(1052) MUSIC AND ME (July 16, 2015) POTENTIAL EXTRA EARNINGS THROUGH MUSIC

FORMER FIRST LADY ASKED ME TO TEACH HER GRANDSON AGAIN
     Before my 23-day vacation to Philippines in June 02-23, 2015, I met former First Lady Valeria Toribiong, right, on my way back to Palau Royal Resort. She asked me to call her after coming back from vacation so that we can arrange the schedule of the resumption of piano lessons of Ethan Nate Meyar, 2nd from right.
                                         (Photo from Tia Belau Dec. 27, 2010-Jan. 02, 2011 Issue)

        POTENTIAL EXTRA EARNINGS
                 THROUGH MUSIC

WHILE I'm in line at the Bank of Guam on June 02, 2015 cashing my cash prize of $100.00 for finishing 3rd in the 2015 Palau Blitz Chess Championship, the secretary of former Senator Alfonso Diaz informed me that the Senator wants me to record Palauan songs again in his music studio. But this time, he wants me to record the 16 Palau States' songs.

I tell her that I will be having a 23-day vacation in Philippines and when I come back, I will record those songs again live or whatever we decide.

Two weeks before going to Philippines to get Schengen visa for participation in the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway, I recorded 20 Palauan songs with Senator Diaz. He paid me $10.00/ song.

We agreed in principle that he will make only copies of those songs if somebody wants to use it personally. He don't like to make many copies for sale because the piracy is so easy to ruin sales with so little market (20,000 population).

After hearing what a Bishop at Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) has said, "How can you out-give God?", I started to give 51% of my cash chess prizes to PMCC. I started it with $63.00 donation after finishing 1st runner-up in the 2014-2015 Palau National Chess Championship, winning a trophy and $125.00.

$51.00 was donated when I won $100.00 in the 2015 Palau Blitz Chess Championship and now $31.00 for winning $60.00 and a trophy for finishing 3rd in 2015 Palau Rapid Chess Championship.

Since doing that, God gave me back more than I expected! Not only in terms of tips and additional music students, but also wisdom in everything I do. I'm more at peace at work, at church, with family and friends. I couldn't ask for more.  

A few months ago, while playing piano at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort, I was approached by a Palauan lady. She asked where can she buy my recording of Palau songs. I told her that we have an agreement with Senator Diaz. She can ask him to record those songs for her for a price. 

On the same day that I was cashing my chess prize, I met the former First Lady Valeria Toribiong at the parking area where they have an office. She asked me to call her to set a date for the resumption of teaching her grandson Ethan piano again. 

I taught Ethan chess and music from 2011 until I participated in the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.

After coming back from Olympiad, I taught Ethan 2-3 more times until his grandfather former Palau President Johnson Toribiong was not reelected as president of Palau. That somehow diminish their financial capacity to afford $20.00/hour music and chess lessons. 

A few weeks before my 23-day vacation, I'm having my breakfast at the bench outside Belau Medical Clinic while waiting for the results of my blood sugar test, when I was approached by Petroia Koshiba of Belau National Museum. She asked me if I'm available to teach kids at the Museum in the daytime. I said I'm free in the daytime and gave her my card. I mentioned to her that I've tuned the piano there a few years ago.

She called me at Palau Royal Resort's Dormitory 1 a few days before my vacation. She said when I come back from vacation, we'll talk about teaching kids (maybe by group) at Belau National Museum. I've experienced teaching guitar by group before. The students can save but I can't concentrate on one student. Unlike in individual teachings, students learn faster and more focus on music lessons.

Before Taiwan Embassy Minister Joseph Ma was assigned to California this month, he referred to me the new Counselor of Japan Embassy Koji Tomita to teach his daughter keyboard. Mr. Koji and his wife and daughter will be taking the apartment that Minister Ma is vacating.

A month ago, while shopping fruits at WCTC Shopping Center, I met the mother of my 2 former students in Airai state. She wants me to resume teaching her daughter Aya keyboard again. Her son Otsi (which I remember because I usually take a look at all my former students at 

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/01/34-curriculum-vitae-of-roberto-hernandez.html

Otsi is now in Philippines and a teenager already. I taught Aya and Otsi keyboard from December 2005 - June 2006.

On August 24, 2015, I started to teach piano again to Dichem Tmetchul, the daughter of Senator Mlib Tmetchul and Dixie. It will be thrice a week now-- (Mon. Wed. and Sat.)

