(694) MUSIC AND ME (Jan. 23, 2014) 1,000 YEN FOR PLAYING "LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING"

A MOVIE FILMED IN HONG KONG
    The Japanese guy in the middle requested me a song which he can't hum or remember the lyrics. He just said it's a love story theme from a movie shot in Hong Kong. My music instinct helped me guessed it right!
                                                      (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



            LOVE IS A MANY
        SPLENDORED THING

It was not a busy night in Feb. 2014 and I'm playing piano at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort. I played the usual songs that I'm playing when there's a variation of customers -- 1 Japanese song, 1 Taiwanese song and 1 American song.

There's an old Japanese couple about 12 meters from me. The guy said, "I can't speak very good English but I want to request a song from a movie shot in Hong Kong."

That's the only hint that he had about the song. I asked him if he can hum the tune, but he can't.

When he left to be with his wife, it suddenly comes to mind the song "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" and played it right away with expression.

The guy stand up in excitement! He thought that I really know that it's the song that he is requesting. It's just an educated guess. What a guess!

After that, I followed it up with more love songs from movie themes --Moon River from "Breakfast At Tiffany's", Somewhere My Love from Dr. Zhivago, As Time Goes By from Casablanca, etc.

Then I saw him get the room key and go to their room. I think I know what he will do. He don't have cash in his possession so he will get from their room.

When he comes back, he comes straight to me and said, "This is just what I've got-- 1,000 yen." Or equivalent to about $10.00.

When they are paying their bill, I stopped playing and asked them for a picture session as souvenir. Two shots were taken and I noticed that they paid in cash -- in dollars.

     

Source: Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
           The Beginning of Chess In Palau
           By Roberto Hernandez
           January 2014
           To be published as a book in the future     

(693) Micronesian Open, Palau Chess Team to Norway, Increased PCF Membership (TBN-Feb. 10, 2014)

KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES
     Mr. Brian Jones, right, President of Oceania Chess Confederation, is coming to Palau for 7 days with his wife Margaret for talks about the promotion of chess in Oceania and the holding of Micronesian Open. The other Jones, Rupert, was a roommate of Roberto Hernandez in the 2009 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship and 2009 Gold Coast Open in Australia.                             (Photo by Roberto Hernandez) 


                MICRONESIAN OPEN, 
       PALAU CHESS TEAM TO NORWAY,
         INCREASED PCF MEMBERSHIP

 

THERE is still a chance for the Micronesian Open to push through with FM/IO Brian Jones of Australia as the only foreign player to participate or act as supervising arbiter and Palau Chess Federation President Eric Ksau Whipps to be his assistant so that Eric can add a norm to his FIDE Arbiter Title aspiration as he passed the exam for it during the World Youth Chess Championship in Al Ain, UAE.

                In a meeting with Board Members of PCF, it was agreed that a round-robin Micronesian Open will be held at Palau Royal Resort Conference Room on Feb. 19-24, 2014 with Mr. Jones against Palau players with 1600 ratings and above.

                A separate division will also be held with 1600 and below ratings so that unrated local players/newcomers will have a chance to try their savvy in a real chess tournament.

                Mr. Jones and his wife Margaret was booked by Roberto Hernandez at Palau Royal Resort for his 7-day stay (Feb. 18-25, 2014). If no tournament will be held during their stay, he’ll have a talk with PCF officials about chess development in Oceania, where he’s the president of Oceania Chess Confederation.

     THE NEW TENTATIVE LINE-UP OF PALAU CHESS TEAM TO NORWAY IS THE BEST EVER:

HEAD OF DELEGATION:  Frank Kyota or Baklai Temengil                  DELEGATE: Eric Ksau Whipps

MEN/OPEN TEAM:          Captain: Roberto Hernandez                      Board 1: Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr.

                                                Board 2: Tito Cabunagan                      Board 3: CM Bernardo Garcia

     Board 4: Mohammad Manik Hossain               Reserve: Ksau Flores Whipps or Jeffrey Balbalosa

WOMEN’S TEAM:          Captain: Tutii Joe Chilton or Jeffrey Balbalosa or Ksau Flores Whipps

                                         Board 1: Angelica Parrado            Board 2: Gladys Anne Paloma

                                         Board 3: Baby Edna Mission         Board 4: Destiny Sisior or Joy Flores Whipps

                                                Reserve: Joy Flores Whipps or Kayah Flores Whipps

                Roberto praised this selection of Eric with an email:

                “I like your suggested line-up of Palau Chess Team! It's a dream come true to me! I've waited for 8 years for this moment to have Palauans in the team. I can't ask for more. By being the team captain, I can attend the International Arbiters seminar/training/exam like what Jamie did in Istanbul. That's where he got his IA title. He grabbed that opportunity. I'll get my chance this time.
    Thank God for having you as PCF President!”

