February 25, 2023, 6:30 AM - Intramuros, Manila, Philippines
The alarm clock beeped loudly, interrupting Daniel's peaceful sleep. He groaned as he stretched his arms, trying to shake off the sleepiness. He got up and went straight to the shower, letting the cold water wake him up.
As he got dressed, he realized he was running out of clothes to wear to work. He needed to do the laundry soon but couldn't afford to have it done professionally. It was just one of the many problems he was facing lately.
After finishing preparing, he immediately stepped out of his house and walked towards the main road, bracing himself for the long commute ahead. As he looked around, he noticed that the road was already crowded with people and vehicles, all struggling to make their way through the heavy traffic.
He checked his watch and realized that he was already running late. He knew he had to hurry, but the thought of the long and exhausting commute made him feel even more stressed and anxious.
The lack of good public transportation in the Philippines added to his stress. Buses and jeepneys were packed with people, and there were no seats available. Even if there were, they would be uncomfortable and the travel would take twice the time as usual.
The train system was also unreliable and frequently encountered technical issues that caused delays or breakdowns. In the end, he had no other choice but to brave the long commute by foot.
He started walking, but the sun was already high in the sky, making the heat unbearable. He wiped the sweat from his forehead as he continued walking. Cars and motorcycles whizzed by him, adding to the noise and pollution of the already congested streets. It was only 30 minutes later that he found a habal rider to take him to Intramuros, Manila.
The stress and anxiety of the commute made him feel like he was trapped, with no way out. He had to deal with this every day, and it was taking a toll on his mental health.
As he finally arrived at his workplace, he was already tired, stressed, and anxious. The commute had taken a toll on him.
He walked briskly through the corridors of the Metro Times TV building, taking a quick detour to grab a cup of coffee from the pantry. He greeted the security guards stationed at the entrance and flashed his ID card, then headed straight to the studio where the shoot for the day was taking place.
As he walked towards the studio, he could hear the faint sound of laughter and chatter coming from inside. He pushed open the door and stepped inside, taking in the sight of the set that had been meticulously constructed overnight.
The actors were getting their hair and makeup done, and the production crew was busy setting up the lights and cameras. He made his way over to the director's chair and sat down, watching as the chaos of the set gradually began to settle into a cohesive whole.
Despite the stress of the shoot, he loved his job. He enjoyed the challenge of coming up with creative concepts that would grab people's attention and leave a lasting impression. He felt proud of the work that he had done for Metro Times TV, and the thought of losing his job was the furthest thing from his mind.
But fate had other plans for him that day.
Just as he was about to give the go-ahead for the first scene, his phone rang. He answered it, hoping it was a quick call that wouldn't delay the shoot, but it was his operations manager on the other end.
"Daniel, can you come to my office? We need to talk," his manager said, her voice grim and serious.
Daniel felt a sudden knot form in his stomach, and his heart began to race. The tone he heard was all too familiar. He excused himself from the shoot and made his way to the manager's office, his mind racing with a thousand possibilities.
As he walked into the office, he noticed that the HR representative was also there. His heart sank even further. He knew what was coming next.
"Daniel, I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but we're going to have to let you go," his operations manager said, looking uncomfortable.
"Ms. Jessie, why? I- I'm doing a fairly good job for the TV and even helping out with other positions outside my job description without asking for more, b- but this?" Daniel asked, feeling hurt and confused.
Ms. Jessie sighed, looking at Daniel with sympathy. "I understand how you feel, Daniel, but the company is going through some financial difficulties right now. We had to make some tough decisions, and unfortunately, we had to let go of some employees, including you. Another reason the bosses decided to let you go is that the sales of the other department you are helping with are not doing well, thus the manager from the other department gave you a lower rating."
"T-this is unfair. That's not even in my contract." Daniel said softly as he felt a wave of despair wash over him.
The company's decision was indeed unfair, but they made it look like Daniel had a bad performance through a department he was helping out with to make it look like that the company had the basis to let him go.
Daniel felt drained as he realized the implications of losing his job. He had bills to pay, rent to cover, and a girlfriend to support. How was he going to survive without a steady income?
Ms. Jessie continued, "We appreciate your hard work and dedication to the company, so we'll provide you with a recommendation letter to help you find another job. I'm sorry, Daniel. I really am. It's out of my hands."
Daniel nodded silently, feeling defeated. He knew that getting another job in his field would be difficult, given the current state of the economy and the fierce competition in the industry.
Ms. Rose Anne, the HR representative, handed a folder to Daniel as she spoke up next. "Daniel, I need you to sign this termination of contract letter. It will take effect on March 15th," she said, cutting straight to the point.
He felt a surge of anger well up within him, but he tried to keep it under control as he responded, "I'm sorry, but I still think all of this is unfair. I cannot sign that, instead, I will be submitting my resignation letter."
With that, he promptly made his exit.
As Daniel left the office, one couldn't help but feel a sense of pride for him standing up for himself. It was known that signing the termination letter would make it more difficult for him to find another job in the future, as it would be seen as a negative mark on his employment history.

