(1464) MUSIC AND ME (Oct. 12, 2017) 2007--MY FIRST NEW YEAR'S EVE COUNTDOWN PERFORMANCE AT PRR

My partner in the 2007 New Year's eve Countdown at the Waves Restaurant is a Filipino lady singer working at one of the bars along Malakal. When we are practicing the song "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me", I have goosebumps and I told her, "Very rarely that I have goosebumps when somebody is singing. It's just a sign that you really sing with expression."

Our GM Isao Takahashi, middle-wearing Hawaiian shirt, knew my singer and where she works.

I don't remember her name, the Filipino lady singer.

Left to right, standing: Roberto Hernandez, GM Isao Takahashi, Masaki Horie, Mr. Bephu, Allan Tuppil, Jenny Salazar, Edgar Cayanan. Squatting (L-R) Ms. Sunny Matsui, Darwin Nisperos and Josephine Amutan.

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- December 30, 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 --December 30, 2017
              
               The History of Chess in Palau
               By Roberto Hernandez
               June 09, 2002 -- December 30, 2017

(1163) MUSIC AND ME (Jan. 28, 2016) Mervin Lee Cuyugan -- HIS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MUSIC

MERVIN'S TREAT TO ROBERTO AND JAY
      It's just an ordinary day but Mervin Lee Cuyugan, middle,  is generous enough to treat Roberto Hernandez, left, and Jay to a drinking session at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort on July 04, 2015. There are some appetizers and local draft beer. Jay is a former staff of Mervin in Philippines.    (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


               MERVIN LEE CUYUGAN --
        HIS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MUSIC  

  

When I started working as resident musician at Palau Royal Resort in June 01, 2007, I thought that bartender Darwin Nisperos is the most music knowledgeable co-employee at that time. He said his father likes the Beatles and so him likewise. One night in 2007, he asked me to play “Things We Said Today” by the Beatles. I said I don’t know it yet. What he said surprise me, “I know you know it, you’ve just doesn’t know that you know it!”

                When he sung the first line of the song, “You say you will love me, if I have to go.” There are chords in the Beatles songbook that I put on the music stand of the upright piano—Am, Em7 (4x).

                Right away, I played the song to its entirety because of his ‘intuition’ that I know the song! Since then, whenever he passes near the piano, he will request a Beatles song. And I add “Things We Said Today to my list of 67 Beatles songs, all handwritten. It’s in Page 190 together with “Baby It’s You”.

                                                   Darwin Nisperos

                Laundry Supervisor Abraham Francisco is also knowledgeable in music. He knows how to play guitar. I heard him played James Taylor’s “Handy Man” superbly. He once asked me about the chords of the song “Is It Okay If I Call You Mine” by Paul McCrane from the movie “Fame”. I have it but the chords are in the 1^st and 2^nd stanza and Refrain of the song. It is noted in the 3^rd stanza to “Do 1^st stanza chords”. But it’s a tricky placement of the chords as I have erased some placements of the chords about 4 times.

                                           Abraham 'Ka Abe' Francisco

                Food and Beverage Manager Edwin Acuyan (2012-2014) is maybe the 2^nd most knowledgeable co-employee I ever had. He is the one that informed me that the more than 100 overdubbed in the song “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen is all done by its lead singer Freddy Mercury. And that their song “Love of my Life” and Beatles’ song “Here, There and Everywhere” were all sung in falsetto voice.

                One night in 2013, I started playing at 6pm and started with a song “Still Loving You” by Scorpions, and he said, “What an opening number! “Still loving you” by Scorpions!” I played it with expression. Almost all musicians needed some easy opening numbers to loosen them. I can play with much expression even in my opening number.

 Left to right, Liezl Michael, Ai-Lin Liao, Roberto Hernandez and Edwin Acuyan.

 

                Whenever we have a full house of guests and they don’t bother to listen to my songs, I just play whatever songs I would like to play without expression because there’s no response or applause from them. They are busy talking, eating and drinking. I played with much expression even though we have only a few but responsive guests.

