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If my memory serves me right it was the year 1995 when it was introduce here and our company was one of 5 business establishments that was given a franchise to operate in Metro-Manila (Initial phase of operation, now it is operating in the whole country).

There were a lot people especially the Catholic hierarchy who are against this game claiming that we are teaching gambling. The launching of it were postponed a couple of times. When finally, it was approved and allowed to start we received a lot of flack and rejection from the public. We took time out to painstakingly explain to people how the games were being played and some of the proceeds will go to charity.

The first two months of sales operation was a disaster, for my branch in Alabang Muntinlupa City had always registered the lowest in terms of sales.

On our third month of operation, news spread out that a person residing from Calamba win’s the jackpot prize. That started to increase our sales almost 10 times. Our branch is the first lotto outlet if you will be coming from this southern part of Luzon.

During those times we were allowed to payout the winner of tickets up to P250, 000.00(Now only P5,000.00). I have two machines being manned by 4 people to speed up the transaction. I requested to our top management that I be allowed to give a 1% commission to those bringing in volume of sales. That started a record-breaking sale that reaches a six figure per day and it also gave us a lot of headache.

Customers queuing have created a very long line of people that almost all our neighboring store started complaining of obstruction. Barangay officials and Policemen visited us to relay to us the complains.

Our main line of business is footwear but due to this problem, I let the customers of lotto fall in line inside our store creating an “S” lines from front of the selling area to the end of our store and back.

In my three years of handling our lotto outlet I have learned a lot of things.

A lot of those who won got their numbers form their dreams. Some of those got from birth date of their love ones. Other got their number from plate number of passing car. Filipinos are really creative and resourceful if we are talking about number games.

Other attribute their winning to strong faith to God;

One married couple who won P80, 000.00 told me that they badly needed P78, 000.00 to be spent on the delivery of their 1^st baby. It is a menopause baby that is why the big amount needed.

One old man who have poor eyesight (I helped re-draw the lines) that all the lines he draw missed it’s number won P20,000.00 and he needed a new pair of eyeglass.

Not all of those who won have a happy ending.

The President of San Jose Market Association (Mindoro) once told me a story of a man who won the jackpot. He binges in drinking spree every night that one night, while on his way home; he was run over by a truck. He both feet has to be amputated. He died poor.

He explained to me that you have to be ready when receiving that huge amount of money. For he also experience winning the second price in one sweepstakes draw. Nobody knew that he win except his wife and nobody even notice it.

Are you ready when you win the lotto jackpot?

Oh! By the way, The biggest prize I won during those time is P500.00 and I thought I am ready!