Mallgoers get hooked on the hottest puzzle craze
By , 27 Jan 2009
Source: Business Mirror

“THE first time I tried to solve a Sudoku puzzle; it took me the better part of the morning to get through it. I’ll admit there was a lot of head-scratching, a few sighs of frustrations and a couple of pencils were hurled across the room, but I couldn’t let go. I had to solve it.” That’s 16-year old Angelo Julian Perez talking. Angelo, from Canlubang, Laguna, was among the Sudoku enthusiasts who joined the Celebrity Sudoku Challenge in SM City Bicutan on January 25.

Since the other weekend, the BusinessMirror, together with the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild Philippines (MTG) and in cooperation with SM Supermalls, has conducted the Celebrity Sudoku Challenge at SM City Marikina (January 17), SM City Fairview (January 18), SM Megamall (January 24) and SM City Bicutan (January 25) in helping improve Sudoku education for beginners to sharpen their logic skills and challenge them.

The noncompetition series is part of the run-up to the National Sudoku Challenge slated this Saturday, January 31, at the SM North mall. Winners of the national challenge will represent the country to the next World Sudoku Challenge conducted yearly by the World Puzzle Federation.

At the SM malls, meanwhile, everyone got hooked the past two weekends as the MTG ditched the puzzles that, for beginners, were already easy as  pie (maybe not that simple); and instead, the MTG filled the exhibition with puzzles that continued to prepare them to become Sudoku expert. They slipped in a couple of surprises here and there as well…just to keep them on their toes. The five Sudoku puzzles that came in various types may not have that degree of difficulty, but all were tested in speed to solve it correctly and completely. Points were assigned to each Sudoku puzzle.

Top scorer in SM City Marikina Jon Erik M. Gonzaga from Taytay, Rizal, declared, “Sudoku is now part of my daily routine. I can’t let a day pass without getting my Sudoku fix.” The other top two scorers, Geraldine Fabay and Marvin Acebedo, were already familiar with the brainteaser. “Solving a Sudoku puzzle takes nothing more than simple logic,” both said, who came in second and third place, respectively.

And the best part about the Celebrity Challenge? “It’s tons of fun!” stressed top scorer in SM City Bicutan Gene Daniel Poblete.

“Challenge yourself to the next level perfectly sums up what the Celebrity Sudoku Challenge is all about,” pointed out second top scorer Edilyn Penson. To which third top scorer Dianna Jane Valles commented, “We hope to have more of this in the near future.”

All received certificates of distinction from the BusinessMirror and MTG Philippines.

Spectators at SM Megamall and SM City Bicutan who were likewise Sudoku-holics themselves gamely answered the first part of the Sudoku exercises shown on the white screen. Many were overheard saying, “I am correct!” Still, one said, “I should learn that game. It’s going to be my new companion. Whether I’m on the bus on my work to work, the MRT going home and the resto waiting for my friend who’s always late!” The Celebrity Sudoku Challenge kept everyone busy and entertained.

The members of the judging committee were MTG Philippines executive vice president Rechilda Villame; vice president for training and dean of Arellano University Dr. Ed de la Cruz; adviser Myrna Agtarap; trainor and professor of Arellano University Dr. Archie Rodriguez; supervisor of DEP-ED Taguig-Pateros and professor of PUP Dr. Sid Aguilar; professor of Integrated Montessori Center Charles Chavez; and trainor Arvie Urbano.

IN PHOTOS — (1) FROM left: MTG adviser Myrna Agtarap; executive vice president Rechilda Villame; BM business development manager Joyette Perez; MTG vice president for training Dr. Ed de la Cruz; SM Bicutan Celebrity Sudoku 2nd placer Edilyn Penson; 3rd placer Dianna Jane Valles; top scorer Gene Daniel Poblete; MTG trainers Dr. Sid Aguilar, Dr. Archie Rodriguez and coordinator Charles Chavez. ROY DOMINGO (2) FROM left: MTG’s Dr. Archie Rodriguez, Arvy Ubarro, Myrna Agtarap and Dr. Sid Aguilar; Celebrity Sudoku Challenge 3rd placer Marvin Acebedo, top scorer Jon Erik M. Gonzaga; and second placer Geraldine Fabay; SM Megamall marketing offi cer Mabee Buraga; BM business development manager Joyette Perez; MTG’s Dr. Rechilda Villame; and coordinator Charles Chavez. NONOY LACZA