THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) opens the year with a new Lotto game that offers the highest minimum jackpot prizes among its games.
Approved in concept in 2013, the new Ultra Lotto 6/58 will be more exciting and provide players with chances to win much higher jackpot prizes.
The game’s minimum jackpot is P50 million. For consolation prizes, second prize (5 out of 6 winning numbers) can go as high as P280,000. Third prize (4 out of 6) might reach P3,800. Fourth prize (3 out of 6) is P20.
The mechanics of Ultra Lotto 6/58 are similar to those of other Lotto games. A player selects six numbers from 1 to 58 for only P20 per combination.
The first selling day for Ultra Lotto 6/58 is on February 7, and the first draw date is February 8. There will be two draws every week, on Friday and Sunday. The draws will be televised, like the other Lotto games, live over the People’s Television channel.
The last time the PCSO rolled out a new Lotto game was four years ago. We anticipate that this new game will refresh the Lotto lineup and raise more funds for the PCSO’s core service programs related to medical- and healthcare-related assistance.
The PCSO now serves you in 43 branches nationwide through its social service programs. Its flagship program, the Individual Medical Assistance Program, subsidizes hospital treatment for individuals.
Other programs include the Endowment Fund Program, which provides grants to public hospitals for the treatment of qualified patients; the Ambulance Donation Program, which donates ambulances to local government units; the Capability-Building Program, which provides medical equipment and supplies to clinics and health units especially those in remote and underserved areas; and, the Calamity Assistance program, which helps victims of national emergencies and natural disasters.
The PCSO also conducts free medical and dental missions in different areas around the country in coordination with nongovernment organizations and other charitable groups.
All these and other PCSO programs are funded through the conduct of the popular Lotto games. Every Lotto ticket you buy gives you the chance to be a multimillionaire and helps those less fortunate every day.
I look forward to welcoming the new PCSO Ultra Millionaires in the coming months.
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Speaking of PCSO games, do you recall the old-time Sweepstakes tickets that vendors used to sell almost everywhere back in the day? They were the agency’s only product until the computerized Lotto game was established in 1995.
Banking on fond memories and nostalgia, we revived last year the regular conduct of Sweepstakes through monthly draws called the “Mini-Sweepstakes,” of which the first draw for this year was held on January 25.
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Mini-Sweepstakes tickets are available at PCSO outlets nationwide.
Many Filipinos are feeling inspired and revitalized in their faith after the historic visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Philippines.
The Pope’s photographs that were taken here, showing his warm smile, are still being shared on social media. The genuine love in his heart for all Filipinos, as manifested in his expressions and actions, was felt by everyone and serves as a good example of the true Christian love for others.
We are indeed blessed to have hosted him here even for a little while. Certainly the 5 days he spent in the country seemed too few and we pray that he will keep in good health and visit the Philippines again soon.
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Art aficionados interested in viewing the works of internationally-renowned artist Juvenal Sanso may now do so at a new art museum in San Juan City that opened last November.
Fundacion Sanso houses more than 120 works, including the famous “Incubus” that won first prize in the watercolor category of the Art Association of the Philippines competition in 1951.
Also in the exhibit are Sanso’s oils on canvas, acrylic paintings, sketches, drawings, prints and little-known works such as textile designs, opera set and costume designs, as well as his personal archive.
Fundacion Sansó is open Mondays to Saturdays from 10a.m. to 5p.m. For inquiries, call (632)952-1568 or send email to fundacionsanso@gmail.com.
Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II is the vice chairman and general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.a