(761) MUSIC AND ME (May 22, 2014) "ASSISTING ME TO THE AD LIB OF HOTEL CALIFORNIA

ENJOYING PALAU, MUSIC AND FRIENDSHIP
     Steven Chen, left, and Ethan Zhao, right, became Roberto Hernandez' best Taiwanese friends during their stay at Palau Royal Resort in July 2014. The trio still communicate with each other through email and Facebook and cherished their happy moments including Ethan's 'assist' during the ad lib of Hotel California.                              (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


  'ASSISTING' ME TO THE AD LIB OF
             HOTEL CALIFORNIA

 I MET 2 young Taiwanese in July 2014 at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort.

It was a quick connection that Ethan Zhao and Steven Chen became my best Taiwanese friends in just a short period of time.

It is also through music that we 'connect' more and enjoyed many moments through songs especially the "Stand By Me".
  

It's a different 'hit' when I sing it with "So, Ethan, Ethan, Stand By Me, Oh oh Stand By Me" because Ethan will really 'stand by me', dance a little and have a photo taken. Same with Steven.

They have even a video of it with Ethan and Steven dancing while I'm singing "Stand by Me".

But the most funny and enjoyable part is when I play the ad lib of Hotel California and I asked Ethan to do the pitch bend. Everybody enjoyed it even the 2 lady guests farther from us. The sound really sounds like a distortion guitar being played by a professional lead guitarist.   

In their last night, we exchanges signatures in their slum books and small handwritten notes like the one I told them about Rin Kita, the Japanese girl...
   

VERY NICE TO MEET RIN KITA AGAIN
    If a simple letter/card can be treasured and cherished, what more with this picture with a beautiful girl that wrote me a lovely note, although in Japanese character, to touch the hearts of many including PRR GM Isao Takahashi, who kept that note/letter for more than a year!                                                    (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



    RIN KITA IS BACK AFTER 2 YEARS

TWO weeks before going to Istanbul for 2012 World Chess Olympiad, the 56^th issue of Tia Belau was published with Music and Me story of “A Letter From A 5-year-old Japanese Girl”.

                The first line of that story is “While playing piano at Waves Restaurant on Sunday, March 20, 2011, a 5-year-old girl is watching me play.”

                Exactly 2 years and 1 day (March 21, 2013), that Japanese girl is watching me play again. After finishing the song that I’m playing, I gave her my card and asked her name. She said her name but I misheard it as “Kin Jita”.

                Then I played some Japanese songs and she sung some parts where she knows in soft voice. Then I showed her my scrap book with photos and print copy of some Music and Me issues with black and white photos.

                My instinct ‘commanded’ me to go to the last part of the book where the letter/card of Rin Kita was posted. Then I said, “This is written and made by Rin Kita. Are you Rin Kita?” When she nodded, that’s the time that I’m sure now that she is really her 2 years ago.

                When I mentioned to her that she is the one that make and draw the hearts, grapes and flags of Palau and Japan in there, she is almost in tears.

                She can’t believe that a simple note, letter and drawing like that will be treasured and cherished by someone. I asked her, “Where is your mom?” And I said, go ahead and bring the book and show it to her.

                When they come to me, we have pictures taken –one in their camera and one in my cell phone’s camera. It’s my day off the next day (Friday) but on Saturday, they come again to have dinner near the piano.

                When I played “Oribia O Kikinagara”, Rin Kita sang on some parts that she knows. Her mom can sing all the last parts of the song.

                We talked for a while about their stay in Palau 2 years ago. It’s their 3^rd time now in Palau. Rin Kita is 6 years old, not 5 as I have written. She’s 8 years old now and very beautiful.

                I read to them the contents of “A Letter From A 5-year-old Japanese Girl”—about the accident when Rin Kita accidentally drop a glass and some broken glass hit her leg; about the letter/card and how our GM Isao Takahashi translated it to me.

                I asked them also to check the website http://palau-chess.blogspot.com where I will feature Rin Kita again. She was featured (without picture) in Music and Me issue 56 (Aug. 16, 2012) and no. 280^th post in that website. I posted it on August 18, 2012—a week before my trip to Istanbul.

