Fatima in Lucia's Own Words

Here is one of the two books Sr. Lucia of Fatima, officially known as Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and of the Immaculate Heart, Fatima in Lucia's Own Words:

Lucia's Own Words by FrancisA.Buenaventura on Scribd

Requests of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Fatima

I would like to remind our readers about the essential requests made Our Blessed Virgin Mary when she appeared to Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco at Cova da Iria in 1917. Let me share them to you one by one:

1. PENANCE

In the Gospels the word penance means a conversion of one's life, a turning away from sin, and a turning back to God. As Our Lady insisted at Fatima: "Men must amend their lives, and ask pardon for their sins. . . . They must no longer offend Our Lord, Who is already so much offended." The Fatima message is a call for men to give up sinful practices which grieve God and draw down His chastisements on the world, and to make reparation for them. Commenting on Our Lady's request for penance, Sr. Lucia wrote: "The part of the last apparition which has remained most deeply imprinted on my heart is the prayer of our heavenly Mother begging us not to offend any more Almighty God, Who is already so much offended."

Jacinta, too, shortly before her death remarked: "If men only knew what eternity is, how they would make all possible efforts to amend their lives . . . mortification and sacrifice give great pleasure to Our Divine Lord."

In August of 1917 Our Lady told the children, "pray much and make sacrifices for sinners, for many souls go to hell because there is no one to make sacrifices for them." As to the kinds of sacrifices Our Lady was asking, she revealed to Sr. Lucia on one occasion: "The good Lord is allowing Himself to be appeased . . . but He Himself complains most bitterly and sorrowfully about the small number of souls in His grace who are willing to renounce whatever the observance of His laws requires of them."

"Many persons," Sr. Lucia explained, "feeling that the word penance implies great austerities, and not feeling that they have the strength for great sacrifices, become discouraged and continue a life of lukewarmness and sin." Then she said Our Lord explained to her: "The sacrifice required of every person is the fulfillment of his duties in life and the observance of My law. This is the penance that I now seek and require."

In this materialistic culture in which we live, almost heroic virtue is required to be faithful to the duties of the Christian life. Yet, over and above those sacrifices "required of every person," the children of Fatima practiced many little acts of mortification and renunciation on their own initiative. It is hoped that many devotees of Our Lady will not be content with the minimum required and will not pass up opportunities of voluntary mortification, placing in the hands of Our Lady the fruits of the little trials, frustrations and irritations of each day accepted with patience and resignation.

It was in this same spirit that the Angel spoke to the children in 1916:

"Offer up everything in your power as a sacrifice to the Lord in reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners . . . More than all else, accept and bear with resignation the sufferings that God may send you."

2. PRAYER 

Besides a call to penance Fatima is in a special way a call for the Rosary. So central is the Rosary to the Fatima message that Our Lady chose to identify herself as "The Lady of the Rosary." In each of the six apparitions she asked for the daily Rosary, and especially as an instrument of world peace. As she revealed in the third apparition: "You must recite the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war for only she can obtain this." In this Our Lady renewed her request for the prayer she gave to the Church centuries before, a prayer that has proven a powerful weapon against the enemies of Christianity as history testifies.

When asked about the importance of the Rosary, Sr. Lucia responded: "My impression is that the Rosary is of greatest value not only according to the words of Our Lady at Fatima, but according to the effects of the Rosary one sees throughout history. My impression is that Our Lady wanted to give ordinary people, who might not know how to pray, this simple method of getting closer to God."

The Rosary is basically a gospel prayer, and for those who pray it properly, it is, as Sr. Lucia said, "a simple method of getting closer to God." But to pray it properly requires that each decade be a reflection on some aspect of the joyful, sorrowful or glorious mysteries of our redemption. Without that meditation, the Rosary would become monotonous repetition. As Pope Paul VI wrote in MARIALIS CULTUS: 

"Without this (contemplation) the Rosary is a body without a soul, and its recitation is in danger of becoming a mechanical repetition of formulas." In praying the Rosary we can well take Our Lady as a model, for as the Scriptures tell us, "Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her Heart."

The Rosary is a simple form of prayer that can be prayed by the young or old, the learned or the uneducated, the saint or the sinner. Each can adapt it to his or her own capacity. It is so pleasing to Our Lady, because it brings us to review again and again the life of Christ, the mysteries of our redemption. As Pope Paul VI pointed out, it not only recalls to mind these mysteries, but stimulates the will to draw from them the norms of living. That is, it not only points out the way, but helps us to obtain the graces needed to follow in that way.

