(337) NILO DE JESUS IS BACK!

2012 PNCC 59 YEARS AGE DIFFERENTIAL
The first round of the 2012 PNCC had featured the biggest age differential between 2 participants -- 65-year-old Paz Ngiratechekii and 6-year-old Destiny Sisior, who prevailed this time unlike in 2003 Open where 58-year-old Ben Ramos won over 8-year-old Dmitri Kyle Villanueva. Watching the game are Roberto Hernandez, his wife Flor and Jeff Balbalosa. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



              NILO DE JESUS IS BACK!

THE LAST chess tournament that Nilo de Jesus had participated was the 2004 Non-Master Chess tournament where he was one of the major sponsors -- $50.00 cash prizes for the top 3 finishers in the junior division (18 years and below) and donated 3 long tables so that players will have spaces while playing.

He worked to other country for 7 years and now he’s back in Palau and now managing an auto repair shop in Meyuns, where the former GF auto shop is located.

He asked Roberto Hernandez if he can still join the ongoing 2012 Palau National Chess Championship’s 1650 and below category. The field had 18 players already in this single round-robin event.

Hernandez estimated that American lawyer Scott Hess can’t play 17 games in 6 weeks if he will not make it on Saturday or Sunday to play at least 2 games through the weekends.

Nilo then was pitted against Dennis Gonzales and won in 42 moves. Hernandez gave a note to Scott on Tuesday, Oct. 23 and asked him if he can play 17 games in 6 weeks. It was confirmed on Thursday morning that he couldn’t do it and just wishes good luck to all players.

He will join in the next year’s tournament in February, where a separate division for kids 15 years and below was suggested by Palau’s top woman player Angie Parrado.

LATE GAMES RESULTS ON SUNDAY, OCT. 21:

Menandro Manuel took advantage of Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr.’s blunder and won in 22 moves of Giocco Piano.

Elpidio Manaligod played his first game vs. James dela Cruz and lost. He’s still rusty but won over Luciano ‘Bong’ Sibayan.

Paquito‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr. claimed his first victory by drubbing Gonzalo Escapatoria in 49 moves of Sicilian Defence. The planned blitz chess contest didn’t push through when Paquito and Cyril played their official game instead. Pax impotent knight in the corner cost him the game while Cyril’s very active knight did all the damage on the other side of the board.

And in the last game of the day, Sibayan dealt James his first loss when the latter blundered away his queen. James first loss in 6 games happened during the time that he’s not writing his chess moves.

Currently, the 3 players who haven’t played a single game yet are Jon Manuel Reyes, Manuel‘Jun’ Mahor, Jr. and Mary Frances Lopez. They are requested to play as many games as possible on Saturday and Sunday (at PRR Conference Room) or one week days at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1.

If Reyes and Lopez can’t play on Sat. or Sunday or 17 games in 6 weeks, they will be asked to withdraw so that Geoff Martin and Rustum Cabuso can participate.

CONTINUATION OF CELIZ-MANUEL GAME SCORE:

43. Qe5+ Kb7 44. Rb2+ Rb6 45. Rc2 Ka6 46. Rc7 Qxa4 47. Rc1 Qa3 48. Qc7 Qe3+ 49. Kh1 Nf2+ 50. Kg1 Nd3++? (Missing the neat 50. …Na3++ 51. Kh1 Qg1+!!! 52. Nxg1 or Rxg1 Nf2 smothered mate). 51. Kf1 Qf2#.

Only 3 games were played in the 3^rd week of the 2012 PNCC on Saturday, October 27: Candidate Master Bernardo Garcia earned his 2^nd straight win over Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr. in their Sicilian Defence game while Jeff Balbalosa is still undefeated after clobbering Dan Roldan.

