AS expected, Misamis Occidental Governor Henry S. Oaminal gave more emphasis on tourism development during his 3rd State of The Province Address (Sopa) held in Oroquieta City on Thursday, October 4, in time of the Panguil Bay Bridge opening a week ago.
Governor Oaminal, Urbiztondo relayed, spoke before his Sopa audience and online viewers that the P7.8 billion bridge’s completion will eventually open the floodgates of more business opportunities in Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental and the neighboring cities and provinces in Northern Mindanao.
“But what surprised us nga mga sports lovers and enthusiasts kay nihatag pud siya'g oras sa iyang Sopa nga maapil pag special mention ang sports development labi na sa chess nga iyang natun-an paghigugma,” prominent banker and chess master Rey Urbiztondo told Gold Star Daily on Friday morning.
While the governor was in Cloud 9 upon the reception of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to be with them in gracing the opening of the longest bridge in Mindanao last September 27, Urbiztondo said Oaminal has also shown consistency in throwing full support to local chess development in Misamis Occidental.
“And he’s fully aware that he'd be hitting two birds with one stone in bankrolling the forthcoming Ozamiz Open Chess Tournament anew,” Urbiztondo, who was acknowledged by Fide as an Arena Grandmaster and recently recognized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines as an honorary National Master, was referring to the cash-rich event the leading pawnpushers from all over the country are looking forward to partake like in the previous two editions.
From the City Gymnasium in Ozamiz to the plush AYA Hotel and Residences in the nearby municipality of Clarin, Urbiztondo said the governor intends to hold the the 3rd Governor Henry S. Oaminal Open Chess Festival on November 4-5 in Tangub City.
Specifically, at the Asenso Global Gardens ( AGG) which is a scenic mountain top known as Hoyohoy in Tangub City, overlooking the newly-opened longest bridge in Mindanao, Panguil Bay.
“Nindot, patsada ang talan-awon kon anaa kita ibabaw sa Hoyohoy mountains. So, dili alkanse ang pagmugna sa 3rd Governor Chess Festival kay ato usab i-introduce sa turismo ang Asenso Global Gardens nga chess venue sa tibuok nasod sa Pilipinas,” said Urbiztondo, who did not discount the possibility that the nearly P500,000 prizes at stake in the Gov. Oaminal-backed chess tourney would even double or triple, as experienced in the past, especially that Christmas time is also nearing.
