Coke To The Rescue

In the wake of Typhoon Yolanda, Countries and organizations are jumping on board to send relief to those affected by the disaster. Even Coca-Cola is getting involved. Well not all of Coke, just Coca-Cola Philippines along with its bottling partner Coca-Cola FEMSA. But they’re not just sending money, or ice cold soda-pop beverages. They’re cutting all advertising and sending the budget they would normally spend on giant red billboards, to the suffering Filipinos.

At this point, this isn’t the freshest news, and we could have guessed that people are upset and calling it all a PR stunt. You know what I think? Well, actually, I think they’re right. I think Coca-Cola (Philippines) may have found a chance to do something a little different for once instead of using that multi-million dollar budget to remind everyone that Coke still exists, still taste the same, and still rots your teeth.

But who can blame them? I’m sitting here on my ass not helping the cause. To be honest, I haven’t even given any likes. The least I could do is give a few likes. Right?

Whether or not this actually is just a form of advertising or public relations, they’re still acting. They’re not making videos showing them rebuilding houses, or infographics about how much money they’re donating in comparison to how big the typhoon was. They’re not really talking about it that much at all (or are they?). They’re over there helping and making change.

The thing I have to ask, is why isn’t this an international brand thing? Why couldn’t Coca-Cola halt their advertising, which doesn’t hold any particular message, and help out? No one is going to forget about Coca-Cola for the next few months. Coke could stop advertising for a year, and no one would forget about them. If they donated the something like $4 billion advertising budget to the suffering people, that will get them remembered.

As long as people still order Rum and Cokes, that’s enough advertising as it is.