WITHOUT a doubt, Cagayan de Oro's "pride and sorrow" Jhonnel Balquin deserves an international break in chess, if not a decent job that can raise well his family.
And why not.
Just recently, the 41-year-old Balquin played through undefeated in the Kalivungan Festival 2019 Open Chess Championship in Kidapawan City which saw him defeating again one of the country's leading Grandmasters in perennial Philippine team stalwart Darwin Laylo right in the final Round 8.
A chess trainer and a JO (Job Order) employee at the City Hall of Cagayan de Oro, the tactical genius Balquin also conquered International Master Oliver Dimakiling early in the fourth round, also with the black pieces.
"Hindi na biro ang kanyang ginawa. Dapat mabigyan s'ya ng exposure sa labas ng bansa dahil siguradong may mapupuntahan ang kanyang talento sa chess," Philippine Star sportswriter Joey Villar said of Balquin, who first stunned GM Laylo during the Goldcrest-backed team tourney in Cagayan de Oro, a few months ago.
Three draws, however, with GM elect International Master Ronald Dableo (Rnd 5), Arena Grandmaster (AGM) Henry Roger Lopez (Round 6) and Oro compatriot Levi Mercado (Rnd 7) slowed down Balquin to share second to fourth places with fellow 6.5-pointers IM Dableo and AGM Lopez behind eventual champion National Master David Elorta (7 pts).
"Gusto nako apason si David (Elorta) nga magkontra `mi pero napugngan gyod ko sa tulo ka draws," Balquin said.
NM Elorta pocketed the P25,000 top purse, while IM Dableo, Balquin and AGM Lopez received P20,000, P15,000 and P10,000 each after the tiebreaker.
Rounding up the top-10 circle were GM Laylo, NM Cedric Magno, Melchor Arcenas Jr., Rodrigo Catayas, Allen Merano and IM Dimakiling at 6 points apiece.
"Iyan ay patunay na maliban sa Manila, `mi mga worthy talents din sa probinsiya na kelangang suportahan ng kani-kanilang LGU para mag-excel at magbigay ng honor hindi lang sa kanilang lugar kundi sa buong bansa. Nasa peak s'ya ngayon its high time now na mabigyan ng break internationally," added Villar, himself a chess advocate who once played in the now extinct Shell Active chess.
But Balquin is obviously racing against time. His wife, Chacha is 6-month-old pregnant of their coming third sibling. And Balquin is just receiving a measly P8,000-something monthly salary as an ordinary worker.
"Actually, mao ang reason nga bisan asa nga lugar ko modayo maskin layo kay lisod gyod among kahimtang manganakay akong asawa. As a trainer, daghan pud akong gi-develop nga mga bata medyo establish na lisod ang pagbiya sa city maskin naay offer sa ubang LGU nga didto ko sa ila mag-train," Balquin said.
Although he has what it takes to make a name in the international chess arena, Balquin admitted that his focus right now is to survive his family.
"If only mahatagan og chance nga maka-income ko'g P20,000 a month kontento na ko pag develop sa mga bata. Sila na lang tingali puhon unya ang mo-campaign sa international level kon mabalahan sa insakto kay ang chess dili basta-basta nga pag-research o pagtuon," Balquin told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
He added: "Of course, normal lang pud nga mosaka ang level sa akong dula kay chess life ra gyod akong gina-atupag chess lang wala nay lain."