PROMISE TO HIS DAD
     I promise to the father of this Taiwanese boy that I will feature his son in this column in about 2 weeks. It's more than a month now. So here it is. I asked him to check the Palau Chess Federation website http://palau-chess.blogspot.com because I write about music also at Tia Belau which I am posting also in this site. Sorry that I didn't get your names.                            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



         A LETTER FROM A 6-YEAR-OLD
                   JAPANESE GIRL

WHILE playing piano at Waves Restaurant on Sunday evening, March 20, 2011, a 6-year old Japanese girl is watching me play. After finishing the song, I called her and gave her my card. She was very excited about it and showed the card to her mom and auntie.

                There’s also a young Japanese couple with 2 kids (one is maybe one year old and the other is 3 years old). They’ve been regular guests at Waves and Breeze Bar in the last 3 days.

                Minutes later, a group of Japanese came and have dinner in the wooden area. Five of them are in a wheelchair. One of them can ‘drive’ it without someone pushing it.

                At past 8:00 pm, after finishing their dinner and paying their more than $700.00 bill, the group had surrounded me. The two wheelchairs with an old lady and a guy positioned to my right, one at my back and another 2 to my left. They like my rendition of Japanese songs. I showed them my Japanese song book and they choose and requested songs from that.

                The old lady in a wheelchair to my right requested “Ai No Sanka”. She clapped enthusiastically after I played that song. I gave her and the guy at my back my card. She appreciated it very much and shook my hand in gratitude.

                The girl, Rin Kita, and the young Japanese couple with 2 kids, are watching those guests around me having a good time. After 3 more requested songs, they left. One of the ladies (not in wheelchair), gave me $5.00 tip and another lady gave me also $5.00 tip. I gave another card to the last guy in a wheelchair on my right.

                After they left, Rin Kita approached me and talk to me in Japanese. She specifically said “Ashita”, asking if I’ll be at Waves Restaurant again tomorrow evening. I told her “Shigoto wa rokuji kara, kyuji made desu (koko) to kyuji kara juichiji made desu (Breeze Bar). Sui-yobi wa yasumi. (It means I work from 6-9pm there and 9-11pm at Breeze Bar and Wednesday is my day off).

                Before 9:00, the Japanese guy and his 3-year old daughter approached me and she gave me $10.00 tip. He said it’s their last night tonight and they will go back to Japan. I gave the girl my card. Upon reading it, he asked his daughter to say “Thank you, Roberto san.”

                Another young Japanese couple farther away also enjoyed my music. Before going home, the lady gave me $2.00 tip and said, “Thank you for the very nice Japanese songs.”

                At Breeze Bar, the Japanese couple with 2 kids proceed there and clapped after I played a song, whether Japanese or American songs. When it’s time for them to say goodbye for check out, a lot of waving from me and from them.

                The next day, Monday, Rin Kita arrived with her mom and auntie. She gave me a home-made card with a letter written in Katakana and Hirakana. It’s my first time to receive a lovely note from a 6-year old girl. I displayed that note/card at the piano music stand trying to figure out what it is she’s saying in the letter.

                A little accident occurred when she accidentally dropped a glass on the floor and a piece of broken glass hit her leg. She was treated with first aid kit by the new F & B Manager Edgie Garcia. When she’s waving goodbye to me while they are going out of Waves, I notice a little limping from her.

                I showed the card to our General Manager Isao Takahashi and he translated it to me-- that the girl plays piano also and she’d like to see me again someday when they come back to Palau.

Source: Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez

             Tia Belau Newspaper

            Pages 8-9

            Volume 21

            Issue 56

            August 16, 2012

Exactly 2 years and 1 day, Rin Kita, right, came back to Palau with her mom. A photo was taken this time on March 21, 2013 with her showing the letter/card that she made 2 years ago that Roberto Hernandez has put in his scrap book.

Source: Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 9 and 11
             Volume 22
             Issue 25
            March 28, 2013

The last photo session of us is also a memorable one. We agreed to communicate through Facebook and emails especially when I will be in Philippines and Norway where internet connection is faster.

