Lotto winner shares blessings with neighbors

It was like fiesta in a barangay in San Mateo, Rizal yesterday as a P22-million lotto winner distributed packages of rice and goodies to his neighbors.

Residents started lining up in front the house of the lotto winner on Gen. Luna street in Barangay Gitnang Bayan at 8 a.m. to get their share of three kilos of rice and assorted canned goods.

"Parang piyesta dito. Nagsiksikan sa pila ang mga tao at nagkaroon pa ng konting trapik sa lugar (It’s like fiesta here. The people jostled each other in the line and there was a quite a traffic jam)," a local policeman told The STAR.

The lotto winner, a lugaw (porridge) vendor, refused to talk to reporters. His neighbors also declined to reveal his name.

His parents said their son placed a bet on the number combination of 5-15-23-38-39-42 in the May 5 mega lotto draw with a jackpot prize of P22,313,613.

The next day, the lotto winner learned that he won in the lotto draw from Ang Pilipino Star Ngayon, a sister-publication of The Philippine STAR.

He and his family immediately collected his winnings at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in Quezon City.

The lotto winner’s mother said the gifts were their family’s way of sharing their blessings with their poor neighbors. "Gusto naming pasalamatan ang Diyos sa blessings na natanggap naming kaya’t pinamahaginan rin namin ang mga kapitbahay namin (We want to thank God for our blessings so we shared with our neighbors)," she said.

The family decided to give out packages of rice and goodies instead of cash, saying the money could be spent for unnecessary things.

To make sure that those who already received their packages would not come back for another, the lotto winner’s family marked their fingernails with ink.

The winner’s mother said they used to earn only P400 to P600 in their lugaw business.

When asked how they would spend their millions, she said their priority is to have their old house remodeled. "Magnenegosyo rin kami (We will also put up a business)," she said but could not say what business they will put up. "Basta ang perang ito ay malaking maitutulong sa aming pamilya at mga kamag-anak (This money will certainly help our family and our relatives a lot)."

The San Mateo police estimated the crowd in front of the lotto winner’s house to be between 400 and 450.

"Masaya ang lahat sa amin dito ngayon, karamihan nakangiti (All of us are happy here; many are smiling)," a policeman said.