                During our staff Christmas party at Sea Passion Hotel in 2013, Edwin sung “Baby I’m A-Want You” by Bread. He also excelled in basketball and was Rookie of the Year in the Filipino Basketball League Masters (for players 40 years and above), where their team, Palau Curtain and General Merchandise, won the championship with him as player/coach.

 Edwin joined the 2011 Palau National Chess Championship and gained an international rating of 1340. His only recorded game is a loss against Roberto Hernandez using the rapid time format because he is a very busy man. He also won the Business Manager position in The Filipino Community in Palau election in Feb. 2012.

After representing Palau in the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway, Roberto gave Edwin a Norway cap and a reindeer stuff toy to Jackie, his partner. They are leaving Palau for good the next day. No F & B Manager at Palau Royal Resort till Jan. 2015.

Mervin Lee Cuyugan became the new F & B Manager of Palau Royal Resort in Jan. 2015. It seems that he is more music knowledgeable than Roberto in some cases. He likes “Ever Since The World Began” by Survivor, “Love is All That Matters” by Eric Carmen, “It might be You” by Stephen Bishop, “Looking Through the Eyes of Love” by Melissa Manchester, “Saigo No Iiwake’ (Japanese Song) or “Ikaw Pa Rin” (Still You – Filipino version by Japanese/Filipino singer Ted Ito), Bluer than Blue, Boat on the River by Styx, How Can I Tell Her, I Don’t Want You to Go by Lani Hall, I Was Looking for Someone to Love by Leif Garrett, Filipino song “Kahit Konting Pagtingin” by Ric Segreto, Melody Fair by Bee Gees, Reminiscing by Little River Band, Take Me Home Country Roads by John Denver, The Way You Look  Tonight by Chad and Jeremy, Terminal by Rupert Holmes, Wandering by James Taylor, Will you Still Love me Tomorrow by Andy Gibb. Mervin knows the original singer of this that is related to James Taylor, which is Carole King. Roberto found it out after looking at his list (in the composer/lyricist section).

If Roberto started the night with a singer (like “Can we just stop and talk awhile by Jose Mari Chan), Mervin will request by saying, “Ok, you started with Jose Mari Chan, then follow it up with some of his songs.” Roberto will follow it up with the other 7 songs of Jose Mari Chan – 1. Beautiful Girl 2. Constant Change 3. Deep in my Heart 4. Please be Careful with my Heart (with Regine Velasquez) 5. Refrain 6.Tell me your name and 7. Christmas in our hearts – if it’s Christmas season.

When Roberto started an American song, 95% of the time that Mervin knows the singer and he will pass behind Roberto and will mention to him that it is by that singer, i. e. Bread, Barry Manilow, Elvis Presley, Eagles, Engelbert Humperdinck, Styx, Eric Clapton, Don McLean, Matt Monro, Michael Johnson, Simon and Garfunkel, Beatles, Carpenters, Everly Brothers, Elton John, Bee Gess, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, Davil Soul, Bryan Adams, Ronnie Milsap, Neil Sedaka, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart, Platters, Neil Diamond, David Pomeranz, Rolling Stones, Cotton, Lloyd and Christian, Lani Hall, Scorpions, Chicago/Peter Cetera, Abba and Menudo.

Speaking of Menudo, when Roberto play their song “If You’re Not Here” about 3 weeks ago, Mervin passes by at my back and said, “Lobo”, thinking that the song that I’m playing is “How Can I Tell Her”. He goes back a few seconds later and corrected it with “Menudo!”. He’s really aware of the songs and the singers. There’s a time when he requested a song by John Denver but he doesn’t know the title. He sung the first lyrics of the song… “I walk in the rain by your side.” Roberto was able to play the song but he also doesn’t know the title of the song. It was after 15 minutes that he realized it is “Goodbye Again”. Roberto added it to his list but no year yet but it’s definitely in the 1970’s.

