MANILA, Philippines—Talk about a reversal of fortune.
A 57-year-old passenger jeepney driver who lost his home and belongings when Tropical Storm “Ondoy” struck the metropolis in 2009 won the 6/45 Megalotto jackpot prize of P23,585,160.60 in the March 21 draw.
Accompanied by his son, the lucky bettor from Cainta, Rizal, went Monday morning to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City to claim his prize.
According to PCSO General Manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas, the winner had placed a P20 bet on the winning combination of 12-14-18-19-32-34.
“Even [though] he and his family lost everything to Ondoy, he said he kept the faith and he always had this feeling that one day, he would bag the jackpot. And he did,” Rojas said.
He added that the man, who has two sons, was planning to use his newfound wealth to reunite his family and start life afresh.
Forced to work abroad
“He said they lost everything and his wife and daughter were forced to work overseas for the family to survive. “But now that he won, he said he would ask his family to come back home,” Rojas said.
The winner, the PCSO official told the Inquirer, was a regular bettor who always set aside a portion of his meager earnings to join the lottery.
Meanwhile, two other people became instant millionaires in Sunday’s draw.
2 winners
The PCSO said the two winners would split the Superlotto 6/49 jackpot prize of P76,874,533.20 after they both correctly guessed the lucky combination of 03-37-10-07-23-05.
One placed his bet in Iriga City, Camarines Sur, while the other was from BF Resort Village, Talon 3, in Las Piñas City.