(1220) MUSIC AND ME (March 31, 2016) PETRA-FLUTE, ROBERTO-PIANO

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE BY FLUTIST PETRA
     During a private party at wooden area of Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort, a special flute performance was done by Palauan flutist Petra and Roberto Hernandez on the piano to the Christian music "You Raised Me Up".
                                                    (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


    PETRA -- FLUTE, ROBERTO -- PIANO
On March 14, 2016, there is a private function at the wooden area of Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort. I was approached by a flutist, whom I known only by her name Petra. She played flute during a wedding reception with Rmeriang Tmechtul, using the PRR keyboard at Breeze Bar.      Roberto played music during the wedding held at the beach of PRR with Palau President Johnson Toribiong officiating the wedding ceremony.

IT'S HER TURN NOW TO BE A BRIDE
     Joy Ngitlab Whipps sang a couple of duet songs with Roland Tangelbad in Remengesau-Whipps, Jr. wedding. Now it's her turn to get married. BEST WISHES!!!
                                                                                                      (Photo by Surangel Whipps, Jr.)


                       PLAYING MUSIC AT WEDDINGS

I’VE PLAYED to a lot of weddings (at the church or at the reception) since 1990. One of them was when one of my lady piano students got married. She specifically mentioned that I play four of her favorite songs in which I remembered only 3 of them: “Somewhere In Time”, “Looking Through The Eyes Of Love” and “Endless Love”.

She is one of the 3 daughters of a lady doctor that I’ve taught for more than a year. It’s one of the special “offer” that I’m doing for playing in a wedding –accepting special songs for that occasion. If I know the songs, I don’t need to practice those. If I don’t know the songs, I’ll ask for a CD and a week of practice like what I did to the wedding of Filipina Rhea to her husband Mr. Richardson, in which she asked me to play “Everyday I Love You” by Boyzone, “There You’ll Be” by Faith Hill and 2 more that I can’t recall.

 In Palau, the wedding of the century was held in August 22, 1999 between Valerie Ngereblunt Esang Remengesau, sister of then President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. and Surangel ‘Samuel’ Whipps, Jr., now a Senator. Less than a month before the wedding, I was contracted by the couple to play at the church and at the reception.

During practice of the singers, I was paid $25.00 per hour practicing a duet song with Weena Mario to the song “I Finally Found Someone”, a solo by Yvonne Remeliik --“Save The Best For Last”, a Bridal Processional duet song by Joy Ngitlab Whipps and Roland Tangelbad to the song “From This Moment On”. They also sang during the Lighting of the Unity Candle the song “Only God Could Love You More”.

I also play during the Prelude at church and at the reception. After the church prelude, I also play during the wedding processional the sax instrumental of Kenny G-- “The Moment”. With a touch of contemporary wedding and music, the “Truly Madly Deeply” by Savage Garden was played using a CD during the recessional.

The Wedding Ceremony was held at The Sacred Heart Church and the Reception was held at Outrigger Palasia Hotel. In both wedding ceremony programme and reception programme, Robert Hernandez was mentioned 4 times in both programmes.

The other pianists were Richard Dingle and Adrian Pedro. Clarinet by Tmetuchel Baules while the other vocalists were Julna Alcantara, Aunice Yuzi, Dina Ngermekar, Delma Gideon and Eunice Otong.

The Emcees were Blanche Salii and Marvin Sinau.

In April 25, 2002, I also played at the Jeremy-Eva wedding reception in Palau.

 June 16, 2002, the Londa-Secilil wedding reception was held at Palau Pacific Resort Poolside and I played there using my own equipment. The place is too big for my speaker to handle. I can hardly hear my music.

On February 12, 2003, the Tan-Salmorin wedding reception was held at Airai View Hotel. Played there also using the white Yamaha grand piano.

 I played also during the wedding reception of Uchel Tmechtul at Airai View Hotel. The date I can’t remember. It’s one of the many occasions that Amante Caballero used to be my guest singer like the Remengesau-Whipps, Jr.’s wedding reception.

