Watch: Filipino expat 'from poor family' can't hold back tears after Dh30-million win

For many hardworking expats who fly into the UAE with a suitcase full of dreams, Dh30 million is an unimaginable sum of money.

Anna Lee Gayongan, another expat from the Philippines, won Dh30 million in the Big Ticket draw on January 3, starting a new year filled with hope, gratitude, and emotion.

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Speaking to Khaleej Times earlier this week, Gayongan said she prayed for a blessed year and had her prayers answered within days. “If it is meant for you,” she said, “it will come to you,” emphasising how she puts her family first as the breadwinner. Read how she found out she won Dh30 million in the Big Ticket draw.

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'Struggle' in childhood

Gayongan, the eldest of six siblings, sat down to speak with the Big Ticket hosts days after receiving the winning call and recounted her difficult childhood. Despite her best efforts to remain composed, tears flowed steadily, as though years of hardship were finally being released.

Being the first child in the family to graduate, Gayongan wished to take the Board exam to help her advance her career as an accountant. However, when she went to ask her mother, Gayongan was told that there wasn't "enough budget".

Sobbing and wiping away tears, yet filled with gratitude, she also spoke of her mother’s struggles.

Her mother toiled as a street vendor, selling whatever goods she could source at the time — from fruits to fish — in order to make ends meet and feed her children. Gayongan said the family never had a home of their own and lived in rented units in the Philippines. "We don't have a house," she said.

Now, with the recent windfall, she has vowed to give back to her family as the breadwinner, highlighting that the siblings always helped each other out. Watch her interview with Big Ticket below:

How such wins change lives

Raffles like these changed several expats' lives, allowing them to repay debts, build homes, and pay for their children's educational expenses.

A raffle draw winner who bagged Dh50 million in 2021 said in an interview to Khaleej Times that he managed to pay off his debt, move to a better home, and make good investments that helped him generate more income.

Another expat who bagged Dh20 million with Big Ticket said the win gave him “financial freedom,” allowing him to start his own business while working. Unlike many others, he chose not to splurge. "I didn’t spend on any unnecessary luxuries. I live a simple life with no debt and a reasonable income.”

Hearing such warm anecdotes inspires many to try their luck with these draws, driven by hopes of a better life.

Meher Dhanjal

meher@khaleejtimes.com

Meher Dhanjal is a Digital Journalist who breaks news first and breathes second. She loves chasing page views and finding stories that tug at readers’ heartstrings.