And in the last game of the day, Jose Celiz didn’t come for his match against Roberto Hernandez. Instead, Menandro Manuel and Hernandez played their 2^ndgame so not to waste the available time of Menandro. In their Pirc Defence clash, Manuel blundered away a whole knight and resigned immediately. He still has a chance with 2 rooks, a knight, a bishop and a pawn against Hernandez’ 2 rooks, a knight and 6 pawns.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              Pages 18 & 22

              Volume 21

              Issue 77

             October 29, 2012

(336) MONTEL, JR. NOW LEADS

FOURTH SEED Cyril Montel, Jr. (5-1-0 win-loss-draw record) suffered his first loss in the 6th round but grab the lead of the 2004 Non-Master Chess tournament held on Sunday, February 15 at Paul Brothers Tri-M General Merchandise and Food Retail in Malakal.

He defeated Jose Omega (2-2-0) after being down by 4 points (he had a rook against Omega's queen) when the latter blundered away his queen with a king move that allowed him to check Omega's king and regained the initiative.

Omega resigned after realizing his blunder due to over-confidence.

In a great show of sportsmanship, Montel, Jr. agreed to replay his default win over Jimmy Valenzuela (2-6-0) and the result was the same.

He defeated Valenzuela in 30 moves of Caro-Kahn Defence. In his 3rd game of the day, he lost to Mike Miguel, Jr. (4-3-0) in 48 moves in which Miguel, Jr. missed a mate on the 6th move.

Their game started with 1. e4 Nc6 2. Bc4 e6 3. Bb3 Bc5 4. Nf3 Qf6 5. c3 Ne5 6. Nxe5?? After this blunder, the game would have been over with 6. ... Qxf2 mate but Miguel, Jr. responded with 6. ... Qxe5 and later down by a piece in exchange of 3 pawns. It took him another extra 42 moves to win the game with a superb endgame technique.

Bong Alipoon (2-3-1) scored his 2nd victory in 6 games by defeating Miguel, Jr. and defending champion Roberto Hernandez (2-3-1) rose from a slump to beat Danny Dandoy (4-2-0) in 31 moves of Sicilian Defence (Dragon Variation).

Hernandez played a very cautious game and when Dandoy made a mistake on the 29th move, he blitzed his way to win the queen and the game.

Idle Jess Toldoya remains the only undefeated player and his adjourned game against Omega will be resumed on Sunday. He is in a passive position when their game was adjourned.

Charles Aquino is the only junior player who came to play in the 6th round. He played best of 3 series against Ivan II Chess Computer. He was in a winning position in the first game but overlooked a double check by Ivan the led to checkmate. He lost the 2nd game in 28 moves of Semi-Slav Defence.

Only 4 players attended the meeting on February 14. Another meeting will be set later. The Knights and Rooks Chess Club's chairman Roberto Hernandez prepared an inventory of the club's properties (Ivan II Chess Computer, chess clocks, books, chess boards and others. The grand total now is $432.37.



Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
February 20-27, 2004

(335) 2012 PNCC (3RD WEEK) PHOTOS

Dan Roldan, right, lost his 2nd game in as many games to Jeff Balbalosa on Saturday, Oct. 27 at Conference Room of Palau Royal Resort. Menandro Manuel is watching while waiting for an opponent. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

In their two previous encounters in 2011 PNCC and 2011 Palau Invitational Chess Championship, Bernard Garcia, left, has never beaten Paquito Suringa, Jr. yet... until today, Oct. 27. After acquiring a Candidate Master title in Istanbul World Chess Olympiad, Bernard has yet to lose a game.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Menandro is still waiting. The schedule game is between Roberto Hernandez and Jose Celiz and Celiz didn't make it so... (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Roberto vs. Menandro played their 2nd game instead so not to spare the time that both are available. In their Pirc Defence encounter, Hernandez exchange his knight for 5 pawns, 4 of them connected. When Manuel blundered away his knight, he immediately resign. A rare sweep of Roberto over his teammate in 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey --Manuel.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Dennis Gonzales, right, is available only on Sundays. He took advantage on the availability of Sisior sisters and scored 2 points from Destiny, left, his older sister Angelil and another lady player Mary Frances Lopez, who played his first 3 games of the event.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Mary Frances Lopez also defeated the Sisior sisters.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Destiny Sisior was motivated to write her moves as all the other players including the kids are writing their moves now.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