Here, Steven is writing on post cards while a Japanese couple ask a pictorial with me after they enjoyed my rendition of Japanese songs (old and new).

I have also some experiences with the ad lib of Hotel California like in Dec. 16, 2013 where Michiko Nakamura and Katsutoshi Nakada came for the 8th time in Palau.

Michiko had a gift for me and my wife --a blazer in which I said I will wear when I come to Norway for the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Aug. 1-14, 2014; a coin purse for my wife; Christmas cards with personal notes, etc.

This photo became my timeline photo for almost a year. I just change it now with the Palau Chess Team members and the profile photo also with former Palau President Johnson Toribiong was changed after 5 years with me and Rin Kita.

I talked to them for a few minutes on that night, Dec. 16, 2013 and told them the stories of the crying Japanese guy that gave me $100.00 tip twice.

Before I resume my playing, I asked them if they want to request a song or two. Michiko requested "Desperado" while Katsutoshi requested Hotel California.

Sometimes I ask Jovy Rodriguez, bartender and also a friend of the couple, to assist me to the ad lib of Hotel California and I think this is the right time to give the couple a good time...

During the ad lib, that's the time that Jovy stand near me and 'played' the pitch bend really good that the couple really had a good time laughing. 


Sources: Chess And Music (Perfect Combination)
                 The Beginning Of Chess In Palau
                 By Roberto Hernandez
                 To be published as a book in the future

                 Music and Me
                 By Roberto Hernandez
                 Tia Belau Newspaper
   

 

(760) PINAYS TO REPRESENT PALAU IN NORWAY CHESS OLYMPIAD (GMA Pinoy Abroad News by Bernadette Carreon)

A FEW HOURS BEFORE LEAVING FOR MANILA
     The almost complete Palau Chess to 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway have a photo session by GMA News Bernadette Carreon on July 15, 2014. From left, standing, CM Bernardo Garcia, NM Roberto Hernandez, NM Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Eric Ksau Whipps, Dennis Gonzales, Jeffrey Balbalosa. Sitting, left to right, Angelica Parrado, Baby Edna Mission and Joy Flores Whipps. Not in the photo are Board 4 (Women) Desitiny Sisior and Board 3 Gladys Anne Paloma, who is in Philippines already a few days earlier.
                                             (Photo by Bernadette Carreon)

 

               Pinays to represent Palau in 

                 Norway Chess Olympiad

July 14, 2014 4:01pm

 146  1  0  320

The small island nation of Palau is sending a delegation to the 2014 Chess Olympiad in Norway next month — and some of the players are Filipinos!

Philippine Honorary Consul Eric Ksau Whipps, the delegation's head, said five of the 12 players are Filipinas — Angelica Parrado, Baby Edna Mission, Gladys Anne Paloma, Joy Flores Whipps, and Destiny Sisior who, at 10 years old, is the youngest to compete in the Olympiad.

Philippine Consul to Palau Eric Ksau Whipps (middle, standing) and the Filipino chess players who will be representing Palau in Norway Chess Olympiad. Left to right: Bernardo Garcia, Roberto Hernandez, Cyril Tomas Montel, Dennis Gonzales and Jeffrey Balbalosa. Sitting, left to right: Angelica Parrado, Baby Edna Mission and Joy Flores Whipps. Photo by Bernadette H. Carreon

Sisior, daughter of Parrado, is the top player for Women’s Junior category along with 13-year-old Filipino–Palauan Ksau Flores Whipps.

Meanwhile, another young Filipino-Palauan player, nine-year -old Kayah, Ksau's sister, though not competing in Norway next month, would have a chance to compete in the World Youth Chess Championships in South Africa this September.

Eric Whipps said the players “have been training for hours on their own every day and also have been in several competition with one ongoing to help improve on their skills.”

Very few women are playing chess in the Pacific, Whipps said. However, the women’s team is composed of dedicated players who, by their sheer determination, are giving both Philippines and Palau something to be proud about.

