Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro makes it three-peat vs Davao City in in 6th Online Chess Goodwill Match

DAVAO CITY---The Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro has achieve a rare three-peat or three straight wins against Davao City in the 6th Online Chess Goodwill Match on June 27 and 28 via lichess.org.

The  defending champion MisOr/CDO represented by International Master Richelleu Salcedo III, Lennon Hart Salgados, Johnnel Balquin, Christian Arroyo, Antonio Chavez, Alfredo Rapanot, Nazario Ubanan, Romeo ,Ronald Canino ,Randulph Dalauta NM Levi Mercado, Jaime Frias II, Cleto Vasquez, Bryan Jose, Paul Omongos, Jayson Nabatlao, Ralph Dalauta, Resurreccion Gunayan, Abdul Abdullah and Fr. Vic Arellano scored 398 points to beat Davao City chess team 354 points in their friendly two-day match.

The losing Davao City chess team are composed of  Davao City IM Oliver Dimakiling, Fide master (FM) Austin Jacob Literatus, national master (NM) Alex Lupian, John Ray Batucan, Mohammad Sacar, Carl Zirex Sato and Junmark Baldesimo; Panabo City's arena grand master (AGM) Henry Lopez,d Jayson Salubre; Aglipay Oberio of the Island Garden City of Samal,  1988 National Junior champion NM Jonathan Tan of Panabo City, engineer Allan Diez, National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP)-Davao directorJames Infiesto, lawyers Jong Guevarra and Melzar Galicia, Rey Urbiztondo, Homer Rotulo, Christopher Yap, Lyndon Sombilon and Rhynan Arce.

It can be recalled that MisOr/CDO beat Davao City last June 28, 2019, 19-13 at the second floor of Limkeitkai Mall in CDO.

The champion team this year receive P3,000 and the losing team P2,000.

Davao City is set to host this year's friendly match but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the organizers just decided to do the games online.

Davao's Umayan help FEU capture silver in Inter Academy International Online Rapid Chess Championship

DAVAO CITY---Promising Davaoena chesser Samantha Umayan helped the Philippines represented by the Far Eastern University high school team secure a second place finish in the Inter Academy International Online U18 Rapid Chess Championship last June 13-15.

The FEU team fell short against the host and powerhouse chess team Chess Academy of Armenia in the finals 1-5.

Despite the loss, the Philippine team is still very happy with their performance against some of the top high school chess teams around the world.

The Philippines reached the finals earlier after beating the  World of Chess Academy of Kazakhstan in the semifinals.

Coming into the tournament, Umayan is upbeat with her performance since she represented the country in the  Eastern Asia Juniors and Girls Chess Championship hosted by the Philippines in Tanauan City, Batangas last December 9-16, 2019.

In the  82nd season of the UAAP on October 27, Umayan secured the bronze medal in the UAAP high school girls division.

Umayan’s performance also helped FEU secure a second-place finish in the team competition of the tournament behind champion National University.

Before her bronze medal performance, the 12-year-old Umayan also helped the Philippines’ campaign in the 29th ASEAN+ Age-Group Chess Championships in Mandalay, Myanmar in June of this year. 

Umayan joined forces with Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian and Lovely Ann Heraldino to help the Philippines get 15 points in the international chess tournament, which was eventually won by Vietnam.

In the girls’ 14-below standard division, the Davaoeña and her teammates scored 14 points behind the champion Vietnam team. 

The Filipino trio also got another silver in the rapid division (11.5) behind champion Vietnam (16.5).

The resident of Barangay Buhangin got the slot to compete in the ASEAN chessfest after she got a bronze medal in the 2019 National Age-Group Chess Championships in Metro Manila.

Buhangin teen gets 3rd place in national inter-school online chess tournament

DAVAO CITY--An 12-year-old teen from Buhangin here brought honor to the city after he placed  third in a national inter-school online chess tournament last June 20.

James Catayas, a student of SDA Elementary School placed third in the elementary division of the Happy 1st Month Gabriel Neri Online chess tournament.

Catayas fell short against champion Franiel Magpily of Makati City and second placer Jerick Faeldonia of  Legarda Elementary School.

The Davaoeno receive a medal and a trophy as prize for his feat.

The chessfest was earlier organized by De La Salle University coach Susan Grace Neri.

Catayas who is very happy with his win earlier scored an upset win against 34-year-old Polish grandmaster  Zbigniew  Pakleza in an online friendly chess match last June 6.

The win against Pakleza is a huge boost to the promising chess career of Catayas since the latter is ranked 773 in the world.

Pakleza is also one of the top chess players in Poland as he is ranked 30th in his homeland.

