(1516) MUSIC AND ME (March 22, 2018) POSING WITH ME AS SOUVENIR PHOTOS

The father of this Japanese girl asked me in Feb. 03, 2018 to have a photo session as wished by the girl. 3 photos were taken from my cell phone camera and his camera.

An appreciative grandparents asking their granddaughter to applause after my performance at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort in Feb. 21, 2018.

The Japanese lady and her mom had a photo with me at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort in Feb. 5, 2018 and they gave me $5.00 for requesting many Japanese and American songs.

Brad Hsu, right, worked at Palau Royal Resort for 2 years and came back to Palau married with his son and members of his family on November 25, 2017.

Gonzalo Escapatoria, Jr., middle, has been one of the top 12 chess player in Palau. He had a dinner at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort on Jan. 13, 2018 with his son and daughter, who always watch the Palau Chess Federation tournaments at Bethlehem Park when his dad is playing.

Jennifer Angeles, right, is a member of Palau Women's Team to 2018 World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia. She had a dinner with her husband and son Aome on Valentine's Day at Palau Royal Resort's Waves Restaurant. At lunch time on that day, I treated my wife to a Valentine's Day lunch at the same place.

This Belgian guest has been to Palau 11 times.

Another Belgian, Dr. Dirk de Ridder, conducted the FIDE Arbiters' Seminar during the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway. I attended that seminar on its 4th day. I didn't realized that I need to complete at least 18 hours of seminar to gain a FIDE Arbiter title. Although I passed the exam like what happened in Palau where I topped the FIDE Arbiters' Seminar conducted by IA/IO Jamie Kenmure in May, 2017

                         THIS PHOTO OF DR. DIRK DE RIDDER IS AN OBITUARY FOR HIM BY FIDE.

Jamie Kenmure, standing at left, is the assistant of Dr. Dirk de Ridder during the Arbiters' seminar in Tromso, Norway.

There is only one attendee who gain an International Arbiter title in this seminar.






Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- April 24, 2018

               Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
               The Beginning of Chess in Palau
               By Roberto Hernandez
               Soon to be published as a book

              Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
              http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
              April 25, 2013 -- April 24, 2018

              The History of Chess in Palau
              By Roberto Hernandez
              June 09, 2002 -- April 24, 2018

              2014 World Chess Olympiad
              Tromso, Norway
              August 01-14, 2014

(1362) MUSIC AND ME (Feb. 16, 2017) WEARING RED ON VALENTINE'S AND CHRISTMAS DAY

Tito Cabunagan, middle, No. 3 chess player of Palau, wears red also on Valentine's day with his daughter at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort.

 I am wearing my red polo shirt only on Valentine's and Christmas day. That shirt is more than 20 years but still looks new because I wear it only twice a year.
 In 2017 Valentine's day dinner at Palau Royal Resort, I asked Tito Cabunagan, Len-Len Pineda, Lorna Castaneto, wearing pink, for photos as they wearing red, too.

In 2015, Lorna asked me to teach her chess for possible inclusion of her to the 2016 World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan. There’s no fee involved. I just want to develop new chess talent if she had it.

But something abusive happened right from the start. She doesn’t want me to teach her at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1 because she is shy that many co-employees will see her practicing. So I agree with the venue—Bethlehem Park, where I need to spend some for gas.

I just tolerated this abuse of a ‘free’ student and teach her for the first time. No potential I can see as her motivation is only to travel to Europe for free. I told her that the 2016 WCO is a non-election year and she should be ready to spend at least $1,000.00.

In the first lesson, James dela Cruz, the Jack of all trade friend of mine came and he played a friendly game with Lorna with his level ‘lowered’ to give some tips and aspects of the game. He doesn’t see also any potential from Lorna, who even brought a notebook for taking notes.

The 2^nd chess lesson didn’t happen as I went to Bethlehem Park and Lorna doesn’t show up. I spent some time and cash for gas and she doesn’t treat this lesson seriously. She gave me 2 pieces of candy in the first lesson—that’s all!