There are some songs that Mervin knows only the title. If he saw Roberto is looking at the song book, he will check it out to find out who’s the singer like in the song “Never My Love” by Association…

On February 29, 2016, Roberto's first song played at 7pm is "You're My Everything" by Santa Esmeralda and Mervin mentioned the singer right away. Roberto followed it up with the same title but different singer this time, an  old favorite by Nat 'King' Cole.
There are a lot of songs that has the same title but by different artists/singers like "I Need You" by Beatles, America and Euclid Beach Band; Hero by Enrique Iglesias and Mariah Carey.
Midnight Blue by Melissa Manchester and Electric Light Orchestra; Kumusta Ka (Filipino song) by Freddie Aguilar, Nonoy Zuniga, and Rey Valera; A Love Song by Elton John and Kenny Rogers; Always by Atlantic Starr and an old one in 1925; Angie by Rolling Stones and Haley Erick (Palauan singer); Because by Beatles and Dave Clark 5; Because I Love You by Glen Campbell and Stevie B; Call Me by Dennis De Young and Aretha Franklin; Come What May by Air Supply and Lani Hall; Holiday by Bee Gees and Scorpions; Ikaw Pa Rin (Filipino Song) by Tito Mina and Ted Ito; I'll Never Fall in Love Again by Dionne Warwick and Tom Jones; Kaibigan (Filipino song) by Apo Hiking Society and Anthony Castelo; Love by John Lennon and a Japanese song; Michelle by Beatles and a Palauan song; No Other Love by Barry Manilow and Jo Stafford; Rain by Jose Feliciano and Donna Cruz; Suddenly by Billy Ocean and duet by Cliff Richard and Olivia Newton-John; Woman in Love by Barbra Streisand and (?) and Words by Bee Gees and F. R. David.  

Sources: Music and Me

              By Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              March 15, 2012 -- April 2013

              http://palau-chess.blogspot.com

              April 2013 --February 16, 2016

             Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)

             The Beginning of Chess in Palau
             By Roberto Hernandez

             June 09, 2002 -- February 16, 2016

             To be published as a book in the future

 

(566) 'AYING' SURGES TO 2ND SPOT (TBN-April 11-17, 2008)

INVITED player Andres 'Aying' Mestizo II played 6 games in one day and took solo 2nd place in the resumption of Palau Royal Resort Rapid Chess tournament held at PRR Dormitory 1 on Sunday, April 06. 

He started with a sweep of 2nd seed Jaime Guevarra where in the first game, Guevarra overlooked a mate in one that would have finished him off in just over 5 minutes of play.

He played badly again in their 2nd round match maybe due to inactivity or lack of practice.

Next in line was Robert Tubice, who drew first blood when Aying failed to sustain his overwhelming advantage  into a win. 

He trounced "Tube Ice" in their 2nd round match while Paul Garcia is watching their game. They played practice game while waiting for another available player.

Zaldy Ranopa's first tournament game of the year was spoiled by Aying when he lost in their first game. 

He had his chances in the 2nd game with a mate in one but he captured with a pawn that leaves them with both a queen and a king and agreed to draw the game.

With 4.5 points scored in just one day, Aying had 6.5 points and only a mere half point behind top seed Roberto Hernandez.

His last remaining opponents are Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr., Eli Madrinan, Laurence Abuton and Darwin Nisperos, who is going home on May 04, 2008 and will not renew his contract.

Garcia, on the other hand, has resigned and will be leaving on April 30, 2008.

Players who are hesitant to play against Garcia are advised that if they have not played him within 3 weeks, it will be declared as wins for Garcia, the most feared player in PRR.

He has shown the biggest improvement due to his everyday practice with Ivan II Chess Computer, the talking and taunting chess machine that has a rating of 2000 (United States Chess Federation).

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 13 & 15
               Volume 18
               April 11-17, 2008   


        

(561) JESS DAVID IS A CONTENDER IN CLASS C (TBN-March 07-13, 2008)

NEOPHYTE chess player Jess David is currently having the best record in the ongoing Palau Royal Resort Rapid Chess Tournament with a 4-1-0 win-loss-draw record after nipping another newcomer Armand Lelis last week. 

Mark Apresto is still leading their division despite a setback from the surging Francis Diesta, who scored another victory from erstwhile leader Edgar Cayanan.

David used to watch Class A players practicing and learned his lessons from their styles, strengths and weaknesses.

