A first: Woman becomes head bishop of Episcopal Church

Katharine Jefferts Schori took office Saturday as the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States -- a first not only for her country but also for the global Anglican Communion, which has never before had a female priest leading one of its provinces.

In a ceremony at the cavernous Washington National Cathedral, filled by more than 3,000 well-wishers, Jefferts Schori took leadership of the U.S. church, which is a member of the Anglican Communion. Her appointment takes place as the Anglican rift over the Bible and sexuality threatens to tear the church apart.

Jefferts Schori, 52, was bishop of Nevada when she was the surprise winner of the election for presiding bishop at the Episcopal General Convention in June.

Worshippers stood and faced the doors of the cathedral as Jefferts Schori knocked and entered, wearing a multicolored robe and miter.

She walked in a procession toward the front of the church, led by people waving streamers and flags, as applause filled the sanctuary.

Outgoing Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold turned over the symbol of authority, the primatial staff, to Jefferts Schori.

TM video on the web.

Video files saved on the web and streams beautifully. Youtube made this really easy for all of us! Enter Google. Youtube now becomes part of the Google empire. Whether you prefer Youtube or Google Video, the service is simply wonderful.

For example, recording Toastmasters meetings or specific speech presentation and making them available online for members and other interested parties makes for a great public relations for Toastmasters.

Of course, one caveat, don't use these online video services to promote piracy. :(

A quick search on Youtube using the keyword "Toastmasters" will return an interesting result of 141 finds. Google Video, on the other hand, will give us 132 finds.

Not bad...

2.9M households experiencing ‘hunger’ -- survey

Social Weather Station (SWS), one of the premier research organizations in the Philippines released the results of survey where 2.9M Philippine households indicated as experiencing ‘hunger’. This report came on a day when Filipinos are supposed to observe All Saints Day in commemmoration of our dearly departed yet scenes across all cemeteries in the country indicate something else.

More interesting, 51% of the Filipinos say they’re ‘poor’.

I am poor. Many Filipinos are poor. We have been condemned into poverty by a cornucopia of reasons.

I just wonder when shall the Filipino realize that we should not be poor.

When?

4th Midyear Conference Photos

Better be late than never. Jazz Encarnacion, past Area 16 Governor sent me these photos from the 4th Midyear Conference of District 75 held at the picturesque MMLDC in Antipolo, Rizal. Thanks Jazz!

MMLDC Aviary
by jiencarnacion
This is the map of the Aviary at MMLDC. The place is not only conducive for conferences such as the Midyear Conference but for many other events as well. In fact, I rarely used the shuttle service within MMLDC. Walking the rolling hills from our accommodation to the conference venue is welcome treat!

Star-studded
by jiencarnacion
I mostly shared a table with Jazz Encarnacion, past Area 16 Governor and DTM JJ Letargo (seated, right). The guy in black beside Jazz is Jap Constantino from Silver and White TMC. Standing at far left is past D75 Governor and author of D75 becoming #1, DTM Mike Chua. Beside me is Immediate Past Division B Governor Joseph Yee. To my right is Immediate Past D75 Governor DTM Eliza Tiu and current Area 15 Governor and my club mate from Managers for Christ TMC, Arlene Cadiz. The rest are TMs from Butter 'N Toast TMC from Area 16.

Heavyweights of District 75
by jiencarnacion
This is another star-studded photo op. Seated from left are Past Division B Governor (and one of the best in my book; and a DivGov of the Year awardee) Arnnie Alvar, Past D75 PRO Ondette Kempis, Immediate Past DivB Governor Joseph Yee, Past Division H Governor (and DivGov of the Year awardee) Alma Silla, Past Area Governor ______, myself, Jap and Jazz. Standing are Past Division H Governor and 2006 Midyear Conference Chair Pam Castro and Immediate Past Division H Governor Noy Josef.

The Original Homesteaders
by jiencarnacion
Well, this picture was taken before the other stars joined our table. you can also describe our table as heavyweight. ;)

Great Accommodation
by jiencarnacion
...and this is the hallway to the rooms on the second floor. I was billeted at the first room to the left. The rooms are first class! Better than the room we had at Hilton Washington!

That Hasanain fellow...

I am trying (very hard) not to miss Bahrain but that Hasanain fellow found this blog and broadcasted its existence to kingdom come. Now, I am missing Bahrain big time! If I decide to return to Bahrain and cause heart ache to many individuals, they have Hasanain to blame.

World Championship of Public Speaking - A Trivia for Filipinos.

Filipino Toastmasters should be proud of this.

There are already around 70 World Championships of Public Speaking to date. Only four are from Districts Not Assigned to Regions (DNAR):

1998 Brett Rutledge (Auckland, New Zealand)
1996 David Nottage (Auckland, New Zealand)
1985 Marie C. Pyne (Ireland)
1982 Kenneth Bernard (Australia)

There were fewer female champions - only three:

1986 M. Arabella Bengson (Islington, Ontario, Canada)
1985 Marie C. Pyne (Ireland)
1977 Evelyn Jane Burgay (Springfield, Virginia)

Marie Pyne of Ireland's achievement is remarkable because she is both a female and from DNAR.

But, do you know that a Filipino has actually won a World Championship of Public Speaking? Let me correct myself. The Filipino is actually a Filipina! Yes, she is one of the only three women World Champion of Public Speaking - Ma. Arabella Bengson! She represented the then Region 7, if I am not mistaken. Yet, she is unmistakebly of Filipino ethnicity.

With the election of Johhny "Pawe" Uy as the first Filipino Toastmasters International President, my interest in the Filipino's achievements in Toastmasters became an obsession. ;) so, when I stumbled upon the information that Arabella is actually Filipina, I tried to contact her.

I did! Not only Arabella but her husband as well. Fraser McAllan in an email told me that he is "privileged to be her partner in life, work and play."

I will share with you more information Fraser and Arabella will pass on to me. Wait and see.

For the meantime, why don't we plan to invite them to conduct workshops for us?