The last time I teach Dichem on Wed. Aug. 26, 2015, we have enjoyed one hour of teaching that it passed as if it's only 10 minutes, but for her, it's just like 5 minutes.

Dichem enjoyed and appreciate these words that I told her: "I feel right now that I have planted a tree when I teach you more than a year ago. You grow like that tree and even though I'm not around to continue to 'teach and water' you, you are now bearing fruits and I'm reaping those fruits now because you still remember many of what I taught you."

An amazing thing happened when I teach Dichem on Monday, August 31 at 5:10pm.

I tuned their piano for 2 hours (3-5pm). She came from school at about 4:30. She gave me coconut juice drink and their long-time domestic helper Annabel gave me egg sandwich while waiting for Dichem to finish her snack.

The first song that I teach her is "Puff, The Magic Dragon". While looking for the next song to teach her, she suggested that she will say the first number of the page of the songbook, I will tell the 2nd number and she will say again the 3rd. But the green-colored songbook don't have have pages higher than 130, so she chose page number 65 --"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973) by Elton John.

It's a very hard song than even me can't play it without looking at the chords. But Dichem insisted to learn it because it was picked by her. She's learned about 92% of the song. The next one is page 269 of the blue notebook, which is "Sharing The Night Together" by Dr. Hook. The problem is the chords is written not from pen but from a pencil that is why she will having a hard time to see it.
We choose another one --"There's a Kind of Hush All Over the World" by Herman's Hermits/Carpenters. It's in the '60's and she asked why there is no year except 196_. I explained to her that I have a songbook with a title of "Songs of the '60's". So all of the songs there are from the decade of the '60's. I know it's from the '60's but I don't know the exact year. SHE'S LEARNED IT ON THE 2ND TIME!

Next is page 210 - "I Don't Want To Talk About It" by Rod Stewart. I suggested to her that we should lower it down to key of G (original is Key of A) to make the chords easier but she prefers the original and she's got it almost perfect on the 3rd time.

We're having a good time till the last one "Leaving On A Jet Plane" by John Denver. She's got it on the 1st try and even put it 2 steps higher.

IT'S MY FIRST TIME TO ENCOUNTER SUCH A DARING MUSIC STUDENT NOT AFRAID TO TRY ANYTHING THAT COMES HER WAY BY DOING THIS RANDOM SELECTION OF SONGS TO BE LEARNED!!!       YOU CONTINUE TO IMPRESS ME, DICHEM.   

 


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
                 March 2012 -- April 2013
                 http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
                 April 2013--August 2015

    

 
 

 
    

     

(986) CHESS AND MUSIC (PERFECT COMBINATION) The Beginning of Chess in Palau

PERFECT COMBINATION.

           Roberto Hernandez with chess and music student Ethan Nate Meyar.

                                                             (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

              CHESS AND MUSIC

          PERFECT COMBINATION

            (The Beginning of Chess In Palau) 

ON FEBRUARY 04, 1992, I started to work in Palau as keyboard player of Tropical Depression Band. I chose Palau over Bahrain, where I worked as keyboard player at Khayam Taverna (Greek Restaurant) in 1987-1989 because it’s closer to Philippines and I’d like to try something new.

Unfortunately, the band lasted only 6 months and I became the musician and Disc Jockey of Image Restaurant for 13 years. Eleven months as keyboard player of Rose Garden Resort and 11 months likewise as pianist at Dragon Tei, Teppan Dragon and Donburi Dragon (Japanese restaurants).

I am now the musician of Palau Royal Resort since June 01, 2007 and I will be 56 years old on January 02, 2012.

I started playing chess in early ‘70’s and I was taught by a 7-year old boy (Rene Crisostomo), who always put out his queen early in every game. When I get better, I played and practiced with his uncle, the founder of Hagonoy Chess Club in Bulacan.

In 1990, I participated in Philippine National Chess Championship and was seeded 218 with a rating of 1800. The top six finishers of that event represented Philippines in the biannual World Chess Olympiad.

I was the champion of Palau 2003 Senior & Junior Chess Tournament and co-champion of 2006 Inaugural Ambassador Marino Cup. I scored 3 points in the 2006 Palau Invitational Chess Championship to get my first international FIDE rating of 1830.

The first ever chess tournament in Palau was organized by me and The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP) vice president Sergio Alemania. It was held on June 09, 2002 with 20 players participating (4 of them are women). It inspired me to see how many good players Palau has and still continue to do it for the love of the game.

