A 63-year-old senior citizen from Davao del Sur who has not experienced working in her life due to the responsibilities of taking care of her family claimed her P35.3 million Lotto 6/42 jackpot prize at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Main Office in Mandaluyong City this week.
In an interview with PCSO, the winner said that she only relies on the monthly pension of her late husband to be able to buy her everyday needs.
The winning numbers, drawn on Jan. 17, were not the ones she had always been betting on, she told PCSO.
"Ngayon ko lamang po tinaayan ang kumbinasyong ng mga numero na ito (It was my first time betting on this combination)," she said.
For her, miracles do happen to those in need, and she always prays to win the lottery in order to change the course of her life.
"Ako po ay nagpapasalamat una sa Panginoon sa biyayang ipinagkaloob sa akin at sa aking buong pamilya. Sa PCSO, maraming salamat at sana po ay marami pa kayong matulungang mga tao na umaasa sa inyo, maraming salamat po (First of all, I thank the Lord for the grace given to me and my entire family. To PCSO, thank you very much and I hope you will help many more people who depend on you, thank you very much)," she said.
She serves as a lector commentator at church every Sunday.
PCSO reminded the public that lotto prizes exceeding P10,000 are subject to a 20 percent tax under the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion Law.
"Under the PCSO charter, winnings should be claimed within one year from the date of draw, otherwise the same would be forfeited to form part of PCSO Charity Fund," it added.