75 to be awarded the PDC for the program year 2008-2009!

      The PDC is the highest recognition awarded to clubs that achieve any nine of the ten goals set out by the TI Distinguished Club Program. The TI has a three-tiered recognition system for clubs worldwide: Distinguished Club (DC) for those that achieve any five of the ten goals; Select Distinguished Club (SDC) for achieving at least seven; and the PDC. Attaining the latter is not an easy feat because aside from the set goals, the club must also have at least 20 members or with a net growth of at least five new members by June 30 of the program year.

      The 10 club goals set by TI are:

• two Competent Communicator (CC) norms; 
• two additional CCs;
• one Advanced Communicator (AC) norm;
• one additional AC;
• one Competent Leader (CL), Advanced Leader (AL) or Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) norm;
• one additional CL, AL or DTM;
• four new members;
• four additional new members;
• attendance by at least four Club Officers in two TM training programs (June-August and December-February); and
• on-time renewal of membership dues in October and April and submission of the list of newly-elected officers.

      MMTMC President Joy Gatdula, CC proudly shared the good news with the membership, noting that the only goal that needs to be accomplished before year-end is to achieve two more CC norms. She also thanked all the club members for working hard and showing teamwork and cooperation in realizing the club goals.

      “All the hard work of the members really paid off. We didn’t actually set out to fulfill the goals as fast as possible, it just simply happened. This distinction for Metro Manila only proves that if we put our hands, hearts and minds together, we can achieve a lot, and be the best that we can be and make a difference,” she said.

Ernest Bautista, CC, representing the Metro Manila ToastMasters Club (MMTMC), bagged the second runner-up prize in the Division A Speech Contest held on April 4, 2009 at the auditorium of the Meralco Technical Services Building at Pasig City. Competing in the tough Humorous Speeches category, TM Ernest gave an impressive performance, as he tickled the judges’ and audience’s funny bones. However, TM Eduardo Catayoc III from Toastmasters Camanava Branch was eventually declared top winner in the category.

Meanwhile, MMTMC Treasurer Erick Llaguno, CC made a valiant effort in the International Prepared Speeches category, but was bested by TM Charisse Tubianosa of ADB Toastmasters.

Photo at top shows TM Ernest (center) receiving the 2nd runner-up trophy from District Governor Deling Royo, as District Lt. Governor-Marketing Wilson Lee looks on. Photo at bottom shows TM Ernest with his MMTMC family who cheered him on throughout the contest (from left): Past President Christine Gonzales, ACB; President Joy Gatdula, CC; TM Ernest Baustista; Sgt.-at-Arms Lynne Gamboa, ACG; and VP-Membership Virgel Cabrera, ACB.

Congratulations TM Ernest and TM Erick! You are prized assets of the Metro Manila Toastmasters Club!