MY STORY

My name is Silverio, also known as Coach A-G or Silver. I grew up in the Philippines and now live in the United Kingdom. I have been involved in chess for 33 years, and throughout my life, chess has taught me awareness, focus, responsibility, and one powerful truth: every piece matters. Just like in life, we need one another.

One question has always guided me:

“What can I do better?”

Chess has taught me that in silence we discover our best selves—through reflection, we see possibilities and learn to make better choices. With these lessons in mind, I am founding a charity based in the United Kingdom called Board and Beyond because chess has always been more than just a game to me.

I have played and taught chess for many years, and while everything starts on the chessboard, I’ve learned that the lessons of chess go beyond the board. It teaches patience, focus, responsibility, and respect—skills that help us in life as well as in the game.

The word “Board” represents where we begin: learning the game, making careful moves, and thinking ahead.

The word “Beyond” represents what chess can do outside the game—bringing families together, helping children grow, supporting rehabilitation, and keeping older people mentally active.

Board and Beyond is about using chess in a different way—not just to create players, but to connect people, open opportunities, and make a positive difference.

To make this vision a reality, I am looking for a passionate team and volunteers to support in any way possible; whether it’s helping with chess lessons, organising events, fundraising, spreading awareness, or offering professional guidance. Every contribution, skill, or hour shared will help bring Board and Beyond to life.

There is always something more we can give, something more we can learn, and something more we can do—beyond the board.

What Board and Beyond Will Do

♟️ Chess Sets for Public School Children

Board and Beyond aims to partner with the Department of Education (DepEd) – Cagayan de Oro Division to establish a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) focused on:

Providing chess sets to public school children

Introducing structured chess lessons as an enrichment activity

Training teachers and volunteers to support chess education

Organising school-based and inter-school chess activities

The programme will start in Cagayan de Oro as a pilot project.

Within 3 to 5 years, and subject to evaluation and approval, Board and Beyond aims to expand the programme across Mindanao and eventually to public schools throughout the Philippines, working in coordination with DepEd divisions and regional offices.

♟️ Empowering Chess Coaches as a Dignified Profession

At the heart of this mission is the belief that chess coaches deserve dignity, opportunity, and support.

Board and Beyond will:

By supporting coaches, we strengthen communities and ensure that chess education reaches those who need it most.

♟️ Chess for Prisoners’ Rehabilitation

Board and Beyond plans to work with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to introduce chess as a tool for rehabilitation and personal development.

This programme will include:

This initiative has never been done before in the Philippines. In the future, it may even connect with international prison chess programmes, offering participants a sense of inclusion, dignity, and hope.

♟️ Mental Activity Programmes for Older People

As a care worker in the UK, I have seen firsthand how vital mental stimulation is for older people, particularly those living with dementia. Chess offers structure, memory engagement, and meaningful interaction.

This programme will:

Raise awareness about dementia care in the Philippines through collaboration with institutions and the Department of Health

This work is deeply personal to me—shaped by my experience caring for older people and by my own mother’s situation in the Philippines, where awareness and resources for dementia care remain limited.

♟️ Family Chess Initiative

Board and Beyond also envisions organising family chess tournaments that promote:

Parents and children playing together reflect the deeper truth that growth happens best in relationship. If successful, this initiative can expand nationally and eventually internationally.

How You Can Help

A chessboard has 64 squares.

One square may seem small—but together, they complete the board.

Even a small contribution can:

One square.

One move.

One difference.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Silverio

(Coach A-G / Silver)