LOTTERY

"is a lottery a good idea?"

got that question when i was searching for a topic to discuss in my blog.

i could barely see how mom and dad invest in the lottery just for the winnings that could literally change our status into a more higher rank. they even had quorums and secret hints if what will be the result of the lottery on the following day. it was 14 years ago.

there was an illegal gambling running in every barangay that time, as early as 3am, both my mama and papa went out when MANONG BOCOY (my papa's friend) knocks us and feeds them the result of the lottery. i could still remember JAI ALAI and how it is being played. every morning from the city leader, there was a published flyer which has the result of JAI ALAI, it was then sold for 5 pesos. it was a gray paper which seemed to be recycled so many times and had green prints on it. the heading says JAI ALAI and the headline has 3 numbers which were the result of the game. on the left side were analytical cartoons where they give hints of what probable numbers will win on the next day while on the other side are the results for the past 5 days. below the winning numbers are the names of the players who will play for that day's round and the result will be published on the next day, so the KABO or the gambling agent has 8 hours to invite other hopefuls to try their luck on that game. for every 1 peso you will win 400 pesos for every exact combination.

3am, my mama and papa turns on the television and stuck themselves watching the show and hoped to win. that's their daily routine before they prepare for some morning rituals. and on every 5-6pm, they gather with their friends and analyzes the result and then takes the risk.

this is the most rampant situation that is happening in our society right now, of how the people entrusts their future in every lotto machines that seemed like to sprout in every strategic corners of the country. more than 50% of the population in the philippines are risking for lottery bets. some even put prayers on it just to ensure their winnings, and others thought that numbers from their dreams are lucky signs that says, "this numbers will help you win"

another issue that our country faced was when one of the past president tried to legalize JUETENG and he was unfortunate to defend this matter.

recently the LOTTO SWEEPSTAKES had the highest stake which reached in more than hundred millions and they even reached peak in their income history. all outlets had a heavier traffic than that in the television's traffic update in some of the congested areas in MANILA. many of the hopeful FILIPINOS lined-up in these outlets and patiently waited for their turn to successfully bet.

people who are continuously risking in betting on this programs are the people who are aware of what they are loosing. they are the ones who knows that if they will not win, there will be another chance in the coming days.

put into considerations the little amount they spend in buying the tickets. 20, 30 or 40? some lottery has a daily draw and if we multiply their minimum cost of 50pesos into a week-period of seven days that will be 350.00 which will total to 1,400.00 in a month. what is 1,400.00 if you will win 1million? that's a way bigger than your investment. but what if you had tried it for the past 10years? you have just wasted 168,000.00 and that is a big amount either. what if that amount will be invested in a business and will have a probable gain of 50% per year (compounded annually) you could make it big as to 1.2Million.

sadly, many people instead of buying food for their hungry stomachs, gambles the only money they have and hopes to win big that will solve all their problems and enjoy a better life and if they didn't win, they just let themselves trapped in sadness, despair and depression.

this is the reason why some of them forgot how to smile, why? because they earning wrinkles on the depressions they met every time the wont win in the lottery.