On 16 November 2024, Saturday, the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI), in partnership with the Eugene Torre Chess Foundation, has officially opened the 2024 CFBCI Chess Tournament. The most-awaited tournament, joined by almost a hundred delegates from a total of 15 schools within and beyond Metro Manila, was successfully held at CFBCI Auditorium in Sky 1 Tower, Binondo, Manila.

It has been a tradition for these two organizations to co-organize a chess tournament every year. This is with the hopes of promoting the ‘royal game’ to the younger generation and inspire those who dream to become a world chess icon like Grandmaster Eugenio ‘Eugene’ Torre himself. The opening ceremony, hosted by Mex Bausa, CFBCI English Secretary, began at 8:30 a.m. The program started with the roll call of the 15 participating schools, namely: St. Stephen’s High School, Philippine Cultural College, Tiong Se Academy, Inc., Hope Christian High School, Chiang Kai Shek College, MGC New Life Christian Academy, Manila Patriotic School, Inc., Quezon City Christian Academy, Bagong Silang High School, La Trinidad Academy, Grace Christian College, Philippine Malabon Cultural Institute, Sta. Elena High School, Aguinaldo Elementary School, and Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School.

Afterwards, the Vice President of CFBCI, Mr. Henry Lo Lim, was called on the stage to deliver some welcome remarks. In his speech, he thanked the Eugene Torre Chess Foundation for its unwavering support to the younger generation who dreams to succeed in the field of chess. Furthermore, he also recognized the significant role of coaches and parents in the journey of the students. Everyone applauded his speech which greatly emphasized that in order to achieve our aspirations in life, we must possess the ‘grit’ to conquer it.

It was then followed by the introduction of CFBCI officers, led by Director/Treasurer of the organization, Mr. Richard Alviar. He warmly called his colleagues one by one to be recognized, namely: Vice President Henry Lo Lim, Honorary Vice President Johnny Lee, Corporate Secretary Henry S. Go, Vice Chairman Henry Tiu, Vice Chairman Ramon Cheng, Vice Chairman Ramon Uy, and Plenary Member Ramon Wong.

Then, Mr. Jose Alexis Hernandez, Corporate Secretary of ETCF introduced the program’s keynote speaker, someone who has successfully achieved the dream of his country and of his countrymen, the pride of the Philippines in the realm of chess － Grandmaster Eugenio ‘Eugene’ Torre. In his speech, he highlighted the importance of maintaining good physical and mental health as athletes. “Being disciplined lies at the heart of chess, in everything that you do, do it with tenacity and discipline,” he said. In 2021, our very own chess grandmaster became the first Asian to ascend the World Chess Hall of Fame, after the approval given by the International Chess Federation. Honoring the chess legend, CFBCI executive officers, headed by former President Alejandro Co, presented a plaque of recognition to him in a humble ceremony. After his speech, at around 9:30 a.m., the competition guidelines were explained and the first round of the tournament officially began.

菲華工商總會訊：本會為推廣國際象棋活動，豐富學生們的課餘生活，定期聯合菲律濱國際象棋特級大師尤金‧托雷所創辦的基金會（Eugene Torre Chess Foundation）共同舉辦《工商盃》國際象棋比賽。今年為促進菲中友誼，除了邀請各華校學生參加以外，還特別函請菲公立學校和私校的學生參加，希望藉此互相切磋棋藝的交流平台，進一步增進兩族學子的情誼。

二○二四「工商盃」國際象棋比賽開幕儀式，於十一月十六日（星期六）上午八時在本會八樓禮堂隆重舉行，今年共有十所華校及五所菲公私立學校，近百名國際象棋好手齊聚一堂。參賽的學校計有：聖公會中學、僑中學院、中西學院、嘉南中學、中正學院、新生佳音學院、馬尼剌愛國中學、計順基督學院、靈惠學院、嗎拉汶文化書院及Bagong Silang、La Trinidad Academy、Sta. Elena High School、Aguinaldo Elementary School和Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School。本屆賽事共分為二個組別，小學組（四年級至六年級）及中學組（七年級至十年級）。賽規則，每所參賽學校每組可選派各四名菁英報名參加個人及團體比賽。

開幕式由副理事長林天德致歡迎詞，他首先感謝尤金‧托雷國際象棋基金會對夢想在國際象棋領域取得成功的年輕一代的堅定支持。此外，他也肯定了每位教練和家長在學生成長過程中所扮演的重要角色。最後他勉勵參賽選手們，要實現人生理想，必須要具備征服它的「勇氣」。

Eugene Torre基金會秘書長Alex B. Marquez介紹尤金‧托雷大師：他於二零二一年四月十九日獲世界國際象棋協會宣佈正式加入世界國際象棋名人堂，成為第一位進入國際象棋名人堂的亞洲人。當年年僅二十二歲的Eugene Torre大師在法國尼斯舉行的第廿一屆國際象棋奧林匹克比賽中贏得銀牌。他被公認為菲律濱八零年代和九零年代最強的國際象棋棋手，曾在第廿三屆國際象棋奧林匹克賽中為菲律濱效力。二零二一年，經國際象棋聯合會批准，他有幸成為第一位躋身世界國際象棋名人堂的亞洲人，菲華工商總會時任理事長許長安為了表揚他的成就，特別向他頒發了榮譽獎牌。

尤金‧托雷大師致詞時則向大家強調了作為運動員保持良好身心健康的重要性，並指出，遵守紀律是國際象棋的核心，在你所做的每一件事中，都要以堅韌和紀律來完成。他同時勉勵道，有比賽就有競爭，通過競爭找到差距，培養競爭意識，找到自身的不足，並相互促進學習。最後預祝參賽選手都能取得好成績。

其他出席開幕式的本會同仁有：名譽副理事長兼稽核李少平，立案秘書吳恆利，常務理事顏漢龍、莊南文、許有福及理事王明雄等人；他們在現場為各校棋手們加油打氣。本會董事兼司庫曾煥眉介紹本會出席領導同仁，Eugene Torre基金會副首席仲裁員FA Byron Villa宣佈比賽規則，本會西文秘書梅西卡擔任司儀。

本會自二零一四年開始舉辦「工商盃」國際象棋比賽，每屆參賽學校及人數逐年增加，賽事更是受到各界的好評。該比賽主要目的在於培養學生冷靜沉著的心態、訓練他們獨立思考與解決問題的能力，開發年輕人的智力和大局觀。同時培養學生的時間觀念，合理安排時間，有效使用時間等。本會也希望參賽學生在比賽過程中，碰到優秀的對手，要懂得欣賞，要有輸得起的度量，不要嫉妒，不要有失落感；能代表學校來參加比賽，證明你們已是最棒的棋手了，無論比賽結果如何，都必須具備「勝不驕，敗不餒」的良好心態。

圖片說明：（由左至右）
上圖：林天德，尤金‧托雷大師，曾煥眉，Alex B. Marquez，FA Byron Villa，梅西卡致詞、主持時影。
中圖一：本會出席領導同仁與尤金‧托雷大師在開幕式上象徵性握手開局。
中圖二：小學生代表在比賽前禮貌握手。尤金‧托雷大師為粉絲在棋盤上簽名留言作紀念。
下圖：本會出席領導同仁與尤金‧托雷大師合影留念（左起）顏漢龍，王明雄，莊南文，曾煥眉，李少平，尤金‧托雷大師林天德，吳恆利，許有福。