(351) MUSIC AND ME (Nov. 29) Tennessee Waltz + Dahil Sa Iyo = $100.00 & Asahi Beer

HALLOWEEN FUN
This young Japanese couple enjoyed Halloween night with my music and not by Trick or Treat. They transfered to a table near me so that they can enjoy more. $15.00 and a promise to come back to Palau is more than enough for me. ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU!                                             (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)




             TENNESSEE WATLZ +
          DAHIL SA IYO = $100.00
                  & ASAHI BEER

ALTHOUGH I lost 2 chess games in week 6 of 2012 Palau National Chess Championship, I get lucky when I played piano for 3 hours at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort.

At about 6:30 pm, a group of old Japanese guest arrived with 3 of them on a wheel chair. A lady, who is wearing a colorful blouse, is pointing at my notes where there are no music scores but only a notebook with handwritten songs and a thinner notebook for alphabetical list of my international songs repertoire.

Executive Chef Masaki Horie is watching closely if I will play Japanese songs to them. I didn’t play any. Instead, I played very old American songs.

20 minutes later, he came to me with Maricar Genova, Restaurant Supervisor, with Asahi beer (in can) and put in next to my glass of water. Horie said the guest gave me that beer and I must come to her and say thank you. I finished the song I’m playing and go to her to say thank you and back to piano again and put the beer beside the water goblet with Horie saying, “Drink it later.”

When I drank the last drop of water, Horie took the beer and said, “I put it in the chiller and you can drink it later.” I said, ‘Okay, at 9:00 pm.”

Minutes later, Maricar told me that Horie said that I should drink that beer after playing at Breeze Bar, which is past 11:00 pm. Horie thought that I have that kind of “craving” to drink alcohol. He didn’t know that in my almost 21 years in Palau, I never been drunk even once. I drink only if customers gave me drinks. The last time I buy alcohol for my consumption is more than 18 years ago.

I didn’t drink that Asahi beer. I put it next to Budweiser beer given to me by a guest last week and next to a half bottle of Suntory 12 years old whisky given to me be a Japanese family 2 years ago.

When I play the song “Tennessee Waltz”, the lady who gave a drink come to the piano and said to me, “That’s my favorite song”. She watches me play it to the end. I’m playing it in key of F.

After the song, she asks me if she can play. I looked around and I can’t see Horie. If he’s around, I’ll ask him if he will allow her to play a song, which I think he will approve.

She played the same song “Tennessee Waltz” but in key of C. After playing it, there is a controlled applause from her 2 friends sitting next to her. Then, she asks me, “Are you a Filipino?” When I said yes, she played “Dahil Sa Iyo” which means “Because of You”.

I can’t resist myself to sing it while she’s playing while I’m always on the lookout if Horie is around. When she finished the song, I gave her my card and asked her, “How did you learn that song?” She just smiled.

I haven’t eaten my dinner yet and I’m always looking at the time because the cafeteria is closing at 7:30 and Horie is always around. When it’s 7:20, I still didn’t have a chance even for a quick bite.

It’s worth it because the lady who gave me Asahi beer gave me also $100.00 tip before going home. She puts it behind my thinnest notebook.

Maricar saw it and after the guests left, she look at it and ‘broadcast’ it on her 2-way radio – “It’s confirm, it’s confirm! Robert got $100.00 tip”.

Those who heard the ‘broadcast’ ask for soda – Mildred (Dr. Pepper’s), Pebee (7-up), Jovy (Pepsi), Maricar (C2 Apple flavor) and Maricel (Coke).

Source:
Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez

Tia Belau Newspaper

Pages 8 & 11

Volume 21

Issue 86

November 29, 2012

(350) AS CLOSE AS IT GETS (TBN-Nov. 26, 2012)

POLO SHIRTS DONATION OF PPR
    CM Bernardo Garcia, left, shakes hands with Class A leader Roberto Hernandez before the start of their 2nd game. They are both wearing PPR polo shirts donated to Palau Chess Team to 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.                   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


          AS CLOSE AT IT GETS

THE 6^th week of the 2012 Palau National Chess Championship produced one of the most exciting games of the event. It’s pivotal to Candidate Master Bernardo Garcia’s quest for a first national title after gaining his CM title in the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.

