Nightshift:call center agent’s blog

Only in the text promo, not on the show itself. And I just texted in without the intention of winning.

The date was Dec. 13, 2006. I was about to sleep then, around 8:15 pm, because I have to wake up early the next day. I’m a trainee for a new position in the company where I work; training starts at 8 am. I just watched the program to make myself sleepy.

The Banker’s offer in the Kapamilya, Katext, Deal or No Deal is relatively high, and the odds of getting a higher amount from the ten boxes is slim. By the way, each box contain a certain amount of money: P 10,000, P 15,000, P 20,000, P 25,000, P 30,000, P 35,000, P 40,000, P 45,000, P 50,000 and P 100,000.

If I didn’t have the intention of winning the game, why did I text? Wala lang. Gusto ko lang. Of course in the hindsight, I want to win but if I didn’t, I’m not disappointed. It’s just a television show.

So I texted the words ABS Deal and sent it to 2366. That was my second time to text to that game show. I noticed though that when I sent in the text, it took around 3 minutes before I received the confirmation message and the ringtone itself. The ringtone, by the way, is “Ugly,” which I do not know if it’s a song, or whatever.

The name that I used is my second first name, which is Joseph. Initially, I planned to use my first - first name, but since Joseph is the name that I use at work, I might as well use it in the text. Again, I had no inkling that a P 15 text would reward me a certain amount of money.

So I dozed off. The training went smoothly and there was no heavy traffic on the road, specially on C5, unlike on Dec. 12 when Dudot Jaworski’s car exploded. I stay in a boarding house in Makati, by the way, with my two sisters.

After watching TV Patrol World on the night of Dec. 14, I immediately went to sleep. My sister, woke me up at around 11 pm. She said that her choirmate texted her, asking if I joined in Deal or No Deal. The texter said I won.

My instant reaction then was, Uhm, okay. Then I went to sleep.

The next day, I was taking my lunch when a lower batchmate in high school texted me, saying the same thing, that I won. Really? Okay, I’ll check if I really won, I told her.

December 16, simbang gabi. Since the patio of the church is crowded and there’s no way for me to find a seat, I have no option but to stand while hearing the mass. My mother passed by (we weren’t able to see each other the other night because she and her classmates had a reunion), and she asked if it was me who won. I’m not sure, I said. My mom watches the game show religiously, the same with Game Ka Na Ba? but for that specific Dec. 14 episode, she wasn’t able to catch the show.

Standing beside me while hearing the mass is my classmate in elementary. Incidentally, he also won on the same game show. But I intentionally did not bring up the issue.

The mass the next day was the same. We were standing on the same spot, and we saw our other classmates in elementary. I finally asked him how to verify if one really won in Deal or No Deal. He said that a letter will be sent and I will be called. And it would take a month before I can claim the prize.

While I was leaving the church, another lower batchmate in high school asked if I was the one who won. I said it wasn’t me; it was my brother. I am more known in our place as Herbert and not Joseph.

To make the long story short, I was only able to verify that on the last week of December. The lady I spoke to in Abs-Cbn Interactive told me that I will be called and a letter will be sent to me. When I asked how much I won, she refused to divulge it, but said it was the prize money and not the prepaid load.

And then I waited for 30 days, and twice I called Abs-Cbn for updates. I was then told that it would take 45 days before I can claim the prize.

In the afternoon of January 15, while I was in the municipal hall to get some documents, I got a call from Abs-Cbn, asking me if my cellphone network is Globe or Touch Mobile, because they would send me a P 1, 000 load. Alright, give it to me baby, I’m a TM subscriber. Then they sent me the load in six P 150 loads and one P 100.

On January 26, afternoon, after my photo assignment of the Street Dancing competition, I saw the missed call list on my cellphone. My contact person in Interactive tried to call me thrice but since I’m in the road, I wasn’t able to hear the ring. She just sent me a message:

Please call 41587** regarding the prize you’ve won in Kapamilya Deal or No Deal. Look for Raiz** Villa******. Thanks.

After I read the message, I immediately called the number and was advised to get the prize on Tuesday or Thursday, and bring three valid IDs.

Since it’y my rest day on Monday and Tuesday, I planned to claim the prize on Thurday.

Jan. 31, Tuesday. My contact in the Interactive called me up while I was in bed sleeping. She asked if I can go to Abs-Cbn for the 5 pm taping of the show. Kris Aquino is supposed to be the who will hand over the cheque, together with the other winners. I declined.

So I claimed the prize last Feb. 1. I waited for 30 minutes before they would allow me to go to the sixth floor of ELJ Building. I already had my company ID photocopied.

I was asked to fill up a small piece of paper, just the size of a business card, and wrote my name, address, mobile number, address and the game show where I won. They also asked me to lend them my cellphone.

Afterwards, a young man handed me over the check and an endorsement letter for the depository bank. I was asked to fill out another document. He said he’s from Antipolo.

I thought that the Security Bank is far from ELJ Building, but I later knew that it’s just two or three blocks away. The three IDs that I presented seems not to be enough. He directed me to their manager who does not seem to be accomodating. She wrote down the numbers of my company ID, voters ID and NBI clearance at the back of the check.

While waiting in line to withdraw the price money, another client saw the documents I was holding. She asked me if I won too. I said yes. She said she’s accommodating her daughter who won P 2, 000 in Uplate.

After three minutes, I was counting the five-digit prize money.

I immediately flagged down a taxi and asked to be driven to the MRT Station in Quezon Ave.

The travel could have been smooth, if not only with the alleged snatcher who stole the cellphone of another passenger. When the passenger told his companion that he just lost his cellphone, and suspects that the man who alighted to the Boni station was the robber, I immediately looked for my cell phone and of course, the envelope that contains the money. Luckily, they’re not lost.

So, what did I do with the money? Currently, it’s in a time deposit. I haven’t bought anything for myself. The money that I have been spending came from my salary.

But I’m planning to buy a washing machine for my mom. Or a cellphone perhaps. I will register another website tomorrow and hope to earn some money in advertisement. Since I really didn’t expect to win, I guess the better option is to store the rest of the money in the bank.

Susunod: lotto naman.