Knowing My Audience

Topic: The Website 9gag

            Despite the popularity of this, many of the users have little knowledge of the origins of 9gag. I would like to share with them how 9gag has evolved through time and how it has become more than just a site that makes people laugh -- but has also become one of the most influential and revolutionizing sites on the World Wide Web.

            Audience's profile: Age: 16-18 yrs. old (?), Level of Education: First Year College

Interests and needs: They have little interest in serious matters because, normally, people in this age try not to dwell in matters that are too complex for them. One of their most significant needs is technology and, most importantly, the internet. (This may not exactly be a need but a want but, in today's world, technology has been categorized into being more a of a need rather than a want. We need it to keep up with the fast pace of life.)

            General State of Mind: They may be bored due to the long speeches that have already heard previously before me but, hopefully, I can revive their interest with my topic.

The benefits that will be reaped from my speech by the audience is additional knowledge regarding 9gag. It may seem like it is not important to know much a bout the site but it may actually teach the audience that it is better to try to thirst for knowledge instead of thriving in ignorance. This can be done by trying to know more things about the things that they use in their everyday lives, even if it isn't required of them to do so. Also, since 9gag has become popular today, it would be helpful to know a little more about them and so to keep up with the trends of the modern world.

Transcript:

            My speech will inform the audience about the origins and unseeingly importance of 9gag to today's youth and world. My audience will most likely be a group of Filipino freshman college students with ages 16-18 -- most of which, I assume, are quite aware of the said site. I also hope that, since they have knowledge of said site, I might be able to re-capture their attention if they have become impatient with the previous speeches.

            The benefit that the audience will hopefully reap from my speech is an expanded knowledge about the site and intolerance for ignorance. It will also emphasize how 9gag has placed such and effect on the Filipino youth today. The speech is also helpful in updating people in the trending events in today's modern internet world.

VN00003-20120122-1430 by Ed de Guzman

Nervousness...

I feel that I can become a better speaker if my strengths in public speaking can be improved. But, I know that I still have a lot of things to learn when it comes to public speaking because I possess a lot of the mentioned weaknesses in the discussion. I know that I need to learn how to remove these weaknesses so that I can become a better public speaker. I want to be one because I know that being a good speaker is essential to one's future. I believe that we can all become better public speakers we help each other out. It is also essential that we choose our words carefully when performing public speaking because we might send the wrong message to the people we are talking to.

Nervousness tip: Try to keep something solid (like a small rock or trinket) in your pocket when speaking to a crowd. Having something to squeeze can ease nervousness and keep you grounded.

            To be honest, I cannot think of any other tip due to the fact that I, myself, am not confident yet when it comes to public speaking.

The possible topics for my informative speech are:

            - The Possibility of the Philippines being the 16th Strongest Economy by 2050.

    Because seeing our economy at present, it may seem far-fetched that we                              could ever be part of the world's top 20 biggest economies. The informative speech will relay how and why this actually a possibility and may become a reality in the 2050.

            - The 9gag Phenomenon

              9gag has become a trend amongst the youth today. What is it and why has it become such a phenomenon? This informative speech seeks to show how and why 9gag was started.

Transcript:

            Like many college students, public speaking is a challenge for me. Nevertheless, I still look forward to learning how to overcome this challenge and, eventually, be able to speak in public with ease. For those who get nervous during public speaking, I suggest keeping something solid in your pockets to squeeze and to keep grounded throughout the speech. Unfortunately, that is the only tip I can impart for I, myself, have yet to discover ways of going through public speaking with ease.


My Podcast 

Pasalubong

            Every time we visit our grandfather in Bulacan, we see to it that we buy pasalubong at Emy's Butong Pakwan Atbp. before heading back to Laguna. It is a store that has nuts for its specialty. Different kinds of seeds, peanuts, beans, and other snacks are sold. What makes it different from other pasalubong shops? Why not settle for others? One good reason is that the crunchiness and the texture of Emy's products are unchanged even after a month. Snacks bought from other stores might be as tasty, but they lose their brittleness instantly after opening. Another reason is that the treats' shelf life is prolonged without using any chemical preservatives.

            How am I so sure? The food items are carefully made by hand. Getting to witness the cooking process guarantees the customers that the products are safe. Seeing constant replacement of old supplies in the displays to new ones ensures security to buyers. In this store, everything is kept fresh, homemade, and free from chemicals. Not to mention delicious. You would want to keep coming back for more. I've been a long-time patron of this said If you want to taste their best selling delicacies, visit Emy's Butong Pakwan Atbp. It is located at Plaridel, Bulacan.

Hometown Locals

                Plaridel, Bulacan is where I grew up, so I can say that I’m very familiar with the people around me. I can tell what they feel; if they have any problems.  People in my hometown are hospitable, generous and sociable.

                Every morning, I wake up and I always see people drinking beer and playing cards or, if I may say, gambling. They start in the morning and end at midnight. But these people are my neighbors, although they are always drinking too much, they are still very generous. They can even talk straight despite the huge amount of liquor in their systems. They don’t get mad at whoever they are talking to, not like those shown in TV programs.

