Aiden had successfully weathered the political and legal storm, but the public perception of him remained cold: a shadowy corporate raider with limitless money. To truly neutralize Senator Reyes and consolidate political power, Aiden needed the most powerful weapon in the modern Philippines: public opinion and youth appeal.
He needed a pivot from the boardroom to the mainstream.
The Strategy: Public Service, Viral Reach
Aiden initiated a highly strategic, calculated public relations move. He reached out to the biggest, most influential content creators in the Philippines—Cong TV and the entirety of Team Payaman (TP). These weren't just entertainers; they were cultural phenomena with the trust and loyalty of millions of Filipinos, particularly the youth and working class.
The pitch was simple: Collaborate on a series of high-impact community service vlogs.
The Plan:
High-Visibility Projects: Use Aiden's companies (PPG, AC) to execute spectacular, necessary public works projects.
TP's Narrative: Cong TV and TP would film the process, focusing on the genuine struggles of the communities and the impact of the infrastructure, using their signature mix of humor and sincerity.
Subtle Messaging: The vlogs would subtly contrast the efficiency and speed of Aiden's companies with the corruption and delays of previous government projects—without ever naming Senator Reyes.
The First Vlog: "Ang Pambihirang Liwanag sa Kadiliman" (The Extraordinary Light in the Darkness)
The first collaboration focused on the three impoverished barangays Aiden had previously promised to electrify using PPG resources (a $₱25$ million expenditure that returned $₱50$ million via the System).
Cong TV, vlogging his entire journey with his trademark high energy, brought the TP crew into the remote community.
The Contrast: The opening showed the harsh reality of the barangay—children studying under candlelight, the difficulty of life without reliable power.
The Solution: The vlog chronicled the arrival of the massive PPG/Archipelago Connect trucks and technicians (all employees of Aiden), who quickly and professionally installed the new smart grid infrastructure.
The Narrative: Cong TV and TP's narrative hammered home the idea: Real results happen when people prioritize service over self-interest. They showed the locals, overjoyed, finally experiencing light and clean power. The narrative was "Walang Corrupt, Walang Delay" (No Corruption, No Delay).
The video was an immediate, monstrous success. It hit #1 trending in the Philippines within hours. The public reaction was overwhelming. Aiden Monteverde, the mysterious tycoon, was suddenly rebranded: he was the visionary funding public good.
The Second Vlog: "Bilis Pinoy: Libreng WiFi sa Bayan" (Filipino Speed: Free Town WiFi)
The second project showcased Archipelago Connect (AC). Aiden funded the installation of high-speed, free Wi-Fi access points in several public schools and plazas in the poor districts of Quezon City.
The Investment: Aiden invested another $₱50,000,000$ into the community Wi-Fi infrastructure rollout (all costs doubled back to him by the System).
The Coverage: The TP vlog documented the sheer speed of AC's service—a direct, unspoken comparison to the nation's slow, expensive dominant telecom monopolies (owned by the Santos Family and Sy-Lao Conglomerate).
The vlogs were masterpieces of public relations. They framed Aiden's companies as patriotic, efficient, and community-focused. The "Walang Corrupt" (No Corruption) tagline became a subtle, powerful rebuke to the political status quo, directly undermining Senator Reyes's image.
Aiden himself made brief, charismatic appearances, always speaking about efficiency, accountability, and the duty of business to serve the nation—language that sharply contrasted with the typical politician's rhetoric.
Recruitment: The Youth and the Faithful
The vlogs did more than improve his image; they became a powerful recruitment tool.
1. The Talent Pool: Aiden began receiving thousands of applications from young engineers, idealistic lawyers, and military academy graduates. They weren't seeking wealth; they were seeking a purpose—the chance to work for a company that actually delivered and fought corruption.
2. The Grassroots Allies: The public's trust in Aiden soared. He now had the moral license to expand into other regulated sectors. If the Dimaculangan or Santos Clans tried to shut down PPG or AC again, they would now face not just Aiden's lawyers, but the overwhelming, viral backlash of the Philippine public and the millions of followers of Team Payaman.
Aiden had weaponized popular culture. He had found a way to enjoy the initial fruits of his labor—seeing his money deliver genuine change—while simultaneously consolidating his power base. He had not just bought an empire; he had bought the faith of the masses.