STCAA 2001

BY: ANTHONY NAVARRO
(a.k.a. pinoymaster77, Chesswindows Laguna correspondent)

This experience of going through the various level meets such as Cluster/District Meet, Unit Meet then City or Provincial Meets made me realize that an actual grassroots program actually exists via these Palaro stepladded qualifiers and the bases are the public and private schools, and this is in place not only for chess but for various sports including the sport of sepak takraw!

From the District level Meet, I witnessed how the public schools at least in our newly emerging city of Binan even don't have a computer at this day and age, and the chess players' levels are sorely lacking, like they're not accustomed to Eureka chess sets with the guide on rows and columns for the notations but rather used to wooden chess sets.

This also means that the players don't know moves notations yet. I've learned that this summer the city of Binan might have some program for chess basics.

At the Unit 1 Meet (Binan, Cabuyao,San Pedro) level hosted by Cabuyao, I learned the transition of paperworks from District to Unit, what a TM (Tournament Manager) means and does, and where some of the taxpayers' money goes by way of allowances, meals and other expensed budgets. I also saw first hand how some parents still resort to brazen tactics, like the CR (restroom) variation. At least, I didn't get to witness the signal (senyas) variation.

Now, for the Provincial Meet level, I got to appreciate how BIG Laguna is with its various towns consisting of 4 Units. In the opening ceremonies, Unit 1 donned the red uniforms. Unit 2 with the black shirts is comprised of the towns of Bay, Victoria, Pila, Calauan,Alaminos. Unit 3 donned the green shirts, composed of Nagcarlan, Sta Cruz,Cavinti,Los Banos,Liliw and Magdalena while Unit 4 with the white shirts had Pagsanjan, Lumban,Siniloan, Kalayaan, Pangil,Pakil,Paete,Famy, Mabitac and Sta Maria. I also learned of the documentation requirements from the securing of medical certificates from Laguna provincial Doctor to the securing of fresh certification of grades.

From the 3 remaining Caritas Don Bosco bets to the Provincial Meet, Jolo Lat made it through for HS Boys chess and Puchle advanced for lawn tennis. Christian had tough matches vs Oqeundo of Los Banos and Eric Yap of Siniloan and actually had advantage in some stages of the games, but didn't find the best continuations. Jolo rebounded from a poor start on the first day of action where he only had 1/2 point after 2 rounds, coming up with 3 successive wins on the 2nd and final day including a clinching win over erthswhile unbeaten Angelo Tandang of Los Banos to secure the Board 2 spot.

It reportedly gets even tougher with each City of Province scheduling at least a month's training before the STCAA? Now, I understand why private school athletes are hesitant to join such qualifiers due to the heavy toll it can have on a player's academics. The STCAA (Southern Tagalog Meet) will be scheduled sometime in Feb 2011 in Lucena City. Again, the top 2 qualifiers from the 4 Divisions will advance to the Palarong Pambansa which will be staged in Cagayan De Oro City this year.

Joyful Jose Lorenzo Lat after he clinched the Board 2 slot in HS Boys, with Coach Vic Vargas,CM,Dennis and me.

Jolo Lat and CM with TM Rose Ravelas (Pila Principal)

Unit 1 athletes and coaches in red uniforms. Christian is with Elem Girls entry Mia Salvador and her coach.