We simply couldn’t resist. With almost 280 million pesos at stake, we succumbed to the Ultra Lotto 6/58 mania sweeping the country, and purchased 17 lotto tickets.
You see, we were waiting for our guide outside Bhubing Palace when we met Christian, a Norwegian backpacker, and Bae, his Korean girlfriend. They were waiting for their guide as well. Our convo drifted from places of interest to lucky numbers to kill the time, and they might’ve noticed my interest after I wondered about the number of Buddhist temples in Chiang Mai that were dedicated to the 12 sacred animals of the Chinese Zodiac.
Christian told me that 17 is considered a lucky numbers in Norway, and many in the Scandinavian Mountains, or Scandes, believed that this prime number would ward off evil spirits. After the couple found out where we came from, Bae became excited.
She visited the Philippines a couple of times, telling us that the Filipinos were the friendliest bunch. We were about to return the compliment when she asked us if we were a huge fan of the Kapamilya Channel. It was a good thing that our guides arrived.
We thought about the number 17, and that nice couple, when we bought our ticket from a lotto outlet near Makati Cinema Square. We were well aware that our chances of winning were roughly equivalent to our being hit by a thunderbolt hurled by Zeus.
We can’t wait for the second season of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians! And we spent a few days daydreaming of what untold riches would bring us. A lifetime of dining at Dean and DeLuca. (Yum!) Exploring Kyushu and Shikoku. (We were about to turn Japanese the year before last.) Watching Hollywood blockbusters at Uptown Tempur Cinema.
Our cousin, a New Yorker, was surprised at Bonifacio Global City having a luxurious bed cinema. But we stopped. Thinking about it gave us a headache. We were supposed to start at the end of the spectrum, not getting obsessed about lotto jackpot prizes.
We bumped into a high school mate whom we haven’t seen for more than a decade. Such encounters would make us uncomfortable because it was hard for high school mates not to compare after graduation. And we could tell that he had some good news to share. He won the lotto jackpot many moons ago.
He didn’t tell us about the lotto result, or what game he joined, but he confessed that he didn’t tell his closest colleagues - and relatives. It was hard to tell if we were thrilled because we really wanted to win the lotto jackpot. And we’re still waiting. So what were the things that a lotto winner won’t tell after winning the lotto jackpot? We were startled at what we learned:
Easy come, easy go. Our high school mate admitted that life after winning the lotto jackpot won’t be glamorous forever, adding that he and his family spent 70% of that jackpot in a few years. I feigned surprise, but it would’ve happened to us as well.
Don’t quit while you’re ahead. He could’ve called it a day and planned his spending. But he believed that he could win the lotto jackpot again. If his clothing was any indication, that was probably one aspect of life after lotto that didn’t change.
You’ll be exploited by your friends. Our mate recalled his former colleague who became his closest friend in their office. As a matter of fact, their kiddos met and played in his former officemate’s condo in Bonifacio Global City (BGC). And then he and his wife opened up about their financial struggles.
They were led to believe that his unscrupulous manager, from another company, took all his severance pay and benefits. He didn’t hesitate to lend them a huge amount until he met a common friend of theirs. Another former colleague. She told him about their pal losing at a casino. Big time. We decided to change the topic of conversation.
A lot seemed like a little. It was hard to believe that our high school mate and his family spent that much money in a few years. We kept on asking him about the lotto jackpot. He bowed his head a little. Embarrassed?
You give in to your impulse purchases. Our mate’s 11-year old wanted to buy a Lego Roman Colosseum, but he couldn’t afford it. And then he won the jackpot. He also admitted to his wife going to Greenbelt 4 several times. We didn’t press him for the details. And he wanted a French bulldog from a reputable breeder. I was about to ask him if they were trying to sell any of these luxurious items, or the Frenchie, but I changed my mind.
You’re looked down by the truly wealthy. His youngest was about to turn 7, and he decided to throw a big party. It was a time of new beginnings, also a transition from pre-school to primary. He invited his boss, a big shot, and a couple of relatives living in Ayala Alabang. They knew about his winning the lotto jackpot, but they didn’t come. He wondered if they looked down on him, thinking that he didn’t earn his winning.
Your friends will change with your lifestyle. Our mate missed the days when he and his former colleagues could go to Palawan for a weekend. Or when he and his former girlfriend mingled with (white) backpackers in Krabi, Thailand (during the last week of December). He didn’t like subsiding people.
Our high school mate was about to suffer from depression when he met his college mate. He comes from a well-off family, and he loves to help others. He told him about a widow in Paranaque, who made it her lifetime mission to help the homeless in Malate, Manila.
She would hold a Christmas party on her birthday. And invite them to a day in the hot spring resort in Calamba, Laguna every summer. Our friend didn’t think twice about being a sponsor.
We foresee the universe giving our high school mate one more chance. It made us want to join the next lotto draw. We manage my expectations - er - daydreaming, though. It would be nice if someone would pick up our laundry outside our door every Saturday morning and bring it back later that night, completely done and neatly folded.
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