Negros Island Chess Afionadoss Padayon nga Tikang

Great chessplayers and chess enthusiasts are numerous in Negros but chess tournaments in the
province are insufficient to please them in showing-off their analysis. This has been a long-time
problem of Negros Chess. A lot of potentials emerge but gradually die because of the scarcity of
chess tournaments in their own territory.

This was noticed by the chess enthusiast Dominador Espinosa who prefers to be called Tibor.
He started to fall in love in chess but found no venue in enjoying it more through a chess
tournament. He also noticed that youngsters are in need of coals in the form of chess
tournaments or else their spark of passion will die. With these observations, he has thought of
building an organization.

Negros Integrate Chess Association (NICA) was launched in August 2008 through a chess
tournament in 888 Chinatown Square. Different chess clubs and chessplayers collaborated for
the success of the event: Escalante Chess Club headed by Blaz Plaza, Roy Villa of Silay, Alan
Severino, Sum-ag Chess Club through Ted Ian Montoyo, Ray Hofilea of Bago City, Rey Cordero
of La Carlota City, Philip Caudilla of Negros Chess Society and Renato Anoran.

Since the program of NICA is into promoting chess in Negros, Tibor welcomed with open arms
those who want to create an organization and be under the umbrella of NICA. Pawnstorm
Chess executed its official pawn move in 2010 and was supported 100% by NICA. Activities of
Pawnstorm Chess are training students to ensure that next generations can compete well and
replace the strong veteran players of Negros; create chess tournaments to put the chess
knowledge of kids into practical test; conduct chess lectures and provide snacks, clothes and
most especially hope to children who are in conflict with the law in Social Development Center
(SDC) and Boys Home; and alongside help NICA in its activities.

The major chess tournaments where NICA brought players to are Aklan National Inter-Cities
2011 (Team Composition: FM Sander Severino, IM Joel Pimentel, Jerich Cajeras, Ellan Asuela
and Marvin Ting) where they finished place; Batangas Inter-Cities 2012 (Team Composition: IM
Nouri Hamed, IM Joel Pimentel, FM Sander Severino, Raymund Dela Pea and Marvin Ting);
and in various tournaments in Cebu, Ilo-ilo and Manila.

They are not yet the complete list of jim-dandies of Negros Chess buy they are the quality of
chessplayers that NICA and Pawnstorm Chess agreed to create. Prodigies like Jerich Cajeras, IM
Joel Pimental, Stevenson Garong, IM Hamed Nouri, NM Rodrigo Atotubo, NM Alfred Acaling,
Ted Ian Montoyo, Edsel Montoya, NM Rolando Andador are just a few names to add to the
complete list.

Sustaining a non-profit organization is no joke. Without enough drive, it will most likely end-up
to a decrescendo of happenings up to total silence. In all likelihood, if someone pours out
passion to a certain craft, someone with the same interest will notice it. In 2013, NICA met
another reason to continue its chess endeavors. Farrah Sequito, who is an ex-varsity of Colegio
de San Agustin Bacolod provided an unwavering support to the organization despite of residing
in the United States. Farrah completely recognize the passion, struggle and talent of Negros
chessplayers that made her the most easy-to-reach-out sponsor of NICA. Since 2013, Farrah
Sequito Negros Chess Championship has become a yearly chess tournament eyed and
patronized by Negrense woodpushers.

Chess is not the only world of chessplayers, needless to say, most especially to students. Aside
from excelling in chess, they too have to maintain their academic grades. Most chess student-
athletes intended to be a part of a varsity team to get free education. Despite of the free
educational fees that the school waives for them, there are still circumstances that they need to
make some payment. NICA understands this situation of striving athletes that makes the
organization lend them money for tuition and school projects.

Also, to be able to reach-out to children who quite have no way to be introduced to chess,
feeding programs were organized by NICA. Serving some soup and juice to children while
sharing bible stories and chess knowledge may be a simple effort, but undeniably an effective
way to deliver new learning.

As NICA and Pawnstorm have been enjoying their collaboration, there came the young minds -
newbies by name but definitely not in chess moves. The organization MAGES Chess Society like
Pawnstorm was welcomed with open arms by NICA. MAGES is the acronym of the names:
Manilyn (Cabungcag), Adi (Lim) Gi (Bian), Earl (Martinez) and Shane (Herrera). They are varsity
chessplayers in USLS who have benefited in chess not just in the form of free tuition but also in
life lessons. The term Mages happened to have a beautiful meaning. Google defines mages as
an archaic term for a magician or learned person. Another fun fact is that the organization was
officially launched in November 30 (2016) which happened to be the date of birth of the
reigning Chess World Champion Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen.

They are also those kids who have gained experience from being volunteers in the chess
tournaments organized by NICA and Pawnstorm. They execute their designation with passion
whether it is in being an arbiter, encoder, announcer or pairing officer. When they learned that
the two groups are open in the popping-out of another chess group, they formed the
organization MAGES and will organize chess events in the future. It seems like the birth of new
exciting organizers is born.

In August 2016, the organization of NICA was reformatted and the acronym was changed to
Negros Island Chess Aficionados. The overhaul of the organization may have required a minimal
adaptation but it remained intact in its vision: Negros Occidental shall have an ideal and
continued chess program supported by both private and government sectors

Meetings are being carried out by NICA together with its volunteers to brainstorm for the
furtherance of chess in Negros. Everyone works hard to ensure that every month, a chess
activity will transpire. It may be a chess tournament, or a chess lecture with children who are in
conflict with the law.
New and rapid developments are necessary for a product to thrive. The product of NICA is
chess and to ensure that it will not see itself in a critical position to being out of the game, a
chess museum will be launched by NICA. The space will be adorned with different chess pieces
and chess books. It will also serve as a playing area to bring revival to Negros Chess.

The president of NICA is a proud chessplayer. He is one of the most animated players that
anyone can spectate to. You can see in him the passion and excitement whenever he is in
authority of the other side of the board. Recognizing the kind of passion he has in chess, he
does not feel comfortable in putting it to waste. He feels liable in propagating chess in Negros
that makes NICA continue doing different chess activities. Tibor is not solely hooked in chess.
He is a free spirited type of man who also enjoys mountain climbing, hiking, diving, competing
in a race (same format of The Amazing Race contest), playing musical instruments, photography
and different forms of art. Chess must be dominantly special to him that it appears to be a
priority.

As what he often say, As far as chess development is concerned, I am willing and able.
Undoubtedly successful chess activities that he has produced serve as proofs to the kind of
commitment he has in chess. All just and principled means for him are doable for the sake of
chess development in Negros. If action speaks louder than words, not only his chess
tournaments can tell but also anyone who has worked with him can attest to his genuine love
for the game.

Furthermore, Tibor is a born leader. He knows how to deal with people in all walks of life. What
is great with his leadership is that he is generous in teaching new skills to his mentee. He is
happy in seeing improvements in the person and his support does not diminish to a certain
point. He continues to uplift until the talent that is hidden in the individual finds the timing of
success.

The Padayon nga tikang of NICA will be felt as long as chessplayers continue to show hunger
in chess. Ajedres is a no ordinary mental game and only chessplayers can completely
understand how it is to feel the tension, excitement, ideas, brilliance and fulfillment contained
in it. As what these people who is fond of mental torture remark, Chess is an addiction. While
to NICA, Chess is a sport, an art, science and life. Life imitates chess and chess imitates life as
well.