I'm The King of Business & Technology in the Modern World

March 2022.

Matthew Borja had become the primary target of the political establishment. Not that he cared.

For months now, his endorsement of Vice President Regina Velasco had thrown the opposition into chaos. Instead of focusing on policy, campaign strategy, or even direct attacks on Velasco, they had fixated on him. Every press release, every televised debate, and every Senate hearing had somehow turned into a spectacle about his wealth, his company, and the supposed threat he posed to democracy.

And yet, Sentinel Systems continued to thrive.

Inside his office at Sentinel Systems HQ, Matthew sat with Angel, scrolling through the latest political headlines. The attacks had reached a new level of absurdity.

Breaking News.

"Senators Call for Emergency Hearing on Matthew Borja's Business Dealings!"

"Did Sentinel Systems Violate Antitrust Laws? Lawmakers Demand Answers!"

"Is Matthew Borja Too Powerful? Politicians Express Concern Over Tech Monopoly!

Angel scoffed and tossed her tablet onto the desk. "Monopoly? That's the best they've got?"

Matthew smirked, leaning back in his chair. "They're just throwing buzzwords at the wall, hoping something sticks."

She scrolled further. The accusations had taken a predictable turn, now centered around the idea that no one could amass wealth so quickly without corruption.

"Borja is a billionaire, but what has he REALLY done for the country? Why should we trust a man who only cares about profit? We need LEADERS, not ELITISTS!"

Matthew chuckled, shaking his head. "Funny, coming from a camp that treats Emilio Vargas like he's a king despite never working a real job in his life."

Angel scrolled further, then grimaced. "Oh, and look at this one. They've really gone all in."

She played a televised interview featuring Senator Rodrigo Valera, one of Vargas' most vocal allies.

Live Interview – Senator Rodrigo Valera.

"Matthew Borja is an unelected billionaire who has somehow managed to gain control over the country's digital infrastructure. We cannot allow one man to have that much unchecked power. It is dangerous to democracy!"

Matthew nearly rolled his eyes. "Unchecked power? My company sells software, not nuclear weapons."

Angel smirked. "Oh, but wait—it gets better."

She tapped her tablet, playing another segment from Senator Eduardo Salazar, who stood at the Senate floor, dramatically gripping a stack of papers as if he had just uncovered a grand conspiracy.

Senate Hearing – Senator Eduardo Salazar

"Borja's Sentinel OS is used by government agencies, corporations, and even hospitals. What if he decides to shut everything down? What if he holds the country hostage? This is why we need to investigate the full extent of his power!"

Matthew let out a short laugh. "They think I have a 'shutdown Philippines' button sitting on my desk?"

Angel sighed. "Apparently, yes."

Matthew took a sip of coffee. "They really have no idea how technology works, do they?"

"They don't care," Angel said. "They're not interested in facts. They just want to scare people into believing you're some kind of digital emperor."

A thought crossed Matthew's mind. If they wanted to paint him as some all-powerful villain, he might as well lean into it. He pulled up his social media dashboard and typed out a response.

Matthew Borja – Official Statement

"It has come to my attention that certain senators believe I have the power to 'shut down the country' at the press of a button. If that were true, I would have already used it to delete all their nonsense from the internet."

"To clarify: Sentinel OS is a commercially available system, not a dictatorship tool. We create technology. We don't control people. If certain politicians are afraid of innovation, maybe they should take a refresher course on how computers actually work."

Angel burst into laughter. "Oh, this is going to go viral."

And it did.

Within minutes, social media exploded.

"Borja really just clowned half the Senate in one post."

"I want to see their faces when they read this."

"So the Senate's biggest fear is that Borja has an imaginary 'off switch' for the country? Pathetic."

Even tech analysts began weighing in.

"These senators are proving they don't understand the basic function of an OS. That should concern everyone more than Borja's wealth."

"If Sentinel OS was so dangerous, why are these same politicians still using it?"

Meanwhile, the opposition camp scrambled to recover from the PR disaster.

Senator Salazar – Emergency Press Conference.

"Borja is MOCKING the democratic process! This is not a joke! The power he holds is a direct threat to national security!"

Matthew exhaled through his nose, unimpressed. "They can't take a joke, can they?"

Angel smirked. "Nope. But they sure can make themselves look ridiculous."

The Senate Hearing: A Waste of Time

A few days later, the Senate finally held its 'investigation' into Matthew's company.

It was nothing more than a political spectacle.

The opposing senators took turns grilling Sentinel Systems' legal representatives, but the entire proceeding bordered on embarrassing.

Senator Valera:

"Does Sentinel Systems hold user data that could be used against the Filipino people?"

Sentinel Legal Representative:

"All user data is encrypted and cannot be accessed by Sentinel. This information is already public record."

Senator Salazar:

"Can Matthew Borja directly control Sentinel OS to shut down the country's economy?"

Sentinel Legal Representative:

"No. That is a conspiracy theory."

Senator Arceo:

"If Sentinel OS is so powerful, shouldn't it be under government control?"

Sentinel Legal Representative:

"Are you suggesting that the government should seize private companies?"

The hearing accomplished nothing. Every attempt to paint Sentinel Systems as a corrupt entity was debunked in seconds.

Even neutral news outlets began criticizing the spectacle.

"Senators are wasting taxpayer money on a baseless witch hunt."

"Borja remains untouched after weak Senate hearing."

"Velasco's opponents have spent months attacking Borja, while she continues rising in the polls."

Angel glanced at Matthew. "This was supposed to hurt you, but all they did was make themselves look like fools."

Matthew chuckled. "Let them keep focusing on me. It keeps Velasco's path clear."

Meanwhile, Velasco's campaign thrived.

While the opposition wasted time obsessing over Borja, Regina Velasco continued gaining momentum.

Her latest campaign ad subtly mocked the entire situation.

"The Philippines doesn't need leaders who chase conspiracy theories. It needs leaders who focus on real solutions. Technology, innovation, and economic growth—that's what I stand for. Let's move forward, not backward."

The response was overwhelming.

"Velasco is the only serious candidate. The rest are just screaming about Borja."

"Vargas' people wasted MONTHS attacking Borja, and for what? Velasco is WINNING."

Angel smirked. "You played them perfectly."

Matthew took a sip of coffee, completely at ease.

"I told you, Angel. Let them focus on me. While they do, Velasco wins."