A meaningful Christmas for a prudent instant multimillionaire
Christmas this year is going to be a merry one for a working mother from Bukidnon, who recently won the BingoPlus Mega Jackpot of P154,148,662.
But instead of throwing a fabulous party, she’d rather keep the celebration simple yet full of meaning and gratitude.
The decision to be prudent and wise in spending her prize money—tax free and a lump sum—came after receiving a free financial literacy coaching session. It was part of the campaign for responsible gaming initiated by the people running the 24/7 online bingo platform, which is operated by the digital gaming company DigiPlus.
“I learned that I should think carefully about how to manage my winnings,” she told Lifestyle in Filipino after the awarding ceremony held on Nov. 25 at a hotel in Manila City. She was given the oversized presentation check by DigiPlus president Andy Tsui.
The instant multimillionaire—let’s call her “Maria”—said she has come up with a few plans. For one, she wants to put up a business, perhaps her dream dress shop, but it has to wait for now.
“I’m still thinking about it,” she said. “I shouldn’t rush things.”
She laughed softly when asked if she has suddenly gained a lot of relatives and friends. Thankfully, she was also taught in the coaching session on how to handle giving out balato (share of the fortune).
Her priority is her close family members, she said, as it’s always been her goal to be of help to them. She also expressed her determination to secure the future of her child.
Life before winning
Maria grew up in a farming area in northern Mindanao. She and her three siblings helped their parents plant crops like sweet potato and corn. She then had her own family and found a job in a company dealing with crude oil and construction.
She discovered BingoPlus through a coworker, who had a good experience playing the online version of the game of chance commonly played in neighborhoods. She immediately downloaded the app and found it easy to play.
“I felt relaxed while playing,” she said. “I just kept in mind that if I win, of course, I’d be happy. But if I lose, it’s still okay. I only played if I had extra money and during my break at work.”
One day, while on a break, she thought of playing her usual BingoPlus game. She recalled that she was wearing a green shirt she bought from an ukay-ukay (secondhand) outlet. She was down to the last P300 she had allotted for her pastime and thought it would be her last game for the day when she finally hit the jackpot.
“I was happy and nervous at the same time,” she said on how she felt that very moment she learned she had won P154,148,662. “I cried. The first person I shared the good news with was my eldest sister.”
Maria then let the secret out to some coworkers who were with her at that time. “Because they were wondering why I was crying and looked pale.”
Looking back now, she said luck played a big part in her winning the jackpot. “If it’s your time to win, you will really win. There were times when I felt I would never win the jackpot.”
She then gave this piece of advice: “Don’t give up, but always remember to play responsibly. Stop when you don’t have extra money for it.”
Maria said she understands that the big blessing God has given her also means having a big responsibility. That’s why she also intends to extend help to the needy, maybe through a foundation.