After repeatedly asking for the daily Rosary, and identifying herself as "The Lady of the Rosary," the Blessed Mother terminated the final apparition by showing the children three separate tableaux symbolizing the entire message of the Rosary. The first was a vision of the Holy family - representing the joyful mysteries; the second a vision of Our Lady of Sorrows - representing the sorrowful mysteries; and the third a vision of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel - representing the glorious mysteries.

The Rosary may seem like an insignificant thing in the light of the magnitude of the evils of today's world, but it is the weapon given to us by Our Lady. She merely asks our cooperation, and she will do the rest. It is like the slingshot of David that killed the mighty enemy because the power of God was behind it. Thus, as the saying goes, he who prays the Rosary has the power of God in his hand.

3. DEVOTION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

 

In 1916, a year before the apparitions of Our Lady, the Angel of Peace appeared to the children to prepare them for things to come. "The Hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs of mercy for you," he said. "Offer unceasingly to the Most High prayer and sacrifices."

In the second apparition the following year (June 13) Our Lady let the children know that "Jesus wishes to establish throughout the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart." Several times in the June and July apparitions Our Lady spoke of this devotion, as we shall see; and soon there began to burn in their hearts (especially Jacinta's) a deep love for the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Shortly before Jacinta went to the hospital where she was to die, she said to Lucia: "In a short time now I am going to heaven. You are to stay here and say that God wishes to establish in the world the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. . . . Tell everybody that God grants graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and that they must ask them from her. Tell them that the Heart of Jesus wishes that by His side should be venerated the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Tell them to ask peace through the Immaculate Heart of Mary; God has placed it in her hands. Oh that I could put into the heart of everybody the flame that I feel burning within my breast and which makes me love so much the Heart of Jesus and the Heart of Mary."

June 13, 1917

Lucia asked Our Lady if she would take them to heaven. Our Lady answered: "Yes, I will take Jacinta and Francisco soon. You, however, are to stay here a longer time. Jesus wants to use you to make me known and loved. He wants to establish the devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world. I promise salvation to those who embrace it, and their souls will be loved by God as flowers placed by me before His throne."

When Lucia asked if she were going to be left alone, Our Lady responded: "No, my daughter. Does this cause you to suffer a great deal? I will never leave you, my Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God."

As the Blessed Mother uttered these words she extended her hands and in the rays of light that shone from them, the children saw themselves as if submerged in the Divine presence. Jacinta and Francisco were on the side of the light that was ascending to Heaven, while Lucia was in the light that seemed diffused over all the earth. In the palm of her right hand was a Heart pierced with thorns; and the children understood that it was the Immaculate Heart of Mary, so offended by the sins of mankind and pleading for reparation.

July 13, 1917

"Sacrifice yourselves for sinners; and say often when you make some sacrifice, 'My Jesus, it is for love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.'"

After showing the children a vision of hell, Our Lady said to them: "You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish throughout the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If people do as I shall ask many souls will be saved, and there will be peace.... But if people do not cease offending God... another and more terrible war will begin. When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign that God gives that the chastisement of the world for its many transgressions is at hand through war, famine, persecution of the Church and of the Holy Father."

"To prevent this, I shall come to ask the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and Communions of reparation on the first Saturdays. If my requests are heard, Russia will be converted and there will be peace. If not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, fomenting wars and persecution of the Church. The good will suffer martyrdom; the Holy Father will suffer much; different nations will be annihilated. But in the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, which will be converted, and some time of peace will be granted to humanity."

NOTE: From the above, we must not think of the Five First Saturdays merely in terms of personal salvation, of receiving "at the hour of death the graces necessary for salvation;" but also in terms of world peace, of avoiding the terrible social consequences mentioned above by Our Lady.

December 10, 1925

The visits of Our Lady to Lucia did not end with those in 1917. In fact it was only through later apparitions that Lucia received permission to make known some of the messages revealed in 1917.

While Lucia was in her room at the convent of the Sisters of St. Dorothy, Our Lady and the Child Jesus appeared to her. Resting her right hand on Lucia's shoulder, the Blessed Mother held in her other hand a Heart surrounded by sharp thorns. The Divine Child was the first to speak to Lucia: "Have pity on the Heart of your most Holy Mother. It is covered with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment, and there is no one to remove them with an act of reparation."

