SECOND STEP --A LETTER TO NM ALMARIO MARLON BERNARDINO
Philippines and USA Chess Master Almario Marlon Bernardino, right, is the first instrument used by God to have Palau become a member of FIDE. Philippine Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito Marino, center, is the top supporter of chess in Palau. At left, Roberto Hernandez' persistent effort paid off after 3 years of trying. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
HOW DID PALAU BECOME
FIDE MEMBER
SINCE 2003, Roberto Hernandez started the meticulous searching on how Palau can be a member of FIDE.
Philippines Bulgar (expose) Newspaper is being sold in Palau twice a week because the Continental Airlines trips (Manila-Koror) is twice a week. USA and Philippine Chess Master Almario Marlon Bernardino, Jr. is writing an article in Bulgar entitled "Sulong" (move in English).
He had an email address at the bottom of the word "Sulong" brandopa2@yahoo.com
THE FOLLOWING IS THE EMAIL OF ROBERTO WHICH MARLON REPLIED ON FEB. 03, 2005:
Dear Mr. Marlon Bernardino, National Master,
Warm greetings from the Republic of Palau! A small country in Micronesia that has a population of less than 20,000. More than 4,000 are Filipinos.
My name is Roberto Hernandez, the Chairman of Knights and Rooks Chess Club that was founded in Sept. 15, 2002.
I am a pianist/DJ at Image Restaurant. I also have a weekly column in Tia Belau, Palau's first newspaper and published every Friday, entitled CHESS MATE by Roberto Hernandez.
We started chess in Palau by organizing the first tournament in June 09, 2002 and held 8 tournaments so far.
Playing day is only on Sunday because that's the only day that most players are available. We have the most flexible schedule in the world so that ALL chess players can join. We even have telephone matches if you can't make it personally.
I always read your chess column "SULONG" (Move) in Bulgar (Expose) newspaper especially during the 36th World Chess Olympiad that was held on Oct. 14-31, 2004.
There are 2 flights a week from Manila to Koror so Bulgar newspaper is available only on Wednesday and Saturday.
More than a year ago, I inquired at www.fide.com abundo@fide.com about how can Palau be a member of FIDE (International Chess Federation).
The response I've got from Mr. Casto Abundo is that Palau must be a member of United Nations and it has to be an observer first.
I responded through email that Palau is a member of the United Nations since 1995 and I gave some more informations about Palau.
Last year, I emailed another follow-up on how to apply formally and asked for FIDE mailing address, how many people are to be sent as observer in 2006 Chess Olympics in Torino, Italy and if the host country still gives 50% discount on airfare of players like Israel did at Haifa Chess Olympics from October 26 - November 11, 1976.
There is no response yet until now and I noticed at the bottom of the print copy of FIDE website that Mr. Abundo is the webmaster of FIDE.
That's why I emailed you thinking that you may know the answers to my questions.
On August 01, 2004, we organized a one-day blitz chess tournament and an Italian tourist, Mr. Andrea Buriani, won the event.
We still have communications and he will be assisting in the 2006 Chess Olympics in Torino, Italy. He is very eager to see the Palau chess team to participate or be an observer in the 37th edition of the Olympiad. I'm forwarding his email response to you.
If Palau will be an observer in the 2006 event, we will send Tutii Joe Chilton and Morton Sawaichi if two delegates are enough. Chilton is also the President of Palau Wrestling Federation and his wife, Baklai Temengil, is the Secretary General of Palau National Olympic Committee.
If they need six, we will add John Stu Masaichi, Norbert Villanueva, Allen Kangichi and Gillian Johanes.
I hope to hear from you soon and more power to your "SULONG" chess column and Bulgar Newspaper.
Roberto Hernandez
Chairman, Knights and Rooks Chess Club
P. O. Box 1501
Koror, Republic of Palau 96940
Tel. (680)488-3694
(680)488-1881
A VERY NICE RESPONSE FROM MR. BERNARDINO THAT SAYS:
Dear Sir Roberto Hernandez,
May I suggest please contact International Arbiter Gene J. Poliarco at ncfp2004@yahoo.com or NCFP player's council head and Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre at eugenetorre2004@yahoo.com or Mr. Manny Benitez at manny_b@pacific.net.ph
Cheers, Marlon Bernardino
By the way, every Monday, I have a sports radio program at DZSR Sports radio 981 am band, 12:15-1:00 pm. If you have time you can contact me at the office tel. no. 924-2630. I can interview you live via phone patch.
