ONE of our International Public Relations Association (Ipra) colleagues, Jingjing Romero recently underwent a major health crisis, which she faced with great courage and grace. Instead of being discouraged and depressed, she drew strength from happy memories from her many travels, became an accidental artist and recently held a sold-out exhibit for a good cause.
We can all learn from Jingjing’s amazing experience, and like to think that her being a PR was one of the reasons she was able to rise above the difficulties and transform these into something good and worthwhile. Crisis management, after all, is an essential part of public relations, and Jingjing was certainly an expert in handling her own. We would like to share with you her wonderful story in this column.
I started learning to paint to fulfill a childhood dream. Though rather late, the timing seemed perfect. I had acupuncture and painting to distract me from the pain and discomfort of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
From March 25 to the present, on days without client calls or press events, I spent my waking moments putting on canvas happy memories of my travels. I have surpassed my 65-paintings-by-age-65 goal, as I now have 80 paintings in my portfolio and currently working on four, for the next show in January.
Originally, I wanted to write my autobiography, highlighting my travels for my grandkids to get to know me better. Now, it’s a travel journal. I thought it would be a lasting memento for them to show their kids, too, to remember me as their “frequent flyer” mamita. What a happy coincidence that I was able to include illustrations in this travel journal for them! Suddenly, I also became an accidental artist.
Sixty-three artworks were sold even before the July 25 exhibit opening. On opening night, the rest were sold out. I prayed that the paintings would all be sold as I pledged to send three seminarians to school. My last three scholars (a voice major, a niece and a nephew) have graduated and are gainfully employed now.
About 15 years ago, I supported two seminarians from first year high school onward. One was Fr. Jeffrey Sara Jagurin Rcj, who is now a rogationist missionary assigned in Africa. The other one, muy guapito kasi, left just before he was to be ordained.
I would like to see more priests spreading the Gospel and defending our faith. They will be a vanishing tribe if we don’t support them now.
I have consulted my cousin, Utah-based Bishop Oscar Solis, about resuming scholarships for seminarians. We talked about it before, about three years ago, but cancer and other medical issues got in the way.
Now, I just have to mention this. I owe Wellington Soong and his son Marc a lot. I cannot say thanks enough for their kindness and their prayers. They have such generous hearts. It was Soong’s idea to hold my first solo exhibit at the Wellington Centre. He asked his staff, led by Johnas Soriano, the marketing head, to make sure the show had all it required. Soong even posted the opening-night reception. I am so grateful for all that Soong has done to make this show possible.
Now that I am fully recovered, I would like to praise God more for His infinite goodness. Now that I have sold all the paintings, I have raised enough funds for three seminarian scholarships.
PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premiere association for senior communications professionals around the world. Jingjing Romero is the founder and CEO of Stratos Public Relations Consultancy.
PR Matters is devoting a special column each month to answer our readers’ questions about public relations. Please send your questions or comments to askipraphil@gmail.com.