The postpponed game on Saturday was finally played between Roberto Hernandez, left, and Jose Celiz on Sunday at 2:30 pm. Roberto is wearing one of the 3 Palau Chess Team in Istanbul Olympiad uniform with "Palau" word at the back and Palau flag in front.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Jon Manuel Reyes finally played on Sunday, Oct. 28. He lost his first game to Zachery Techall Whipps but won over Destiny Sisior, left, in his second game.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Tito Cabunagan felt the sting of new Candidate Master of Palau Bernardo Garcia in the last game of the day that lasted till 6:30 pm. Tito lost in 25 moves but he swept Manuel also to put Manuel on a 3-4 win-loss slate.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Dan Roldan, left, vs. Jeff Balbalosa with CM Bernard Garcia watching.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Paquito Suringa, Jr. just got off from work at 2pm at Palau Royal Resort Cafeteria, just a few meters from the venue. He asked for a 5-minute rest before his game vs. CM Bernardo Garcia.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Jose Celiz didn't come for his 2pm match with Roberto Hernandez, left. Menandro Manuel, right, suggested that they play their 2nd game since he has no opponent at that time. Hernandez defeated him for a rare sweep.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

First game of Mary Frances Lopez against 9-year-old Angelil Sisior. 1-0

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Roberto Hernandez, standing in the middle, set up the tournament site on Friday evening. There was a previous function at the Conference Room and the u-shaped arrangement stayed as it is to save time. He has to use a plywood to set a chessboard on a narrower table.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Dennis Gonzales, right, took advantage on the availability of Angie Parrado's daughters and defeated them both and Mary Frances Lopez to lead the Class B of the event.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Mary Frances Lopez still not acquainted with writing chess notations. She's uncomfortable at first but lately, getting used to it in her 2nd and 3rd game.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

6-year-old Destiny Sisior is being motivated by her mom Angie Parrado to write her moves in every game like her sister Angelil is doing.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Angelil Sisior wrote all the moves in her previous 4 games where she won 2 and lost 2.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Roberto Hernandez, left, scored his 4th straight victories over Jose Celiz, who blundered on the 30th move. He asked Roberto if he can still move back his blundered move but he already let go off the bishop. Even though he move the bishop to other legal squares, the mate will still ends the game.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Ksau Anthony Whipps has a 50% performance after losing to Angie Parrado in the 3rd week.

He lost his first game to Luciano Sibayan and won over the Sisior sisters.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

First game of Jon Manuel Reyes -- a loss to 9-year-old Zachery Techall Whipps.

Angie Parrado needs some sponsorship to be able to participate in the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway to be held on August 01-14, 2014.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

In this position, Jose Celiz already lost the exchange -- a rook for a bishop.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Angie lost another one -- to Jeff Balbalosa in 56 moves of Reti Opening.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Eric Ksau Whipps, right, practices with Geoff Martin in the 3rd week of 2012 PNCC while waiting for the kids to finish their games.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Tito Cabunagan swept Menandro Manuel in more than 60 moves. A rare feat for Tito, who won in their first game by time forfeit when Menandro lost track of the time control being used in this 2012 PNCC which is 90 minutes for each player to finish the game + 30 seconds increment.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Mary Frances Lopez defeated the Sisior sisters but lost to Dennis Gonzales here.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Jon Manuel Reyes. right, lost to Zachary Techall Whipps in his first game of the event but bounced back from defeat and dealt Destiny Sisior her 4th loss.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Last game of the 3rd week -- CM Bernardo Garcia vs. Tito Cabunagan 1-0.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

(334) DAY OF UPSETS (Alenain Seizes Lead)

FINALS CLINCHING GAME
Romeo Caballes, right, defeated Andres 'Aying' Mestizo II, left, in this final game of qualification round to clinch a spot in the finals of 2009 Palau National Chess Championship. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

DAY OF UPSETS
ALENAIN SEIZES LEAD IN PAX CUP CLASS B

ELPIDIO MANALIGOD was not bothered by an earlier loss to Bernard Garcia in 43 moves of King's Pawn Opening and played with top seed Menandro 'Boy' Manuel (FIDE Rating 1942) in late afternoon of All Saints Day Nov. 01 at D. J. Cruz General Merchandise premises in the resumption of 2009 Palau National Chess Championship.

It's a double-edged game until Elpi managed to post a pawn at h6 on the 37th move. Positional struggle ensued till Manuel touched a wrong rook that forced him to exchange his queen for a pair of rooks.

A clever 4-move queen maneuver by Elpi cost Manuel a pawn and a bishop and his first loss in 53 moves of Sicilian Defence.

Manuel offered a draw on the 46th move that Elpi declined by just smiling and resuming play.

Prior to that upset, another strong player is struggling with time and passive position. With 31 seconds remaining on his clock, Craig Dittrich was mated by Bangladeshi bet Masum Billah on the 35th move of their Queen's Gambit Accepted encounter.

Dittrich is 5 moves short of gaining another 30 minutes on his 41st move while Billah had less than an hour left on his clock.

In the 2nd week of the NCC, Billah upsets Roberto Hernandez for his first win against 5 losses. After his 2nd victory, he suffered his 6th loss 2 hours later to Manuel in 33 moves of another Sicilian Defence.

At 10:30 am, a Class B match was set again for Jaime Guevarra vs. Mario Ramos this time, who arrived at 1:30 pm.

Jaime played with Jose Misael de Jesus instead and suffered back-to-back Sunday losses using the Pirc Defence again in 41 moves.

Of his first 4 moves, 3 are pawn moves. He needs to learn more about Pirc Defence or Yugoslav Defence, which was the pet defence used by Asia's first Grandmaster (GM) Eugene Torre in achieving his final GM norm in the 1974 World Chess Olympiad in Nice, France.

A blitz chess contest was planned at 7 pm but was cancelled when Hernandez had to go back at Palau Royal Resort to play with 2 invited players at the resumption of Paquito Suringa Invitational Rapid Chess tournament at PRR Dorm 1.

He subdued Andres 'Aying' Mestizo II in their first game with the black pieces. He played both Guevarra and Mestizo II at the same time with the white pieces and prevailed in both games.

Another invited player, Arnel Ogalesco, played his second game with Hernandez and the latter handily won. Hernandez played both Suringa and Nino Flores on the afternoon of Nov. 04 and prevailed again in both games but lost the 2nd game to Nino and won his second game with Suringa to totes a 9-1-0 win-loss-draw slate.

Akram Hossain arrived before 7:00 pm and played his 4th game against de Jesus and lost in 39 moves of King's Pawn Opening.

De Jesus or Jimboy is on a roll as he clobbered the player that ousted him to the finals-- Mohammad Manik Hossain in 48 moves of French Defence for his 3rd straight game after a protested first game loss.

Rey Alenain seized the upper hand in Class B of Pax Cup by trouncing top seed Elizalde Madrinan in their second game to overtake erstwhile leader Miguel Gancayco.

Class C (Women's Division) is yet to start when the invited player Kristen Senajon didn't make it on Saturday evening.

CURRENT STANDINGS: Class A --
1. Roberto Hernandez (9-1-0) 2. Andres Mestizo II (5-7-2) 3. Paquito Suringa, Jr. (5-6-1) 4. Arnel Ogalesco (4-3-1) 5. Jaime Guevarra (3-4-3) 6. Nino Flores (3-3-0) 7. Jomar Alerta (1-2-1) 8. Robert Tubice (0-4-0) 9. Joel Flor (0-0-0)

Class B --
1. Rey Alenain (7-3-0) 2. Miguel Gancayco (6-2-1) 3. Elizalde Madrinan (4-2-2) 4. Randy Sioson (5-4-0) 5. Jerome Ratunil (4-4-0) 6. Ferdie Altea (3-3-0) 7. Joel Gabris (4-6-0) 8. George Gabris (2-8-0) 9. Ronel Gutierrez (0-2-0).

Some of the 2009 Palau NCC games can be viewed at website: http://chessconnoisseur.blogspot.com

The Mahor-Mercado, Montel-Suringa, Hernandez-Billah and Mahor-Garcia are featured with an in-depth analysis of Papua New Guinea's top chess player Joselito Marcos.


