Lottery win gives Canadian chance to spend Christmas in Philippines with kids after 12 years
For the first time in over a decade, a Canadian lottery player said she can finally spend Christmas in the Philippines with her kids after a jackpot win.
Lottery player Belinda Escalona lives in the town of Watson Lake in Yukon. According to WCLC, she decided to try her luck by buying a lottery ticket at Watson Lake Foods. Escalona purchased a Lightning Lotto ticket, a game where winning numbers are drawn at the beginning of the day, and tickets are sold to randomly match the winning numbers. According to OLG, the jackpot starts at $125,000 and continues to grow.
Escalona had been chatting with a friend and was distracted and didn’t notice the numbers on the screen.
“I thought it was only $259!” she said, laughing. “Another friend pointed out it was a lot more!”
The Lightning Lotto jackpot had risen considerably by then, and Escalona’s win actually had a few more digits in it — she had won a $259,055.30 in the Oct. 19, 2025, draw.
When reality sank in, she said she was stunned.
WCLC
“I was screaming and shaking,” she said. “People came up to see what was happening!”
She said she immediately shared the news with her nephew, who was also in disbelief. Escalona claimed her prize in December, and for her, the win means a lot as it would finally give her a chance to reunite with her family.
“I’m going to be able to see my kids and my mom in the Philippines,” she said, tearfully. “I haven’t spent Christmas with my kids in 12 years. This is going to be so special for us.”
When asked how it feels to win the lottery, she said, “It’s overwhelming. I just feel so grateful.”
All forms of gambling, including the lottery, involve risk and outcomes are based on chance. Individuals are strongly advised to gamble responsibly. If you are experiencing any signs of gambling-related issues, check out these resources.