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UAE: 'Lucky' security guard wins Dh1-million Big Ticket prize on first try
She will be sharing the prize with 10 colleagues, one of whom is battling breast cancer
- PUBLISHED: Fri 20 Dec 2024, 10:58 AM UPDATED: Sun 22 Dec 2024, 3:47 PM
Filipina security guard Christine Requerque Pedido convinced nine of her colleagues to pitch in Dh100 each so they can buy Big Ticket entries for Dh1,000. They won Dh1 million.
They will all be Dh100,000 richer as they split the prize but for one of them, the win was an answered prayer - a big ray of hope.
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"One of my colleagues who contributed to the ticket is battling breast cancer - and this money will help ease her financial burden. She is deeply thankful, and so are the rest of us," said Pedido, the latest winner of Big Ticket's Millionaire e-Draw series.
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Pedido, a 36-year-old expat who moved to the UAE in September, has always considered herself "very lucky" when it comes to raffle. Back home, she had previously won small prizes in various draws.
“My mother always said I was born lucky. I was born as a breech baby, feet first, and it is considered a sign of fortune in my culture," she said. Sadly, however, Pedido wouldn't be able to share the best of her luck with her mum, who passed away on her birthday a few months ago.
Trusting Pedido's luck, her workmates at Al Ain Women's Club agreed to give her Dh100 for the ticket.
“When I purchased the ticket at Al Ain Airport, my eyes immediately locked on the winning number. My was racing and I was feeling uneasy. I told the cashier that I have always been lucky with raffles.”
The moment she received the call announcing her win, Pedido couldn't contain her joy. “I recognised the host's voice and it felt surreal. Some of my colleagues were sceptical at first, but when we checked the Big Ticket website, it was confirmed we had won,” said Pedido.
Life will go on as usual for the security guard even after a hefty amount lands into her bank account because, as she said, "this money won't last forever".
"I plan to continue my job and use the winnings to expand my farmland in the Philippines," said the single mother, whose young son is under the care of her sister back home.
"I already own a small farm, but this has been my dream to buy more land and secure a future for my family.”
She also plans to donate a portion of her winnings to charitable causes. She's even looking ahead to January 3, eagerly anticipating the next Big Ticket draw. “We're all planning to try our luck again,” she said, adding that this win is not just about the money, it's about sparking hope from the trust that people had given her.
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SM Ayaz Zakir is a Senior Correspondent with a flair for extraordinary stories. His playground? Every corner of the UAE. He often ventures into remote corners of the country to capture compelling news and human interest stories.