Friday, May 23, 2008 Davao kids need help to fund Vietnam stint By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
DAVAO City young woodpushers John Ray Batucan and Rowelyn Joy Acedo are ready to do battle in the Asean Age-Group Chess Championships in Vietnam on June 11 to 20, but funding constraints might jeopardize their campaign abroad.
Batucan of Don Juan dela Cruz Elementary School in Toril said he is ready, although he won't assure of bringing home the bacon.
"Ready nako magdula sa Vietnam pero dili ko mag-promise nga mag-champion ko (I'm ready to play in Vietnam but I can't assure to become champion)," said the 11-year-old chess wonder.
Batucan told members of the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) during their weekly forum at the Tower Inn yesterday that he's been training on a computer four hours a day aside from competing in local tournaments for exposure.
The 11-year-old Jose Maria College player Acedo, who hails from Buhangin, also said she's ready to see action in the Asean chessfest.
"Kaya kaayo nako mudula sa Vietnam. Ready napud ko. Tulo hangtud upat ka oras ko ga-train. Sige pud kobasa ug libro ug gadula pud ko laban ang computer (I'm ready for Vietnam. I've been training three to four hours a day. I also read books and play the computer as part of my training)," Acedo said.
Batucan and Acedo earned the right to represent the country in the international event after finishing first and second, respectively, in the National Age-Group Chess Championships held in Mandaluyong City last month.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines regional director James Infiesto said NCFP, headed by former Rep. Prospero "Butch" Pichay, will shoulder the kids' travel expenses from Manila-Vietnam-Manila, accommodations and allowances.
"We will still raise funds for the other needed expenses like their domestic tickets. I also recognize the need for them to be accompanied by their parents being minors," Infiesto said.
"I'm sourcing out funds from friends in the private sector. I'm not promising to send their parents but I will help in my own initiative to help them raise funds," he added.
In an interview, Acedo's mother Elenita said in the vernacular: "I can't send my child alone in Vietnam. She would get homesick. She trained for three days in Toril recently and I had to pick her up because she kept on crying."
The elder Acedo said they are still looking for ways to provide the two players Davao-Manila-Davao plane tickets.
"We are also looking for resources to fund our trips so we can be with our children," she said.
Neptali Batucan Jr., meanwhile, said his son John Ray couldn't concentrate on his games without him.
"It happened in Palawan during the 2008 Palarong Pambansa. I wasn't able to accompany him there due to lack of budget. He wasn't able to focus because of homesickness," Batucan said.
"We are appealing to sports enthusiasts to help our players and their parents make it to Vietnam," Infiesto said.