I was elected as Chairman of Knights & Rooks Chess Club (Palau) on September 15, 2002 and Secretary/Treasurer of Palau Chess Federation. I have the records of all my games in all tournaments held in Palau and some game records of other players who annotate their games. In the 2005-2006 Rapid Chess tourney, I was the only one who wrote my games scores despite the 30 minutes time control.

In the Paquito Suringa Cup at Palau Royal Resort, I was recording my moves in my final game against Joel Flor. I got into time trouble (4 minutes remaining in my clock against Joel’s 16) and stopped writing. My roommate, Jaime Guevarra wrote down the other moves that I missed. That game was a draw and we played another game. I wrote all its moves this time and won the title convincingly.

The Palau Chess Federation is not yet a member of Palau National Olympic Committee but has been a member of World Chess Federation (FIDE) in 2005. And being a member, we can participate in FIDE sanctioned tournaments and obtain ratings of local players if the tournament is FIDE rated like the 2009 Palau National Chess Championship.

The main problem in organizing this kind of tournament is the players’ job schedule. That’s why I applied the most flexible chess game schedule in the world. Players can play any day that they are available either at the tournament site or at PRR.

The first one of my most memorable chess experience was in late ‘70s or early ‘80s where I played a friendly game against Asia’s first Grandmaster (GM) Eugene Torre at Alemar’s Bookstore in Makati. He was promoting his book “Beyond the 13^th Move” which I had bought a week ago and not with me at the time. I took another book on the shelves-“Asian Zonal ’72 Champion: Torre” and asked him to sign it. During our game, I won a whole rook but forgot the safety of my own king and Eugene really showed how good he is.

The most memorable of my chess career was when I represented Palau together with Tito Cabunagan to the 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. It was a once in a lifetime experience meeting former world champions of chess (Kasparov, Karpov, Kramnik, Topalov, Kazimdzhanov), the world’s top Grandmasters, top officials of FIDE, top men and women’s chess players of 144 participating countries.

Free accommodations for 16 days were provided, free internet, bus rides to the tournament site, excursions and lots more that can only be experienced in an Olympiad. Although we were not allowed to play as a team because we’re short of one player, the experience of being there is really something unforgettable.

Also memorable to me is when I represented Palau in 2009 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in Gold Coast, Australia. I socialized with 4 GM’s, less than a dozen International Masters (IM), FIDE Masters, Candidate Masters and other players from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. I experienced firsthand how these masters played and discover young and promising players of all ages. It truly improves my approach to the game of kings.

I met there PNG’s top player Joselito Marcos, who became my best friend. We renewed our friendship in Russia and in the 3^rd Palau Invitational International Chess Championship held at Palau Royal Resort from December 14 to 19, 2011. He and Menandro Manuel are joint winners of that event. I finished 4^th and lost 14 rating points which is now 1875 from the previous 1889.

My third most memorable experience is my game with Juice Juice at chess.com where I was about to resign if he’d found the mate in two moves. He didn’t! I still hanged on even with only two pawns against his rook and a pawn. When he resigned, that game became my best win among my more than 100 games. His rating is 2200.

My mission is to continue promoting chess in Palau especially to the kids as they are the future of this game. And maybe Palau can have its own FIDE master, IM or even GM in the future. I want also to finally participate in World Chess Olympiad. We came close to compete in 2006 Turin, Italy and 2008 Dresden, Germany World Chess Olympiads but failed due to financial constraints. Cabunagan and I got to Khanty-Mansiysk Olympiad but were not able to play because we were short of one player (minimum for a team is 3).

We’ll try again in 2012 Istanbul, Turkey World Chess Olympiad where we might field 2 teams—both in the Open and Women sections. In the current line-up, I will be playing Board 1, Cabunagan at Board 2, Bernardo Garcia at Board 3, Menandro Manuel at Board 4 and Mohammad Manik Hossain as reserve. Our team captain is still Jamie Kenmure, who is also the Rating Officer of Palau Chess Federation. Our delegate is the same Palau Delegate to Dresden and Khanty-Mansiysk, Mr. Jan-Olav Berglund of Sweden.

The women’s team will be spearheaded also by team captain of men's team Jamie Kenmure. Board 1 is Angie Parrado, Board 2 is Elizabeth Manuel (Menandro’s wife) and Board 3 is Ann Acebron, Board 4 is Karen Lee and reserve is Ma. Florida Hernandez, my wife of 29 years. I married her twice - in March 11, 1983 (civil wedding) and Sept. 25, 1983 (church wedding).

