CCA: A Brief History
CCA, Inc.
The Capiz Chess Association (CCA), Inc., a non-stock, non-profit organization registered with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with SEC No. CN200428623, was organized to develop aspiring young talents as well as promote Chess as a premiere sports in Roxas City and province of Capiz.
In the ‘70s, the byword of chess fanatics in the province of Capiz was the name of former Philippine National Junior Champion Frederick Tumanon of Tiza, Roxas City. People believed that Tumanon’s unprecedented feat it will last forever.
For more than two decades, nobody expected that Capiz would produce its first national master (NM) in the person of Francis Jocson of Tiza, Roxas City, after he made sterling performance by disposing 5 marquee national masters in the 1999 Inter-Province Chess Tournament in Cagayan de Oro City. It marked the rebirth of hope for Capiceño chess enthusiasts. The following year, Capiz placed 11th in the National Inter-Cities and Provinces Team Championship held in Bacolod City.
In October 2000, the Capiz Chess Association was organized by a battery of young professionals and which aims to change the image of the chess empire here from a dormant into a more respected organization that will bring chess as a sport into greater heights and to develop new talents into high level of competitiveness who will bring the pride and honor to Roxas City and province of Capiz.
With the formation of the CCA, eight-year-old Capiz chess wonder Argie Nobleza salvaged a silver medal in the 2000 National Batang Pinoy held in Metro Manila. In 2002, Certified Public Accountant Catalino “Baby” Pestaño of Arnaldo Blvd., Roxas City became the province’s second national master. In 2007, Mary Joy Bernada of Filamer Christian College and Pegah Cam of Marcos Fuentes Integrated School in Dinginan, Roxas City made a remarkable performance as both of them landed 6th and 10th place, respectively in the 2nd National Philippine Olympic Festival held in Metro Manila.
With this accomplishment made by our homegrown woodpushers, the Capiz Chess Association, Inc., has already conducted 15 major successful tournaments since December 2000. These include The Battle of the Great Thinkers in Dec. 2000, LMP Inter-Town Chess Team Tournament in August 2002, Mayor Raymund Locsin Cup in May 2003, Individual Chess Open in April 2004, Mayor Felipe Barredo Cup in May 2004, Sidney “Danny” Patricio Chess Active Tournament in August 2004, Cong. Roging Dadivas Cup in Dec. 2004, Capiz Chess Blitz Tournament in Oct. 2005, 2nd Cong. Roging Dadivas Reg’l Chess Active in Dec. 2005, 3rd Cong. Roging Dadivas Reg’l Chess Active Dec. 2006, Capiz Chess Grand Prix in Oct. 2007, Gov. Victor A. Tanco Sr. Reg’l Chess Grand Prix in Dec. 2007, Mayor Vicente Bermejo Roxas City Chess Elimination in January 2008, Provincial Chess Elimination in April 2008 and DUSO: Capiz versus Aklan Goodwill Games in April 2008.
Almost 8 visiting national masters played in the land of Capiceños, namely, NMs Rodrigo Atotubo (Olympiad Player) and Rolando Andador of Talisay City; NMs Alfredo Acaling and Carlito La Vega, Jr. of Cadiz City; NMs Cesar Mariano and Ernesto Jayme of Iloilo City; NM Nouri Hamed of Escalante City, and NM Wilfredo Neri of Aklan. Hundreds of chess players coming from different places in Western Visayas savor the brand of game of the Capiceños. Ditto with Kim Dumdum, a national arbiter accredited by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) who has already officiated several tournaments here.
In response to the government’s program calling for youth and sports development in the countryside, our quest to discover new talents from the grassroots continues, that is why we are here together with the support of our chess patrons to help materialize our game plan to win over and to give new prestige and honor to our city and province in the field of the best thinkers.
This momentous event in Roxas City and province of Capiz will surely be included in the annals of Capiz sports. (Edward Basilonia)