FIRST TIME AS SOLO PERFORMER ON NEW YEAR'S EVE
The 2014 New Year's Eve Countdown is the first time in Roberto Hernandez music career that he performed solo. Here at Waves Restaurant, he is supposed to play from 9:30pm-10:00pm but because of long hours of waiting, he proceed to Breeze Bar where he performed solo to the group of Taiwanese and Japanese guests.
The Polynesian Dancers performed from 7-9pm and local Palauan Band from 11pm-1:00am.
These girls are part of the Polynesian Dancers. The one at the right is Rhea, the daughter of Baby Edna Mission, the no. 2 woman chess player of Palau. Rhea and her brother Ronald Mission are former keyboard students of Roberto in 2008. Ronald participated in the 2013 Palau National Chess Championship with current FIDE rating of 1119.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez -- Taken by Baby Edna Mission)
The sour sop on the laptop is this...
When the Polynesian Dancers performed their first number, I took some photo of Rhea and proceed to Breeze Bar and watch TV. A group of Japanese were having drinks and just talking. A few minutes later, they left.
It's about 8:15 when Palau Royal Resort General Manager Masayuki Kawaguchi had coffee at Breeze Bar. I talked to him about a group of guests 3 years ago at Waves Restaurant of PRR. The old guy from that group is always clapping after I finished playing Japanese song. He is also drinking Japanese wine shochu. He ask a waiter to give me a shot of shochu after clapping again to my rendition of Japanese song.
A few minutes later, when he saw that the glass of shochu is almost finished, he comes to me and pour some more shochu to the glass and he said, "I'm Korean."
After telling GM Kawaguchi the story of how I distinguish Japanese and Taiwanese guests through the drinks on their tables, 3 Taiwanese guys came and sit at a table about 20 feet from the keyboard.
I said "excuse me" to GM and started playing Taiwanese songs. While playing "Grandma's Penghu Bay", 2 Taiwanese ladies came to check the place.
GM saw that the ladies are singing when I play and sing "Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin".
The 3 Taiwanese guys started to request some songs -- Jingle Bells and Auld Lang Syne (that early! about 8:45 pm).
GM left to check the Polynesian Dancers. That's where I start to use the microphone that Ramiro Torre has set up as per my request.
The oldest guy from the group of 3 requested again the most popular Taiwanese/Chinese song --"Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin". He enjoyed it more because I have mic now.
Later, he gave me $10.00 tip. He also has a good cell phone that he uses as camera. He asked the bartender Denfher Flores to video their singing of that very popular song. The end part is really enjoyable with 3 of them beside me and sung the last part in high tone.
A few minutes later, he gave another $10.00 tip for Den, the bartender and Devie, the cashier. He proceed to me and gave me an additional $50.00 with both of his hands holding it.
AND HE REQUESTED THE SAME SONG AGAIN!
In the next hour, that song was played more than 10 times. Sometimes, I'm in the middle of singing/playing a song and when he requests it again, I'll stop it and play it again.
The youngest and tallest among them requested the Scottish New Year's Eve song again. I get my song book of international songs and sing it even though it's only 10pm...
AULD LANG SYNE
Should old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mine
Should old acquaintance be forgot
And days of Auld Lang Syne.
CHORUS: For Auld Lang Syne, my dear
For Auld Lang Syne
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For Auld Lang Syne.
My tears at hand my trusted friend
And cheers we have all time
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For Auld Lang Syne.
(REPEAT CHORUS)
They are drinking Heineken beers in bottle and have a lot already that the 3rd guy lay on the floor for a few minutes.
When they left at about 10:15pm, the 3rd guy lay on the concrete floor again, this time near the pool. The generous guy took a photo/video of their friend laying on the ground.
The tallest of them asked me earlier if I will be playing at Breeze Bar again tomorrow (New Year). I said yes and he said they will be back again there tomorrow.
The local Palau band is already setting up their instruments and we don't have guests at 10:30 so we just watch TV -- on Lotus (Macau) Channel "The Karate Kid" starring Jackie Chan. GM came to have another cup of coffee and he knows the movie is by Jackie Chan even though it's just in the beginning part of the movie and Jackie Chan is not yet being shown in the film.
Some guests (Palauans, Taiwanese/Chinese) have come but they are just having photo sessions near the big eco-friendly Christmas tree made of empty plastic bottles of water.
No guests come till 12:00 midnight. We heard a few firecrackers and a couple of cannon fire that's like a thunder.
Devie, the cashier, came at 12:05 and that's the time that we greet each other "Happy New Year!"
The new Japanese Rooms Director came to greet us Happy New Year. We resume watching the movie. It's almost 1:00 am and still not finish so I finish watching it in our room.
