What's Up?

Hey there!

The last entry I did here was on July 12 of 2014. It has been three months and it feels like I haven't blogged in years.  So what have I been doing? And what have you been doing?

I've been very busy with teaching, coaching basketball and chess, and watching movies.

I've gone on to Twitter  and was a heavy user during the FIBA World Cup 2014.

And on Saturday, I'll be coaching my 13 and Under Boys Basketball team against one of the catholic school boys basketball team here in our city.

I'd like to share this PinoyPlay video to everyone:

En Passant Chess Tournament

‘En Passant’

Age Group & 2050 and below

Rapid Chess Tournament

Sunday, 8:30 am, July 20, 2014

@ Alphaland Southgate Mall, Makati City

TOURNAMENT GUIDELINES

Age Group  - Open to all non-titled chess players (regardless of gender and ratings,  the following as follows;

·         Under 10 – Born not earlier than 2004

·         Under 13 – Born not earlier than 2001

·         Under 16 – born not earlier than 1998

2050 & Below - Open to all non-titled, untitled, unrated and rated chess players with NCFP latest ratings as of June 2014,  regardless of age and gender, who are members in good standing with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).  However, titled kiddies can join on this division.

1.       The new FIDE Laws of Chess, (which took effect on July 1, 2014) particularly the new Laws on Rapid Chess, shall govern the tournament. (ground rule will be posted onsite)

2.       The tournament format shall be seven or more rounds Swiss System, depending on the number of participants.         

3.       The time control shall be twenty (20) minutes with 5 seconds time delay mode (Bronstein)

Age-Group	Under 10	Under 13	Under 16	2050 & Below
Champion	2000 + trophy	2500 +trophy	3000 + trophy	5000 + trophy
2nd place	1500 + medal	1,500 + medal	1,500 + medal	3000 + medal
3rdplace	1000 + medal	1000 + medal	1000 + medal	2000 + medal
4th place	700 +medal	700 + medal	700 + medal	1,000.00
5th place	600 + medal	600 + medal	600 + medal	700.00
6th to 8th place	200 + medal	300 + medal	300 + medal
6th to 10th  place				500.00
Top Female	500 + medal	500 + medal	500 + medal	600
Top 2000 Below				600
Top 1950 Below				600
Top College				600
Top Unrated				300

6.  Participants should bring any proof of age (e.g. birth certificate or government-issued I.D.)

7.      For inquiries, please call/text the following arbiters/organizers:

FNA  ALEX DINOY                      -  0922-8288510                 

FNA XIAN JAVIER                      - 0929-4558931

FNA  MILES SAMANIEGO        -  0932-4913833                 

FNA FERDIE REYES                   - 0998-3702528

FNA  GATZ LUZ                            -  0925 -8884859                

8.       Registration Fee: P250.00 for Age-Group and P300 for 2050 division free lunch for each participant.

9.       Maximum of 300 participants on a first-come, first- served basis only.

Officiated and  sanctioned by: NCFP and Chess Arbiters Union of the Philippines

                                                                                

The 2014 National Children's Book Day Fair

Here's an announcement I got through my inbox, thanks to our school librarian, Ms. Agnes M:

July 15, 2014 is the Philippines' 31st National Children's Book Day! The Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) is organizing a children's book fair at Museo Pambata, Roxas Boulevard corner South Drive, Manila. The following publishers and organizations are participating in the fair:

Adarna House * Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang InK) * Anvil Publishing Inc.  The Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development (CANVAS) Dream Big Books * Hiyas * Lampara Books * LG&M Chikiting Books
Save the Children Philippines * Tahanan Books for Young Readers

Publishers will present their latest children's books through performances, games, and even cooking demonstrations! Booths at the fair will sell books, magazines, and art for children. There will be discounts, giveaways, face painting, a drawing/coloring corner, storytelling sessions, and book signings and meet & greets with authors and illustrators.

See you all on July 15 (Tuesday), from 9A.M. to 5P.M., at
Museo Pambata for the 2014 National Children's Book Day Fair!

Warmest wishes,

Frances Ong  

Tahanan Books

Slovak String Orchestra @ Concert at the Park

The National Parks Development Committee, in partnership with the UP Manila Chorale and The National Commission for Culture and the Arts, presents Musica Iuvenalis, Slovak String Orchestra, this Sunday, July 13, 2014 at Concert at the Park. Joining them on this show are UP Manila Chorale and Coro Tomasino. Show starts at 6PM at the Rizal Park Open-Air Auditorium. Admission is free.

GM Barbosa's Olympiad Deadline

Joey Villar's continuing coverage of the Philippine chess has given us much information about the status of the players in our country. This time, it is GM Oliver Barbosa given until Thursday of this week to decide whether  he will join the Philippine team for the Tromso Olympiad or not.


Here is Joey's article: Barbosa given until Thursday to decide joining Phl team in Chess Olympiad.

Although lately I've been reading Joey's write-ups on his blog, I still am a big follower of Bobby Ang's Chess Piece column at the Business World and I've yet to read about this.


National Chess Federation of the Philippines' officials must be having tremendous time right now due to the fact that most Pinoy GM's are following the lead of Wesley So in moving to the US of A.

Corruption of the soul and corruption of the mind leads to corruption in the society.

Good luck to Philippine Chess and to all the Filipino chess players who have represented the country before and were taken for granted by NCFP.

Sayang ang mga talent. Tsk! Tsk!

2nd Saturday Chess @ Alphaland Mall

Well here is an upcoming tournament happening on the 12th of July at the Alphaland Mall:

Dust and Cobwebs

It has been seven months since I last posted here and I don't even know if anybody even attempts to check this blog. Much has happened in my personal life, in the chess world, in Philippine politics and quite recently, the announcement of Senator Miriam Santiago about her stage 4 lung cancer.

I've taken on basketball coaching since January of 2013. I have had the chance of attending the Alaska-Jr NBA/WNBA Coaches Clinic, helped out with a High School Girls Basketball team as a volunteer coach. I was lucky enough to be part of the Coaching Staff of the Men's Basketball Team of a University somewhere in Mandaluyong.

Every Sunday since May, I've been giving basketball training to my daughter and a couple of other kids. This basketball coaching has motivated me to be physically fit and healthy.

Although my chess activities decreased, I still managed to find time to play online chess on a regular basis. The Scholastic Chess Camp 2014 was a success too with Michael Concio Jr giving a simultaneous chess exhibition to eleven kids last June 26, 2014.

GM Wesley So switches federation because he wants to and I couldn't agree more. If I'll be given an opportunity to leave the country, I will definitely do so and bring along my entire clan. I'm frustrated at how the government has handled the PDAF Scandal and the erring senators getting the VIP treatment in jail. The worst part of it all is that we have been shown how bad these leaders are and yet corruption goes on in every corner of Philippine Society.

I've read Gerry Alanguilan's Rodski Patotski "Ang Dalagang Baby" and I liked it, get one too. Please say a little prayer to Gerry and his family for the passing of mom last May 28.

My summer break is almost over and I'll be back in school to do what I love doing best, learn with my students.

For now, let me go to bed and sleep. I'm not even sure when I'll come back to write.