Then Our Lady made known her request for Communions of reparation: "My daughter, look at my Heart encircled with the thorns with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. Do you at least try to console me and announce in my name that I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, go to Confession and receive Holy Communion, recite the Rosary and keep me company for 15 minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary with the intention of making reparation to me."

From Rosary Center on the Message of Fatima. You may also Heaven's Peace Plan at Fatima Network Essentials.

Hundred Years of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Fatima

On Saturday, May 13, 2017, we are celebrating the 100th Year Anniversary of the Holy Apparition of The Blessed Virgin Mary to three children in Cova da Iria, Fatima Portugal. 

The children reported seeing a woman "brighter than the sun, shedding rays of light clearer and stronger than a crystal goblet filled with the most sparkling water and pierced by the burning rays of the sun." The woman wore a white mantle edged with gold and held a rosary in her hand. She asked them to devote themselves to the Holy Trinity and to pray "the Rosary every day, to bring peace to the world and an end to the war". 

While the children had never told anyone about seeing the angel, Jacinta told her family about seeing the brightly lit woman. Lúcia had earlier said that the three should keep this experience private. Jacinta's disbelieving mother told neighbors about it as a joke, and within a day the whole village knew of the children's vision. 

The three children were: Lucia dos Santos, Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto. A year before the Blessed Virgin appeared to the three children, Lúcia, Francisco and Jacinta had three visions of an Angel in 1916. These visions remained unknown until 1937, when Lúcia revealed them for the first time. The apparitions of Our Lady were advanced one year before by three apparitions of an angel who prepared the little seers to become messengers of the Mother of God. 

According to Lúcia’s description, the first apparition of the Angel took place in the Spring of 1916, when the three peasant children were tending their herds and took shelter in a place called “Loca do Cabeço”. The second apparition happened in the Summer of 1916 at the well of Lúcia’s parents’ home, where the children used to play. The third apparition happened in the end of the Summer or beginning of the Fall of 1916, again at “Loca do Cabeço”. 

First Apparition of the Angel

In spring in 1916 Lucia Dos Santos age 9, and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, ages 8 and 6 respectively, were at a meadow with their sheep in (hamlet of Fatima). It started raining, and they hid in a small cave to escape the rain. After the rain stopped and the sun came out, they stayed in the cave to eat their lunch, say the rosary and play a game of jacks. They had played but for a short while when, on the serene day, a strong wind blew that swayed the trees and a sudden white light enveloped them. 

In the middle of that light appeared a cloud in the form of a young man who said to them:

"Fear not! I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me!" 

The angel knelt on the ground and bowed very low. The children imitated the angel and repeated his words three times: 

"My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. I beg pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You."

Then he rose and said: 

"Pray this way. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications." 

Second Apparition of the Angel 

It happened in summer, when the seers were playing near the well of Lucia's house. The Angel said to them: 

"What are you doing? Pray! Pray a great deal. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary have merciful designs on you. Offer prayers and sacrifices continually to the Most High."

The children asked: "How must we sacrifice ourselves?" The angel said:

"Make everything you do a sacrifice, and offer it as an act of reparation for the sins by which God is offended, and as a petition for the conversion of sinners. By this you will bring peace to your country. I'm its Guardian Angel, the Angel of Portugal. Above all accept and bear with submission all the suffering the Lord will send you."

From that moment, they began to offer to the Lord everything that offended Him, without trying to find any other ways of mortification or penance other than passing hour after hour, bowed to the ground, repeating the prayer that the angel had taught them.

Third apparition of the Angel

It happened in autumn at Cabeco. The children started prayers when they saw the angel, which had in his hand a chalice over which hung a Host, from which fell in the chalice some drops of Blood. He knelt and repeated three times with the children:

"Most Holy Trinity-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - I adore thee profoundly. I offer thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles in the world, in reparation for all the outrages, sacrileges and indifference whereby he is offended. And through the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners." 

Then he rose, took the Host, and gave it to Lucia, while the contents of the chalice he gave to Jacinta and Francisco, and said:

"Take the Body and the Blood of Jesus Christ horribly outraged by thankless men. Recover their sins and comfort your God." 

