By REY C. LACHICA
He is known for his legendary generosity, so expect Senator Manny Pacquiao to be at the forefront of another fundraiser as the country is facing what could be perhaps its biggest crisis in decades.
This time, Pacquiao is targeting the needy woodpushers as beneficiary when he and Senator Koko Pimentel lead a strong cast in the Helping Hand Executive Online Chess Challenge slated next week.
The eight-time boxing champion has been helping various groups of frontliners battling the lethal coronavirus (COVID-19) as early as March.
The two-day event (May 5 and May 7), according to Helping Hand Executive Online Chess Challenge President Dr. Fred Paez, will be using online app Lichess and will benefit a number of chess players heavily affected by global health crisis.
“We are expecting the two good senators to join our endeavor because the project is for their fellow chess lovers,” said Paez. “People close to the two senators are confident they will join the event.”
Paez said they are hoping to generate at least P200,000 from the event dubbed “Luzon-NCR vs VisMin Executive Challenge since each participant will have to shell out P1,000 as registration fee.
“We also have some sponsors, but we are still looking for more,” added Paez, who is delighted with the rise of popularity of online chess. “It’s a good sign.”
According to one of his insiders, p laying chess is one of Pacquiao’s relaxations for it relieve stress after a day of intense training when he has fights in the United States.
Pimentel, on the other hand, took part in competitive tournament during his college days at University of the Philippines.
Giving Paez a helping hand in the noble event that will pit the best of Luzon against Visayas-Mindanao executives is Lito Dormotorio, who will speadhead the latter.
Paez said the team with the highest cumulative score will be declared champion.
“But everybody is a winner here because we get to play chess while raising funds for our fellow players affected by the outbreak of this coronavirus,” said Paez.
Among the notable entries are Dr Jenny Mayor, Atty Jose and Cris Aspiras, Atty Paul Elauria, Atty Rodrigo Aquino, James Infiesto, and Fr. Vic Arellano.