Earlier, Catayas made headlines after he a 27-year-old grandmaster from India in an online friendly chess match on May 23.

James Catayas upset GM Mishra Swayams, who is currently ranked 878 in the world and 44th in India.

Catayas, a regular player for Davao City in local, national, and international junior chess tournaments, is very happy to have won against the two experienced players.

Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro targets 3rd straighn win vs Davao City in 6th Online Chess Goodwill Match

DAVAO CITY---The Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro hopes to beat Davao City for the three straight times in the  6th Online Chess Goodwill Match on June 27 and 28 via lichess.org.

Leading the charge for the defending champion MisOr/CDO are International Master Richelleu Salcedo III, Lennon Hart Salgados, Johnnel Balquin, Christian Arroyo, Antonio Chavez, Alfredo Rapanot, Nazario Ubanan, Romeo and Ronald Canino and Randulph Dalauta will play in the regular competition while NM Levi Mercado, Jaime Frias II, Cleto Vasquez, Bryan Jose, Paul Omongos, Jayson Nabatlao, Ralph Dalauta, Resurreccion Gunayan, Abdul Abdullah and Fr. Vic Arellano are entered in the executives' event.

Davao City ches steam on the otherhand will be lead by Davao City IM Oliver Dimakiling, Fide master (FM) Austin Jacob Literatus, national master (NM) Alex Lupian, John Ray Batucan, Mohammad Sacar, Carl Zirex Sato and Junmark Baldesimo; Panabo City's arena grand master (AGM) Henry Lopez and Jayson Salubre; and Aglipay Oberio of the Island Garden City of Samal.

It can be recalled that MisOr/CDO beat Davao City last June 28, 2019 19-13 at the second floor of Limkeitkai Mall in CDO.

This year,  team results will be based on the total scores of all the players in the regular boards and executives categories. A cash prize of P3,000 awaits the champion while the losing team gets P2,000.

Davao City is set to host this year's friendly match but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the organizers just decided to to the games online.

Panaboan para-athlete gets` 8th place in 1st Online International Physical Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) World Championship Israel 2020

DAVAO CITY -- A 39-year-old para-athlete from Panabo City had a top 10 finish in the tough  1st Online International Physical Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) World Championship Israel 2020 last June 18.

Arena Grand Master (AGM) Henry Lopez scored 6.5 points to finished in the eight place in the international online chess tournament participated in by 118 players from 23 countries.

Another Filipino Sander Severino won the tournament after scoring 8.5 points.

Before his international chess tournament stint, Lopez also got a second place finish in the Philippine Online Pra Chess Open last May 1.

Lopez scored 27 points to finish second in the tournament featuring some of the top para athletes who played chess in the country.

Lopez, a veteran woodpusher in both local and international chess tournaments won P200 for his feat.

The championship in the tournament went to FIDE Master Sander Severino who won P300 after scoring 38 points.

The Panaboan is feeling good as of late since he recently made it to the Philippine chess team that will compete in the 44th Chess Olympiad, the very first edition that will feature a competition for the disabled.

Lopez has made it to the team, which also includes Severino, Jasper Rom, Darry Bernardo, and Cheyzer Mendoza.

As the only Mindanaoan in the team, Lopez is very happy to once again be able to represent the country in an international tournament.

Davaoenos rule 4th Mindanao Arbiters Chess960 Online Tournament

DAVAO CITY---Davaoeno arbiters were the big winners in the 4th Mindanao Arbiters Chess960 Online Tournament last June 15.

Irwin Ato won the top prize in the tournament featuring some of the top aribiters in Mindanao.

Aton scored 8.5 points to win the chessfest and the P150 champion purse.

Taking the second place in the tournament is another Davaoeno, Aton's brother Ariel Nino who won P100.

The third place went to Crysus Donasco who won P200.

Another Davaoeno Alfred Moulic won fourth place.

The fifth place was also secured by Davaoeno  James Infiesto, an  international arbiter and regional director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

The chessfest was earlier organized by Glenn Aleria.

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Panaboan gets 3rd place in International Friendship Children's Online U15 Tournament

DAVAO CITY -- A promising male chess player from Panabo City, Davao del Norte brought honors to his hometown and the Philippines in general after he won third place in the tough  International Friendship Children's Online Chess U15 Tournament last June 16.
Christian Gian Karlo Arca scored five points after seven rounds to placed third in the chessfest won by Nejc Herega of Slovania who scored six points and Roman Dehtiarov of Ukriane who placed second after scoring 5.5 points.
Arca, a eteran chess campaigner of local and national tournaments is very pleased with his international chess victory since the tournament is graced by some of the top under 15 chessers all over the world.
Earlier, the 11-year-old Arca made headlines in the national chess scene after he won third place in an online chess tournament for adults.
Arca won third place in the APM King of the Hill Online Chess last May 6.
Arca scored 66 points in the chessfest participated in by some of the top adult woodpushers in  the Philippines to finish in third place.
The promising chess player who is a veteran in local and national chess tournaments won P30 as prize for his feat.
National Master Joey Florendo of Zamboanga City won the tournament after scoring 68 points.
Florendo won PI00 as prize.
The second place went to Philip Simon Din of Binangononan, Rizal who won P50.

