Filipino Pride: Story of a Chess Teacher in Thailand

 

by Marlon Bernardino

NONTHABURI, Thailand – IT takes a lot of courage, guts and sacrifice for a former English Teacher who gave up his work and try to put up an school of chess in this province renowned for growing the best Durian in the country and located directly northwest of Bangkok on the Chao Phraya river.

"Hindi biro iiwanan mo trabaho mo then mag put up ka ng school of chess sa isang bansa na walang kasigaruduhan kung ano ang mangyayari sa hinaharap," said Henry, founder of the Gainsfield Chess and Language Center  in the heart of Nonthaburi.

"Hindi naman kasi kagaya yan ng Go, Bridge na sikat na laro dito sa Thailand bukod sa Snooker," added Henry, five time chess champion of Tarlac province.

"Sa katunayan ang daming mga kaibigan ko na nagulat sa aking binabalak na magtayo ng school of chess dito kasama na ang kumpare kong si Kai (Mr. Kai Tuorila is the Bangkok Chess Club President),"

" Kaya hinihikayat ko y'ung mga kaibigan natin at mga kababayan na tamang tao ang makasama pag may nais kang gawing business sa abroad. Mahirap kasi makipagsapalaran sa ibang bayan pero natitiyak natin na magiging maganda ang buhay nila na kailangan din ng ibayong tiyaga at pagsusumikap," Henry said.

His life's story reveals that being catapulted to a foreign land to work as an OFW is a mishmash of hard toil, profound motivation, and partly, luck in finding the right people who assisted him in his job.

When asked about his advice to Filipinos aspiring to work in abroad, Henry said, "You don't need to be very intelligent in fulfilling your dreams. Hard work and determination are essential. And once you've reached the top, make sure to share what you have. Learn how to give back."

Henry is the father of James Henry Calacday, a six year old chess whiz kid, member of the Philippine Age group chess team who gave honor to our country by winning 65 medals in this year's ASEAN Age group plus chess championship in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The team collected 24 gold medals, 28 silver medals and 13 bronze.

Former University of the Philippines (UP) mainstay Arnulfo 'Arnie" Gavilan, the 2000 Kuala Lumpur Rakan Muda Grand Asian Chess Challenge bronze medallist is the top teacher of  Gainsfield Chess and Language Center.