After drawing his game against Jose Celiz on Saturday, Nov. 17, he lost on the same day to erstwhile Palau’s number one player Menandro Manuel but bounced back with a vengeance on the next day to beat 3^rd seed Roberto Hernandez in 37 moves of English Opening and avenged his loss to Manuel with a 37-move conquest of a Nimzo-Indian Defence.

Thus, Garcia moves half point closer to Hernandez in the leadership after the latter lost another one to Gonzalo Escpatoria in 48 moves of Danish Gambit where they used a shorter time control of 45 minutes with 30 seconds increment so that Hernandez can make it on time for work and to submit his chess report to Tia Belau.

Jon Manuel Reyes lost to Baby Edna Mission, the replacement of Lenge Gibbons who can’t finish 20 games in 3 weeks. Mission, formerly known as Bheng Codinera Mendoza, whips Zachary Techall Whipps in 21 moves of King’s Pawn Opening. Reyes outwitted Mary Frances Lopez in 26 moves of English Opening.

Mission’s winning streak was extended to 3 after beating Angelil Sisor in 30 moves of King’s Pawn Opening but Angelil’s younger sister Destiny avenged her loss by snapping Mission’s streak in 35 moves of Queen’s Pawn Opening.

Current leader Jeff Balbalosa defeated the 2 women players Angie and Mary and drew with Elpidio Manaligod in 37 moves of Sicilian Defence. Martin scored a point over Parrado, for her only 3^rd loss.

Nilo de Jesus extended his winning streak to 6 by trouncing Ksau Anthony Whipps and Geoff Martin but suffered his first loss to Angie Parrado in 40 moves of Pirc Defence.

 In the Class A division, Jose Celiz clobbered Paquito Suringa, Jr. and his co-employee at PPUC Tito Cabunagan scored a convincing victory over Escapatoria.

Roberto emailed Leon Ryan, the President of Guam Echecs, to send an invitation to Mary Frances Lopez so that she can get a US visa to be able to participate in the 2013 Guam World Open Chess. Mr. Ryan will email the invitation and other relevant information about the event on Monday.

Ferdinand Gutierrez left Palau for good last Tuesday, Nov. 20. His remaining games were declared 3 wins (over Luciano Sibayan, Dan Roldan and Manuel Mahor, Jr.); 6 losses (to Balbalosa, Dennis Gonzales, de jesus, Mohammad Manik Hossain, Jaime dela Cruz and Parrado) and draws to the rest of the field.

Mahor’s standings was adjusted to a win and a loss and draws to Paz Ngiratechekii, Sibayan, Gonzales, Hossain, Parrado, Manaligod, Miguel Hilario, who will replace Freddie Gloria, Zachary Whipps, Martin and Mission.

Games on weekdays at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1 are no longer allowed. The games between Mission, Hilario and Lopez were held on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22 at SDA Gym. They borrowed 2 sets of chess materials before going there. Paquito and Cyril Montel, Jr. played blitz chess while 3 official games were played in which Mission prevailed over Hilario and Lopez. Hilario subdued Lopez in 33 moves of QPO.

LATEST RESULTS OF PENULTIMATE ROUND (Nov. 24) – Class A – Celiz prevailed over CM Garcia in their 2^nd game in 34 moves of Nimzo-Indian Defence; Manuel had an equal 6 wins, 6 losses card after nipping Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. in another 34 moves of King’s Indian Defence; Cabunagan swept Hernandez; Manuel swept Escapatoria, too; Celiz stays in contention with a win over Montel, Jr. and Garcia dislodged Hernandez at the top by a mere half point after sweeping Cabunagan.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              Pages 8-9
              Volume 21
              Issue 85
              November 26, 2012

(349) MUSIC AND ME (Nov. 22) Changing the lyrics and title

10-HOUR TRIP (PHILIPPINES-PALAU)
Roberto Hernandez, left, met a Filipino pilot, who fly a 5-seater plane from Philippines to Palau to be used by Palau Missionary Aviation for convenient travel to Angaur, Peleliu and other far states. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



        CHANGING THE LYRICS AND TITLE
          (Intentionally or Accidentally)

IIN BETWEEN 1994-2004, I have a lot of experiences with singing customers while operating karaoke at Image Restaurant. Some of them are intentionally changing the lyrics and some of them don’t know the title of the song that they like to sing.

