From Silent Screens to Public Speaking
March 15, 2025. WordPress
Iligan. iDEA MSU-IIT.
That’s where I found myself, standing in front of a room full of freelancers, developers, students, and WordPress enthusiasts, giving my first public talk in thirteen years.
The title of my talk? “Is WordPress Still Worth It? Here’s what you might have missed at WordCamp”
Catchy, right? At least I thought so—until I actually had to say it out loud in front of people. Real people. With eyes. And expectations.
Here’s the thing: I’ve been freelancing for over a decade, designing, coding, and building brands behind a screen. But speaking on a stage? That was a whole different game.
So let me ask you:
When was the last time you did something that scared you publicly?
Not just “mildly uncomfortable” scary, but “I might forget how to breathe” scary.
Spoiler alert: I didn’t faint.
But I did forget my intro.
(Yep. Gone. Just poof.)
What followed, though, was one of the most rewarding moments I’ve had in my freelance journey. It was a reminder that growth doesn’t always feel graceful, but it’s almost always worth it.
Why I Said Yes (Even Though I Was Terrified)
Let’s be real, I could’ve easily said no.
No one would’ve blamed me. I’m not a seasoned speaker, I didn’t have a TED Talk under my belt, and the last time I spoke in front of a crowd, YouTube still had 5-star ratings.
So why say yes now?
Because deep down, I knew this was a chance to grow.
I’ve spent years behind the scenes on problem-solving, but something about this invite from WordPress Iligan felt different. It wasn’t just about sharing what I knew. It was about showing up. For my community. For myself. For that younger version of me who once thought public speaking was reserved for extroverts and people with perfect PowerPoints.
Also… I was curious.
Curious if I still had it in me after more than a decade of silence. Curious about what might happen if I stopped hiding behind client calls and actually stepped into a spotlight, even if it was a small one.
So I prepped.
I scribbled notes, practiced in front of my laptop camera, and tried not to overthink it (which totally failed, by the way). I rehearsed lines like I was preparing for a Netflix comedy special, but with zero punchlines and way more sweating.
And yet, even with all that prep, nothing really gets you ready for that moment. You know the one. The deep breath. The step forward. The mic in your hand.
(And, in my case, the sudden realisation that my brain had filed for vacation.)
But I’ll get to that in the next part.
The Moment of Truth: Standing There, Forgetting Everything
There I was, on stage, holding the mic, lights warm on my face, a quiet crowd in front of me.. waiting.
And my brain? Yeah, it decided to peace out.
Everything I practiced, every note I reviewed the night before was gone. Like it packed its bags and said, ‘Good luck, buddy.’
For the first two minutes, I stumbled.
Not dramatically, but enough to feel it. My mouth was moving, but my mind was still trying to find the intro I was sure I had memorised. It was like watching yourself give a talk in a dream, but in real life, and with slightly more sweating.
I cracked a half-smile. I think I made a joke… I hope it was a joke. Someone chuckled, so maybe it landed?
Inside, I was panicking. But on the outside, I was doing my best impression of someone who totally had it together. You know, that casual “this is fine” face… like when your slides break and you pretend it’s part of the plan.
But here’s the surprising part:
No one cared.
No one booed.
No one walked out.
They waited. Patiently. Supportively. Like they were actually rooting for me to get back on track.
And that’s when something shifted.
I took a breath. I remembered why I was there.
Not to be perfect, but to share something real.
To talk about WordPress, the community, and what it still means for freelancers like me (and probably like them, too).
That’s when the nerves started to fade.
And the fire started to grow.
Finding My Fire Again
Once I got past those shaky first minutes, something clicked.
It wasn’t instant. There was no dramatic movie moment where music swelled and I suddenly turned into Tony Robbins. But slowly, with each sentence, I started to feel… grounded. Like I had finally arrived in my own body.
I locked eyes with someone in the second row who gave me an encouraging nod. That small gesture felt like a green light. It reminded me: I’m not here to perform. I’m here to connect.
So I leaned into the topic. I talked about WordPress, where it’s going, where it’s been, and why it still matters for freelancers today. I cracked a few jokes, shared a couple of stories, and for the first time that morning, I felt like I belonged on that stage.
The nerves were still there, but now they were working with me, not against me. Like background music instead of blaring sirens.
That fire I used to feel back in college, when I gave my last talk 13 years ago, showed up again.But this time, it wasn’t just excitement. It was growth. It was me realising, mid-sentence, that I wasn’t the same person I was back then.
I’d learned things. I’d built things.
I’d earned my spot on that stage.
And honestly? That feeling alone made every awkward pause, shaky breath, and forgotten intro totally worth it.
What I Learned From the Stage
Public speaking teaches you a lot, and not just about how to hold a mic without accidentally turning it off (which, yes, I almost did).
