DUBAI: Two Filipinos in the UAE got their luck turning for the better as they won cash prizes from UAE Exchange’s Summer Promotion raffle draw. Rolando Dela Cruz won $2500 (Dh9,100) for the daily draw while Cherie Ann Ravelo bagged $5000 (Dh18,360)for winning the weekly draw.

Dela Cruz, a branch manager of a supermarket in the UAE, recounts that he was just sending money back home to the Philippines to help his brother and sister back home. “Nagpadala ako ng around Dh1000  sa mga kapatid ko para matulungan yung kapatid kong bunsong babae na nanganak ng kambal,” said Dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz said he plans to have a holiday break with his family as a treat, fix their kitchen back home and save the rest of his winnings.

Ravelo, on the other hand, was updating her payment records for SSS and PAG-IBIG when luck came her way. “Nagpadala po ako ng Dh400, (Php 1700) sa SSS tapos Ph3500 pesos para sa PAG-IBIG,” explains Ravelo. She shared that she wishes to use the prize money to pay for her debts in the UAE and to save the remainder for a business that she plans to start in the Philippines.

Abdel Kareem Alkayed, Country Head for UAE Exchange-UAE said that the reason behind providing daily and weekly prizes apart from their mega draw was to provide a “positive impact” to the lives of their clients, especially for OFWs. “OFWs, who form a large section of our customer base, have been remitting to their home country through UAE Exchange for close to four decades now. The active participation of this community in all our campaigns are a testament in itself. We congratulate all the winners who have won so far and wish others good luck for the remainder of the promotion,” said Alkayed.