(1650) AWARDING OF THE TOP 3 FINISHERS OF 2019 PRCC ON MARCH 31 (TBN-April 01, 2019)

NEWEST MEMBER OF PCF AND PMCC

                   Jeffrey Penoliar, right, is the newest chess enthusiast of Palau. We practice till 4 am last Saturday night, March 30 prior to the Awarding of the Top 3 Finishers of the recently concluded 2019 PRCC. He was baptized at the PMCC 3 weeks ago and we attended the Annual Thanksgiving before going for the awarding and mini blitz contest. In the middle is Bruce Soriano, one of the newest members of PCF watching the game between Manik Hossain and Jeffrey, who can speak a little Arabic and Bangladesh language.
                                        (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

    AWARDING OF THE TOP 3 FINISHERS OF

          2019 P.R.C.C. ON MARCH 31

As scheduled, the Awarding of the Top 3 Finishers of the 2019 Palau Rapid Chess Championship will be held on March 31, at Bethlehem Park.

             The last day is supposed to be finished on March 31 but because of the agreement of all the present players, it was held after the completion of the 8th round with Bobot Tan (with 8 points) adding another plum in his domination of Palau chess in the last 2 years. Angel Salvadora came in 2nd with 6.5 points, tied with Jeff Balbalosa, who defeated the previously unbeaten Bobot in the final round, he finished 3rd.

                The ever-improving Angie Sisior took the 4th place and Manuel Mahor finished at 5th after he defeated the surprising Jennifer Angeles, for her best ever finish in any Palau Rapid chess tournament--9th place.

              I won my last 3 games (vs. Mary Grace Capili, Jun Cabugao Mintar and Angie) to finished tied with Angie and Mahor (all with 6 points).Angelil Sisior and Samuel Palingcod finished 7th to 8th respectively. Tied at 9th-14th are Jennifer Tubtub, Jun Cabugao Mintar, Destiny Sisior, Manik Hossain, Jhoan Gemota and Paquito Suringa Jr.

              At solo 15th is Soriano Bruce followed by 6 players with 4 points each--16th-21st--Kyarii Sisior, Angelica Morales Magno, Capili, Michael Adette Gulla, my guitar/chess student Brandon Kyle Soriano and Rommel Ramon Gulla.At solo 22nd is Aome Angeles. At 23rd-27th are Mary Jane Bojo, Khol Sugiyama, Nobu Yano, Dave Cristobal and Wakako Sisior. Alone at 28th is Rustum Cabuso, who played 2 games only in the first week. At 29th -31st are Solomon Islands Carlos Santus Amo Sifix, Bin Robinson Luo Cabrera and Jedidia Marinas.

             I will prepare the 3 medals for Bobot, Angelo and Jeff on Sun. and after the awarding, the mini blitz chess contest will be held with $1.00 registration fee. If the contestants will reach 20, the cash prize of the champion will be $10.00, 2^nd place --$6.00 and 3^rd place--$4.00. The time control is 5 minutes + 3 seconds increment. It might be 7 or 9 round Swiss system.

        Eshan Kalyanikar, a new Indian reporter of Island Times would like to practice chess and I invited him to go to Bethlehem Park to see how chess is doing in Palau. Three employees of Palau Royal Resort are also hooked now in playing chess and will participate or observe how the top players of Palau play the game of kings. They are Janela Reyes, Jeffrey Penoliar and Joel Manalo from Purchasing Department. Pax, Jeffrey, Joel and me  practiced with time clock till 4 am. Jeffrey and Joel are amazed how fun it is to play with time clock. The time control being 5 min. + 3 seconds increment.

       It is the Annual Thanksgiving of Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4^th Watch) Palau Locale to be held on the same date (March 31) at VIP Hotel (former Arirang Restaurant). I invited all the participants in the mini blitz contest to have lunch there and then proceed to Bethlehem Park which is just across the road.

       At about 1:45 pm, while I am loading the keyboard to my car, I saw Bobot on his way to Bethlehem Park. I invited him to have lunch at VIP Conference Room but he said he ate already. While practicing, some players asked if there is still lunch available (it's 3 pm then) but I said no more. We rented the place from 10 am -- 2 pm. 

