We’re going upward

By Alex P. Vidal

“The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival.”— Aristotle

WE are still the final masters of our own fate, for better or for worse, whatever the omen of our zodiac signs portends.

The negative side of rabbit doesn’t and will not scare us even if the Chinese astrology believes it is a harbinger of more tranquil times ahead.

Tranquility means placid, serene, calm, peaceful.

Like many pragmatists, I don’t believe in permanent defeat; I don’t believe in a perpetual slide in life.

We will not only live a peaceful life in 2023, we will also get a bountiful of blessings. There are signs why I believe in the prosperity 2023 will bring us.

After two years of pandemic sufferings, the cycle of life might next ferry us to a positive dimension; meaning our life will slightly improve and we will not anymore slump economically.

Money sent to the Philippines by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), for instance, jumped 4.3 percent year on year in August, as migrants took advantage of the peso’s weakness against the US dollar, according to the data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Cash remittances sent through banks reportedly stood at $2.72 billion in August, higher than the $2.60 billion a year earlier. The growth in remittances was the fastest since 4.4 percent in June, said the data from BSP.

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Land-based OFWs sent $2.13 billion in August, up by 3.3 percent in the same month last year. Remittances from sea-based workers reportedly inched up 1.7 percent to $593.18 million in August from a year ago.

For the first eight months of 2022, cash remittances jumped 3 percent year on year to $20.99 billion from the $20.38 billion in the same period in 2021, added the BSP data.

Here’s more. The Gross National Product in Philippines increased to P5324025.65 million in the third quarter of 2022 from P5132915.46 million in the second quarter of 2022 (source: Philippine Statistics Authority).

They were saying we are the “sick man of Asia.” Not anymore. We have recovered and progressed in one way or the other by leaps and bounds.

We have suffered so much. Nature won’t allow us to slide down permanently. It’s time to go up. It’s time to celebrate our own World Cup-like triumph.

And 2023 is the year that will help expedite our march upward.

With a positive mind, handwork, and determination, there’s no other way but upward.

Happy New Year 2023.

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According to my regular informant, US chess master Marlon Bernardino, International Master Angelo Abundo Young will begin his bid for the crown at the start of the GMG Chess Open Rapid Tournament on Saturday, December 31, 2022 followed by the Sir Herky Del Mundo Memorial Open Rapid Chess Tournament on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023.

Both tournaments will be held at the 2nd floor Open Kitchen Foodhall, Rockwell Business Center, Sheridan Street, Mandaluyong City.

Bernardino said the National Chess Federation of the Philippines-sanctioned tournament offers a total pot prizes P52,000 backed up by Coach National Master Gerald Ferriol, Fide Master Paolo Del Mundo in close cooperation with Mam China Aurelio and Mam Mimi Casas of Open Kitchen, organized by Bayanihan Chess Club and supervised by the Philippine Arbiters Chess Confederation.

Bernardino said Young, an eight-time Illinois USA champion, figured in a triple tie with eventual champion International Master Michael Concio Jr. and International Master Ronald Dableo with similar 8.0 points during the 6th Edition of Kamatyas Rapid Invitational Chess Tournament 2022 dubbed as Chess Avengers was held at the 3rd floor, Building B, SM City Sucat in Paranaque City last Dec.10.

After the tie break points were applied, Concio took first, Dableo settle second while Young wound up third.

Expected to give Young a run for his money are Concio, Dableo, Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., Grandmaster Darwin Laylo, International Master Barlo Nadera, International Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Fide Master Alekhine Nouri, Fide Master David Elorta, Fide Master Jeth Romy Morado, Fide Master Edgardo Garma and Fide Master Robert Suelo Jr., among others.

Antonio, whose international stint is supported by Hotel Sogo, is looking for a better finish after secured the ninth place honors in the 30th FIDE World Senior Individual Chess Championship 2022 (50+ and 65+ Open-men and women) held at the Hotel Cenacolo in Assisi, Umbria, Italy last Nov. 26, wrote Bernardino.

Antonio is on rigid training backed by Hotel Sogo for the much-awaited 2023 Bob Wade Masters and Challengers to be held on January 13 to 21, 2023 at the Howick Community Church Complex in Auckland, New Zealand, concluded Bernardino.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)