After coming back from participating in the 2009 Oceania Zonal Chess
Championship in Australia, Roberto and his dad, wife Flor and daughter Karen
had a photo session in July 02, 2009. The Hernandez couple is back in Palau in
July 4 with Karen almost finished with his Nursing studies. Tata Nano passed
away 3 months later at age 92. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
FATHER AND SON ---
PROUD OF EACH OTHER
ALTHOUGH he didn’t say it literally, Feliciano Hernandez,
Roberto’s dad, expressed it with emotions of how proud he is to have a good
chess playing son.
More
than 40 years ago, the Hernandez family visited their grandmother’s house with
Roberto focused on the friendly chess games being played at the front of their
neighbor’s house. When the players asked Roberto if he’d like to play, he
replaced the player who lost. The ‘format’ of their play is—you stay seated as
long as you keep on winning.
Roberto
easily disposed the first 6 different players. He saw from the emotions of his
dad that he is very proud of him as he didn’t know that Roberto is really good
at chess.
After
beating the next 3, some people from the crowd suggested to call their best
player, who resides about 30 meters from the site. When he played against
Roberto, HE ALMOST GOT A DRAW!
‘Tata
Nano’, Feliciano’s nickname, has been very proud of Roberto about music this
time, when his youngest son Bernardo brought a keyboard and Roberto played it
with fast and slow songs.
When
Roberto is playing “The End of The World” by Lennon Sisters, Tata Nano is being
congratulated by Celerina Dionisio Jumaquio, one of Roberto’s guitar teachers.
They have been to Japan as musician with Roberto for 6 months in Kagoshima City
and Celerina and her husband Rading 17 times in one place-Fukushima, the
hardest hit city by earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.
While
in Korea, Ka Rina (Celerina’s nickname) relate to Roberto why they were denied
Japanese visa for the first time in going to the same place for the 18th
times-- IT’S GOD’S WAY TO SAVE THEM FROM THE DESTRUCTIVE EARTHQUAKE AND
TSUNAMI!
Tata
Nano would like to return the favor that Roberto will be proud of him although
not in chess and music but through other ways. They own a female water buffalo
(carabao). When it gave birth, there’s lot of milk to get from the female
carabao.
Nana
Simeona, Roberto’s mom, would used the empty bottles of vinegar, liquor or soy
sauce, to put the very fresh carabao’s milk and sell it at the market early in
the morning. While walking going there, she will not reach the market as the
milks are sold out on her way!
Roberto’s
breakfast during that time is—freshly cooked steaming rice with carabao’s milk
and a little salt. On the 2nd serving, he will add sugar this time
and presto! He’s got dessert!
That
water buffalo is the one they use to till the land for rice planting. Today,
they used tractors and water buffalos became a source of meat instead of
expensive beef.
Tata
Nano thought of one way to make Roberto proud of him through carabao milking
contest held every year. Contestants are given 5 minutes to milk the carabao
and whoever got the most milk wins. There are 4 contestants with varying ages
with Tata Nano as the oldest at 88.
The
first contestant from San Agustin hamlet milked half bucket of milk. People
applauded. The 2nd contestant from San Jose hamlet produced more
than half bucket of milk. More applause from the crowd as the first one was
eliminated. The 3rd contestant from San Pascual hamlet produced the
most as he almost filled the bucket. A thundering applause from the crowd as
the first 2 were eliminated.
It’s
time now for Tata Nano. He’s slow and was able to produced only one glass.
BUT
HE WON THE CONTEST! HOW?
HE
MILKED A MALE CARABAO!
Solution to last week’s puzzle: 1. Ba5+! Kxa5 2. c3! Any
move by black 3. b4 mate.
This week’s puzzle: White to move and mates in 3
(Solution next issue)
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 9-10
Volume 23
Issue 62
August 04, 2014
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