Whipps noted that Parrado is one of the highest-rated player in the Pacific.

Not to be outdone, five Filipinos in the men’s category are also part of the Palau team flying to Norway for the competition. They are Roberto Hernandez, Cyril Tomas Montel Jr., Bernardo Garcia, Dennis Gonzales and Jeffrey Balbalosa.

Hernandez and Balbalosa are also mentoring young Palauans who are showing enthusiasm in chess. —KBK, GMA News

(759) NORWAY HERE WE COME! (TBN-July 14, 2014)

CHESS - PALAU STYLE WHEN IT'S GETTING DARK
     It's past 6pm when CM Bernardo Garcia, left, and NM Tito Cabunagan, right, transferred to the concrete table at Bethlehem Park during the final day of 2014 Palau Olympians Tune-up games on July 13, 2014. Roberto Hernandez, middle, assisted them to the wet concrete bench and table. Tito played all his 3 remaining games and won over eventual champ Dennis Gonzales and here against Bernard. He lost to Hernandez in a marathon 89 moves of Pirc Defence.   
                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez -- Taken by Jeff Balbalosa)


      NORWAY HERE WE COME!

Everything is ready for 11-member Palau Chess Team that will compete in the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway on Aug. 01-14, 2014. All of the members have bought their Palau-Manila tickets and 9 of them will leave on July 15 (Tuesday) and will stay in Manila for 2 weeks to get their Schengen visa before flying on July 31 to Norway.

                The 12 members of Palau Chess Team are 1. Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps (Head of Delegation/Delegate/Captain of Women’s Team) 2. Roberto Hernandez (Board 1) 3. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. (Board 2) 4. CM Bernardo Garcia (Board 3) 5. Dennis Gonzales (Board 4) 6. Jeffrey Balbalosa (Board 5/Reserve) 7. Angelica Parrado (Board 1-Women’s Team) 8. Baby Edna Mission (Board 2) 9. Gladys Anne Paloma (Board 3) 10. Angelica’s daughter Destiny Sisior (Board 4) 11. Joy Flores Whipps (Board 5/Reserve) 12. Jamie Kenmure (Australia –Men/Open Team Captain).

                Kenmure was the team captain of Palau team in 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia and at the 2012 WCO in Istanbul, Turkey. He’s the Delegate of Solomon Islands.

                The Norway organizers have given all players from 180 countries, travel fund of about 60% of the airfare according to the distance of a country to Norway. New Zealand is the farthest and more than $1,200.00 will be given to each player.

                Palau is no. 11 in the list and will have $932.00 for each player.

                Philippine Congressman Prospero ‘Butch’ Pichay called Roberto on Friday to inform him that he is running for Asian Continental President of World Chess Federation (FIDE) against the Sheik of Abu Dhabi. Cong. Pichay is also the President of National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

                According to him, he is leading in the survey by 3 votes while former world chess champion Gary Kasparov is leading incumbent Kirsan Ilyumzhinov by 5 votes in the FIDE Presidential Election to be held during the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Norway.

 Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Guam and Solomon Islands have gone public that they are supporting Kasparov. Palau has not gone public yet about whom will it vote as it is listed under Oceania and Asia.

Cong. Pichay offered to host the 9 members of Palau Chess Team on July 16 while they are working on their Schengen visa application.

The last day of 2014 Palau Olympians Tune-up Games will be held on Sunday, July 13 at Bethlehem Park. Tito Cabunagan will have to play his remaining games against Hernandez, Garcia and Gonzales. He lost to Jeff and won over Cyril before his vacation to attend his daughter’s wedding.

It’s impossible for Tito to play 3 games in one afternoon with the time control of 90 minutes to make 40 moves, another 30 minutes to finish the game with 30 sec. increment starting from move 1. It was suggested by Hernandez, Balbalosa and Montel, Jr. to have a rapid chess time control to finish the event on time—20 minutes to finish the game with 10 seconds increment. This was done also in the last day of 2013 Palau National Chess Championship.

