(1276) MUSIC AND ME (June 23, 2016) YOUNG TAIWANESE COUPLE AND THE WORD "PLEASANT"

"PLEASANT" AND $5.00 TIP
     The Taiwanese guy in the middle enjoys my music repertoire of Taiwanese, Japanese, American and other international music and he said only one word to show his appreciation -- "Pleasant" and $5.00 tip.


     YOUNG TAIWANESE COUPLE
     AND THE WORD "PLEASANT"  

Very few Taiwanese guests appreciated when I play international songs. Many times that when our guests at Palau Royal Resort's Waves Restaurant and Breeze Bar are Japanese and I played Japanese songs, only Japanese are clapping. When I play Taiwanese songs, only Taiwanese are clapping.

There are times also that when I play Japanese songs, both Japanese and Taiwanese guests are clapping. When that happens, I will say "Doumo arigatou gozaimasu" for Japanese guests and "Xie Xie Ni" to Taiwanese or Chinese guests, to be followed by "Thank you".

It happened 3 years ago that a group of about 14 guests are sitting in front of the piano. The oldest among them, maybe the grandpa, is drinking Japanese wine "Shochu" in front of me. I played Japanese songs and he applauded every time I finish the song. He gave me a glass of Shochu and put it at the left side of the piano. I continue to play Japanese songs and he always applauded.

When he saw that my glass of shochu is almost empty, he come to me with the bottle of shochu in his hand and pour some more to my glass and he said, "I'm Korean!"

On March 16, 2016, I have a young Taiwanese (or Chinese) couple sitting at the right side of the piano in the center column of Waves Restaurant.

The guy shows his appreciation of my rendition of Taiwanese songs by nodding his head as sign of approval that he likes the songs that I'm playing.

As there are other guests of different nationality, I'm playing Japanese, Taiwanese and American songs alternately.

About less than an hour of listening to my music, the guy comes to me and said a word --"pleasant" and gave me $5.00 tip.

Before going home, they asked me if it's okay if we have photos together. I asked a Palau Royal Resort staff to take photos of us and here's the 2nd one...

THANK YOU, MR. PLEASANT!
HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN IN PALAU SOMEDAY.





Sources: Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             March 15, 2012 --April 18, 2013
             http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
             April 25, 2013 -- October 05, 2016

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

     
 

(1102) MUSIC AND ME (Oct. 15, 2015) FREE ENTERTAINMENT FOR NOTHING

On August 06, 2015, the Chinese guy at right sits at a chair near the piano of Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort. He surfing the internet for free while listening to my playing of Chinese songs. He's always applauding after every song. Later I gave him my business card. At 9:00 pm, I told him that I will be playing another 2 hours of keyboard music at Breeze Bar of PRR just a few meters away.
   He's excited about it and come with me in going to Breeze Bar. On the way, he called his daughter, left, to join him in listening to my music. His teenage daughter can play the piano. I let her play for two or more songs. They begun to enjoy the night playing/singing Chinese songs.

Later, they were joined by his wife and he plays the keyboard for a few minutes. I gave his wife the Chinese song book and she requested the most popular Chinese song -- Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin, Ye Lai Xiang and Tien Mimi.

They were joined later by his other older daughter and her son. A family of musicians, I thought so. They enjoy the evening alternately playing and singing with me.

THEY SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT SINCE THEY ARE ENJOYING THE NIGHT, THEY SHOULD AT LEAST ORDER A DRINK OR TWO SO THAT THERE WILL BE SOMETHING AS SALES TO BREEZE BAR.

BUT WHEN I ASKED THEM TO ORDER DRINKS, THEY REFUSED.
IT'S OKAY TO ME IF THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY TIP BUT REFUSING TO ORDER EVEN A SINGLE DRINK FOR ALL OF THEM IS A SIGN OF STINGINESS.

THAT'S FREE ENTERTAINMENT -- CHINESE STYLE.


                      CONTINUATION OF 
    REPERTOIRE OF INTERNATIONAL SONGS

                      -- Q --       -- R --

            QUANDO, QUANDO, QUANDO (Engelbert Humperdinck)                     G     76

1956    QUE SERA, SERA (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) (Doris Day)                       V     53

            QUESTION (Mandred Mann’s Earth Band)                                                 DB  63

            QUIEN SERA (Spanish Song)                                                                    DBI   2

            QUIJOTE (Julio Iglesias) (Spanish Song)                                                     DBI 18

            QUIZAS, QUIZAS, QUIZAS (Trio Los Panchos) (Spanish Song)              DBI 34

            R A I N   (Donna Cruz) (Filipino Song)                                                         V     97

1969    R A I N   (Jose Feliciano)                                                                             B     12

1979    RAINBOW CONNECTION (Dana Valery)                                                DB102

1970    RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN’ ON MY HEAD (B. J. Thomas)                  V     54

1971    RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS (Carpenters)                                          R   126

