The President Could Use a Little Crisis Management

As the president is continually bombarded with protests and endless accusations about her support to amend the constitution in order to have the power to extend her presidency, surveys have showed that the Filipino people have lost their trust. Since this was not the first time that the president has received such low ratings, I think that she should lecture whoever is handling the issues against her. The process of responding to the criticisms being hurled at the president requires a team of experts that would provide an organized system of managing the crisis regarding her bad image. Though the tinted impression the administration has projected would be impossible to be reverted, the least that the president could do is to make sure that she does not make the situation worse. Specific strategies that could be used would be framing the response of the palace spokesperson whenever the media or any private institution throws him questions or accusations about the president. I am not recommending the use of false information; the administration’s speakers may just structure their messages in such a way that they will be perceived as being reliable and capable enough to handle the issue. Being defensive or acting nonchalantly would only either communicate that the president is indeed ineffective and may be denying certain shortcomings or that the administration does not take the public’s opinion seriously. In contrast to projecting a confident, but not overbearing image in cases where they are truly at fault, then at least the public are assured that the administration will do everything to make the necessary actions.

Other than the government, any organization could definitely make use of crisis management whenever an issue evolves into a crisis. Most often crisis management teams are initially formed in preparation to any huge problem that may arise. Crises include not only internal problems within the organization such as an error in a specific area of operations or an intended scam by an employee. Natural calamities may also become a crisis that can greatly affect an organization’s overall functioning. Because of the many unforeseen circumstances that may affect a whole organization, crisis management teams are definitely important components of all kinds of institutions.

Ruminations: My Christmas Wishlist

“I don’t want a lot this Christmas...I don’t care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree…All I want for Christmas is you.”

***

Back when I used to be a lot cuter (lol) and a bit chubby, I remember my mom and dad putting Cadbury chocolate and milk on a tray near our Christmas tree. I would often cross my fingers while in bed and wish that it was already Christmas morning. When morning finally comes, I’ll be greeted with colorfully-wrapped gifts that had very awkward handwriting. I would always ask my mom, does Santa really write that badly, like a grade one student? She would always answer by saying that he’s an old man that’s why he writes a little crookedly. But after that I would not have any care for Santa’s very bad handwriting because only two things mattered: That I see a bite on the Cadbury chocolate, that the milk was only half full and my present waiting to be opened. So for over a few years, I’ve been the innocent victim of my parents’ fun and games; my dad would bite off the chocolate and gulp down the milk as my mom try as her might to write using her left hand, imprinting in my mind that Santa writes like an 8-year old. At other times I remember being such an impatient kid as I end up opening my gifts (I think I did that two times) the day before Christmas. Then I would realize how foolish I was because when Christmas day comes, I regret what I did for I was one gift short. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Poor kid:(

Less than a month before Christmas, I’m sure most people have already posted their wishlists for everyone to view, mine is a little bit odd, since I don’t think anyone would find them in any store (well except for the bibingka):


1. Christmas when I was a kid

It’s so sad that as I grew older, the giddy and magical feeling that
Christmas brings gradually lessened. I would gladly trade a Starbucks planner for waking up again on Christmas day as a 6-year old.



With some of my cousins




Jico and I opening our gifts from Santa


2. Annual Christmas at Westgrove

It has been our tradition back in high school that right after the Christmas party, my barkada would go to my friend’s (Ysi-I miss you!) house in West Grove, Sta. Rosa Laguna to celebrate our own Christmas party: Stargazing, swimming, climbing hills, pigging out, lying on the street, catching fireflies, of course opening gifts, and long walks. Can’t wait for the day when everyone’s here in the Phil. again.



Our favorite house!




Stars


3. A White Christmas

I’ve always dreamed up of experiencing a white Christmas and making my own snow angel.





4. Bibingka


Aside from puto bung-bong, my other favorite Christmas food is bibingka. Christmas wouldn’t be the same without buying bibingka at 11 pm in the evening and eating it with hot coco.




5. Completing the 9 na simbang gabi

I’ve never ever completed any simbang gabi in my life. Though it’s actually one of the things that make me feel like it's Christmas, I’ve never had the discipline to go to Church for nine straight days. I truly hope this year would be different.




For my real wishlists, anything from these stores would be fine:


1. Fully Booked
2. Power Mac Center
3. Nine West
4. Rustan's make-up and perfume section
5. Nike


Haha. No really, any form of gift will be greatly appreciated:)


Ruminations are weekly blog writing assignments by the Green & White 2009 Literary Committee. Comments are more than welcome.


*Boo. i don't know how to place the captions for the photos at the center:(

Have a break, have a Kitkat

Despite the unending hurl of assignments and requirements, I am amazed at how I am still able to go out and spend time with my friends. Because of strangely having extra time in my hands, I’ve been using more public transportation recently and in the MRT station, this Kitkat promo caught my eye. They were selling MRT passes for fifty pesos inclusive of a thirty five peso load and most importantly, it also comes with a free Kitkat bar! If you were stuck in line sweating and getting irritated of course you wouldn’t think twice on shedding off fifty bucks for not having the need to line up and of course the free Kitkat bar! Haha! I just found the whole promotional idea very effective because the message was so perfect: “Why wait in line when you can have a BREAK?” You don’t only get to avoid the long lines just to get a ticket, you also get to have snack. I think that it is a perfect example of being able to truly identify the needs of the target audience. As in the people using public transportation, they are often met with the hassles of lining up and wasting time to just to buy their ticket. The promoters were able to effectively integrate Kitkat’s tagline of “Having a Break” with the MRT pass as one takes a “break” from the usual hassles of using public transportation. It just goes to show the importance of framing messages and also combining them in order to come out with effective promotions.