by Marlon Bernardino
A wide-open race looms when the eight leg of the National Executive Chess Championship dubbed as 2019 Grandmaster Rosendo Balinas Sr. Chess Cup gets underway on July 14 at the Activity Area, Centro Mall, Cabuyao City, Laguna.
Top executives from Metro Manila and the provinces will converge at 10 a.m. for the six-round Swiss Rapid event. Entries from as far as Occidental, Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Quezon and Rizal province have been accepted in this one-day event supported by Mayor Atty. Rommel "Mel" A. Gecolea, engineer Antonio "Tony" Carreon Balina, JAMlink Travel & Tours, Jolly Smile Dental Clinic and Bread & Bachoy.
No less than Mayor Atty. Rommel "Mel" A. Gecolea, engineer Antonio "Tony" Carreon Balinas, brother of the late Grandmaster Rosendo Balinas Sr., tournament organizer Dr. Alfred Paez, Philippine Executive Chess Association president Dr. Jenny Mayor, NCFP directors Cliburn Anthony Orbe, Louie Ramos and Martin "Binky" Gaticales will grace the simple opening ceremony, prior to the start of the competition.
Among those who signed up are Division Chief III Social Housing Finance Corporation Joselito Cada, Production Manager Lorenzana Foods, Inc. engr. Bren Sasot, Operations Manager Airliquide Philippines, Inc. engr. Novo Tuazon, HR -Head/Marketing and Business Development Specialist-ER Tiles Mini Depot Inc. Virgilio Alba and Jamlink Travel & Tours General Manager John Gonzales.
The cast also includes Auckland, New Zealand based Jun Isaac, Blue Diamonds Construction Works president Menard Pulido, Audit Manager - Diwa Learning Systems, Inc .Ricky Navalta, Felix Aguilera of Manila City Hall, engr. Ravel Canlas of Pagcor, Dionever "Bobot" Medrano of SSS, and siblings Joselito and Emmanuel Asi.
The champion will earn P12,000 plus a trophy. The second placer will get P8,000 plus a trophy, the third placer will pocket P5,000 plus a trophy, the fourth placer will bring home P3,000 plus a trophy and the fifth placer will receive P2,000 plus a trophy.
Special prizes for the Top Senior, Top Lady, Top New Comer, Top 1999 and Below, Top 1899 and Below, Top 1799 and Below and Top Unrated will also likewise to receive P2,000 each plus trophies.
Advance Registration fee is P1,000 (on or before July 13) while On-Site Registration fee is P1,200.
Call or text the following persons for complete details, Dr. Fred Paez (09212728172), Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe (09188974410), Dr. Jenny Mayor (09351004755), Mr. Joselito Cada (09499981949), Mr. Martin "Binky" Gaticales (09998851432) and NM Efren Bagamasbad (09157209145).-Marlon Bernardino-