Primo Eugene

Asia’s first chess Grandmaster Eugene Torre was recently nominated to the prestigious World Chess Hall of Fame, the first male Asian to be bestowed with such honor. Eugene, now 69 years old, calls me “primo” as we have the same relatives in Tigbauan, Iloilo although he was born in Lapaz District in Iloilo City. His favorite meal is the famous Lapaz batchoy. Eugene and I headed the PSC chess team training camp in Baguio City in 1992 as we prepared for the World Chess Olympiad which we hosted. Eugene was the camp director while I was the physical conditioning coach. Torre thus will join former champions Gary Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov, Bobby Fisher and Boris  Spassky. Eugene boasts of  23 appearances in World Chess Olympiads where he won a silver and two bronzes.  Also nominated were Argentine GM Miguel Najdorf and Judit Polgar of Hungry, considered the greatest woman player of all time.  Congratulations Primo Eugene “Aton gid ini”.

Siquijor mistakes

An irate fan said Rendell Senining of the ARQ Builders Lapu Lapu City Heroes should have taken his foul throws underhand on (orinola style) just like Rick Barry, whose percentage from the stripe is 90.  Or maybe he was trying to ape Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics who shoots the ball right handed, but when it was to his advantage, he shoots lefty. Bird was ambidextrous and shoots with either hand. Meanwhile, Ronald Mascarinas, Chooks To Go president, had a change of heart. After the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) suspended the Mindanao leg of the Vismin Super Cup, Mascarinas is asking the board to reconsider its decision and allow the Mindanao leg to go on.  But GAB chair Baham Mitra seems to stick with their ruling. Even Cebu City Cuncilor Dondon Hontiveros was not happy at all with what transpired. At this time of pandemic when sports is at standstill, those players should appreciate and be thankful that the Vismin Cup was organized and therefore give some benefits to the players. But they wasted this oppurtunity and disgraced the league, added Hontiveros, also the Vismin Cup ambassador.  As I was ending this column, the Siquijor LGU announced that they have nothing to do with the Mystics and condemned the shameful acts of the team.

Music lovers

The newly-organized Music Lovers Club held its election of officers last Sunday at Harold’s Hotel in uptown Cebu.  Elected president was Roy Caballero, vice president Alain Montesclaros, secretary Nanette Dilao, treasurer Andy Manatad, auditor Bobby Jamero and PRO Sam Costanilla. The screening  committee is composed of Ate Ging Montesclaros, who is also the club’s founder, Dante Luzon and Sam Costanilla.  Dr. Warfe Ignracia, Jhun Villahermosa, and Raffy Uytiepo were appointed consultants.

Did you know?

GEORGE FOREMAN, former two-time world heavyweight champion, has 10 children, five boys and five girls. His boys are named George Jr., George III, George IV, George V and George VI.  He almost named his girls George as well, but felt it might be too much. So he named two daughters Georgetta and Freeda George.  The three others were named Michi, Natalie and Leola. Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion at age 45 when he knocked out 26--year old Michael Moorer on November 5, 1994. He held onto the title until was 48.

ZARAH PHILIPS. Daughter of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Philips, Queen Elizabeth’s second eldest grandchild, picked up a string of medals at the European and World Championships only to miss the 2004 and  2008 Olympics due to the injury to her horse Toytown.  She won the silver in team eventing at the London 2012 Olympics.  Her grandfather Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburg who died recently, was among the spectators.

NOTES: After the passing of jukebox queen Claire Dela Fuente due to Covid-19, another singing icon, Victor Wood, succumbed to the virus last Friday at age 74.  The jukebox king’s hits include “Mr. Lonely”, “Eternally”, “Carmelita” and “In Despair” to mention a few. Fans will soon be able to watch his biopic titled “Jukebox King:The Life story of Victor Wood”. Martin Escudero plays Victor Wood.