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 13 & 15
Volume 18
Issue 45
November 09-15, 2009

(333) MUSIC AND ME (Oct. 25) Parents' Support

PICTORIAL WITH TAIWAN BEAUTIES
On October 09, 2012, these Taiwanese beauties have a pictorial with Roberto Hernandez before 11:00 pm. One of them gave him $5.00 tip for playing "Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin", the most popular Taiwanese song according to Hernandez, that even 4-year-old kids know the song. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



    PARENTS' SUPPORT IN THEIR
       CHILDREN MUSIC STUDY

I’M TEACHING Uroi Salii piano in 2001 the song “Jamaica Farewell” and her parents, Carlos ‘Hiros’ Salii and Bilung Gloria Salii, were resting inside their room.

The melody of the song sounds familiar to them and they both get out of the room and sang with me with Uroi playing the accompaniment of the song on the upright piano.
After singing, they asked me, “Is that (Jamaica Farewell) the title of that song?” I said yes. Mr. Salii said, “I know the melody but I didn’t know the title of the song.

It’s a very nice feeling that the parents of my students help and support their kids’ music study. When I pursue my musical career, I have to pay for my own tuition fees and other expenses in studying at Yamaha School of Music because my parents can’t afford it.

I always point it out to my students who have parents that can afford their musical study; that they should appreciate being how lucky they are for having all those resources to learn so they must show their appreciation to their parents by studying hard and learning their favorite songs even though it’s oldies but goodies.

It’s a very special sensation if parents can sing songs and their kids are the ones playing the instruments instead of singing karaoke – which is a machine. Live musicians can adjust to the tempo and pitch of the songs. While there is now pitch control in most karaoke machines, the ‘free-timing’ in singing with live musician is something different. In karaoke, you follow the machine while in live musicians, they follow the singer.

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.

Source: Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez

             Tia Belau Newspaper

             Pages 12-13

             Volume 21

             Issue 75

            Octobert 25, 2012

(332) CITIZENSHIP IN PALAU by Dmitri Kyle Villanueva

TRYING EVERYTHING

Dmitri Kyle Villanueva and his father Norbert participated in all 3 major chess tournaments in Palau in 2003-- the 2003 Open, the 2003 Age Group and the 2003 Seniors and Juniors Open. He is only 8 and a half years old when he played 58-year-old Ben Ramos in the Class B of 2003 Open at Image Restaurant.

Now a teen-ager, he has tried everything from chess to basketball, weightlifting, essay writing and other sports and activities in trying to discover which one he will excell.

Youth in Palau POV: CITIZENSHIP IN PALAU]
From Dmitri Kyle Villanueva
December 14, 2011

Palau's current laws on citizenship are very strict. To become a citizen in the Republic of Palau, one must have Palauan blood. In other words, at least one of his or her parents has to be Palauan. In some other countries like the United States, citizenship can be gotten Jus Soli, meaning if a person is born on in the boundaries of the USA, then that person is automatically eligible to be a citizen, even if both parents are not citizens. In the United States, people can also become citizens through the process of naturalization. This means that an immigrant can apply for citizenship after living in the United States for a certain number of years and meet certain requirements. In Palau though, the only way to become a citizen is by being born of a Palauan parent.

There are some possible detrimental affects to allowing foreigners to gain citizenship. One is overpopulation. Palau is a tiny island nation and it doesn't currently have the infrastructure to support a large population. One has to think about what might happen if we start making people citizens and they decide to move their families from outside Palau, into Palau. The population could increase by a lot, and this could cause problems to the infrastructure. Another possible harm is that the crime rate will go up.

As the population increase, and different people become “Palauans”, more crime might happen, and also more poverty too, as there aren’t enough substantial jobs. Another one that I can think of is the further loss of Palauan culture. Now all the other detrimental effects are just my speculation, but the loss of Palauan culture as we know and practice it now will no doubt happen and happen at a faster rate if allow more people from different backgrounds to become citizens. There may even be clashes between the blood born Palauans and the naturalized Palauans. If this happens, then it would be very bad for society. Very bad.