And from May to October 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary would appear to the three children every thirteenth of the month. 

The Message of Fatima by the Vatican and several online sources: The Story of Fatima, Our Lady of Fatima by Catholic News Agency, MGR Foundation Fatima Index, Roman Catholic Man, Catholic Essentials and EWTN's The True Story of Fatima. 

Sharing these links and info on my blog is my small gift and contribution to the celebration of the 100 years of the Apparition of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Fatima. I pray that everyone is given a chance to marvel the beauty and meaning of this historical and Earth-shattering event.

Before I say goodbye, I'd like to share two more important works that deals with Our Lady of Fatima apparition, one video, One four-volume book in PDF form and the Fatima Prayers. Watch and read them. Enrich your life with the knowledge of God.

Mystical City of God

The Mystical City of God is a book written in the 17th century by the Franciscan nun Venerable Mary of Jesus of Agreda. According to María de Ágreda, the book was to a considerable extent dictated to her by the Blessed Virgin Mary and regarded the life of the Virgin Mary and the divine plan for creation and the salvation of souls. The work alternates between descriptions of the Trinity, the Virgin Mary's life, and the spiritual guidance she provides to the author, by whom her words were reproduced for the spiritual benefit and growth of the reader.

The book describes at length the various virtues, and how the reader should live in order to see them reflected in their own life, with the Virgin Mary as their model for sanctity. The work has the Imprimatur of several Popes and Bishops and appeals primarily to those who believe in "private revelation" and the sanctity of Mary. Non-Catholic Christians generally do not accept the teaching of the Catholic Church and are consequently skeptical of works of this nature.

Various misinterpretations of her writings led to the extent that Mystical City of God was temporarily placed on the Church's Index Librorum Prohibitorum in August 1681. By the order of Blessed Innocent XI, however, the decree of condemnation was removed three months later, after it was shown that a faulty French translation was at the basis for the censure. The book was subsequently criticized by Jansenists and Gallicans in the 18th century, while the Church continued to defend its orthodoxy In 1673, María de Ágreda was declared venerable soon after her death, but the process of her beatification has yet to be completed. Beatification and canonization do not authenticate revelations, however.

Visit the page ====> Mystical City of God.

Here are the books in Four volumes:

Volume 1: The Conception 

Volume II: The Incarnation 

Volume III: The Transfixion 

Volume IV: The Coronation 

And to finally end, allow me to share these Fatima Prayers:

"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy. Amen." 

"My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love Thee! I beg pardon for all those that do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love Thee."

"O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary I beg the conversion of poor sinners." 

"Most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee! My God, my God, I love Thee in the Most Blessed Sacrament."

"O Jesus, it is for the love of Thee, in reparation for the offence committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and for the conversion of poor sinners"

"By thy pure and Immaculate Conception, O Mary, obtain the conversion of Russia, Spain, Portugal, Europe and the whole world!" 

"Sweet Heart of Mary, be the salvation of Russia, Spain, Portugal, Europe and the whole world." 

Amen.

Finding Jesus by CNN International

Here is a great documentary on the modern quest for Jesus Finding Jesus: Faith, Fact and Forgery.  Produced by CNN International and aired as a run up to Easter in the last three years. The film used recent archeological findings and manuscripts to support and explore biblical texts suited to audience of different backgrounds.

Watch it and learn something new... discover something new.

Scholastic Basketball Camp Summer 2017

Scholastic Basketball Camp ® is an annual program by Creative Education Services® to allow school-aged children to make the best of their summer by learning basketball. Training is handled by able and expert coaches and instructors who use the modern, scientific approach. More importantly, the program incorporates character-forming lessons. Players learn the STAR Values as promoted by Jr NBA: Sportsmanship, Teamwork, Attitude (Positive) and Respect.

Enroll now!

Visit us on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CEIPhils

National Basketball Training Center Philippines

Yesterday we played our final game for our 2016-2017 SM-MVP NBTC North-East Cavite.  We played two games within four hours, first and last game. In the first game, we played against one of the strongest team in Cavite, University of Perpetual Help-Molino. Coach Rodney of UPH-M was "sports" enough to give leniency to my players did not ask his team to play to the fullest. Even with this approach, wwe lost by more than thirty points. In the second game, we were up against a team that boasts of big, wide-bodied grade 11's. We were down the whole game but miraculously, in the last 25 seconds of the game with the ball possession on my team, we had a shot but due to the inexperience of my team, including me, we took an early 3-pointer and didn't go in.

