COTABATO CITY – MP Rasol Mitmug, Jr. filed Proposed Resolution 356, a Resolution commending Al-Basher Buto, the young chess prodigy from Lanao del Sur.
Ten-year-old Buto, who has participated in tournaments since the age of 5, is now representing the Philippines at the ongoing 2020 Fide Online World Cadets and Youth Rapid Championships (November 28-December 3).
His feats include scoring gold in the 13th Asian Schools Chess Championship in China, the 8th Asean Age Group Chess Championship in Malaysia, and the National Age Group Chess Championship in Cebu, all in 2017. Buto’s parents, Bong and Jamellah, are hopeful he will be a grandmaster by the time he is 16 years old.
Wesley So, Filipino-American grandmaster, recently made headlines for winning the Skilling Open title. So lamented the lack of assistance given to Philippine athletes, and hoped that the government would pay more attention to aspiring and talented youth.
The filed resolution, aside from honoring Buto and his achievements, also calls on the Bangsamoro government to provide support for his continued training and development. If approved by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, the measure would help continue Buto’s journey to becoming a grandmaster.
Photo credit: Al Jazeera