RIYADH, 18 April 2004 — The Order of Filipino Civil Engineers in Riyadh will hold a special Toastmasters Club demonstration program on April 23 from 7-10 p.m.

To conduct the demonstration are members of the PICPA — Riyadh Toastmasters Club (PRTC) led by CTM Gerry Villaraiz, the club president.

OFCER’s current vice president for education, engineer George A. Manlangit Jr., said the demonstration is meant to show to members of the professional group and others the benefits of joining the Toastmasters movement.

The group intends to form the PICE-OFCER Toastmasters Club. PICE stands for the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, of which OFCER is a member.

Founded in 1924, Toastmasters International is devoted to promoting worldwide harmony by providing a forum for members to practice effective oral communication and leadership.

It has at present more than 9,300 clubs and over 195,000 members in approximately 80 countries.

Toastmasters are ranked according to their accomplishments, starting from the most junior TM (toastmaster), CTM (competent toastmaster), ATM (advance toastmaster) — classified under ATM Bronze, ATM Silver and ATM Gold — to DTM (distinguished toastmaster).

Those who take the parallel leadership track earn the CL (competent leader) or the higher AL (advance leader) awards.

Toastmasters clubs are grouped into areas, divisions and districts.

Riyadh has two areas, which form together with Jeddah area one division. The Eastern Region’s two areas form another division. Both divisions, in turn, belong to the Gulf District.

PTRC, one of Riyadh’s 17 Toastmasters clubs, is one of the leading clubs in the Kingdom.

Its demo team in the OFCER meeting is studded with champions. It has DTM Che Escobido, the Area 5 (Riyadh) champion in Evaluation Contest; ATM-Gold Ron Jacobe, last year’s winner of the Gulf-wide speech contest; ATM-Bronze Ditas Tiamzon, the 2004 Area 5 speech champion; CTM Bert Rondario, a former division champion; and TM Nony Adrineda, the 2004 Area 5 champion in humorous speech.

Manlangit said the demonstration program will be held at the White Palace Hotel on Old Airport Road, opposite Al Minhal Hotel (formerly Holiday Inn). Registration starts at 7 p.m.

Reservations may be made through George Manlangit Jr. at 059-150785 or [email protected], Robert Flores at 058-531743, or Gob Barerra 059033454.