Cherry Tayag and Marc Montales gave me a plate of spaghetti, and I ate it with 2 slices of whole wheat bread.
IT'S NOT AN ENJOYABLE NEW YEAR'S EVE FOR ME BUT VERY GOOD IN TERMS OF TIPS.
In 2007 New Year's Eve Countdown, I played with a lady singer (Filipin0) whom our GM Isao Takahashi recognized her working in a karaoke bar.
When we are practicing the songs that she sung that night, I was touched by her expressive singing of the song "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" by Dusty Springfield. I've got goosebumps when I accompany her with the keyboard.
I told her I rarely experience having goosebumps while somebody is singing. The last time more than 30 years ago when another Filipino lady singer sung the Japanese song "Adoro".
In 2008, my partners during the New Year's Eve Countdown were Lemuel Bacor and Alex Mantes. Lemuel participated in the first ever chess tournament in Palau, the 2002 All-Filipino Chess Tournament in June 09, 2002.
HE WAS FEATURED IN TIA BELAU 3 WEEKS AFTER HE PASSED AWAY...
Lemuel Bacor, locally known as "Lemon", died of colon cancer illness 3 weeks ago in Philippines after undergoing chemo theraphy treatment. Farewell to the best lead guitarist in Palau. God Bless His Soul. (Photo by: Ernie Franz)
MAKE OR BREAK (Palau Chess Team to Russia)
THE PALAU Chess team to the 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia is in deep financial trouble of buying the Koror-Manila flight ticket on their way to get Russian visa on Sept. 17 and trip to Dubai on Sept. 18 for a chartered flight to Russia on Sept. 19.
Unless Roberto Hernandez, Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Bernardo Garcia and Gene Pastrana can buy their own ticket on Sept. 13 before 11:00 am, they will not make it to the team.
Hernandez will buy his own and Garcia also but Cyril and Gene are in extreme financial crisis and maybe a small miracle can save them.
Tito Cabunagan has re-booked his ticket (from Sept. 17 to Sept. 15) where he will take a chance to get Russian visa on Sept. 17 after getting NBI clearance.
The 5 tickets for Manila-Bahrain-Dubai flight have all been booked more than a month ago. Some changes in the chartered flight time have cost the allotted airfare of the players due to that change.
If things won't work out well, maybe only Cabunagan and Hernandez will make it to Russia. Team Captain Jamie Kenmure has already got his visa and might play with the duo.
The Olympiad allows a team to play if they have a minimum of 3 players. Being an Australian, Jamie might be ineligible to play for Palau but Jan Berglund, Palau Delegate in 2008 World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany and this year's Olympiad, can play with Cabunagan and Hernandez as he is not a member of any country's federation except Palau.
A TRIBUTE TO BROTHER LEMUEL BACOR
THE BEST lead guitarist of Palau passed away 3 weeks ago. I performed with him in 2008 and 2009 New Year's Eve Countdown Party at Palau Royal Resort.
Lemuel Bacor, who's been in Palau for more than 17 years and worked as bartender mostly in those years.
His talent in lead guitar is awesome where he can bite the strings of the guitar and still play fast rock music.
He can play also with the guitar behind his head. A real showman, he will surely be missed after succumbing to colon cancer.
May his soul rest in peace. He's with God now. FAREWELL TO A FRIEND, A COLLEAGUE, A FATHER, A TEACHER AND A GREAT INFLUENCE TO MY MUSICAL CAREER.
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 12-13
Volume 19
Issue 37
Sept. 13-19, 2010
In 2009 New Year's Eve Countdown, it's Lemuel and Alex again but this time, we have Ernie De Leon Fran as bass guitarist.
A few days before the countdown, we practice at Breeze Bar at 10pm. There are 2 Palau ladies having drinks near us. While we are practicing, many guests have come down from of their rooms and later, the place is full of guests!
They thought there is a live band performing!
During our performance at New year's Eve countdown, we were able to have $5.00 tip from a Taiwanese guy who requested "Hotel California".
I'm included in the payoff for the band. In 2008, I didn't ask for anything about their payment of $75.00 each. I just get the $5.00 tip from American lady and I told them that I made $150.00 from performing at the house of Palau National Olympic Committee President Frank Kyota, using their grand piano on Dec. 30, 2008 for the New Year Party of PNOC.
In 2010 New Year's Eve Countdown, my partners are all Filipinos -- Mike Aunor, Jackie (lady singer), drummer and bass guitarist. We practiced for 3 consecutive days at the engine room. It's very noisy there because the huge generator produces loud sound. That's why when we play live, there is no dynamics in our playing.
After the show, we have dinner at Cafeteria and have an hour of talking outside the restaurant (terrace) while drinking the beer provided by GM Takahashi.