At the end of the game we lost by only five points.

My team played and fight till the end. I asked my team to give each other a round of applause, something the crowd were not expecting. I asked them two questions which everyone answered with an affirmative. One was "Did you give your best in the game?" and the last one was "Do you now believe you can play better than you think you can?"

This is the reason why I've been a sports coach in the last sixteen years. This is the reason why I chose to stay in this country instead of teaching special education in the US of A.

I finished BS in Occupational Therapy in college, completed my academic requirements in Special Education from De La Salle University-Manila. Have taught from kinder to college too but mostly, I've been teaching in the international schools here in the Philippines.

All this time, I have seen the power of sports as a learning and teaching tool that attracts students of all abilities. For you to understand the power of sports among the students, this is one question I always get from the teachers and school administrators: "Coach, how could these boys be so focused, motivated and happy training and playing while in the classrooms they're a different person?"

And my answer is always about them and the sports: "I can never force anyone to play the game or attend a grueling 3-hour training. They are here because they want to, they are here because they can see their value in the team and among their peers."

This year, I excluded my seniors (10th graders) and fielded in eight middle school students (7th and 8th graders) and seven 9th graders. This group of fourteen to fifteen year olds fought against teams which boasts of full athletic scholarships including board and lodging and several year-round tournaments.

Following the founders' principle behind NBTC, Coach Eric Altamirano and Coach Alex Compton's vision of providing a grassroots basketball tournaments, I wish I could reach out to more students and give them opportunities in life thru sports, thru basketball. I wish I could stay healthy and live longer as I travel this journey of teaching, coaching and learning. I pray too that more school administrators and teachers realize the true value of sports in developing the youth and at the same time benefiting this country of mine.

This year, I ended my NBTC tournament with zero wins and three losses. This year I also saw how terrible the effects are on a basketball program if the school administrators sees sports more of an expense than a tool to help develop students. Having shared these to you my readers, I would also like to share that no matter what is thrown at you, as long as you hold on to the reason why your into youth basketball as a coach, as a parent coach and as a volunteer trainer, all these problems are just a stepping stone to bring you to a place where changing the lives of your students for better is a given. Thanks to Coaches Eric E and Alex C! Thanks to our Cavite Head Macky Torres and our area head Alvin Guadines. Special mention to Coach Jun of CVS. Thanks too all the coaches who pushes me hard by trying to beat my teams all the time.

And with that I say goodbye for now NBTC! See you next season.

Coach Francis

Chess: Reminders for the Tactical Warriors to Be

After a long post on the Study Plan for Chess Students, I felt like sharing a couple of diagrams to show you what I meant. But knowing how rich the Internet is for chess literature and resources, I felt it would be better to share websites that offer training on the said topic: Tactics.

Here they are:

1. Introduction to Chess Tactics
2. Chess Tempo
3. Chess Tactics Server
4. Red Hot Pawn

You can also look for paid resources and one of the best sites for chess training is ICC or the Internet Chess Club. It is the place to be for all chess-related needs, for a fee.

Here's one paid site that I feel should be promoted because I have found the resources  and content to be very useful for my chess teaching: Professor Chess.

Go happy finding those tactics!

Study Plan for Chess Students

So much has been written and said about the 'right" approach for learning chess and not one is completely wrong but most are not completely right either. Because of several factors that play in the learning process, the right approach would always be the hit-and-miss for the completely isolated, self-study chess beginner. The single most commonly forgotten factor when we talk about these so-called study plans for chess students is of course this --> Human factor.

I advise you to visit and read through the following links: Chess Study Plan from CHESSDOTCOM, Confessions of a Chess Novice and Dan Heisman's Get Better at Chess.

What are the commonalities from these programs? Can you find the 'em? Then let me know by writing your comments on the comment section of this blog.

But here are my thoughts for the title of this post:

1. Keep playing and NEVER RESIGN from any game. Just like any endeavor, sports, academics, music, arts and other sort of stuff, you need to immerse yourself in your pursuit. One caveat: know when to rest.

2. Tactics, tactics and more tactics.  Chess is a strategy game and with strategy comes tactics. The Internet has so much to give for free when it comes to practicing and improving your tactical abilities. Solve puzzles at least 30 minutes a day.