                Early in the morning I also see gossipers. Every morning they have the latest news to talk about. It may be good or bad.  They don’t care if anyone overhears them, that is actually what they want to do, to let everyone hear what they are talking about.

                But still some people in my hometown are good, industrious and hardworking; when I wake up in the morning I always see some of my neighbors sweeping the trash out of their backyards and gardens. It also gives me delight when they greet me good morning every time I walk past.      

With this, I can say that although some of them are drunkards and gossipers, they still find the time to help and to communicate with others. I know that they are the ones I can trust because I have lived there for 13 years and I have never regretted anything.

                

Good Ol' Bulacan

 Bulacan is my hometown. This is where I was born, where I learned to read, write, love and stand on my own feet.  Bulacan is a very nice province  because of the exquisite ambiance it has. You can relax here because there are lots of trees, inhabited by chirping birds, that help make the air clean and fresh.  You can even be awakened by  the rooster’s cock-a-doodle-doo.

There are many beautiful tourist attractions here in my hometown. One of them is the Plaridel Catholic Church, which is a 400-year old Parish Church. I used to always attend mass here when I was a child but today I can only attend mass on weekends. Another is the Simborio Chapel. This Chapel is a major attraction here in Bulacan because it  is one of the oldest existing structures from the Spanish era, believed to have been constructed in the 1800s. There is also a festival on the 29^th and 30^th of December ,where in there is a herd of horses with colorful tiburins parading  the street of Plaridel, Bulacan in reverence to St. James the Apostle.

Also there are many restaurants that you can only find here in Bulacan like La Familia which became popular in Baliuag, Bulacan because of Mrs. Alejo’s cooking. It is located in a 2,000- square meter sprawl with four function areas that include two air-conditioned rooms and two al fresco venues that could accommodate from 50 to 500 guests.

I really want to go back there and stay for a month because of the great food. The food I eat there, like the leaf bread, is very pleasing to my tastebuds. The Leaf bread is a leaf-shaped bread and it is green in color. Another thing that makes me want to go back to good ol’ Bulacan is the feeling of fresh air and the simple life where you can relax. I miss being there because some of my friends live there. Unfortunately, I can’t go back and stay there because we permanently live here in Laguna because of my dad’s work and our studies.

Not Merely the Sense of Hearing

"Listen to the sound from deep within
It's only beginning to find release"


This is an excerpt from the song Listen by Beyonce. The things we want to say are inside of us and those who want to hear it release itself from the depths of my soul need to listen- closely, carefully.


It is easier said than done though because there are a lot of things that hinder one's self from listening. For me it is boredom. When I'm bored I find it hard to listen to the people trying to converse with me. In class when the topic isn't interesting for me I find everything to be dull that I don't try listening at all. I just  put out my phone and start texting friends or think of the things I plan on doing after. Another thing that stops me from listening effectively is when I don't like the subject in class or simply the matter being discussed. I feel like my ears just close and my brain no longer wants to process whatever the speaker is saying.


To solve these listening dilemmas of mine I take down notes. This method forces me to make my ears and mind work and in effect I listen. 


To listen is to make an effort to understand what the speaker is trying to tell you. It isn't merely using your sense of hearing, instead, it is a joint effort by your ears and your brain to be able to decode the message being given to you by whoever you are conversing with.

The Legacy is Me

On February 9, 1994 a very significant historical event occurred- my birth. I don’t want to put you off by sounding too cocky but let me just tell you my story. My name is Ed Lorence Rogero de Guzman and I love sports. At first, I was very much engrossed with basketball. It was a family sport after all. The guys in my family were able to bond because of this game. Basketball took up my free time until 4^th year high school. As I got into college I was introduced to the game of Ultimate by my brother Luis. I didn’t fall for it that fast simply because I didn’t want to get dark but when I got on that field I forgot about the heat that the sun was giving off and the fact that I would get darker after playing. I have fallen in love with the game of Ultimate and I don’t think I would depart from this beautiful sport.

 I was born in Plaridel, Bulacan but am now at Sta. Rosa, Laguna. I transferred here during my first year of high school. By the time we got here I wanted to go back to Bulacan badly. I didn't think that I would gain friends like those I had in my hometown: kind, simple and not arrogant. But after a month I adapted to my new surroundings. I started liking Sta. Rosa, Laguna and I started liking someone. I didn't want to go back to Bulacan anymore. I found home here. What is my definition of home? Home is a place of love, joy and security. And, amazingly, I found that piece of life just after a month. I love it here. Today, I find this place relaxing and enjoyable. I like that there are new infrastructures such as Paseo and Nuvali that cater to the social needs of teenagers such as myself.

I am now 17 and in college. I'm currently studying Electronics and Communications Engineering at De La Salle Canlubang. Why did I get into this, you may ask. The truth is that I really wanted to take up Accounting because of it being math- based and the high salary it would give off in the future. But since my parents had their eyes set on DLSC I basically had no choice and since there were no Accounting courses I decided to take on another family thing. My dad and brother both got Engineering degrees and so did I!

There are a lot of things I wish to do and aspire to be. Everything I do is written down on my history and the product of which is what I become. I am the legacy of what I did and will do. The legacy is Me.