Manzanares elected Cepca president

MANUEL “Manny” Manzanares was again elected president of the Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association (Cepca) last weekend at the Kawayan Grill in Mabolo.


Others elected were Dante Arguelles (internal vice president), Fabio Abucejo (external vice president), Jojo Muralla (treasurer), Nicnic Climaco (secretary), Danilo Madeja (auditor) and Jun Olis (PRO).



Elected to the board of trustees were Mandy Baria,Renato Casia, Felix Balbona and Ogie Reyes.


The past presidents of Cepca are charter president Chessmoso (two terms), Alex Tolentino, Gerry Tomakin, Benjamin Dimaano, Ogie Reyes, Danny Pestano (two terms), Nicnic Climaco, Bobot Villaluna (two terms), Norway Lara, Mat Matuco, Mandy Baria, Renato Casia (two terms) and Jun Olis.


Honorary members are chess patron Boojie Lim of Rose Pharmacy, Cifya’s Kelly Uy, US-based Dr. Darcy Tabotabo, former Mayor Alvin Garcia and Mayor Michael Rama.


Those who have passed away honorary member Bombi Aznar, Cepca co-founders Gerry Tomakin and Sonny Sollano, past president Bobot Villaluna and radioman Migs Enriquez.


They are now playing with the likes of Bobby Fischer, Emmanuel Lasker and Paul Morphy.
Manny’s immediate plan is to popularize chess in Cebu using the club as an instrument for training kids and recruitment of new members.


His long-term goal is to build a clubhouse, where all chess activities in Cebu will emanate.


Manny also plans to introduce the C-Cat program which he started in Talisay. C-Cat means chess clinic and tournament and is a program for kids 14 years old and below to teach them the basics of chess.


It will involve the barangays (to fund the program), the schools (to provide the kids) and Cepca (to organize and coordinate the activities).


Speaking of kids, whatever happened to the “Chess in Schools” Program which was
launched with a lot of publicity during the term of President Arroyo?


I recall that it was already approved in principle by PGMA, the Department of Education and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines to be partly implemented this school year.


I hope key officials of P-Noy realize the benefits of chess to the child.


Here are some of them as enumerated by President Zuma of South Africa, one of many countries now with “Chess in Schools” firmly established.


“Chess is one of the most powerful educational tool available to strengthen and enhance a child’s mind. It is an important game in many respects, the main benefit being that it contributes to the development of strategic thinking as well as concentration, analytical skills and problem solving. These are traits that are
important for school going children.”


“No amount of video games can teach a child the same level of patience, strategic thinking, concentration, analytical skills and the attention to detail that they would gain from this timeless intellectual game.”


ASIAN GAMES. The Philippines qualified to the semifinals by beating Uzbekistan, 3.5 to 0.5, to improve to 10 points with a a round to spare.


The most critical round was in the fifth when Wesley So and Eugene Torre won, leading the Philippines to a shock 2.5-1.5 victory over defending champion India.


REUNION. I would like to call the attention of my classmates in USC Boys High School seminary in 1956 to 57, Joe Villagonzalo and Walter Lawas, that we are planning a reunion on Nov. 30 together with Sun.Star Publishing Inc. chairman Jesus B. Garcia Jr. and Samuel Yap. Please get in touch with me.


Also joining us is Fr. Florencio Lagura, who writes the Sun.Star “In the Service of the Lord,” and the rest of our classmates in the classical section.


(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)


Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on November 26, 2010.