In August 18, 2007, in my second month as musician at Palau Royal Resort, I played at the church wedding of Dr. Tina Maledeo and Joseph Aaron Miravalles at Father McManus Church. The reception is supposed to be at PRR but they didn’t agree on some conditions so they did it at PPR in the evening where I can’t play at the reception because I’m playing piano at PRR from 6pm – 11 pm.

 In April 17, 2010, I played in the PRR beach wedding where Palau President Johnson Toribiong was the one who officiate the wedding. The bride, Dengelei Ngirkelau, is a Palauan and the groom, Shawntrae Landrum, from New York is a military guy. I played the Hawaiian Wedding Song during the ceremony. When I’m playing the “Betik Ra Renguk A Lekebil”, a beautiful Palauan love song, somebody asked me to sing it. The guests are surprised that I can sing it like I understand the meaning of the song.

HERE, Petra and Rmeriang played flute and keyboard respectively while the bride and the groom are dancing. Rmeriang is all praise of the quality of sound of the Yamaha keyboard as it sounds like a real grand piano. Her only complain is the sustain pedal which is very noisy because it is more than 30 years old. I bought it in Japan while playing with First Quarter Band in April 04-Sept. 28, 1982.

 When I sang that song at Rose Garden Resort in August 2005, Senator Alan Seid and his wife Sophie can’t resist dancing with this song. A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE—A FILIPINO SINGING PALAUAN LOVE SONG AND A SENATOR AND HIS WIFE DANCE TO HIS MUSIC AND SONG.

Lastly, I played in a church wedding where the groom has a hearing problem. When it’s time for the priest to ask him, “Do you accept this woman to be your beloved wife?” there’s no reply from him because he has a hearing problem. The bride stepped on his foot and he replied, “Yes!”

There’s no problem with the lighting of the unity candle and the cord but during the exchange of rings, the groom can’t understand what the priest is saying about putting the ring to the bride’s ring finger.

The priest used his thumb and forefinger to make an “o” or ring-shaped character and used his ring finger to put it inside the “o” to illustrate to the groom that he needs to put the ring to the bride’s ring finger.

BUT THE GROOM MISUNDERSTOOD THE PRIEST’S “SIGN LANGUAGE” AND SAID SOMETHING THAT MAKES EVERYBODY LAUGH --- “FATHER, THAT’S FOR TONIGHT!”

Source: Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              Pages 10-11

              Volume 21    Issue 38

              June 14, 2012

               

               

               

               

               

 

This is the song that we played together. A Christian song "You Raise Me Up". Petra noticed that I played the accompaniment a little bit fast.
She also asked me later that day to tune their piano one of these days.





Source: Music and Me
              By Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
             March 15, 2012 -- April 2013
             http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
             April 2013 -- March 31, 2016
       

(881) MUSIC AND ME (Dec. 25, 2014) YOUNG JAPANESE COUPLE ON CHRISTMAS EVE 2014

IN AND OUT OF WAVES RESTAURANT
    The Japanese guy at left and his partner are dining at the terrace of Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort. The guy requested a lot of songs and hears it 50% only because they are outside. He gave Roberto $5.00 tip and have a souvenir photo before going back to their room. As usual, Roberto forgot to ask their names.
                                      (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


         YOUNG JAPANESE COUPLE
          ON CHRISTMAS EVE 2014

RARELY did I have guests that enjoy my music if they are sitting and dining at the terrace of Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort.

It happens on Christmas eve of 2014 that a young Japanese honeymooners are having dinner outside Waves Restaurant. They are getting their food from buffet and every time the guy gets his food, he will stop by me with a request, mostly Beatles songs.

Let It Be, Imagine, some songs by Billy Joel (Honesty, Just The Way You Are) and Desperado by Eagles.

