Stephen Rome Pangilinan

Remember the 6-year old boy Stephen Rome Pangilinan who at his very young age can already battle against opponents more than twice his age?

As observers put it, this boy could be another Wesley So in the making.

He first drew attention when he did a respectable accomplishment. Well, he ‘simply’ tied for first to second place with eventual champion Claudio Olar Jr. in one MCC kiddies (16-under) tournament held in Mandaluyong City.

I had a chance to have a short chat with the young parents of Stephen one Sunday when I and my chess sparring mate visited MCC in Mandaluyong.

This boy is lucky because he has very supportive parents. His mom and dad (Bong), still with backpacks straight from night-shift job, accompanied their prized son whom they enrolled in MCC chess clinic.

“Wala pa ngang tulog, pero OK lang,” said Bong whose eyes beamed with pride and optimism about his gifted son.

Interestingly, he showed me the report card of Stephen in school. To my amazement, Stephen is really a bright boy not only in chess but also in school.

Bong said his son is improving academically. Oh, yes. His grades do the talking. All his grades in the first report dramatically improved in the second reporting.

He said that Stephen was ranked Top 4 in the first grading. That improved to Top 2 in the second grading. Excellent, indeed.

Remember the HOTS (higher-order thinking skills) concept? As studies have shown, chess improves the analytical skills of kids.

That’s why the move of DepEd in including chess in the school curriculum is a move that deserves double exclamation points!!

By the way, a close friend told me that it was Bro. Rolly Dizon, NCFP director for Mindanao(?), who advised DepEd Secretary Lapus about the inclusion of chess in school academics.

And that friend of mine was the one who provided Bro. Dizon with the literature and researched facts about the benefits from chess.

May Stephen follow the footsteps of great chess legends who are well accomplished in school academics while excelling at the same time in chess.