The wait is over!!! At last, Sudoku puzzles contributed by the MTG, Philippines are on publication again. This time it is with the Philippine Star. This development came after Dr. Simon Chua and Ms. Tammy Mendoza representing the Philippine Star agreed to feature standard Sudoku on Monday, Tuesday Wednesday and Sudoku variation from Thursday to Sunday.
In this venture, MTG will provide the Sudoku puzzle variation while The Philippine Star publishes it daily. More than usual, the puzzles will come in different forms and degrees of difficulties of which most of them come out in the annual contest, the Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge, a contest whose winners represent our country in different international Sudoku competitions.
Dr. Chua, a Sudoku aficionado himself stressed that this number puzzle is unique in that there is no math involved and one does not even have to know a certain language to play it. He continued, "It's just pure logic. And people love it. It has universal appeal to all ages because it is easy to learn but may take a lifetime to master. This math-free number puzzle requires only brain, concentration and a lot of patience."
Furthermore, Dr. Chua who never calls it a day without solving five to ten puzzles daily said, "Sudoku can be a real mental workout for it has the potential of developing and improving mental skills, creativity and even attitude." He added, "The Department for Education and Skills in England through the Teacher Magazine postulated that Sudoku is a training pool where kids can develop their logical reasoning. Since it is not only a game, children and adult can learn many things from Sudoku. In order to boost the brainpower of school children, it is suggested that teachers must give students at least 3 Sudoku problems a week."
It is true that without a basic understanding of how the logical thinking unfolds, and what techniques can be employed to enhance, rehearse and sustain it, the chances are that the ability to solve the Sudoku puzzles with facility may not emerge in some people. But with puzzles published in The Philippine Star, the opportunity one needs to get started is here since it is designed not only to provide the enthusiasts with the basics of the puzzles, warming up their momentum until developing the knack of solving them, but also give them a rewarding and incomparable feeling of self-confidence to move on to the next puzzle the following day.
The Philippine Star made a deal with MTG for a number of reasons. One of them is the health benefit Sudoku provides to the one solving it. According to research findings, Sudoku is best to help train the brain; thus, improving one's memory, language skills, numeracy, concentration, and visual and spatial awareness.
What is unique of a feature in the Sudoku puzzle in the Philippine Star is it seems easy to solve and to complete; some are fiendishly difficult. More often than not, the MTG puzzles offer a great opportunity for those Sudoku enthusiasts who desire for clear insights of international Sudoku competitions. As a matter of fact, the MTG puzzles are for those who yearn to elevate their skills, advance their speed and improve their precision in an effort to steer themselves towards any prospect of participating in a local or international Sudoku challenge.
The regional eliminations for the 6th Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge is scheduled on October 15, 2011 at SM Supermalls in Antipolo, Baguio, Baliwag, Bacolod, Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cavite, Cebu, Laguna, Pampanga, Iloilo, Lucena, Rosales in Pangasinan, Tarlac, Davao, Naga, Marikina and Subic Bay.
The national finals will happen next year, January 28, 2012 at the SM City North Edsa Annex. Interested Sudoku enthusiasts may contact MTG Philippine executive director Roberto Degolacion at 0917-3246302 or e-mail rjd182001@yahoo.com.