MANILA, Philippines - Lady Luck has been playing funny tricks on me lately. I recently had the chance to choose a winning number from among 26 cases. How lucky could I be?

Yes, “Kapamilya Deal or No Deal” is back, with no less than former President Joseph Estrada gracing the opening of the highly acclaimed game show.
Speaking of returns, hottest comeback actor Gabby Concepcion is also an upcoming guest on this ABS-CBN rater.

My good friend Kris Aquino is also back, both hosting the show and with her svelte figure. For my date with the mysterious Banker, I chose a smashing Tiger Woods-red gown by Rajo Laurel. My family support group was all in red, too, as we were playing for the benefit of the Philippine National Red Cross, Makati Chapter.

The high energy in the brand-new set was contagious. The rebonded-hair 26K girls were in matching feathery hair accessories. A new addition was a drum-and-bugle corps called Parokya ni Banker. The episode airs this coming week, so do catch it and see how lucky I was.

Golf fundraiser

One never knows when luck arrives. I was playing golf with running buddy Malu Gamboa when an errant golf ball landed near us. And who should come up looking for the wayward ball but boxing champion Manny Pacquiao. As luck would have it, my camera was in my bag, too!

My next golf game will be at a fundraising golf tournament of Fr. Gerard Deveza on Aug. 13 at the Canlubang Golf and Country Club, South Course. At his Divine Healing Learning Center, Fr. Gerard has 231 students from selected poor families in Sorsogon City. His Healing Servants Foundation also funds a housing program and livelihood-skills training for sustainable daily needs.

Fr. Gerard tells me the shotgun tee-off is at 8:30 a.m., so there’s a slight chance I might miss the first hole or two. Tickets are at P2,500 inclusive of green fees, giveaways and lunch. Lots of golfers are still needed, so sign up your foursome.

Call 7273939 , 0917-5382033 or 0918-9008925. E-mail healingservants@ gmail.com.

Do you want to be lucky? If yes, then give some luck back first and help out Fr. Gerard and his kids.

Celebrity poker

With luck, what goes around comes around. As part of my fundraising efforts for the Makati Branch of the Red Cross, I’ve organized several events, one of which will test everyone’s luck.

Our Celebrity Texas Hold ’Em Poker Tournament will be at the Metro Club, Metrowalk Commercial Center, Ortigas on Aug. 9. The Queen of Hearts Tournament will start at 1 p.m. with a Celebrity Round at 6 p.m. It’s all for fun and charity, with prizes and giveaways for everyone. Even the non-poker players get something.

For the dark-glasses-at-the-table, more serious ones, we have vacation packages, mobile phones, TVs, appliances and even betting chips from Pagcor at stake. But since I’m the organizer and I always empathize with the losers, all the early exiters will have big prizes as well.

Pokerstars will record the final round for a future airing to promote this new craze, which is really a game of skill more than it is a game of chance. The Metro Card Club is already one of the best poker rooms in Asia, and will have coaches around to support the rookie players.

Call 0905-2545369 or text 0917-5261811; e-mail celebritypoker81@yahoo.com.ph; or visit www.metrocardclub.com. You may also register at to join in all the fun. The buy-in of P5,000 will get you exciting grand prizes and an afternoon of enjoyable entertainment.

I was so lucky to be able to solicit prizes from top vacation resorts like Club Noah in Palawan; Discovery Shores, Boracay Tropics and Tides Resort, all in Boracay; Amorita Resort in Bohol; and Pearl Farm in Davao.

Bora promos

Discovery Shores has an ongoing special promotion that is worth looking into. Experience luxury and world-class service while lounging in beautiful Bora. Check out www.discoveryshoresboracay.com or call 6838238 or 6838236.

The not-so-rainy season is a great time to go to Bora. Boracay Tropics Resort Hotel’s 3 Months of 3 Great Deals Promo is valid until mid-October. They have half-priced rooms and value packages with airfare via Seair, all at shockingly affordable prices. Visit www.boracaytropics.com or call 6871465 or 6673974.

When it comes to luck, I always have it with my favorite contemporary artist, Ivan Acuña. Ivan is donating a special grand prize for my Celebrity Poker Tournament, one of his giant paintings. Ivan is always so gracious and never fails to support my causes through donations of his wonderful artworks.

I just bumped into him at a Rustan’s event, where we collaborated to do beautiful vignettes at the lifestyle floor of the grand department store. Ivan has a number of his artworks on sale at Rustan’s and several setups display these pieces, so customers can have great ideas for living and dining interiors.

New Citi card

Rustan’s and Citi have teamed up for the latest plastic currency that gives you a rebate just by using the card in Rustan’s and all Store Specialists shops. This new credit card is now being offered alongside the recently launched Citi PremierMiles card.

The beauty about the new Citi PremierMiles card is the ability to choose between five Frequent Flyer Programs: Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles, Singapore Airline’s KrisFlyer, Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay Miles, Thai Airway’s Royal Orchid Plus and Northwest Airlines’ WorldPerks.

Also, it offers cardholders the chance to earn free miles for all spending at a generous rate of 1 mile for every P45.

Citi Country business manager Mark Jones talked about the exciting tie-up, which has a double miles promo this August. Any tickets are purchased with Citi PremierMiles also enjoy travel insurance. Now, that’s enough to convince me to get this new card.

So, just how lucky are you? I’ll leave everyone with a pleasant Sunday thought, one I got from Randy Pausch, a recently deceased YouTube star with 5.5 million hits. “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.”

E-mail the author at seaprincess@inquirer.com.ph.