Free chess training

Two members of the Malibay Chess Club (MCC), Jonathan Bucatcat and Paulino Francisco, selflessly volunteered their services last Saturday to help in providing chess training to kids at the Community and Family Services International (CFSI).

"Thank you so very much again for sending two of your members to CFSI this past Saturday- their skill and speed were very impressive, and I think our members really enjoyed learning from them! I was also glad to have the opportunity to meet them in person," said Maureen Harkins in her email. Maureen is an American volunteer at CFSI.

(NOTE: Photo courtesy of Ms. Maureen.)

Power from within

Money can mean the rise or fall of an organization. Choosing between an organization with money and the one which has not, I would definitely choose the former.

Can an organization run without money? Maybe. A loose organization can probably live without funding. But what about an organization with a formal structure? Perhaps not.

Is it only the money that really counts? Of course not. Is it the money that is most important for an organization to survive? I don’t think so, too. Let us not forget that the best resource is always the people. The safe thing to say, possibly, is to take away the superlatives. Money may not necessarily be the most important factor. But one thing for sure – it is important.

Where should the money come from? Without a blink of an eye, I would readily answer: from all possible, legal, and moral ways. The more sources of money, the better. The more money, the merrier.

The equation is simple. The more money an organization has, the more projects it can accomplish. The more money an organization has, the better it can provide its services.

Since money is important, it should be valued and guarded. Every centavo, every peso should be accounted for. Even the smallest amount should translate into a valuable service. Transparency earns trust. An organization composed of individuals who trust each other generates marvelous power from within.

This is especially true when the money comes from every member of an organization. Every centavo that a member puts in an organization is more than economic in nature. Every time a member shares his money, he also shares a part of himself.

Meaning, the money that is being accumulated also stands for the fusion of all the members’ trust, aspirations, service, and brotherhood. That gesture of sharing is a real power from within – the kind of power that can make an organization win.

Community service: CFSI visit

As a way of reaching out to communities and carrying the spirit of caring for others, the Malibay Chess Club (MCC), together with the Edang chess group, visited the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) in Park Avenue in Pasay City last June 21 to promote youth development through chess.

The MCC members accompanied the promising kids from Edang (who are ably handled and trained by Pastor Larry Teodoro of Brgy. 154, Zone 16), to meet and play with other kids from CFSI.

As introduced on its website, CFSI is a “humanitarian organization committed to peace and social development, with particular interest in the psychosocial dimension. The purpose of CFSI is rebuilding lives. Based in the Philippines, CFSI works internationally, primarily but not exclusively in the Asia-Pacific region.”

CFSI “has worked closely with the international community as well as national and local authorities responsible for uprooted persons in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. In addition, CFSI has carried out special training efforts in various parts of the world for humanitarian workers, social service personnel, and human rights specialists.

Chess education forms part of the various disciplines and dimensions used by CFSI in helping out-of-school youth, especially those coming from the poor sector. As a community service, the MCC is trying to support – even in a very simple way – a humanitarian organization such as the CFSI.

“I hope that this collaboration continue and pick-up momentum in the future,” said Mr. Ar-Ar Arcadio of the CFSI. In behalf of the CFSI, Mr. Arcadio welcomed the MCC members as well as the Edang group.

He introduced us to CFSI volunteers and briefed us about CFSI’s visions. He was assisted by a French volunteer named Ms. Caroline. The visit was facilitated by the kind efforts of Ms. Maureen Harkins of the CFSI, who is also a volunteer from the United States.

The event was a wonderful opportunity for meeting new friends as well as for initiating a noble cause. Before the start of tune-up games, the kids from CFSI introduced themselves – one by one – to the kids from Edang. And then, the kids from Edang made their turn of introducing themselves. A very enriching experience, indeed.

And so the tune-up games followed. Notably, not only the kids played with each other. MCC’s Alex Imperial played some blitz games with Mr. Arcadio (who shared his unforgettable experience of beating GM Bong Villamayor in a simul exhibition some years ago). Even MCC members played games with CFSI people. Also, as another highlight of the occasion, Mr. Jay-El did a simul exhibition.

Mr. Arcadio noted that CFSI needs additional volunteers who could train their kids in times their volunteer coach is not around. As a possible assistance of the MCC to CFSI in developing the youth through chess, some of the club members showed willingness to provide chess lessons to CFSI kids.