Everybody enjoyed this story....
Roberto Hernandez plays piano at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort from 6:00-9:00 pm every night except Friday (his day off). From 9:00-11:00 pm, he plays keyboard at Breeze Bar, about 30 meters from Waves Restaurant.
(Photo by: Jaime Guevarra)
BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2007, the Queen of Koror, Palau Bilung
Gloria Salii, her husband Carlos and daughter Uroi had dinner at Waves
Restaurant. They gave me $10.00 tip and a glass of red wine.
Before they go home, I talked to Bilung and said, “I would like to give you a Christmas present. I will tune your piano for free before the end of this year.”
I became very busy and haven’t done my promise.
On her
birthday, January 05, 2008, they had dinner again at Waves Restaurant with 3
other guests. I played all their favorite songs. She gave me $10.00 tip, a
glass of red wine and a slice of her birthday cake.
After three
weeks, they had another dinner at Waves and after giving me $5.00 tip this
time, I asked for her telephone number at home so that I can set the date of
tuning their piano. She said 488-6216.
On March
19, 2008 (Wednesday), I saw her at the entrance of Surangel’s Department Store.
I said I will call her on Tuesday (March 25) and will tune their piano on
Wednesday (March 26) which I did. After tuning their piano for 2 hours, she is
ready to issue me a check but I said I promise to tune it for free as Christmas
present. She gave me bananas instead!
The next day, God gave me more that I expected.
While halfway
on my piano playing at Waves Restaurant, a lone, old Japanese guy sits at a
table about 7 meters from the piano. Ten minutes later, I started to play the
Japanese song “Kawa No Nagareno Yo Ni”. In the middle of that song, I saw him
get something from his front pocket- it’s a handkerchief! He is crying and was
carried away by my expressive playing.
The two waitresses Maricar Baules and
Maricel Carlos saw him crying and asked why. He pointed at me and I played with
more expression. Goosebumps are all over my arms and body which I rarely feel
when playing with much expression. I followed it up with another Japanese song
“Subaru”. He cried more. The handkerchief is all wet!
Fifteen minutes later, he
gave me tip. I put it on the piano music stand. Edgar Cayanan, the Assistant
Food & Beverage Manager said, “Kuya”, (Older brother) “I don’t think that’s
the color of a $5.00 bill.” He checked the tip and said “It is a hundred
dollar!” I just continue to play and ignore him as I don’t look at the amount
of tip I get until the giver has left.
Edgar told
about it to Maricar and Maricel. The two also checked the tip and said. “It’s
really $100.00! Can we have some?”
When the
generous man left, a Japanese couple sat at the same table where he sat. The
guy requested 3 Japanese songs (Goodbye My Love, Itoshino Elly and the third
one, I forgot). I was able to play all those 3 songs and he gave me $1.00 tip!
Philippine
Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito Marino, the biggest supporter of chess in Palau,
and his wife Issa were having dinner at that time with an old Japanese lady
guest. When he sat down at the piano to play a couple of songs, that’s the only
time I look at the tip- it’s really $100.00. I said to the Ambassador, “Look,
sir, a Japanese guy gave me $100.00 tip without requesting and another guy who
requested 3 songs gave me $1.00”.
The next
day, Friday, Edgar said that the man who gave me $100.00 tip last night said he
made a mistake in giving me that amount. I said, “It is okay, I haven't spend it yet and when he comes
back, I’ll give him back the $100.00 and it’s up to him to decide how much he
really wants to give me.”
On Saturday
evening, he comes back. While having dinner at the same table, I played all the
other Japanese songs that I didn’t play on that Thursday night. When I play the
2 songs that made him cry, he didn’t cry anymore.
After his dinner, he comes to
me with Cathy (Chinese waitress) by his side. He said, “Do you know the guy who
plays piano in the cruise by the name of Norman?”
I said, “No. Does he play Japanese songs also?” He said yes but only a few.
Then he gave me tip again and I put it in my polo shirt pocket. And he left for
Japan.
Maricel saw that he gave me again and asked how much. I looked at it and it’s
another $100.00!
He didn’t make a mistake. Edgar is just kidding me and maybe jealous.
Source: Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
The Beginning of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
December 2007
To be published as a book in the future
We split the payment of $45.00 each while the bass guitarist gets only $40.00 because he missed some practices and he's the one with least experience with a band.
I've got $10.00 tip from my piano student of 2 years Uroi Salii (2000-2002).
In 2011, the PRR Management decided to try to have Palau local band, to perform on New Year's Eve Countdown.