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Davao based Sambo Pilipinas goes online training during quarantine

DAVAO CITY -- A newly recognized sports organization based here is continuing its training despite the ongoing community quarantine in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pilipinas Sambo, the national sports association (NSA) for Sambo, which was organized and developed here is doing online training to keep its members fit and ready once local, national and international tournaments starts after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recently, the online tranining of Pilipinas Sambo for its athletes in Davao City, Baguio City and Manila were lead by 30th SEA Games SAMBO Gold Medalist Mark"Mugen" Striegl.
In a media interview before the COVID-19 pandemic, Sambo Pilipinas officials said they are exerting efforts to make the sport more popular in the country to be hopefully added as an official event in the Palarong Pambansa.
Lawyer Paolo Claudio, president of Pilipinas Sambo said they are set to talk to Department of Education (DEPED) officials to take the necessary steps to make the sport part of the nationwide sports meet as soon as possible.
Claudio explained  it is ideal to have Sambo included in the list of Palarong Pambansa events as it is a sport in which Filipinos can excel.
Streigl said   he wants to inspire kids to try the sport and become an international campaigner like him in the future.
The SEA Games gold medalist added that Filipinos tend to excel in martial arts, which is why more attention should be given to sambo and other martial arts.
Claudio said Pilipinas Sambo is doubling its efforts to promote the sport, especially in Davao, as this is the unofficial birthplace of the sport in the Philippines.
Paolo Tancontian, founder of Pilipinas Sambo, said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already recognized the sport and he is confident it will become part of the Olympics soon.
Tancontian also said sambo will make its debut here as part of the lined-up sports events set to take place March as the city celebrates Araw ng Davao.
He said the city will host an international sambo competition on March 28 at the Abreeza Mall here.
Having produced medals in the SEA Games, Tancontian said the task now for his group is to make sure they are able to bring in more medals for the country in future tournaments.

No Arafura Games 2021 for DC athletes

DAVAO CITY---The gold medalist here will have to wait for four more years before they  can defend their crows in the friendly sporting tournament Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia.
This developed after the organizers of the Arafura Games has decided to postpone te schedule competition in 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In their official website, the Arafura Games organizers has decided to transfer the  international sporting competition in 2023.
It can be recalled that in 2019, Davao City based swimmers  Ray Martin Yarra, Lora Micah Amoguis, Ivo Nikolai Enot and Joshua del Rio along with jumper Mark Anthony Caseñas and thrower Bruce Pernia, who all brought home gold medals for Team Philippines in Arafura Games.
Over-all Philippines made up of 91 athletes captured  31 golds, 51 silvers, and 34 bronzes in the tournament.
The postponement of the games disappointed many athletes but they all understand the reason behind the postponement.
The athletes just pledge that they will do their best to capture medals in the Arafura Games 2023.

Dipolog teen rules 26th APM Juniors u20 Online Blitz

DAVAO CITY---A promising 11-year-old teen from Dipolog City, Zamboange del Norte ruled the  26th APM Juniors u20 Online Blitz last June 2.
Ghian Michael ruled the chessfest participated in by some of the top young chessers in Mindanao after scoring eight points.
Michael won P50 as prize for his feat.
The second place in the online chessfest went to Davaeono James Catayas, 12 who scored seven points.
Catayas, a resident of Buhangin here won P50 as prize.
The third place went to  John Esencia of Tagum City, Davao del Norte who scored 6.5 points.
Esencia, 14 won P20 as prize.
Some special prizes were also given to outstanding performers in their age group.
Sara Dalagan of Tagoloan, Cagayan de Oro City was awarded a medal as top chessers in under 12
Davaoeno Aaron Aton was declared as the top chesser for under nine.
APM organized the chessfest earlier to allow young chess players an avenue to play online chess at their own homes despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Agdao market vendors seeks 2 month-relief from rentals due to loss of income