He can hear the songs fully if he is inside because after the glass window close, the piano sound outside is minimal. He hears his requests only about 50% of the time.

While playing one of his requested songs, he gave me $5.00 tip as I have played all his requests even without looking at the song books.

Before going home, we have picture taken at the piano. As usual, I forgot to ask for their names.

Tua Tmetchul, one of the very few people in Palau that owns a grand piano in her house, used to request "Annie's Song" by John Denver to me.

Early in 2014, she had a visitor and they sit also outside of Waves Restaurant. When she requested "Annie's Song" again, I asked a waitress to open the glass window for 5 minutes so that she can hear it. THE IDEA WORKS! She enjoys the piano instrumental of "Annie's Song" even though she is 40 feet away from the piano.

Before going to Breeze Bar for another 2 hours performance using a keyboard this time, I talked to them for a few minutes. I said to her that I asked a waitress to open the glass door for 5 minutes so that she can hear it more clearly. She appreciates the idea and gave me $3.00 tip.

I taught her son Ngiraingas once piano lesson at their I Love Music School after tuning 2 of their pianos at the school.

One of the piano is very old and was tuned 12 years ago! Ngirai (his nickname) told me that they are about to throw that piano away (made is USA -New York) because it's too old and many keys are not functioning.

I spent 5 hours fixing that old piano. Those keys that don't go back to its original space have to be pressed hard for more than a thousand times to put it to normal function. I sprayed the wood and metal parts with DWD40 before pressing it hard again and again and again....

When it's finished, I like it more than the new one (Yamaha) that I tuned for only 2 hours. I charged Ngirai $150.00 for tuning and fixing the old one and only $50.00 for tuning the newer one.

Before Christmas of 2013, Ngirai invited me for a lunch at the school and played some Christmas songs for her mom Tua and some guests, mostly employees. 

I used that fixed old piano when I play and sing "Annie's Song" for Tua. She likes it very much! I told her that this old piano now is my 'creation' and that I put 'life' in it again.

Ngirai paid me $20.00 for an hour of entertainment and invited me again on Christmas 2013 for lunch and music at the same place and time.

I have a music session with my Japanese student Yoshiharu Kurata at that date and time and Ngirai invited both of us to do the music session there with his invited Argentinian and American musicians and singers.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THERE IS ANOTHER STORY....






          

ARGENTINA, PALAU, PHILIPPINES, JAPAN, AND USA TALENTS
     Gonzalo of Argentina plays flute with Palauan music teacher Rmeriang Tmetchul after the saxophone, flute, ocarina, keyboard and vocal performances of Roberto Hernandez and Yoshiharu Kurata.
     The 2 acoustic pianos at the back were tuned and fixed by Roberto this year. The old one on the left is a very old piano. Ma'am Tua Tmetchul told Roberto that she is about to throw it away.
     After Roberto fixed it in 5 hours, it looks like "it came from the dead".

Ngirai Tmetchul, left, treat the performers and audience for lunch at SuriyoThai restaurant nearby. The private performances were arranged by Ngirai initially to Roberto to play on Christmas day (Wed) from 4-6pm as Roberto is working at 7-11pm.

The other angle of performance by Gonzalo and Rmeriang, who prefers to use Roberto's keyboard (Yamaha DGX 220 Portable Grand -76 keys). The problem is the sustain pedal that keeps moving because there's no carpet on the floor.

Instead of Christmas day, Roberto was contacted again by Ngirai to perform some Christmas songs at the I Love Music school at the 2nd floor of PDC Building.
Ma'am Tua Tmetchul, Ngirai and 2 Filipino staff were the only guests.
   Roberto played "White Christmas", sung "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)" by John Lennon. When Rmeriang arrived, he played "Merry Christmas, Darling" by Carpenters. She asked for the title of the song. It sounds familiar to her but don't know the title.

