WHILE some friends may have disliked his open criticism of the Duterte administration, Arena Grandmaster Lyndon Lumancas was well-loved by the Cagayan de Oro chess community. His sudden death has left a big void and deep mourning among those he touched.
“Lisod dawaton mora dili matuhoan pero nahitabo naman move na lang gyod ‘ta,” said veteran chess player Joseph Maestrado Jr. in a conversation with Gold Star Daily.
Lumancas, who had just turned 50, was known for his soft-spoken manner. He was laid to rest on Tuesday, September 30, in his hometown of Cortes, Surigao del Sur.
He died on September 19 at a medical hospital in Cagayan de Oro, where he was taken hours after vomiting blood at his boardinghouse in Upper Macasandig. The cause of death was a peptic ulcer.
“Human nag-collapse naka recover naka estorya pa sa amo sa ospital. Ni offer pa gyod og kwarta para sa among panihapon. Sakit kaayo to lose a very good friend in our local chess circle,” said Arena International Master Arian Belly Calido.
“Bisan ga struggle na kami pa iyang gihunahuna, ana s’ya nga naay 200 sa akong pitaka diha sa table kuhaa para sa inyong pagkaon karong gabhiona (a Thursday),” added Bob Salomon, shortly after Lumancas died around 1 am on a Friday.
A strong, positional player who once achieved a 2300 FIDE rating, Lumancas had recently shifted his focus to teaching chess in schools, specifically at Oro Christian Grace School and the uptown Roosevale School. He also offered private chess tutorials and maintained a monetized chess vlog.
His latest work was video vlogging the 2025 Chess Festival in Ozamiz City, which was dominated by Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio Jr.
“You play the game well but its your passion in teaching the game which gave you a notch and edge higher. We will forever treasure your goodness as you unselfishly gave your time, your talents and skills for aspiring chess enthusiasts,” said DepEd supervisor Lorebina Carrasco.
Lumancas had helped Carrasco’s daughter, Lorebina II, win medals for Region 10 in national competitions, including the Palarong Pambansa, the now-extinct Shell Active, and SCUAA Games.
Hazel Puzon, Lumancas’ only known overseas foreign worker girlfriend in recent years, shared these parting words on her Facebook wall: “You were loved by everyone around you, bata man or matanda, because of your kind and generous heart. It hurts so deeply now that you’re gone. You left me all alone, all our plans and dreams together ― shattered.
I don’t know how and when this heartache will ease, maybe it never truly will. But I hold on to the thought that you’re watching over me. Please help me find the strength to carry this pain.
Seeing you smiling laying in the coffin, it broke me, yet somehow, it brought peace. You looked happy, as if heaven had finally embraced you.
You know how deeply we loved each other, no paper could ever define us, we were married by our hearts, by God, by our everyday promises.”