DAVAO CITY — The vendors inside the Agdao Public Market has appealed to the city government to exempt them from paying their rentals for two months due to loss of income due to the recent closure of the market due to COVID-19.
In a message they sent to Mayor Sara Duterte during her  regular interview with Davao City Disaster Radio on Friday, the vendors said due to the closure of the market from May 23 to June 2 they lose their potential income.
The vendors added that when the market opened on June 2 there are also less customers since many of the people in Davao are still  afraid to visit the area due to COVID-19.
Duterte seems receptive to their concerns as she asked them to formally sent her a letter with regards to their request so that she can act on it.
"Pag send lang mo ug formal letter sa city government of Davao," Duterte said.
Earlier on the same radio interview, Sara said he City Health Office (CHO) will continue its strict health monitoring on market since it resumed its operations.
ara said the CHO will also closely monitor the surrounding areas of the market to ensure they are safe from COVID-19 infection.
"Continuous ang monitoring dili lang sa market kung dili sa surrounding areas sad," she said.
(The monitoring will be continuous not just in the market but in the surrounding areas as well.)
It can be recalled that the city decided to temporarily close the market to sanitize it and find the vendors and market personnel who had possible signs of COVID-19.
A total of 63 vendors and laborers underwent a swab test at the Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC), nine of whom — all vendors — turned out positive of the virus.
The mayor said with the detection of the nine COVID-19 positive cases, the next task for the CHO is to conduct contract-tracing on the people the patients mingled with for the past 14 days

After Indian GM, Buhangin teen upsets Polish GM in online friendly match

DAVAO CITY -- A 14-year-old teen from Buhangin, Davao City is feeling good these days.
This developed after James Catayas, a student of SDA Elementary School, another foreign grandmaster after he earlier beat an Indian grandmaster.
Catayas beat 34-year-old Polish grandmaster  Zbigniew  Pakleza in an online friendly chess match last June 6.
The win against Pakleza is a huge boost to the promising chess career of Catayas since the latter is ranked 773 in the world.
Pakleza is also one of the top chess players in Poland as he is ranked 30th in his homeland.
Earlier, Catayas made headlines after he a 27-year-old grandmaster from India in an online friendly chess match on May 23.
James Catayas upset GM Mishra Swayams, who is currently ranked 878 in the world and 44th in India.
Catayas, a regular player for Davao City in local, national, and international junior chess tournaments, is very happy to have won against the two experienced players.
The wins also came as a good start for Catayas, who is set to compete in several local, national, and international chess tournaments throughout the year.

Davaoeno targets crown in 1st Philippine Bullet Online Chess Championship Grand finals

DAVAO CITY --A veteran woodpusher here has made it to the grandfinals of the first Philippine Bullet Chess Championship Grandfinals on June 13.
International Master Oliver Dimakiling has made it to the 16 chessers who will compete for the crown of the prestigious national chess tournaments featuring the country's top wood pushers.
Aside from Dimakiling, also competiting in the grand finals are  Grandmasters Joey Antonio and Banjo Barcenilla; International Masters Daniel Quizon, Paulo Bersamina among others.
Before this tournament, Dimakiling already put the city in chess maps after he won many local, national and international chess tournaments.
The tournament was organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.
Before making it to the grand finals, each of the participants  played two games in 11 rounds using a time control of two minutes plus a one-second increment.
They all play a total of 10 rounds in the tournament.
The tournament is groundbreaking and specifically organized to allow chess players of the Philippines to still play the sport despite the COVID-19 scare.
NCFP president and chairman Butch Pichay set aside a total of P220,000 to the winners of the tournament.

MPBL set to hold remaining playoff games in close doors, set to quarantine 4 remaining teams

DAVAO CITY -- The officials of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) is set to hold the remaining games of its suspended  2019-2020 season in close doors without any fans just the participating teams once holding of the games is already allowed in the country.
In a memorandum, Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes said the players and officials ofg San Juan Knights-Go for Gold and Makati Super Crunch in the North Division and Davao Occidental Tigers-Cocolife and Basilan Steel-Jumbo Plastic in the South will also be quarantined in the remaining MPBL playoff games.
"All these remaining games shall be held in one venue with no audience and players for the teams involved, as well as their officials, shall be quarantined in one facility throughout the series," the Duremdes said.
When the playoff games were postponed, the Davao Occidental Tigers and Basilan Steel were scheduled for a deciding game three of their division finals series. Meanwhile, the San Juan Knights and Makati Super Crunch found themselves in the same situation in the Northern Division as both teams were also tied at one game apiece.
In the same memorandum, Duremdes also scrapped the 2020-21 season and plans to hold its next tournament in June 2021.
Duremdes also barred any team from taking a leave of absence in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
All teams are also "advised to give allowances of at least 20-percent [of their monthly salaries] to its current players under contract," Duremdes added.

