Dr. Mayor, Chief Arbiter of the 2009 DA Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla Romblomanon Chess Cup

COUNTRYSIDE chess development  events  will again  be  the center piece project of six-time PhilippineExecutive Grand Prix champion and former NCFP director and  Coun-tryside Development chairman Dr. Jenny Mayor. he will spearhead in arbitering and fin-ding fresh raw talents in the 2009 Department  of Agriculture <DA> Undersecretary  Bernie Fondevilla Romblomanon Chess Cup Eliminations which will be held in 3 locations in the marble island-province paradise of Romblon namely: Tablas Island on January 30 <Fri> at the Romblon State College in Odiongan town for Tablas & Carabao Island players, Romblon Island on February 1 <Sun> at the St. Joseph Pastoral hall in the capi-tal town of Romblon for Romblon Island & Tres Islas entries, and  Sibuyan Island on February 3 <Tue> at the Cajidiocan National high School in Cajidiocan town for Sibuyanon bets.

USEC Fondevilla, the Chief-of-Staff and classmate of multi-awarded Secretary Arthur Yap of the Department of Agriculture <DA>, is a varsity player of the University of the Philippines College of Law during his college days. he hails from Romblon, and used extensively his vast knowledge in chess in formulating concrete and  laudable plans in his Department which resulted  to the stability of our food supply despite a world-wide crisis which the world now faces.

The tournament will have a 6 or 7-round Swiss system format for its elimination phase depending on the number of participants and 11 or 13-round Swiss system affair for the Grand Finals.  Rate of play is 25 minutes active chess for each player.

Top qualifiers for the eliminations are as follows: 1^st place – Php5,000 + medal; 2^nd place-Php3,000 + medal; 3^rd place-Php2,000 + medal and 4^th to 5^th places-Php 1,000+ medal. Five bets each from  Romblon and Cajidiocan elims will advance to the Grand Finals . In the Odiongan  elims, due to the vast number of  towns represented, the 6th –10th places will also qualify to the Grand Finals and will likewise win Php1,000 each. Other prizes include chess books, pamphlets and softwares from the Chess Library to the top 5 players.  In addition qualifiers from other towns will be given transportation allowance and free accommodations to the Odiongan Grand Finals in April 3, 2009.

At stake in the  Grand Finals is Php20,000 + a 27-inch tv set for the champion; Php 10,000 + DVD (1^st runner-up); Php7,000 + DVD (2^nd runner-up); Php5,000 + DVD (3^rd runner-up), Php3,000 + (4^th runner-up); Php2,000 (5^th to 10^th places); and Php1,000 (11^th to 20^th places), respectively. Other prizes to be awarded are trophies, medals, chess books, pamphlets & softwares.

Registration is free. Qualified to join are native Romblomanons, those who have a Romblomanon parent or those who have a Romblomanon wife or husband. For more details please contact Tournament Director Dr. Jenny Mayor at 09194782209, Lyndon Molino at 0920560-2093, Joy Morales at 09194443803, Louie Pacampara at  0919895-7703 and Liza Mayor at 09297746466.  Event Organizer is Ryan Yambao.

BY: NATIONAL MASTER MARLON BERNARDINO