Mother of learning

Inspired by the adage “memory is the mother of learning,” the Philippine Memory Sports Council (PMSC) is set to stage the first-ever World Memory Sports Council (WMSC)-sanctioned Philippine Memory Championships at the Makati Medical Center Auditorium tomorrow and Sunday with 109 competitors registered so far.

International memory sports arbiter David Robert Sedgwick arrived from London yesterday to supervise the two-day tournament where the country’s top practitioners are expected to wrack their brains for the overall championship. Sedgwick, also a senior arbiter with the English Chess Federation, will conduct a seminar for local officials from 5 to 7 tonight at the MP Tower on Paquita Street, Sampaloc.

The competition will follow the 10-discipline calendar of the annual World Memory Championships. The events are 1-Hour Numbers, 5-Minute Numbers, Spoken Words (read out one per second), 30-Minute Binary Digits, 1-Hour Playing Cards, Random List of Words, Names and Faces (15 minutes, World Record: 164 names), 5-Minute Historic Dates, Abstract Images (black and white randomly generated spots) and Speed Cards (memorize order of one shuffled deck of 52 playing cards, World Record:  21.19 seconds).

The Philippines made its debut at the World Memory Championships in Guangzhou in 2010 with two participants Johann Randall Abrina and Roberto Racasa. The next year, the team was made up of seven and took second place behind China in the overall standings, also in Guangzhou. Last year, the Philippines sent a 10-man squad that beat defending champion China but slipped to third overall in London. The World Memory Championships began in 1991 with England hosting 16 of the 21 tournaments. London was the venue in the first 11 stagings. Kuala Lumpur hosted in 2003 and Bahrain in 2007-08.

PMSC president Reli de Leon said the Philippines proved its mettle in last year’s world mind games. “We beat defending champion China and the competitors included European powers like Germany and Switzerland that didn’t participate the year before,” he said. “From only two participants in 2010, we grew to 10 last year.  The WMSC’s recognition of the Philippine Championships gives us credibility as we plan to promote the Memory Games in a big way. Before the year ends, we hope to host the Philippine Memory Open where we intend to invite participants from about 20 countries. Maybe, by next year, we could bid to host the World Championships. This weekend’s event is our first major step forward.”

Among the favorites in the competition are Abrina, 32, Chris Carandang, 35, and Sharmaine Dianquinay, 17. De Leon said he’s still awaiting Racasa’s registration. Abrina, a nurse, is the first Filipino to claim a medal at the World Championships, bagging a silver in Speed Cards. Carandang, a pastor, is a two-time World Championship entry while Racasa, 38, sharpened his mind as a former “kristo” in cockpits.

Up for grabs are trophies for the first, second and third placers in the overall category. There will be medals for the fourth to 10th finishers. Organizers are also providing gold, silver and bronze medals for the first three placers in each discipline. Special gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to the top three overall finishers in the 12-and-under bracket and 13-18 age group.

“Increasing one’s memory capacity can significantly contribute to enhance an individual’s performance of an assigned task, like in the venue of work or the level of enjoyment of one’s hobby or a daily activity,” said De Leon. “Increased memory capacity will also uplift the quality of our citizens who participate in nation-building endeavors in this new era of information technology.”

De Leon said the event wouldn’t be possible without Makati Medical Center’s support, specifically president and CEO Rose Montenegro and medical director Dr. Benjamin Alimurung backed up by Department of Neurosciences chairman Dr. Regina Macalintal-Canlas. “Makati Medical Center has been at the forefront of supporting activities that promote brain power and mental health,” said De Leon. “We’re using the auditorium free of charge and they’re even providing lunch for the participants and arbiters.” Tomorrow’s program of five disciplines begins 8 a.m. and ends 5 p.m.  Sunday’s program of the last five disciplines starts 8 a.m. and ends 3 p.m. with the awarding of trophies immediately following. The climax is the 10th and most exciting discipline of Speed Cards where competitors will attempt to break the World Record of 21.19 seconds in memorizing the order of one shuffled deck of 52 playing cards.

De Leon said the expenses in staging the event are being shouldered by several patrons, including sportsman Hermie Esguerra, businessman Terry Capistrano and his son Councilor Anton Capistrano, PBA legend Sen. Robert Jaworski, Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Ferdinand Rojas. De Leon said among the expenses are Sedgwick’s $500 honorarium, his round-trip air fare, hotel accommodations, food allowance and an $800 fee for World Memory Championships chief arbiter Phil Chambers’ delivery of the test papers for the 10 disciplines.

“In world sports competition, it’s not all physical,” said De Leon. “We want to prove that Filipinos are at par with the best in the world when it comes to mental games. We believe in the Filipino’s brain power and that’s what we hope to project in organizing the first WMSC-sanctioned Philippine Memory Championships.”