LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—“Sports in not just a regular activity for Pangasinense youth but an opportunity for the younger generation to reach for their dreams.”
This was disclosed by Governor Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III during the closing ceremony of the 7th Gov. Amado Espino Chess Clinic recently at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center (PTDC).
The chess clinic which opened on September 9 and run up to September 10, 16 and 17, was participated in by some 322 kids and adults.
In the closing ceremony, Gov. Pogi extended his deep appreciation to all parents and guardians who took time to accompany their children to the venue where different lessons on chess were lectured.
“Hindi po magtatagal ng ganito ang programang sinimulan ng dating gobernador at ngayon ay kasalukuyang kongresista ng 5th district Amado T. Espino, Jr. kung hindi dahil sa suporta ng mga magulang na naririto na matiyagang nagbabantay at sumasama sa kanilang mga anak upang matuto ng larong chess,” he stressed.
It can be recalled that the project was launched in 2009 by the provincial government in coordination with the Pangasinan Chess League.
The chess clinic, free of charge, is a component of the Pangasinan Chess Festival—a yearly activity which is preceded by three big chess tournaments conducted regularly by the Espino administration.
Meanwhile, Dir. Modesto Operania, head of the Pangasinan Sports Management and Development Council (PSMDC), noted that participants this year mostly came from the towns of Aguilar, Binmaley, Bugallon, Labrador, Lingayen, Malasiqui, Manaoag, Mangaldan, Mangatarem, Mapandan, San Fabian, Sual, Villasis and the cities of Dagupan, San Carlos and Urdaneta.
Breakdown of participants are as follows: 104-beginner, 121-intermediate and 97-advanced.
Lecture topics include Basic Moves of Chess, Relative Moves of the Pieces, Basic Mating techniques, and How to Meet Threats for beginners; Basic Chess Tactics, Advanced Chess Tactics, Basic Endgame Techniques, Basic Chess Strategies for intermediate; Opening strategies, Middlegame Techniques, Advanced Chess Strategies, Advanced Opening Strategies for advanced.
The following chess wizards served as instructors during the scheduled lectures: Beginner-Mer Bautista, Robert Campos, Tomas Ferrer, Mark Ventayen; Intermediate- Richard Bautista, Isagani Fernandez, Francisco Junio, Jr., Alfonso Rasco; Advanced- Ali Espanol, Zaldy Falcon, German Francisco, Allan Frianeza, Edaurdo Suarez, Casiano Torres and Ricardo Yuson.
As such, PCL president Juan Vicente R. Sison announced that three tournaments will be held in the last quarter of 2017.
Sison urged the participants of the chess clinic as well as other chess enthusiasts to join the scheduled tournaments namely: 7th Pangasinan Age Group Chess Championship (October 7-8), 7th Pangasinan Chess Championship (November 11-12), 9th Gov. Amado Espino Open Chess Championship (December 9-10).
For those interested please visit the PSMDC office located at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC), or contact Mr. German Francisco (0919-565-8987) and Alex Fernandez (0932-773-8922).
By Dexter A. See