Latest Chapter
Presentation Day
April 3, 2023, 9:14 AM - 121 Valero Access Road 3 Salcedo Village, Makati, Philippines - 1900 Antel Corporate Center - Solé Corporate OfficeInside a small conference room in the client's office building, Daniel and the Inklusive team anxiously awaited their turn to present. TVWA, their competitor for this pitch, was currently showcasing their ideas in the main conference room.Glancing at his team, Daniel observed a mix of excitement and anxiety on their faces. Understanding the pressure they felt as part of Inklusive's first pitch, he leaned forward and addressed them in a calm, reassuring tone."Look at you guys," he chuckled, shaking his head. "Why are you all so nervous? Come on, have a little faith in yourselves! We've got this in the bag. We've put in the work, we've got the talent, and we've prepared an interesting campaign proposal. Trust me, we're well-prepared, and I believe in each and every one of you. Let's show them what Inklusive is capable of."His words seemed to eas
Let's Create A Pitch
March 27, 2023, 11:30 AM - Makati City, PhilippinesAs the Inklusive team rode back to the office in one of their company cars, the tension from the encounter with the head of the competing agency still lingered in the air. The team couldn't help but discuss the arrogance they had witnessed, their voices filled with a mix of frustration and determination."I can't believe how arrogant that guy was," Jewel exclaimed, her voice laced with frustration. "Did you see the way he dismissed our ideas and belittled our capabilities? It was completely uncalled for."Daniel, who was sitting beside Jewel, sighed and said, "Don't let them get to you. If there is one thing I've learned in my time in advertising is that if you let intimidation blow your fuse, you lose. Learn to control your anger, you will encounter worse people than that in the industry, I can tell you that much. Besides, they did have grounds for their confidence, they are from TVWA, a bigwig in the advertising field, but let's no
Client Briefing
March 27, 2023, 8:14 AM - Vertis North, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - Orean Place CS 103 - Inklusive Creatives and Advertising's Temporary Office"Alright," Daniel addressed the Inkusive team, his voice filled with excitement and determination, "Good morning, everyone. Today is the first client brief the company will face, fosho it ain't the last, nevertheless, let's give it our all to secure this one."The team nodded in agreement, also excited for their, hopefully, first client"Okay," Daniel continued, "So Lily, Jewel, Dwight, JP, and Jhunel come with me, the rest can stay here and continue working on our social media. We'll update you on the progress later."The designated team members gathered their belongings and followed Daniel out of the office, excited and nervous for their first client brief with Inklusive. As they made their way to the client's location, the excitement in the air was palpable. This was a crucial opportunity for Inkusive to showcase their talents and
Filial Son
March 26, 2023, 9:27 AM - Senate Village Phase 2, Baranggay 173, Caloocan City, Philipines - Abelardo ResidenceAs his parents heard the commotion outside, they rushed out to welcome him back home. "Daniel!" his mom exclaimed as she embraced him."Ma, Pa, mano po," Daniel greeted them."Oh, Anak, your mom mentioned you were taking us somewhere?" his dad inquired."Yes, Pa, it's a surprise. Follow me there, and you can drive this car," Daniel replied, gesturing to the new car parked in front of their house. His parents were surprised to see it there, and they also noticed Mia standing next to the car."Is this your car, Anak? And who is this? Is she your new girlfriend? Why didn't you introduce her earlier?" his mom inquired.Hearing the comment Mia of course blushed but was too shy to retort. Daniel shook his head at the antics of his mother. "Ma, no po." He then turned to Mia and said, "Sorry bout that. Please don't mind my mom."Mia shook her head in response, indicating she doesn't
Paying His Parents A Visit
March 26, 2023, 5:41 AM - Vertis North, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - Penthouse 001When Daniel woke up the next day, he was immediately jolted awake by Sampaguita's robotic voice, which, at this moment, was music to Daniel's ears.*Ding*"Congratulations host," Sampaguita announced, "Minor mission: Overcome being unknown has been completed.The host is hereby rewarded with 100 overcome points and a 4-bedroom house and lot property located in Mira Nila Homes, Pasong Tamo, Quezon City, Philippines.The title of the property will be sent right away to the host's current abode."Daniel smiled as he saw the house that was included in this time's reward. It was something he can use for something he had been wanting to do for a long time.So Daniel immediately got up, went through his morning daily routine of working out and making breakfast, ate then freshened up to prepare to go somewhere.But before he left, he picked up his phone and dialed an all-familiar number to him."Hey, ma.
Being On The News
March 25, 2023, 11:23 AM - Vertis North, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - Orean Place CS 103 - Inklusive Creatives and Advertising's Temporary OfficeAfter retrieving his motorcycle, Daniel drove straight back to the condominium and parked it in his designated spot before making his way inside.As he entered the building, a cameraman caught sight of him and signaled to his partner, who was holding a microphone with an 'INQ' logo. The two turned towards Daniel, drawing the attention of the others nearby.Realizing that they were all there to interview him, Daniel was taken aback. There were seven pairs of reporter-cameramen waiting for him, including three from TV networks and four from newspapers."Are you Mr. Daniel Abelardo? Hi! I'm Gale from The Inquirer, can we have an interview with you?" asked the woman holding the "INQ" microphone."Sir, I'm Phoebe from Rappler, can we ask a few questions?" another lady interjected.The reporters all spoke at once, overwhelming Daniel with
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