By Mar S. Arguelles
LEGAZPI CITY — It was a dream come true, exclaimed Sonia Frayna, the mother of Janelle Mae, a native of this city who became the country’s first Woman Chess Grandmaster.
Janelle made history September 12, Manila time, by becoming the country’s first ever chess Woman Grandmaster.
She achieved the feat after clinching her third and final WGM result with a 33-move draw against International Master Daavademberel Nomin-Erdene of Mongolia in a stinging 1.5-2.5 loss in the ninth round of the 42nd World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan.
She battled three players with men’s GM titles – Georgia’s Nana Dzagnidze and India’s Dronavalli Harika – and one with a men’s IM title – Nomin Erdene – while two others are WIMs namely, Sabrina Latreche of Algeria and Alejandra Guerrero Rodrigiez of Mexico.
Her mother Sonia, 55, in an interview said, “Of course my family feels very proud and honored for the award Janelle has achieved especially for the country, in general, and Albay, in particular.”
The elder Frayna said she was not a bit surprised of Janelle’s achievement as the first international Women’s Grand Master as she noted her strong determination and the focus she gives in every chess competition that she participated in.
“Every time Janelle competes in any chess competition she gives her best, and she is always determined to win,” Frayna claims.
Janelle Mae comes from a family of engineers. Her mother Sonia is a Civil Engineer who heads the Housing Division of Legazpi City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) while her father is also a licensed engineer.
Janelle, 20, is the youngest and the only daughter among three siblings.
Sonia said her daughter showed her interest in chess since her elementary days at Divine Word College of Legazpi (DWCL).
When she was in high school in the same school, Janelle competed and won the tournaments during City Meet, Palarong Bicol, and Palarong Pambansa.
She is a member of Magayon Chess Club.
She left DWCL after she was recruited by Far Eastern University (FEU) in Manila with a high school scholarship.
She is now a candidate for cum laude honors when she graduates this year with a degree in Psychology at FEU.
Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda passed a House Resolution congratulating and commending Janelle Mae for becoming the first female grand master of the Philippines.
On her Facebook, Janelle wrote: “My sincere thanks to Cong. Joey Sarte Salceda for sponsoring House Resolution 334 which commends me as the country’s first WGM. Thank you for extending your kindness to my family, providing [for] their trip from Legazpi to Manila and their hotel accommodation. I am indeed very happy that they will witness this kind of recognition firsthand. See you sir [in] Congress tomorrow. Dios Mabalos po!”