D. BANTIGUE --
PIANO TUNER FROM
PHILIPPINES
From Dec. 12-13, 2001, I tuned and repaired 4 pianos at I Love Music school. The owner of the music school Tua Tmetchul jokingly told me, "So you know how to fix and tune a piano. If I have known you can do that earlier, I shouldn't hired piano tuners from Philippines where I have pay for their airfare, accommodation and service fee."
Ma'am Tua Tmetchul is one of Amante Caballero's employer when he is working at Airai View Hotel.
Earlier this year, March 09, 2018, I tuned the piano of Ngirai Tmetchul, her son, while teaching Ngirai's daughter Yars piano. I come to their house 2 hours earlier to tune the piano and cancel the lessons.
Ngirai and his wife left for a few hours and while tuning the piano, I noticed the dates of piano tuning by a tuner from Philippines D. Bantigue. The dates are Oct. 11, 1990; Aug. 28, 1991; Sept. 07, 1992; Oct. 11, 1994; Jan. 03, 1995; Sept. 23, 2004 and my tuning date--March 02, 2018.
Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
December 29, 2002 -- September 20, 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 -- September 20, 2018
The History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
June 09, 2002 -- September 20, 2018
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
ARGENTINA, PALAU, PHILIPPINES, JAPAN, AND USA TALENTS
Gonzalo of Argentina plays flute with Palauan music teacher
Remeriang 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 Remeriang, 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 Remeriang 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!
