EVERYTHING seems to be going smooth for the first ever participation of Palau in chess competition abroad as Palau's lone participant in the Oceania Zonal Chess Championship Roberto Hernandez was granted Australian visa in just 14 days after submitting all his documents to Australian Embassy in Kolonia, Pohnpei (FSM).
According to other individuals who got Australian visa, it takes 30 days to get one. Maybe the supporting documents of Hernandez are complete.
With an airfare subsidy of $500.00 from Oceania Zone President Gary Bekker, Hernandez needs about $252.21 from his own pocket as the round trip ticket from Manila to Brisbane is $752.21.
Hernandez' Koror-Manila flight ticket is courtesy of Palau Royal Resort as he will be completing his 2-year employment on June 01, 2009 as musician.
The promised help for airfare discount from Philippine Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito Marino is currently waiting a response from Mr. Jaime J. Baustista, the President and Chief Operating Officer of Philippine Airlines.
The letter says:
Dear Mr. Bautista,
Greetings from Palau!
I'm writing on behalf of Mr. Roberto Hernandez, a Filipino working in Palau, who has been invited to compete in FIDE's Oceania Zonal Chess Championships to be held in Brisbane, Australia from June 20-28, 2009.
He has accepted the invitation but is hampered by the financial implications of the trip.
In this regard, I am hopeful that Philippine Airlines, with its long tradition of supporting noteworthy causes, could help in assuring Mr. Hernandez' participation by extending a generous discount on the Manila-Sydney (PR 221, June 18) and Sydney-Manila (PR 210, June 29) segments of his travel itinerary.
Though Mr. Hernandez will be representing Palau, his attendance as a player in this prestigious event is a source of pride to our country and people.
Your consideration of this request will thus be highly appreciated. Best regards.
Very truly yours,
Ramoncito S. Marino (Ambassador)
In his email to Hernandez on May 05, 2009, Mr Jan Berglund suggested to get all the federation money from Gene Pastrana for Hernandez' ticket to Brisbane.
He loaned money from a Swedish bank to pay for Palau's due to FIDE for this year to avail of 5% discount.
The 2007 2nd Palau Invitational Chess Championship, now known as the 2nd Ambassador Marino Cup, was sponsored by the Ambassador with $1,000.00 prize pot.
Only $500.00 was awarded and the other $500.00 was saved to pay for Palau's 2008 FIDE obligation.
Mr. Berglund paid for the 2008 due of Palau during the 2008 World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany from his own money also while the $500.00 from Mr. Pastrana is now down to a little over $200.00.
Mr. Berglund also suggested not to purchase the ticket yet as he is waiting for a quotation from a local travel agency in Sweden.
Mr. Berglund volunteered to coach Hernandez and he will be the nominated person to attend the Oceania Zonal Chess Meeting.
He will be paying all his expenses if the budget that he is asking from Mr. Gary Bekker will not be approved.
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 13 & 15
Volume 18
May 11-17, 2009
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