To include Mayor Abunda

TACLOBAN CITY- One of the P1 billion winners from Borongan City played Santa Claus as he gave P5,000 each to his former co-employees at the city Hall, to include even the city officials.

The lotto winner, who has since left Borongan and his family after he claimed his winning prize, also handed out cash to several tricycle drivers at P1,500 each.

One of the beneficiaries of the goodwill of the lotto winner was Dorothy Abenis, a staff of Mayor Ma. Fe Abunda, who received P5,000 on Wednesday.

“We are really very thankful to him because he never forget us in sharing his blessings. As far as I know, he was the second grand lotto winner coming from Borongan but he was the first ever to share his winnings,” Abenis, reached on his mobile phone said.

According to Abenis, all the close to 1,000 regular and casual workers of the City Hall received P5,000 each, claiming the money at the City Treasurer’s Office.

“He sent the money through a friend who also works at the City Hall. That is why, he decided to course it through the Treasurer’s Office since the office has all the list of the employees,” he said.

“It’s really like an early Christmas bonus for all of us workers here at the City Hall. His gesture was something, really. We don’t have to wait for the release of our Christmas bonus,”Abenis said.

Aside from the employees and city officials, to include Mayor Abunda were also given their P5,000.

Abunda, reached on her mobile phone, confirmed the ‘early Christmas gift’ from the lotto winner.

“One of my staff came to my office and told me that I have my P5,000 from him. Of course, I’m thankful to him for sharing his blessing to us. I did not go to the Treasurer’s Office to collect the money,” the city mayor, laughing, said.

Abunda turned serious by giving an advice to the lotto winner: splurge but spent the money wisely.

“It’s a blessing from our God so he has to spend it wisely, not only for him but his family’s future,” she said.

The city mayor said that the lotto winner is known to her personally as they live in the same village.

Abunda also said that she understands why the lotto winner and his family decided to move out from Borongan.

“That’s for his security,” she said.

The lotto winner, who released more than P4.5 million on Wednesday, was said to have also give ‘millions of pesos’ to his siblings, to include those of his wife, a teacher by profession. (JOEY A. GABIETA)