My wife Flor and only daughter Karen came to Palau on June 17, 1995. Karen finished her primary and high schooling here and took Nursing in Philippines in 2004. She graduated on March 08, 2009 and passed the Nursing Board examination on November 2009.

She played in the first ever chess tournament in Palau (All-Filipino Chess Tournament) and was first runner-up in the junior division of 2004 non-master chess tournament. My wife, now working at Dragon Tei, was the women’s division champion of 2006 Ambassador Marino Cup.

If she is available for the Board 4 or reserve slot, then there might be a mother and son and 2 husband and wife team members of Palau team!!! Isn’t it unique for first time participant in an Olympiad?

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
           Tia Belau Newspaper
           Pages 9-10
           Volume 21
          

(974) 3rd TOURNEY OF THE YEAR -- THE 2015 PALAU RAPID CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP (TBN-July 20, 2015)

CHESS AND MUSIC PART 8 (The Beginning of Chess in Palau and Kyle)

            Roberto’s Chess and Music students are 1. Geaury Ken Pastrana 2. Mohammad Manik Hossain 3. Jasmine Yano 4. Paquito Suringa, Jr. 5. Ethan Nate Meyar 6. Dichem Tmetchul 7. Ultei Angelie Surangel and the latest one-- 8. Brandon Kyle Lagmay Soriano. A book will be written in the future with title “CHESS AND MUSIC –PERFECT COMBINATION” ‘The Beginning of Chess in Palau’ By Roberto Hernandez.                                  (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

         3rd TOURNEY OF THE YEAR--

      THE 2015 PALAU RAPID CHESS

                    CHAMPIONSHIP

JUST A WEEK after the successful 2015 Unrated Chess Tournament has concluded, the 3^rd tournament organized by Palau Chess Federation will commence on Sunday, July 19 at Bethlehem Park—the 2015 Palau Rapid Chess Championship.

                The Open division is a 9-round Swiss system event to give chance to unrated and lower rated players play against Palau top chess players: NMs Roberto Hernandez, Cyril Montel, Jr. and Tito Cabunagan; CM Bernardo Garcia, Jeff Balbalosa, Dennis Gonzales and Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr. In this division, the players have to play at least 2 games a week.

                The Women’s Division is a double round-robin event. It will be a test to surprise 3^rd place finisher  in the Unrated tourney Joan Gemota, to try her mettle against the top 3 women chess players of Palau: WNM Angelica Parrado, Baby Edna Mission and Gladys Anne Paloma. Roberto informed Joan that Palau is short of women chess players and she might make it to Palau Women’s Team to the 2016 World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan on Sept. 17-30.

                The Junior Division is also a double round-robin affair with the Sisior sisters leading the way and a preparation for their participation in the 2015 World Youth U-16 Chess Olympiad in Mongolia in Aug. Destiny, Angelil and Kyarii Sisior will be joined by their parents Angie and Harvey Sisior for another milestone in Palau chess history.

                Registration fee is $15.00 for members, $17.00 for non-members or $20.00 for non-members for an automatic membership which Arnolfo Inres, the Unrated champion, prefers, for a saving of $3.00. The I. D. of Palau chess players have been distributed by Jeff, who will miss this event because he is having a vacation. He will teach Roberto how to use the Swiss Perfect software to continue the event in his absence. That system makes the Swiss system events easier to organize and have an automatic guide for tiebreak which was used successfully in the 2015 Palau Blitz Chess Championship and the Unrated.

                In the 2015 Unrated Rapid Chess Tournament held at Bethlehem Park on Sunday, July 12, 2015, there were 7 unrated chess players, who registered, with the last one at 5pm and there is no time to play 4-round games so the organizers decided to hold it -- in one day, the next Sunday.

