Call center OFW wins in UAE draw, donates to church

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A 44-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Bacolod City working as a call center executive for a major bank here has won AED100,000 – the equivalent of P1.56 million – in what she said was an early gift for her upcoming birthday happening a week from now.

Jennifer said she also plans to procure a second delivery truck for her brother, who’s running a logistics company in Bacolod City; donate to her church; and finish off the remaining two years of her condo down payment.

“I am so happy, blessed and grateful,” Jennifer, a commerce graduate from University of St. La Salle, told GMA News Online. “It’s great to have financial freedom. Mahirap din kitain ang pera. Hindi naman tayo laging andito. Yung 'pag uuwi ka na sa Pilipinas for good ay at least may monthly income ka.”

(It’s great to have financial freedom. It’s not easy to earn money. We won’t always be working abroad. It’s good to have a monthly income when you finally settle down back home for good.)

Jennifer, the second of three siblings and the only daughter, said the first thing she’ll do is donate 10%, or AED10,000 of the money, to her church – AED5,000 to the Filipino Christian Church in Sharjah, a neighboring city where she lives; and the peso equivalent of the other AED5,000 to the First Bethany Church in Bacolod.

She added that as she already has one truck with her brother running a logistics company, “I plan to add one more as an investment.”

“May condo na rin akong binabayaran for the past three years. I’m thinking of finishing off the (five-year) down payment [I have been paying my condo unit’s down payment for the past three years. I am thinking of finishing off the remaining two years],” she said.

Another OFW has also won – an engineer who said he will likewise invest his money and donate to charity.

Meanwhile, Jennifer, who arrived in Dubai on Dec. 7, 2012, had previously worked also as a call center officer at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), an independent Dubai government agency. She was also working at a call center company in the Philippines before she went abroad.

Jennifer said she has regularly been participating in the Mahzooz draw for the past two years.

“I was not expecting this (win). I never feel like I'm wasting money because the AED35 I pay to purchase a bottle of Mahzooz water goes to a worthwhile cause. Mahzooz has helped me today just as much as I like helping others." 

Other winners

Two others have won AED100,000 each in the same draw, which was held last Saturday – another OFW, and an expat from India.

Among them was 40-year-old Eleuterio, who also told GMA News Online he’ll donate part of his win – 20% of it – to charity. Another 20%, he said, will go to his wife to spend for the family.

“Sixty percent will go to my stock market investment,” Eleuterio, who hails from Leyte, said.

“Sobrang saya ko po. Kasi may pina-process po kami na application this time, at kailangan namin ng malaking halaga. 'Yun nga, ibinigay ng Panginoon sa tamang  panahon,” Eleuterio said.

(I am so overwhelmed with joy. We are processing something and we needed a huge amount. God gives his blessings in due time, indeed.)

Eleuterio, who lives with his wife and two young daughters in Dubai, arrived in the city four years ago following 11 years in Saudi Arabia as a manufacturing engineer. 

Having put in a total of 15 years working abroad, and his win, Eleuterio said it may still take more time before he finally considers going home for good.

“Ang pera ay mabilis lang maubos. Continue pa rin ako sa pag-work, kasi maliliit pa 'yung dalawang mga anak ko – 12 at eight years old. The right time will come, na mag-for good na ako,” he said.

(Money can be gone fast. I will continue working because my two girls are still young – 12 and eight. The right time will come for me to return home for good.)

Eleuterio, who works at a prestigious air conditioning manufacturing company, was out grocery shopping with his wife during the Super Saturday draws. He learned of his win from friends.

He has been taking part in Mahzooz draws every week, so he was undoubtedly taken aback upon learning he had won.

Eleuterio had previously won smaller prizes.

The third winner, Mary, is an Indian expat who shares Jennifer's altruistic nature, and participates consistently in Mahzooz to give back to charity. A 43-year-old accountant who has lived in the UAE from the age of 13, she has participated in Mahzooz only 10 times.

Nevertheless, she was lucky the 10th time around. Mary will set aside a portion of her prize money for her daughter's higher education, and she would be giving some to charity. She wants to treat her friends to a special meal to celebrate her win, too.

Two other Filipinos won AED100,000 each last month – a single mother working as a chef, and an accountant.

Participating in Mahzooz is easy as all the entrants must do is register via www.mahzooz.ae and purchase a bottle of water for AED 35. Every bottle of water purchased is channeled through Mahzooz’s community partners for a cause. —KBK/KG, GMA Integrated News