Terry Cua: Big Deal

A legal management graduate of San Sebastian College and bank employee, Kapamilya Deal or No Deal’s first P2-M winner Terry Cua, 22, still can’t believe he has actually won that much. All he remembers is a fateful hot morning he lined up for the qualifying exam and failed to eat lunch just to stay on queue.

"It’s still unbelievable," he says. "It was my first time to join any game show and soak myself in the sun just to get through. I expected nothing and got home a millionaire."

Unlike other game show contestants who are more than willing to take home any amount greater than what they already have in their wallets, Terry was determined that it’s P2-M or nothing for him. He narrates, "No one in my family knew what I was doing that day. Kaya matapang ako na gusto kong iuwi ang isang bagay na hindi pa nakukuha ng kahit sino." He even adds that in the event he does not take home anything, he would still have the chance to tell his parents "I blew my chance."

He called up his college friends to accompany him and nervously took his cab ride to the studio on his taping day. After his novena and a sign he should choose briefcase No. 8 instead of nine (his favorite number), all he was worried about was the right things to say. He was even more conscious he might say something wrong and highly irrelevant that he would embarrass himself than he might choose a wrong briefcase. He adds, "Isang bote ng beer ang katapat. Pampalakas ba ng loob."

So after queuing under the sun for a long time, Terry has realized that what he took home was truly worth more than that.

"Bayad utang," a very straightforward answer he gave when asked where he would spend his money on. Due to his respect and love for his parents, instead of thinking of his own future, Terry has decided he would pay his retired parents’ debts first. That, for him, is more important than any luxury a young and unmarried guy can think of. He further says that if he would only think of himself, his salary as a bank employee would be enough for him to get through every day.

But the Lord surely knows the needs of his family. He knows it’s his parents’ obligations that he should fulfill first before anything else. If there would still be any amount left, that would go to time deposit until he thinks of something to invest on.

After winning P2-M on national primetime TV, Terry tells that nothing much has changed in his life. They still eat the same food, wear the same clothes, and live in the same house. His mom advised him to permanently take a cab wherever he goes since people already recognize him. But he says he still rides the jeepney, walks along his neighborhood’s streets and only very few people recognize him. Just his bank clients who found out that their bank accounts are handled by an instant millionaire and a woman who saw him walking along 168 Mall in Divisoria and had the guts to pull his shirt and announce to the world he was the guy who won P2-M. Aside from that, he does not get weird stares from strangers and life stayed pretty much the same.

Although he has gotten so lucky overnight, he sticks to his principle and concludes, "It’s just a game. It’s not supposed to change you in any way."