Speakeasy
IHAVE 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 KWater for water sourcing and Incheon Landfill for waste management. Both would have also been connected to Energy. Hydroelectric 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