Pinoy in Dubai wins AED5 million in draw days before birthday

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A Filipino machine operator at a baby wipes company here will be celebrating his 45th birthday on Friday, Aug. 19, with what he described as the "best gift from God."

Nelson (not his real name) was referring to the AED5 million – the equivalent of approximately P76 million – he won in the latest Mahzooz grand weekly draw held just days earlier.

"Back in the Philippines, we have a saying: When your hands are itching, money will be forthcoming," Nelson told the media when asked at a press conference whether he had any gut feeling or intuition that he would win.

"I am very happy. This is the best gift from God. I am very thankful," Nelson said.

Nelson, who makes AED3,500 a month, said he has not made any savings at all even though he has been working in Dubai for the past 14 years. He has three kids back home in the Philippines aged 21, 19 and seven.

The AED5 million, he said, is tantamount to 14 years of savings he made in one night's raffle, following almost a year of continuous participation.

Nelson said he banked on his and his family's birth dates – 19 for himself, 9 for his wife, and 21, 9 and 7 for his three children. The winning combination was in the following order: 7,9, 17, 19, 21.

"I only prayed for four numbers – that I'd be happy if I'd hit four [of the five numbers]. But God gave me five numbers. I am very thankful," Nelson said.
Winning four numbers instead would have him sharing AED1 million – the second prize – with other people who hit four numbers, too.

Nelson said there were times when he felt like skipping "but I was afraid my numbers will come out just as when I did not join," he said.

As for plans, first on the list is a car for his daughter who has requested so for her to use going to school.

"I'll focus on my family. Buy a rice field. Build a new house. Donate to charity – maybe not very big. And also do business in Dubai like apartment rental," Nelson said.

Winning all five numbers entitles one to the AED10 million grand draw. Nelson got AED5 million because another participant hit the same five numbers as well – 41-year-old Shanavas, a fleet manager at a car rental company who hails from Kerala in India and who has been in Dubai also for 14 years.

Shanavas said he will use part of the money to clear financial liabilities then move to decide with his family on how to use it.

Both Nelson and Shanavas said they will not quit their jobs.

Farid Samji, CEO of EWINGS, operator of Mahzooz said participants from India and the Philippines top the list of our players, respectively.

"To date, over 50,000 participants from India have been among Mahzooz's winners, with over 3000 of them scooping up the  first and second prizes. As Filipinos form our second largest participants’ base, Mahzooz celebrated over 27,000 winners from the Philippines, with more than 1700 of them winning the two top prizes," he said.

Mahzooz means “lucky” in English. —KBK, GMA News