Slum dweller bags 37-M Lotto jackpot

The fortunes of a Parañaque slum resident will drastically change for the better after bagging the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Lotto 6/42 jackpot worth 37,995,536 in the July 23 draw.

The 41-year old street food vendor narrated that although he often finds it hard to make both ends meet, he made it a point to place a Lotto game bet when he has extra pesos to spare.

Lady luck finally smiled on him when he matched the winning Lotto 6/42 combination 09-18-27-29-32-37.

With his winnings, the lucky punter, like others before him, plans to purchase a house and lot, help his equally poor siblings, and save the rest for his four children.

"Isang kahig, isang tuka and buhay naming (Our life was very difficult)," the cook, his eyes moist with tears, related to PCSO officials.

"So, if I have extra money from my earnings, I bet it immediately on Lotto, because it is the only one that can help us rise from poverty," he said.

As this developed, PCSO general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas assured liver transplant patients of the PCSO's continued assistance. He added that PCSO derives its charity assistance from Lotto revenue.

He made the commitment on Tuesday at The Medical City (TMC) during the launch of a support group for liver transplant patients, parents and relatives, and those who help others.

Rojas II recalled that the agency started providing financial assistance between 1.5 million and 2 million to TMC patients needing liver transplant "to extend their lives and improve the quality of life thereof."