FRESH from Covid-19 recovery, Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and fellow Senator "Pambansang Kamao" Manny Pacquiao will headline the 40-board Chess For A Cause dubbed as "Helping Hand Executive Online Chess Match" on Thursday, May 7, via the popular chess.com site.
This, as Luzon's best executives will join forces with their counterparts from the Visayas and Mindanao in the Philippine cyber space's keenly-awaited chess battle on 40 boards.
Senator Pimentel, a strong player during his junior days, will lead the cast for Luzon region. While boxing Senator Pacquiao, an all-around sportsman, will banner the alliance for Vis-Min bets.
Although Pimentel is a native of Cagayan de Oro, Luzon team has requested him to play with them so as to balance the field, while paving the way for a head-on Senator versus Senator clash in their respective board.
"This is actually historic for us mga executives because we will be playing alongside with the likes of Senators Pimentel and Pacquiao," said Davao City's James Infiesto, one of the organizers and the team captain for the Vis-Min alliance.
Aside from Infiesto, Vis-Min squad will have the equally-strong lawyers Cliburn Anthony Orbe (Iligan City), Jong Guevarra (Davao City) and Jason Bandal (Dumaguette City), as well as National Master and businessman Jonathan Tan of Davao City. Picks from Cagayan de Oro are Barangay Kagawad and sportswriter Jaime Joshua A. Frias II, businessman Cleto Vasquez, clergyman Vic Arellano and Engr. Aladino Diez.
Each team will put up a pot of P40,000 (P1,000 each player) to reach a total amount of P80,000.
The winner will take back its pot with the loser's pot going to donation.
Games will start at 8 p.m. Thursday.
For information of the link, you may call to any of the following: Dr. Alfredo Paez at 09212728172, Joselito Dormitorio at 09355149805 or to Infiesto at 09336055795. (With JJF reports)