0920-617-1268
More power.
THIRD STEP -- A LETTER TO GM EUGENE TORRE
with cc to: ncfp2004@yahoo.com manny_b@pacific.net.ph brandopa2@yahoo.com aburiani@libero.it tutiic@yahoo.com dyan_castillejo@abs.pinoycentral.com cie_san43@yahoo.com thein@un.org msawaichi@yahoo.com pasqual57@yahoo.com aburiani@virgilio.it aryonjunior@yahoo.com win2@un.org edgrefiel@yahoo.com encely@palaunet.com kua@palaunet.com stefania.dalrio@ilrestodelcarlino.it tiabelau@palaunet.com fishnfin@palaunet.com peachieleano@yahoo.com hprinting@palaunet.com aburiani@supereva.it
Dear Grandmaster Eugene Torre,
Greetings from the Republic of Palau! My name is Roberto Hernandez, Chairman of Knights and Rooks Chess Club that was founded is Sept. 15, 2002.
Currently, we have 79 members. Two are Americans , 8 are Palauans and the rest are Filipinos.
I have a chess column in Tia Belau, Palau's first newspaper that is published once a week (Friday).
I featured you in my column in June 2004 entitled "TORRE, ASIA'S FIRST GRANDMASTER". I get some information from your classic game against super GM Yuri Balashov from Chessmaster 9000. After the annotated game, I mentioned there my experience playing with you in a friendly game in late '70's or early '80's (December).
I think you remember when you are promoting your book "Beyond the 13th Move" at Alemar's Bookstore in Makati. I saw you there signing those books for people who buy it.
I already bought that book a week earlier so I took another book from the shelves entitled "72 Asian Zonal-Champion Torre". You asked for my name and I said Robert. You wrote on the book the date, To Robert, Best wishes, and signed your name at the bottom.
One of the saleslady there, who is my neighbor in Mandaluyong, requested if we would like to play a friendly game. You said yes, but only one game.
And we play a game in which you won a pawn early. In the middle game, I won a rook and overwhelmed by my advantage, I forgot the safety of my own king. You combined a bishop and queen for an attack and when I was about to be mated in one, I shook your hands.
Ten years later, we both participated in the 1990 National Chess Championship. I still have the rules and regulations copy of that tournament which is a 13-round straight Swiss system.
The top six finishers will represent Philippines in the next Chess Olympics. I was seeded 218th then with a rating of 1800.
Last year, I inquired at www.fide.com (abundo@fide.com) about how can Palau be a member of FIDE (International Chess Federation) and the response I've got is that Palau must be a member of United Nations and must be an observer first.
Palau is a member of U. N. since 1995 and I didn't get the answers to my questions so I emailed NM Marlon Bernardino and he referred me to you, International Arbiter Gene J. Poliarco and Mr. Manny Benitez.
I didn't know that you are now the player's council head of National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).
NM Bernardino has a sports radio program at DZSR 981 am band every Monday from 12:15 to 1:00 pm and he said I can be interviewed live via phone patch.
I am available on Feb. 21 and I can promote chess and Palau through radio. I tried all kinds of advertisement to promote chess in Palau: Bulletin Board at Palau High School Gym; Pinoy Association Abroad on The Filipino Channel of ABS-CBN; Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez in Tia Belau Newspaper; Palau Horizon Newpapers' Sports through its reporter Mr. Nazario Rodriguez, Jr.; my video CHESS IN PALAU (2002-2004) on Channel 25 of ICTV Palau and I also gave a copy of that Dyan Castillejo of Sports Unlimited when she and co-host Mark Nelson visited Palau last year and they have dinner at Image Restaurant where I'm a pianist/DJ.
By being admitted to FIDE, Palau will finally be put in world's chess map. Can you help us make this a reality?
My questions are: If Palau will be an observer in 2006 Chess Olympiad in Torino, Italy, how many representatives need to be sent?
