Chapter 25: 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.
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.