But here’s what really stood out:
1. You don’t have to be perfect to be impactful.
No one came to see a flawless performance. People showed up to learn something, to hear your take. And in that moment, my messy, slightly awkward delivery didn’t take away from the value—it made it relatable.
2. People are more supportive than you think.
The crowd wasn’t there to judge. They weren’t waiting to pounce on a missed word or a nervous pause. They were listening, nodding, encouraging. It was like being surrounded by quiet cheerleaders in laptop mode.
3. Your story matters—even if it feels small.
I’m not a celebrity. I’m not a keynote veteran. I’m just a freelancer from Iligan who loves WordPress and wanted to share what I’ve learned. But that’s exactly what made it meaningful. Sometimes, the most powerful talks are the ones that come from real people, doing real work, sharing real experiences.
4. Confidence is built in the doing.
You can read all the public speaking tips in the world (I did). You can watch TED Talks and practice in front of mirrors. But nothing compares to just getting up there and doing it. Even if your hands shake. Even if your voice cracks. That’s where the growth lives.
Honestly, I walked off that stage a different person, not because I nailed every word, but because I didn’t let fear stop me. And that was the win.
Tips for First-Time (or Long-Time-Gap) Public Speakers
Prepare an outline, not a script
Don’t write every word. You’ll either forget it or sound like a robot trying to deliver Shakespeare. Bullet points are your best friend. Know your key points and trust yourself to fill in the rest.
Practise out loud, even if it’s just to your wall
Saying things in your head feels easy. Saying them out loud? Whole different game. Rehearse in front of a mirror, record yourself, or try explaining it to someone who doesn’t know your topic. Bonus points if they ask weird questions, it builds your adaptability.
Show up early to settle in
Get to the venue before the crowd does. Walk around. Breathe. Maybe even touch the mic (gently, you’re not Beyoncé). The more familiar the space feels, the less it freaks you out later.
Don’t fear pauses, they’re powerful.
Silence isn’t awkward unless you make it awkward. A pause gives people time to digest what you said—and gives you time to breathe. Use it like punctuation, not like a glitch.
Turn nerves into fuel
Nervousness isn’t weakness. It means you care. Channel that energy into enthusiasm. Think of it as caffeine for your voice, just slightly shakier.
Find friendly faces
Someone will be nodding or smiling, so lock eyes with them occasionally. It’s like anchoring your confidence to a real person. You’ll feel less like you’re performing, more like you’re having a conversation.
Your first 2 minutes might suck. Keep going anyway.
This is normal. Mine did. I forgot my intro. But if you keep talking, the rhythm finds you. Promise.
End with something real
A story. A short takeaway. Something that ties it all together. It doesn’t have to be deep, it just has to be you.
Why This Moment Mattered (to Me)
This wasn’t just a talk.
It wasn’t just 30 minutes with a mic and a slideshow.
It was a moment that reminded me I’m still growing. Still capable of surprising myself.
Thirteen years is a long time to be silent on stage.
And when you’ve been behind the screen for that long, it’s easy to think maybe your voice doesn’t belong out front anymore. That speaking up is for other people: more confident people, louder people, and people with better icebreakers.
But stepping onto that stage reminded me:
I still have something to say.
And more importantly, I’m not the same person I was back in college. I’ve built things. I’ve helped clients. I’ve navigated the highs and lows of freelance life. That’s experience. That’s growth. That’s worth sharing.
This talk was a personal milestone, not because I nailed it perfectly, but because I didn’t let fear decide for me. I said yes. I showed up. I spoke from the heart.
And I’m genuinely grateful to the WordPress Iligan community for giving me the space to do that.
Sharing the stage with incredible people like John Tanedo from Cagayan de Oro and Georg Kevin Paquet made the whole experience even more memorable. It felt like I was part of something bigger, something that’s helping grow not just tech skills, but confidence in our local community.
So yeah… it mattered.
Final Thoughts
If you’re waiting to feel ‘ready’ before you speak up, take the leap, or step into the spotlight, let me tell you this:
You might be waiting forever.
I waited thirteen years. Not because I didn’t have anything to say, but because I let fear, self-doubt, and a thousand ‘what ifs’ take the mic first.
But here’s the thing: growth rarely shows up looking like confidence.
Most of the time, it looks like shaky hands, forgotten intros, and awkward pauses, followed by breakthroughs.
So don’t wait for the perfect moment.
You don’t need flawless slides, a booming voice, or years of speaking experience. You just need the guts to try. To say yes. To show up as you, uncertainty, nerves, and all.
Whether it’s your first time speaking, launching something new, or simply putting yourself out there in a way you haven’t before, this is your sign.
You’re more capable than you think.
And hey, if a freelance designer/developer who nearly forgot his own name on stage can pull it off, I promise..
You can too.
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