Grand finals of CEPCA chessfest this Sunday

CEBU, Philippines - The "best of the best" among Cepcans this year are all primed and ready for a tougher showdown as the Grand Finals of the annual Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association (CEPCA) tournament will take place this Sunday at Lola Soling's Place in Brgy. Casuntingan, Mandaue City.

CEPCA sports committee chairman Jun Olis said all 12 winners of the extensive monthly qualifying will slug it out in a friendly, yet highly competitive battle mainly for personal pride and bragging rights as the brightest CEPCA player of 2013.

Among those who earned slots to the final action are lawyer Jong Melendez, Percival Fiel, Rey Flores, Freddie Casagan, Maggie Dionson, Manny Abucay, Francisco 'Jun' Kidlat, Jr., Peterson Sia, Harrison Chua, Domy Pialan, NM Arnold Cadiz, and Jimmy Ty, Jr.

The finalists are an exciting mix of professionals in various fields. Melendez is the acting director for the Prosecution Bureau of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, Abucay is connected with the Mandaue City Engineering Department, while Jun Kidlat operates a car rental service based in Lapu-Lapu City.

Sia is a chess tutor who owns the biggest collection of chessbooks in Cebu, Rey Flores is a Nautical Engineer and a retired boat skipper, Casagan is a registered nurse who is presently a college instructor at the University of the Visayas (UV), while Chua is a former OFW based in Taiwan who currently works at his sister's family-owned Royal Concourse Gourmet Mall.

For sure, it's going to be a whole day of fun and fellowship for the Cepcans as the club will also hold a non-qualifiers tournament. Registration fee is pegged at P500 inclusive of a sumptuous dinner during the simple get-together and Christmas party to cap their day.

The other highlight of the affair is the induction of CepCA officers for 2014-2015 led by their president

Engr. Jerry Maratas.

At 34 years old, Maratas is one of the youngest ever elected presidents of the club's 23 years of existence.

He is a civil and structural engineer and owns Jemar Engineering Services, which specializes in civil and structural design of medium and high-rise buildings. He is also a faculty member in the Engineering Department of the University of San Carlos (USC).

The rest of the CEPCA officers are Marvyne Guardiana (VP External), Dante Arguelles (VP Internal), Jun Olis (Secretary), Jun Kidlat (Treasurer); Ruel Hortelano (Auditor); and Mandy Baria and Jojo Muralla (Board Members). Muralla is the club's immediate past president. (FREEMAN)