Filipino expat wins Dh5 million in Mahzooz draw

A 45-year-old Filipino winner of Dh5 million in the recent Mahzooz draw said he knew he was going to win big after feeling his right hand itch on the night of the draw. “In the Philippines, if your hand is itching, money comes,” Nelson told Expatmedia.net on Wednesday (August 17), explaining a superstitious belief, “So by the time we arrived at work for the nightshift, my hand was itching. I thought, maybe this means money will come.” To his surprise, he won the grand prize of Dh10 million in Saturday’s Mahzooz draw, which he is splitting with Indian winner, Shanavaz, who is also from the UAE. “We were on our work break when my friend told me the winning numbers, which matched mine. My wife also called me to tell me I won,” Nelson told Expatmedia.net. Nelson makes Dh3,500 a month as a machine operator for a wet wipes company in the UAE and the money he has won is a life changer, he said. The windfall of Dh5 million is equivalent to 75.9 million pesos in the Philippines. Nelson doesn’t plan on quitting his job anytime soon. He has been in the UAE in the past 14 years and calls Dubai his second home. He plans to throw a “big party” for his family, friends and supporters. He also wants to invest in the Philippines. “I plan to start my own business. Apartments for rent to support my family,” said Nelson, who shared that his winning numbers of 2, 7, 21, 36 and 43 are based on the birthdays of his family. He has three children in the Philippines, aged 21, 19 and 7. “I have kept my numbers for more than a year," Nelson said, adding that he has been playing the same combination without fail every week. "There were times when I thought of stopping, but I said I might regret it if I do," he said. "Now, I am thinking of how to spend the money I won. I want to buy a rice field and a new house. My daughter is asking for a Honda City that she can use to go to college,” he said with a grin. He also wants to give a portion to charity and his local church. His message to expats wanting to improve their luck? “Keep on dreaming until your dreams come true,” he said. PIA/Expat Media
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