Davao’s Miciano finishes 9th in 1st Asian Juniors and Girls Online Chess Zonal Championship

DAVAO CITY -- Davaoeño International Master (IM) John Marvin Miciano finished in the ninth place in the 1st Asian Juniors and Girls Online Chess Zonal Championship on May 27 to June 2.
Miciano, the highest-ranked chess player in Davao City and current seventh overall in the country, suffered a crucial loss in the penultimate round and only scoredd four points in the tournament.
Despite the defeat, Miciano is still happy with his performance since his teammates International Master Daniel Quizon and Chester Reyes took the gold and bronze medals respectively.
Quizon won the tournament after scoring 5.5 points after seven rounds.
Reyes for his part got the third place in the chessfest participated in by some of the top junior chess players in Asia.
With their win, both Quizon and Reyes gets the coveted slots to compete in the e Asian grand finals later this year.
Aside from the Philippines the other countries  who competed in the tournament are Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Mongolia, and Myanmar.
Miciano got the slot earlier after winning the championship of the tough National Juniors Boys Rapid Online Chess Championships Grand Finals which took place on May 12 to 14.
The win is huge for Miciano, a  Far Eastern University (FEU) chess varsity player since it further enhances his chances of earning the title of Grandmaster.
Earlier, the 19-year old Miciano made it to the national chess team after finishing the qualifying tournament fourth among the eight players chosen for the national team.
The promising Davaoeno chess player scored a total of 11 points in the qualifying tournament to make it to the Philippine men's chess team.

Tigers sharpshooter works as frontliner, online seller during quarantine

DAVAO CITY---One of the top bench player of the Davao Occidental Tigers is using the ongoing quarantine period to serve others and earn money at the same time.
Tigers sharpshooting forward Richard Albo is one of the country's frontliners against the dreaded COVID-19 by being a barangay councilor in Bangkulasi, Navotas City.
As  a barangay councilor, Albo helps in the distribution of relief goods in his barangay and at the same time helps in the strict implementation of wearing of masks and social distancing.
Albo also regularly checks the quarantine checkpoints in their barangay.
Aside from working as a frontliner, Albo also sidelines as an online seller to financed his family in  this time of crisis.
Albo sells sea foods and dinakdakan online personally delivers them using his motorcycle.
In Game 2 of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Southern division finals, Albo made a splash for his team as he helped the Tigers beat the Basilan to tie their playoff series one game a piece.
In that game, Albo scored 14 points in 17 minutes to keep the season alive for the defending MPBL Southern division Tigers.
Now that the MPBL playoffs is suspended, Albo hoped the COVID-19 situation will normalize so that the stalled MPBL postseason can finally resume.

Cheers in time of pandemic as Tibungco teen won U21 CHT Australian Solo DanceSport Online Competition

Jaysar John Gozon shows his winning form inside his house in Tibungco, Davao City last May 24. Revilo Aragnat

DAVAO CITY--A 19-year-old teen from Tibungco here brought honors and cheers to the city and the Philippines in general after he won the prestigious under 21 CHT Australian Solo DanceSport Online Competition last May 24.
Jaysar John Gozon, a member of the Tibungco Dancesport Team (TDT) scored 82 points to emerged as champion in the international dancesport competition participated in by 23 countries including the United States and the organizer Australia.
Gozon, a student of  F. Bustamante National High School won a certificate and a global recognition in the international dancesport community as feat.
Another Davaoeno and member of the TDT Gavin Facci Tangara also took the fifth place in the under 21 category.
In the under 16 category of the same competition two TDT members also performed well as Apple Quiamco took third place and Heart Celo fifth place.
Before his international dancesport win,  Gozon also won sixth place in the 2019 sa DanceSport Council of the Philippines competition last Oct. 12, 2019 held at Valle Verde Country Club, Pasig.
Prior to their latest achievement, TDT has put Davao City in the dancesport map as they won many local and national dancesport competition last year.
On September 14, the same team also won three golds, two silvers, and three bronzes in the 11th Dancesport sa Sugbo Open Championship at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City.
Davao City won the gold medals in the three dance youth category, the three dance juvenile category, and the five dance juvenile category.
The team’s trip around the Philippines was made possible with the support of the city government of Davao and Tibungco barangay captain Merjade Calvo.
Before winning the medals in Cebu, the same team also won six medals and trophies in the Mindanow, Superstars of Tomorrow Dancesport Competition at the Limketkai Mall in Cagayan de Oro City on August 17.
The team won first place in the Juvenile 5 category, second place in Juvenile 3, second place in Junior 3, second place in Junior 5, third place in Junior 5 Close Mindanao competition, and third place in Junior 3 open.