That Saturday, the lobby of CFSI was a venue of potentials. The occasion served as a good seed of friendship and collaboration from which something grand and big would emerge in the future.

Optimism is in the air. And with a number of people with high sense of volunteerism bonding together, the future certainly looks bright for a genuine chess development in Pasay.

Message from the President

What follows is a message from the president of the Malibay Chess Club, no other Mr. Greg Wong. Please read and pass on the message . . .

20 June 2008


Dear Mr. Allan Millan:

On behalf of the Malibay Chess Club, I extend my deepest sympathy to you and to each member of your family on the recent loss of your father. Again, I extend to you my personal sympathy and understanding in your great loss.

I'm really sorry to hear about your father. We both know that he is now with God in a better place with his suffering gone. I know how much his pain caused you sorrow and grief, and I found it extremely difficult to see you bear it. But, God will never give us more than we can bear, and he is with you through every step in your life.

Your father will always be with you; his spirit and good will be part of you no matter where you go. I know that you wanted, needed, and hoped for more time to spend with your father but the time you did spend with him meant so much to him. Your father loved you very much and I know you will miss him terribly. God gives us examples on this earth of how we should live our lives and your father was one of the best examples I know.


Sincerely,

Gregory Wong

Malibay Chess Club President

Bonding

Chess can be a bridge in reaching out for your loved ones. The picture above shows how chess can be used as a powerful tool in creating a strong bonding between a father and son. The father (Jun), who is a member of the Malibay Chess Club, is all smiles while watching his son reaching for the chess clock. I think we should adopt a new mantra in chess: play chess, win your loved ones.

Positive energy

I was surprised and really elated this morning. Angelo Berico, Malibay Chess Club’s tournament director, paid me a surprise visit in my work place in Makati after volunteering to process the club’s registration papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

After securing the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws from the SEC this morning, he decided to drop by our office here in Buendia while on his way home back to Malibay. Of course, as a host to a fellow club member – or better, a friend – I treated him to a simple lunch (rice and “adobo” prepared by my supportive wife as my “baon,” sauted ampalaya with “alamang,” noodles soup, and softdrinks. We had chess topics as our appetizer while we feasted on our simple meals. And as a special dessert or “panghimagas,” I let him use my laptop to browse chess sites on the Internet.

His service to the club is simply priceless, something that can’t be bought by money. It’s pure, unselfish, brotherly service to a noble cause which he believes in. A man of few words, he simply lets his actions do the talking. I just hope that his sense of volunteerism inspire other MCC members to exhibit the same aura of eagerness, same intensity of spirit of unity, and same greatness of concrete actions.

Just imagine that he devoted time and effort to process the club’s application papers with the SEC! Just imagine the level of perseverance and patience he endured in falling in line for a bureaucratic government transaction. All for free. I call it pure dedication – a positive energy that can move mountains of challenges!

Positive energy . . . a constructive one. May this be a part of our culture in the camaraderie that we are starting to build.

Lucky Black King

Obviously, the lady shows which chess piece is her most favorite. How I wish I were the Black King! Just look at how she hugs that giant piece. Wouldn't you enjoy chess if this lady sits on the other side of the board? Sadly, I don't even know her name. I just stole this shot while I was at the Island Cove in Cavite.

And how I wish we have a lady Super GM as beatiful as she is. When do you think can we produce a Judit Polgar from the Philippines?

Busy

I somehow feel some guilt that this blog has been idle for almost a week. Sorry guys, I’ve been buried beneath my hectic loads in school and work. You know, just need to work for my family, got to attend further schooling for the abstract promise of the “future.” But the adrenalin to write (blog) for a good cause is simply burning and exploding inside me. No matter how small, this blog will continue to help in advancing this sport of chess – with an end-view of touching lives, of changing lives, for the better. More blogs to come . . . promise.

What a wonderful world

I took this picture during a break when I attended a seminar workshop held at the Island Cove in Kawit, Cavite just recently. I cannot help stealing this shot when I glanced upon these three young beautiful ladies frolicking over a giant chessboard. How I wish I had pictures taken with them around me. But because I am the 'torpe' type, all I could do was stare at them, and be enchanted and enslaved by their irresitible charm, as they gracefull moved over the board. What a beautiful day! What a wonderful world . . .