Fifteen years of betting on the same numbers — and it was the one time he abandoned them that changed everything.
A solo parent from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental walked away with the Lotto 6/42 jackpot worth over P35 million after placing what was essentially his last peso on a Lucky Pick ticket, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office confirmed in a recent statement.
The winner had just finished buying goods at a public market for his sari-sari store when he decided on impulse to spend the remaining P50 in his pocket on a lotto bet. Rather than playing his usual number combinations, he opted for a machine-generated Lucky Pick — a decision that produced the winning sequence 22-34-42-19-03-25 in the May 2, 2026 draw.
According to GMA News, the winner described his initial reaction as disbelief. “Parang hindi totoo noong una,” he said upon learning that he had hit the jackpot after more than a decade of playing.
The exact prize stands at P35,467,492.71, per PCSO records. Under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act, lotto winnings exceeding P10,000 are subject to a 20-percent tax, meaning a portion of that amount will go to the government.
The winner said the windfall would be directed toward the family’s business, his children’s education, and their long-term financial security. He also reflected on the Filipino saying that what is truly meant for a person will always find its way — a sentiment he now counts as lived experience.
The winning ticket was purchased in Negros Occidental. Winners are required to personally claim their prizes at the PCSO main office along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City, and have one year from the draw date to do so.