A Palauan guy requested to me once of the song “Wise Men”. I don’t know a song by that title and it comes to my mind that the first 2 words of the song “Can’t Help Falling In Love” starts with “Wise Men Say, Only Fools Rush In”. When I play it, he said that’s it. And I will politely say to him that the title of that song is “Can’t Help Falling In Love”.

A few months later, another Palauan guy requested me the song “When The Night”. I know that what this guy means is the song “Stand By Me” that starts with “When The Night Has Come”. When the song is ready to play, I said to him, “Ole, here’s your song “When The Night”. Laughter follows.

Many Palauans can speak or understand Japanese language. The Japanese song “Kokoni Sachi Ari” is very popular to many of them but the title is hard to memorize so it’s easy for them to request to me the first word of that song that becomes more popular than the title – “Arashi”.

Intentionally, I’m changing the first 2 lines of the lyrics “Blue Bayou” – I fell so bad I’ve got a worried mind, I’m so lonesome all the time. I changed the “lonesome” to“handsome”.

The same with the song by Lobo “How Can I Tell Her” – She knows when I’m lonesome (handsome).

The 5^th stanza of the song “House of the Rising Sun” is this – Well, I’ve got one foot on the platform, The other foot on the train, I’m going back to New Orleans, To wear THAT ball and chain.

Change one word to the last line “To wear that ball and chain” to “To wear MY BALLS and chain.”

And just few days ago, on Marcia Florentino’s birthday at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort, she celebrated in with me singing Palauan, Japanese, American songs. When Kurt sang the song “Love Will Keep Us Alive” by Eagles, I teach him to change coda of the song from “When we’re hungry, love will keep us alive” to“When we’re hungry, I will eat you alive.”

When Dodie Pineda sang the song “I Swear” at Image Restaurant many years ago, one letter makes a big difference in the 2^nd stanza of the song – “I see the questions in your eyes, I know what’s weighing on your mind, You can be sure I know my part.” The last word “part”, Dodie sang it “fart”. Silent laughter follows.

Finally, there’s a Chinese lady who requested me to ready the song “Take Me Home Country Roads” by John Denver and she will sing it. My former employer of 13 years Margarita Borja Dalton is having a drink at a nearby table. The first line of the song is “Almost Heaven, West Virginia” and the Chinese lady, who had a hard time with her pronunciation, sung it “Almost Heaven, Wet Vagina”.

Margie called me and whispered, “Do you hear what she sung? Wet Vagina?” Silent laughter follows and we keep it to ourselves. Until now.

Source:
Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 8-9
Vomune 21
Issue 84
November 22, 2012

(348) WEEK 6 STANDINGS AND PHOTOS (2012 PNCC)

Jose Celiz, left, vs. CM Bernardo Garcia in their first game.

Bheng Codinera Mendoza (Baby Edna Mission) right, didn't find the right continuation of moves and lost instead to Bong Sibayan when she lost her queen.

Menandro Manuel, middle, is watching Garcia vs. Celiz match on Sat. Nov. 17. He is next to play
against Bernard after this game.

Menandro Manuel, right, dealt CM Bernardo Garcia his 3rd loss in the last game of Saturday, Nov. 17 at 6:00 pm

STANDINGS AFTER 6 WEEKS

Class A

1. Roberto Hernandez 7 4 0 7 pts.

2. CM Bernardo Garcia 6 3 1 6.5 pts.

3. Tito Cabunagan 5 3 0 5 pts.

4. Menandro Manuel 5 6 0 5 pts.

5. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. 4 3 0 4 pts.

