https://chessdailynews.com/the-ncfp-registered-wesley-so-for-rp-team/
https://chessdailynews.com/wesley-so-will-switch-federation-to-the-us/
https://chessdailynews.com/wesley-so-this-situation-is-taking-a-big-toll-on-me/
Garcia withholds Wesley So’s monthly allowance
By June Navarro
Philippine Daily Inquirer
1:48 am | Wednesday, June 18th, 2014
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Sports Commission is adopting a wait-and-see attitude on chess phenomenon Wesley So.
PSC chair Richie Garcia said Tuesday that the monthly allowance of So has been temporarily withheld by the sports-funding agency, pending the resolution of the citizenship status of the 20-year-old Grandmaster.
So, now ranked 15th in the world after winning the Capablanca Memorial in Cuba last month, has already applied for US citizenship to chase his dream of becoming a world champion.
Classified as a priority athlete, he receives a monthly take of P40,000 from the PSC. “For now, we’ve decided to hold his allowance.
We will act accordingly depending on his decision,” said Garcia during the Philippine Sportswriters Association forum at Shakey’s Malate.
Garcia said they would lift the freeze order and continue his training allowance should So opt to play for the Philippines in the World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway, in August.
More here: http://sports.inquirer.net
PSC suspends Wesley So’s allowance
By Joey Villar (philstar.com) | Updated June 17, 2014 – 6:00pm
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Sports Commission has suspended the monthly allowance worth P40,000 of chess Grandmaster Wesley So after the latter decided to change allegiance from the Phl to the United States.
PSC chair Richie Garcia was quick to clarify though that the suspension will only be temporary until So and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by Butch Pichay can resolve the impasse.
“Until there will be a final resolution of the issue, we have decided to hold the allowance of Wesley So starting June,” said Garcia in Tuesday’s Phl Sportswriters Association Forum at the Shakey’s Malate.
Garcia was reacting to the 20-year-old So’s decision to jump from the NCFP to the US Chess Federation to pursue the latter’s dream of crashing into the Top 10 in the world and perhaps challenge for the world title.
For it to happen, So will need an approval from the NCFP or pay the 50,000 euros, or worth about P3 million.
If not, the Webster U standout will need to observe the two-year waiting period for chessers changing federations where he will be barred from participating in all international chess federation FIDE-sanctioned tournaments like the World Chess Olympiad and the World Championship.
In an interview with The STAR, Pichay remains adamant that he will not give in to So’s request until he gets an official letter from the latter and FIDE.
Already, the country is still reeling from So’s decision as it will plunge into action in the Olympiad in Tromso, Norway this August without the country’s best player.
So, of course, has skyrocketed to the top and is now currently ranked 15th in the world after topping the all-GM Capablanca Memorial in Cuba a few weeks back.
Source: http://www.philstar.com/sports/2014/06/17/1335892/psc-suspends-wesley-sos-allowance
This makes his decision to switch federation final. They clearly pushed him out the door.
para skin tama ginawa ng PSC….di marunong tumingin sa pinangalingan…..di cguro pinoy to….ay oo nga pla surname nya So, so alam nyo na kung anu sya may lahing intsik di makuntento kung anu meron…..
ulol… siguro si boxing guy ka ng pacland… ban ka na ba don sa thread ni joey? lol Maghanap ka ng trabaho di palamunin ka lang na mga magulang mo. At sabihin mo na rin yan sa lahat ng OFW ba bumubuhay sa Pilipinas. Kitid ng utak mo utak lamok
Ask Philippine Olympic Committee Chairman Peping Cojuangco… He too is CHINESE original from China as his parents is pure chinese. He is the brother of former President Cory Aquino whose son is the current Philippine President Benigno Aquino. Even our president has chinese blood now your saying chinese descendent are ungrateful and unpatriotic? Go tell it to Pnoy then lol
Ang tao gusto umasenso at magagawa niya sa US di sa Pinas ano paki mo? Kung gusto mo manatili sa miserable mong buhay sa pinas na palamunin lang ng magulang mo huwag mo susihin ang iba or gobyerno maghanap ka ng trabaho di puro internet atupag mo. Mahiya ka naman sa magulang mo or wala ka na talagang hiya? lol Translation to english: The guy wants to have a better life and chess career in US and you dont have any right to tell him what he wants to do in his life. If you wanted to stick with your miserable life in the Philippines and always be dependent to your parents for support and to finanance your vices instead of looking for a job, then go ahead but dont blame others or your governent for the kind of life you have. You should be ashamed of yourself by letting your parents feed you lol
Pichay’s excuse of “we didn’t get a letter” is a tried and old excuse by Filipino politicians who are trying to play ignorant over their incompetence. Remember when Olympic Filipino skater Michael Christian Martinez said his parents had to sell their house so he can go to the Olympics because the Philippine government ignored him? What excuse did the Malacanang palace say? Oops, we missed the letter, we didn’t see it, etc. Shame! Free Wesley So!