              The first 7 participants are 1. Koichi Matsuda, left, (Born on Feb. 10, 1944 -- tel. no. 778-9433) 2. Arnolfo Inres (Sept. 13, 1966 --Tel. 778-3287) 3. Joan Gemota (June 24, 1985 --Tel. 779-6454) 4. Pons Mahor (May 30, 1959) 5. Allan Alcid (April 13, 1964--Tel. 779-5618) 6. Johnny Carandang (Jan. 04, 1978--Tel. 778-2411) 7. Edward Artillaga (Oct. 01, 1988 Tel. 778-1143).
              The last 3 entrants are 8. Ariel Mina (Feb. 15, 1968 -- Tel. 779-8189) 9. Allan Bacuno (Nov. 18, 1979 - Tel. 488-5472) 10. Josef Karlo Moyet (Sept. 04, 1988 -- Tel. 488-4463).
              When the list of participants reached 10 entrees, the 1st round was set. Joan Gemota was fitted against Ariel Mina, who is watching the finals of a basketball game nearby. The defaulting time is just one minute and Joan earned her first win via default.
             In her game against Pons Mahor, Roberto noticed that Pons moved a pawn after Joan captured a bishop with a pawn that exposed her king for an illegal move. Since Pons didn't notify the arbiter about the illegal move and making a pawn move, Roberto explained to Joan that she has to move the king for it is under check.
             After moving her king, Pons captured a pawn with a pawn and 2 moves later, he made an illegal move (putting his queen to a dark diagonal where it is originally from a white diagonal. He said, "I think it's not the right place for a queen to be." Roberto traced where the queen came from and declared an illegal move. So Joan won another tough one via illegal move.
             In her 7th and last round game against Allan Bacuno, she is way behind materials as she has only a bishop and a king. But Allan is under extreme time pressure with 3 seconds left in his clock and when Allan's time expires, she reveled in excitement as she thought she won that game. Cyril Montel, Jr. noticed that it's not a win for her because she doesn't have enough materials to mate Allan's king. It doesn't matter as the half point is all she needed to win 3rd place for a trophy and $10.00 cash.
             Arnolfo Inres and Allan Alcid are tied for 1st place with identical 6.5 points after 7 rounds. They drew their game so the winner over the other tiebreak (Direct Encounter) can't be applied. 
             The Swiss Perfect software computed the other tiebreak and Inres emerged as champion with a trophy and $20.00 cash in which he pays for the next tournament on Sunday, July 19, the 2015 Palau Rapid Chess Championship.
              The coming event offers cash prizes of $100.00, $80.00, $60.00, $40.00 and $20.00 for the top 5 finishers in the Open division + trophies to the top 4 and medal for 5th. There are trophies and cash prize also in the women and junior divisions.

                Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3753: (This is a very tricky puzzle that an average player can’t solve in an hour) 1. Qc4+! Kxc4 2. e4!! (The key move! White threatens mate on 3. Na3) …Rxa4 (preventing the first mate threat…BUT) 3. Nd6 mates still.

                This week’s puzzle No. 3754: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

             Tia Belau Newspaper

             Pages 10-11

             Volume 24

             Issue 58

             July 20, 2015 

(515) MUSIC AND ME (July 11, 2013) International Students

MY LATEST KEYBOARD STUDENT FROM FIJI - TALE
     Before my vacation to Philippines, I was able to teach Tale Mainunuku, right, from Fiji. They are in Palau for 2 months only with his doctor wife working at Belau National Hospital. Tale was the fastest learner among my adult students.During the twice a week lessons for 2 weeks, he absorbed as many as 8 songs in an hour!
                                            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


             INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

SINCE I started teaching music in the decade of '80's, I've got students from 16 nationalities with many of them Filipinos.

From Thailand -- Pakinee Shuler, Win Win Naing
                            Yi Yi Thein - Thai-Burmese.

From Palau -- Belechel and Reagan Ngirngebedengel,
                       Uroi Salii, Keo, Dirramong and Nirblush
                       Tmechtul, Jasmine Yano, Ethan Nate
                      Meyar, Moded and Ultei Whipps, Dichem
                      Tmechtul, Freja Asanuma

From America --  Blaire Phillips, Calin Garrett

From Japan -- Mika Tsuji, Yoshiharu Kurata, a Japanese 
                       boy in Bahrain, Kikuko & Masaki Iwagawa

From Israel  -- Liam Bornovski, Gayle Bornovski

From China -- Chian-Chian

From Bahrain -- Anfal Fahkro

American-Palauan -- Marina Toribiong

Filipino-Chinese -- Jun-Jun and his 2 sisters and father

From Taiwan -- Yu Ling, Yu Ting and Ann Ling Chang,
                          Carol Hsu, Yo-Yo Hsue

