First female national master

Don’t look now but the Philippines recently produced a first and only chess female National Master.  Yes folks, 10-year old Nika Juris Nicolas from Pasig City, was granted the title by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) on June 9, 2023. Nika made waves in the boys under-11 division of the National Youth and School’s Chess Championship Grand Finals  in the tournament held in Dapitan City, despite being the only female participant in the tournament, Nika won medals in all categories including silver in the  Standard,  another silver in Blitz and a bronze  in Rapid.  Coach Marlon Bernardino said Nika emerged champion in the Under 11 Boy’s Division of the NCFP National Elimination held last March.  As I write this column, Nika is set to compete in the ASEAN Age Group Chess Championship  in Bangkok, Thailand starting June 17.  Nika will also banner the VCIS Homeschool Global Chess Team to the 1st Professional  Chess Association  of the Philippines National Inter- School Championship in July.  Bernardino further said Nika is a world-class chess grandmaster in the making.  Her coaches include WGM Janelle Frayna and GM Jayson Gonzales.  You make us proud Nika!

Volleyball Queen

Remember Leila Barros?  Well, if you don’t recall, she was Brazil’s top volleyball player who was a two-time Olympic volleyball bronze medalist.  Leila was in the Philippines in 2000 for the FIVA World Women’s Volleyball Grand Prix, where she led Brazil to a bronze medal.  The former “Pantasya ng Bayan” who is still pretty at 51, is a senator in Brazil.

QUOTE: “The greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising everytime we fall” (Confucius) — (FREEMAN)