This writer June Navarro of Philippine Daily appears to be “dumb” and “misinformed”. How many times does Wesley So have to tell the people he is only CHANGING FEDERATION and NOT CITIZENSHIP. FYI Mr June Navarro, under FIDE rules one can switch federation by changing citizenship, naturaluzation or residency requirement. Wesley So is not applying for US citizenship nor he is changing federation on such basis because he is only been staying in the US for more than 2 years. Under the US Immigration Laws, it requires 5 year residency requirement before one may apply for naturaluzation. And Wesley So is clearly INELIGIBLE to apply for US citizenship for the simple reason he lacks the 5 years residency period. However since Wesley So had been staying for more than 2 years now in US, he has already complied the residency requirement under FIDE rules and eligible to change federation from Philippines to US Chess Federation. Hence, Wesley So is changing Federation on the basis of RESIDENCY ELIGIBILITY and NOT CITIZENSHIP as you are claiming (and so does the rest of misinforned and ill researched media people). See, changing of federation based on residency is ENTIRELY DIFFERENT fron change of citizenship. Ergo, even if Wesley So change to US Chess Federation, HE IS STILL A FILIPINO CITIZEN unless he renounce it. And even assuming arguendo if he later acquires US citizenship, IT DOES NOT DIVEST him of his Philippine Citizenship. Under Republic Act # 9225 (Citizenship Retention & Re-Acquisition Act of 2003) which provides that “natural born citizens of the Philippines (which Wesley So is) who, after effectivity of RA 9225 becone citizens of a foreign country shall retain their Philippine citizenship upon taking the aforesaid oath & paying the required fees in the Burreau of Immigration. Verily, Wesley So can be a US citizen at the same time a recognized Filipino citizen and is legally permissible under Philippine Laws as it is a case of Dual Citizenship sanctioned by the Philippine Constitution. It is different under FIBA rules (basketball), FIFA rules (football) or any sport where change of federation can only be done by change of citizenship not residency. In chess and under Fide rules one may be a citizen of one country and still be playing under another chess federation different from his citizenship as residency is allowed for change of federation not necessarily citizenship. Moral of the story, Mr. June Navarro RESEARCHED and ASK PEOPLE WHO KNOW FIDE RULES before you start publishing stories. Because your painting a bad picture to Wesley So without you knowing it. As if your telling the whole world that Wesley So is changing to US citizenship and ditching his Filipino citizenship and just using the whole situation as an alibi with sole intention to acquire US citizenship. AGAIN, GM Wesley So is changing federation on the basis of RESIDENCY ELIGIBILITY and NOT CITIZENSHIP. Even if he plays under US Flag he is still a FILIPINO CITIZEN. And he is changing because of lack of ADEQUATE SUPPORT & TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES in the Philippines. Go ask NCFP why GM Wesley So (#1), GM Oliver Barbosa (#3) and GN Mark Paragua #7) why they all be changing to US Chess Federation? I rest my case.
Fafa Joey is an educated and well research. Mr June Navarro should have ask Mr Joey Villar as to how to write chess news. Notice Joey Villar did not use change of citizenship to avoid confusion (except that change of allegiance as in political law it is akin to change of citizenship and should never use the term citizenship and allegiance as they connote more or less the same meaning). Overall though Mr Joey Villar’s chess news article is BETTER and DO JUSTICE to Wesley SO than most chess news of other media sports writers in the Philippines who always insist in their articles that Wesley So is changing US citizenship. AGAIN Weslet So is just CHANGING FEDERATION and NOT citizenship. These chess news writers from the Philippines should read and understand FIDE rules on transfer/ change of federation before writing and publishing “uneducated” and “unresearch” articles so they wont look stupid in the eyes of chess fans who understand Fide rules all over the world. I hope they read this comment.
