Two new Pinoy Chess Grandmasters, GM Rogelio Barcenilla and GM Roland Salvador

In what many believed as a long over due conferment of the title, Rogelio "Banjo" Barcenilla can finally be call a grandmaster after years of efforts and waiting to established his status, he he is now officially a grandmaster.

The journey is not not an easy one. I remember the time when GM Banjo and your truly is on the process of information gathering on the web to provide more testimony when he gets his first ever GM norm in a tournament in Indonesia, I think. That's the part when I became aware that providing evidence for his first ever GM norm is one of the barrier for the final conferment of the title. Though little help we could only provide about the event, we are truly glad for GM Banjo that he finally received what he deserved, of becoming a chess grandmaster and all the benefits that comes with it.

Likewise, another foreign based Filipino master, GM Roland Salvador also earned the title of a grandmaster. GM Salvador currently lives in Italy. Recently he won a very tough tournament there, the International Chess Tournament Fermo-Porto San Giorgio where many seasoned grandmaster veterans of Europe participated.

Congratulation to our new chess grandmasters, GM Barcenilla and GM Salvador. Cheers!

Excerpt from Positive News Media Philippines

"I'm thankful to Cong Pichay (NCFP President/ Chairman Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr.)for all the help he provides to Philippine Chess despite all the troubles and controversies that hits the federation he never backdown which is a good sign of a very good leader so keep up the good work Cong. Pichay. I'm looking forward on playing big tourneys sa Philippines again. I just need to schedule it ahead of time." said Barcenilla in an email Friday.


Salvador, who hails from San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, earned his third and final GM title during the 11th edition of the International Chess Tournament Fermo-Porto San Giorgio held from August 21 to 29 at the Astoria Hotel, Fermo, Italy.

The Italy-based Salvador, a former top player of Rizal Technological University (RTU) under the wings of its president Dr. Jose Q. Macaballug and head coach Olympian NM Mauro Yasay in the mid-1990s, was declared winner on best tie break score and he doubled the celebration by fulfilling his third and final GM norm by virtue of the 7/9 FIDE rule.