       Solution to last week’s original puzzle by CM Joselito Marcos (dedicated to his 

wife's 61st birthday on March 30, 2019) 1. Qg5!! hxg5 2. Bxg5 Bb7 3. Re8#

         This week’s another original puzzle No. 1 composed in Feb. 15, 2019: White to move and mates in 2                         (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Page 9
               Volume 28
               Issue 22
               April 01, 2019

              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 -- April 01, 2019

              The History of Chess in Palau
              By Roberto Hernandez
              June 09, 2002 -- April 01, 2019

(1649) MUSIC AND ME (Nov. 01, 2018) Pastor Susan and Pastor Liza Bregana--Converts of Presbyter Gali Concepcion in Hong Kong

PASTOR SUSAN LOPEZ,

PASTOR LIZA BREGANA--

Converts of Presbyter Gali

Concepcion in Hong Kong

 Pastor Susan Lopez pioneered the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) in Palau in early 2005. In December of that year, they do caroling at Rose Garden Resort where I play keyboard music every night.

Right from that moment, a connection has started with me playing along with them with Bro. Rolly Adducul playing the guitar.

On Christmas Day 2005, my co-employee at Rose Garden Resort, Sis. Luz Sembrano, invited us to attend the PMCC Christmas service at the rented building in the 2nd floor behind Palasia Hotel.

Since they know that I am a musician, they let play the keyboard all through the end of the service as if I know all the songs that we playing.

Me and my wife Flor were baptized on that Christmas Day 2005 so it very easy to remember the date of our salvation.

Since then, I never missed a Sunday service even if I go to Russia in 2010, Turkey in 2012, Norway in 2014, Azerbaijan in 2016 and lately in 2018 in Batumi, Georgia for the World Chess Olympiads held every 2 years although I am doing the communion by myself.

Pastor Susan Lopez' husband Bro. Fred Lopez, always ask me to bring his wife some soap, chocolates and other stuff whenever I am having a vacation in Philippines because he knows that I am attending the services of Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) in Halang, Hagonoy, Bulacan Locale where Pastor Susan is now the head pastor.

 Before and after the 2016 World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan, I always attend the midweek and Sunday service at PMCC in Halang Hagonoy, Bulacan Philippines, where Pastor Susan Lopez is now the Head Pastor.

Later, Pastor Susan were joined there by former staff of PMCC Palau Locale Sis. Malou Paster and Bro. Ruel Luis with his kids studying there.

The PMCC in Halang, Hagonoy, Bulacan is now very progressive and they have bought a 2-hectare land being used as fish pond for 2 million Philippine pesos.






 I donated a keyboard to the PMCC church and before coming back to Palau after participating in the 2016 WCO, I bought 2 kilos of shrimp and 5 kilos of milk fish and gave it to Pastor Susan together with my grand son Zach and Wilhem, the husband of my sister-in-law Vilma, riding a tricycle.

 We took about 8 photos with Pastor Susan and Zach.

The Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) Palau Locale celebrated its Annual Thanksgiving in March 31, 2019 at VIP Conference Room with Pastor Liza Bregana as our Guest Speaker from Macau.

It happens during her message that she knows Pastor Susan since their days in Hong Kong in 1982.
     Pastor Liza can play guitar. In the Evangelistic Night on March 31, she rendered a song (her favorite) using acoustic guitar. In the morning devotion in March 29, I am late because I slept with my wife Flor and she is playing the guitar. She said she used to play the guitar during morning devotion and midweek services of PMCC in Macau because the brethren there have few musicians.
    She encourages the Palau brethren to let their talents in music/preaching be used for the service to God instead of the world.

After the service and lunch at 1:30 pm, me and Jeffrey Penoliar, middle-in black polo shirt, proceed to Palau Royal Resort and took the chess materials for the Awarding of the Top 3 finishers in the 2019 Palau Rapid Chess Championship. Prior to the awarding, a mini blitz chess contest was held among 12 players --(The final standings-----1. Bobot Tan -7 points 2. Manuel Mahor, Jr. (5) 3. Roberto Hernandez (5) 4. Angelo Salvadora (4) 5. Joel Manalo (PRR) 3.5 6. Khol Sugiyama (3.5) 7. Angelil Sisior (3) 8. Angelito Mintar, Jr. (3) 9. Angelica Parrado (3) 10. Rustum Cabuso (2.5) 11. Jeffrey Penoliar (2.5) and 12. Dave Cristobal (0). 
     Nobu Yano left before the contest started.
     There's a $1.00 registration fee that serves as cash prize for Bobot (champion) $6.00, Jun Mahor ($4.00) and me pocketing $2.00.
     Bobot is suggesting to have this event a weekly fun blitz chess games/socializing.
    Janela Reyes, another new employee of PRR serves as our photographer with her taking the photos before each round in this 7-round Swiss system event and a time control of 5 min. and 3 seconds increment. 


Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- March 31, 2019

               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 -- March 31, 2019

               The History of Chess in Palau
               By Roberto Hernandez
               June 09, 2002 -- March 31, 2019

(1648) HOW CHESS CONQUERED NORWAY

HOW CHESS CONQUERED NORWAY

     During their Yuletide vacation in Europe, my chess/piano student Nicholas Nehez torn some pages of The New York Times International Edition dated November 24-25, 2018. His mom Jennifer said to give it to me as it is about chess.
     Nick, who is my most thoughtful student, gave me a souvenir gold plated Eifel Tower key chain which they bought in France. They later proceeded to Madrid, Spain for their first holiday in Europe.
     The article is really fascinating that it turns chess as a cool game to a non-playing chess country after the emergence of 4-time world chess champion Magnus Carlsen, who defended his title for the 4th time. He defeated Viswanathan Anand of India twice, Sergey Karjakin of Russia in New York in 2016 after the World Chess Olympiad was held in Baku, Azerbaijan where the Norwegian Chess Team finished a surprising 6th place in that Olympiad. Palau participated with only an Open team of Paquito Suringa, Jr. (Board 1), Allan Alcid (Board 2), Jeff Balbalosa (Board 3), me at Board 4/Team Captain and Dennis Gonzales as Board 5/Reserve. Our Team Captain when I am playing is my BFF CM Joselito Marcos, who is also the Head of Delegation.

Carlsen's 4th defense of his world champion title is against Fabiano Caruana, the former No. 1 chess player of Italy and changed federation to USA. He was born in Bronx, New York.

I have compiled all World Championship matches since Steinitz-Zukertort in 1886 up to Carlsen-Caruana in 2018....

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2018/10/1595-world-championship-matches-from.html

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- March 29, 2019

               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 -- March 29, 2019

               The History of Chess in Palau
               By Roberto Hernandez
               June 09, 2002 -- March 29, 2019

(1647) MUSIC AND ME (Oct. 25, 2018) MY REPERTOIRE OF INTERNATIONAL SONGS ---D---

MY REPERTOIRE OF INTERNATIONAL SONGS
                       ---D---
     Hernandez Family mini reunion in the 2017 Hagonoy                 Institute Class Reunion of my brother Romeo.

1961    DADDY’S HOME (Cliff Richard)(JermaineJackson1973)#44                                                                (1961—Shep and the Limelites)                                                                    R     26

1978    DAHIL MAHAL KITA (Boyfriends) (Filipino Song)                                OPM 27

1968    DAHIL SA ISANG BULAKLAK (Ric Manrique)                                     OPM 31

1938    DAHIL SA IYO (Mike Velarde, Jr. Dominador Santiago)                         OPM 28

1968    D A I T E   (Japanese Song) Seiko Matsuda                                                 J        8

1980    DANCING ALL NIGHT (Japanese Song) Monta and Brothers                  J      10

1976    DANCING QUEEN (Abba)  1977 #11                                                          DB255

1920s   DANDANSOY (Filipino Song) (Cesar Manalili - guitar)                           OPM 78

1973    DANIEL (Elton John)            #48                                                                  G     37

1913    DANNY BOY (Irish Song)   Elvis Presley (1976)                                        DBI 37

1971    DANNY’S SONG (Loggins & Messina)                                                       R     19

1945    DAY BY DAY (Frank Sinatra)                                                                       DB140

1955    DAY-O (The Banana Boat Song) (Harry Belafonte) #15 

                                        

1962    DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES (Henry Mancini and his Orchestra)            DB141

1965    DAY TRIPPER (Beatles)                                                                               R   209

1968    DEEP IN MY HEART (Jose Mari Chan) (Filipino Song)                          OPM180

1979    DÉJÀ VU (Dioone Warwick)                                                                         R   129

1968    DELILAH (Tom Jones) 1973 #66                                                                 G     37

1972    DELTA DAWN (Helen Reddy) #14    (Tanya Tucker)                                 G     39

            DEREBCHESIIL (Palauan Song)                                                                 DBI 62

1984    DESERT MOON (Dennis De Young)                                                           DB  48

1973    DESPERADO (Eagles)                                                                                  G     41

196      DEVOTED TO YOU (Everly Brothers)                                                        B   189

When I attended the Class Reunion of my brother Romeo in 2017 at Paombong, Bulacan, it became a mini Hernandez Reunion when my younger brother Gerardo thought of an idea that since we are close to the vicinity of my youngest brother Bernardo, why don't we call him to come so that we can have a sort of mini reunion. They came with their only daughter Hannah and his wife Ester. There is swimming, photos were taken and they rented a huge karaoke machine and we alternated in singing. Older people like me and my brothers are singing songs from the 60's while the younger generations are singing the songs of 2000 and beyond.

     When my brother Bernie is singing "Devoted To You" by Everly Brothers, we shared the mike and I harmonized with him to the delight of everybody. I also sung by myself the Japanese song "For You" in key of A (2 steps higher than the original lady key). It's the most popular Japanese song in the Philippines. It was sung 4 times that day by 4 different people, mostly women.

            D. H. LOBANG (Palauan Song)                                                                    DBI 69

1957    D I A N A   (Paul Anka)  #21                                                                         B     70

1972    D I A R Y   (Bread)                                                                                        R   130

1974    DICK AND JANE (Bobby Vinton)

1968    DIDN’T WE (Frank Sinatra) (Paul Williams)                                               G     43

            DIL DIL LOMAIS (Palauan Song)                                                                G P 17

1985    DI NA NATUTO (Gary Valenciano) (Filipino Song)                                  OPM 45

1980    DITO BA (Kuh Ledesma) (Filipino Song)                                                  OPM 74

1963    DIYOS LAMANG ANG NAKAKAALAM (Filipino Song)                      OPM 43

1991    DO I HAVE TO SAY THE WORDS (Bryan Adams)                                   G     45

1983    DOLLANES MELODY (Richard Clayderman) 

                                         

1960    DONNA, DONNA (Joan Baez)                                                                     DB256

1966    DON’T BE CRUEL (Elvis Presley)   #2                                                       B   140

1933    DON’T BLAME ME (Nat ‘King’ Cole)                                                       V     67

           

1976    DON’T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA (Julie Covington)                             DB  75

1975    DON’T CRY JONI (Conway Twitty & Joni Lee)                                         B   141

1980    DON’T FORGET ME (Captain & Tennille)                                                 DB257

1969    DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER (Bee Gees)                                          B   209

1977    DON’T GIVE UP ON US BABY (David Soul) #29                                     DB206

1977    DON’T IT MAKE MY BROWN EYES BLUE (Crystal Gayle)                  DB195

1990    DON’T KNOW MUCH (Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Nevile)                       B   109

1982    DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY (Don’t Know What To Do)

                            (Ric Segreto) (Filipino Song)                                                      OPM 183

2002    DON’T KNOW WHY (Norah Jones)                                                             B     51

1969    DON’T LET ME DOWN (Beatles)                                                                R   215

1974    DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME (Elton John) #77                    B   267

1980    DON’T SAY GOODBYE (Kapena) (Hawaiian Song)                                  G     14

1952    DO NOT FORSAKE ME (from “High Noon”) Frankie Laine  #19              R   154

1982    DOO BIDOO (Apo Hiking Society) (Filipino Song)                                 OPM   12

1996    DOON LANG (Nonoy Zuniga) (Filipino Song)                                        OPM 178

1979    D O O R S   (Michael Johnson)                                                                      R   155

1959    DO RE MI (Julie Andrews)

1979    DO THAT TO ME ONE MORE TIME (Captain & Tennille) 1980 #5         G     47

1969    DOWNTOWN (Petula Clark)

1968    DO YOU KNOW THE WAY TO SAN JOSE (Dionne Warwick) #88          B   155

1975    DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING TO (Diana Ross)                  DB105

1964    DO YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET (Beatles)            #54                   R   234

1963    DREAMIN’ (Cascades)                                                                                 R   164

1984    D R I V E   (Cars)                                                                                           B   251

1982    DROP BABY DROP (Eddy Grant) (Hawaiian Song)

            DU JIAO XI  (Wei Jia -- Taiwanese Song)

                                          

1978    D U K H A   (Judas) (Filipino Song)                                                            OPM 23

                    

1977    DUST IN THE WIND (Kansas)                                                                    DB181

           

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

               Tia Belau Newspaper

               December 29, 2002 -- March 28, 2019

              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 -- March 28, 2019

              The History of Chess in Palau 

              By Roberto Hernandez

              June 09, 2002 -- March 28, 2019