Palau Chessmate

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

(690) BOBBY FISCHER FREED FROM JAPAN (Palau Horizon -March 20-28, 2005)

Source: Palau Horizon
   Page 15
   Friday
   March 25-28, 2005

(689) MORE ABOUT HYDRA (64 by Zaldy Dandan - Marianas Variety July 08, 2005)

Source: 64 by Zaldy Dandan
Marianas Variety
Friday, July 08, 2005

(688) MUSIC AND ME (Jan. 18, 2014) GUESTS CAN PLAY PIANO NOW

No. 4 PIANIST GUIDELINE -- "DON'T LET GUESTS PLAY THE PIANO"
     Former Executive Chef Horie prepared a harassing and stupid piano guidelines that Roberto Hernandez is not following since he resigned already. One of that is no. 4 --Don't let the guests play the piano. Here, a Taiwanese boy was allowed to play with his father taking videos and photos using his and my cellphone's camera.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

        GUESTS CAN PLAY PIANO NOW
On July 24, 2012, former F & B Director and Executive Chef of Palau Royal Resort Masaki Horie made Roberto Hernandez to sign a pianist guidelines that he prepared to harass me once more. It says exactly like this:
   PIANIST GUIDELINES:
- DON'T PLAY TAIWANESE AND JAPANESE MUSIC
- DON'T SING WITH THE MUSIC YOU PLAY
- DON'T PLAY GUESTS REQUEST BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO SING                              ALONG WITH IT
                    - DON'T LET GUESTS PLAY THE PIANO

           FAILURE TO FOLLOW YOU WILL BE GIVEN A CORRESPONDING PUNISHMENT.

           PREPARED BY CHEF HORIE MASAKI

           ACKNOWLEDGE BY ROBERT HERNANDEZ

WHERE CAN YOU FIND A PLACE WHERE A WORKER NOT ALLOWED TO DO HIS JOB?
THE TOP 3 COUNTRIES IN FORM OF TOURISTS IN PALAU ARE JAPAN, TAIWAN AND KOREA. AND YOU'RE IN PALAU AND HE ALSO FORBIDS ME TO PLAY PALAUAN SONGS.

(687) THE HUMANITY (Michael Adams vs. Hydra) 64 by Zaldy Dandan (July 01, 2005)

THE HUMANITY
64 By Zaldy Dandan

Sources: 64 by Zaldy Dandan
    Marianas Variety
    Friday, July 01, 2005

   History of Chess In Palau
   By Roberto Hernandez
   September-October 2010

(686) Balbalosa Dominates Ksau Cup; Roberto is 22 years in Palau on Feb. 4 (TBN-Feb. 03, 2014)

TUTII JOE CHILTON IN PRIVATE TEACHING
From left, Casto 'Toti' Abundo, Eric Ksau Whipps, Tutii Joe Chilton and Geoffrey Borg did a photo session at Joe's private tutoring place. Mr. Borg, who is the CEO of FIDE, is willing to supply chess materials to Palau schools if chess will be taught in schools as an elective or extra curricular activity'
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

BALBALOSA DOMINATES KSAU CUP;
ROBERTO IS 22 YEARS IN PALAU
ON FEBRUARY O4, 2014

MARTHA of United Airlines mentioned to Roberto sometime ago this words: “Why is my son Dmitri Kyle Villanueva trying everything –from chess, basketball, baseball, swimming, bodybuilding, etc. He is trying everything.”

My response is, “Let him try everything and when he finds the right sports or activity where he can exploit his full potential, then let him choose the field where he will excel and be happy.”

Maybe kids will be inspired or challenged by the wonderful experience of Ksau Anthony Whipps in the 2013 World Youth Chess Championship in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

When the kids found the sports or activity where they can excel then there is a chance that they will represent Palau in the 2014 World Youth Chess Championship in South Africa and in 2015 WYCC in Baku, Azerbaijan.

It’s now time for chess puzzle. If kids can solve this week’s chess puzzle (White to move and mates in 3), Roberto will give them 1 dollar each to all kids from 18 years and below. Just text or call Roberto the answer at 778-5392.

Jeffrey Balbalosa dominated the recently concluded Ksau Cup with a perfect 23/23. His new rating will put him back in the Top 10 chess players of Palau, now at 8^th with 1696. At 2^nd is Rafael Paloma with 21.5 points followed by the first Woman National Master of Palau Angelica ‘Angie’ Parrado with 20 pts.

At 4^th is Angie’s daughter Destiny Sisior getting 17.5 points followed by Ksau Anthony Whipps with 17. At 6^th is Gladys Anne Paloma at 16.5. She will be getting his first international rating.

Tied at 7^th place are Eric Ksau Whipps and surprising newcomer Crisarjo Ulap with identical 15.5 points. Tied at 9^th are Angelil Sisior, another newcomers Allan Leuterio and Jo-Arl Cris Ulad with 15 each.

Tied also at 12 are Jon ‘Sib’ Manuel Reyes and Joy Flores Whipps with 12.5 points apiece. At solo 14^th is Joseph Osorio with 12. At 15^th place is Ojhea Perdon (10.5) followed by Roxanne Parco (9) and at 17^th is Rengeos Naruo (7.5). Bernie Dambo (7) is at 18th and Nasser Ongyango (5.5) at solo 19^th.

Tied at 20^th are Kayah Whipps and Francois Millimono at 5 points each. Second to the last spot is Daniel Mendoza at 2 points and at the cellar is Myra Moralde Ulap with 1 point.

Roberto will be 22 years in Palau on Feb. 04, 2014. He remembers his first time in Palau on the afternoon of Continental Airlines flight. During the landing, he saw an egret or heron at the side of the landing area. If that bird is in the Philippines, somebody already shoot it with a sling shot and cook it!

It’s been 10 years since the first-ever chess tournament was started in June 09, 2002.

Looking back then, Palau now has 48 players listed in www.fide.com for the month of Feb. 2014.

Palau was represented in 2009 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in Australia, 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2013 Guam International Chess Tournament and lately in the 2013 World Youth Chess Championship in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

Palau Chess Federation has new energetic President in Eric Ksau Whipps and they are looking forward to participate in 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway with Men (Open) and Women’s Team and more Palauans in its delegation.

Solution to last week’s puzzle: 1. Qxh7+!! Nxh7 2. Bxh7+ Kh8 or Kf8 3. Ng6 mate.

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

$1.00 cash prize each for kids 18 years and below who can solve this puzzle.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez

Tia Belau Newspaper

Pages 9-10

Volume 23

Issue 10

February 03, 2014

(685) MUSIC AND ME (Jan. 02, 2014) Meeting 3 Japanese Couples on my Birthday

I PROMISED THEM TO BE FEATURED HERE --   HERE IT IS!
     Mr. Hitoshi Takeda and his wife Yoshiko have been my guests on Jan.
02, 2014 (my birthday) at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort. They enjoyed my music and they gave me Asahi beer. I gave them my card and said to them, "Please check the Palau Chess Federation website http://palau-chess.blogspot.com and I will feature you there someday."
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
*Our lead guitarist, Frankie Ganalon, in our band in Japan (First Quarter Band) noticed the similarity of Mrs. Yoshiko Takeda to Akemi, front desk employee at Hayashida Hotel in Kagoshima City where they played for 6 months (April 04-September 28, 1982).

   MEETING 3 JAPANESE COUPLES
      ON MY 58TH BIRTHDAY

I DON'T have time to check my Facebook account on New Year's Day evening because I spent the night with my wife and brought my free birthday cake from Palau Royal Resort.

When I check who among my over 5,000 Facebook friends have sent me birthday greetings, some 150 friends who greeted me were never known to me because I can't access to them.

My 24-hour free internet is slow and I can't open that much volume. I'm sorry that I didn't send back simple thank you notes.

Before I teach Mr. Yoshiharu Kurata from 11:30am -12:30pm, I drop by at a store where Mohammad Manik Hossain, is tending in the morning. We have a short talk about chess and before proceeding to Mr. Kurata at 11:25, Manik gave me a box of chocolate as present for my birthday.

After lunch at PRR, that's the only time that I was able to check my emails and Facebook account.

Only the recently sent birthday greetings were the ones I responded with "Thank you and All The Best In 2014".

While playing piano at Waves Restaurant, I was told that there is a Japanese guest who have the same birthday as me.

They staff sung "Happy Birthday" song with me at the piano. I prepared one business card for the birthday celebrant to be given to him if they will pass by me.

Unexpectedly, they left earlier than I expected. I stop playing the song that I'm playing and talk to them in Japanese --"O tanjobi omedetou gozaimasu. Watashi mo tanjobi ichigatsu futsuka."

It means --"Happy Birthday. My birthday is January 2 also." Then I gave him my card.

I proceed to Breeze Bar for another 2-hour keyboard performance. There's a Japanese couple who sat in front of me. I sung mostly old Japanese songs. They enjoyed it and ask a waitress to give me a drink. I ordered Asahi beer.

I talked to them for a while. I gave them my card and told them that I will feature them someday at the website http://palau-chess.blogspot.com

After they left, there's another Japanese couple in which the guy has been to Palau many times. His wife requested some songs. I sat with them at 11:00pm.

They guy's name is Higuchi Yoshitomo and he's been to Palau 8 times already (mostly in December).

I gave his wife my card. He said he already have my card which I don't remember. That's one of my problem. I can't easily recognize guests even if they've been to Palau many times.

He offered me a drink and I ordered red wine.
We had another picture taken...

Source: Chess And Music: Perfect Combination
   The Beginning of Chess In Palau
   By Roberto Hernandez
   January 2014
   To be published as a book in the future

(684) MICRONESIAN OPEN, PALAU CHESS TEAM TO NORWAY, INCREASED PCF MEMBERSHIP (TBN-fEB. 10, 2014)

KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES
   Mr. Brian Jones, right, President of Oceania Chess Confederation, is coming to Palau for 7 days with his wife Margaret for talks about the promotion of chess in Oceania and the holding of Micronesian Open. The other Jones, Rupert, was a roommate of Roberto Hernandez in the 2009 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship and 2009 Gold Coast Open in Australia.                             (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

                MICRONESIAN OPEN,
   PALAU CHESS TEAM TO NORWAY,
         INCREASED PCF MEMBERSHIP

THERE is still a chance for the Micronesian Open to push through with FM/IO Brian Jones of Australia as the only foreign player to participate or act as supervising arbiter and Palau Chess Federation President Eric Ksau Whipps to be his assistant so that Eric can add a norm to his FIDE Arbiter Title aspiration as he passed the exam for it during the World Youth Chess Championship in Al Ain, UAE.

In a meeting with Board Members of PCF, it was agreed that a round-robin Micronesian Open will be held at Palau Royal Resort Conference Room on Feb. 19-24, 2014 with Mr. Jones against Palau players with 1600 ratings and above.

A separate division will also be held with 1600 and below ratings so that unrated local players/newcomers will have a chance to try their savvy in a real chess tournament.

Mr. Jones and his wife Margaret was booked by Roberto Hernandez at Palau Royal Resort for his 7-day stay (Feb. 18-25, 2014). If no tournament will be held during their stay, he’ll have a talk with PCF officials about chess development in Oceania, where he’s the president of Oceania Chess Confederation.

THE NEW TENTATIVE LINE-UP OF PALAU CHESS TEAM TO NORWAY IS THE BEST EVER:

HEAD OF DELEGATION: Frank Kyota or Baklai Temengil DELEGATE: Eric Ksau Whipps

MEN/OPEN TEAM: Captain: Roberto Hernandez Board 1: Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr.

Board 2: Tito Cabunagan Board 3: CM Bernardo Garcia

Board 4: Mohammad Manik Hossain Reserve: Ksau Flores Whipps or Jeffrey Balbalosa

WOMEN’S TEAM: Captain: Tutii Joe Chilton or Jeffrey Balbalosa or Ksau Flores Whipps

Board 1: Angelica Parrado Board 2: Gladys Anne Paloma

Board 3: Baby Edna Mission Board 4: Destiny Sisior or Joy Flores Whipps

Reserve: Joy Flores Whipps or Kayah Flores Whipps

Roberto praised this selection of Eric with an email:

“I like your suggested line-up of Palau Chess Team! It's a dream come true to me! I've waited for 8 years for this moment to have Palauans in the team. I can't ask for more. By being the team captain, I can attend the International Arbiters seminar/training/exam like what Jamie did in Istanbul. That's where he got his IA title. He grabbed that opportunity. I'll get my chance this time.
Thank God for having you as PCF President!”

