Mabalacat City Chess Association is being reborn
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 29 Jan 2022
MANILA---TIMING is the key, that Mabalacat City Chess Association is being reborn under the new leadership of Amado John Gregorio Jr.
Last January 22, 2022, the new president called for a meeting among his fellow chess players friends and presented his intentions of reviving the Mabalacat City Chess Association to continue the vision and mission of the association and the chess legacy of the master-caliber “Robert Halili”, player of Mabalacat City that has helped paved way to their trained children through college.
Mabalacat City Chess Association was initiated by Robert Halili, Juanito "Jun" Marcaida, Noel Limpin, Reden Ison and Andy Dizon for they have been playing chess and competing big chess tournaments in different places bringing pride to our very own Mabalacat City. The Chess family in Mabalacat is growing and looking at the need of having successors in this line of sports. Through these, they started to coach and train children. Master Robert Halili became the coach and trainer of the children that eventually helped them to use chess for scholarship and accepted in universities as varsities. Among them are Rhen Lionel Marcaida, Martin Yabut and Mesmer Mesina went to FEU; Glenderly Anana and Mary Anne Alcantara went to UST, Hans Balingit , the champion of the first Grand Tournament of MCCA, Mayor Garbo Chess Cup" went to St. Benilde La Salle, and JC Ballobar went to Adamson.
With the success of Master-caliber ”Robert Halili”, he once again envisioned to witness a chess club alongside with his fellow veteran chess players in Mabalacat to continue their legacy in chess. They wish to continue the vision and mission of the group which was mainly to help younger chess players to hone their skills and use it in the future as a tool for sustainable living like being accepted in university scholarships.
Mabalacat City Chess Association (MCCA) was born on February 2016 and SEC Registered in 2017 under the leadership of Jun Marcaida. However, the MCCA operation has stopped since 2019 due to busy schedules of the previous officers and then followed by the Corona virus pandemic.
"This year 2022, is the time to be back on track with chess, having new generations who are eagers and have potentials to be a Master-caliber players of Mabalacat City. With the support of our very own Mayor Chris Garbo and the assistance of Mr. Glenn Tiongco in the chess world, it brought motivation to us to revive Mabalacat City Chess Association." said Mabalacat City Chess Association President Amado John Gregorio.
Choosing of new set of officers was unanimous, Amado John Gregorio as the new President, Noel Limpin as Vice President, Raquel Nuqui as Secretary, Mercy Abellera as Treasurer, Joel Vergara as Auditor/Adviser, Allen Dino as P.R.O, Robert Halili as Adviser /Trainer, Rusby Salila as consultant, and lastly Juanito "Jun" Marcaida as the organization adviser.
Gabrielle O. Nuqui and Joseph Raphael Vergara, two of young Pampanga chess bets thanks Mayor Crisostomo Garbo for his support in promoting chess in Pampanga.-Marlon Bernardino-
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