3. Work on simple and basic Endgame study. Start with your K and Q checkmate, move up to K and R checkmate and continue on to other k plus other pieces combination. Its interesting to note that the K+ B+N checkmating practice never cease to give me headaches. Try it for yourself.

4. Annotate your games. Having said that, it means you have to notate your long games, review them and replay them. Postmortem so to speak.

5. Limit your games to long games, 60/G would be a great starter for this gives you the chance to adhere to Richard James important reminders. In his book  called School Lessons Volume 1 he shared the following "what-to-look-for-when-its-your-turn-to-move:

Checkmates

Checks

Captures

If on your move you could not find any of those three ideas mentioned above, you can do the look for the following:

Threats

Development

Center Control

And always, you should be looking out for two things:

Your King Safety

Attacking your Opponent's King

I hope this helps even for a bit and I wish you keep pushing those pawns all the way to your cherished dream of  chess domination.

Chess Endgame: Hunting for the Win

Here's another post on chess, tactical exercises for finding checkmates. The diagram below asks you to find the mate in 3 with Black to move.
























This one: look for Mate in 2 with White to move first:

 

Whatya' think Mike?

Chess Tactics Guide: The Fork

The Fork is a tactic where a single piece makes two or more direct attacks at the same time. It is what I call hitting two birds (sometimes more) with 1 stone.Oftentimes, two pieces are threatened which is why it is also known as double attack. A successful fork usually gives the attacking player a gain in material by capturing one of the opponent's pieces. Because of its nature, the defender has difficulty countering such attack.

 You can look into the following examples at Chess Tactics Guide: The Fork and Chess for Novices.

 

FIBA Olympic Qualifiers 2016

Today in the Philippines, July 5, 2016, is the beginning of our National Men's Basketball Team's journey to Rio Olympics as Gilas Pilipinas tries to secure a spot in the Olympics 2016 at Rio.  There are three Olympic Qualifying Tournaments held around the globe which gives more opportunity to basketball countries like the Philippines.

There are 18 nations competing across the three respective tournaments, with six teams going head-to-head at each of them. The winners of each of the three tournaments will all take the highly coveted last remaining tickets for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

This is a new system for FIBA Qualifiers for the Olympics. Fifteen (15) teams are given another chance at the Olympics plus three (3) more teams will compete as hosts of the three OQTs to be held simultaneously from July 4-10 2016.

These are the teams:

Host/Location: Italy

Group A: Greece, Mexico, Iran
Group B: Tunisia, Croatia, Italy

Host/Location: Serbia

Group A: Serbia, Angola, Puerto Rico
Group B: Japan, CZE, Latvia

Host/Location: Philippines

Group A: Turkey, Senegal, Canada
Group B: France, New Zealand, Philippines

Visit Bleacher Report for the complete schedule of the games here. The Sixth Man will surely help Gilas so please come and watch the games at Mall of Asia Arena. Tickets available at SM Tickets.

This will be a great ride for us! Let's go Gilas!

End of Scholastic Chess Camp 2016

Today we had the final day of Scholastic Chess Camp 2016 @ Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. We celebrated our last day by playing in several chess tournaments online-- at chessDOTcom and Chesscube. It was fulfilling to see my newest camper, Mike Al win his first championship over at chessDOTcom. Mike Al's only goal was to rank up his rating to at least 1200 but at the end of the day, his rating was much higher than Drew dlr.

"I've done it coach!" -Mike Al

Drew dlr placed fourth in a tournament where we both qualified to join in and in fact we played against each other in the 4th round. I will surely miss this boy as he moves on to high school. I have high hopes for him in his academics and when he represents his school in chess in the next four years. This year he will be reunited with David F and other former teammates. I'm sure they will bring pride and honor to their school.


Sandro F was quite a bit confused the entire 2 weeks of chess camp but the good thing is that he was aware of it. Mike and Drew were very supportive of him and that they made sure they offered help when Sandro needed one. Sandro would need to put in more "chess time" this summer so he can provide the necessary points for us to win our sixth MISAA Chess tournament this coming school year. Fingers crossed.

I have posted several photos of our day-to-day activities in the last eight days on our Official Facebook Page.


I would like to thank everyone who supported our camp especially the Lola of Sandro F for allowing us to use her place as our venue, thanks Ma'm!

