Let's Start

"Watch me…Watch me…Watch me…" Michael repeated those words as he stared blankly at the ceiling of his bedroom, recalling his interaction with Catherine.

It was so dumb of him to even say that, to start a company on his own. Where would he finance it all without an investor? But he said that, so he has to uphold his word.

Michael sat up, shaking off the cloud of doubt. He needed to plan, to strategize. The challenge was immense, but so were the stakes. He couldn't let his invention, his dream, get buried under corporate politics and deceit. 

To start—he needed a laptop.

That's right, a laptop. The things he could do with his phone are limited. If he only had his own he could finish his thesis needed for mastery points and track the stock market. So for mastery points and money.

He checked his phone and opened the trading app. He tapped his brokerage account and saw his balance. 125,000 pesos. The only way to withdraw his money from his brokerage account is that he must have a bank account. After all, the trading app is a legitimate platform with certification from the Philippine Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Without a bank account, Michael couldn't access the funds he had earned through trading. He needed to open a bank account first.

Michael quickly made a mental checklist of the documents he would need for opening a bank account: a valid ID, proof of address, proof of billing, and possibly some additional paperwork. He rummaged through his belongings to gather these items.

Next, he researched the nearest bank branches and their opening hours. Finding a suitable bank, he planned to visit it first thing in the morning. Opening a bank account was the first practical step towards accessing his funds and purchasing a laptop.

Once the bank account was set up, he could transfer the funds from his brokerage account. With a laptop, Michael could work more efficiently on his thesis and monitor the stock market with greater precision. He also planned to use the laptop for other official work. 

***

December 3rd arrived, and Michael was ready. He had gathered all the necessary documents and set out early in the morning, heading straight to the nearest branch of BDO (Banco de Oro), one of the Philippines' largest banks. 

Arriving at the bank, Michael joined the queue, patiently waiting for his turn. He observed the organized chaos around him - people making transactions, bank officers assisting clients, and the constant chime of the queue number system. Finally, his number was called, and he approached the counter.

"Good morning. I'd like to open a savings account," Michael said to the bank officer, a young woman with a professional demeanor.

"Good morning, sir. To what purpose?" 

The bank officer's question caught Michael off guard, prompting him to tilt his head slightly. 

"Purpose? Do I need a specific reason to open an account?"

The officer nodded, her expression remaining professional. "Yes, sir. As part of our standard procedure and in compliance with banking regulations, we need to understand the purpose of the account. This is to ensure compliance with laws against money laundering and other financial crimes."

Michael nodded understandingly. "I see. Well, the main purpose is personal finance management. I'm a student, and I've started engaging in stock trading. I plan to use this account to manage the funds I've accumulated from trading and for future savings."

The officer seemed satisfied with his response. "Thank you for clarifying, sir. It's just a standard protocol to ask. We're required to ensure that all accounts are opened for legitimate purposes."

She then continued with the account opening process, asking Michael to fill out a few more forms that included declarations and consent for the bank to conduct necessary background checks as per regulatory requirements.

Michael filled out each form carefully, making sure all his responses were accurate and truthful. Once everything was completed, he handed the forms back to the officer.

She checked the forms one last time and then smiled at Michael. "Everything is in order, sir. Your account will be activated today. You'll also receive notifications and updates on your phone as you've opted for online banking services. Is there anything else I can assist you with?"

"Well…yes…I heard that the BDO is investing in some cryptocurrencies. Well, I'm planning on shorting it."

The bank officer looked a bit surprised by Michael's question about cryptocurrency investments and shorting. She adjusted her glasses and replied, "I'm sorry, sir, but that's a bit out of my league. Our branch mainly handles personal banking and standard financial services. For detailed information about investments, especially something as specific as cryptocurrencies, I would recommend you contact our main office or speak with one of our investment specialists." 

"Oh…well okay, thank you for the information," Michael said.

