MANILA, Philippines - A 76-year-old resident of Southern Leyte claimed Wednesday his share of the Sept. 12 Grand Lotto 6/55 jackpot worth R299.7 million, saying that "God answers prayers."
His co-winner of the P299,897,496 bonanza, a jeepney driver, 52, of Bataan, received his equal share of P149,952,898 a day after the draw.
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chairperson Margarita P. Juico said she hopes that lotto winners would spend their winnings for good deeds.
"I hope the winners realize that this blessing should be used for good deeds as this comes from God. If (they) can win, anybody can be as fortunate," she said.
Juico said the PCSO is thanking buyers of lotto tickets for contributing to the agency's Charity Fund (30 percent of every peso bet).
"They are helping save lives," she said.
PCSO General Manager Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II said the two lucky punters both matched with their bets the winning combination of 25-52-26-05-49-17 that carried the prize of R299,897,496.
He said the Southern Leyte bettor had R120 worth of bets for five combinations, with his winning numbers from family birthdays and others he selected randomly.
Rojas learned from the Southern Leyte winner, a government retiree, that he is a religious person.
"He has been praying hard to win in the lotto games because he wanted to help out-of-school children and youths in his place," the PCSO official said.
When he claimed his winnings, the lucky bettor advised PCSO personnel he came in contact with to also pray for their good luck.
