(If you want a quick guide for beginners how to start investing in the Philippine stock market, you can download yourfree ebook here.)
This blog is a little more special for me.
Because this tells the very first purchase I had in the stock market.
Yes, that was the time when I was just a little kid wandering in a wide vast field.
Just like starting anew in anything, my clueless personality made all the moves for me.
All I had to hold on was my mustard dream of financial freedom and the belief that stock investing can be a path for that dream. I managed to cut the chase, and applied for an account.
Philstocks was my first online broker, precisely because they required only 5000 initial deposit to actually start trading. (But now I discovered that you can start opening your trading account just by opening a bank account, like in the case of brokers BPI Trade and FirstMetroSec).
Minimum investment required was 5000, but I put down 10k just to put a front that I have more than that WHAHA. The lady in charge gracefully accepted it after examining my forms, then handed me a receipt, which was also the highest-valued receipt I received ever since.
With my humble 10k initial investment, I was too excited to buy a company share and brand myself a part-owner of a giant company. Hard-core traders would laugh on me for that, but I was already more than happy just giving it a try. 🙂
My First Buy in Philippine Stock Market
The moment I received my online trading account details via an email, I made my first buy order.
And my first stock purchase: 2000 shares of Megaworld Corporation (stock symbol MEG) at 1.87 per share. Wheee!
Buying something you cannot touch
I actually got the hint of buying MEG from a professor who’s teaching in our board exam review. He was also one of those angels sent down from heaven who introduced stock investing to me. Recollecting, when the class becomes bored with chemical principles and unit operations stuff, he would start cracking some jokes, and then afterwards would invite us to try investing. He advised us to experiment with MEG. His jokes served its purpose, (he’s actually the first to laugh out even before delivering the punchline!), but I got more curious and gravitated to his stocks stories.
I knew very little back then, I was not even aware that MEG is a real estate developer company. Haha. Whenever I heard of that, Sharon Cuneta entered my mind, you know, the local MEGastar. Booboo!
But who cares? When I posted it online, my computer screen didn’t ask me anyway!
And when it got matched, my heart jumped with joy. I went back to work, but I smilingly secretly applauded myself.
Deep inside I was telling myself “omeng, you hardy spend 500 pesos for a purchase, and here you are spending 3.7k for something you can’t even touch!” Whaha!
My First Taste of Gain
That was August 31 2010, a different Tuesday for me.
Two days after, I checked my account online, and BANG! I saw little profits sneaking out!
Just a few hundred bucks actually, but what really amazed me was the idea of earning without working.
I imagined and contemplated – “so this is it!” I was starting to count the chickens.
Too excited for my first ever profit, I posted a sell off-hour (after trading hours) order at 2.05 per share that afternoon, and was hit the next morning.
I did the math, ‘twas more than 200 pesos gain just for three days. Hmm, not bad.
I don’t think I can spot the same by whole-day roaming along the busy streets of Metro Manila.
I just keep learning
Fast-forward, after few years, now I’m still learning, and… earning.
The years that passed has also turned my investment into millions.
Of course I am also seeing losses in my portfolio. And it breaks my pocket heart seeing red marks in it. But as with any strong-spirited baby would reason out, those are only paper losses to be realized only if I actually sell. My money there need not be taken out soon so I’ll just keep it that way while I’m still figuring out the next right thing to do. By doing so, I’m also aware that I waste other opportunities present out there which could make my money work more productively.
Such a long way to go!
But surely with each new experience every trading day, time will come when my ego would not be that costly anymore. In the meantime, I’ll just let my money be carried away by the constant market waves, and catch the fishes it brings back from time to time.
hi Sir, I would like to know how you registered at COL Financial? Do you submit your documents personally? In my case po kasi, I do have a work, and I cannot commit to have my leave just to submit the documents required. Thanks alot
Hi Jenwel, COL Financial’s ,messenger can come to your office if it’s just within Metro Manila. call them and set a schedule for application doc pick up. Download forms is available here – http://smartpinoyinvestor.com/forms
jake October 28, 2016
Thank you po sa magandang story… I’ve been thinking on investing in stock market… Just want to ask 1 question sir, May short term investment ba sa 5,000?
Hi Jake, You can start trading even with 5k but with that small capital, it will be more difficult to gain due to charges/fees involved. Other lessons available here.
Hi sir! Wow, nakakainspire po mag-invest. I wanted to cry while reading this…May account na po ako sa BPI kaso hindi ko na nach-check. Sana ay open pa yun. Thank you for sharing!
Hello, i would like to asked some questions and financial advises if it’s okay. i want to invest in COL Financial but i dont have any background about stocks nor investments. hence, i am confuse if i will push through or not.
Hi Po pagmagfufund po ba ng account is after i have sent my requirements sa COL or I need to deposit na po and then attached the deposit slip at my requirements sabay sa padala ko po??or by email nlang po yong deposit slip,scanned copy po eemail ko??
Omeng Tawid March 4, 2015
@Yesn, you deposit only after receiving an email from COL Financial. They will email your with your account details once your account is ready for funding.
sir omeng, un bang “buy below specific price” at “sell on specific price” eh san makikita? feature ba sya ng trading platform (col/bpi/etc.) ?
sir omeng, aside from trading, meron ka ba other source of income or employed?
Omeng Tawid March 4, 2015
Mr. A, COL Financial releases period reports which contains stocks and their target prices. BPI Trade and First Metro Sec also has similar services to clients.
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Want to learn about it and soon invest
hi Sir, I would like to know how you registered at COL Financial? Do you submit your documents personally? In my case po kasi, I do have a work, and I cannot commit to have my leave just to submit the documents required. Thanks alot
Hi Jenwel, COL Financial’s ,messenger can come to your office if it’s just within Metro Manila. call them and set a schedule for application doc pick up.
Download forms is available here – http://smartpinoyinvestor.com/forms
Thank you po sa magandang story…
I’ve been thinking on investing in stock market…
Just want to ask 1 question sir, May short term investment ba sa 5,000?
Hi Jake, You can start trading even with 5k but with that small capital, it will be more difficult to gain due to charges/fees involved.
Other lessons available here.
Hi sir! Wow, nakakainspire po mag-invest. I wanted to cry while reading this…May account na po ako sa BPI kaso hindi ko na nach-check. Sana ay open pa yun. Thank you for sharing!
Hope you have active account now. 🙂
Hello,
i would like to asked some questions and financial advises if it’s okay. i want to invest in COL Financial but i dont have any background about stocks nor investments. hence, i am confuse if i will push through or not.
Thanks,
Kat
Yes Kat, that is still possible. check your guide here – How to Start Investing in Philippines Stock Market.
Hi Po pagmagfufund po ba ng account is after i have sent my requirements sa COL or I need to deposit na po and then attached the deposit slip at my requirements sabay sa padala ko po??or by email nlang po yong deposit slip,scanned copy po eemail ko??
@Yesn, you deposit only after receiving an email from COL Financial. They will email your with your account details once your account is ready for funding.
sir omeng, un bang “buy below specific price” at “sell on specific price” eh san makikita? feature ba sya ng trading platform (col/bpi/etc.) ?
sir omeng, aside from trading, meron ka ba other source of income or employed?
Mr. A, COL Financial releases period reports which contains stocks and their target prices. BPI Trade and First Metro Sec also has similar services to clients.
My other sources of income primarily come from the internet – https://www.smartpinoyinvestor.com/omg