‘…maysa goal ket addan tu met maibaon tayo nga representative ti ili tayo nga Kalinga idiay national level—even international,’ – KMWCCA Founder Deborah Bulawit during the Lumin-Awa Chess Tournament

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Reaffirming its vision of producing national—and even international—chess representatives for Kalinga, the Kalinga Mind Warriors Chess Club Association (KMWCCA) successfully staged the Lumin-Awa Chess Tournament (LCT) on February 7, 2026, at the Kalinga Children’s Ward Conference Hall in Bulanao.

According to KMWCCA founder Deborah Bulawit, the tournament was organized as part of the month-long celebration of the 7th Bodong Festival and the 31st Founding Anniversary of the Province of Kalinga, marking the first time a chess competition was officially included in Kalinga Day festivities under the Bodong celebrations.

Bulawit said the tournament reflects the club’s goal of strengthening grassroots chess development in the province, with the long-term aim of sending iKalinga players to compete at higher levels.

“Ti maysa goal tayo metlang gamin ket ma-train dagitoy players tayo ket addan tu met maibaon tayo nga representative ti ili tayo nga Kalinga idiay national level—even international. Ket ag-start tayo metlang ditoy local level isu nga kayat tayo kuma nga i-train talaga isuda ket addan tu met mai-raise tayo nga chess player tayo in the province,” she said.

The KMWCCA was conceptualized in 2024 during the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet, when Kalinga was noted as the only province without an organized chess club. The idea was later formalized in 2025, when the club was officially registered under the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

Since its establishment, the club has set up a training center and office in Bulanao and has been conducting regular training sessions and tournaments to hone the skills of young and aspiring chess players in the province.

Bulawit emphasized that chess not only sharpens critical thinking and decision-making skills but also enhances memory and academic performance, making it a valuable sport for the youth.

The LCT drew players from different age groups, including young talents from nearby provinces such as Isabela, Cagayan, and Apayao.

Bulawit added that hosting chess tournaments in Kalinga has helped reverse the usual trend of local players traveling outside the province to compete, as participants from neighboring provinces now come to Kalinga instead—boosting both chess development and local tourism.

Through initiatives like the LCT, KMWCCA continues to encourage youth participation in chess as a constructive and intellectually enriching pursuit, positioning Kalinga as an emerging hub for chess development in the region.