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Manuel Gerardo Monasterio was born at Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1956. For family reasons related to his father’s activity he lived at a bunch of different places of the world since the tenderest age. His early teenager years – his parents decided that he attended the High School enrolled in the ROTC program under the 3rd. Army jurisdiction – was marked by two major things: 1) His interest for Oriental Philosophy and Esoterism – the Vedanta teachings of Ramana Maharshi and Buddhism are his basic background 2) His learning of Chess – he was introduced to it by his mother, under the shadow and light of the great Alekhine who was his first chess love (Reinfeld’s “Alekhine: The Development of a Chess Genius” was a bedside book).
He has an illustrious antecedent at his family, his uncle, Paulino Alles Monasterio, was an International Chess Arbiter, who assisted at the 1927 Capablanca vs. Alekhine Match, later was President of the legendary Club Argentino de Ajedrez and author of two excellent books, one together with GM G Stahlberg about Capablanca, the other the best book so far about the Capablanca-Alekhine Match. His many interests confined his chess to the place of an absorbing hobby. Therefore, his OTB activities were very scarce, although he has been able to move the pieces enough to win here and there against some relatively strong opposition (IGM Andres Rodriguez, Konex 1991, then an IM; FM Eduardo Vasta, ELO 2400 at the time, Merlo Int.1995).
He holds a PH.D. in Homeopathic and Botanic Medicine, and Psychology. Although he has accomplished an intensive practice as alternative medicine Doctor – Acupuncture included through 27 years – he is mostly devoted today to Psychotherapy, and particularly, to Psychological Astrology Counseling. He is a disciple of Noel Tyl, from Arizona, and is still attending Tyl’s Master Degree Course for professional astrologers.
He has published 3 books (poetry, ethical politics and Medicine) so far, whose subjects are as diverse as Manuel’s interests. He considers himself a jack-of-all-trades, and hopefully master of some. In 1999 he began playing Chess by Email at IECG. In 2003 he was the third Argentinean player and 15th overall in the world to receive an official title on IECG, Email Master, he is fighting to achieve the IM title now, he has earned two norms so far. He is married since 1989 with Sylvia, a former attorney turned completely to Mediation and teaching. He has 2 daughters –Mariah 21, Angie 20 – from a former marriage. Manuel’s main interest today is Meditation – in the Vipassana Tradition – he lives with Sylvia at the Mountains near Merlo, San Luis. He has a Web Site – in Spanish – dedicated to issues about Planetary Consciousness, Ecology and daily-down-to earth-spirituality: www.foroplanetario.com.ar
Click HERE to access his archive of chess articles!
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