Filipino-American -- Kristel Richardson

From Bangladesh -- Mohammad Manik Hossain

Filipino-Palauan -- Otsi and Aya

From Sweden -- Chris Johnson  

Japanese-Palauan -- Yuriko Irikedamoto 

Filipino- Japanese  -- Christian 'Shinji' Otsuka

From Fiji -- Tale Mainunuku

From Philippines -- Tracy Tayo (1985-1987), Kathlyn and 
                                Cessa Jumaquio (1991-1992), Rafael
                                Castro (Oct.-Dec. 2000), Ken 
                                Pastrana (Aug. 2006-Jan. 2009),
                                James dela Cruz (2005), Angel Joy
                                Pastrana (April-June 2008), Rhea and
                                Ron-Ron Mission (June-Oct. 2008),
                                Nicole Odviar (Feb. 14-May 16, 2010,
                                Michelle (1990), Maria Luisa Moses 
                                (Aug. 7-Oct. 15, 2010), Jielton 
                                Cabierte (guitar) Nov. 08, 2008; 
                                Miguel Pineda (drums) Sept. 06 - Nov.
                                15, 2008; Analyn Salvador (1986); 
                                Dante & Angel (2012); Bing del 
                                Rosario (2012); Trixia (2012); Anthea
                                Escubido (2010, 2013); Paquito 
                                Suringa, Jr. (2011); Aira Jane Torres 
                                (2011-2012) 

The 4 kids of Tale after the last day of teaching their dad on June 11, 2013. There is a chance that they might come back to Palau again for a few weeks. GOOD LUCK AND SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME!
                                                       (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Another shot with the youngest yawning. 
                                     (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
                                  
Source: Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
            The Beginning of Chess In Palau
            To be published as a book in the future
        

(267) HALF POINT SLIPS AWAY

CHESS AND MUSIC PART 3
THE PAST --Chess and Music: Perfect Combination by Roberto Hernandez
THE PRESENT -- Chess and Music Part 2 --Mohammad Manik Hossain and Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr. have combined chess and music which produced good results.
THE FUTURE -- Chess and Music Part 3 -- Ethan Nate Meyar, grandson of Palau President Johnson Toribiong, combining piano, guitar and chess-- the result will be worth watching.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)




             HALF POINT SLIPS AWAY

BERNARD GARCIA, I. T. Manager at Palau Pacific Resort, played his first game of 2011 Palau National Chess Championship against Mohammad Manik Hossain on Saturday, July 30 at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1 at 1:00 pm.

It was a good game with Manik ahead in the exchange (a rook for a knight) but Garcia got 2 exra pawns in return and his king is more secure than the exposed king of Manik.

Garcia offered a draw after a 2-move repetition. He informed Manik that if he will make the 3rd repetition of moves, their game will be automatically drawn.

Manik deviated from the 3rd move repetition draw and said to Garcia, " I will beat you" but lost instead in a marathon 73-move of Sicilian Defence.

Top seed Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. came just a few minutes after Manik had resigned.The next game is supposed to be Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr. vs. Garcia but Pax suggested to have Garcia play vs. Cyril and he will play against Angie Parrado who is on her way to the tournament site.

Bernard borrowed all the original score sheets of all games of the current tourney to study the games of the players especially the rated ones.

His game vs. Cyril didn't happen as he left without saying anything.

Last Sunday, July 24, Roberto Hernandez played an official game against venue host Gene Pastrana, who is still very rusty for being inactive for more than a year. He lost in just 24 moves of Caro-Khan Defence.

Ferdinand Gutierrez, who replaced Jenalyn Ortiz, played his first 3 games and lost all to Jeff Balbalosa, Jeffrey Negrillo and Pax.

He missed 2 strong moves against Negrillo and suffered a humiliating defeat that usually occurs to neophyte players.

Manik came to PRR on Wed. July 27, for a match with Edwin Acuyan but a sudden change of schedule prevented Edwin to play his first game.

Manik played one official game instead against Negrillo and scored his 2nd win. Negrillo is behind by a mere pawn in a difficult rook and pawns endgame.

He blundered away his pawn and rook and resigned immediately after realizing his mistake.

Pax overlooked a faster win over Angie Parrado on the 31st move but still managed to squeeze a whole point after an extra 19 moves of their Giocco Piano clash.

Pax is now at 4th place with a 4-2-1 win-loss-draw record. Menandro 'Boy' Manuel is on a 3-week vacation and still leading the field with 7-1-1 slate followed by Tito Cabunagan (5-1-1), Cyril (4-0-2), Pax, and followed by the surprising trio of Balbalosa at 4-6-0 card, Jose Celiz at 3-1-1 and Rudel Roxas (3-3-1).

Hernandez is at 50% after that win over Pastrana at 3-3-0.


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 12 & 15
             Volume 20
             Issue 31
             August 01, 2011