Are the host country still gives a 50% discount on airfare to the players like Israel did in Haifa Chess Olympics in Oct. 26-November 11, 1967?
And how much does a chess federation pays every year to FIDE?
Till here and I hope to hear from you soon and more power to NCFP!
Roberto Hernandez
Chairman, Knights and Rooks Chess Club
P. O. Box 1501
Koror, Republic of Palau 96940
Tel. (680)488-3694
(680)488-1881
GM EUGENE TORRE REFERRED ROBERTO BACK TO MR. CASTO 'TOTI' ABUNDO.
MORE EMAILS TO TOTI FROM ROBERTO.
FINALLY, TOTI SEND ROBERTO A QUESTIONNAIRE for national Federation applying for FIDE Membership.
In filling it up, Roberto put "Knights and Rooks Chess Club (Palau) as the exact name of the chess federation because Palau Chess Federation hasn't been established yet.
All other questions are acceptable except the first one.
Toti asked Roberto to change the KRCC into Palau Chess Federation. There will be a FIDE Executive Board meeting in Dresden, Germany and it will be discussed in the meeting.
ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2005 at 16:13:48 +0300, Roberto got an email from FIDE Secretariat that says:
Dear Mr. Hernandez,
Kindly find attached herewith letter of notification following the decision of the FIDE Executive Board in respect of the FIDE membership application of your federation.
Thank you so much.
Best regards,
Eli Sperdokli
FIDE Secretariat
THE ATTACHMENT (on FIDE letterhead) states:
Athens, 26 August 2005
To: Mr. Roberto A. Hernandez
Chess Federation of Palau
P. O. Box 1501, Koror
Republic of Palau 96940
Tel. (680)488-3694
Dear Mr. Hernandez,
We are pleased to inform you that the FIDE Executive Board approved at its meeting in Dresden from 17-24 August, your FIDE membership application under the condition of fulfilling your financial obligations in a period not later than 3 months.
For further information please contact the FIDE Treasurer, David Jarrett.
Thank you very much.
Yours sincerely,
Eli Sperdokli
FIDE Secretariat
ON AUGUST 29, 2005 ROBERTO EMAILED DAVIT JARRETT:
TO: david@fidechess.freeserve.co.uk
SUBJECT: Palau financial obligations
Dear Mr. David Jarrett,
I have received FIDE's letter of notification regarding the decision of Executive Board about Palau's membership.
I would like to know the financial obligations that was mentioned there.
Can we pay by money order? We use US Dollars here as official currency.
If we pay our obligation, can we participate in the next Chess Olympiad in Italy? Or we have to be an observer first? How many representatives can we send as observer?
Thank you and hope to hear from you ASAP.
Roberto Hernandez
Palau Chess Federation
ON MONDAY, 29 AUGUST 2005 08:10:27 +0100 (GMT Standard Time), Mr. David Jarrett replied:
cc: office@fide.com "Ignatius Leong" ignatiusleong@pacific.net.sg
Dear Robert,
I think there was a small mistake in the original email address you used to me. However, the message arrived eventually on the correct account.
New members have to pay the annual subscription for the year of admission (in your case 2005) and this will be CHF 600 for Palau. Once this is received you are accepted as full members.
After this you will be eligible to play in the Olympiad in Turin and participate in the Congress. Your Delegate for the Congress can be a team member or a separate person.
I attach an invoice with the bank details for transfering the money to the FIDE account.
Normally invoices are issued to member Federations in January and July.
Welcome to the family and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best regards
David Jarrett
Treasurer
THE ATTACHMENT:
FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DES ECHECS
Recognized by the International Olympic Committee
Office of the Treasurer: 6 Hazel Way Bath BA2 2DX, England
Tel/Fax: +44 1225 834055
Email: david@fidechess.freeserve.co.uk
July 2005
INVOICE
PALAU
Amount Due: Swiss Francs CHF 600.00
or Euros EUR 387.00
or US Dollars USD 476.00
Federations can choose to pay in Swiss Francs, Euros or US Dollars to the following accounts:
Please forward payments to:
Bankers: UBS Bank
Address: Case Postale. 1002 Lausanne, Switzerland
Bank Code: UBSWCHZH80A
US Dollar Account Number: 243-3422087.60Z
IBAN: CH76 0024 3243 3420 8760 Z
Swiss Francs Account Number: 243-342087.02T
IBAN: CH86 0024 3243 3420 8702 T
Euro Account Number: 243-342087.63Y
IBAN: CH540024 3243 3420 8763 Y
Account Name: Federation Internationale Des Echecs
In an email from FIDE Secretariat Eli Sperdokli, the membership is under the condition of fulfilling the financial obligations in a period not later than 3 months.