Thank you too to the parents of our campers, Drew dlr and Mike Al, for entrusting their kids' chess development to me in the last six years.

Thanks be to God!

And with that, I officially begin my summer break.

Hanggang sa muli!  

My 40th Birthday Alphabet AKA The Mind Inside

Anticipating antsy audiences

Becoming brave bastards

Calmly cooling and chilling

Deciding direct dissection

Energizing, exciting eulogy

Featuring friendly foes and fiscals

Gravitating gaze galore

Hiding her hurts and heartaches

Inside intimate intellectuals

Justified jokes and jazz

 Keywords: Knockout Kings

Lovely language, letters and long-lasting laughter 

Mothering may matter

Naughty and naive neighbors

Offering oddities and oxymorons

Partnering people's perspectives

Quarantining the Queendom of the Queer   

Restless, rusty, random roundabouts

Secret society's super simple solution

Translating tremendous & troublesome tiny taboos 

Uniting universal uniqueness

Voicing out voluntary visions of Valentinos &  Valentinas

Waiting for wanna-be's, warriors & watchamacaliit

Xeroxing xylophones and xenons

Your yearly yonderly yuppy

Zapped, zigged and zagged.

Chess Camp 2016 @ Wack Wack Village

Our Chess Camp 2016 begins tomorrow at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. We are on our fourth year of offering this by-invitation-only chess camp. Everything is set and everyone's rarin' to push those pawns and pieces.

Scholastic Chess Camp 2016 will run for eight sessions from June 6-9 and 13-16 with weekend breaks including Fridays.  I'm in the process of having a guest player join our camp on our last day for our tournament. Hope this one pushes through.

Summer Time 2016

It is summer time for me and last weekend one of the things in my "must-do" list was accomplished: fix the roof before the rainy days become typhoon days. Water spout cleared and installed, roof nails hammered-in and sealant was applied all over.

I have six weeks for this summer break and I intend to make it as productive as I can. Tomorrow my daughter's teammates are coming over for a two-hour basketball training. I haven't met any of the girls in the team but my daughter P cautioned me that everyone's on the beginner level. And with that, I plan to follow the fundamental drills used by Coach Aik Ho in his basketball clinic in New Zealand:


And so I review the video.

Summer 2016 Pocket Tournament

Scholastic Basketball Camp Summer 2016 Pocket Tournament from May 28 - June 5 at the Basketball Court of Southern City-Tanzang Luma IV. Details:

1. Minimum of 6 Teams. 5 Teams and lesser, NO TOURNAMENT.

2. DEADLINE of SUBMISSION of TEAM LINE UP and TEAM REGISTRATION FEE of 3,500.00 on May 25, 2016 @ the residence of Coach Francis, 7:00 PM or EARLIER.

3. Player's Age Requirement: 17 Year Old and Below or BORN 1999 or YOUNGER. Photocopy of Birth Certificate is SUBMITTED together with the TEAM LINE UP.

4. Number of Players per Team: Maximum of 12 Minimum of 10. PLAY ALL Rule.

5. Questions and protests will only be entertained on the opening day.

6. Elimination Round: SINGLE ROUND-ROBIN

7. Top 4 Teams after elimination round:

Top 3 vs Top 4: Battle for 2nd and 3rd Runner Up Finish

Top 1 vs Top 3: Battle for Championship

Schedule:

May 28, 2016 Saturday:       Day 1, 3 Games (Games 1-3)

May 30, 2016 Monday:         Day 2, 3 Games (Games 4-6)

May 31, 2016 Tuesday:        Day 3, 3 Games (Games 7-9)
June 1,  2016 Wednesday:   Day 4, 3 Games (Games 10-12)
June 2, 2016  Thursday:       Day 5, 3 Games (Games 13-15)

June 4, 2016 Saturday:         Day 6, 2 Games (Games 14-15)

Game #14:      Battle for 3rd
Game # 15:     Battle for Championship

Awards:

Mythical 5
Tournament MVP

Champion: Trophy

1st Runner Up: Trophy
2nd Runner Up: Trophy
3rd Runner Up: Trophy

Thank you.

Let's do this!

