A Quezon City resident has taken home the P57,030,072 jackpot from the Mega Lotto 6/45 after unknowingly holding on to the winning ticket for over six months.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) confirmed that the winning combination — 06-41-29-12-02-15 — was drawn on January 1, 2025. However, the lone winner only claimed his prize on July 16, saying the ticket had been sitting in a bag with other unchecked bets he had accumulated over half a year.

The bettor, who has been placing lotto bets for 28 years, said he realized the win while sorting through his tickets. “Some of the tickets matched three numbers. But when I got to this one, I instantly recognized the numbers,” he told PCSO, adding that he double-checked online before the reality sank in.

Calling the win “the answer to our prayers,” he said he plans to use part of the prize to settle debts and set aside the rest for his child’s education.