JEDDAH,　14 March 2005 — The PSME Toastmasters Club stamped its class in the Area 24 speech contest by finishing 1-2 in the prestigious International Speech category.

During the contest held at Al-Hamra Sofitel Hotel in Jeddah, Pete Entico led PSME’s onslaught by delivering a near-flawless speech titled: “Best Attitude: Be Happy” en route to winning 1st place in the International Speech category.

Art de Leon followed suit, taking 2nd place, with his speech titled: “The Winner.” The club also took second place in the Table Topics portion courtesy of Raul Sienes, while Librado Lacsado Jr. and Ernie Cala won third place in Humorous and Evaluation categories respectively.

“By winning this year’s international speech contest and taking other honors in other categories, I can say that PSME Toastmasters Club has vastly improved,” club president Joey Arellano told Arab News.

The other winners in the Area 24 contest were:

In Humorous Speech, Naveed Khadri (HOPE Toastmasters Club), 1st place, Chessy Cherian (HOPE), 2nd place;

In Evaluation, Joy Kuttikat (HOPE), 1st place; Mohammad Azad (HOPE), 2nd place;

In Table Topics, Meyyappan (HOPE), 1st place; Demetrio Torres (PSME), 2nd place.

All 2nd place winners are to serve as alternates to the first place winners.

Area 24’s winners will fight it out with winners of Area 11, the other group of toastmasters in the Western Region, and another group from Riyadh.

An offshoot of Area 11, Area 24 is composed of the PSME Toastmasters Clube, HOPE and Jeddah Toastmasters Club. Area 24 is currently headed by its governor, Jose Poovathinkal.

The division contest is scheduled on April 8 at Al-Hamra Sofitel Hotel, the winners of which will compete in the Gulf District contest on May 12-13 in Amman.

Composed mostly of Filipino mechanical engineers, the PSME Toastmasters Club was organized only three years ago by the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers - Western Region chapter, in a bid to help members develop their speaking and communication skills.

HOPE and Jeddah Toastmasters have members from various callings.

Division G Governor Abdul Rouf Al-Mukhtar, to which Areas 11 and 24 belong, graced the contest, while Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, consul general of India, was guest speaker.

Mosaco, sole agent of Raymond suits, Shifa Polyclinic, Sky Freight Forwarders, Ay Sarap Restaurant, and Electro Industries sponsored the contest.