Pinoy frontliner in Abu Dhabi wins P1.37M in UAE draw

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A 53-year-old Zamboangueño working as an Abu Dhabi Emergency Medical Service (EMS) staff has won AED100,000 – the equivalent of P1.37 million – in the latest raffle draw here that’s fast becoming popular in the Filipino community as 18 Pinoys have so far won big in just five months.

“Hannibal,” not his real name, was among 10 lucky participants, including five other overseas Filipino worker (OFWs), who matched five out of the six winning numbers (3, 6, 9, 11, 23 and 43) for the AED1 million prize and took home AED 100,000 each.

“First time kong nanalo ng ganito,” Hannibal, who said he has been trying his luck on raffle draws since college, told GMA News Online.

“Ever since ay naglalaro na ako, lotto pa nga sa Pilipinas,” the OFW, who has been in the UAE for the past 15 years, said.

“Ito na ang pinakamalaki kong nakuha. Na-miss ko lang yung isa pang number. Kung nakuha ko lahat eh, bye-bye na talaga,” Hannibal said, referring to finally going home for good. Matching all six digits would have meant AED1 million.

Hannibal said he had previously won thrice at the raffle draw – “pero balik-taya lang,” he said, meaning he merely got back the AED35 he spent placing a combination.

Hannibal, whose job includes facilitating the transport of COVID patients to hospitals during the height of the pandemic last year, said he will use the money to help secure his younger children’s education.

“I-secure ko education ng mga bata,” he said. He has four kids, two of whom are already grown-ups and employed back home. His youngest is seven years old.

The other OFW winner, meantime, was “Nelson,” 44, also Abu Dhabi-based and working as maintenance supervisor, who said the prize can help in his plans to bring his family to the UAE.

“Masaya naman ako. Makakatulong ito sa finances. I have always dreamed of bringing my family here. Thanks to Mahzooz, I can now realize this longstanding dream to be reunited with my family,” Nelson said, referring to the raffle draw organizer.

Still another winner was “Ulysses,” who works as health and safety engineer in neighboring Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, who said he has learned about Mahzooz through the social media.

Ulysses, who hails from Bicol and had worked in Dubai for three years from 2006 before moving to Al Khobar in 2009, said his numbers were a combination of dates of his parents’ birthdays, their death anniversaries and their age when they passed on.

“When I chose my Mahzooz numbers, I had a gut feeling that I would be a winner because those numbers are significant in my life. Now that I have won, I’ll cherish these numbers even more,” the 58-year-old OFW said.

The six winners brought to 18 the number of OFWs who have won big at the Mahzooz draw since May this year. Three other OFWs have won huge amounts earlier this month.

The draw was held last weekend.

Entrants can participate in Mahzooz by registering via www.mahzooz.ae and purchasing a bottle of water. Each bottle of water purchased (for AED 35) provides eligibility for one line in the draw and the donation is channeled through Mahzooz’s community partners to hydrate those in need.

The next draw will be held as scheduled on 25 Sept. 25, 2021 at 9 p.m. UAE time. --KBK, GMA News