By Matthan Luceño

Local candidates and campaigners for next year’s elections converged at the campaign management workshop of Xavier University – Governance and Leadership Institute (XU-GLI) on July 9-10 at XU AVR 1.

Upcoming candidates from the cities of Tagum, Pagadian, Iligan and other municipalities from different regions actively engaged with the various resource persons on relevant and effective campaign strategies.

GLI director Dr Dixon Yasay emphasized the key role of an academic institution in educating the local community towards clean and honest elections as well as in building the competencies of local political aspirants and campaign workers.

The discussions were on key topics of the art and science of campaigning, namely, crafting campaign messages, delivering the messages, polling, grassroots organizing and the optimization of social media.

GLI also invited incumbent mayors Enerito Acain V of Initao, Misamis Oriental and Romy Tiongco of Damulog, Bukidnon, to share their successes and failures in local elections. During the interactive lectures and exercises, the two mayors also shared some tips and techniques on earning the people’s votes.