"Please wait as we process your card. And oh, there'll be two thousand pesos maintaining 

Michael patiently waited as the bank officer processed his card. After a few minutes, she returned with a new debit card enclosed in an envelope. Handing it over to Michael, she explained the next steps.

"Here is your card, sir. You will need to activate it. Also, please note that there is a minimum maintaining balance of two thousand pesos for this account."

Michael nodded, understanding the requirement. He decided to transfer a portion of his funds from his brokerage account immediately to meet this requirement. Using the bank's ATM, he deposited two thousand pesos into his new account, ensuring it met the maintaining balance.

The officer then guided Michael on changing his PIN. "It's important for your security to change the PIN we've initially set for your card. You can do this at any of our ATMs. Just follow the on-screen instructions."

Michael headed to the nearest ATM and followed the steps to change his PIN, choosing a number he would remember but that wasn't easily guessable. The process was straightforward, and within a few minutes, he had successfully updated his PIN.

With his new bank account active and operational, Michael felt a step closer to achieving his goals. He could now withdraw the funds from his brokerage account and buy the laptop he needed for his work. 

The enrollment of the card was easy, and as soon as the account was enrolled, Michael quickly withdrew 80,000 pesos, leaving him with 45,000 pesos in his account. 80,000 is already high enough to buy a quality laptop. 

He proceeded to the electronic store at Gilmore and there were a lot of people there referring him to different stalls but he ignored them.

Upon arriving at Gilmore, a well-known hub for electronic gadgets and computer equipment in the Philippines, Michael navigated through the bustling crowd. Ignoring the various calls from vendors, he focused on finding a reputable electronics stall known for quality products and good customer service.

Finally, he spotted a stall that looked promising, with an array of laptops displayed and knowledgeable staff assisting customers. Michael approached one of the staff members, a young man with an approachable demeanor.

"Good morning, I'm looking for a high-performance laptop," Michael stated. "It needs to be suitable for business applications, stock trading, and potentially running some heavy software related to my projects."

The staff member nodded, understanding the requirements. "Sure, sir. Based on your needs, I would recommend a laptop with a fast processor, ample RAM, and a solid-state drive for quick data access. Let me show you a few options."

He led Michael to a section where several high-end laptops were displayed. The first model he introduced had the following specifications:

Processor: Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7

Memory: 16GB RAM

Storage: 512GB SSD (Solid State Drive)

Display: 15.6-inch Full HD with good color accuracy

Graphics: Dedicated GPU for better performance in graphics-intensive tasks

Build: Lightweight and durable build, with a good keyboard and trackpad

Battery: Long battery life for extended work sessions

Connectivity: Multiple USB ports, HDMI, and Wi-Fi 6 support

"This model," the staff member explained, "is ideal for heavy multitasking and running complex applications. It's also great for stock trading, as the powerful processor and ample RAM ensure smooth performance. The SSD provides fast boot and load times, which is crucial for efficiency."

Michael examined the laptop, impressed by its sleek design and the specifications. "It looks great. How much is this model?"

The staff member replied, "This one is priced at 78,000 pesos, sir. It's a bit on the higher side, but it's a solid investment for your requirements."

Michael contemplated the price. It was within his budget and seemed like a good fit for his needs. "I'll take it," he decided. 

"Mode of payment?" 

"Card."

***

Meanwhile, same day and time, at the BGC.

"Mrs. Antoinette, I would like to thank you for your continuous support of our company," Peralta said over the phone. "We'll make your investment grow once we get the contract to build solar farms in Clark." 

"No problem. By the way, my daughter had informed Michael about the solar panel, but she said that Michael is unwilling to accept the technical report."

"That's what kids are anyway, always stubborn. His solar panel is not as good as he advertised."

"Is it really?" Antoinette asked. 

There was a moment's silence between the two as Peralta chose his words carefully. 

"It is."

"Well, in that case, I'll end the call."

Upon hanging up the phone, Peralta looked at Benico. "How was the reverse engineering process?" 

"We are still not getting there sir…I told you, the tech is too sophisticated." 

"Well, be better!" Peralta shouted.