            RANCHO GRANDE (Spanish Song)

196      REACH OUT I’ll BE THERE (Four Tops)                                                   B   124

1977    READY TO TAKE A CHANCE AGAIN (Barry Manilow)                         DB103

            REALITY (Daniel Bernard)                                                                           B    95

            REASON TO BELIEVE (Rod Stewart) (Lobo) (Carpenters)                       R   180

1948    RED ROSESFOR A BLUE LADY                                                              R     68

            RED SAILS IN THE SUNSET                                                                    V     55

            REFLECTIONS OF MY LIFE                                                                    G     60

            REFRAIN (Jose Mari Chan) (Filipino Song)                                              OPM158

1954    RELEASE ME (Engelbert Humperdinck)                                                     V     56

            REMEMBER ME

            REMEMBER WHEN (Platters)

            REMINISCING (Little River Band)                                                             DB224

            REST YOUR LOVE ON ME (Andy Gibb & Olivia Newton-John)              B     13

1962    RETURN TO SENDER (Elvis Presley)                                                        

1979    REUNITED (Peaches and Herb)                                                                  R     42

1975    RHINESTONE COWBOY (Glen Campbell)                                              G     94

196      RHYTHM OF THE RAIN (Cascades)                                                        B   116

1989    RIGHT HERE WAITING (Richard Marx)                                                    B   213

1955    ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK (Bill Haley and The Comets)                    DB188

            ROCK ‘N’ ROLL MUSIC (Beatles)                                                            R   205

            ROPPONGI RARABAI (Japanese Song)                                                     J      36

1971    ROSE GARDEN (Lyn Anderson)                                                                 G   118

            ROSEMARY BLUE (Neil Sedaka)                                                               DB225

            ROSE OF SAN ANTON (John Denver)                                                       G     48

            RUN FOR YOUR LIFE (Beatles)                                                                 R   207

            RUN, SAMSON, RUN

1972    RUN TO ME (Bee Gees)                                                                               DB  29

1945    RUM AND COCA-COLA (Andrew Sisters)                                                 B    73

Sources: Music and Me
             By Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             March 15, 2012 -- April 2013
             http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
             April 2013 --October 15, 2015

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

(901) MUSIC AND ME (March 05, 2015) TAIWANESE 5-YEAR-OLD GIRL IS A MUSIC GENIUS

FIRST TIME TO MEET A VERY YOUNG MUSIC GENIUS
     In 2005, I've met a perfectionist girl (Jasmine Yano). On Feb. 24, 2015, I've met a music genius 5-year-old Taiwanese girl, whom I don't even know her name. She amazes me with her knowledge of old Taiwanese songs (1960's-1970's). I will not let go this chance to have a photo with her. If trained properly, she will be a musical icon.                                                (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


     THIS 5-YEAR-OLD TAIWANESE GIRL
              IS A MUSIC GENIUS  

On February 24, 2015, as I was playing piano at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort, a young 5-year-old Taiwanese girl is watching me play and take a very curious look at the way I step on 2 damper pedals of the piano.

After finishing the song that I'm playing then, I followed it up with the most popular Taiwanese song "Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin" which I know, that even kids of her age know it.

To my surprise, she is not much familiar with it even I am singing it. But when I play "Ye Lai Xiang", she is singing with it -- and in the right key or tone.

I played all Taiwanese songs since then and she can sing or hum it if she don't know the lyrics and always in the right key or tone like "Grandma's Penghu Bay", "Heart of the Bloom", Nu Ren Hua, Lan Hua Cao, Cicadas of Autumn and Tian Mi Mi. Those songs are as old as 1960's and 1970's.

I gave her my card and she showed it to her father. When he sits beside her, I played the "Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin" again and he helps her sing with it.

I resume playing all-Taiwanese songs again and she still can sing or hum with it. I REALIZED THEN THAT THIS GIRL IS A MUSIC/SINGING GENIUS!   

I don't like to let this chance go without having a photo with her so I ask Pam, Restaurant Supervisor, to take these photos.


Later, I asked Executive Chef Daisuke Kunii to have also photos with the girl so that I can feature her in Tia Belau Newspaper someday even if it's a Chess Mate article like what I did to Uehara family in July 2014 before going to 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway.

UEHARA FAMILY -- SEE YOU AGAIN AT PRR BEFORE GOING TO NORWAY
       

The Uehara family came to Palau Royal Resort again on March 29, 2014. They have this photo with new Executive Chef Daisuke Kunii. Roberto asked them to come back to Palau again in July, before leaving for Norway for the 2014 World Chess Olympiad. The Uehara family comes to Palau at least 4 times a year. They missed the New Year’s Eve Countdown because PRR was fully booked at that time.   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez- Taken by Edwin Acuyan)

           EFFECTIVE OCT. 15, 2015

      PALAU RETIREMENT AGE IS 

                       62 YEARS

ON JUNE 10, 2014, Roberto Hernandez went to the Social Security Administration office to check his INDIVIDUAL WAGE HISTORY With Taxes Paid.

