MISAMIS Oriental’s progressive municipality of Tagoloan, known as the hometown of Gov. Bambi Emano and his father in former Cagayan de Oro Mayor Dongkoy Emano, once made it to the championship round of the National Inter-Province chess team tournament.
Slated then at the Limketkai Mall here, the so-called Tagoloan Tarantulas were reinforced by local boys Nelman Lagutin and Rodolfo Calonio Jr. who played alongside International Master Barlo Nadera, Eden Diano and Carlo Rosaupan.
They played but lost to the Grandmaster Mark Paragua-led Manila-based squad in the finals to still emerge as the best team from Mindanao that competed in that national event bankrolled then by Gov. Oscar Moreno and the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental.
“One of my most treasured memories in chess that I will never forget,” Calonia, who’s now into intrepreneurship, would always love to share his experience.
In the recent Milo Little Olympics Mindanao, Tagoloan chess was back in the spotlight as the foursome of Kyla Dalagan, Sarah Dalagan, Lyn Getubig and LJ Getubig bannered Tagoloan Central School in besting 23 other schools from all over Mindanao to win the elementary girls crown.
The Tagoloan bets amassed 10 match points in five rounds to nose out El Salvador City Central School, Fr. William Masterson and Golden Cedar Christian School—all bundled at 8 points—for the coveted title.
“Ang probinsiya kung saan ako nagsimula. Tagoloan elem girls, please keep inspiring our fellow Tagoloanons for them to appreciate the game that we love most,” Lagutin, who’s now seeking greener pasture abroad, was quick to post his FB remarks.
The City Central School, always in the shadow of past Milo champs, finally scored one behind the wizardry of Alexis dela Rama, Ralph Lawrence Labradores, Nico Tabacuan and Zesley Galgao.
Dela Rama and company fought hard from start to end to become the elementary boys chess champions of the 22nd edition of the Mindanao-wide Milo Little Olympics, side-stepping former stalwarts such as Bulua Elementary School and Xavier University Grade School.
Corpus Christi School prevailed over Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School this time around to sweep the secondary boys and girls’ chess titles.