Ako poh si Levi…complete name poh Levi Lloyd V. Baluso, a fourth year student of General Santos City High School of General Santos City. I was one of the representatives of Region XII for the skill Business Planning for this 6^th STEP-NSDC held at Davao City . Actually this is my first time to join the STEP competition because last time I thought I don’t have any skill that would fit in this competition. It started when I join for the second time around the 2007 SOCSARGEN I.T. Challenge. I was one of the representatives of our school for the I.T. Quiz Bee Challenge, it was awarding time and I said, “ Sayang last school year (2006-2007) ako ang Second ngayon na Fourth na lang…” then my classmate texted me and asked about the results and so I told her about it. Then, she replied, “Ok lang yan, malay mo GOD has another plan for you, maybe for this year STEP competition…” and I replied also, “HUH??!!! Wala man akong event s STEP!!!” But there was a time at night that my other classmate called me and told me, “Lev, sinali daw kau ni Ma’am sa isang competition diretso daw Regional”… “What competition? Who are my companions?”… “Basta, just ask Ma’am.”

When I asked my teacher about the competition, she told us (my co-companions in the contest) that it was for the Business Planning for the STEP. So, even though we don’t have any experience we accepted the challenge. And so, we started to think of what will be our business with my companions, Valerie Imee Fano, Jether Gil Orendain, Jessica Llego & Donnaville Delfin. At first, we thought of an Internet Café but there is a doubt that it’s to expensive and where can we get a fund. Then, our coaches had decided to have a cupcake business and so we agreed with it. But there was a circumstance that we had a problem, we didn’t thought of that who knows how to cook it and the ingredients/recipe. And then Jether proposed to have the macaroon as our business since he had tried it already. So, with that idea we started from the very start in making the business plan. We had been using the school’s CyberEd building for using the facilities especially the computers in making our papers. And there was a time that we used it for the whole day until evening comes and decided to sleep there but we didn’t get enough sleep because we worked it even midnight to morning until 6 am. But after the sleepless nights, we had finished the trials.

And then the Regional STEP competition came. It was held at Kidapawan City National High School , Kidawan City last October 23-26, 2007. When we arrived there, there were no enough rooms for the GenSan delegates. But after a long time waiting, we were given a room already. After we settled our things, we took our lunch. After our lunch we came back to our quarter upon arriving there, the schedule of activities were given to us the we checked for our schedule and there was no schedule for the business planning but there was a good news given to us by our STEP Supervisor that we don’t have any other competitors but still we have to present our work to the panelists. With that news, we were all rejoicing. And so we enjoyed our time at Kidapawan, we were watching the other events and I was really amazed with their works and then I told to myself, “Wow, ganito pala ang STEP. Ang suwerte ko pala”. We were supporting our contestants for the different events. But when it was about the time for us to present our work, we got nervous. We presented our Business Plan to the different STEP Supervisors of different Divisions. At that time there were many questions, comments and suggestions. And so there were many doubts that came from our minds and there was a time that I was going to give up because I thought from myself that it was my fault because the way I started the presentation but we were cheered up by the comments and our coaches that for the student level our work was really fine. And so we were encouraged to enhance our work for the next level, the National Level. So, after that experience we edited our work to be more comprehensive that would encourage the panelist. I was given a task to make a powerpoint presentation in order to aide the chosen presenter of our work. I was told to make it simple but that’s my problem when I am making a presentation, I cannot do it simple hehehehe. We also bake for us to experience how to bake a macaroon and tried to sell it so that we can foresee if the business can make it.

And then we were ready for the next level… the National Level which was held at Jose Maria College , Davao City last Novemeber 19-24, 2007. When we arrived at the venue, I was amazed with the school because I really like it. Talking about our event, the days before our schedule, we didn’t have enough time to sleep because we volunteer to recheck, edit and finish our paper. Of course before our competition I really pray to God asking for guidance for our competition. The day had come, we were already ready and so we came early at the venue. As far as I can remember, one of our coaches wanted us to be the first presenter while Donnaville guessed that we will be the second presenter but after the draw lots we were the 12^th presenter, what could that mean? After how many hours, it’s already our time for us to present the work. When we entered the room, we were asked about our division and then I was shocked that they sang “We are the champion…” because according to them GenSan, is the home of Champions. And I talked to myself, “Wow, I hope this is a good sign.” During the presentation, the five of us have talked and most of the questions were answered. And when we left the room, I felt confident and somehow we rejoice because it’s already done, “Salamat at wala na kaming iisipin, result na lang.” Of course before I slept I prayed again to thank God for guiding us during the presentation and prayed also that we hope we can bring home the bacon.  For the remaining days, we enjoyed our time with our new friends. And I really enjoyed the plenary session. During the raffle, I was thinking that I will win and when they announced, “And the winner is…” and from my mind I was saying my name, Levi Lloyd Baluso. And fortunately It was really my name that was drawn.

During Awarding, I was really nervous of course for our team and for our friends. And I was also shocked and nervous when the first skill to be awarded was the Business Planning. So, I prayed to God and I told him that He had a plan for us and I knew it… and then when the third place was announced, “the Third Place goes to Region” Again from my mind I was saying that “12”. Fortunately It was really Region XII at napatigil ako sandali na para bang hindi ako makatayo because I was really shocked that after all the trials, we made it even a third placer is really a good rank for me because we are first timers and we were only chosen to represent the GenSan for the Regional level and represented Region XII for the National level. Honestly speaking, I felt that I wanted to cry not because of the place but because of the happiness that we got from our achievement. “Wow out of about 16 regions, naka 3^rd Place p kami.” And I really thanked God for this good plan that he blessed upon us. At doon ko naisip na nagdilang anghel ang aking klasmeyt naa may plano talaga ang Diyos sa akin sa STEP na ito.