LAST year, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office marked its 80th anniversary, a milestone that testifies to the commitment of the women and men of PCSO to their mission of providing medical- and healthcare-related service to Filipinos around the country.
The agency also celebrates other significant occasions, such as the anniversaries of departments. The Branch Operations Sector, headed by Assistant General Manager Remeliza Gabuyo, which manages and monitors the operations of PCSO branches and Lotto outlets nationwide, looks forward to the “birthdays” of its departments this year.
Northern and Central Luzon (NCL), headed by Romeo S. Rigodon, marks theirs on February 7 in Baguio, which will coincide with the blessing ceremony of the Benguet branch.
The other departments under Branch Operations sector are: National Capital Region headed by manager Josefina A. Sarsonas, Southern Tagalog and Bicol Region (STBR) department under Irma Guemo, Visayas department headed by Federico A. Damole, and Mindanao department under Mario S. Pelisco.
There are 13 branches under NCL: Isabela under branch manager Reynaldo Martin, Pangasinan (Yamashita Japinan), Cagayan (Herson Pambid), Benguet and Mountain Province (both under Ernieli Dancel), La Union (Lalaine Figueroa), Ilocos Norte (Marthia Miranda), Bataan (Erlinda Yano), Bulacan (Editha Romero), Nueva Ecija (Reynaldo Carbonel), Pampanga (Ma. Lourdes Soliman), Tarlac (Lolito Guemo) and Zambales (Pierre Ferrer).
We advise residents of those areas to visit the PCSO branches nearest to them to avail of the agency’s products and services. There is no need to visit the head office in Manila to file requests for medical assistance, applications for Lotto outlets, and the like. The PCSO branches provide these and other regular agency services.
Perhaps the only transaction that would need to be conducted personally at the PCSO head office in Mandaluyong City would be to collect Lotto jackpot winnings, because only prize claims up to a certain amount are entertained at the branches.
Congratulations to the PCSO family in NCL on having reached another landmark occasion in the history of the agency, and may their commitment to public service remain strong and steadfast.
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PCSO recently unveiled its new lottery game, the Ultra Lotto 6/58, which is anticipated to add a challenging flavor to the lineup of existing Lotto games.
The game has the highest minimum jackpot among PCSO’s Lotto games, at P50 million. There are consolation prizes as well for three, four and five out of six winning numbers.
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.
Want to be the first Ultra Millionaire? The first selling date for the Ultra Lotto 6/58 is on February 7, Saturday, with the first draw on February 8, Sunday, and on every Friday and Sunday thereafter.
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CONGRATULATIONS to the seven newly-appointed members of the Philippine Racing Commission: Andrew A. Sanchez as chairman and, as members, Bienvenido C. Niles Jr., Lyndon Guce, and lawyers Ramon S. Bagatsing Jr., Victor V. Tantoco, Wilfredo JA de Ungria and Jose Gutierrez Santillan Jr.
We wish them all the best as they begin their 4-year term serving the horseracing industry and the Filipino people.
Our acknowledgement also goes to outgoing commissioners Angel L. Castaño Jr., Jesus B. Cantos and Eduardo B. Jose, who with their fellow officials steered the industry through the difficult adjustment period with the entry of a third racetrack on the scene. They also upheld government standards related to the administration of the office, as well as performed other accomplishments.
Many will recall that before PCSO introduced computerized lotto in 1994, the results of the Sweepstakes, PCSO’s only product back then, were tied to the results of designated horse races called “Sweepstakes races.” PCSO, by virtue of its charter, remains a partner of the industry to this day.
PCSO’s racing program sponsors horse races throughout the year. Its flagship event is the PCSO Presidential Gold Cup, in honor of the incumbent head of state.
The Gold Cup, which is on its 43rd running this year, is the most prestigious in the sport. As far as we know, it is the longest continuously-held sporting event in the country, a tradition and legacy that the agency proudly upholds.
The first PCSO race of this year was held last Saturday at the Manila Jockey Club’s San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite. The next, the PCSO Freedom Cup mile, is set for February 8 at the Philippine Racing Club’s Santa Ana Park in Naic, Cavite.
Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II is vice-chairman and general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.