A 22-year-old jobless saleslady won the Toyota Vios grand prize at the Bacolod City New Year’s countdown raffle draw.
An excited Gelline Gayaran Alunan of Purok Paho, Barangay Taculing, Bacolod, claimed her car at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) on Tuesday, January 3.
She and her family were watching the raffle draw at the BCGC on New Year’s Eve online from their home when it was announced that she won, Alunan said.
“We all jumped up and down in joy, we were so happy…it is hard to describe how I felt,” she said.
“Our New Year’s celebration became much more fun after that,” she said.
Alunan did not expect she would win the car since thousands of Bacolodnons had also joined the raffle.
Her job as a saleslady is seasonal and ended in October, so winning the car will be a big help, she said.
He father Ranilo is a stroke survivor and her mother Jelly runs a KTV Bar in Mansilingan, she said.
She and her family went for a spin around Bacolod in the new car on Tuesday, said Alunan, who plans on learning how to drive.
Alunan said she will keep her car and decide what the best use for it will be.
She thanked Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Rep. Greg Gasataya and the other city officials for the car.
The five winners of motorcycles also claimed their prizes.
They are Ruben Centeno of Brgy Estefania, Melody Garde of Barangay Taculing, Vicky Esmerez of Brgy Granada, Arnilo Ansit of Brgy Alijis and Jacob Guapin of Brgy Mansilingan.*