MANILA, Philippines – A father and son from San Pablo, Laguna, became instant millionaires after both of them won the MegaLotto jackpot prize drawn on February 27.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) released photos of the father and son receiving their winning jackpot prize at the PCSO office. The lucky winners will split the Mega Lotto 6/45 jackpot prize of 11,631,365.60.
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| A father and son from Laguna won the P11.6-million Mega Lotto jackpot prize | Photo Courtesy: PCSO |
While winning the lottery is like reaching for the stars, the father and son’s family could not believe their good fortune. According to the father, he and his son won because he placed his bet on the same combination twice and gave his son the other ticket. He even joked with his son that if the number wins, they will split the prize.
He said, “Meron akong pinuntahan sa may Plaza, tumaya ako ng 1pm tapos pagbalik ko sa sasakyan ko bandang 3pm, tumaya ulit ako ng parehong number. Paguwi ko sa bahay ibinigay ko sa kanya (pertaining to his son) sabi ko tig-isa tayo kapag tumama hati tayo.”
His son also explained that their winning combination of 25-4-11-35-15-09 included the birthdays and ages of their family members. He said, “Yun pong mga numbers na itinaya ng Daddy ko ay mga dates po ng mga birthdays po namin at age ko po, which is 35.”
The father, it turns out, has long believed that this year will be his lucky year, full of success and fortune. As a result, he kept betting on the lottery. Finally, his belief paid off when he won.
He said, “Sabi sa horoscope ko, ang 2023 daw ay year of abundance para sa lahat ng ipinanganak ng 1959; at malaki ang chance na yumaman ngayon taon kaya taya lang po ako ng taya ng lotto.”
When asked about their plans for their prize, the son admitted that they haven’t made up their minds yet. For now, they intend to just save it in the bank since his father and mother already have plans to go to Canada this April. He said they will start considering what to do with their prize once his parents come back.
Meanwhile, the father is extremely grateful to PCSO for the opportunity to become an instant millionaire. He revealed that he had been betting for 30 years before finally hitting the jackpot.
He said, “Salamat po sa PCSO, sa loob ng mahigit 30 years kong pagtaya ay ginawa nyo akong Milyonaryo tsaka naniniwala na ako ngayon na totoo pala na may nananalo ng jackpot, dati kasi may agam-agam ako pero heto na ako ngayon hawak ko na ang tseke na nagpapatunay na nanalo ako. Salamat sa ating Panginoon.”
The son admitted that he has been betting for 5 years, but he was skeptical that it was true. He can finally confirm that the PCSO lotto jackpot is real and not at all fake. Additionally, he urged non-believers to try and take their chances because winning could change their lives.
“Ako din mananaya din po ako ng lotto, siguro mga more than 5 years na pero sa totoo lang ako ay dudang-duda lalo na kapag lumalaki na ang jackpot. Iniisip ko po na kukunin lang ito ng mga pulitiko. Sorry for being frank, but the connotation is always like that kasi wala naman po akong kakilala na nanalo ng jackpot until such time na kami pala ni daddy ay mismong mabibiyayaan ng Diyos na manalo kaya panawagan ko po sa mga tao maniwala kayo sa lotto. Wala po itong daya at hindi po tayo niloloko ng PCSO kasi talagang may nananalo po ng jackpot at dalawa dun ay kami po ng Daddy ko,” he said.
The PCSO reminded that prizes worth more than P10,000 are subject to 20% tax, as stated in the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law.
— Sally, The Summit Express