In the 2^nd lesson, still no improvement whatsoever. James came also and brought me a papaya and a sour sap. Lorna asked for the sour sap. I gave it to her. No problem. I can deal with that.
BUT NOT WITH THIS: Lorna knew that Jeff Balbalosa also plays chess. When she said to me, “Can I ask Jeff to teach me chess? Is he married?” I only answered he is married with kids. What she didn’t think about is—Am I not a good teacher (for free) and still ask somebody to teach her for free, of course. It’s not about the teacher, it’s about her motivation to learn and to FLIRT because she’s been single at the age of 40+ because she is choosy.
             

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              December 29, 2002-March 29, 2017 

              Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
              The Beginning of Chess in Palau
              By Roberto Hernandez
              Soon to be published as a book

              Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
              http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
              April 25, 2013 -- Mrch 29, 2017

              The History of Chess in Palau
              By Roberto Hernandez
              June 09, 2002--March 29, 2017 

(1070) MUSIC AND ME (Aug. 20, 2015) BREEZE BAR BABY

EXACTLY A YEAR AGO
     Baby Aerianne Pineda wasn't supposed to be born yet in the last days of August, 2014 but because of what happened that August 30th, she can't wait to see the light of the earth.                                 (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


                 BREEZE BAR BABY

OGIE Pineda, his brothers Bobby and Dodie, are regular guests at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort. Lately, they are joined by Ogie's fiance, in which they are to be wed by Chief Justice Arthur Ngiraklsong. The CJ once said to Roberto Hernandez that he can't refused to wed the couple because of gratefulness to Ogie, who did a painting job for free while his house is being built/renovated.

Ogie's wife conceived a baby and still they are regular guests at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort. 

Her due date is early or middle of September. They are anticipating a month with BER at the end as a start of Christmas season in Philippines. When the month reach September, it's the longest Christmas season in the world as the Philippines residents/citizens are preparing for it.

BUT ON THE NIGHT OF AUGUST 30, 2014, OGIE AND HIS WIFE WERE THE ONLY GUESTS LEFT AT BREEZE BAR. THEY SIT NEAR THE KEYBOARD WHERE ROBERTO IS PLAYING EVERY NIGHT (EXCEPT FRIDAY) FROM 9-11PM.

ALL 5 OF THEM (SHARON JOY MALUBAY, JOVY RODRIGUEZ, THE PINEDA COUPLE AND ROBERTO), ARE ENJOYING THE NIGHT WITH JOKES LIKE TRANSLATING A FILIPINO SONG INTO 'BROKEN' ENGLISH, CHANGING THE LYRICS OF THE SONGS AND MANY OTHER JOKES RELATING TO MUSIC.

                        Jovy Rodriguez is 2nd from right.

                                                              Sharon Joy Malubay



 Sometimes, many of them are in tears because of too much laughing. Most jokes are from Ogie. At 11pm, they have to go home. I reminded Ogie to take care of driving because he had some alcohol and there are 2 special people in the car.

A FEW HOURS LATER, I HEARD A NEWS FROM JOVY THAT OGIE'S WIFE GAVE BIRTH TO A BABY GIRL!

THE BABY CAN'T WAIT FOR THE RIGHT DATE. MAYBE SHE'S SO EXCITED OF THE FUN SHE HEARD THAT NIGHT AND SAID TO HERSELF, "I WANT TO SEE WHAT'S OUTSIDE OF THIS. THEY ARE SO HAPPY OUTSIDE!"


And exactly one year, the 1st birthday of Aerianne was held at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort. More or less a hundred visitors came.

   
During that dinner reception, I was asked by Ogie to have some food at the buffet. But I already ate at the Cafeteria so I just have fruits.

While eating, I saw the Japanese-Filipino family that are regular guests at the restaurant. I took out one of my songbook that has the photo of those 2 girls 3 years ago.

When I show it to their dad, she very much appreciative about it. I had 2 photos of the girls...

 

   

And finally, on the exact date of Aerianne 1st birthday, Aug. 31, 2015, Ogie, his wife and Aerianne had a blowout at Breeze Bar of cake and drinks (red wine for ladies and cognac for Roberto).

             HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY TO
                    BREEZE BAR BABY
                    A E R I A N N E ! ! !





Sources:
                 Music and Me
                 By Roberto Hernandez
                 Tia Belau Newspaper
                 March 2012--April 2013
                 http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
                 April 2013 -- August 31, 2015

                Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
                The Beginning of Chess in Palau
                By Roberto Hernandez
                June 09, 2002 -- August 31, 2015
                To be published as a book in the future