 
Gonzalo played the classical version of "Silent Night" and "Oh Holy Night".
It's very nice to hear a different version of those songs played beautifully by the duo. The problem again is the moving sustain pedal. Roberto get a door rug and put it under the sustain pedal. It works!  

Source: Music and Me
           By Roberto Hernandez
           December 2013  
   

  


  

(866) MUSIC AND ME (Dec. 11, 2014) MOSES ULUDONG CELEBRATES 65TH BIRTHDAY AT PRR -- Nov. 25, 2014

HAPPY 65TH BIRTHDAY MR. MOSES ULUDONG - TIA BELAU PUBLISHER
    This article and photo should have been published on Nov. 27 (Thanksgiving Day) on Tia Belau but due to lack of space, it was called off. SO, HERE IT IS!
                                            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


     MOSES ULUDONG CELEBRATES HIS
           65TH BIRTHDAY AT PRR
                     Nov. 25, 2014 
 

On Nov. 25, 2014, Moses and Lilian Uludong are having dinner at Palau Royal Resort’s Waves Restaurant where Roberto Hernandez is playing piano every night except on Friday (his day off).

Ms. Lilian informed Roberto that its Moses birthday and she will give him a signal to play Happy Birthday. Roberto is very sure that Moses is 65^th years old today because Moses told him that he’s 64 years old last year.

Moses requested 4 songs to Roberto –Baby Blue, Nobody’s Child, Honolulu City Lights, (all Hawaiian songs) and Under Sayang (Palauan song).

After finishing the first 2 songs, almost all the staff on duty sang “Happy Birthday” to Moses with a small cake with candle. The other Japanese guests that are dining were surprised with the way it was handled and took photos also of the couple.

Roberto approached them and shook the hand of Moses and said, “Happy 65^th Birthday, Sir. I know you’re 65 now because you told me last year that you’re 64.” Then this photo was taken:

Ms. Lilian asked Roberto to play Palauan songs. He said he will finish first the other 2 songs that Moses had requested earlier.

In the middle of the 4^th song, more than 100 Chinese/Taiwanese guests arrived and the place became noisy. The couple left before 9pm.

While Roberto is playing keyboard at Breeze Bar, Rmeriang Tmetchul came with a lady friend. She requested to play “Help Me Make It through the Night” for the couple sitting at the poolside.

She asked, “Why didn’t you sing it?” He said that couple is very far to hear me singing without mike. Roberto asked, “Are they Taiwanese, Filipinos?” She said they are Lilian, my cousin and Moses!

Roberto was surprised because the place where they are sitting is dark. When he played the “Unchained Melody”, Joy, the cashier/waitress, gave Roberto $5.00 and said it’s from those guests.

Later, Moses and Lilian joined Rmeriang and company. They are closer now and Roberto started singing their requests and some Palauan songs. There is also a table with 4 guests (3 guys and a lady) which Roberto is not sure if they are Japanese, Koreans or Taiwanese.

He is singing “I Can’t Stop Loving You” when it rains and the group transfer to a table just 5 feet to the keyboard. The other group didn’t transfer and while paying their bill, one of the guys gave Roberto $5.00 tip. Roberto rotates the position of the keyboard to face the group of Moses, Lilian, Rmeriang and the lady which is Asian. Rmeriang is talking to her in English.

              All their requested songs were sung by Roberto without looking at the song book—Can’t Be With You Tonight, Always On My Mind, Dil Dil Lomais, Baby Blue (TNT-Palau version), Let It Be, and 500 Miles.

            When Moses requested “Wind Beneath My Wings”, that’s the only time that Roberto looked at the songbook. They enjoyed the night especially Moses, who added $10.00 tip to Roberto but asked for the lyrics of Baby Blue both in English and Palauan (TNT), Nobody’s Child, Honolulu City Lights and Can’t Be With You Tonight.                  HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING, TOO!!!

Source: Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)

             The Beginning of Chess in Palau

             By Roberto Hernandez

             November 2014

             To be published as a book in the future