Now to the good things that might come about if we allow foreigners to become citizens. One upside to allowing others to become naturalized citizens is that it may be good for the economy. We all hear about how foreign workers send their wages back home and don't spend it in Palau. The theory goes that if they were citizens and so were their families, then they would spend their money in Palau and so the money will circulate within Palau’s economy and not be sent off to a different place. Another good thing that I can think of is an increase in social diversity. People with different ideas and backgrounds from a Palauan would see things differently. And sometimes, it’s good to have different viewpoints because it provides more options. Maybe a person not from the traditional Palauan background can show an alternative way of doing things that may improve society. Another good thing is that we can make better the work force. Palau is lacking a lot of professionals or tradesmen. There aren’t many doctors, mechanics, and I’ve definitely never heard of a Palauan engineer. Most of these positions are filled by foreigners. If these people were citizens and they lived here as citizens and not just workers, and their families were here, then maybe it would be good for society. They would actually have a stake in Palau and its government, they would treat Palau

as their own country, their money earned from work can be spent within Palau, and they would receive all the privileges being a citizen has. I mean, just imagine if all the doctors from outside working in the hospital were to become citizens, and stayed in Palau as their home and not just a work place. Wouldn't that be good?

My position on this issue is that I think it would be a good idea to allow foreigners the chance to become citizens, but regulations have to be made and it has to be done right. We can't just allow anyone to be citizens, but I think we could use some citizens from outside. Palau I think has one of the best and easiest standards of living in the world. So I think given the chance, many people would of course want to become citizens. I have spoken to a friend who works here and has a wife back home. He sends his money back home. He misses his wife but he says it would be better for him to go back then to bring his wife here where although it is easy living, he cannot get the same benefits of being a citizen like social security and so on. And I think that if they do become citizens and live here, as with others, then it would improve the social atmosphere in Palau. Like adding another screw into the structure of Palauan society, or something like that. But of course, there has to be rules governing the naturalization of people into citizens, like a foreigner has to stay here for a specified amount of time to allow him or her to properly learn the norms of our society. This person must also be a functioning member of society and prove that his addition into officially becoming part of our nation can only do more good than harm. It must be done in a way to minimize the unwanted effects of allowing foreigners to become citizens. Also, allowing naturalized citizens will eliminate the need for any “front businesses” because then people don't have to be deceptive about starting their business, and more of the small businesses can be truly owned by Palauan citizens

Now, if it was up to me, right now I would only allow a few foreigners to become citizens, one of them is a guy named Kelvin. He is Filipino by blood but I’ve never once heard him speak Tagalog and in fact, every time I hear him he is speaking Palauan. He is familiar with the way of life here, because he was born and raised here. Other people that I know and think would be good if they were allowed to be citizens now are people like Mr. George Domingo. He speaks fluent Palauan and was a productive member of our society, though I haven’t seen him around lately and had no idea where he is now. (He is currently in the United States with his wife Donna, a former school teacher at Maris Stella School for quite a while). But what I mean is, we should allow the opportunity to people who have shown that they do make good citizens and contribute to the workings of Palauan society. We just have to have a process by which we can go about making sure the prospective citizens are good, like they have no criminal records, and that they meet certain requirements to become naturalized citizens, like a predetermined residency and substantial knowledge of the norms in Palauan society. I cannot tell of how this will be done, as civics is definitely not my area, but I think that if done right by the right government in Palau, then it could work and work very well.

(331) GAME OF THE WEEK: CELIZ VS. MANUEL

THE COUSINS
Ksau Anthony Whipps practices with cousin Zachary Techall Whipps on October 14, 2012. The entry of Techall become official when Manuel 'Jun' Mahor confirmed his participation in the Class B of 2012 PNCC. Another lady was added to the field of 18 players-- Mary Frances Lopez.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



            GAME OF THE WEEK:
            CELIZ VS. MANUEL

THERE are only 3 games played in the 2^nd week action of 2012 Palau National Chess Championship but the match between 7^th seed Jose Celiz and 2^ndMenandro Manuel was one for the ages as they battled it out till the last 2 minutes of their game that lasted almost 4 hours.

