BOTH first-timers and both studying at Corpus Christi School, Lennon Hart Salgados and Tristan Frech Ibaoc of CDO-Misor chess community leave Saturday for Vietnam.

The two of them join the rest of the country's finest young chess talents carrying the Philippine flag in the 10th Asean Age-Group chess championships on June 7-11 in Hue, Vietnam.

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Salgados, the 2007 National Shell Active kiddies champion, will pit wits alongside Filipino compatriot National Master John Alcon Datu in the 16-under boys rivalry. While Ibaoc, also a product of the city's year-round sports program in chess, will do battle for the country in the 10-under boys category.

Up for grabs in Vietnam are the top individual medals (gold, silver, bronze) in standard chess, rapid and blitz events as well as the better opportunity to represent the country in the forthcoming World Youth Championships in Italy and 16-under World Youth Chess Olympiad in Turkey.

"We're very thankful to the City Government of Cagayan de Oro for backing up our child's first ever campaign outside the country. Mayor Constantino Jaraula through his secretary Sir Jigs (Jaraula) is very compassionate towards youth sports development," said Salgados' parents who also expressed gratitude to Cong. Rufus Rodriguez, ABC president Aaron Neri and the City Council for doing their share as well as Gov. Oscar Moreno for drumming up morale support through the province's sports consultant Val Rosabal who is board director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

"Win or lose, we're also very much especially thankful to our brothers and sisters in local chess community (NM Roly Tan, WNM Cecil Cuizon, Danny Velez, brgy. 23 chair Jaime Joshua Frias) for their kind hearts among other sporting friends such as Andy Calingin, Arnel Dy, Johnny A, Atty. Seri¤a, Lawrence Pastrano and Lennon's youthful buddy Charles Joseph Laya who accompanied us to the airport."

"Poor in resources but rich in talent, young athletes in Cagayan de Oro and the province of Misamis Oriental need good Samaritans in our midst nga motabang aron ma-harness ilang skills and ability and make us proud to be a Filipino. Dili lang sa chess, tennis, taekwondo, basketball ug uban pa nga ma-abilidad sa atong dapit ang nagkinahanglan sa atong tinu-oray nga tabang," added Frias, a former junior chess standout who turned to be the youngest barangay chair in Cagayan de Oro.

Apart from eyeing the three golds in Vietnam, the young Salgados is also determined to nail the Fide Master title of which he can accomplish, mathematically, in his first overseas outing following his credible showing in the Pichay Cup International Open, two years ago, in Parañaque City.

During the Pichay Cup, the perennial Mindanao Milolympics MVP was able to carve out upset wins against foreign master opponents that paved the way for Salgados to earn slightly over 2300 rating performance enough for him to apply for an international title.

Fide's rating guidelines, however, explain that the CDO-Misor's 15-year-old sensation is still at least a dozen short of playing international games to accomplish the feat.

Salgados is the eldest son of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro's Sports Editor Lynde Salgados--a chess enthusiast himself.