My Spices

BS#2 My Spices

03.03.2013

7 mins 11 sec.

Do you like curry? Do you use pepper on your food? Do you love the smell of the cinnamon on your bread?

Good evening fellow TMs and honored guests.

Many people use spices on food to enhance the taste and boost the flavor profile.

I would like to share with you three of my chosen spices which add excitement and flavor to my life.

Well, having a family and having kids is my number one spice, but I will not include this in my speech today because I will make another speech for this soon.

NUMBER 1 – I’M ENGAGED INTO SPORTS.

I play football.

In Lear, we have a football club and we have a ladies team. Fortunately, we have a small playing field at the back of this building where we can have fun playing the beautiful game. We have set our Wednesdays for practices – wishing that my playmates are available and weather is favorable. To make it more fun and exciting, we join inter-corporate football tournament.

I do some running.

I have just finished my first 21K run last January during the Cebu Marathon - thanks to the free slot and to my husband’s coaching and constant encouragement. Two of the reasons why I run are, first, to accommodate vacated slots which are for free, and second, to please my husband who is a running addict.

I play volleyball.

I learned to play volleyball two years ago when PETC had its first inter-department tournament. I didn’t really get a chance to love the game until then. Now, I’m looking forward to another volleyball tournament because it’s only the time that I get to practice and play.

I play basketball but not in a game. I just do some dribbling and shooting sometimes with my husband – still at the back of this building. Well actually, I remember I have joined the inter-department basketball tournament seven years ago. And I remember that I was already fouled-out in the third quarter. Maybe I get too “physical” when I play.

I have played badminton once – and it was during a tournament. One of my colleagues backed out the day before the tournament and left an eager player without a partner because they were supposed to join the doubles division. Because I am one of the sports-minded persons in our department, I was approached if I could be the replacement. I hesitated because I don’t have a racket, I have never played badminton, and I don’t even know the rules. Yet, I was convinced because somebody would lend me a racket and would give me a one-hour crash course on the basics of the sport. And so I played my very first game during a tournament with only guts and an hour of practice with me. Did we win? Unfortunately, we lost on all games because aside from my lack of experience, I didn’t get a chance to play with my partner. I might have lost in the games but I believe I would have won the “Best Inexperienced Player” award – if there was such a special award.

NUMBER 2 – I SUPPORT NON-WORK ACTIVITIES IN LEAR.

I have been working for Lear for almost 8 years already; yet, I can say that my stay hasn’t been boring.

Why? Because I try to blend in some activities which are not part of my work routine.

I am a member of the Fire Brigade Team. Currently, we are practicing for the Inter-MEPZ Fire Fighting competition which will be held this March 23^rd where I am part of the women’s team for the busted-hose division. I am happy to be able to play with dirt and water again and I don’t get to be scolded.

I am also a member of the PETC Choir. This club was born because we celebrate first Friday masses here. But, don’t assume that I have a good voice. Just like Fresah, I just love to sing.

Dancing is one of my passions. Whenever there’s an opportunity, I would make myself available for it. Last year, I joined the inter-MEPZ cheerdance competition even if I was one of the committees during the opening of the HRA Sportsfest.

With regards to company’s corporate social responsibilities such as tree planting and coastal clean-up, expect me to be there.

NUMBER 3 – I ENGAGE MYSELF WITH SELF-IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES

I go to school every Saturday for my post graduate education. I am taking my masters in science in management engineering in USJR and I plan to wear a mop on my head, I mean, to graduate on March 2014.

In MS education, we do a lot of reporting in front of the class. One of the reasons why I joined Toastmasters is to gain confidence in public speaking so I can deliver my report very well. Also, I am enrolled in a thesis program, so I want to be really confident by the time I defend my thesis.

I remember that Gina had been sharing her joy in toastmasters. Although I was interested, I had been financially challenged during that time, even until now. But what really made me decide was a statement from one of my professors. She said, “I don’t understand why other people spend so much on gadgets and not on self-improvement”. That really did hit me. So you see me right now, delivering my basic speech number two to improve my communication skills.

Spices add excitement, give a different experience, and add appetite. We have different preferences on the spices, yet, the most important thing is that we enjoy and have fun savoring our chosen spices - then we can say that life is indeed worth living.