Philippine National Elections 2016

On May 9, 2016, our Nation will be going through the democratic process of choosing and electing our national and local leaders. There will be 18,083 positions and 44,471 candidates for this year's polls. While we have been amused, terrified and taken-as-bobotantes by the circus-like election campaigns of these TRAPOS, the truth of the matter still stands---we are in for another change.  Whoever is sworn in on June, the people will be hopeful and watchful of how truthful the elected politicians will be to their plataporma de gobyerno.

We are expecting more than 54.4 million registered voters to come out and there are 92,509 precincts all over the county. And for those based overseas and wanting to vote, there are 82 foreign posts to serve 1.38 million of them.

It's been said time and again, none of the Presidentiables have taken sports as their primary objective when they take the highest post in the land. With all the issues hounding and pounding our society, I have never heard any of them talk about improving the sports program of the Philippines.

Why oh why?

Education? Poverty alleviation? Health services and delivery? Tanim-bala? Airport problems? Taxation? Transportation? Crime and Drug abuses? Police and Military abuses?

No one cares about the arts and sports development program in a land where more almost everyone is an aspiring athlete or an aspiring artist.

Whatever happens, there will always be that Resiliency of the Filipinos and this spirit is empowered and boosted by our natural and held-on belief on our Universal God. Be it God the Father or Alla, we Filipinos have been a very spiritual nation. We just have to keep holding on, believing in God and working on to reach our highest potential as a country and individually.

And before I regress, I'd like to share the following links for voter's education:

• Official COMELEC Website
• Online Voter's List 
• Online Status Verification

Rappler Philippines have posted a series for voter's education:

• Guide to 2016 Phl Elections
• By the numbers: Candidates in the 2016 Elections

May the Divine assistance be always with us!

Feast of St. Joseph the Worker

On May 1, we celebrate the life and work of one of the holiest man who've ever lived on Earth, St. Joseph the Worker, protector of Jesus Christ and most chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. St Joseph is the Patron of the Universal Church, unborn children, fathers, workers, travelers, immigrants and a happy death.

According to Catholic Online:

"Joseph was foster father to Jesus. There are many children separated from families and parents who need foster parents. Please consider contacting your local Catholic Charities or Division of Family Services about becoming a foster parent."

Here is a YouTube video about St. Joseph:



Let me end this post with a prayer to St. Joseph: 

"Oh, St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh, St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls - Pray for me."

Queen of Heaven, pray for us!

The Golden Arrow Prayer

One of my "quick-hitters" for prayers, The Golden Arrow. I found this prayer in the Pieta Prayer Booklet which I carry with me wherever I go. Its either in my bag, in my bike, inserted in my books, notebooks and my notes.

Aside from praying my set: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Fatima Prayer, St. Michale Prayer, Guardian Angel Prayer and Memorare, I make sure to pray the Golden Arrow often within a day. I hope you guys pray these prayers too on a daily basis.

So here is a copy of the prayer:

THE GOLDEN ARROW PRAYER
MAY THE MOST HOLY, MOST SACRED, MOST ADORABLE, MOST INCOMPREHENSIBLE AND UNUTTERABLE NAME OF GOD BE ALWAYS PRAISED, BLESSED, LOVED, ADORED AND GLORIFIED, IN HEAVEN, ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, BY ALL THE CREATURES OF GOD, AND BY THE SACRED HEART OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, IN THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR. AMEN. 

After receiving this prayer, Sister Mary of St. Peter was given a vision in which she saw the Sacred Heart of Jesus delightfully wounded by this "Go/den Arrow" as torrents of graces streamed from It for the conversion of sinners. 

Queen of Heaven, Pray for Us.

John Kerry Carries the Same Tune: Religion

And just like that, Secretary of State John Kerry spills the beans on a very sensitive matter: R-E-L-I-G-I-O-N. Almost a decade ago, its then Prime Minister Tony Blair who thought of studying religion and reaching out globally and say "Religion is the future of the world".

John Kerry said in a speech at Rice University:

“The more we understand religion and the better able we are as a result to engage religious actors, the more effective our diplomacy will be in advancing the interests and values of our people,” 

And adds:

“It is up to us to recognize that we can’t lead a world that we don’t understand,” ...  “and that we can’t understand the world if we fail to comprehend and honor the central role that religion plays in the lives of billions of people.”

Tony Blair's Leap of Faith  carries the same tune right?

Click here to read the entire speech, as well as the question-and-answer session that followed at the speech of John Kerry at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Safety.