Giving is receiving

First prize winner Pablito Borja led 24 other lucky readers who received prizes for submitting correct entries to our annual Christmas contest at the Philippine Star office in Port Area yesterday.

Borja’s haul consisted of P45,000 cash (P10,000 from Dr. Mikee Romero of Harbour Centre, P10,000 from Hermie Esguerra of the Herma Group, P10,000 from Raymond Yu and Terry Que of Rain Or Shine, P5,000 from Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Monico Puentevella, P5,000 from Games and Amusements Board chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon and P5,000 from POC vice president Manny Lopez), P5,000 SM gift certificates from Philippine Tennis Association vice president Randy Villanueva, P5,000 SM gift certificates from Philippine Taekwondo Association president Robert Aventajado, P5,000 Planet Sports gift certificates from president Anton Gonzalez, P2,000 Burger King gift certificates, Air 21 basketball and Air 21 notepad from Air 21 team manager Allan Gregorio, P2,000 Niknok Pritson Manok gift certificates and Human Plus Probiotics health drink from Reli de Leon of APL Advertising, World Traveller suitcase, Samsonite tote bag, Ferre pen and mini desk fan from PLDT, wine from Metro Pacific, sports bag, bandana, Pacquiao T-shirt, mini-doll and Jordan cap from Nike country marketing director Mae Dichupa and marketing services manager Tony Atayde, NBA watch from NBA Asia, Ltd., Smart Bro broadband kit and PBA T-shirt from PBA commissioner Chito Salud and media bureau chief Willy Marcial, Ever Bilena Naturals skin moisturizer and Xan Shi Mi noodles from DSS chairman Dioceldo Sy, Phiten bracelet from general manager Ron Colmenares through Stratworks Marketing Communications media relations manager Ginny Guanco, Rain Or Shine T-shirt, B-Meg T-shirt from Derby Ace team manager Alvin Patrimonio, Shell duffle bag from vice president Bobby Kanapi, Purefoods canned goods, polo shirt, Magnolia fruit drink and San Mig Light from San Miguel Corp., ALA Boxing Gym and Island Souvenir T-shirts from Tony Aldeguer, magazines from Emerald Headway, Gran Matador Brandy and Ginebra premium gin from Kings team manager Samboy Lim, messenger bag and tumbler from the Philippine Star, basketball and E-Cow stuff doll from Alaska Milk, Philippine team track suit and basketball from Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia, Bodyworx backpack from Kathy Lim Uy and Kimoni badminton bag from Anthony Suntay of “Real Sports” on Wave 891 radio. 

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Borja, 56, has worked as a checker and collector for MDRL, a Caloocan metal fabricator owned by the Sy family, the last 14 years. He sent in six entries. It was his second win in our long-running Christmas contest. In 2007, Borja won the 11th prize.

Borja finished at the Philippine Chinese High School in 1972 and worked 21 years for Joy Brothers in La Loma before joining MDRL.   His Chinese-born father Chua Con died in 1996 of a heart attack. His mother Avelina is now 82. Borja and wife Josefina Ignacio have a son Philip John, 29, a civil engineer employed by Smart. Borja said he married his wife at a Sta. Cruz Church mass wedding in 1996 when their son was required to produce his parents’ marriage contract as an Espiritu Santo High School student in Tayuman.

Borja and his son are avid basketball fans. Their favorite PBA team is Ginebra San Miguel and their idol is Jay-Jay Helterbrand. In the NBA, Borja cheers for the Boston Celtics while his son is a Phoenix Suns fan. Borja said he has joined several Star contests but never hit the jackpot until now. When he was announced as the first prize winner in this column last Sunday, Borja couldn’t believe it. “It felt like I won the lotto,” he said.

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Our Christmas contest couldn’t have been a success without the support of our generous donors:

Raymond Yu, Terry Que and Carlo Quevada of Rain Or Shine, Allan Gregorio of Air 21, PBA commissioner Chito Salud, PBA media bureau chief Willy Marcial, PSC chairman Richie Garcia, PTA president Robert Aventajado, The Herma Group chairman Hermie Esguerra, Dr. Mikee Romero of Harbour Centre, PLDT, Smart, Metro Pacific and Meralco (through Abet Dungo), GAB chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon, Planet Sports president Anton Gonzalez, Reli de Leon, PHILTA vice president Randy Villanueva, POC chairman Monico Puentevella, POC vice president Manny Lopez, Philippine Star president Miguel Belmonte, Kathy Lim Uy of Bodyworx, Anthony Suntay, Barangay Ginebra team manager Samboy Lim, San Miguel Beermen team manager Hector Calma, B-Meg team manager Alvin Patrimonio, Mary Jane Llanes and Margot Subiaga of San Miguel Corp., Mae Dichupa and Tony Atayde of Nike Philippines, Phiten general manager Ron Colmenares, Ginny Guanco of Stratworks Marketing, Cristina Aspiras of Emerald Headway, DSS chairman Dioceldo Sy, Tony Aldeguer of the ALA Gym and Island Souvenirs, Sonia Trading managing director Anil Buxani, Shell vice president Bobby Kanapi and Alaska Milk team manager Joaqui Trillo.

Congratulations to our winners and many thanks to our sponsors. Merry Christmas to all!