Pulido, Grafil top honors in FIDE arbiter seminar

Menardo Edwin A. Pulido and Grace B. Grafil tallied 39 out of possible 40 points to top the examination held after the conduct of FIDE Arbiters' Seminar last September 22 to 25 at the Duty Free, Philippines in Paranaque City, venue of the 4th PGMA Chess Cup.

Seven participants from the Philippines will be awarded the FIDE Arbiter title norm.

Pulido is the founder/ Executive Vice President of Pangasinan Chess Association; Vice President-NAPCA Northern Luzon; Vice President PACE Northern Luzon; and Coordinator of NCFP in Pangasinan.

An active member of the NCFP, the Valenzuela native Grafil is the mother of Franz Robert Grafil, member of the RP youth team in the 2007 World Under-16 Olympiad.

Other examinees are Edmundo O. Gatus 38/40; Teodulo “Teddy” L. Sarmiento 37/40; Ildefonso “Jun” M. Mantupar Jr. 36/40; Winston Joseph R. Silva 36/40 and Rodolfo B. Mayo Jr. 34/40.

Gatus is a certified national master and a former top player of University of Manila; Sarmiento, an active chess organizer from Baguio City; Mantupar, an active chess organizer from San Pablo City, Laguna; Silva, member of the coaching staff of the University of Sto. Toma;s and Mayo, a Police Officer from Manila.

The seminar was organized by the National Chess Federation of Philippines under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation.