(603) MUSIC AND ME (Sept. 12, 2013) KUMA-The Dog That Committed Suicide

Kuma, right, the stinky and horny dog of Margarita Borja Dalton, can't stand the loneliness of being alone. That's why he 'committed' suicide?
Kimo, left, and Atau, middle, are the other 2 dogs of Margie that died earlier than Kuma.                                           (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Flor Hernandez poses beside Kuma while Atau is ready to join the pictorial. The 2003 Palau Open Chess tournament was held at the same spot with Menandro Manuel becoming the champion in his first ever participation beating former champions Eddie Grefiel and Consul General Julius Torres in his first 2 games.
                                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Rest In Peace, Kuma. The 2nd floor of the restaurant is the place where Roberto Hernandez plays piano and operates karaoke for 13 years (July 26, 1992-April 2005).                            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


   KUMA -- The Dog That 
                  Committed Suicide


SINCE 1992, Kuma was the best dog that my employer Margarita Borja Dalton has ever had.

Whenever I go fishing at the lagoon, Kuma always come with me together with Kimo and Atau--which means in Palauan "bad smell". 

My daughter Karen is afraid of dogs when we are living in Muntinlupa City in Philippines.

But when she and my wife Flor came to Palau in June 17, 1995, her phobia to dogs has not been a problem anymore because of Kuma.

Very friendly even to guests of Image Restaurant. I remember one time that Kuma was in the terrace of the restaurant and some guests (Japanese ladies) arrived and they saw Kuma lying at the terrace.

Margie shouted at Kuma to go down but instead of going down, he wag his tail and laid in a 'welcoming' position with his 'tutu' coming out like a jumbo hotdog. The Japanese guests laughed so hard.

When Image Restaurant was sequestered by Bank Of Guam in 2005, me and my wife, Willy and Alice Medalla were the only remaining employees that stayed at the restaurant's staff house while waiting for other house that we can relocate.

When we are moving to Margie's granddaughter Blaire's house, we are so busy with trips bringing all our things to the house which is about 8 kilometers far.

It's almost midnight when Willy took the last trip to get Kuma and secure the place.

During our last trip, we turn off all the lights and locked all the windows and doors of the staff house. I noticed that Kuma is aware that we are leaving the place and he might be thinking that he will be left alone there. His growling sounds different.

Kuma is the only dog left in there because Kimo and Atau died earlier.

I'm expecting Willy to come with Kuma but he came back alone. He told us a very sad story which maybe hard to believe.
 
According to him, when he took the last things that are to be brought, he looked for Kuma for a few minutes. He don't answer to calls, claps and other kinds of things to get his attention.

When he climbed up to the terrace of the restaurant, he found Kuma there with its head in between the railings and lifeless.

His conclusion to it is that Kuma can't stand the loneliness that he is about to face and committed suicide by putting his neck in between the railings and choke himself to death.

Willy buried him in the garden where I used to plant tomatoes, string beans, papaya, bitter melon, eggplant and bell pepper.


Source: Chess And Music: Perfect Combination
           The Beginning Of Chess In Palau
           By Roberto Hernandez
           September 2013
           To be published as a book in the future