The next day, she called the number written on the letter to confirm. The person on the other end called her back. She recalled having to catch her breath during the entire phone call. Then she broke into tears.
The winner lives with her parents, two siblings and a partner, and their children in a house wrecked by Yolanda in 2013.
She was staying with an aunt when the typhoon hit. When she went to their house the next day, she saw her family hiding under a table. “We lost everything, and we haven’t gotten around to fixing our house,” she said. They’ve only managed to put together a dwelling place using salvaged scraps of metal and pieces of wood.
With her prize, she can rebuild their house. She will also to use the money for her sister’s education and to start a farming and piggery business. The rest of the funds will go to her savings account.
She said she would heed the invaluable lessons offered by the man who has been successful not only in telecommunications but also in diverse businesses such as utilities, real estate, mining, infrastructure, healthcare, and consumer food products.
Pangilinan advised her to invest in ventures related to technology and food.
Hundreds of other lucky Smart subscribers have won brand-new smartphones, MVP Rewards points worth P2,500, and 25 GB data from previous draws which started in December. They come from all over the Philippines: Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Pangasinan in the north; Cebu, Iloilo, Leyte and Zamboanga in the south. Other winners are from Metro Manila, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, and Palawan.
“Being a Smart subscriber is rewarding in many ways,” remarked PLDT-Smart consumer marketing head Andrew L. Santos. “We want to thank our subscribers for their loyalty over the years. Congratulations to our big winner and everyone who took home amazing rewards!” he added.
For the grand prize winner who, only a few days earlier feared losing her job, the experience is life-changing.
