Are you joining the Rubik's Revolution?

So you have a Rubik’s Cube — that popular and colorful mechanical puzzle. You stare at it and play with it. But all you can finish are two sides, or worse, a single face. You wonder how people can solve the puzzle. Yet there are those who can easily unlock the mystery of the Rubik’s Cube — and fast! Proof was offered at the recently concluded Toys “R” Us Rubik’s Cube Speed Challenge 2008 Grand Finals. There, teens and even six-year-olds solved the puzzle in seconds, some using only one hand and others even blindfolded!

Toys “R” Us launched a series of competition that tested the agility and challenged the speedcubing talents of Filipinos. The pre-finals battle began in July at the Midtown Wing of Robinsons Ermita where Brian Uy bested his competitors and came out as the winner. Chia-Wei Lu and Jan Jerome Bautista came in second and third leg champions in the competition held at TriNoma Mall and at Robinsons Metro East, respectively. On the last leg, it was John Robert Anguluan who triumphed over his competitors.

“Toys ‘R’ Us is the world’s largest specialty toy retailer and the country’s exclusive distributor of Rubik’s Cube. It was only appropriate that we brought together those who are either hooked on or puzzled by the world’s best-selling toy, the Rubik’s Cube,” said Toys “R” Us assistant vice president for brand marketing Abel Tejam.

After a mind-boggling and exciting finals at Robinsons galleria, Jan Jerome Bautista was third runner-up, Brian Uy was second runner-up and John Robert Anguluan placed as first runner-up. But it was 16-year-old Chia-Wei Lu who emerged as the grand champion, garnering an average score of 16.2 seconds in five rounds. As the Philippines’ King of the Rubik’s Cube Speed Challenge, he brought home a new Sony Playstation 3, and a Toys “R” Us customized Gold Rubik’s trophy.

More importantly, Chia will represent the country in the Toys “R” Us Asian Rubik’s Championship to be held in Hong Kong on November 8. His speed-cubing skills will be challenged by other contestants from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan Macau and Hong Kong.

During the finals, the audience was also amazed watching the special events where the youngest participant, six-year-old JR Simbulan, finished all sides of a three-by-three cube in only 36 seconds. Jeremy Nable also impressed the crowd by solving a three-by-three cube in 42.31 seconds, using only his right hand. Reynaldo Mape Jr., on the other hand, clocked at 100.83 seconds — not quite as impressive you say? Try it the way he did it… blindfolded!

“Anyone, not only those good in math, can solve the Rubik’s cube,” said Lester Santos, co-founder of the online community of Cube fans, Philippine Cubers Association. There are solutions and strategies available on the Internet. “The secret formula plus patience, determination and practice, practice, practice are all it takes,” he added.

Now, if you could only think outside the “cube” and follow this advice, you will be able to solve one of life’s (mechanical) puzzles. And then you can say you’ve joined the Rubik’s Revolution.

Grab your own Rubik’s Cube at Toys “R” Us and experience why it’s “hip to be square!”

For those interested to solve the Rubik’s Cube, visit Toys “R” Us stores located at the Robinsons Malls (Galleria, Metroeast, Manila, Lipa and Bacolod), at the TriNoma Mall and Alabang Town Center; and at all Toys “R” Us Toy Boxes inside Robinsons Department Store for free tutorials.)