By NIDRA KEWERE MAPI
SECURITY officer Mali Kanaba cried tears of joy when a reporter from The National told him that he had won a Toyota UTE in the newspaper’s year-end bonanza draw.
The 45-year-old was in shock and speechless for several seconds before breaking out in excitement.
He told his boss and colleagues the news before rushing over to The National’s head office in Gordon to claim the grand prize.
“I am so overjoyed that I have won this prize … I don’t know what to say,” he said when asked how he felt.
“I just sent in as many entries as I could and can’t believe that I won the UTE.”
Mr Kanaba, who is from Balimo in Western province, said he was a regular reader of The National, which he described as “simple and easy to read and understand”.
The second prize of a flat-screen TV and DVD player sponsored by BNBM Hardware was won by Andrew Ropi of Port Moresby.
The third prize – a solar panel from Steamships Hardware – was won by Toto Steven of Lae.
The other winners of a mountain bicycle each from Coral Investment were Tommy Yakombe (Port Moresby), Edmond Kamang (Madang), Gwendarlyn Loloea (Lae), Vari Fred (Lae) and Mongs Paranesy (Lae).
Manao Reno of Port Moresby is the proud owner of a computer package from Comserv while Manasupe William (Lae) and Rex Polin Kaialon (Lorengau) each won the K1,000 RH Hypermart shopping voucher.
A pleasant night’s stay at Hideaway Hotel in Port Moresby awaits Wandong Tupamun (Lae), Maika Kara (Port Moresby), Nao Ragagalo (Port Moresby), Jerry Tuakara (Port Moresby) and Michael Baiu (Port Moresby).
Thousands of entries were received for the year-end bonanza draw organised by The National with support from BNBM, Steamships, Coral Investment, Comserv, RH Hypermart and Hideaway Hotel.
Representatives from the sponsors drew the winning entries.