RP's Strongest Region?

Hey there!

Lately, I have been asking myself as to which region in our country has the strongest chess team if ever we would form one for each?

Let's do a review of our geographic know-how of our motherland first. I just don't want to find out that I'm clueless of my own country's geography.

"The Philippines consists of 17 regions. The regions are geographically combined into the three island groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Following is a list of the regions in their island groupings. To get overviews of the regions, see the respective articles on the island groups. The regions CALABARZON, MIMARO/MIMAROPA, and SOCCSKSARGEN are capitalized because they are acronyms that stand for their component provinces or cities.[1]" (wikipedia)

FromWikiAnswers:

As of 2002, the Philippines consists of 17 regions. The regions are geographically combined into the three island groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Following is a list of the regions in their island groupings.

Luzon

Ilocos Region (Region I)
Cagayan Valley (Region II)
Central Luzon (Region III)
CALABARZON (Region IV-A)
MIMAROPA (Region IV-B)
Bicol Region (Region V)
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
National Capital Region (NCR) (Metro Manila)

Visayas

Western Visayas (Region VI)
Central Visayas (Region VII)
Eastern Visayas (Region VIII)

Mindanao

Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX)
Northern Mindanao (Region X)
Davao Region (Region XI)
SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII)
Caraga (Region XIII)
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)

I'd like to list some guidelines as to who belongs to where:

1. First and foremost, period of residency of not less than 5 years.

2. If the first rule cannot be met, then we classify the player as to where he has lived in the last 5 years prior to his new residency.

3. If the first two does not meet one's situation, maybe birthplace would and can be used... Such as the case for GM Bong Villamayor and GM candidate Ino Sadorra who spent his childhood days in Bacoor but lived most of his adolescence in Singapore.

4. Yes, we will include titled players from GM's to NM's.

5. COMELEC certification or any other proof of residency will not be considered. Reason? AS to what my British friend told me, "everything is possible here in the Philippines...You can have a driver's licence (Brit spelling guys)here even if you don't know how to drive, you can buy and get your college diploma here in 30 minutes or less" to which I replied, "I think that has some truth to it but le' me tell what you guys can't really have in a so short time... lovely Filipinas! You have to win their heart!"

Anyways, who do you think has the strongest regional team? Do you think NCR will win this one without any effort? or CALABARZON IV-A will give them a tough time in the championship round?

NCR has GM's Eugene Torre and Bong Antonio. CALABARZON IV A boasts of GM Wesley So (but of course!!!) IM Sadorra, NM's Suelo and Agagon among others. Mindanao has who? I think they have of course and so does the Visayas regions too.

Hmmmm... maybe I can do a study on this.

And why did I suddenly had thoughts on this? It's because chess scene has really exploded here in our country with my inbox receiving chess news from different regions of the Philippines.

Davao and Cagayan de Oro's chess is active, Cavite province too. In fact this summer alone, the province has hosted three major tourneys namely Cavite Open, NCFP Regionals and the ongoing dual meet between the Philippines and Myanmar in Tagaytay City. If plans pushes thru, there will be a round robin qualifyers for the Vietnam Age Group players.

Who do you think it will be?

Anyways, for chess news in the south, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro's

CDO retains overall chess plum in Lanao

and Tandag City chess newswhich is located in Surigao del Sur.