6. Paquito Suringa, Jr. 4 7 0 4 pts.

7. Jose Celiz 2 2 1 2.5 pts.

8. Gonzalo Escapatoria 1 5 0 1 pt.

First game of Sunday, Nov. 18 -- Jon Manuel Reyes, left, vs. Bheng Codinera Mendoza, who is now using her real name as written in her passport -- Baby Edna Mission. She won in 14 moves of Pirc Defence. Tito Cabunagan is watching the game.

After scoring 2 wins over the Sisior sisters, Mary Frances Lopez, left, didn't score a point in her next 7 games. She's got a default win over Paz Ngiratechekii and a draw with Ferdinand Gutierrez, who left Palau for good on Nov. 20. Jose Celiz watches from the sideline.

Mary Frances Lopez, left, lost to Jeff Balbalosa, right. Mary would like to go to Guam to participate in 2013 Guam World Chess Open.

Ksau Anthony Whipps, left, vs. Nilo de Jesus 0-1

CM Bernard Garcia, left, and Roberto Hernandez both wear their 3rd uniform in the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey courtesy of Palau Pacific Resort.

Baby Edna Mission, right, scores 2 straight after trouncing Zachary Techall Whipps in 21 moves of King's Pawn Opening. Tito Cabunagan is watching.

After beating Ksau, Nilo de Jesus, left, continues his winning streak to 6 straight. Here, he outlasted Geoff Martin in 43 moves of Bird's Opening.

Jon Manuel Reyes, left, vs. Mary Frances Lopez 1-0

Nilo de Jesus, left, against Geoff Martin 1-0

Gonzalo Escapatoria, left, lost to Tito Cabuangan after losing a piece earlier in their game.

Before the start of their first game, sporting gesture by shaking hands.

STANDINGS

Class B

1. Jeff Balbalosa 10 1 3 11.5

2. Dennis Gonzales 9 1 2 10

3. Angie Parrado 7 3 3 8.5

4. Ferdinand Gutierrez 3 6 11 8.5

5. Nilo de Jesus 8 1 0 8

6. Luciano Sibayan 6 4 1 6.5

7. Manuel Mahor, Jr. 1 1 10 6

8. Jaime dela Cruz 5 1 2 6

9. Mohammad Manik Hossain 4 3 2 5

10. Ksau Anthony Whipps 3 5 3 4.5

11. Baby Edna Mission 3 2 3 4.5

12. Zachary Techall Whipps 3 5 2 4

13. June Hilario 2 1 4 4

14. Geoff Martin 3 4 2 4

15. Dan Roldan 4 6 0 4

16. Destiny Sisior 3 5 1 3.5

17. Mary Frances Lopez 3 7 1 3.5

18. Angelil Sisior 3 8 1 3.5

19. Elpidio Manaligod 1 1 4 3

20. Paz Ngiratechekii 0 11 6 3

21. Jon Manuel Reyes 2 5 1 2.5

*Updated standings after Ferdinand Gutierrez left Palau for good. His remaining games were draws, losses to higher rated players and wins to his co-employees who refused to play with him when they've got time hoping to get the wins after he left.

*Freddie Gloria had withdrawn due to transportation problem and will be replaced by June Hilario.

(347) HERNANDEZ, BALBALOSA LEAD CLASS A, B (TBN-Nov. 19, 2012)

MEN IN BLACK, MEN IN RED
2 men in black from Surangel and Sons, Menandro Manuel and Jeff Balbalosa, watch the 2 men in red, Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr., left, and Tito Cabunagan, playing their first game of the 2012 PNCC. Pax lost this game being ahead by 2 pawns and couldn't sleep that night.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



              HERNANDEZ, BALBALOSA
                     LEAD CLASS A, B
IT'S BEEN the busiest Sunday of the 2012 Palau National Chess Championship with 16 games played and another 3 games played on Monday afternoon, Nov. 12.

