For Benedicto “Benny” Marra, working abroad was never about dreams of luxury. Like many overseas Filipino workers, his years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were defined by discipline, sacrifice, and a steady commitment to his family back home.

A mechanic by profession, Benny spent more than two decades overseas, carefully setting aside part of his income while relying on BDO as his financial partner.

“Life abroad is demanding, maraming hirap at na-aksidente pa ako. Pero kinaya ko lahat ng sakripisyo,” Benny recalled.

While far from home, saving remained non negotiable. Benny said choosing the right bank became central to managing his earnings and ensuring his family’s security.

“Nirekomenda ng kasama ko sa trabaho ang BDO kaya nag open ako ng account. Noong pandemic, anytime, anywhere, gamit ko ang mobile banking para tuloy lang ang padala. Tapos, pag nauwi ako, tuwing pupunta sa branch, ang ganda ng salubong sa akin ng mga staff, parang VIP. Talagang ramdam ko na katuwang ko ang BDO,” he shared.

What began as routine banking during a vacation last December unexpectedly changed his fortunes. Benny initially visited a branch only to convert his salary remittance through a foreign exchange transaction. During that visit, branch staff encouraged him to open a Kabayan Savings Account with ATM access for greater convenience.

He also learned about BDO’s Holiday Million Rewards Raffle.

Benny admitted he rarely joins promotions. Still, after staff explained the mechanics and assisted him through the registration process, including downloading the BDO Pay app and activating his BDO Rewards, he agreed.

“There was nothing to lose by joining so I said yes, but honestly, I didn’t expect to win anything.”

Weeks later, Benny received a call that left him stunned.

At first, he assumed he had won one of the smaller prizes. Only after further explanation did he realize he was the grand winner of P1 million worth of BDO Rewards Points.

“Natulala ako. I kept asking if it was real,” he said, laughing at the memory. “When I finally understood what I had won, I felt overwhelming joy and gratitude.”

For Benny, the prize represents more than a windfall. It offers practical support for long standing plans. He said he intends to use the rewards at the SM Store and SM Appliance Center as he continues renovating his house in Pangasinan. Part of the winnings will also help strengthen his retirement savings, while another portion is earmarked for a BDO Life policy for his grandchild.

“With BDO’s support and this blessing, I feel more secure about the future,” he said.

BDO Executive Vice President and Head of Branch Banking Cora A. Mallillin said Benny’s story reflects the bank’s broader objective.

“At BDO, we believe that saving should always be rewarding. Our products, services and promotions like this one are all designed to reward loyal clients like Benny who trust us with their hard earned money.”

Benny is set to return to Riyadh to continue working overseas. This time, however, he does so carrying not only years of perseverance, but a reminder that consistent saving can sometimes lead to unexpected rewards.

About BDO
BDO Unibank, Inc. is a full service universal bank providing a wide range of corporate and retail banking services. These include traditional loan and deposit products, treasury, trust banking, investment banking, private banking, rural banking, microfinance, cash management, leasing, remittance, life insurance, property and casualty insurance brokerage, cash cards, credit cards, and stock brokerage services, complemented by digital banking solutions.

BDO maintains one of the country’s largest distribution networks, with more than 1,800 branches and 5,900 teller machines nationwide. The bank also operates branches in Hong Kong and Singapore, along with 14 other international offices.

BDO is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Deposits are insured by PDIC up to P1 Million per depositor.