Mr. June Navarro you change your line of news telling. If I were you go to showbiz for you to be effective.
June Navarro should know how to reseach and review all this you write so you misinformed all reading this issue. Or if you cant do that better cjange your work.
June Navarro for us readers please be sure of your report instead of us to feel bad for Wesley, we now fully unferstand the true issue. Be careful
WHAT GM WESLEY SO is TELLING US? (THE U.S. CITIZENSHIP CONFUSION By: JayZ)
So much had been reported regarding GM Wesley So switch of Chess Federation from the Philippines to the US Chess Federation. Along with these stories, many media people misinterpreted, misinformed and blown out of proportion the issue by bannering headlines with “Wesley So seeking U.S. citizenship…” turning a simple change of federation to a change of citizenship or that So is seeking U.S. citizenship in effect ditching his Filipino citizenship – creating more confusions and/or intrigues instead of simplifying the issue. But what is GM Wesley So really telling us? GM Wesley So is SIMPLY TELLING US that:
(1) He have FILED the PAPER WORK TO SWITCH FEDERATION TO THE U.S. last year. HE DID NOT FILE AN APPLICATION FOR U.S. CITIZENSHIP thru NATURALIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES OFFICE (Department of Homeland Security)
a. GM We Wesley So letter to NCFP President Prospero Pichay (Salient portion) : “ I HAVE FILED THE PAPER WORK TO SWITCH FEDERATION TO THE U.S. LAST YEAR. I respectfully ask that you grant me this opportunity and consent my transfer . “ (susan.polgar.blogspot.c om/2 014/06/Wesley –so-will- swit ch-federation- t o- us.html)
(2) He is NOT SEEKING U.S. CITIZENSHIP/CHANGING ALLEGIANCE to the U .S. ( Allegiance is synonymous to citizenship)
a. GM We Wesley So letter to NCFP President Prospero Pichay (Salient portion) : “ I HAVE FILED THE PAPER WORK TO SWITCH FEDERATION TO THE U.S. LAST YEAR. I respectfully ask that you grant me this opportunity and consent my transfer . “ (susan.polgar.blogspot.c om/2 014/06/Wesley –so-will- swit ch-federation- t o- us.html)
b. GM Wesley So: “ I DID NOT DISCUSS ANYTHING ABOUT U.S. CITIZENSHIP. ALL I SAID SO FAR WAS ABOUT CHANGING FEDERATION.” (Interview in ANC Channel – An ABS-CBN News Co. – anc.yahoo. com/video/Filipino-grandmaster-we sley-seeks-release–21492374.html)
(3) He is NOT ELIGIBLE for U.S. CITIZENSHIP THRU NATURALIZATION
a. Under U.S. Immigration Laws, to qualify for U.S. Citizenship thru Naturalization an applicant must “HAVE BEEN A PERMANENT RESIDENT FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS AND MEET ALL OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS…” (www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship-through-naturalization ) or “continuous residence in the United States as a green card holder for at least 5 YEARS immediately preceding the date of filing the application” (www.ucis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-naturalization/path-us-citizenship ) Wesley So had been staying in U.S. as a student roughly for more than 2 years only and as such he does not possess the minimum 5 years residency period to even qualify for U.S. Citizenship thru Naturalization.
