Spanish Lottery Benefits Ecuadorians

Spain opened Christmas Season with the traditional lottery, the “Gordo” (name of the lottery) would share EUR 2,300 million (3,000 million approximately) to the lucky winners.

The students of San Ildefonso school, a former orphanage, sang the winning number, 79,250, the “Gordo” draw, which usually lasts three hours and is broadcasted nationally.

In times of unemployment and economic crisis, the lottery fits like a glove to some of the lucky winners, among them is Sabino Calderon, a 50-year-old Ecuadorian who earned $ 430,000. Calderón was unemployed for months and must also provide for his five children in Spain.

“I called my family in Ecuador and they could not believe it,” said Calderon. “This is a gift. The money will be invested in a business and also for my people of Ecuador,” he added.

Another graced by the “Gordo” is Rosa, a 17 year-old Ecuadorian who lives with her boyfriend and her mother, Piedad Arevalo, and bought a ticket (79,250) in Alicante. “Money suits us very well,” Arevalo told the reporters in the midst of her joy.

Agapito Villon was another Ecuadorian who benefitted from the “Gordo,” he received the fifth prize in the lottery ($ 7,000), that money will help him when at the momento he is unemployed and receiving a disability pension.

The “Gordo” Christmas draw of is the most popular of the year, playing the Christmas lottery is a tradition of the Spanish.