Quezon City: As part of the E. Rodriguez Jr. High School (ERJHS) 73rd foundation day and grand alumni homecoming on February 22 and 23, the ERJHS Alumni Sports Club will organize the ‘Learn and Play Chess 2’ event featuring International Masters (IM) Angelo Young and Idelfonso Datu, along with FIDE Instructor Chiara Reina Lim-Datu. The event is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on February 23 in the school’s audio-visual room.

According to Philippines News Agency, Young is a nominee for the 10 Most Outstanding Alumni award, recognized as the only ERJHS graduate to have earned an IM title. A member of Batch 1980, Young was also inducted into the ERJHS Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. Datu, a leading chess instructor and one of the country’s top International Masters, has served as the program director for chess at Ateneo de Manila for nearly two decades. His wife, Chiara, is a licensed FIDE instructor and serves as the president of Sudeco Polytechnic Integrated College.

ERJHS Alumni Sports Club president Ed Andaya of Batch ’81 announced that the top 25 players from a seven-round elimination tournament on February 21 will qualify for the 40-board simultaneous exhibition matches slated for February 23. Additionally, 15 select alumni participants will join in the chess simul. The event is expected to be attended by ERJHS Alumni Association president Ramon Ferreros of Batch ’73 and ERJHS principal Ernest Ferrer.

The ‘Learn and Play Chess’ initiative marks the fourth installment of an extensive chess program by the ERJHS Alumni Sports Club. Previous events include the first ‘Isulong Mo with GM Eugene Torre’ in collaboration with the Meralco Chess Club on February 22, 2018, the second ‘Isulong Mo with GM Eugene Torre and IM Angelo Young’ on May 22, 2023, and the inaugural ‘Learn and Play Chess’ featuring IM Datu and FA Rudy Ibanez on June 30, 2023. Datu emphasized the importance of providing more exposure and regular tournaments for the school’s talented players.