Gonzales is leading the tournament with 3 straight wins followed by Garcia and Balbalosa with an identical 2-1 win-loss slate. Hernandez is 1-3 while Cyril is still winless in 3 games.

Solution to last week’s puzzle: 1. …Bh3+! 2. Nxh3 Qg3+ 3. Kh1 Qxh3 mate.

This week’s puzzle: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Page 8
               Volume 23
               Issue 56
               July 14, 2014 

(758) BERNARD OUTLASTED CYRIL IN A MARATHON 62 MOVES (TBN-July 07, 2014)

FROM 2002 (PALAU) - 2014 (NORWAY WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD)

     Roberto Hernandez, right, was surprised to meet a guy from Tromso, Norway, where the 2014 World Chess Olympiad will be held from Aug. 01-14 at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort while entertaining a young Japanese couple Juichi, left, and his wife who can't speak much English. 2nd from right, Haakon, the Norwegian guy, works at his country's military. Hernandez pioneered chess in Palau in 2002 and will be Board 1 player again in the Olympiad in Norway.

            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez -- Taken by Devie Guimbal)

  BERNARD OUTLASTED CYRIL

    IN A MARATHON 62 MOVES

 

Only 2 games were played in the resumption of 2014 Palau Olympians Tune-Up Games on Sunday, June 29 at Bethlehem Park.

The participants are NM Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., NM Roberto Hernandez, NM Tito Cabunagan, CM Bernardo Garcia, Dennis Gonzales and Jeffrey Balbalosa.  All of them, except Tito, are members of the Men/Open Palau Team that will compete in the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway from August 01 (Arrival, Opening Ceremony) to Aug. 14 (Closing Ceremony and Departure on Aug. 15).

The Women’s Team is composed of Angelica Parrado (Board 1), Baby Edna Mission (Board 2), Gladys Anne Paloma (Board 3), Angie’s daughter Destiny Sisior (Board 4) and Joy Flores Whipps (Board 5/Reserve). Eric Ksau Whipps is the Delegate, Head of Delegation and Team Captain of Women’s Team.

Australian Jamie Kenmure became the Open Team Captain when Tito withdrew because of the Pacific Islands Forum to be held in Palau in the same date of the Chess Olympiad. This is Jamie’s 3^rd time to be Palau team captain after leading Palau in 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia and 2012 WCO in Istanbul, Turkey. Tito also withdrew from the 2010 WCO due to job requirement.

The first game of Tune-Up games is between 2 undefeated players --Dennis Gonzales and Jeffrey Balbalosa. Their game is headed for a draw with equal materials but Dennis’ patience pays off after pinning Jeff’s bishop with a rook at 7^th rank.

On his 41^st move, Jeff resigned in their Slav Defence game. Dennis scored his 3^rd straight victory to lead the tournament with Tito and Cyril as his last 2 remaining opponents.

The most exciting game of the event was not decided until 7:30 pm between CM Bernard Garcia and fellow worker at Palau Pacific Resort Cyril, who mistakenly set their time clock to 90 minutes to make 30 moves and 30 minutes more to finish the game with 30 seconds increment starting from move 1. Roberto Hernandez adjusted it to 90/40/30/30.

The 2 protagonists showed their excellence in time management as they used their time control to the max. With Cyril still has 7 minutes in the first time control and Bernard with 13 minutes, they transfer thrice due to lack of lights and rain.

Roberto left them for work at 7pm when their remaining pieces are King, Queen, Bishop and 2 Pawns for Bernard and a King, Queen and 4 pawns for Cyril.

Before going to attend the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ Evangelistic Night at 8pm, Roberto dropped by at Bethlehem Park at 7:45 but they are not there anymore. Roberto asked Bernard through text on the next day and learned that Bernard won in 62 moves.

Tito is still on vacation. He’s got only one game played and he needs to play at least 2 games on Saturday (July 12) and 2 games on Sunday (July 13) as the 9-member Palau Chess Team will fly to Manila on July 15 to get Schengen visa before proceeding to Norway via Manila-Kuala Lumpur-Oslo-Bodo-Tromso on July 31.

