THE 1ST IM MARLO MICAYABAS TORIL CHESS CALLENGE 2009

March 24, 2009 9:10 A.M

SEARCHING FOR THE NEW BREED OF PHILIPPINE CHESS HEROES

March 18, 2009 1:10 P.M

Every last quarter of the year, young chess players of varrying age, size and color in this side of the planet flocked to the SM Davao, Ecoland, Davao City to locked horns against each other over the 64 squares board in the Southern Mindanao leg of the Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships. The competition is held for two consecutive days among the almost 1000 participants divided into kiddies and junior categories for a chance to qualify in the Grand Finals in Manila.

I had the occasion of accompanying my daughters during the 2006 and 2008 edition and it was really a lot o fun seeing all those young chessplayers accompanied by their proud and supportive parents. It was also an opportunity for me to be reunited with my chess playing contemporaries during my college days whom i have not seen for a long time tagging along their respective kids just like me. The first time around, my youngest kid Florence Faith was adjudged as the youngest participant being only five years old at that time. I was very proud and happy for her. However during the first round she was paired against the top seed and was mated in just a couple of moves. To add insult to injury, she was teased by her fellow players prompting her to cry. She ran towards me and would not play anymore. If she did not return she would not be illegible to received the award. It took me a while to comfort her and eventually i was able to persuade her to play in the next round. The rest was history..

Two lovely kids and one Barney

March 15,2009 6:15 p.m

These are my two kids Caissa Jane, nickname(CJ) 9 years old and Florence Faith, nickname (FF) 7 years old together with Barney during a recent children's party they attended.

My little house in the mountain

March 15, 2009 5:45 p.m

This is my little rest house where i and my family including my parents spend our weekends away from the city.

What's in the name?

March 15, 2009

I titled this blog Caissa's father as my eldest daughter is named, guess who?
CAISSA JANE.To those un-iniated, Caissa is the goddess of CHESS and being a self-
confessed chess addict I decided to name my child in her honor. Caissa Jane is now 9
years old and just the other day was recognized as the first honor in her grade III
class together with my younger daughter FLORENCE FAITH 7 years old, who was
also adjudged as the first honor in her grade 1 class. I taught my daughters how to
play chess during their early years hoping that they will follow my footsteps and
surpassed my modest chess achievements. Florence Faith was even adjudged as the
youngest participant at 5 years old and was given a special award during the 2006
Southern Mindanao leg of the Shell Youth Active Chess Championships.

In this blog chess will be the priority of my discussion specially in the local
scene, but I will also be writing about my family, politics and entertainment. That's
all for now.