(Bangon Pilipinas Movement (BPM) standard-bearer Eduardo Villanueva said Monday night he would abolish legalized gambling if elected president in May. - by Edu Punay, The Philippine Star News, Wednesday, March 23, 2004)

It is noteworthy to mention the following:

a) Chance of winning in a lotto 6/42 draw is 1 out of 3,776,965,920.
b) Chance of winning in a lotto 6/45 draw is 1 out of 5,864,443,200.
c) Chance of winning in a lotto 6/49 draw is 1 out of 10,068,347,520.

In case you are wondering what function is used in this computation. It is called PERMUT in most computer spreadsheet software. It returns the number of pemutations for a given number of objects.

In Star Office, for example, the function =PERMUT(6; 3) returns 120. We can say that there are 120 different possibilities, say to pick a sequence of 3 playing cards out of 6 playing cards.

Aren't you wondering why the pot prize would reach millions and millions of pesos, while each bet only costs ten pesos? Also, only one-third (1/3) of the total accumulated cash is allocated for the prize money. Two-thirds goes to sharing of the lotto franchisee and the government minus the operating expenses.

Meaning to say if the prize money has reached 90 million pesos, that is a whooping 27 million bets or a total of 270 million pesos taken from the pockets of the Filipino public, to the detriment of mostly the poor who wants a quick shot to the fabled riches one can get from playing lotto.

And this happens every week! tsk... tsk... tsk...

Eddie Villanueva's stand is based on the truth that the gambling has already destroyed the lives of many families. It must be stopped... the uneducated poor are usually the ones who suffer most. They didn't know that the two lotto bets that could mean 1 kilo of rice stand a one in several billions chance of winning. False hope... false hope.

What is your candidate's stand on this issue? Are they giving you false hopes just like as if you are going to win the lotto if ever they win the presidential race? False hope... false hope. This is what you should avoid like a plague, else we all plunge into economic disaster. Scrutinize the policies that they have to offer. It means my life, your life, the lives of our children and our children's children.

Note: Although it was not mentioned, I believe that there is a contingency already being planned by Villanueva and his team of economic advisers and lawyers where to place the employees of legal gambling who will be affected by this implementation so they can continue working for a living in a new and perhaps better dimension. It is important to understand that more is at stake when one chooses not to break gambling as an economic barrier than choosing to fight against it and the evil it causes to our already ailing economy and society.

Saan Isinulat: Election2004.PH, Presidential Candidate's Forum, Bro. Eddie Villanueva
Paksa: Re: Issue: Villanueva's Stand on Gambling
Kailan Sinulat: March 23, 2004

(Ito ang isinulat ng isang forumer (aragorn): "Other candidates might support gambling, so Bro. eddie is really our best alternative... Say No to Corruption, No to Gambling...How about liquors and cigarettes? Should we tolerate drinking sessions and smoking in public? I think Bro. Eddie should not support smoking and drinking. This issue confuses me. What is the real stand of Christians regarding these voices? anybody who can answer pls.")

I am happy to hear you say that Villanueva is our best alternative. Likewise for me and legions more out there, indeed he is.

I respect your opinion related to other vices.

This is my opinion and perhaps others out there:

You see in a democratic country, if people wants to go to heaven, very well indeed. If they want to go to hell, let them go to hell. We have free will. We have freedom. That is democracy. We are not under an authoritarian rule. Christians by heart of course would refrain from the intake of these substances because it is unhealthy and most believe that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

If people wants to damage their health with unhealthful living despite of numerous warnings from health officers and educational campaign let them go on and damage their health. That is democracy. In the process the health damage is limited to the person who habitually takes them. Economic damage might be difficult to quantify because a market exists.

As long as it is lawful for a substance to be sold in the market to be consumed by human beings as determined by the the proper regulatory boards and our laws, there is no way a president can have the power to limit its proliferation.

Gambling however can be controlled. It has the most damaging effect to the poor who either became compulsive gamblers or casual ones yet deprives them of their daily sustainance with practically nothing in return.

My two cents.

Saan Isinulat: Election2004.PH, Presidential Candidate's Forum, Bro. Eddie Villanueva
Paksa: Re: Issue: Villanueva's Stand on Gambling
Kailan Sinulat: March 24, 2004

(One supporter stresses the need for Villanueva to clarify the issue on other vices such as smoking and drinking liquor.)

Yes, I agree with you that it has to be clarified... for the sake of those with those vices. I'm sure he will.

For me, Villanueva's stand on the moral issues is sufficient grounds for me to support him. It is my opinion that vices are more of a health concern than a moral one. Even people in biblical times drink as some would say.

Until there is a law that directly prohibits it, the president will have no power to implement a total ban. That is simply not possible in any democratic society. Of course, only people

I don't smoke. I previously drink casually but doesn't do it for more than a year now. I did bet on lotto, though on several occations... I'll be glad to have it removed from our society para wala ng temptation if there is a legal basis to do it. The same thing for other vices. There must be a strong legal basis to do this... and this job is not under the job description of the presidency. It is the job of our bicameral legislature.

In my opinion, what is needed is massive information campaign in the absence of a law. To do otherwise, it will of course be unlawful and will cause numerous lawsuits. Look at Fred Lim... he's in for some serious trouble now. No matter how nice your intentions are, you can't work outside the framework of the law.

Among all the candidates, hurl the same question to them... and see what they have to say. Who was bold enough to shake the system? Each victory can be achieved a milestone at a time... there is no such thing as "instant" solution. Some parties are proliferating that kind of false hope.

Villanueva is simply true and realistic. For his stand on corruption whose root cause is the lack of moral sense in offices, I am with him. He has a very workable solution to this menace to our economy. Gambling is a milestone that I consider to be a strong achievement if ever implemented. Who among the other presidentiables dare do that?

Saan Isinulat: Election2004.PH, Presidential Candidate's Forum, Bro. Eddie Villanueva
Paksa: Issue: Villanueva's Stand on Gambling
Kailan Sinulat: March 25, 2004

(Sabi ng isang manunulat sa forum... "Nananahimik ang isang bagay na nakakatulong eh pakikialaman niya..")

Mga Tanong:

• Sino ang mas maraming tumataya ng lotto? Mayayaman o mahihirap? Sagot: mahihirap
• Ilan ang nananalo ng first prize sa isang 6/42 draw ng lotto? Sagot: Isa, dalawa, tatlo, masuwerte na ang apat, minsan wala pa
• Ilan ang tumataya ng lotto? Sagot: Milyon-milyon
• Kanino nakakatulong ang lotto katulad ng sinabi mo? ITO ANG SAGUTIN MO.