This Rotary Year, the Changemaker Team of Pilipinas Rotaract MDIO hosted the first-ever “Pilipinas Rotaract Branding Academy”. Pilipinas Rotaract Branding Academy is a free public image and branding seminar that is open to all Pilipino Rotaractors to equip them with knowledge on Rotary International’s visual identity and branding guidelines, best practices, and importance of having a good public image.
Pilipinas Rotaract Branding Academy aims to facilitate increased community awareness on web, social media, and publications of Rotaract Clubs and member-Districts. There are 4 “semesters” and each one covers a different topic. First semester had two schedules held on August 14 and 22 from 1P.M. to 4P.M via Zoom Video Conferencing. The August 14 schedule had 130+ participants while the August 22 schedule had 260+ participants.
Prior to the program commencing, MDIO Branding and Communications Associate Mark Gil Cato engaged the attendees with a short ice breaker where Rotaractors had to guess what brands the logos represent. This was followed with a call to order of Pilipinas Rotaract MDIO Chair MJ Franco. After which, invocation and the Philippine National Anthem were played. The Four Way Test was delivered by PP Mark Gil Cato. Then, MDIO Chief Information and Communications Officer Nick Paira welcomed all the participants and delivered his opening remarks. He emphasized the importance of public image as we are the walking ambassadors of Rotaract.
PP/PDRR Oliver Alvarez, the first speaker, discussed how the perception of the public to our brand can influence the trust that our communities have on us. He said, “Rotary’s public image is shaped by the actions of YOU, each member in your Rotaract Club, as well as by your involvement in the community and most notably, especially during the pandemic, your personal and club’s presence on the web and social media.”
MDIO Public Image Associate Nilo, the second speaker, tackled the technicalities of Rotary’s Voice & Visual Identity Guidelines. Rotaractors were equipped with the essential information to help them build Rotaract’s brand. They learned how to format a logo, create a lockup format, display multiple logos, use the RY 2021-2022 theme logo, choose the correct color palette, and identify the incorrect usages. A walkthrough in Rotary’s brand Center took place where a Rotaractor was picked to navigate with the guidance of PP NIlo.
The question and answer session gave the two speakers an opportunity to share additional information and clarified some details for Rotaractors to understand easier. To check for understanding of the topics discussed, MDIO Branding and Communications Associate Mark Gil Cato engaged the Rotaractors with a fun game that covered the best practices of branding and incorrect usages. It was a battle among the 10 districts. The top 3 districts for the first run were 3790, 3830, 3820. The top districts on the second run were 3770, 3800, 3820, and 3830.
In their closing remarks, MDIO Public Image Associate Nilo and MDIO Branding and Communications Associate Mark Gil Cato thanked everyone for supporting the first semester of Pilipinas Rotaract Branding Academy and encouraged them to continue attending in the next semesters.
To show completion of a semester, a special Facebook Pilipinas Rotaract Branding Academy Digital Badge was presented to Rotaractors. This also qualifies a Rotaractor for a raffle in September. This badge serves as a promotion of the event, so other Rotaractors will be encouraged to attend in the next semesters. The event was suspended on August 14 by MDIO Chair MJ Franco and was adjourned on August 22 by MDIO Chief Information and Communications Officer Nick Paira.
