JEDDAH, 29 December 2003 — The manager of the leading Filipino-owned cargo forwarding company in the Kingdom and an American writer won the key awards in the recent yearend celebration of the Tanglaw Toastmasters Club of Jeddah.

Toastmaster (TM) Emy De Guzman bested two other contestants to bag the “Mr. Entertainment” award, while Competent Toastmaster (CTM) Rabia Abdullah garnered the “Ms. Entertainment” title.

The contestants were judged by their talent, wit, and costume.

Employing magic tricks, De Guzman, the general manager of Sky Freight Forwarders, was easily the “darling of the crowd,” even drawing interest among the inattentive children who came to the Tanglaw’s “Dots Entertainment” party at Jeddah’s resort district of Usfan.

Rabia Abdullah’s break-dancing skills and sheer wit won her the nod of the judges.

In the singing competition, first prize went to TM Marah Fuentes, a flight attendants supervisor at Saudia Airlines, who wowed everyone with her rousing rendition of “I Can’t Help Myself,” popularized by the Four Tops.

Rabia Abdullah won 1st runner-up with her lively rendition of the song “Celebration,” while reluctant contestant TM Francis Salud emerged as 2nd runner-up for his own interpretation of Tom Jones’ “Delilah.”

The “Dots Entertainment” party held on Dec. 18 was the second yearend activity of Tanglaw as an extension of its fortnightly educational and business meetings.

“We thought of holding this kind of activity not only to break the monotony of formal educational meetings but also to give our members an opportunity to discover their other talents,” said CTM Willy Araza, the incumbent president of Tanglaw.

CTM Nori Guerra, the immediate past president of Tanglaw who spearheaded last year’s “Caribbean Nights” event, observed that the yearend celebration also gives officers and members of the club an opportunity to put what they have learned about organizing into action.

Apart from the contests, members and guests rendered their specially prepared songs, dances and special numbers. Among the guest performers was Jackson Jose of the Sri Lankan International School in Jeddah, who belted out a lively Christmas song.

Earlier that evening, CTM Joey Villanueva, Toastmasters governor of the Jeddah Area, delivered an inspirational message focusing on the various benefits of joining a Toastmasters club, such as overcoming fright in public speaking, learning how to prepare and deliver speeches, and leadership training.

Tanglaw, the oldest of the six Toastmasters clubs in the Jeddah area, is just one of more than 9,000 clubs worldwide belonging to the California-based Toastmasters International (TI).

Awards are given by TI based on one’s achievements, so that a member could rise to the rank of CTM, Advance Toastmaster (ATM), or Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM).

During the Dots Entertainment night, medals and trophies from TI were handed out to the Club’s achievers for the 2002-2003 administrative year, including three major awards.

These were: the most outstanding toastmaster award, won by CTM Dan Factoran, a graphics designer; most enthusiastic toastmaster, won by TM Renz Lea?o, a bank senior analyst and programmer; and most improved toastmaster, won by CTM James Sabado, an administrative assistant and entrepreneur.

TM Elmer Fuentes, a bank IT specialist and a diver in his off-days, ably practiced his toastmastering skills during the occasion.