I won, I won!
Published Feb 10, 2023 00:05 am
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Updated Feb 10, 2023 00:05 am
EDITORS DESK
ROBERT REQUINTINA
Do you believe in the lottery? I do!
Sometime in the 1990s, I almost won the P17 million jackpot in the lottery draw of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. I got five of six winning numbers, so I took home a ₱25,000 consolation prize.
Actually, I only found out I won two or three months later. I usually hide my ticket in a bag or cabinet and I just look at the result of the lottery whenever I can think of it. When I bet, I play the lucky pick, in which the computer will randomly generate the six numbers.
I claimed my consolation prize at the PCSO main office in Mandaluyong City. I even got lost going to PCSO. I used to think that the PCSO had moved to the PICC. It turns out that PCSO is located on Shaw Blvd. in Mandaluyong City.
Upon reaching the PCSO office, the security guard at the lobby told me that the prize can be claimed at the second floor. I saw the queue of people, mostly seniors, who were also going to get their prize. Fortunately, there were only a few people in line when I went there that afternoon. I was told that sometimes, many people claim their prize from PCSO.
The first queue is for ticket validation. I gave the ticket to the counter to find out if the ticket I am carrying is authentic. After my ticket was validated, I went to the second line for the interview. Someone just asked me, how many times I have won the lotto draw. I said just once. Then the PCSO employee asked for my identification cards.
After the interview, I was asked to wait for the release of my check. While waiting for my prize, I noticed the poster on the wall. “It is forbidden to give gifts.” I finally got my check. Thank you, Lord. I encashed the check at the bank located at the ground floor of the PCSO building. There I also met a couple who were claiming their consolation prize of ₱250,000. The amount of the consolation prize depends on the amount of the jackpot.
One of the first people I told about my lottery win was our former editor-in-chief, the late Ben Rodriguez. He also used to bet on the lottery. I told him that I almost hit the lotto jackpot. He smiled and congratulated me. Then he recalled his lottery experience. “I have won the consolation prize twice in the major draw.” Then he gave me a piece of advice: “Just a reminder, when you bet, don’t take it seriously. If not, you’ll go crazy.” I totally agree. We both laughed at our lotto experiences.
I still bet on the lotto but not as often as I used to. I’m not really a big bettor. I simply bet for fun. But who knows? Lady luck may smile at me, again! As the old adage goes, “be careful what you wish for, lest it comes true.”
(Robert R. Requintina is the Entertainment Editor of Manila Bulletin)
ROBERT REQUINTINA
Do you believe in the lottery? I do!
Sometime in the 1990s, I almost won the P17 million jackpot in the lottery draw of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. I got five of six winning numbers, so I took home a ₱25,000 consolation prize.
Actually, I only found out I won two or three months later. I usually hide my ticket in a bag or cabinet and I just look at the result of the lottery whenever I can think of it. When I bet, I play the lucky pick, in which the computer will randomly generate the six numbers.
I claimed my consolation prize at the PCSO main office in Mandaluyong City. I even got lost going to PCSO. I used to think that the PCSO had moved to the PICC. It turns out that PCSO is located on Shaw Blvd. in Mandaluyong City.
Upon reaching the PCSO office, the security guard at the lobby told me that the prize can be claimed at the second floor. I saw the queue of people, mostly seniors, who were also going to get their prize. Fortunately, there were only a few people in line when I went there that afternoon. I was told that sometimes, many people claim their prize from PCSO.
The first queue is for ticket validation. I gave the ticket to the counter to find out if the ticket I am carrying is authentic. After my ticket was validated, I went to the second line for the interview. Someone just asked me, how many times I have won the lotto draw. I said just once. Then the PCSO employee asked for my identification cards.
After the interview, I was asked to wait for the release of my check. While waiting for my prize, I noticed the poster on the wall. “It is forbidden to give gifts.” I finally got my check. Thank you, Lord. I encashed the check at the bank located at the ground floor of the PCSO building. There I also met a couple who were claiming their consolation prize of ₱250,000. The amount of the consolation prize depends on the amount of the jackpot.
One of the first people I told about my lottery win was our former editor-in-chief, the late Ben Rodriguez. He also used to bet on the lottery. I told him that I almost hit the lotto jackpot. He smiled and congratulated me. Then he recalled his lottery experience. “I have won the consolation prize twice in the major draw.” Then he gave me a piece of advice: “Just a reminder, when you bet, don’t take it seriously. If not, you’ll go crazy.” I totally agree. We both laughed at our lotto experiences.
I still bet on the lotto but not as often as I used to. I’m not really a big bettor. I simply bet for fun. But who knows? Lady luck may smile at me, again! As the old adage goes, “be careful what you wish for, lest it comes true.”
(Robert R. Requintina is the Entertainment Editor of Manila Bulletin)