RP's participation in international events

Now it's official. The Philippines has no representative to the World Junior Chess Championship 2009 in Argentina. No RP entry was paired in Round 1 of WJCC 2009.

The first to skip was GM Wesley So - for a good reason. He has to attend to his studies to be able to graduate in high school this year. Nothing beats a good education.

The supposed participation of RP's reigning junior national champions Paulo James Florendo (Boys) and Jedara Docena (Girls), who earned their WJCC slots for winning the national junior championship in Aklan early this year, didn't materialize.

At least, the reason for Wesley's non-paricipation in WJCC 2009 was clear and well announced.

With the case of Florendo and Docena, only heaven knows.

Of course, we would like to see at least a Filipino warrior battling for the Philippine flag in that world event.

What about the country's participation in the Asian Indoors which will take place in the first week of November in Vietnam? WFM Catherine Pereña, WFM Shercila Cua, WIM Cristine Mariano, WIM Beverly Mendoza, GM Mark Paragua, GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr., IM Rolando Nolte, GM Jayson Gonzales burned their skin in the qualifying stage to get there.

Remember that the NCFP had already spent a lot in staging regional eliminations for the Asian Indoors event. Let's all hope that all the preparations won't go for naught, too.

The signs are bad. Remember that none of our female Asian Indoor qualifiers joined the 4th PGMA Cup and the 5th Pichay Cup, which could have been their good training regimen for the Asian Indoors. At least, the NCFP had required them to participate with it shouldering all the expenses.

And how about the country's participation in World Youth Chess Championships (WYCC) in Turkey also in November?

Is money really the problem?

Not sending any representative to the World Junior Chess Championship? My heart goes for Florendo and Docena for ending up on an empty cloud.

Not sending the RP delegation to the Asian Indoors? I think the NCFP/PSC can, and in fact, should make ways to be able to wave the Philippine flag in that international event.

Not sending the RP delegation to the World Youth meet? Oh no, please. Let's say we can forego WJCC and the Asian Indoors, although still unacceptable, but not the World Youth.

Let's say the NCFP is really short on budget and is making a difficult decision on which one event to support. Choosing among the three events, the NCFP may forego WJCC and the Asian Indoors (I repeat, this is unacceptable) but not the World Youth.

Banking on the youth is still the best option. And somebody may commend the NCFP if indeed this scenario is what to take place.