MANILA, Philippines – An aunt of Sen. Francis Escudero was the first daily winner in the raffle draw of the Premyo sa Resibo champion’s edition promo of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) held in Makati last month, according to a top official of Philweb Corp., information technology partner of the revenue agency.
David Jude Sta. Ana, Philweb senior vice president, identified the lucky winner as Salvacion Escudero Agaton, a 71-year-old retired professor from Makati City.
Sta. Ana said Agaton wanted to visit her sisters in the United States and she needed $131 to process her US visa.
She, however, did not have the amount.
But last Sept. 28, Agaton finally got the money that she needed and more, with the P10,000 she won from the revived BIR electronic raffle of receipts promo.
Agaton has been joining the Premyo sa Resibo promo since August 2006, and said she was encouraged to do so when she learned that the wife of boxing medalist Onyok Velasco won in the raffle.
Agaton received a call on Sept. 29 notifying her that she won, but she didn’t believe it at first.
She was convinced when told that she could pick up her check at the office of Philweb Corp. in Makati City.
Sta. Ana said Agaton shared that her sisters in the United States wanted her to pay them a visit and they would take care of all expenses.
She, however, didn’t want to bother them about the $131 visa processing fee.
Now, Agaton has a pending appointment with the US Embassy and intends to go to the US this Christmas once she gets her visa.
Agaton has three sisters in the US – two in California and one in Maryland, whom she last saw in the late 1980s.
“Sabi nga namin opportunity for us to have a reunion at baka the next time kami magkita, abo na kami (maybe the next time we meet we might be ashes already),” Agaton told Sta. Ana.
The retired professor also plans to visit her grandchildren in Canada.
Agaton said she now demands an official receipt for all her purchases.
“I am very strict with that. This is a very good drive and I will still join,” said Agaton, whose nephew Senator Escudero is the chair of the Senate ways and means committee that has jurisdiction over matters relating to taxes, fees, tariffs, loans and other sources and forms of revenue.
The Premyo Sa Resibo campaign is the BIR’s way of plugging tax leaks by encouraging consumers to demand a receipt and for stores as well as professionals to issue receipts.