How I got into stock market in the Philippines

Child Philosopher (WHY??)

When I was young, I was always intrigued by movies of people making noises in a place called 'Stock Market'.  People were shouting at each other, always in a hurry, everything was a mess even if they have a very nice suite. I

When I saw the movie of Eddie Murphy "Trading Places",  I somehow got inspired when a poor guy eventually became rich even though he didn't have the knowledge then in stock market.  It was a hilarious comedy but the movie really tells a strong message to people who are poor or who doesn't know the stock market yet.

"I didn't quite understand why they left humanity and charm just to trade some papers." -me

I realized people call them 'Stock Market',  'bagsakan' in tagalog. "Bagsakan" here are always a mess, garbage everywhere but one thing is always the same, people are always in a hurry to buy what is cheap.

During teenage years, we finally have a Cable Television, I wondered why CNN and Bloomberg always had this small ticker of stocks, going up or down.  I asked my dad as to how it works and he replied its just prices that are going up then you buy when going down. They just get money out of it.

What intrigues me the most is when you ask people about "stock market", they will usually answer "Risky yan", "Delekado yan", "Madaming tao nalulugi dyan."  But those replies made me feel more curious about it.  I always ask these philosophical questions to myself.  ( I think I am in the right path since the question I started asking was 'why' and not -- how, what, when,which)

If they say stock market is risky, WHY are people still continuing to use it?

If I use the premise of 'stock market is risky and like gambling', I draw MORE questions:

Why are millionaires and billionaires in the stock market if it's risky? I'm quite sure those millionaires don't want to lose their money,  but why still go there?

Risk is a part of God's game, alike for men and nations.

Warren Buffett 

 We only have two big channels back then in the Philippines, GMA-7 and ABS-CBN. Why are channels like Bloomberg exists and everyday they only talk money market.

WHY does CNN always have a small ticker of Dow Jones index regardless what news they are broadcasting?  It's usually RED or GREEN, some percentage and usually a 2 digit-number. Hey! I know that we took percentage in our grade school Math.  I am a math olympiad, I should be able to comprehend that!

(Note to self: Our local news should also imitate that ticker to somehow let the a young person like me wonder WHY that ticker is there. )

College Years - Supply and Demand - (HOW??)

I got pretty excited when I went to college due to some Kick-ass expectations on Economics subject.  My college professor was a Jesuit Priests, and having priests as teachers in our school should really make the subject hard or lets say more interesting.  I told myself I could finally have someone answer my questions about stock market.

When our teacher asked us what we want to learn in Economics,  I answered "I want to learn about stock market."  Unfortunately, my teacher wasn't able to explain it clearly and all I got was "Buying and Selling".  Later I realized, Jesuits had this vow of poverty, so I understand why they don't engage on such activities.  Also I realized, everything I needed to know in stock market was already thought in the first part of the subject. It's just the 'Supply and Demand'!!!  

Still, I asked myself - "How can I do stock market?"  

Ethics - right or wrong (CAN I??)

Over the past few years since EDSA revolution, the Philippines have suffered from a corrupt politics, aristocracy, dynasties and all forms of evil.  Coming from a Jesuit school, they taught us always to do something good and avoid evil as much possible :).  We also developed this stereotyped of rich people as evil, since it shows a lot favourite pastimes -- teleseryes like Mara Clara and Esperanza and etc.  Local media battered the news with corrupt acts that eventually polluted my mind to not strive for richness but for simple happiness of life and to serve God and Country.  I did tried to give money to the poor but I eventually give little because I didn't have a lot of money to give.  How I wish could do 'magis'  - more.

My ethics class helped me in discerning the truth behind business, money and some morally questionable acts of human.  My beliefs was further enhanced when learning about a very inspirational person - Bo Sanchez who is serving the people and also helping other people reaching a financial breakthrough.

First-hand experience on Stock - Option (Wait What??)

After College, I got attracted to this company that offers stock option. Making me a part owner of the company. Wait... what?? stock options?? To put it simply, start-up companies usually offers an incentive of stock option to make their employees productive in the long term.  The longer they stay, the more stock options they get and when another company is interested in buying your company, it is where you instantly become millionaire. ( In the US setting of course).

I got drained eventually in the startup company due to heavy work. Realizing that my work and all i have done in the company has little to contribute in achieving my goals of reaching final success.  We parted ways but I knew that 'stocks'  I would eventually bump on stocks again in the future.

 

Second-hand experience on Stock Market ( The When?? )

My girlfriend showed me an interesting story of how a maid (helper) in the Philippines invested in stock market. It was a very short story with very short pages but it made me realized an OPPORTUNITY on how to invest in a stock market.  I shared with my colleagues and the four of us eventually scheduled a seminar on Mandaluyong stock exchange.  

to be continued......