WHAT GM WESLEY SO is TELLING US? (THE U.S. CITIZENSHIP CONFUSION By: JayZ)
(4) He is CHANGING FEDERATION on the BASIS of RESIDENCY ELIGIBILITY NOT citizenship
a. Under FIDE Rules it provides: “1. Registration under a Federation – 1.3 A player qualifies to be registered under a Federation (1) if he or she qualified by citizenship or naturalization in the country of that Federation OR (2) if he or she has RESIDED FOR A CONTINUOUS PERIOD OF 2 YEARS IN A COUNTRY OF WHICH HE OR SHE IS NOT A CITIZEN…” (www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/4411-new-registration-transfer-and-eligibility-rules.html) Simply stated, a player may be registered under a Federation if he or she has CITIZENSHIP, NATURALIZATION OR RESIDENCY in the country of that Federation…” (www.fide.com/component/handbook/?id=13&view=category)
b. Since Wesley So is still NOT ELIGIBLE for U.S. Citizenship thru Naturalization for lack of the 5 years residency requirement as per US Immigration Laws, he can only change chess federation via residency eligibility as he is qualified for having been residing in the US for more than 2 years now. On the basis of the above, it is CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT GM WESLEY SO CHANGE OF FEDERATION FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO THE UNITED STATES CHESS FEDERATION IS ON THE BASIS OF RESIDENCY ELIGIBILITY and NOT citizenship.
(5) LASTLY, A CHANGE OF FEDERATION IS NOT THE SAME AS CHANGE OF CITIZENSHIP/CHANGE OF ALEGIANCE OR SEEKING U.S. CITIZENSHIP. Wesley So is SIMPLY CHANGING FEDERATION NOT SEEKING U.S. CITIZENSHIP and this is ALLOWED under FIDE RULES. He only will be playing under U.S. flag in international chess competitions and FIDE organized and sanctioned events BUT HE IS STILL FILIPINO AT HEART and ACCORDING TO PHILIPPINES LAWS UNDER SECTION 1, ARTICLE IV (CITIZENSHIP) OF THE 1987 CONSTITUTION OF THE PHILIPPINES.
Thanks Susan for posting, i stop working for 1 hour just to do this article and have to post it via laptop instead of phone, its a bit long though. And have to cut it in 2 parts as your comment blog is limited to 4300 something letters 🙂 Can’t stand reading news about Wesley So and sports writers in the Philippines keep on using the “seeking US Citizenship argument” since such story exploded last week. I hope Philippine media will read this and STOP insisting Wesley So is seeking US citizenship and using the chess issue as justification to do so. If Philippine media kept on insisting Wesley So is seeking US citizenship everytime they report it, its painting a BAD IMPRESSION on Wesley as being ungrateful, opportunist and selfish/self-centered person where in fact HE IS NOT and they are not doing justice to their report as it is akin to irresponsible/uneducated/bad reporting. They should have researched well first before publishing their news. Ask people who know FIDE rules and read and understand all the facts before finalizing everything. Again, thanks Susan and God Bless and sent my regards to Wesley So. I still have to go to court to defend my client here in the Philippines.. lol – JayZ
Great article JayZ. You gain advantage, you simplify and you press for win with your arguments in clear explanations with matching evidence as if your writing a pleading in court lol I rest my case your honor :d
Chess is a very competitive sport. These politicians should understand. It needs big support, advantageous environment, world class couching, etc. gm Wes knows its not present in his country. Lets just be humble and face the reality. Lets not be closed minded. Let him transfer w/o hassles
Hey! Wesley hurry up on your transfer to US Chess Federation… the US NEEDS VERY BADLY a new, fresh & strong chess player like you. With the impending retirement of GM Gata Kamsky from competitive play & international tournaments and the SEVERE DETERIORATION/ DECLINE of GM Nakamura’s chess skills (once hailed as one of the best during his peak years) and BATTERED CONFIDENCE due to his so-so and subpar performance in Standard Chess and now in Rapid Chess against world class oppossitions, the US Chess Federation NEEDS A NEW GO-TO-GUY in you. Kamsky is retired, Nakamura is OFFICIALLY DECLARED IRRELEVANT in the chess world from Elite Chess Player, Nakamura is now a mere “JOURNEYMAN” and his chess skills is now geared towards EVASIVE & SURVIVAL MODE strategy/tactic. Hail! GM Wesley So, the NEW FACE of the US Chess. HURRY UP PLEASE 🙂
In support of Wesley So wanting to leave the Philpine chess federation, I would say this: it is clear the head of the federation is using coercive tactics to attempt to pressure So into compliance. It is no wonder So resents being used as a ping pong ball and wants to leave the dirty politics of Philipine chess behind. Let us hope the US Federation does not play dirty games with their players. Go So!