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War Over the Board: The Chess Saga of Luz Bella

by Mary Wen Anthony Rivera, Hannah Jhanylle Po, and Pauline Marie Arada

“Every chess master was once a beginner.”

Irving Chernev’s words set the mind of a prominent golden eagle wood pouncer, luz bella Capilastique gajo, as her eyes trained to the wooden chessboard.

She pushed a pawn forward, and the game began.

AN OPENING GAMBIT

Growing up in a family of chess players, the rhythmic tapping of wooden pieces is a familiar tune present in about 12 years of small family games to big tournaments.

“Back in middle school, I was able to join a big tournament named Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship, Visayas Leg, hosted by SM City Iloilo,” Gajo shared with The Augustinian.

It was years later, after the noise of the college intramurals - the cheers from friends and quiet assessments of her opponents - had died down, however, when she started a new chapter with an invitation to try out for the varsity chess team.

The said invite also brought new faces, a noteworthy one being Sir Rosendo Reyes, the coach and trainer of the secondary and tertiary chess team. With his guidance, Gajo continued moving black and white pieces, this time under the red and gold banner of the University.

Sometime in her first year in the team, she entered the Iloilo Private Schools Athletic Association (ILOPRISAA) 2018 before advancing to the regionals, West Visayas PRISAA (WVPRISAA). She stepped up to WVPRISAA 2020 in her second year, taking home the championship title.

“Together with Team ILOPRISAA and bringing the school’s name, we were one of the winning teams that would have participated in the National PRISAA, but the pandemic happened,” she stated. Despite this, Gajo persisted.

SMALL DETAILS IN THE MIDDLEGAME

“The most memorable tournaments are those where you meet, share experiences, and learn with people with similar passions as you,” Gajo opined.

In this sense, being a chess player, much like playing the game itself, is more than bagging glinting medals and placing traps on a field of squares. It is also about balancing eff ort and time expended on each role played - daughter, student, varsity player, and friend.

In between games and training, Gajo helped with housework and the family business, socialized with friends, chased deadlines, and studied for exams like any other Augustinian, but with a heavier-than-average schedule.

“She maintains a good playing attitude. She has practiced hard and played hard, values all champions portray,” Reyes remarked, affirming Gajo’s play.

Words from Rica Diane Famillaran, an alumna and a former comrade of Gajo, further heightened how Gajo’s valor was consistent in going against the opponent--a prowess to keep the Golden Eagles soar high.

“Sometimes, no matter how efficient you are, you will always encounter challenges for you to become an effective leader,” noted Gajo.

Holding the title as the team captain of the women’s chess varsity team gave her a gnawing feeling that such an opportunity would be a herculean task different from the previous years.

“A lot of things occur online these days. Chess applications and tournaments, for instance, are accessible anytime and anywhere. Our team also has chess trainings during Saturdays through Stockfish, an application, and online chess tournament site,” she stated.

REACHING THE ENDGAME

While the thrill of becoming a Grandmaster remains one of Gajo’s greatest ultimatums, a nostalgic memory from her days as an amateur player surfaced in her mind.

“Sometimes, training sessions are funded by the school, but the session itself becomes distracting as it is one trainer versus more or less eight players,” she expressed.

With it, an urgency to establish a hub for aspirants to gain a tip or two from chess grandmasters individually was added to her list.

“I want to instill in the mind of others that chess is not only for the older generation, those who have money, or those srelected by the school. It is for everyone - all ages and statuses in life,” she further asserted.

Eagle eyes darted to the opponent’s King piece, and with a snap, it toppled.

“Checkmate,” she grinned. The Queen, Gajo, stood victorious, a blazing red in a sea of blacks and whites.