Two chess prodigies from Wesleyan University-Philippines High School (WUPHS) showcased their talent on the national stage, marking their boards at the Batang Pinoy Grand Finals Chess Age Group Championships, held in General Santos City from October 25–30, 2025.

Woman National Master (WNM) Millery Gen Subia, a Grade 7 student, delivered a performance worthy of a grandmaster-in-the-making, as described by Ms. Jessica Santos (coach), clinching second place in the Under-12 Girls Division while displaying consistency and sharp strategic play against some of the country’s top young chess talents.

Meanwhile, Janna Alindogan, a Grade 12 student, also made her mark, securing fifth place in the Under-17 Girls Division. Ms. Santos noted her strong and composed performance throughout the tournament.

“The Batang Pinoy Chess Championships is among the country’s top three national chess tournaments—alongside the National Age Group Chess Championships and the Palarong Pambansa—where winners earn the chance to represent the Philippines in international competitions,” explained Dr. Gener Subia, father of Millery and Arena FIDE Master.

Earlier this year, the two also captured the championship title at the Cabanatuan Private Schools Administrators Association (CAPRISA) Sports Meet 2025, earning the right to represent all private schools in the Cabanatuan City Division Meet this December 9–12, 2025. Victories there would qualify them for the Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA) 2026, where top players would compete for a coveted spot to represent Region III in the Palarong Pambansa 2026 to be held in Agusan del Sur.

Ms. Santos also expressed pride in their accomplishments, saying, “We are very fortunate here at Wesleyan High School to have chess players like Millery and Janna who can compete and win in national competitions.”

Both Millery and Janna remained honor students while still winning in their various competitions.
The recent successes of these athletes continued to bring pride to WUPHS and the entire Nueva Ecija chess community, inspiring more students to pursue excellence both in academics and sports.

by Ayumi San Cai Valerio
Information courtesy of Gener Subia
Photos courtesy of CASDO and Gener Subia