PACE notes

(NOTE: Chess Windows Laguna Correspondent Anthony Navarro sharply took notes of the gist of speeches of the leading personalities during the launching of the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence (PACE)).

BY: ANTHONY NAVARRO

BRO. ROLLY DIZON, NCFP VP-Visayas: He has been mainly been involved in working with the DepEd on the 'chess in curriculum' program, and formulating the National Chess Academy. He is into chess because he believes future leaders would have good training through chess by 'thinking better' and 'planning better'.

ATTY. KOKO PIMENTEL: He shared he has a more senior varsity player for Ateneo when Jayson was a lower classman player for FEU at the UAAP. He kidded since GM Jayson has had so much success with FEU, he has to help out the Ateneo Coach as well. He pledged to donate his chessbooks, some of which he inheritted from his late Ateneo Coach. The chessbooks were saved from Ondoy in his Marikina home but not his lawbooks!

NCFP PRESIDENT PROSPERO PICHAY:
The PACE will help in the formation of more Philippine Masters. Phils has risen from below 40 to #32 in FIDE rankings, and goal is to be in the top 20 in 2 years. Benchmarking the successful chess countries, he noted in order to be successful in chess, one has to be a fulltime professional that is why he has been trying to sustain 3 to 4 international tournaments per year. He noted Vietnam has intense inter-provincial rivalries, and their budget just for chess could reach PHP 250M, which is already the total annual budget for PSC for a year.

GM TORRE: He has encouraged GM Jayson to proceed with the PACE for the youth, and pledged full support from PhilChek. This kind of program needs a sacrifice and GM Jayson made the 'coup de grace' and made a brilliant move with double exclamation point.

GM GONZALES:
Inspite of the challenges and difficulties, he proceeded with this sacrifice and spent his savings from business in the PACE rather than personal luxuries. He is thankful to Mr. Ronald Causon, his landlord who encouraged him by giving discounted rent for the benefit of the youth. Jayson's heart is with chess, and he came from humble beginnings and 're-investing' or giving back to chess. Tulong-tulong lang and it will be successful. He knows it will take many years before initial fruits of new Philippine masters can be realized.