Don't judge the mind by his muscles

"I judge people based on their capability, honesty, and merit."
--Donald Trump

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- At first glance, Fil-Am Jay Abellanosa can be mistaken for a bodybuilding champion: he looks tough with strengthened and enlarged muscles like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno.

In 2010, when Abellanosa transfered here after living for 26 years in Los Angeles, he sauntered in Elmhurst Park on Broadway, Queens.
Fellow Fil-Am park habitues, thinking he was a push over because of his built, challenged him for chess matches.
"Bodybuilder lang yan walang alam yan sa chess (he is just a bodybuilder and doesn't know how to play well in chess)," Abellanosa quoted one of the punks as murmuring.
Abellanosa accepted the challenge and routed them all in blitz and slow game.
To their shock and horror, Elmhurst chessers realized they had been bombed out by a three-time category World Open chess champion.

Abellanosa, 64, copped the World Open Under-16, Under-18, and Under-19 titles held in Philadelphia and Long Beach respectively more than 20 years ago.

CLUB

Born in Lapasan, Cagayan De Oro City where he used to maintain a modest chess club, Abellanosa arrived in the US in 1985 as a seaman.
"Nag jump ship ako, frankly speaking," he revealed.
In California, Abellanosa married an American citizen and they produced two children: a male, now 24; and a female, now 21.

In ruling the three category championships in different years and venues, Abellanosa pocketed some $35,000 cash, making him one of the winningest unrated Filipino chess players in the US circuit in the 90s.
He credited Rodrigo Atutubo, a Philippine national master and former Olympian from Silay City, as the Filipino chesser with highest earnings in US chess at $50,000.
"They were wondering who I am and where I came from because in the Philippines, I am a nobody. I never won a major title in the Philippines, and nobody knew me there as a chess player," Abellanosa explained.

SERIOUS

He became a serious chess player only in the US after he met cracked Philippine masters Reylan Magbanua, Sammy Labrador, Juliebert David, Oscar Tan, and International Master Angelo Young in Los Angeles' McArthur's Park.

"They were the ones who helped hone my skills. They were the ones who egged me to be serious in chess so I could also win in tournaments," disclosed Abellanosa, who openly campaigned for Donald Trump even during a chess tournament in Manhattan in September 2016.
While preparing for big tournaments in the 90s, Abellanosa worked as security guard in Hotel Belmont and in Dun Bar armored vehicle in L.A. alternately.
"I studied hard. I made a research of the games of grandmasters. I really did my homework and all my sacrifices have paid off," he narrated. "I was so serious with chess at that time."
Abellanosa goaded Filipino chessers who crumbled in the recently concluded World Open in Philadelphia held from June 29-July4, not to lose hope.

HIGHEST

GM Oliver Barbosa (FIDE 2589) was the highest Filipino finisher at 14th with 6.5 points in Open category won by GM Tigran L Pitrosian (FIDE 2595), who steamrolled Barbosa in the final round.
"(They should) research and study more; continue to play with stronger players and set aside their pride," he enthused.
"Even (former world champion and American genius) Bobby Fischer lost during his early years in chess. He also cried and his mother mollified and egged him to move on until he became a world champion."
Abellanosa' philosophy in life: "I will respect a person because he is a human being, not because he is somebody in society; not because he is a champion, a doctor, a politician, or a person with big name and title."

Senior Fil-Am chesser eyes World Open Under1800 title anew

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- "Gusto kong manalo ulit eh (Because I want to win again)," shot Normando “Andy” Bragat Punzalan, a Fil-Am winner of the 7th Annual World Open Chess Under1800, explaining why he kept himself busy practicing in Elmhurst every day since April.

PUNZALAN AND LABAY May 26, 2017 at Elmhurst Park

Punzalan, 73, targets the 45th Annual World Open in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 29-July 4, 2017 where he will play again in Under1800.
If he wins, Punzalan will become the first senior Fil-Am to win four times in different years and categories.
"This is what motivates me," he added. "I want to establish another record."
To rev up for the Philadelphia chessfest, Punzalan has tapped former De La Salle University coach and blitz king Rainer Labay, veteran of the 44th Annual World Open.
He also plans to collaborate with New Jersey-based National Master Mario Rebano and outstanding chess trainer and Mindanao champion Vincent Umayan.

CONFIDENCE

"I have confidence with Labay, Rebano, and Umayan. I have played together with them in strong tournaments in the US," Punzalan explained.
Labay has started revitalizing Punzalan's speed by asking chess players in their watering hole at the "Mansion" on Britton Street in Elmhurst, Queen to spar with the senior chess champion in blitz matches.
"So far so good," enthused Labay, who aired the matches "live" on Facebook. "He beat us all in 5-1 (five minutes for Punzalan and one minute for the Britton players composed of top-rated woodpushers)."
Punzalan plays long game with fellow senior chess players at Elmhurst Park for three hours everyday.
He has tangled with highly-touted Gilbert Gonzales and Bein Villanueva, Camelo "Jun" Galinea,  among other park aficionados.
He is also coordinating with fellow Commercial League Chess campaigner Nonoy Rafael.
"Kailangan ko pa more games and more practice mahaba kasi ang tournament sa World Open (I need to log more games and more practice sessions because the tournament in the World Open is long)," Punzalan stressed. "I am more comfortable training in Labay's camp because they are really good and sincere (to help me in my preparations)."

Filipino chessers told to 'bring home the lechon'

"I am convinced, the way one plays chess always reflects the player's personality. If something defines his character, then it will also define his way of playing."
--Vladimir Kramnik

By Alex P. Vidal

NEW YORK CITY -- Some of the strongest chess players in the Philippines today are now based here and are making waves in various tournaments participated by the world's best.
In fact, the Philippines can form two chess teams in the Olympiad from their lineup.

Camelo "Jun" Galinea, godfather and founder of Elmhurst Chess Club in Queens, identified these talented Filipino chessers as FIDE Master Rico Salimbagat and blitz phenom Rainer Labay, National Master Mario Rebano, Anthony Gallon, Vincent Umayan, Bert "Ejhay" Labuac, Albert Riviera, Mike Adarlo, Cesar Apalla, Gilbert Gonzales, Leo Buencocillo, Gerry Gamaro, Gerson Caballero, Manuel Jurado, Jan Vincent, Paragua (brother of GM Mark Paragua).
GM Paragua and GM Oliver Barbosa are also based here as chess lecturers in Manhattan.

NM Mario Rebano

Galinea have egged the Filipinos "to bring home the lechon (roasted pig)" when the 45th Annual World Open unwraps at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown in Pennsylvania from June 29-July 4, 2017.
"I have not lost hopes on these talented chess players," Galinea said. "Watch them in the World Open as they eat alive some grandmasters."

Riviera

He and impresario Bien Villanueva are pinning their hopes on Salimbagat, Labay, and Rebano, three of the highest-rated Pinoy woodpushers who will play in the open category against the world's most powerful grandmasters.

Gallon

Salimbagat (FIDE Rating 2269), a former Scout Ranger and 2009 Winter Chessfest champion, was the highest Pinoy finsher in the 2016 World Open won by GM Gabor Papp.
He notched 5 points along with Labay (FIDE Rating 2197), a chess coach and one of the fastest blitz players today in New York, in nine rounds Swiss System.

Galinea and Jurado

Former female Shell champion Precious "Grace" Tambasin will join the other male woodpushers in the Under2200, Under1800, Under16, Under1400, and Under1200 categories.

Umayan

The event has a $225,000 prize fund unconditionally guaranteed. FIDE norms can also be obtained in Open Section.