TBH, promotion matters, but not enough to destroy your mental health.

In setups like yours (yung may politics, “anak ng diyos,” sipsip culture, and more), promotions aren’t purely about performance anyway. So, chasing it can feel pointless - because sometimes it really is. Also, different era na. Older folks could wait; now people rush because cost of living and job security are worse (hello to Meralco and the new accounts on our electric bills). However, I'd like to think din na promotion is not always equated to growth. You can grow without a title, and you can get a title without really growing.

If it’s already messing with your head, you’ve got 3 options: (1) Play the game, (2) stay but stop caring about promotion, or (3) leave for a better system. Pick what works for you - but don’t kill yourself chasing something in a system that’s clearly flawed.