Solution to last week’s puzzle:

This week’s puzzle: Black to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              Pages 9-10
              Volume 23
              Issue 54
              July 07, 2014 

(757) I LOST MY WALLET DURING INTERNATIONAL CHESS TOURNAMENT - 2007 Palau Invitational Chess Championship

INSIDE JEAN'S BOUTIQUE AND STORE
        Gene Pastrana, right, venue host of many chess tournaments in Palau, playing against Palau bet Tutii Joe Chilton during the 2005-2006 Rapid Chess Tournament at Jean's Boutique and Store premises. They are playing at the parking area because the inside of the store can't accommodate more than 8 players. The 2007 Palau Invitational Chess Championship (known as the 2nd Ambassador Marino Cup) was held inside the store because the contestants are limited to 10 players. In that event that Roberto lost his wallet. The one who got it is in this picture.
                                                (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Roberto's email about the lost wallet was sent to the following:

Dear Friends,
     It's not a good day for me in the penultimate round of 2007 Ambassador Marino Cup (Palau Invitational Chess championship). 
     It's not that I lost my last 2 games to NM Manny Nedic and eventual co-champion Menandro Manuel but I also lost my wallet during my game with Cyril Montel, Jr. on Sept. 20, 2007.
     Before playing him, me and my wife bought some food stuff at Surangel's at around 11:00 am where I last used my wallet. 
     After beating Cyril in 2 1/2 hours, I went to Palau Royal Resort, where I work as musician, to have lunch at 1:30pm.
     While I'm on my way to cafeteria, I noticed that my wallet in my back pocket is missing. 
     I called Gene Pastrana, venue host, to check the chair where I sat down for 2 1/2 hours but it's not there.
     I went back to Surangel's and asked Dodie Pineda to check the security camera. 
     He said that I took my wallet out 4 times but put it back 4 times also so it's not been lost there.
     I had a short conversation with Philippine Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito Marino at the Embassy before the game with Cyril. They checked the place and found nothing.
     I didn't use my wallet in buying hair dye for my wife as she gave me $20.00. The $17.00 change was in my belt bag.
     My lost wallet contained $151.00 cash, my work permit, driver's license, PRR I.D, Bank Of Hawaii ATM card, my SSS card (09-405114), Palau Public Library card, FIDE card, Surangel's card and photos ('60's, '80's and '90's).
     I'm giving the cash content of the wallet to the finder as reward. I just need the others badly. I was able to get a new driver's license for $25.00 and a new PRR I.D. for $15.00 (salary deduction). 
     I went to the Bank of Hawaii to block anyone who might use the ATM card and they will issue me a new one in 3 weeks. The biggest amount that I will pay is for the work permit which is $100.00 to be reissued also in 3 weeks.
     My message to the finder is: Just keep the cash, you don't need the others. It is considered stealing if you don't return those important things. Stealing is a mortal sin. Honesty is the best policy. If you will not return those, you robbed me twice and God will punish you by losing twice the amount that you have stolen from me and more sufferings than you have caused me. If you return it after I spent those amount, it becomes useless so you still have a chance to think about it. You can return it to anybody at PRR or at P. O. Box 10108, 678 or 1051. What if this thing happened to you? I can be your best friend that you can ever had. I don't need to know you if you're ashamed to God. Is your honor and soul worth only $151.00? It's been my wallet for 15 years and it's the first time that I lost it. I still pray for you everyday that you will do the right thing.
     Please pray with me for the finder to make up his mind and God bless you all.


Roberto Hernandez
Musician, Palau Royal Resort
Chairman, Knights And Rooks Chess Club (Palau)
Secretary/Treasurer, Palau Chess Federation
Chess Columnist, Tia Belau Newspaper
    







Source: History of Chess In Palau 
             By Roberto Hernandez
             June 2014
             To be published as a book in the future

(756) MUSIC AND ME (May 15, 2014) JAPAN AND TAIWAN BECOMES ONE THROUGH MUSIC

SINGING "WE ARE THE WORLD"
    This group of young Japanese guys make it a very happy and friendly night when they started to sing "We Are The World". They requested earlier Japanese songs "Kampai" and Itoshino Elly.                      (Photo by Roberto Hernandez  -Taken by Jem)


    JAPAN AND TAIWAN BECOMES ONE
                 THROUGH MUSIC

 ON JUNE 22, (Sunday), I have a very good conversation with Palauan security personnel Sean at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort while he is making a routine check of the place. 