                Eric is humble enough to reply with: “Thank you Roberto, I'm glad I could help anyway possible. Thanks again for including me in Palau Chess. Let's meet soon to discuss future of Chess in Palau.”

Here’s an inspired and grateful email of Eric to Mr. Geoffrey Borg and Mr. Ignatius Leong:

Hello Mr. Borg and Mr. Leong,

            I would like to thank FIDE and both of you for your continued support. This year looks to be a very bright year for the development of chess in Palau. Interest from within Palau has grown and can expect to add around 20 Palauan citizens as members to the Palau Chess Federation and another 30 Palau residents within this year.

Meetings with Palau National Olympic Committee and various government offices will also help with exposure and future development of chess. The interest in Palau from both FIDE and other FIDE members also may bring more opportunities for development and cooperation in the near future.

I am thankful that I was able to attend the WYCC in UAE last year as it helped to show how active chess is, as I did not realize how large and dedicated the chess community is today. The chess competitions give immeasurable benefits to those who can represent their countries in international competition. It was amazing to see young children play with such skill and become so emotional with every game.

During the event I was also fortunate enough to meet FIDE President Ilyumzhinov and Deputy President Makropoulos together with CEO Borg and ACF Gen. Sec. Abundo. Unfortunately I only learned upon departure that Mr. Kasparov was present at WYCC and that Mr. Berglund decided not to attend.

 I would like to thank Mr. Borg and Mr. Abundo for their visit to Palau last week. Palau Chess thanks you all for your genuine interest to provide support and commitment to continue promotion and development of chess in Palau and the world.

Best Regards, Eric Ksau Whipps

The increase of PCF membership is the fastest in 9 years, garnering 36 new members and 2 honorary members (Mr. Geoffrey Borg of Malta and Mr. Graeme Gardiner of Australia).

The numbers will grow more after the conclusion of the ongoing Ksau Cup Blitz Chess Tournament. As suggested by Mr. Borg and Mr. Abundo, local chess tournament must be held constantly to reach all areas of Palau and to improve chess activities and levels of play.

Roberto won the Board of Directors seat (9^th place) in the TFCP election and the oath taking ceremony will be held on Sunday, Feb. 09, 2014 at D’ Multi Purpose Convention Hall from 5-9pm with the Guest Speaker none other than Eric Ksau Whipps, who is also the Honorary Consul of the Philippines.

Solution to last week’s puzzle: 1. Qh8+!! Kxh8 2. Nxf7++ Kg8 3. Nh6 mate.

This week’s puzzle: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

From left to right, Joy Flores Whipps, Eric Ksau Whipps, Lourdes Funa, Polycarp Basilius, Tito Cabunagan and Ben Asuncion during the Oath Taking Ceremony of TFCP Election winners.
                                       (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

  Nonoy Arganda, left, and fellow Board Member winner Roberto Hernandez.
                                                     (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

The 15 winners of Board of Directors seats (left to right) -Beth Cabunagan and Rogie Salazar (Emcees) 1. Lorna Asido 2. Obet Aguilar 3. Nonoy Arganda 4. Lita Campingco 5. Rey Fortus 6. Let Tayag 7. Philip Afable 8. Lourdes Funa 9. Bhoie Castaneda (right to left, back row) 10. Conrado Almanzar 11. Angel Salvador 12. Roberto Hernandez 13. Anthony Eusebio 14. Nimfa Ramos 15. Rhea Malonzo
                                           (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Elected top 3 positions- left to right- Louis Molina (2nd Vice President), Aga David (President), Max Joseph Asido (1st Vice President) and Eric Ksau Whipps, Honorary Consul of the Philippines to Palau, President of Palau Chess Federation and Palau Badminton Federation.

                                  (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez

             Tia Belau Newspaper

             Pages 13-14

             Volume 23 

             Issue 12

             February 10, 2014