Cepca to promote chess among prisoners
THE Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association, as part of its goals to promote the game, will reach out to our brothers in prison so they can “learn from a game that rewards patience and problem-solving and apply it to their own lives.”
We will start in Mandaue City Jail as the warden, Jessie Calumpang, is very receptive to the idea and is related to one of our officers, Jun Olis.
I got the idea from Cook County Jail Sheriff Tom Dart of Illinois, who said, “It helps you gain mental clarity and keeps you focused.”
We believe that chess will teach the inmates “responsibility, planning ahead, patience, problem-solving, and learning from past mistakes, to name a few.”
“We see it day-in and day-out that people want instant gratification and that often, individuals do not think before they act,” Dart said. “Thoughtless actions will hurt you while playing chess and hurt you more on the street.”
“It makes your mind expand,” said inmate Kevin Upshaw. “It is like life. I am incarcerated. I am trying to unlock my mind. Chess is going to help me.”
“I love that it teaches you the art of thinking that I can apply to everyday life,” said inmate Jack Moody.
“It gives them something to do. The benefits are amazing,” said Sheriff Dart. “This is a unique thing, and they are paying for it themselves, not the taxpayers... Some are tournament ready to challenge other inmates in jails, and they are paying for this themselves.”
After Mandaue, Cepca will go to other jails in Cebu like BBRC and Operation Second Chance.
Our program, which is scheduled next month, is to hold simul tournaments to be conducted by Cepca members, and inmate winners, including those who score draws, will be rewarded with some cash.
Cepca president Jojo Muralla, club secretary Dante Arguelles, membership chairman Jun Olis and Mike Banebane will conduct the simuls against 10 opponents each.
Mandaue City Jail has around 855 inmates.
“We will also conduct a tournament among inmates with cash prizes and trophy going to the winners and we will also donate chess sets to the jail,” said Jojo.
VISAYAS AGE GROUP. Our future kiddie chess journalist and chess player, KC Morala, sent in this report.
“A few Cebuanos finished in the top 10 the National Age Group Visayas Eliminations in Kalibo, Aklan last April 8-10, with Alphecca Gonzales winning the Girls 8-under.
Though Jazzelle Villarin took off with an impressive performance of straight wins in the early rounds, Ruth de Guzman from Makati City tripped her off the race for the champion’s trophy. A draw with second placer Michelle Yaon and another loss in her last round with Jean Karen Enriquez landed her at the sixth place in the Girls 16-under division, while I finished ninth.
Jessa Balbona barely managed to hang on in the Top 10 in the Girls 20-under category, finishing the six rounds with two wins and two draws.
Jeremy Pepito took the limelight for the second place in the Open 10-under category.
A loss to Paulo Bersamina, the eventual winner in the Open 14-under, and a draw with Lanz Otero had Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano landing in third place, half a point ahead of Cebuano John Francis Balbona.
Allan Pason finished at second, while Felix Shaun Balbona and Diego Abraham Claro, got the fifth and seventh place, respectively.
Michael Silvaderio got ninth place in the Open 20-under.”