Jeff Balbalosa played 3 games and won it all. He subdued Zachary Techall Whipps in just 12 moves of King’s Pawn Opening; made short work of Angelil Sisior in 24 moves of Giocco Piano and outlasted Geoff Martin in 59 moves of Sicilian Defence for a total of 8 points from 7 wins, a loss and 2 draws.

Dennis Gonzales is just half point behind Balbalosa after scoring 2 full points over Jon Manuel Reyes in 30 moves and against Ksau Anthony Whipps in 38 moves of Irregular Opening for a 7-1-1 win-loss-draw slate.

Angie Parrado played only one game, a win over Reyes in 35 moves of Center Counter, and now in 3^rd spot with a 4-2-2 card and a total of 5 points.

Luciano ‘Bong’Sibayan won 2 games on Sunday and 1 game on Monday to share 3^rdplace with Angie. He clobbered Angelil Sisior in 45 moves of Bishop Opening and trounced Bheng Codinera Mendoza in 33 moves of Queen’s Pawn Opening.

Mendoza lost a game earlier to Dan Roldan in 35 moves of King’s Pawn Opening. She is playing in a possible replacement for Paz Ngiratechekii, who hadn’t showed up in the last 4 weeks.

With the withdrawal of Lenge Gibbons, Mendoza will officially replace Gibbons and will play as many games as she can in the last 3 weeks of the tournament.

Nilo de Jesus, the remaining undefeated player in Class B, didn’t show up last Sunday but kept abreast with the leaders with his clean 4-0-0 record. He will play as many games as he can on the last 3 Saturdays and Sundays of the event.

Dan Roldan tied Nilo and Jaime dela Cruz (3-1-2) at 5^th place after winning over Zachary in 17 moves of King’s Pawn Opening; over Bheng (Paz) in 35 moves of another KPO and against Angelil in 17 moves of yet another KPO. He lost to Martin in 28 moves of… what do you think? Another KPO! He lost another one on Monday against Mohammad Manik Hossain, who climbed from 0-2 slate to 3-3-1 after nipping Ferdinand Gutierrez (1567 rating) and Roldan. He is now at solo 8^thspot followed by Ksau and Zachary with both (3-4-0), Angelil (3-7-0), Freddie Gloria (2-1-0), Martin (2-3-0), Destiny Sisior and Mary Frances Lopez (2-5-0), Elpidio Manaligod (1-1-0), Reyes (1-3-0), Gutierrez (0-1-0) and Paz (0-5-0).

In the Class A division, only 3 games were played on Sunday, Nov. 11. Menandro Manuel drubbed Gonzalo ‘Jojo’ Escapatoria in 28 moves of Sicilian Defence. Paquito ‘Pax’Suringa, Jr. was ahead by 2 pawns but lost when he rushed things to Tito Cabunagan in 60 moves of another Sicilian Defence. Pax can’t sleep that night for letting a win slipped away.

But he bounced back from defeat and dealt Jojo his 5 consecutive losses with a 27-move conquest of a Queen’s Gambit Accepted.

The Class A standings is quite interesting—1. Hernandez at 1^st with a 7-2-0 slate for a total of 7 points and the rest, from 2^nd to 6^thspot have identical number of wins – 4! Candidate Master Bernard Garcia has 2 losses, Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. and Cabunagan have 3 losses, Manuel had 5 and Pax had 6.

At no. 7 is Jose Celiz with 1-2-0 card and at the cellar is Jojo who hadn’t scored a point yet.

Source:
Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 8-9
Volume 21
Issue 83
November 19, 2012

(346) MUSIC AND ME (Nov. 15) My Repertoire of Int'l. Songs)

WITHOUT MR. UEHARA
The Uehara family came to Palau for the 4th time in Oct. 2012. This time, without Mr. Uehara, who is coming again to Palau in January 2013. The regular guests of Palau Royal Resort have been to Palau in February, March, July and lately this October. SEE YOU ALL AGAIN IN JANUARY 2013. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



MY REPERTOIRE OF INTERNATIONAL SONGS

I HAVE compiled my repertoire of international songs in alphabetical order since 2006. On the left side, it’s the year when the song was written. The middle part is composed of the title of the song and the original singer of the song.

