MANILA, Philippines — The Grand Lotto jackpot has already surpassed the P500-million mark and is still increasing, a first in the history of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

As of 2 p.m. on Friday, the total jackpot for the Grand Lotto 6/55 was P507,699,338. It was expected to reach as high as P535 million in this Saturday's draw.

PCSO said it was about time the Grand Lotto is won.

“Kami sa PCSO gusto namin mapanalunan na ang Grand Lotto jackpot na masyadong malaki na. At sana maraming mananal o para maraming magiging masaya (We at PCSO want the Grand Lotto jackpot won by many bettors so many will be happy),” said Liza Gabuyo, acting assistant general manager of the PCSO's On-Line Lottery Department (OLLD).

She said no one was able to bet on the six numbers drawn (53-09-45-24-50-29) last Wednesday, pushing the prize to over a half-a-billion pesos.

As this developed, PCSO Chairperson Margarita P. Juico was set to hold a mass at 4 p.m. Friday for the ill children being cared for by the Child Haus at the Quezon Institute compound in Quezon City.

The Manila Bulletin learned this from Manny Garcia, manager of the Publicity and Public Relations Department (PPRD) of the PCSO.

Garcia said: “The mass is the PCSO and the chairperson's way of showing continuing solidarity with the ailing children at the Child Haus and an assurance that PCSO did not intend and will never abandon them.”

The issue is only about the transfer of Child Haus to another location because its stay at one of the buildings at theQI compound is “contemporaneous” with PCSO’s stay.

“PCSO's leadership has pledged to continue providing assistance for the children,” said Garcia, adding the charitableagency has been shelling out P1.2 million yearly for Child Haus.

The draw for Saturday's roll-over prize since May 15 is Grand Lotto's 82nd, but its 92nd over all since it replaced the high-end Power Lotto on April 19.

Grand Lotto’s half-a-billion-peso breaking bonanza started off with the minimum prize of P30 million on May 15. Since then the 6/55 lottery has proved unyielding with no one guessing correctly the winning combinations for six months.

The 6/55 lottery is being drawn every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. PCSO held its first Grand Lotto draw on April 19 with its initial P30 million minimum prize and Power Lotto's remaining P101 million pot.

Then a bettor won 6/55's total P134.6 million prize on May 12, its 10th draw.

Edd Usman, Manila Bulletin