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Thursday, July 06, 2006
Bitoon hails GMA’s approval of Chess in Schools program
By Jaime A. Frias
Sun.Star Correspondent
Cebuano International Master Richard Bitoon welcomed President Arroyo’s approval of the “Chess in Schools” program of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).
The approval was announced last weekend during the 1st Ozamiz City National Chess Tournament in Ozamiz City.
Bitoon, who finished in third in the just-concluded tournament, said the president’s approval will give hopes to Philippine chess, especially to its titled players, who are proficient in teaching scientific chess.
However, Bitoon, a member of the Philippine Navy, also recommended that the titled masters, who are proficient in chess, to handle the teaching of the subject.
Teaching benefits
“One of the things that came to my mind regarding this is that the titled players in the country will enjoy their titles to some benefits and also they will be given employment,” said Bitoon, who teaches chess to young children as part-time job.
NCFP president Prospero Pichay Jr. studied the chess literature and lessons of these countries and found that they will develop a lot of chess masters through scientific methods in teaching, which includes a specified number of hours in teaching the sport.
“The president is open-minded about it but she recommended that I have to discuss this proposal with DepED secretary (Fe) Hidalgo,” Pichay told Sun.Star Cebu.
Pichay, a member of the House of Representatives, said he will only get to visit Hidalgo later this year due to work-related pressures in Congress.
He, along with his assistant NM Cesar Caturla, the coach of the RP Women’s Chess Team, took some time to survey chess lessons in Europe during their stay in Italy, where the 37th World Olympiad Chess Championships was held.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 6, 2006 issue)
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