Alphaland Southgate Mall (Makati City)

Several decades before, I used to see that “unfinished building” each time I pass the Magallanes Flyover from Pasay going to Makati and I often ask why its construction has been abandoned. At that time, it was rumored that rich residents of a nearby village have vehemently opposed the construction and caused the withdrawal of its building permit.  But whatever the reason may be an “unfinished building” is not an appropriate gateway to Makati City which is considered as the country’s financial capital.

Several decades after, that “ unfinished building” has finally reached completion and has transformed into an eye-catching infrastructure perfect for led advertising. It is a welcome sight to see such a building that sparkles and evokes modernity officially proclaiming that you have finally landed on the lavish shores of Makati. This very beautiful edifice is called the “Alphaland Southgate Mall” and is exactly located at the corner of EDSA and Chino Roces Avenue.  It is very accessible from the Magallanes LRT Station.

With the construction of Alphaland, the trip to Makati from Pasay above the Magallanes Flyover is less the eyesore of an unfinished structure. Despite the huge billboard that previously featured scantily clad models and the horrendous traffic, the beautiful building of this mall relieves stress and tension of being stuck in the middle of a flyover.

During the “3^rd J’Adoube Rapid Chess Tournament” held at the 3^rd floor of this building, I got the chance to check out the establishments. After the first round of the tournament, I had lunch at a fast food chain where “adobo” is its flagship cuisine. (Adobo is considered the “unofficial dish” of the Philippines where meat or seafood is marinated in vinegar and garlic sauce.)  There are other fast food tenants in Alphaland such as Jollibee, Chowking, Subway and Chef de Angelo but  “Adobo Connection” has caught our fancy.

The registration fee at this tournament is inclusive of a food stub that can be claimed from one of the tenants at the food court. Unfortunately however, we were not able to use this food stub during the tournament as we have totally forgotten about it not until closing time. 

   

Anyway, the chess tournament held in Alphaland is very “organized” – the event started on time, pairings were released immediately after the conclusion of each round and there is no long wait at any stage of the tournament. After a the singing of the national anthem, a short prayer and a pledge of sportsmanship the tournament started without delay.  It consisted of seven rounds and given the “rapid format” each player is given at least 20 minutes to finish the game. The entire duration of the tournament is from 10 am to 8 pm including registration and awarding of prizes.

While the J’Adoube Rapid Chess Tournament is for “non-masters” with the exception of women titled players, it is still very competitive. The battles on the chessboard are fierce and hard fought including games in the kiddies division thus making this kind of tournament a very suitable training venue for future chess masters.

I am really happy to see young kids supported by their parents during their participation in chess tournaments. With children playing the game, the future of chess in the country is secured. With a wide array of chess knowledge available on the Internet, children today have a great advantage in terms of studying chess. All the secrets on every aspect of the game and the latest opening theory are available on the internet.  With raw talent combined with an effective training, a “child” participant cannot be underestimated. However, studies should always be a priority.

Chess players should be thankful for the organizers who spent their time and effort for staging this tournament and the arbiters who lent their expertise in resolving issues and player's protests.  I hope that future tournaments would follow this example on how chess tournaments should be conducted.

While the tournament is very exhausting, I enjoyed participating. I really welcome the opportunity to test my skills against fellow chess enthusiasts and learn from higher rated players. While getting a prize is an achievement, what is more important is the participation itself. Enjoy playing the game and try to think positive and be confident of winning. Yet, always remain humble during victories but don’t get discouraged by losses.  Even grandmasters lose in the game of chess.

I look forward to more chess tournaments in this venue. With its location, Alphaland Southgate Mall is very accessible to all players coming from any direction in Metro Manila and the nearby provinces. After several decades, it is good to know that the “unfinished building” in Makati has now metamorphosed from an eyesore into a great venue for chess competitions.