Brands have noted the recent trend of many Filipinos winning raffles in the UAE. One of the biggest factors is the active participation of the community in purchasing raffle tickets or buying products to earn chances of winning instant prizes.
Antonio Plasabas, a Dubai-based video designer, has been an avid raffle participant since he started working in the UAE three years ago. The OFW is grateful for the monthly salary that he earns, but is one of those who dream of winning a life-changing prize.
“Maayos naman ang kinikita ko pero honestly, hindi pa siya enough para makauwi ako for good na tipong komportable pa din ako sa buhay. Sakali mang manalo ako sa mga malalaking raffle na kagaya ng mga Dh1 million na prize, pwede na ako umuwi. Malaking bagay kasi ‘yong ganong kalaking premyo, kasi pwede ka nang umuwi at makasama na ang iyong pamilya,” he said.
Plasabas shares the dream of almost a million Filipinos in the UAE who frequently join raffles and promos as they aspire to take home their winnings to live a comfortable life in the Philippines.
Better chances
With the purchasing power of Filipinos here in the country, many brands have acknowledged that Filipinos are among the major consumers in the UAE.
Even after paying their monthly bills and sending remittances for their families, Filipinos still crowd shopping malls, restaurants, and even pool their resources to buy several tickets in their hopes of winning the grand prize for their families back home.
Remittance centres like UAE Exchange encourage Filipinos and expats in the UAE to continue sending money, noting that more remittances will give them more chances of winning whenever they have promos for the public.
Doubling the odds in your favor
With Filipinos’ winning streak in raffles and promos over the past few years, many of their compatriots have been encouraged to transact more often and do more purchases to double their chances of winning.
One such successful case is a Filipina nurse based in Umm Al-Quwain who won roundtrip tickets (Dubai-Manila-Dubai) twice in separate raffle draws held by UAE Exchange, just by simply remitting money multiple times to the Philippines.
Melanie Vernica Flores Suva, 47, said that while she was incredibly happy to win the roundtrip flights on the remittance center’s draw last December 11, she was beyond surprised to learn that she won the same prize again in another draw on December 14.
“Nakita ko ang promo ng UAE Exchange sa Facebook page nila, so naisip ko sumali para may chance makapagbakasyon sa Pilipinas ng libre,” she said.
“Totoo pala ‘yong ‘the more you send money, the more chances of winning.’ Naka-ilang beses na din akong nakapag-padala and luckily, I won twice,” she added.
Winning for free
Many establishments offer promos wherein the only game mechanic is to use their services or buy their products—which many expats maximize.
Remittance exchange centers are among those that offer big prizes without the need for the participants to shell out extra cash. All they have to do is send their remittance to the Philippines and they are automatically registered in the promo.
One such case is a Filipino florist based in Dubai who bagged Php1 million in a raffle held by UAE Exchange in December 2019, with his win credited to the quantity of his remittances—sending regularly to his parents back home to the amount of Php9,000.
‘Pangarap kong jackpot’
Reminiscent of the iconic stories from the ‘Pangarap kong Jackpot’ in the Philippines several years ago, many Filipinos also dream that they too, would one day be able to change their lives by hitting the jackpot, pinning their hopes on their raffle tickets and increased expenditures that lead to more entries for promos.
For instance, a Filipina who has been working in Dubai for the past 12 years got the shock of her life when she won Php1 million pesos in a raffle held by UAE Exchange, the very first prize she ever won since she stepped foot in the emirate.
Aiza Eliazar, who lives in Burjuman, was speechless and teary-eyed for several minutes when UAE Exchange officials declared his name during the announcement at the remittance center’s branch in Al Rigga.
Eliazar said she never knew she was included in the raffle because it was just usual for her to send money to the Philippines regularly. She did not know that her remittances would pave the way for her to get her first million.
“Nanginginig pa din ako, hindi pa din nag-si-sink in sa akin na nanalo ako ng Php1 milyon. I am at a loss for words,” she said.
The Lucky Ones
In 2019, a Filipino based in Abu Dhabi won Dh12 million in one of the major big-ticket raffles in the UAE. While it was the OFW’s name that was registered, the prize was shared among their group of friends because they had pooled the money to buy the tickets—something they had been doing for the past four years.
Another UAE-based OFW won in one of the biggest raffles of Dubai last year, bagging US$1 million after her ticket—which costed a full Dh1,000—was randomly chosen as the winner.
When asked what made her join, the said winner answered “Sumubok lang ako kasi baka tumama.”
“Mahilig tayo sa mga salitang “malay natin,” “baka swertehin,” o “subok lang.” Sa mga salitang ‘yan kaya maraming Pinoy ang mahilig sumali sa mga raffles. Wala naman mawawala kung susubukan lalo pa’t kung ang papremyo ay ang kanilang ninanais,” says 35-year-old Noilyn Glor, a cashier living in the UAE for nine years—who is also fond of joining raffles.
Hope of prosperity
The idea that “there is nothing wrong with trying,” as well as that “instant gratification towards a lavish life” are some of the major reasons many Filipinos in the UAE remain interested in raffles and promos offered by many companies in the country, experts claim.
“Joining raffle remains to be an interest of a Filipino as this gives hope of prosperity, especially those who are hopeless in landing a better job, and those who are impoverished,” he said.