They hire Lisa Sandei and her group to perform. An hour before their performance, Lisa and I have a talk at Coral Bar of the Waves Restaurant. She wishes she can sing "Islands In The Stream", a duet by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. When we are talking, Mr. Katsuhito Yamane, the Assistant Sales Director, was with us.
I met Lisa in 1992 when me and the Tropical Depression Band were practicing at Sunset Bistro in Airai State. She and Hailey Erich were about to record an album in Manila, Philippines and they needed a demo cassette record of their song (Palau version of "Can't Be With You Tonight).
The band were able to record it by putting a cassette player/recorded in front of the stage and Hailey is very much appreciative that he gave all the band members a copy of their album (in cassette tape at that time).
The style of Palau musicians in playing live is... play/sing for 5 minutes and rest for another 5 minutes before playing/singing the next one. It's like you are paying them to play from 11:00pm-1:00 am (2 hours) but actually they play/sing for only an hour.
When Roberto is playing piano (7-9pm at Waves Restaurant), his rest in between songs is only 5 seconds (like a recorded CD). Even at Breeze Bar (9-11pm), he always do the same style for 7 1/2 years.
Mr. Yamane noticed that system and asked Roberto, "Can you play instrumental music while they are resting? There's really a big gap and it don't look like a New Year's Eve countdown."
I didn't do what he said as it is disrespectful to my fellow musicians even though they have extra back up singers that can fill in the gap.
As usual, I've got tips for playing 3 thirty minutes piano instrumental alternating with the Palau Traditional Dancers.
In 2012 New Year's Eve countdown, I played with Jordan Santos Band (The U Juan Band) after alternating again with the Palau Traditional Dancers.
Jordan is a Cafeteria cook that switched to the Main Kitchen. He is from the same province as Roberto in Philippines.
The band plays alternative music but Roberto was able to adjust to their songs. And as usual, he is not part of their payoff but got extra tips again for playing earlier.
The 2013 New Year's Eve Countdown is also a good one with more bonding with my Japanese 'student/partner' Mr. Yoshiharu Kurata. He played solo earlier at Palau Pacific Resort for 30 minutes (7:30-8:00pm) and was paid $100.00 for those 30 minutes of playing solo. We recorded in the keyboard and floppy disk the songs that we practice and he used it as background.
We played live at Breeze Bar from 11pm-1:00am. We've got $10.00 tip from a Japanese lady and we split it. Mr Kurata was not paid in cash tonight but only gift certificate of dinner for 2 at PRR, free dinner and drinks. The last 3 red wine (glass) was paid by him. We had "kampai" (Cheers!) with the red wine.
We played together to many places in Palau for free (just dinner and drink) to promote our duo partnership showcasing Mr. Kurata's talent in sax, flute, ocarina, quena, keyboard/piano, guitar and singing international songs.
One of those places is Kramer's Cafe....
JICA GOT TALENT
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Senior Volunteer Yoshiharu Kurata belts out some classical tunes during a performance at Kramer's on Friday, October 25. Aside from doing city planning work for Airai State, Kurata has been performing and sharing his vast musical talents around the country. (Photo by Jose Senase Rodriguez. of Tia Belau)
Roberto Hernandez is teaching Mr. Yoshiharu Kurata twice a week (Monday and Thursday 11:30am - 12:30pm.
Mr. Kurata can play saxophone, flute, ocarina, guitar, quena (Palauan record/bamboo flute), vocals and keyboard.
It's not actually teaching but jamming and learning from each other about timing, music score, harmonize, international songs, experimenting on musical combination among those instruments.
They experimented many variations on "Besame Mucho" --Roberto singing the 1st stanza; Mr. Kurata singing the 1st voice for harmony; Roberto playing keyboard, Mr. Kurata --flute; Roberto with the intro; exchange from 1st voice to 2nd voice (which works better); ad lib by Mr. Kurata (1st stanza tunes); and everything they can think of to make a harmonized and well-arranged combination with the song.
They performed twice at Palau Visitor Authority's Friday International Night for 15 minutes.
They performed also at Airai View Hotel with Timothy Sisserson, the Director of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.
Source: Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 1 & 7
Volume 22
Issue 87
October 31, 2013
Chess and Music (Perfect Combination
The Beginning of Chess In Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
November 2013
To be published as a book in the future
Live Duo concert at Rip Tide in Malakal. The problem is we were not given free dinner, only water. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
THE DUO PERFORMED TWICE AT AIRAI VIEW HOTEL.
At Rose Garden Resort,
Palau Pacific Resort,
Mingles (Tototo) twice,
And at The Taj Restaurant (Indian Foods) twice, where they received tips from Mama san of Sushi Bar Mito -- ($20.00 for Yoshi), ($10.00 for Roberto) and $2.00 from an American guest.
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