He was informed that the retirement age will be 62 years effective Oct. 15, 2015. HE WILL MISS IT BY 2 AND A HALF MONTHS!

He will be 60 years old on Jan. 02, 2016. He has to wait for another 2 years and 2 months to get his pension in 2018.

The bold figures indicate that his former employer for 13 years, Margarita Borja Dalton, didn't post Social Security payments from 1998-2003 (6 years).

Those 6 years of unpaid dues will really affect his future pension. The Administrator is in a very important meeting at that time so he was not able to talk to him.

Eight days later, he was able to talk to the Administrator, Mr. John Markub, who also said that the non-payment of Margie will really affect his pension and that he talked to her already about it and they agreed that Margie will try her best to settle the non-posted wages even by installment.

Thirty eight (38) total quarters must be posted to be eligible for Social Security pension. Roberto got 56, not including the 23 that Margie hadn't posted.

Roberto got 2 quarters from Elena Sings, his first employer in Palau from Feb. 04-July 26, 1992. After that, he worked for 13 years to Margarita Borja Dalton under Micronesian Business Design dba Image Restaurant and got 22 quarters from 1992-1997.

He’s got 2 quarters from Teppan Dragon Japanese Restaurant in 2006 and another 3 quarters at Donburi Dragon in 2006-2007.

And finally, he’s got 28 quarters from JAL HOTELS CO., LTD-PALAU (Palau Royal Resort) from June 01, 2007-Present.

The 9 members of Palau Chess Team to 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway had a meeting at Bethlehem Park on June 16 at 5:30 pm.

They agreed to apply by group in acquiring Schengen visa because it’s more convenient. They will leave on July 15 and will go to the Royal Norwegian Embassy on July 17 for interview and finger printing. They will buy also travel insurance along the perimeter of the embassy. It must cover at least 30,000 euros and the cost is about $150.00.

Cyril’s wife and 2 kids had gone already for vacation in June 13 while Gladys left on June 17, a day after the meeting. The renting of hotel/rooms was cancelled and all members will stay in Manila for at least a couple of days.

Cyril will stay with Roberto for 2 days before they proceed to their respective provinces. Bernard is having second thoughts and might apply individually. He and Roberto got their Verification of Deposit Notice, one of the requirements in getting Schengen visa on Thursday, June 19.

Solution to last week’s puzzle: 1. …Qf1+!! 2. Rxf1 Rxf1+ 3. Kg2 Nxe3 mate.

This week’s puzzle: Black to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

             Tia Belau Newspaper

             Page 9

             Volume 23

             Issue 50

             June 23, 2014 

THIS POST HAD ONE INTERESTING COMMENT ABOUT SOMEONE LOOKING FOR MY EMPLOYER OF 13 YEARS --- MARGARITA BORJA DALTON....

johnnyjwoodsJuly 17, 2014 at 10:07 PM

Hi, I was searching for an email address to contact you in private but I cannot find one anywhere on your website. I was hoping that you could help me find someone. My name is Johnny Woods. My mother passed away four years ago and her best friend was Margie Dalton. I have been searching in vain for a way to contact her. I grew up knowing her as my "Aunt Margie". I recently did a search on Google and that is what led me to your site. The picture you have listed of her is just as I remember her the last time she visited my mother in Florida before she passed. If you have any information on how I can contact her I would greatly appreciate it. You can email me at any time at pncldrwng@aol.com or at wjohn40@ymail.com . Thank you very much for your time, Johnny Woods

Chef Kunii gave her his card also.

The guy at the back is the girl's father.



During the girl's singing, she took another card of mine from the right side of the piano, a different and older print of it...

I just let her have it. Before they go home, she lost it somewhere. I looked for it under the chairs and under the piano but can't find it.

   THIS IS A DIFFERENT STORY OF HOW TO INSPIRE PARENTS WITH THEIR KIDS’ MUSIC STUDY –

 I wrote a letter (handwritten) to Jasmine Yano’s parents, Dr. Victor Yano and Jennifer Sugiyama after teaching her the song “Soccer Is My Favorite”.

Dear Dr. and Mrs. Victor Yano,
               I haven’t met a perfectionist child before until when I teach Jasmine piano the song “Soccer Is My Favorite”. We started slowly and whenever she makes a mistake, she had to repeat it again from the beginning of the song.

              It happened twice that she misses the last note of the song so she had to start over again. I didn’t hear any complain from her or show any sign of fatigue until she finally played the whole song without a single mistake.

              We even exceed our time by 10 minutes. After 70 minutes of amusement to her perfectionist character, all I can give her is a tap on her shoulder for a very well job done.

                With this character of her, I think that she will excel in whatever field she will take in the future.

Best regards,

Roberto



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Sources: Music and Me
              By Roberto Hernandez
             July 2014 - March 2015

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