Senate lauds Paeng Nepomuceno, chess prodigy Operiano, jiu-jitsu champ Aguilar

FILE PHOTO: Facade of the Senate building, GSIS Complex, Pasay City. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate adopted three resolutions on Tuesday lauding bowling legend Paeng Nepomuceno, chess prodigy Bince Operiano, and world jiu jitsu champion Aleia Aguilar.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva sponsored the three resolutions during the plenary session.

The upper chamber adopted Senate Resolution Nos. 287 and 295 or resolutions recognizing and congratulating Rafael “Paeng” Nepomuceno for his outstanding performance at the Asian Seniors Championships.

Scoring 1,234 pinfalls in the 16th Asian Senior Championships men’s singles 65+ division in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nepomuceno clinched the gold.

Senate Resolution Nos. 285 and 293 or resolutions congratulating and commending chess prodigy Bince Rafael Operiano for winning the sixth Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship in Bangkok, Thailand was likewise adopted.

The nine-year-old chess wizard defeated 29 other players in the Eastern Asia Youth Championship Standard Rapid Blitz (under-10 category).

The upper house also adopted Senate Resolution Nos. 286, 294, and 318 or resolutions recognizing and congratulating Aleia Aielle Aguilar for her outstanding performance at the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Championships.

Aguilar, the youngest world jiu-jitsu champion at five years old, snagged the gold medal in the Kids 1 Girls White Belt 16 kilogram-B category, beating Brazil’s Gabriela Vercosa in the finals round.

Aleia is the child of Alvin Aguilar, founder of the Philippine Mixed Martial Art and Asian Champion in Tokyo.

All senators were made co-authors of the resolutions.

JPV