Approximately 490,000 Filipino seafarers are dedicated to working on ships worldwide, ensuring the safety and enjoyment of cruise ship passengers and the secure delivery of cargo to its destinations.
One seafarer, who has been separated from his family for most of the past 12 years, missing significant events like Christmas, New Year celebrations, his son’s first steps, and birthdays, is now able to be with them full time, thanks to the PLDT Home Rewards Grand Giveaway Promo’s P5 million prize! Initially motivated by a desire to earn rewards and discounts from their PLDT Home subscription through the PLDT Home Rewards program, this 36-year-old OFW secured the ultimate cash prize during the second year of the PLDT Home Rewards Grand Giveaway promo.
To participate in the Grand Giveaway Promo, PLDT Home subscribers simply need to join the PLDT Home Rewards program for free. Aside from various perks and discounts offered by partner merchants, all PLDT Home Rewards members are automatically entered into the Grand Giveaway Promo, giving them a chance to win fantastic prizes.
A fortunate switch to PLDT Home
The fortunate winner and his family plan to utilize part of the prize money to pay for their house. “Additionally, we will set aside some of the prize money as savings because we have a four-year-old son, and it will go towards his education. We also intend to use the prize as seed capital to start a business,” they shared as they received the prize check from the PLDT head office in Makati.
The winner’s partner, who works from home for a BPO company, supports the idea of starting a business. She played a significant role in their victory because she enrolled them in the PLDT Home Rewards program while her husband was away at sea.
“We actually switched to PLDT Home,” she explained. “When we were living with my parents, they had PLDT Home for internet. When we bought our own house, we attempted to have it transferred, but at that time, there were few households in the area, and there was no available line yet. So, we used another service provider, but it was quite expensive. In 2017, we switched back to PLDT Home.”
During the pandemic, her BPO company required employees to work from home with a minimum internet speed requirement. She upgraded their plan to P1,669, which included a P200 discount.
“We are very satisfied with the internet speed and the reliability of the service. Even when they perform maintenance, we receive advance notifications,” she said. “We also subscribed to the FamCam promo so that while he was on the ship, he could monitor our son and see what we’re doing when we’re at home. That was crucial to us because our son was growing up, and we wanted him to feel close to his dad even when they were physically apart.”
When PLDT Home introduced its enhanced rewards program, she registered them, unaware that simply joining and earning Crystals would automatically enter them into the PLDT Home Rewards Grand Giveaway raffle promo.
“We had never won a raffle before in our lives,” she shared. “I received a notification with a link from PLDT Home last May. At first, we thought it might be a scam, but we verified that it came from PLDT Home. Then, we received a phone call that changed our lives.”
A well-deserved respite at home
A windfall of P5 million is a significant blessing for anyone, but for this 36-year-old OFW, it represents the opportunity to become a full-time partner and father. Typically, seafaring contracts in the Philippines span several months to a maximum of one year, and Filipino seafarers often sign consecutive contracts to ensure a continuous income stream to support their families, especially when working towards goals like owning a house, car, starting a business, or funding their children’s education.
Now, he can savor the fruits of his labor and all the sacrifices he made during his time as an OFW. He can simply be present with his family in the house they purchased several years ago. He is now a dedicated full-time father to his son, guiding him through his formative years and witnessing his growth.
“The days of seafaring are behind me, and hopefully, I’ll never have to go back. That’s very possible if we make the right business investments,” he says with a sense of relief in his voice, recalling the lonely years spent abroad, far from his young family.
Today, this couple is always on the lookout for additional benefits of being loyal PLDT Home subscribers. “We’re taking a closer look at the PLDT Home Rewards program and what we can redeem with our points,” she says with a smile.
This newly minted millionaire couple’s advice to others is to switch to PLDT Home because it offers faster, more reliable service and is generous to loyal subscribers. “If you’re already a subscriber, make sure to sign up for the PLDT Home Rewards. As long as you pay your bills on time, you’ll earn points that can be exchanged for rewards,” she suggests.
PLDT Home Rewards allows you to enjoy various perks and benefits, including vouchers for a wide range of partner brands and merchants, as well as entry into recurring promotions—all by simply paying your bills and accumulating Home Rewards Crystals. PLDT Home customers can easily join the Home Rewards program by visiting the PLDT Home Rewards website.
