Abrina’s amazing memory

Johann Randall Abrina, 31, was clearly the most outstanding mental banker in the two-day Philippine Memory Championships at the Makati Medical Center Auditorium last weekend as he topped nine of 10 disciplines to capture the overall title, in the process setting a new national speed record by reciting the order of a shuffled deck of 52 playing cards in 36.25 seconds or 15.06 ticks off the world mark.

International memory sports arbiter David Robert Sedgwick flew in from London to supervise the competition and said he was impressed with the growth rate of memory players in the country. It was the first trip in Asia for the English Chess Federation chess arbiter who made sure the tournament, sanctioned by the World Memory Sports Council (WMSC), went smoothly. Sedgwick arrived last Thursday and left early Monday morning. He conducted a two-day seminar for local officials at the MP Tower on Paquita Street, Sampaloc, last Friday.

There were 70 competitors who showed up for the first-ever Philippine tournament authorized by the WMSC. Abrina was the oldest in the group of 18 adults and 25 males. The participants included 29 juniors and 23 kids. The youngest entries were nine-year-olds Juliana Mae Toledo of St. John’s Wort Montessori School of Antipolo and Daniel Inigo Soriano of Ateneo. The kids included 10-year-olds Maria Esteliza Beran, Juliana Mercedes de la Cruz, Ro Linus Jagua, Kenneth Lucena, Josephine Andrea Suyat and Juliana Beatrize Tunay.

Abrina amassed a total of 5,021 points and lost only in one event, the Spoken Numbers which Mary Sharmaine Dianquinay, 19, won by a slim margin, 528 points to 514. Dianquinay finished a distant second in the overall standings with 2,987 points. In the juniors division, Miguel Iseah Landicho, 14, bagged the championship while Rommel Landicho, 11, claimed the kids trophy. Khevin Tenoso, 16, and Laura Sofia Cruz, 15, placed second and third in the juniors category. Jamillah Nanzan, 11, and Jagua finished second and third in the kids bracket.

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The Speed Cards event was the climax and highlight of the tournament as the participants attempted to reset the world record of 21.19 seconds in memorizing the order of a shuffled deck of 52 playing cards. Abrina did it in 50.43 seconds in his first try and 36.25 in his second. The only other contestant who memorized a complete deck was Miguel Landicho whose first try was timed at 50 seconds and second at 36.56.

London-based WMSC chief arbiter Phil Chambers provided the questionnaires for the 10 disciplines which were Random Words, Binary Digits, Names and Faces, 15-Minute Numbers, 10-Minute Cards, Speed Numbers, Abstract Images, Historic and Future Dates, Spoken Numbers and Speed Cards.

No cash prizes were given out but Philippine Memory Sports Council (PMSC) president Reli de Leon said the honor and prestige of competing in the WMSC-sanctioned tournament meant much more than any amount of money. Trophies were awarded to the winners of the different events and three divisions.

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Former Sen. and PBA legend Robert Jaworski attended the proceedings last Sunday and lauded the organizers for a job well done. “Knowledge is the bridge to liberty, freedom, prosperity and fulfillment,” said Jaworski. “Creating worthy avenues that multiply and assure acquisition of knowledge is the basic key in this present world that will make one competent, functional and highly competitive. This is why I’m supporting this vision and philosophy. It can only happen by the interdependence of organizations which by heart, believe that ignorance must be eradicated and programs for efficient acquisition of knowledge must be aggressively supported.” Jaworski thanked the Makati Medical Center (MMC) for hosting the two-day competition and providing the participants, arbiters, officials and spectators with meals. He paid special tribute to MMC CEO Rose Montenegro, medical director Dr. Benjamin Alimurung and Department of Neurosciences chairperson Dr. Regina Macalintal-Canlas for their all-out support.

De Leon said since the PMSC was established three years ago, MMC and Jaworski have been backing up the promotion of brain power and mental health. He said other major contributors are sportsman Hermie Esguerra, businessman Terry Capistrano and his son Manila Councilor-elect Anton, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Atty. Ferdinand Rojas and Mandaluyong Mayor Ben-Hur Abalos.

The Philippines has participated in the last three World Memory Championships with Abrina and Roberto Racasa representing the country in its debut in Guangzhou in 2010. The World Memory Championships began in 1991 with England hosting 16 of the 21 tournaments so far. From two participants in 2010, the Philippines sent seven in the next edition and 10 in London last year. The Philippines finished second overall in 2011 and third last year. De Leon said Manila will bid to host the World Championships in the near future and prove its capability in staging the international event usually bringing together competitors from at least 20 countries.