GENERAL SANTOS City — Local chess mentors in Cagayan de Oro knew they had a star on their hands. Among them, Golden Chess Friends (GCF) founding head Benoni Wabe and veteran coach Lorenzo Cuizon had long noticed something special about young Miykael Jerahmiel Lapad from Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental.
The small-statured Lapad is often likened to the country's fast-rising billiard player JB Sucal in chess: quick to analyze and fast on the trigger. He once dominated a Batang Pinoy elimination for Misamis Oriental in sweeping, breakneck fashion.
“Naa gyo’y natural nga abilidad ‘ning bataa maong ganahan ko’g suporta. Ako g'yong ipapangita para maka-apil kon naa tay GCF tourneys every now and then,” Wabe once told his fellow GCF advocates.
“Looy bataa kay layo sa chess club ilang balay, pero at least naka tudlo-tudlo japon ‘mi sa akong asawa (Olympiad veteran Cecil Cuizon) kang Lapad during his formative years,” Cuizon told Gold Star Daily.
Triumphant national debut
The quick-moving Lapad finally had his moment at the 2025 Batang Pinoy Chess National Finals, which closes today, Oct. 30, in General Santos City.
Fighting for gold in the 12-under standard event, Lapad seized an early advantage against former Malaybalay City sensation Sebastian Damonsong, who now represents Baguio City.
However, the aggressive-playing Lapad “lapsed into passive play some moves later that was immediately punished by Damonsong en route to taking the gold.”
Lapad settled for a bronze in his debut on the national stage.
But as the time controls reduced, requiring “steel of nerves,” Lapad came ablaze.
He overcame archrival Damonsong and the rest of the talent-rich 12-under field to win Misamis Oriental's first gold in chess in the rapid event.
The early success did not spoil the innocent-looking boy. As he was seated for the next challenge, this reporter witnessed him cover his face with his palms in solemn prayer right in front of his first-round opponent.
The results followed: Lapad took his second individual gold in the blitz contest, followed by another gold in the Fischer random 960 rapid rivalry. He slowed down only in the 960 blitz and the unfamiliar Asean chess rapid and blitz events, where he managed a second bronze.
Saving the province’s budget
The local government unit of Laguindingan quickly honored Lapad on social media, posting: "He didn't just win gold medals at the Batang Pinoy Nationals; he conquered a field of 1,055 players from 118 other delegations all over the Philippines to become the national champion in 12-under chess.”
To sum up, the young player’s Herculean feat saved the day for Misamis Oriental province.
The province sent over 200 athletes to the games with just a meager budget of P350,000, a figure far smaller than the more than P2 million allocated for their less than 200 counterparts from Cagayan de Oro City.
