Changes

Attending the Mass yesterday uplifted my spirit. I am fully energized and ready to play in a chess tournament again. The priest reminded us that we, as followers of Jesus, should have important changes in our lives.

The first important change is to change the way you hear. You must not follow only your own voice but also the voice of others. Many failed in their lives because they didn't listened to others.

The second important change is to change the way you see. You must look not in the physical appearance of an individual but to his or her character. Look into the person's heart and mind and not to the person's actions. Challenges and problems are not made by God to down us but to teach us something, to test us and to remind us that He's there for us.

The third and last important change is to change our dreams. We should not dream only for ourselves but we must include others in our dreams. We failed in our dreams because God wants us to do something different. He wants us to have a much greater role in the community and in the lives of others.

A Terrible Day

I am unlucky today. I suffered many defeats in Yahoo Chess. Too many blunders and miscalculations. My rating is down below 1600 which is not a good sign for me because I am planning to play in a chess tournament tomorrow. But I am seriously considering not to join the tournament because I might perform badly. I have to regain my self-confidence. I think I will rest for a a couple of weeks then go back to studying and playing on-line before I play again in a tournament. I have a long way to go before I reach master strength.

Computer

In order to become a strong chess player, you need to have a computer. You can analyze the latest games of the masters and make some deep opening preparations which are vital for tournament success.

Another advantage of having a computer is that you will know quickly what is happening around the chess world. Playing in the internet is also very important because you will be able to test your openings, improve your skills and make some friends.

Cheating

Philippine Chess is sinking in quick sand. After dismal results in the Olympiad, SEA Games, Asian Games and Asian Zonals, Philippine Chess suffered another blow with the current game-fixing scandal involving some of the country's top chess players.

Cheating happens in elections, exams, tax payments, gambling and in sports but I never thought that it will occur in chess. I thought that chess is a game for ladies and gentlemen who uphold honor but it seems that there were some greedy and immoral individuals who are destroying this beautiful game. They should be ashamed of themselves for causing embarrassment to our country. Those who will be found guilty must be suspended or even be banned for life.

In a country where basketball, boxing and billiards are the sport of choice, It's hard already to find sponsors for big chess tournaments. This scandal will further turn-off sponsors. I hope that this nightmare will end soon.

January

This month rocks!!! I registered top ten finishes in my first two tournaments this year. Last January 7, I tied for 7th to 12th places (12th overall after tie-breaks) in the Metropolitan Chess Club 1900 and below active tournament with a score of 4 points out of a possible 6. Then I followed it up with a fine performance in the Metropolitan Chess Club 2000 and below active tournament held last January 14. I scored 3 points out of 6 against strong opposition. Good for a tie for 9th to 12th places (10th overall after tie-breaks).

Besides Chess, I have another reason to be happy. I was accepted to be a legal transcriptionist trainee. This is my first job and I hope to pass the training. Last Wednesday, I experienced my first medical exam. I submitted myself to X-ray, blood test, urine test, stool test and eyes examination.