By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – “It’s very overwhelming to win such a blessing for the first time.”
This was the reaction of a high school teacher after she won a brand-new car from private sponsors here during Bacolod City’s countdown to 2024 held at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) on December 31.
Darlene Grace Aurelio of Barangay Vista Alegre said in a media interview that she was busy preparing for Media Noche (New Year’s eve party), when she received a call from an unknown number.
Aurelio said that she was supposed to decline the second call when she thought of it as an emergency call. She answered and was surprised when she heard that she won a car.
“Grabe ang blessing ni Lord a few moments before 12 midnight strikes,” Aurelio said, adding that she was spending New Year’s Eve with her in-laws in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, and was talking to her husband through a video call when she received the good news.
Aurelio is a Grade 10 adviser at Teofilo Gensoli Sr. National High School in Barangay Vista Alegre, while her husband is a seaman based in South Korea.
She said that she was resting for a bit after doing the laundry when she received a series of shared links about the raffle from her co-teachers. She then thought of registering on December 27.
She was the third resident here who was called for the grand prize, as the first two supposed winners could not be reached at that time.
Meanwhile, a resident of Barangay Vista Alegre, who saw her name flash on the screen during the announcement of the grand prize winner, rushed to the BCGC on board a tricycle. But she did not receive the prize, as she couldn’t be reached by the time the organizers tried calling her.
She said that she did not receive a call since there was no signal at their residence, as they are living near a river. She said that she had goosebumps upon learning about it.
The city explained to her the mechanics of the raffle, but she insisted on meeting with Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez about it.
Benitez said that they will stick with the guidelines of the raffle to be fair. He said the grand prize is not coming from the city.
At least 20,000 entries registered in the raffle, with registrations from Romblon, Quezon, and Cebu, among others.
Aside from the brand-new car, cash prizes and motorbikes were also raffled.
Comedians Petite, Negi, and Jeffrey Tam entertained the Bacolodnons, who also witnessed a synchronized fireworks display at the BCGC, public plaza, and Old Bacolod Airport.
