Dubai-based Filipino expat's 15-year Big Ticket journey ends with Dh20 million jackpot
Ten friends from three countries split life-changing jackpot equally
DUBAI – A Filipino bakery employee based in Dubai has finally struck gold after 15 years of buying Big Ticket entries, winning the Dh20 million grand prize alongside a group of close friends.
The life-changing jackpot was announced during the Big Ticket Series 289 live draw in Abu Dhabi on Monday, August 3. Alongside the grand prize, organisers also revealed five Dh100,000 consolation winners, a luxury car winner and the latest Big Spin results.
The winning ticket, number 267822, was purchased on July 13 by Reynaldo Herboso, a 61-year-old Filipino expat who has lived in the UAE since 1988. He bought the ticket as part of a group of 10 friends from the Philippines, India and Bangladesh.
Winning moment
When hosts Richard and Bouchra called Reynaldo with the winning news, he struggled to believe what he had heard.
"Did I seriously win?" he asked before expressing his joy, saying he had been purchasing Big Ticket entries continuously for 15 years.
Reynaldo, who works at a bakery in Dubai and lives in Jebel Ali, had just finished work when he received the call. The timing made the moment even more special as he was preparing to travel home on holiday later that week.
He revealed that the winning ticket was purchased collectively by the group, with the final ticket number selected by their Bangladeshi friend.
"When I found out that we had won, I was completely over the moon. I was so excited and could hardly believe that after all these years, our group had finally won the grand prize," Reynaldo said.
The Dh20 million prize will be shared equally among the 10 friends, meaning each member will receive around Dh2 million. Reynaldo said he has not yet decided how he will use his share and plans to take time before making any major decisions.
Last month's grand prize of Dh25 million went to Indian resident Kanika Arora, whose ticket number 476107, purchased on June 30, was selected during the previous draw. Kanika also returned to the studio to pick the winning ticket for this month's grand prize.
More winners
Five participants also walked away with Dh100,000 consolation prizes during Monday's draw.
The winners were:
- Arifuzamman Shuvu, a Bangladeshi resident in Ajman, with ticket 034608 purchased on July 13.
- Sabuj Munshi, a Bangladeshi resident in Ajman, with ticket 176300 purchased on July 16.
- Surath Sasidharan, an Indian resident in Ajman, with ticket 074074 purchased on July 7.
- Saidalavi Varichalil, an Indian resident in Sharjah, with ticket 000304 purchased on July 15.
- Akil Arpy, an Indian resident in Abu Dhabi, with ticket 155276 purchased on July 18.
The draw also produced a luxury car winner, with Ash Bahadur Dura, a 47-year-old Nepali operator living in Abu Dhabi, winning a Maserati Grecale.
Ash has lived in the UAE capital for 18 years while his family remains in Nepal. He has been buying Big Ticket entries every month for between 10 and 12 years and said he selected the winning ticket completely at random.
"I am very, very happy. I honestly cannot express how I feel right now. After taking part for so many years, receiving the winning call was an incredible moment for me," he said.
Last month's luxury vehicle prize, a BMW X6, was won by Dubai-based Indian resident Twinkle Alphin with ticket number 028681, purchased on June 28.
Big Spin
Big Ticket also held its inaugural Big Spin Draw, introduced in July, giving three previously selected participants the opportunity to win up to Dh1 million.
During Monday's event, Osama Mahmoud, a Jordanian resident in the UAE who purchased his ticket on June 10, won Dh100,000. Nithin Joy, an Indian resident of Qatar who bought his ticket on June 28, also received Dh100,000, while Dinesh Kumar, an Indian resident based in Abu Dhabi, took home Dh250,000.
Organisers also announced the three contestants who will take part in the September 3 Big Spin event. They are Jinkie Sandoval, a Filipino resident in Dubai; Vikantish, an Indian resident in Sharjah who bought a ticket on July 30; and Mohammed Kamal Hossan, a Bangladeshi resident living in Oman whose ticket was purchased on July 18.
During the live broadcast, Big Ticket also launched Dear Big Ticket Season 4, inviting UAE residents aged 18 and above to submit wishes under five categories: housing and accommodation, education, health and well-being, family reunion, and business and entrepreneurship. Entries will remain open until August 23.
The August campaign will culminate in a live draw on September 3, featuring a Dh15 million grand prize, five Dh100,000 consolation prizes, weekly Dh25,000 E-draw winners, another Big Spin event with prizes of up to Dh1 million, and a Land Rover Defender as the next Dream Car prize, with a Nissan Patrol scheduled for the October draw.