Chapter 171: Public Opinion

June 12th, 2028TG Tower - Media Monitoring Center.

10:15 AM

The announcement was only 26 hours old.

No TV ads.

No documentary.


No influencer campaigns.

Just a simple press release from TG Holdings Corp.

"TG Energy Systems finalizing site feasibility for conventional nuclear facilities in Bataan, Negros Occidental, and General Santos. SMR deployment to power TG industrial clusters."

That single statement triggered what commentators later called the most intense public policy reaction in the last 20 years.

Inside TG Tower, the media monitoring center was running at full capacity. Screens covered three walls, showing live broadcasts, online comments, YouTube reactions, radio talk shows, and stock tickers shifting in real time.

Hana stood in front of the largest display, arms crossed, listening as a news anchor spoke.

"—and netizen discussions have surged by 280% overnight since the announcement. Public opinion appears divided. Some are calling this the turning point for Philippine industrial modernization. Others are raising concerns over nuclear safety, land displacement, and foreign involvement in energy policy—"

Timothy walked into the room, coffee in hand, wearing a simple shirt and slacks. No coat. No press briefing scheduled. He sat down quietly in front of the secondary screen.

"Sir," Hana reported, "ENGAGE sentiment rating is now split: 54% favorable, 27% uncertain, 19% opposed."

Timothy nodded. Expected.

He waited as the system cycled to YouTube commentary.

Clip: ’Pinoy Engineer Reacts to TG Nuclear Announcement’

4.2 million views in 18 hours.

"You know what’s different? This is the first time someone actually presented real sites, real cost estimates, real deployment phasing. Hindi drawing. Hindi campaign promise. He literally laid out where, when, how much, and under what regulatory framework. That is not normal in this country."

—

Next screen.

TikTok – @FilipinaFactoryWorker

370K likes.

"I work near the Tarlac battery storage site. They said we’ll be first to get SMR power. That means cheap electricity for produce storage, factories, maybe even housing. My father worked overseas dahil walang factory jobs dito. Maybe one day... we won’t have to leave."

Then came the heated ones.

Radio Host – Manila Business Commentary

"Nuclear power? Seriously? We have typhoons, earthquakes, flooding, corruption—what makes anyone think we can handle nuclear?"

Jose, who had just entered, rolled his eyes quietly.

Another clip started.

Academic Forum – Ateneo Energy Studies (Zoom Panel)

"Yes, nuclear carries risks. But so does coal. So does energy poverty. So does having no electricity for hospitals. At least nuclear gives predictable, stable, large-scale supply. But we must see how TG Holdings will handle the transparency aspect—"

—

Hana pointed to the chart. "Foreign investment signals. Japan, South Korea, UAE all increasing tracking positions. They’re waiting."

Timothy glanced at the screen as social media sentiment maps appeared—Bataan, Negros, and General Santos highlighted.

Areas near the proposed sites showed increased local discussion. Mostly cautious. Curious. Not immediately hostile.

"Play local sentiment sample," Timothy said.

A short video compilation began—collected from locals living within 30km of the candidate sites:

Morong, Bataan – Tricycle Driver

"BNPP has been there since my childhood. No meltdown happened. We just want real explanation, not politician speeches."

Negros Occidental – Sugarcane Farmer

"If they build, but they leave us out, we will oppose. But if we benefit, if our children can work inside—not only outsiders—why reject it?"

General Santos – Port Worker

"If this gives us factories, refineries, hydrogen hub—why not? Just don’t make promises that disappear after ribbon-cutting."

Timothy watched silently.

Not rejection.

Not blind acceptance.

Conditional hope.

Which was realistic.

Which was good.

He stood and walked to the screen with the map.

"This," he said quietly, "is proof that people aren’t naïve."

"They’re not celebrating," Hana said. "They’re evaluating."

Jose checked a report in his folder. "We’ll need a public learning framework. Factory visits, open Q&As, safety simulations, student programs—"

"Yes," Timothy confirmed. "No mass PR. No propaganda. Just facts."

He looked back at the three facility locations.

"People don’t reject nuclear because it’s nuclear," he said.

"They reject it when it feels like something being done to them, not with them."

—

11:35 AM – National News Live Panel Discussion

A screen switched automatically.

Four speakers—economist, energy specialist, political analyst, and youth representative.

The host: "Is this the beginning of Philippine energy sovereignty?"

The economist: "If executed correctly—yes. If it stalls in bureaucracy—no."

The energy specialist: "This is the first serious nuclear proposal in this country with site data, funding models, and corporate commitment. But regulatory clarity is everything."

The youth representative: "What I want to see is inclusion. Don’t just build nuclear. Build schools. Build engineering programs. Let Filipino students become part of it."

Timothy paused at that last part.

He turned to Hana. "Prepare R&D scholarship integration under TG Energy Systems. STEM, reactor technology, grid engineering. Recruitment targeting universities nationwide."

"Already drafting it," she replied.

—

12:18 PM – TG Motors Production Floor (Live Internal Feed)

A screen showed line workers watching TV during lunch break. Someone had posted a printed headline on the wall:

"PH MAY SOON EXPORT ENERGY?"

One employee laughed.

Another took a photo.

Someone muttered, "Kung totoo ’yan, di na aalis si kuya sa Dubai."

Nobody was cheering wildly.

But nobody dismissed it with cynicism either.

And that, in this country—was a big deal.

—

TG Tower – Media Floor

1:02 PM

Timothy was about to leave when one last program came up—a popular podcast streamed live on Facebook and YouTube.

The host, not a fan of exaggerated drama, said simply:

"Maybe this time, we’re not being asked to dream.

We’re being asked to participate."

Timothy stopped walking.

He listened to the rest.

"People aren’t asking for miracles—they’re asking to be included. Companies like TG should remember that. If they do, maybe this won’t be another promise. Maybe this becomes reality."

Timothy looked at the screen.

It wasn’t praise.

It wasn’t criticism.

It was... guidance.

Hana was beside him, arms crossed. "People are watching, sir."

"Good," he answered. "Then we do this correctly."

She nodded.

Jose added quietly behind them, "Construction can be engineered. Public trust has to be built."

Timothy didn’t respond immediately.

Then—

"We’ll build both," he said.

—

Outside, along EDSA, a digital billboard lit up automatically with updated stock and sentiment:

"Public Opinion Index – Nuclear Policy:

Support 57% | Neutral 24% | Concerned 19%"

Nobody called it a victory.

But for the first time in decades—

People were treating nuclear not as fantasy, not as danger, not as a punchline.

But as a possibility.

And that alone was progress.