Battle of GMs 2009

The Battle of GMs 2009 unfolds from March 24 to 31 in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.

The venue will be the Pavilion Hotel (Dapitan Beach Resort Hotel).

Let's meet the players:

Men's (12 players)

GM Wesley So 2627

GM Eugene Torre 2560

GM John Paul Gomez 2539

GM Mark Paragua 2537

GM Rogelio Antonio 2519

GM Darwin Laylo 2504

GM Buenaventura Villamayor 2471

GM Jayson Gonzales 2466

IM Richard Bitoon 2473

IM Julio Catalino Sadorra 2439

IM Rolando Nolte 2488

IM Ronald Dableo 2342

Women's (12 players)

Catherine Perena

Chardine Cheradee Camacho

Shercila Cua

Daisy Rivera

Christy Bernales

Sherily Cua

Rulp Ylen Jose

Beverly Mendoza

Jedara Docena

Kimberly Jane Cunanan

Jan Jodiyln Fronda

Rida Jane Young

Good luck to all players!

The venue -- Dapitan Beach Resort Hotel (aka Pavilion Hotel) -- is said to be owned and run by the local municipal government.

SOME INFO ABOUT DAPITAN CITY

DAPITAN CITY is also called as Shrine City of the Philippines.

Dialects Spoken: 99% Cebuano. Others include Ilonggo, Subano, Tagalog, Tausog, Ilocano and Chavacano. Majority can speak and understand Tagalog and English Religion 95% Roman Catholics, 5% Prostestants.

Dapitan is derived from the word "Dapit" in Visayan meaning "to invite".

Dapitan City was home to Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the country's national hero, during his exile from Manila.

Area Profile: Dapitan City lies on the northwestern coast of the island of Mindanao. It is a double wedge-shaped mass of land bounded on the north by the Sulu Sea and linked on the south by the Municipalities of Mutia and La Libertad, on the east by the Municipalities of Sibutad and Rizal, on the west by Dipolog City and the Municipalities of Polanco, Sibutad, La Libertad and Rizal, all of the province of Zamboanga del Norte.

INTERESTING DESTINATIONS: Rizal Shrine - Dapitan's major historical landmark of the City. It is the original estate of the country's nation hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, who lived for four years in Dapitan as an exile from July 17,1892 to July 31, 1896.

Dakak Park and Beach Resort (world-renowned five star resort) - One of the developed beach resorts with complete accommodation facilities. Located at Dakak, Batangay Taquilon, about 9 kilometers from the city proper. The resort is ideally situated in a natural cane of pure sand. Facilities include quite a number of cottages, aquacycles, swimming pools, hobbicats, surf board for windsurfing, a disco house, tennis court, bowling alleys, billiard, horseback riding and a nice chapel. It It also offers the best continental cuisine.

HOW TO GET THERE

By Air, one can ride the 1 hour and 20 minute Dipolog plane from Manila and then go by land, 12 km to Dapitan City.

Philippine Airlines flies 5 times a week (Tues to Sun).