Gift

It was a tear-jerking moment which happened before my eyes, and which was captured by my digital camera.

Let me share with you this dramatic, inspiring story . . .

The date was September 5, 2008, the day GM Eugene Torre, Asia's first grandmaster, was scheduled to hold a simul exhibition in Meralco in Ortigas for the benefit of the families of Philippine PARA Team players.

It was a bit rainy, cold morning when I and my friend Angelo Comendador of Malibay Chess Club arrived at the venue.

The members of the Philippine PARA Chess Team, together with their families (wives and kids), were already there when we arrived. (Lately, the team has been the beneficiaries of fund-raising activities held by Filipino GMs in Meralco).

I helped a bit in physical preparations. After a while, Rolly Cruz, president of Meralco Chess Club and organizer of the simul event, arrived.

While entering the playing venue, Rolly was met by one of the members of RP's PARA Team, with an old, worn-out, white plastic bag. My digital camera vividly captured that dramatic scene:


Rolly relayed to us perfectly how the touching moment unfolded. Please read on . . .

Melchor: Sir, eto lang ang maipapasalubong ko sa inyo. Ang aking konting nakayanan.

rjsolcruz: Nag-abala ka pa! Kahit naman wala ay ok na dahil pinasaya nyo naman kami at binigyan ng karangalan. (I opened it and saw his 3 GOLD medals!!! And my tear dropped).

rjsolcruz: Naku! Medals mo ito, eh. Itago mo yan at pinaghirapan mo yan. Mag-pa-picture na lang tayo mamaya na suot mo yan.

Melchor: Sir, hindi ko makukuha yan kung hindi dahil sa tulong nyo sa amin. Maraming maraming salamat po.

(NOTE: The Philippine PARA Chess Team won six gold medals in the recent 2009 ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.)