“I’m happy with the blessing. I was ecstatic,” said the beaming Vergara in an interview. “I was the fourth one to be called. Can you believe that?” He explained that the first three who were called for the grand prize were not around to claim their prize. They were given the two-minute grace period after which their prize was forfeited. “So every time a name was called and he or she failed to show up, the crowd got even more excited.”
Mr. Vergara has been joining the raffle draw for four years now, and every time he would wait until the end of the draw hoping his name would be called. “I waited for three hours this time,” he laughed. “And I guess it paid off.” The raffle draw started at 2:00 pm and ended at 5:00 pm.
The Mobil Oil Raffle Draw has become an annual event in Koror since 2005. Every purchase of fuel worth $10 entitles customers to one raffle ticket. Consolation prizes included PNCC airtimes and Debusche cards and fuel vouchers.
Vergara, a Maintenance Supervisor at Palau Community College, has been working in Palau since 1974; and during those years he has gained so many friends both foreign and local. “Everywhere I go now, people congratulate and tease me,” he laughed.
He has already registered his new car yesterday and road-tested it all the way to Choll in Babeldaob. He said he plans to sell the car as he’s happy with his old one.
