A chess player has been honored as the youngest to receive the Pasig City Award in the Field of Sports and Sports Development last 26th August 2024 in celebration of National Heroes Day in the Philippines. In photo are, from left, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto, Awardee Nika Juris Nicolas, Pasig Congressman Roman Romulo and Pasig Vice-Mayor Dodot Jaworski.
Twelve-year-old Nika Juris Nicolas of Pasig City, Philippines was born, raised and educated in Pasig City. Nicolas is an incoming Grade 7 student at Victory Christian International School. She is the Philippines’ first and only National Chess Master who is female, a title given only to those who emerge triumphant in the Open Division of chess tournaments as opposed to the Women’s Division. In an astonishingly short span of two years, this chess beginner blossomed into a National Youth Champion, Asian Youth Medalist, Eastern Asia Silver Medalist, Batang Pinoy Champion and National Master.
In her acceptance speech, Nicolas thanked her family, nominators Franco Camillo of Pasig Grassroots and Raymond Samson of the Valle Verde 6 Homeowners‘Association, Coaches Raul Damuy, Lourecel Ecot, Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna and Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines. She made special mention of Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto and Pasig Congressman Roman Romulo who supported her journey from the time she started competing in tournaments up to present time.
For this reason, she offered her Double Gold Medals secured from the Chinese Taipei Chess Association International Open Tournament held in Taoyuan, Taiwan last July 22 – 27, 2024 where she made history as the First Filipina to achieve such feat.
The other awards categories are for Education and the Academe, Civic Involvement and Volunteerism, Youth Leadership, Culture and the Arts – Music, Culture and the Arts – Theatre, Culture and the Arts – Fashion Design and Culture and the Arts – Painting). -Marlon Bernardino –