In their Queen’s Gambit Declined encounter, Celiz missed a forced exchange of queens and the recovery of the go-ahead pawn of Menandro. A positional maneuvering ensued with Manuel’s king travelling 5 squares. With a little over 2 minutes left in each of their clock, Manuel was able to penetrate his queen with a check followed by a well-posted knight check that is ripe for a wonderful smothered mate.

Roberto Hernandez and Paquito Suringa, Jr. are watching their game. Manuel missed the clean smothered mate on the 50^th move of Nh3++ instead of the actual 50. … Nd3+, Hernandez showed him the most spectacular ending by sacrificing his queen without material consideration with 51. … Qg1+. If Celiz will capture with either rook or knight, the smothered mate of the knight on f2 is inevitable.

THE MOVES: Jose Celiz (White) vs. Menandro Manuel (Black) 1. D4 d5 2. C4 Nc6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Bf4 Nd7 5. C5 Nh5 6. Bd2 e5 7. E3 Nf6 8. F3 Be7 9. Bd3 b6 10. B4 Qc7 11. Ne2 h5 12. 0-0 Nf8 13. Qc2 Ne6 14. A4 Bd7 15. Ng3 exd4 16. Ne2 bxc5 17. Exd4 c4 18. Bf5 Bd6 19. Re1 h4 20. Nf1 Rb8 21. Rab1 Kf8 22. Rb2 Rg8 23. Rb1 g6 24. Bh3 g5 25. Bf5 g4 26. Bh6+ Ke7 27. Bxe6 Bxe6 28. F4 Ne4 29. Ne3 f6 30. Nxc4 Rg6 31. Nxd6 Qxd6 32. F5 Rxh6 33. Fxe6 Qxe6 34. B5 f5 35. Rc1 Rb6 36. Qb3 Qd6 37. Rxc6 Rxc6 38. bxc6 Qxc6 39. Re2 Qd7 40. Qb8 Rc6 41. Qe5+ Kd8 42. Qh8+ Kc7 43. … to be continued next issue.

Latest results of Sunday’s games:

Angie Parrado defeated Freddie Gloria in 30 moves of King’s Pawn Opening; Candidate Master Bernardo Garcia played his first game after gaining his CM title against Jojo Escapatoria and prevailed in 38 moves of English Opening.

Nilo de Jesus was asked to come in case American lawyer Scott Hess become very busy and can’t play 17 games in 6 weeks. He played an official game vs. Dennis Gonzales and prevailed in 42 moves of another King’s Pawn Opening; Dennis bounced back from defeat and dealt Angie her first loss with a 62 moves conquest of a Ruy Lopez Opening.

Neophyte 9-year-old Zachary Techall Whipps played his first tournament game and lost to 6-year-old Destiny Sisior, who gained her 2^nd win and still undefeated until she lost to Ksau Anthony Whipps, who earlier clobbered Destiny’s 9-year-old sister Angelil in 28 moves of Bishop Opening.

Techall lost to Angelil in just 5 moves of another Bishop Opening.

Jeff Balbalosa nipped Luciano ‘Bong’ Sibayan in 56 moves of another Ruy Lopez.

2^nd seed Menandro Manuel was not aware that the time control is only 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment and lost to Tito Cabunagan by time forfeit. Tito still has 37 minutes left in his clock. The time forfeit was noticed after they have made 62 moves already of their Sicilian Defence game.

Roberto Hernandez took the measure of Palau’s top chess player Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. in 48 moves of Danish Gambit where Hernandez had a whole rook advantage going into the endgame.

Paquito Suringa, Jr. and Escapatoria are still playing at press time as well as the top 2 seeds (Manuel vs. Montel, Jr.).

Jeff Martin visited the tournament venue and would like to be a member of Palau Chess Federation and to join also but the limited number of rated players prevented him to join outright. If there will be a withdrawal from the unrated players, then he could be accommodated.

Elpidio Manaligod called Hernandez and he would like to come in the evening to play his first game. After the regular games are finished, a blitz contest is planned between available players.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              Pages 13 & 15

             Volume 21

             Issue 75

             October 22, 2012