Down-on-her-luck mom wins P87M

Things have suddenly turned around for a 44-year-old single mother who is deep in debt after she hit last Thursday’s Lotto 6/49 jackpot.

The woman, who is also caring for a sick parent, won P87 million tax free, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) announced Monday.

In a text message to reporters, PCSO general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II said the woman was overjoyed as she claimed her winnings on Monday morning. The timing could not have been more perfect, Rojas quoted the woman as saying.

“My lotto win is perfect timing because [my family] is [going through] tough times,” the woman told Rojas. “I am in deep debt with loan sharks.”

Besides being a single mother, the woman also cares for her sick mother. Two years ago, she availed of her company’s early retirement plan and used her retirement pay to start a buy-and-sell business.

Unfortunately, the endeavor failed leading to bankruptcy, Rojas said.

The woman told Rojas she intended to give a portion of her winnings to a relative, continue to take care of her sick mother and pay off her debts. She also wants to buy a house for her family.

She said she had been playing lotto since 1996. As for the winning combination, 3-6-14-32-48-49, she said it was a Lucky Pick.