Filipino returning expat claims $17m lottery pot
SOURCE: Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
COPYRIGHT: ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - The lone winner of the 741-million-pesos (US$16.9 million) grand lottery jackpot claimed his prize yesterday afternoon (December 9), according to Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chairman Margie Juico.
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SOURCE: Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
COPYRIGHT: ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) - The lone winner of the 741-million-pesos (US$16.9 million) grand lottery jackpot claimed his prize yesterday afternoon (December 9), according to Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chairman Margie Juico.
The winner, a 60-year-old building estimator and a 'balikbayan' or returning expatriate from New York, was accompanied by at least three relatives when he went to the PCSO Office at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City at around 3:30 p.m. to claim his prize.
Juico said the winner had requested that his prize be split into two checks.
Asked if the winner had worn a disguise, Juico said: �No. He actually looked very relaxed.
�He looked like he�s just a simple man, mukhang mabait at madasalin (like a good and prayerful man). But when he spoke, I noted that he had a twang. Then he said he�s a balikbayan, and that he and his family had just come home for a reunion."
Sentimental journey
The winner, a father of three, arrived in the country along with his family and siblings on Nov. 8.
�He said they were doing a sort of a sentimental journey," Juico said. �He said they went to Quezon province and he even prayed at the Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church in Lucban. But he said he did not particularly (pray to win) the lotto."
It took a week before the winner learned that he had won the biggest lotto jackpot in Philippine history, Juico said, adding:
�He said he just kept his ticket, unsigned. But when his family heard that the winner had placed his bet in Olongapo, which was also one of the places they had been to, they prodded him to get it and check if he had won.
�He was a bit lazy to do so at first. But when he found that he had won, he kept on shouting and thanking God.
�They were strolling in Subic and were about to leave when he thought of placing a bet. A woman even cut into his place in the queue. Maybe he would not have won if the woman didn�t cut in.
�I think it was only the second time that he placed a bet on lotto; the first time he did, he did not win. He said he bet P100 on �lucky pick� numbers."
The winner, who is scheduled to fly back to New York in a week, told Juico that he intended to leave his fortune in the Philippines.
�He said he plans to retire here," she said.
An 82-year-old woman had earlier gone to the PCSO office claiming that it was she who had won the Grand Lotto jackpot. But the winning ticket was stolen by her grandson who disappeared after the November 29 draw, she said.
Accompanied by a female relative, the elderly woman said the PCSO should not allow her grandson to claim the prize.
When asked if the balikbayan and the woman�s grandson were one and the same person, Juico replied in the negative.
She said the winner just smiled when she mentioned that somebody else was claiming his prize.
�I think he already heard about the old woman�s story even before I mentioned it to him," she said.
At the Subic Bay Freeport, a representative of the lotto outlet where the winning ticket was bought said the elderly woman�s claim of a stolen ticket was �far-fetched, but not surprising."
�It happens whenever there is a big jackpot to be won. And this is not different," said Sandra Ibanye, who represents the NS Garcia outlet.
Ibanye said PCSO officials had alerted the outlet owner and staff on the old woman�s claim.
She said they had received reports that the winner was either a resident of Zambales or a worker in the free port.
�Who knows, really? A lot of tourists come here and buy tickets from us," she said.
The outlet is located outside the Royal Subic Mall and has been enjoying brisk business since word of the winning ticket bought there circulated. With a report from Robert Gonzaga
Juico said the winner had requested that his prize be split into two checks.
Asked if the winner had worn a disguise, Juico said: �No. He actually looked very relaxed.
�He looked like he�s just a simple man, mukhang mabait at madasalin (like a good and prayerful man). But when he spoke, I noted that he had a twang. Then he said he�s a balikbayan, and that he and his family had just come home for a reunion."
Sentimental journey
The winner, a father of three, arrived in the country along with his family and siblings on Nov. 8.
�He said they were doing a sort of a sentimental journey," Juico said. �He said they went to Quezon province and he even prayed at the Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church in Lucban. But he said he did not particularly (pray to win) the lotto."
It took a week before the winner learned that he had won the biggest lotto jackpot in Philippine history, Juico said, adding:
�He said he just kept his ticket, unsigned. But when his family heard that the winner had placed his bet in Olongapo, which was also one of the places they had been to, they prodded him to get it and check if he had won.
�He was a bit lazy to do so at first. But when he found that he had won, he kept on shouting and thanking God.
�They were strolling in Subic and were about to leave when he thought of placing a bet. A woman even cut into his place in the queue. Maybe he would not have won if the woman didn�t cut in.
�I think it was only the second time that he placed a bet on lotto; the first time he did, he did not win. He said he bet P100 on �lucky pick� numbers."
The winner, who is scheduled to fly back to New York in a week, told Juico that he intended to leave his fortune in the Philippines.
�He said he plans to retire here," she said.
An 82-year-old woman had earlier gone to the PCSO office claiming that it was she who had won the Grand Lotto jackpot. But the winning ticket was stolen by her grandson who disappeared after the November 29 draw, she said.
Accompanied by a female relative, the elderly woman said the PCSO should not allow her grandson to claim the prize.
When asked if the balikbayan and the woman�s grandson were one and the same person, Juico replied in the negative.
She said the winner just smiled when she mentioned that somebody else was claiming his prize.
�I think he already heard about the old woman�s story even before I mentioned it to him," she said.
At the Subic Bay Freeport, a representative of the lotto outlet where the winning ticket was bought said the elderly woman�s claim of a stolen ticket was �far-fetched, but not surprising."
�It happens whenever there is a big jackpot to be won. And this is not different," said Sandra Ibanye, who represents the NS Garcia outlet.
Ibanye said PCSO officials had alerted the outlet owner and staff on the old woman�s claim.
She said they had received reports that the winner was either a resident of Zambales or a worker in the free port.
�Who knows, really? A lot of tourists come here and buy tickets from us," she said.
The outlet is located outside the Royal Subic Mall and has been enjoying brisk business since word of the winning ticket bought there circulated. With a report from Robert Gonzaga
