It took “Pasko Sa Enero” first-prize winner Luisito Vallo five hours to travel from Calasiao, Pangasinan to Starbucks Molito, Alabang to claim his P10,000 cash and a big bagful of goodies last Sunday morning and another five hours to go back home. But Vallo, a librarian in the municipal government, said the experience was worth the trip.
Vallo, 50, joined 18 other winners in the awarding of prizes that was capped by a raffle and an open-house treat at Starbucks. The only winner who couldn’t attend was Zyrenn Irigayen from Tuguegarao, Cagayan. He couldn’t find a representative to pick up his P3,000 cash and a bagful of presents. The cash has been sent to Irigayen by GCash and the bag by delivery.
Vallo said he first joined our annual Christmas contest in 2019. He’s a big PBA fan who idolizes Robert Jaworski and Terrence Romeo. For “Pasko Sa Enero” in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission, he correctly answered the three questions – Arvin Tolentino as the PBA Commissioner’s Cup top local scorer; $1 million as EASL’s first prize for the current home-and-away inaugural season and Scottie Thompson and Jordan Clarkson as Arena Plus’ endorsers. In the essay question asking his choice for the next Gilas coach and why, Vallo didn’t name anyone and instead, described what type of coach the national team needs, leaving the selection to SBP. He said the next national coach should serve for at least a four-year term so there is continuity with a long-term program in place.
Several winners came from outside Metro Manila – Cavite, Quezon, Bulacan, Pampanga, Laguna, Bataan and Pangasinan. One winner Raymond Bustamante is an OFW based in Saudi Arabia and was represented by his nephew Shawn. Another winner coach Kalvin Sangalang was in Laoag working as NBTC North Luzon Regional Championship commissioner and his wife Joanna came in his place. Everyone went home happy. We held a surprise raffle as a bonus and gave away a Molten official leather basketball, Boston Celtics T-shirt, Asics backpack and more. The Starbucks treat is now a tradition and we nearly cleaned out the food shelves.
Aside from giving away cash and prizes to the 20 winners, we will also donate P10,000 each to St. Jerome Emiliani and Sta. Susana Parish in Alabang, Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Cupang and Padre Pio Shrine in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. Additionally, we’re scheduled to deliver a cartload of goodies to Casa Miani San Jose orphanage today.
This contest wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our generous and kind donors – Philippine Sports Commission P50,000; PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan P20,000; sportsman Hermie Esguerra P20,000; Terrafirma P15,000; NorthPort P15,000; NLEX P10,000; TNT P10,000; POC president Mayor Bambol Tolentino (50 grocery packs); Rain or Shine (caps, shirts, umbrellas, tumblers); Phoenix (coffee press pots, jerseys); Ever Bilena (body spray, whitening papaya soap, green papaya soap, white sheet mask); Akari (UAAP-themed rechargeable 8-inch fans and handyfans); San Miguel Corp. (canned corned beef, Essenso coffee, sugar-free San Mig Coffee); San Miguel Foundation (San Mig Coffee); Metro Pacific (travel trolleys, laptop bags); Makati Medical Center (candy/biscuit/toy packs); Alagang Kapatid Foundation (sanitizer packets); Meralco (sling bags, flashlights, caps, T-shirts); PLDT/Smart (portable speakers); Carmen’s Best ice cream (15 gift certificates of P2,000 each); Sonak Corp. (basketballs, Asics backpacks, tumblers, phoneholders, cardholders, FIBA World Cup knapsacks, pens); SBP (tumblers, FIBA World Cup towels, pens, basketball uniforms, basketballs); Converge (basketball, smart cups, caps, shirts); Magnolia (four boxes of chicken pangsahog and 100 T-shirts) and PBA (portable speakers, basketballs, PBA annuals). Special thanks to PSC chairman Dicky Bachmann, Sir MVP, Mr. Esguerra, Terrafirma PBA vice chairman Bobby Rosales, Mayor Tolentino, San Miguel Corp. sports director Alfrancis Chua and SMC vice president Mary Jane Llanes, Ever Bilena CEO Dioceldo Sy, NorthPort PBA governor Erick Arejola, NLEX PBA governor Ronald Dulatre, SBP president Al Panlilio, executive director Erika Dy and operations officer Xander Gubat, Phoenix PBA treasurer Atty. Raymond Zorrilla and team manager Paolo Bugia, SMC vice president Kin Lichauco, PLDT executive assistant Abet Dungo, TNT PBA chairman Ricky Vargas and team manager Jojo Lastimosa, Meralco PBA governor Atty. Bill Pamintuan, team manager Paolo Trillo and head coach Luigi Trillo, Converge PBA alternate governor CK Kanapi, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, Sonak Corp. CEO Anil Buxani, Rain or Shine PBA governor Atty. Mamerto Mondragon, Akari’s Chris Tiu and Alvin Avendano and Magnolia PBA governor Rene Pardo and media liaison Reena del Mundo.