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Landing P249-M lotto jackpot takes practice

By Beverly T. Natividad

MANILA, Philippines -- It may be a game of chance but to bag the biggest lotto prize money in the country's history still took strategy, and probably a lot of practice.

The lone winner of the P249-million Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) lotto jackpot two weeks ago made mini-lotto balls and simulated his own draw of the 6/49 game and then bet on the numbers that came out, said PCSO spokesperson Larry Cedro.

Based on the agency's profile report, the laborer from Quezon City, improvised his own lotto draw several times to make sure he got a good chance at hitting a winning combination.

Cedro said he placed six bets in one day, in one outlet, and eventually won the P249,005,120.40 jackpot last March 30. He beat the odds of one in 13 million with his winning combination 47-32-1-46-15-29.

The lone winner of the P249 million jackpot prize already claimed his money Wednesday morning at the PCSO office in Quezon City, after about two weeks of wait.

For security reasons, the PCSO withheld the name of the claimant, saying only that he is a 63 year-old construction worker from Quezon City.

Cedro said the big lotto winner watched the March 30 draw and had known for several days that he hit the multi-million-peso jackpot but had apprehensions on claiming his prize right away.

He said he visited the PCSO office several times last week to check the agency but, concerned about his safety, decided not come out in the open due to the presence of many media men in the area.

Cedro said the winner, who was a habitual bettor of the superlotto, was planning to use part of his huge prize money to build a house for his family and then stash the rest of his winnings at the bank for safekeeping.

(Reprinted from Inq.net)