[THINKING OF A MESSAGE. The participants of the workshop huddle in one of the sessions at the two-day workshop on crafting campaign message delivery dubbed as "Run to Win" held at Xavier University. Photo by GLI.]

By Matthan Luceño

Public officials, political aspirants, and campaign managers drew together at the two-day workshop on crafting campaign message delivery dubbed as "Run to Win" at Xavier University recently.

The Governance and Leadership Institute (GLI), under the Research and Social Outreach cluster of XU, organized the workshop in line with the May 2016 national and local elections.

The fourth batch to undergo the same workshop came from all over Mindanao: Magallanes, Agusan del Sur; Agusan del Norte; Lantapan and Valencia in Bukidnon; Cagayan de Oro City, Jasaan, and Sugbongcogon in Misamis Oriental; Malaag and Cateel in Davao Oriental; Magsaysay, Davao del Sur; Santo Niño, South Cotabato; Socorro, Surigao del Norte; and Sirawi, Zamboanga del Norte.

GLI opted to make the workshop more participatory and conversational rather than the one-way, instructional delivery of information.

The participants explored how the vision, values, assets and purpose of a candidate can greatly influence the campaign. The topics discussed at the workshop were making a slogan, targeting an audience, molding the campaign message to attack or defend, and the importance of electronic mail and social media.

During the workshop, candidates delivered sample campaign speeches before the XU students, where the latter then provided their insights and comments based on millennial appeal, content and delivery.

"When the best leader is gone, the best practices leave with them," GLI director Dr Dixon Yasay shared. "We seek to change that; for these best practices to continue, we try to mold candidates to become efficient leaders," he said.

GLI continues to support the national and local government units through building the capacities of leaders, especially in Mindanao.