And to contact the FIDE Treasurer David Jarrett for further information at david@fidechess.freeserve.co.uk
Knights and Rooks Chess Club Chairman Roberto Hernandez immediately notify Tutii Joe Chilton and they will have a meeting soon about the good news where chess players from Palau can now participate in international competitions.
Many interested young and old players can now start training for World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany. in 2004, Chess Olympiad was held in Mallorca, Spain with 124 countries participating.
Turin, Italy will host the 2006 Olympiad but it's too soon to prepare for it and Palau might be an observer first before it can participate in the biennial event.
Hernandez also notified the players about the development in the 13th round of 2005 Open Chess tournament held Sunday, August 28 at Privilege Family Store and sponsored by Bendix N. Lakobong, Leo Lacambra, Jr. and Roswell Macapagal of T-shirt Printing Atbp.
Jose Omega is now the solo leader after defeating Joel Azana in 38 moves of Modern Defence. He also collected half point after Dennis Gonzales accepted his offer of draw of their said game.
Mario Ramos said he will withdraw from the tournament due to his transportation problem as he resides in Ngchesar.
Omega's win-lose-draw record is 8-1-1 and will play against Bong Alipoon in a special game on Wednesday on Omega's residence. This is allowed because Alipoon had only 2 days off in a week, Wed. and Thurs.
James dela Cruz, who resides in Airai View Annex and neighbor of Hernandez, is a late comer but still managed to play 3 games of semi-blitz format (15 minutes each to finish the game).
He lost to Jimmy Valenzuela , Alipoon and Palaun bet Morton Sawaichi but won by default over Marcial Rodriguez and Chilton, who was very busy on Sunday. Most of his games were losses or draws by defaults.
Manuel Nedic (8-3-0) is now in solo 3rd spot after clobbering Azana in 33 moves of another Modern Defence game where Azana missed the right queen defence and was mated instantly.
Nedic lost to Alipoon later in the night and Alipoon is still the only remaining unbeaten player.
Idle Cyril Montel, Jr. (8-1-0) collected two default wins over Rodriguez and Chilton to keep abreast with Omega at 2nd place. Their anticipated match seems to be the championship game and it will be their first ever title.
Hernandez emailed Gary Bekker, the Oceania Zone 3.2b President and he responded with a very encouraging email. He had made similar donations of chess sets and books to other Oceania nations such as Fiji and PNG, in an effort to further develop the chess community within the Oceania Zone.
He encouraged the Palau Chess Federation to stage an international event in the future. He said by joining FIDE, Palau will be able to stage international rating tournaments and send representatives to international competitions such as the Oceania Zonal Chess Championships and the World Chess Olympiad. All Oceania chess federations sent teams to the 2004 Chess Olympiad.
He also hopes to personally come over and help organize a FIDE-rated tournament in Palau sometime in the future. His suggestion is to run a 10-player all-play-all (round robin) tournament, in which the top six players of Palau compete against 4 overseas players with relatively low international ranking.
He suggests playing 2 games oer day, like at 10:00 am and 4:00 pm over a period of one week. It would be necessary to provide a suitable tournament venue (a local hall or conference center), a reasonable prize fund, and discount accomodation for the international players.
He said that it would be important that all games are played. without any forfeit or withdrawals, and that each player scored with a rating comparable to FIDE standard.
The best 3 Palau players could expect to gain an international ranking. Such a event was held in Fiji during 2003 and several Fijian players gained their international rating from this event.
He is sure he can encourage four international chess players to take a chess-holiday in sunny Palau!
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 14-15
September 02-09, 2005
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