Chapter 42: 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 Office
After 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 their requests.
"Alright, alright. I don't mind giving an interview, but let's move to my office since we might disturb other tenants and guests of the building here," Daniel said, gesturing in the direction of the Inklusive Temporary office to calm them down.
Despite the sudden swarm of reporters, Daniel remained composed and polite as he led them to his conference room to accommodate them. However, deep down, he felt a bit embarrassed and uncomfortable since he was not used to being in front of the camera, as he was usually behind the scenes directing rather than in front of it. Nevertheless, he recognized the potential of this opportunity to gain publicity for his start-up and was determined not to let it slip away. In fact, he even chose to sit in a spot where the Inklusive logo would be visible in the background of any video or photo taken during the interview.
As everyone took their seats, Daniel couldn't help but notice Ms. Amy, a former colleague from The Metro Times TV, among the reporters. "Ms. Amy, you're here too?" he said a polite smile on his face. "Does Boss Tang know you're covering this?"
The other reporters appeared intrigued by the exchange between Daniel and Amy.
Amy replied, "Boss Tang doesn't really check which news we cover."
Daniel nodded, "I understand. It's just that this story involves me, and Mr. Tang and I haven't exactly been on good terms lately."
The other reporters leaned in, sensing a potential scoop. "Can you tell us more about that?" one of them asked.
"Err... haha. It's nothing serious. I used to work at The Metro Times before, but Mr. Tang and I had a minor disagreement when I left," Daniel explained, "So, what did everyone want to ask me about?"
With that signal, the reporters gestured to their partners to start rolling as they started to ask questions.
The reporter from Rappler broke the silence and addressed Daniel, "Mr. Daniel, I'm sure you're already aware of the viral video showcasing your company giving free rides to stranded passengers for the ongoing transport strike. Can you tell us how that all came together?"
Daniel paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts before responding to the reporter's question. "Ughm. I actually never expected it to become viral," he began, How do I explain it? Okay, let me provide some context on how it all came together."
He continued, "It started when one of my employees texted me that they would be late due to the said transport strike. We were so busy in the office the prior days that we, I more specifically, weren't even aware of the strike until then. I advised them to just use a ride-hailing app for that day to get to the office safely. The following days, I had them picked up and dropped off at their homes by our company cars. Then, I realized that many other people were also affected by the strike. Having been a commuter myself not too long ago, I understood the struggle. So, on a whim, I decided to offer free rides to other stranded commuters using our company cars."
The reporter from Rappler nodded thoughtfully. "That's quite an impressive gesture. But some people are saying that it's just a publicity stunt to boost your company's image. What's your response to that?" she asked.
Daniel appeared slightly surprised by the question, but he quickly composed himself and responded, "I understand why some people might be skeptical, but really, it was just a spontaneous decision on my part. And even if it was intended as a company promotion, I don't see anything wrong with that. It's not unethical. Additionally, I only did it because I know firsthand how difficult commuting can be. I come from a humble background and have struggled with commuting myself in the past. I was a mere corporate slave before I started this start-up"
A reporter from GMA7 followed up with a question, "So, Mr. Daniel, are you saying that you are relatively new to the business industry?
"Yes, that's correct. This is my first venture in the business industry, and we haven't even been operating for a month yet," Daniel answered.
One reporter was astonished that Daniel is a newcomer to the business industry, so she inquired whether it is accurate that he made a donation, as that could have been crucial funding for his new business, "Mr. Daniel, according to our sources, you donated Php. 1,000,000 to a foundation to help those affected. Can you confirm this and tell us more about your motivation for doing so? As a startup, some might question the decision to allocate such a large amount of money as a donation rather than capital. What do you have to say about this?" the reporter asked.
Daniel took a moment to process the question, before answering, "Oh, you heard about that? Well, even though we're just a startup, I recognize that I was lucky to have managed to start my own business from having nothing at all. So, why not help out those who are in need as well? During the time that I was in debt and had nothing, a kind-hearted stranger gave me hope, which is why I want to be able to give hope to others as well."
The stranger Daniel was referring to was of course the system, but he wouldn't tell them that.
The reporters nodded in agreement, seeming satisfied with Daniel's response.
Another reporter from The Philippine Star raised his hand to ask a question, "Mr. Daniel, your company seems to be gaining a lot of attention lately. What can we expect from Inklusive Creatives and Advertising in the future?"
Daniel smiled, happy to have a chance to talk about his company's plans. "Well, our goal is to become a one-stop shop for all creative and advertising needs. We want to offer services that are inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or budget. We're still a small start-up, but we have big dreams. In the future, we hope to expand our services and reach more clients both locally and internationally."
The reporters listened intently as Daniel spoke, taking notes and filming the interview.
After the interview concluded, Daniel thanked the reporters for their time and assured them that he would be happy to talk to them again in the future.
Just as the reporters and cameramen were about to leave, Daniel spoke up once more. "Oh, I just realized it's already lunchtime. How about I treat everyone to a meal?"
The reporters politely declined as they needed to return to their stations and submit their reports.
Daniel then turned to Ms. Amy, "How about you Ms. Amy? Want to grab lunch with me?"
Ms. Amy smiled politely and responded, "Thank you for the invitation, Daniel, but I have already made plans for lunch today."
Daniel nodded and replied, "No problem, maybe some other time then."
As he watched them leave, Daniel couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. He had managed to handle the unexpected media attention with ease and had even used it to promote his start-up and his values. He knew that the exposure could potentially attract more followers and customers to Inklusive Creatives and Advertising, and he was excited about the possibilities.
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March 25, 2023, 3:47 PM - Intramuros, Manila, Philippines - The Metro Times TV Office
An old man in his mid-60s was pacing back and forth in his office seemingly pondering upon something then decided to call in his right-hand person to enter the room.
"Jessie, have Amy and Ricky returned yet?" the man asked.
"Not yet, Mr. Tang. They're still on their way. They're stuck in traffic, I believe," replied Ms. June.
"Very well. Please inform me immediately when they arrive. I have something important to discuss with them," Mr. Tang said.
"Of course, Mr. Tang. I'll let you know as soon as they get here," Ms. June responded before leaving the room.
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