And in the right side, it’s my color code of where to look for that song which is R for Red notebook, B for blue notebook, DB for dark blue notebook, DBI is for dark blue international, G is for green notebook, V is for violet notebook, OPM is for Original Pilipino Music notebook, GP is for green notebook Palauan songs  and J is for Japanese songs songbook.

                    repertoire of international songs
                                                         (Roberto A. Hernandez– Musician, PalauRoyal Resort)

YEAR                                                        TITLE/Artist                                                          PAGE

1951                                         ABADABA HONEYMOON                                                  R 182

                                  ABAKADA (Florante) (Filipino Song)

                                                  ABC (Palauan Song)                                                          GP 12

                               ABOUT YOU (Hawaiian Song)

                                    ABSOLUTELY FREE, ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL (Magic)   DB244

1966                                       A CERTAIN SADNESS (Astrud Gilberto)                            R 173

1958                                       A CERTAIN SMILE (Johnny Mathis)                                  G 1

1993                                        ACHY BREAKY HEART (Billy Ray Cyrus)                         G 3

                                                ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (Beatles)                                   R 222

                                ACT NATURALLY (Beatles)                                               R 209

                                                A DAY IN THE LIFE (Beatles)                                             R 188

1940                                      ADIOS MARIQUITA LINDA (Spanish Song)                     R 66

                                               AFTER ALL (Cher and Peter Cetera)                                B 223

1976                                      AFTERNOON DELIGHT (Starlight Vocal Band)               DB245

1974                                      AFTER THE LOVIN’ (Engelbert Humperdinck)                R 161

1984                                    AGAINST ALL ODDS (Phil Collins)

1966                                    A GROOVY KIND OF LOVE (Phil Collins)                           R 160

1964                                    A HARD DAY’S NIGHT (Beatles)                                        R 214

1971                                   A HORSE WITH NO NAME (America)                                R 25

1964                                   A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME                                                  R 174

                                            A I J I N (Japanese Song)                                                      J 1

                            AI NO SANKA (If You Love Me) (Japanese Song)            J 2

                                            A I T A I (Japanese Song)                                                     J 4

                            AKING BITUIN (O ILAW) (Filipino Song)                            OPM133

                                            AKO’Y PINOY (Florante) (Filipino Song)                            OPM 17

                            AKO’Y POBRENG ALINDAHAW (Filipino Song)                  OPM121

                                            ALAALA NG PAG-IBIG (Eddie Peregrina) (Filipino Song)

                          A L A A L A (Freddie Aguilar) (Filipino Song)                      OPM201

                                            AL DI LA (Italian Song)                                                          DBI 19

1966                                  A L F I E                                                                                   B 104

1967                                  A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS (Beatles)                    R 202

1985                                   ALL AT ONCE (Whitney Houston)                                    B 262

1975                                   ALL BY MYSELF (Eric Carmen)                                           B 105

1963                                 ALL I ASK OF YOU (Barbra Streisand)                                  B 225

1958                                 ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM (Everly Brothers)                  B 284

1973                                ALL IN LOVE IS FAIR (Stevie Wonder) DB 24

                                        ALL MY LIFE (America)                                                            R 80

1963                               ALL MY LOVING (Beatles)                                                        R 221

                                        ALL OF A SUDDEN                                                                     DB196

1931                               ALL OF ME (Willy Nelson)                                                         DB124

1980                              ALL OUT OF LOVE (Air Supply)                                                  R 153
                                      ALL THAT SHE WANTS (Ace of Base)                                          R 99 1982                        
                                     ALL THE LOVE IN THE WORLD (Dionne Warwick)                    B 297
1939                            ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE                                                            R 171
1976                            ALL THE TIME (Barry Manilow)                                                    R 81
1979                            ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD (Dr.Hook)                                    DB175

Source: 
MUSIC AND ME by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaer
Pages 8-9
Volume 21
Issue 82
November 15, 2012