KALARO, a sports platform, is powering the ongoing Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines tournament series to promote underserved sports like chess in the Philippines. Founder Jun D. Lasco highlighted the partnership during a media briefing on January 24, 2026, in Quezon City, emphasizing Pacquiao's legacy and the platform's role in scaling events nationwide. The initiative aims to build sustainable pathways for athletes through automation, live broadcasts, and continuous engagement.
The Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines (MPCP) tournament series has gained momentum with the support of KALARO, a platform dedicated to fostering traditional and emerging sports. At a media briefing on Saturday, January 24, 2026, held at TGI Friday’s American Bar & Grill in Robinson’s Place Galleria, Quezon City, KALARO founder and CEO Jun D. Lasco outlined the company's commitment to the event.
Lasco praised Manny Pacquiao as a global legend who rose from humble beginnings to the top of boxing. "First, Manny Pacquiao is a world-class athlete. He is a global legend and someone who knows how to start from the very bottom and eventually reach the pinnacle of his sport," Lasco said. He noted that Pacquiao's passion for chess has deepened over more than two decades and positioned the game as an esport. Lasco also referenced Filipino chess grandmaster Eugene Torre as evidence of the nation's world-class talent in the sport.
KALARO's focus on underserved disciplines stems from a desire to diversify beyond popular sports like basketball. "Everyone is into basketball, but there are so many other sports where Filipinos can excel, and one of them is chess," Lasco explained. The platform's KALARO 3.0 version enables end-to-end tournament management, from player registration and bracketing to championship rounds, with features like live video broadcasts and integrated social media to attract brands and monetize events.
Post-tournament, KALARO facilitates ongoing online engagement and records player performances to create historical profiles. Lasco stressed treating organizers as serious business partners, with proper accreditation and legal adherence. For athletes, he underscored the necessity of real competitions: "Tournaments are the only way to train and make every athlete gain mastery. Without joining actual events and tournaments, no athlete can level up his performance."
This philosophy, inspired by the Olympics' origins of pitting the best against each other, forms the core of KALARO's vision for sustained sports development in the Philippines.
