Dubai: Last Saturday saw three winners take home prizes of Dh75,000, Dh50,000, and Dh25,000, Emirates Draw has revealed.
From the village of New Velmal in Telangana, India, Ramu Chakali embarked on a journey to the UAE at the age of 22. His dream was to create a brighter future for his family. He worked as a driver and warehouse assistant to support his loved ones back home.
Speaking about his Dh75,000 win - the top FAST5 Raffle Prize - Chakali said: “I came here with nothing, and I’ve worked tirelessly over the years. Now, with my win, I can support my family and afford my mother’s medical treatments.”
‘Unbelievable moment’
UAE resident Charles Mendoza shares a similar story. The 36-year-old oil and gas professional from Batangas City, Philippines, has been a participant in Emirates Draw since 2021. He chooses the numbers associated with his wife’s birthday every single time. It was this unique set of numbers that led to his Dh50,000 prize.
“I had no idea about my win until a friend called to tell me. It was only after checking my e-mail and app that I realised I had really won. It was an unbelievable moment,” Mendoza said.
Charitable causes
Another winner, Arfilson Tansio, who bagged Dh25,000, is a resident of Qatar. Hailing from Makati, Philippines, he started his career in 2006 as a paramedic during the Asian Games in Doha. Over the years, he had a key role in emergency medical care and now serves as a senior laboratory technologist.
Introduced to the FAST5 game by a friend, Tansio was encouraged to participate. In just under two months of playing, secured his win and plans to use his winnings for charitable causes.
“With the world’s current challenges, I feel it’s more important than ever to give back,” said the 44 year old father-of-three.
