Farmer wins P1.8 million house and lot in vaccination raffle

CEBU, Philippines — When he decided to get himself vaccinated last December 2021, all Armando Patalinghug Semblante wanted was to have protection against COVID-19.

He got more than just protection against the virus.

Semblante, 59, a farmer from Barangay Sirao, Cebu City, won a house and lot worth P1.8 million, which was the major prize in the Bakuna Bonanza-1 electronic raffle spearheaded by the city government among those who have been vaccinated against coronavirus.

He emerged the luckiest among over 600,000 vaccinees in the city who were eligible to join at the time of the raffle.

The draw took place last February, in time for the city’s Charter Day celebration.

Interestingly, Semblante was at first hesitant to get himself vaccinated after hearing myths about the effects of vaccines, things which were categorically debunked by health experts who emphasized the vaccines' efficacy and safety.

Semblante’s nephews and nieces convinced him to get the vaccine due to the Bakuna Bonanza raffle. They were also the ones who accompanied him to the vaccination site.

“Akong mga pag-umangkon niingon pabakuna ‘yo kay naay premyo. Ingon ko, hayahaya gud, naay premyo?’ Mao ‘to, nagpabakuna ko,” said Semblante.

After several months of waiting, the house and lot from DECA Homes in Barangay Dumlog, Talisay City was finally turned over to Semblante yesterday by no less than Mayor Michael Rama and Vanessa Anne Anselmo, branch manager of 8990 Holdings Incorporated.

After checking the house with Semblante, Rama pledged to shoulder the finishing touches for the house, to the delight of the former, who said he would no longer be staying in a home with a leaking roof.

As if it was not enough, Semblante was also given a “bonus” by the city government — a motorcycle which he can now use in going to and from Sirao where he is tending a banana plantation.

Since he got broken-hearted some years back, Semblante has devoted himself to planting in the mountains with his harvest sold at Carbon Public Market.

After receiving all the blessings, Semblante is now convincing others to get themselves vaccinated.

Aside from being protected by the Covid-19 virus, he said vaccinees will also have a chance to win prizes, this as the city government will be doing another round of raffle dubbed Bakuna extravaganza.

“Kamong wa pa magpabakuna, pabakuna na mo.  Naa man diay premyo. Basin sa sunod kamo nay makadaog.  Magpasalamat ko ni Mayor Mike Rama nga nakadaog ko sa papremyo nga bonanza,” said Semblante. — JMD (FREEMAN)