Class C top seed Randy 'Buhawi' Sioson swept Cayanan in their 3-game series. He won the 1st game.With  the 2nd game headed for a draw, they decided to disregard the draw and play for win.

With the loss, Cayanan scored only half point in 5 games after winning his first four. 

The same thing happened to Jaime Guevarra in last year's rating chess tourney of PRR where he scored 3 straight and didn't score a whole point in his last 4 games.

Diesta showed his top form as he dealt Mark his 3rd loss of the event. Other Class C players Morris Apresto, Romy Cayanan, Arnold Rivera and invited player Chat Miraflor didn't play a single game last week despite Miraflor's day off on Wednesday. 

With Mark Apresto leaving on March 12, he needs to play all his remaining games to avoid default losses.

He is still in contention for the title and it will depend on the performance of David, Diesta, the two Cayanans and his brother Morris.

Only one game was played in the Class B division. It is the first game of Darwin Nisperos against Paquito Pax' Suringa, Jr., who has yet to win a game after 3 tries. 

With his cautious play, Nisperos build a bewildering attack in the king side but blundered badly in the endgame that lead to his downfall with his 4-pawn advantage against a bishop.

Class B top seed Abrahan 'Abe' Francisco withdraw from the tournament and concentrate more against 14 opponents at Chess.com.

There is a plan to include players of Class B to Class A as most players in that class have the talents higher than that of Class B. 

Class A top seed Roberto Hernandez outwitted 5th seed Paul Garcia in less than 30 moves of Pirc Defence where Garcia lost a minor piece in the middle game. 

By the time that he recovered the piece, Hernandez already weaved a mating net to force his resignation facing a mate in two. 

Garcia bounced back from defeat and dealt Hernandez his 2nd loss with a masterful handling of a pair of bishop. 

Even during practice, Garcia showed much improvement as he also defeated blitz chess specialist Tony Villa three weeks ago. 

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 13 & 15
               Volume 18
               March 07-13, 2008            


  

   

(494) PRR RATING CHESS TOURNEY (TBN-June 29-July 05, 2007)

WITH lots of chess talents to be discovered from Palau Royal Resort's employees, the chairman of Knights and Rooks Chess Club Roberto Hernandez will organize a rating chess tournament that is open only to PRR chess enthusiasts and afficionados.

Trainings and practices are going on everyday and with a new found interest in the game, players are now improving rapidly with Nino Flores, Eric Ventinilla and Paul Garcia already beaten Roberto in practice games.

The likes of Arnel Pama, Jaime Guevarra and Zaldy Ranopa of Maintenance Department are catching up with better plays with the help of Hernandez and Ivan II Chess Computer, who will also participate in the tourney to give first timers of competitive chess a chance to improve their initial rating of 1500.

Senior player Abraham 'Abe' Francisco started practicing with others to regain his top form. He hasn't been playing chess for a long time and has been rusty for being inactive.

He can be one of the favorite to land in the top 3 while bartender Darwin Nisperos confirmed his participation through Hernandez, who will be the top seed with an estimated national rating of 2056.

Many more interested players are starting to be intrigued to the game as it is their chance to test their mettle against fellow newcomers to tournament play.

Chess clocks are being provided in their practice games.

To familiarize the players in annotating their games, Hernandez held a simutaneous chess match against Pama, Guevarra and Ventinilla.

He defeated Pama in 23 moves,Guevarra in more than 40 moves but surprisingly lost to Erick when he blundered away a rook in the middle game.

Eric showed his ware in finishing touch as Hernandez didn't have a chance to equalize even with an exchange disadvantage.

The format of the tournament is double round-robin with another weaker computer, Excalibur, to join the field.

The time control is 90 minutes for each player to finish the game and touch move rules will be applied in playing against the computers and humans.

Game time is flexible depending on the availability of players. Most games will be played after work -- 11pm onwards.

Registration fee is $5.00 with half of it going to the champion and the other half is for fund of a chess club to be founded through election of officers in the duration of the tourney.

To be added to the chess club property are two chessboards to be donated by Delfin Maligalig, a new father cafeteria cook.

Source:
Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 13
Volume 17
June 29-July 05, 2007