Eric is humble enough to reply with: “Thank you Roberto, I'm glad I could help anyway possible. Thanks again for including me in Palau Chess. Let's meet soon to discuss future of Chess in Palau.”

Here’s an inspired and grateful email of Eric to Mr. Geoffrey Borg and Mr. Ignatius Leong:

Hello Mr. Borg and Mr. Leong,

I would like to thank FIDE and both of you for your continued support. This year looks to be a very bright year for the development of chess in Palau. Interest from within Palau has grown and can expect to add around 20 Palauan citizens as members to the Palau Chess Federation and another 30 Palau residents within this year.

Meetings with Palau National Olympic Committee and various government offices will also help with exposure and future development of chess. The interest in Palau from both FIDE and other FIDE members also may bring more opportunities for development and cooperation in the near future.

I am thankful that I was able to attend the WYCC in UAE last year as it helped to show how active chess is, as I did not realize how large and dedicated the chess community is today. The chess competitions give immeasurable benefits to those who can represent their countries in international competition. It was amazing to see young children play with such skill and become so emotional with every game.

During the event I was also fortunate enough to meet FIDE President Ilyumzhinov and Deputy President Makropoulos together with CEO Borg and ACF Gen. Sec. Abundo. Unfortunately I only learned upon departure that Mr. Kasparov was present at WYCC and that Mr. Berglund decided not to attend.

I would like to thank Mr. Borg and Mr. Abundo for their visit to Palau last week. Palau Chess thanks you all for your genuine interest to provide support and commitment to continue promotion and development of chess in Palau and the world.

Best Regards, Eric Ksau Whipps

The increase of PCF membership is the fastest in 9 years, garnering 36 new members and 2 honorary members (Mr. Geoffrey Borg of Malta and Mr. Graeme Gardiner of Australia).

The numbers will grow more after the conclusion of the ongoing Ksau Cup Blitz Chess Tournament. As suggested by Mr. Borg and Mr. Abundo, local chess tournament must be held constantly to reach all areas of Palau and to improve chess activities and levels of play.

Roberto won the Board of Directors seat (9^th place) in the TFCP election and the oath taking ceremony will be held on Sunday, Feb. 09, 2014 at D’ Multi Purpose Convention Hall from 5-9pm with the Guest Speaker none other than Eric Ksau Whipps, who is also the Honorary Consul of the Philippines.

Solution to last week’s puzzle: 1. Qh8+!! Kxh8 2. Nxf7++ Kg8 3. Nh6 mate.

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

From left to right, Joy Flores Whipps, Eric Ksau Whipps, Lourdes Funa, Polycarp Basilius, Tito Cabunagan and Ben Asuncion during the Oath Taking Ceremony of TFCP Election winners.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Nonoy Arganda, left, and fellow Board Member winner Roberto Hernandez.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

The 15 winners of Board of Directors seats (left to right) -Beth Cabunagan and Rogie Salazar (Emcees) 1. Lorna Asido 2. Obet Aguilar 3. Nonoy Arganda 4. Lita Campingco 5. Rey Fortus 6. Let Tayag 7. Philip Afable 8. Lourdes Funa 9. Bhoie Castaneda (right to left, back row) 10. Conrado Almanzar 11. Angel Salvador 12. Roberto Hernandez 13. Anthony Eusebio 14. Nimfa Ramos 15. Rhea Malonzo
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Elected top 3 positions- left to right- Louis Molina (2nd Vice President), Aga David (President), Max Joseph Asido (1st Vice President) and Eric Ksau Whipps, Honorary Consul of the Philippines to Palau, President of Palau Chess Federation and Palau Badminton Federation.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)