"No one was born with confidence and courage. Both are developed over time." 

--The Author 

Let me tell you my problem with young people, especially with those who are new college graduates. They don’t act like professionals at all. 

And I think they don’t even think of themselves as professionals. Mababa ang tingin sa sarili. As a result, they are treated as non-professionals. When hired, they are compensated minimally—often below the minimum wage.

I have personally seen and proven how effective this weapon could be. But it took me not just a one-night effort but a long time of disciplined trying, one that started when I was just 18 during the Kapihan ng Kabataan Kasama ang Pangulo at the Malacañang Palace.

I must admit that at that time, I didn’t know anything about fine dining. Besides, it was only my second year in the city. But I had to attend a breakfast meeting with the President and I really didn’t have any choice but to go along.

To begin with, when breakfast was served, I absolutely had no idea which of the kubyertos to pick up first. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew I had to think quickly to get around my predicament. 

I finally got an idea how. I simply watched how the President and her spokesperson went through the breakfast routine. I only ate what they ate. I only used whatever tableware they used. As a result, I didn’t enjoy the food. 

In fact, I hardly ate at all. But I managed to get through breakfast without making a disaster of myself.

 From then on, I challenged myself to do better in such situations. I told myself that even if I didn’t know how to use formal dinnerware to begin with, I could always learn how to use them. 

 Placed in the same situation, I could always try doing things the “professional way” and apply whatever I learned in one gathering after another. 

With constant practice, I’m sure I can make myself look and act like a professional and to make people treat me like one.