Gov. Espino assures support to chess IM Pascua’s GM bid Lingayen --- Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. has assured solid support to chess International Master (IM) Haridas Pascua’s bid for a Grand Master (GM) title, and bared that the chess program that his administration has started will continue to develop more Pangasinense chess players gain chess titles. This developed after Pascua, the second chess IM from the province who is an active participant to provincial government-sponsored chess tournaments and clinics, paid a courtesy call to Gov. Espino on April 25, Friday, here. 20-year-old Pascua from Mangatarem placed second in the Dytm Raja Dr. Nazrin International Open Chess Championships (open category) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on April 3-11 to earn the IM chess title. Pascua recorded 5 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss in said tournament that was participated in by some 88 chess players from 20 countries. “Masaya po ‘yung feeling ng pagkapanalo at makakapag-uwi ka ng karangalan para sa probinsya,” he said even as he expressed gratitude over the moral and financial support he received from the provincial government for his participation to the international chess tourney. The Governor had already instructed Executive Assistant III Modesto Operania, Sports Director of the province, to work with the Pangasinan Chess League (PCL) to come up with a project proposal to help Pascua attain the Grand Master title. We are doing this kasi very memorable si Haridas Pascua sa atin dahil mula ng elementary grader pa lang sya, nandyan na tayo na sumusuporta hanggang sa nakuha nya ang kanyang IM title,” the provincial chief executive said. Rodolfo Tan Cardoso of Alaminos City, an ASNA Balitok awardee of the province, became the first Filipino IM in 1957 – exactly 57 years after another Pangasinense has again earned the IM title. Without the financial support that promising chess players will get, aside chess trainings and tournaments we provide them for free, promising chess players in the province – mostly public school pupils – will find it hard to pursue their career in chess, the Governor added. Pangasinan is the only province in the country that pioneered annual chess festival, clinics and trainings for the past seven years, according to PCL President Juan Vicente Sison. Sison, who also attended the courtesy call, said “the long wait of Pangasinan to produce another chess IM is over; and all the programs of the provincial government to develop chess players from the grassroots level have paid off.” Pascua was among the Pangasinan contigent that ammased medals in the 2013 Asian Age Group Chess Championships held in Thailand where he captured 5 golds and 1 silver. He was also gold-medallist in the blitz and 2nd in the standard categories of the 2013 Philippine National Games, among other distinctions he won from various chess tournments inside and outside the country. (MGNO)
Posted on: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 21:41:43 +0000
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