Light as air

One day, six numbered ping-pong balls will drastically change someone’s life. That is if the person survives the fact that he or she has just won over six hundred million pesos in tax-free money!

The 6/55 lotto jackpot has ballooned to a whopping six hundred thirty-three million pesos and change, by far the largest jackpot in Philippine lotto history. There hasn’t been a winner in a little over six months, which is the reason for the exponentially increasing jackpot. And for this reason, eyebrows are raising as well.

Talk is rife that the lottery may be rigged, allowing the jackpot to swell until there is enough money to make someone really rich. But under this administration, it may be the opposite. Perhaps the lotto is now fair and true, which is why there hasn’t been any winner for the longest time. Friends of mine have pointed out that winning the lottery here in the Philippines seems such an easy thing to do.

Indeed, there are times when the jackpot doesn’t even go beyond the initial offering when a winner emerges. There are also instances when there would be winners every draw, even with the odds of a 6/49 game! The games are televised, with the balls to be used individually weighed to show they are of approximate equal weight. So where is the “magic” done, if indeed the draw is rigged? Let’s take a look back at the balls.

The balls are shown individually weighed. But what is not shown is if they still bounce like a ping-pong ball should. If air is allowed to escape from a ping-pong ball, it will not bounce at all. And just how heavy is the total air inside of a ping-pong ball? Will it make a big difference in weight that witnesses will notice right away? Let’s just say, if certain numbered ping-pong balls were deflated, then they would definitely bounce differently from those with air still inside. They may have less chances of reaching the top of the crystal as opposed to those that still bounce well.

Looking at past data, it is evident that the lotto games of the past have had so many winners. So many Philippine millionaires. All under the past administrations. I really wonder if all were legitimate winners, or convenient winners. I guess we’ll never know. For now, everyone knows that the jackpot is still up for grabs. For now, everyone is still hoping. I’m hoping that the games are really fair. And that whoever wins, really deserves to.