When our conversation was focused on music, we have a very educational discussion. I mentioned to him about the lone Japanese guy that gave me $100.00 twice in March 2008. 

He's got $250.00 one time as payment for him being a photographer in a wedding.

He's not a materialistic person and his quote about this bears on my mind: "Music is like an international language that connects everyone through the melody".

THE NEXT DAY, IT BECOMES A REALITY!

After playing piano for 2 hours at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort, I proceed to Breeze Bar to play another 2 hours of keyboard music.

There are lots of guests and I took notice of a young Japanese group (all guys- 6 of them) that order drinks (beers, Tequila shots, etc) like there is no tomorrow.

There is also another group of young Taiwanese (mixed) at the high table with high chairs and another Taiwanese couple next to their high table.

Also three more Taiwanese fishermen who orders only iced tea and take advantage of free refill that they refill more than 5 times.

When I start to play Japanese songs, the Japanese groups are singing. I took out my Japanese and American songs songbook and gave it to them so that they can choose songs for request.

They like it when I sang "Oribia O Kikinagara" in guy's key (Key of A. The original key (lady singer) is key of F.)

They ask if I can play "We Are The World" as it is not included in the American songs list.

I put out the blue songbook with that song and one of the guy gave me $5.00 tip.

We have photo session before singing the song. The Assistant F & B Manager Marylin Alonzo is helping the staff because it's crowded with mixed guests.

They requested her to join in the photo session and mentioning her to be the Cindy Lauper in singing "We Are The World."

I transposed the key 2 steps lower so that everybody can reach the high notes.

I don't have time to suggest to them to change the words "We Are The World" to "We Are The Worst". And "We Are The Children" to "We Are The Chicken"! because I don't want to ruin the night by that joke. But maybe it might have been more fun if we did that.

Very few times that some of them will look at the lyrics of the song and it turns out to be a start of having a nice time through music.

A VERY LOUD APPLAUSE FROM TAIWANESE, FILIPINO AND JAPANESE GUESTS!

I followed it up with "Hotel California" with the key 3 steps lower than the original.

That's the time when one young Taiwanese comes beside me and sing it. One guy from Japanese group positioned himself in front of me, acting like he is the lead guitarist... IT'S SHOWTIME!

Two young Taiwanese ladies have a good time taking photos and video of the show.

Whenever the singing Taiwanese forgets the lyrics, I dictate to him because I know all the lyrics of Hotel California since 1994.

During the ad lib and ending of the song, the guy who pretends to be the lead guitarist becomes more inspired as if he's really playing the ad lib in which I'm using the pitch bend to make a more "distorted" electric guitar sound.

After the song, my 2 guest performers embraced like a long lost brothers. The Japanese 'performer' proceed to the table of Taiwanese 'performer' and they have photo sessions and more hugging.

The rest of the Japanese group join them and I felt like for at least one night -- JAPAN AND TAIWAN BECOMES ONE THROUGH MY MUSIC!

The Taiwanese couple next to the mixed group of Taiwanese don't want to miss some more fun and they transfer to the table next to me. The guy gave me $1.00 tip.

When the other Taiwanese group with children are paying their bill, a lady gave me $5.00 tip as they enjoyed also the night of Japanese, Taiwanese and American songs that I played that night. 

Eight days later, I talked to Marilyn before going to play another 2 hours at Breeze Bar. She said that those Japanese group have dinner at Liao's Room of Waves Restaurant and they consumed 49 Asahi beers, 2 bottles of white wine, a bottle of red wine and some Tequila shots. 


Source: Chess And Music (Perfect Combination)
               The Beginning Of Chess In Palau
               By Roberto Hernandez
               June 2014
               To be published as a book in the future