(862) MUSIC AND ME (Dec. 04, 2014) TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS CHOIR OF PRR RESUMES

There is no Traditional Palau Royal Resort Choir in the year 2013. Maybe due to the fact that Roberto Hernandez is not working full time that started in June 01, 2013. But there is Christmas Tree Lighting at the lobby of PRR and the snack/drinks were served at Breeze Bar. All guests are in-house guests. It seems like something is missing -- THE SINGING!
             In 2014, it was held at Breeze Bar with almost half of the choir members are new employees.
                                                             (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)                       

As usual, Lucille Partisala is the conductor. Practices are held every Friday at 5 pm. Five songs were prepared by Roberto -- 1. Happy Christmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon 2. Christmas Story 3. Jingle Bell Rock 4. Belau For Christmas (by Johnny B) 5. Feliz Navidad (with the last part in Palauan language).
It becomes 6 songs when during practice, the Silent Night was added.
                                             (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Palau Royal Resort T-shirt were given to the members of the choir and wear it with denim pants. Santa Claus hats were also provided.                                                   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

The Christmas Tree Lighting was held on Dec. 05, 2014. Performance by Emmaus School Choir before it gets dark. After the performance of PRR Choir, the Christmas Tree Lighting was done by in-house guests - Japanese, Taiwanese, American, Korean and Palauan.                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Pam, left, and Jovy Rodriguez, right, were assigned at the refreshment station (drinks and food).
                                                                 (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Solo shot of Lei, one of the members of PRR choir, after their performance.

 (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Photo session with Japanese guests with Den Flores, the bartender, posing in the background with Roberto's Yamaha guitar. The Japanese lady in the middle is in a wheelchair. 

 (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Sound Technician Ramiro Torre, had a shot at the end of his superb handling of sound equipments.
                                                                (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

This Japanese couple enjoyed my music yesterday at the same place -- Breeze Bar. After this photo session, I talk to them in Japanese. I told them that it's my day off today. The lady said, "But you're here working."
When I'm having dinner, I sat at the table beside them. The guy gave me a glass of red wine. I said thank you when I've got the red wine and said, "Kampai" while our GM Masayuki Kawaguchi is at the other table with the 2 ladies (Japanese, one is in wheelchair). A younger Japanese couple (walk-in guest) arrive and I finished my dinner fast to accommodate them.                                 (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

A Korean guest didn't let go the chance to have a photo with Santa Claus even though he has just got out of the pool and in swimming trunks.                                                (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

While Santa Claus is giving away gifts to children and non-children guests, I am singing "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" sometimes changing the lyrics to "Santa Claus is Ungiil Tutau"  -- it rhymes!
                                                  "Ungiil Tutau" is Palau word meaning "Good Morning".
                                                                   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Santa Claus with 5 Taiwanese interns at Palau Royal Resort.
                                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Source: Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
             The Beginning of Chess in Palau
             By Roberto Hernandez
             December 2014
             To be published as a book in the future
 

(800) MUSIC AND ME (July 17, 2014) ELIZALDE MADRINAN -- PRR Employee of the Year (2013)

2013 Employee of the Year Elizalde Madrinan, left, asked Roberto Hernandez, right, to write a short speech that he will deliver upon receiving the EOY Award.

The speech written by Roberto was not delivered. Instead, Eli made it shorter and more effective without mentioning chess and his upset win over Palau No. 1 Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. in the 2011 Palau National Chess Championship.

Eli with GM (General Manager) Masayuki Kawaguchi. 

From left, F & B Manager Edwin Acuyan, Elizalde Madrinan, Lucille Partisala and GM Masayuki Kawaguchi.                                  (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

 

(787) MUSIC AND ME (June 05, 2014) PRR GM CAN PLAY PIANO ALSO!

Roberto Hernandez, left, musician of Palau Royal Resort, lets their GM (General Manager not Grandmaster) Masayuki Kawaguchi plays the keyboard during his surprise birthday party 2 days prior to his real birthday because he is going for official trip on that day (April 03, 2014).
                                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Reservation Manager Malou Victoria, right, helps in arranging the candles of birthday cake.
                                               (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

General Manager Secretary Ella Asuncion, left, asked Roberto Hernandez for $10.00 donation for the surprise birthday party of PRR GM Masayuki Kawaguchi 2 weeks prior to the surprise party.
Roberto suggested to bring the keyboard at the venue to have more life to the surprise party. It works! It's Roberto that was surprised when he realized that GM can play piano also.
                                                (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Source: Music and Me
             By Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             March 15, 2012 -- April 2013
             http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
             April 2013 -- June 05, 2014

(316) MUSIC AND ME (Oct. 11) Palau Royal Resort Traditional Christmas Choir

THE 2010 PRR CHRISTMAS CHOIR
Members of the 2010 Palau Royal Resort Christmas choir pose for a souvenir photo before their live performance with the number one supporter Ms. Michelle Liao. This year's performance will be better.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



PALAU ROYAL RESORT
TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS CHOIR

ROBERTO Hernandez started working as musician at Palau Royal Resort in June 01, 2007 and since then, every Christmas tree lighting of PRR, he’s a member of the choir playing and selecting the Christmas songs to be performed by its staff.

Since 2007, they had performed almost all the popular Christmas songs (about 5 or 7 songs) with some “favorites” being repeated in the next year like “Christmas Story”, “Jingle Bell Rock”, and lately“Feliz Navidad” but with the Palauan version in the last part that spiced the performance.

All the time, Ms. Lucille Partisala, the Accounting Manager, is always conducting the choir and most of the time, her knowledge in music is always of big help to improve their choir’s performance every year.

An innovation in 2010 by Hernandez to use the upright acoustic piano was unsuccessful because of the intervention of Mr. Beppu, the Sales and Marketing Director, to position the piano with Roberto not facing the choir but the front desk. The sound of the piano is good to the people in that area but for the choir, it is hardly heard.

The good sound of the piano attracted the attention of one of the staff of Taiwanese Embassy and they invited Hernandez to accompany the performers/contestants of the inaugural Chinese Song Singing Contest held at Palasia Hotel in November 2, 2011.

The 2^nd Chinese Song Singing Contest will now be held on Oct. 30 at the same venue. The song selection this time is wide and half of it is for male singers unlike in the inaugural where all the songs are for female. Hernandez appreciated the good melody, lyrics and variation of the songs this year that he enjoyed learning those 7 songs.

Lorna Castaneto, the Sales and Marketing Supervisor, asked Hernandez to select this year’s songs for the choir and he selected the ones that had never been sung by the choir in the last 5 years: 1. Happy Christmas (War is Over) by John Lennon 2. The Twelve Days Of Christmas 3. Someday at Christmas by Jackson 5 and 4. Belau For Christmas by Johnny B.

One month before the performance of the choir, they are practicing twice a week with the last practice at the same spot where they will perform.

Some talents in singing can be tapped from the practice. While there are retentions of members, additions are always welcome for more improvement. Thanks for the support of Management and for giving the adjustments of the members in their various time schedules.

CHRISTMAS IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

Source: Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 12 & 17
Volume 21
Issue 72
October 11, 2012