Tito Cabunagan, 2nd from left, could save the plight of Palau Chess Team to the 2010 World Chess Olympiad. He will try to get the visas of team members Roberto Hernandez, 2nd from right, and Cyril Montel, Jr., middle. The other 2 members are Bernardo Garcia and Eugenio Pastrana. Palau top player in the last 5 years Menandro Manuel, left, skipped this chance to participate due to financial reason while Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr., right, obtained international rating by participating in 2009 Palau National Chess Championship. He is using this photo as his profile photo on Facebook. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
C R I T I C A L T I M E
WITH LESS than 2 weeks before Palau can send a team to 2010 World Chess Olympiad, their visas is not sure yet to be issued on time.
The 5 players of Palau Chess Team to the Olympiad are Roberto Hernandez, Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Bernardo Garcia, Tito Cabunagan and reserve Eugenio Pastrana.
Hernandez applied online to the USA Russian Embassy three weeks ago. Without any response, he shifted the application to the Consular Department of the Russian Embassy in Manila because those 5 players are holders of Philippine passports.
Even with a letter from Philippine Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito Marino requesting the expediting of the issuance of their visas, there is no response from them.
With time running out, Cabunagan volunteered to go to Manila on Sept. 08 to try to get the visas by himself on behalf of the other 4 members. He will be back on Sept. 10, hoping to salvage the hardships the team has endured during the preparation of the team that consists of an Australian Team Captain Jaime Kenmure and Swedish Delegate Jan Berglund.
Original documents were prepared by Hernandez including the letter of support (invitation from the Organizing Committee of the 39th World Chess Olympiad and the Government of Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia's autonomous okrug-Ugra). It says: For visas, please apply to the Russian Embassies or Consulates with this invitation. Issue of visas in the Russian Embassies and Consulates is agreed with the Ministry of Foreigh Affairs of the Russian Federation.
It is also noted that the Consular institutions have been recommended to exempt the participants from visa fees. In case a visa fee is required, the Organizing Committee will reimburse it in Khanty-Mansiysk after sight of the receipt.
In one of his email to Hernandez, Papau New Guinea's top player Joselito Marcos cited: "I have sent inquiries through email to Russian Embassies in Sydney, Canberra, Jakarta and Manila and they are all consistent in not replying.
In the Russian Embassy website in Manila, there are additional requirements of police clearance and NBI clearance. I have asked my firstborn daughter to contact the consulate and find out if these requirements could be relaxed to Overseas Contract Workers but the answer she got was "just comply with the requirements."
Now you see the reason why I have moved my travel date to Manila from Sept. 15 to Sept. 12. -- to give me more time to comply with the requirements of the Russian Embassy.
Well, if you are travelling on the 15th, then you still have time to get an NBI clearance on 16th and apply for Russian visa on the 17th. I don't think NBI will allow "proxies" even if assuming without certainty that the Russian Embassy does.
We are chess players--after having gone this far, we should not let all our efforts go down the drain by not making a move while there is still time--just hoping will work alright.
I'm very much concerned about you and me regarding Russian visa and related requirements. Never leave a thing to chance. Let us do our part at best and to God we leave the rest. 'God helps those who help themselves.'
Hope this encourage us and provide us clear directions on what to do. Let us all pray for our success in getting over this hurdle.
Hernandez and Pastrana were able to get police clearance and it will be issued on Wed. at 1:30 pm while Cabunagan is a day earlier in getting it.
Hernandez and Pastrana filled a fingerprints card form from the Philippine Embassy office to be able to get NBI clearance through Cabunagan with a letter of authorization from the two and signed by the Consul.
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper Volume 19 Issue 36
September 06-12, 2010
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