November 27, 2029
Manila
The first sign of resistance did not come with a speech or a press conference. It came quietly, buried in a morning briefing document sent to multiple desks inside the Department of Education.
The memo was short. Neutral in tone. It flagged "concerns" about coordination, overlap of responsibilities, and the need for "proper alignment" between private initiatives and national education policy. No names were mentioned. No accusations made. But the timing was not subtle.
By the time the memo reached the desks of assistant secretaries and regional directors, the TG Foundation had already broken ground on three sites, finalized architectural plans for two more, and begun teacher needs assessments in six provinces.
The system had noticed.
7:40 AM
TG Tower – Executive Floor
Hana read the memo twice before handing it to Timothy.
"They're testing the waters," she said. "No direct opposition yet. Just enough language to establish jurisdiction."
